The Sweep: What Happens When Politicians Don’t Do Their Homework

Campaign Quick Hits Outgoing Bridgewater CEO Eyes GOP Senate Run in Pennsylvania: David McCormick announced ...

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Campaign Quick Hits

Outgoing Bridgewater CEO Eyes GOP Senate Run in Pennsylvania: David McCormick announced Monday that he will step down as CEO of Bridgewater Associates, a move that allows him to press forward with his widely anticipated Republican bid for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania. Should McCormick formally announce a bid for retiring GOP Sen. Pat Toomey’s seat, he will face off in the state’s GOP primary against TV host Dr. Mehmet Oz, Trump’s former ambassador to Denmark Carla Sands, and businessman and former Republican nominee for lieutenant governor Jeff Bartos. McCormick is a Gulf War veteran and previously served in the Treasury Department under the George W. Bush administration. 

NFT for $$$: Arizona Senate candidate Blake Masters is using new technology to create buzz for his campaign. Masters was pitching “a limited-edition NFT, based on early Zero to One cover art” from his book with Peter Thiel for a $5,800 donation to his campaign. NFT, in the most simple terms, is getting to say that you are the owner of a digital image–in this case, one of 99 owners. While some NFTs are considered an asset that will appreciate in value as time goes on, the Masters campaign isn’t using that argument here: “We think the NFT is cool, but we make no representation about its value or possible future value.” Instead, Masters says that he is trying to attract support from “less conventional political donors and more founders and builders who want to see new thinking and new energy in our politics.” So far, it looks like the fundraising campaign worked. The NFT is already sold out, according to the website. And, yes, they said they would accept bitcoin or ethereum.

Surprising Redistricting Update: 

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  1. Avatar photo
    Ben Connelly

    Vice President Harris: “Well, um, uh, inflation is, I guess, bad. You know. Because. Because people can’t buy the stuff. So we’re gonna make it so they can buy the stuff. The stuff. Yeah. So.”

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  2. Raincheck

    There is another problem with her answer. Build Back Better is not the solution to inflation. Most Americans don’t even know what it is. Most of those who know don’t really know what is in it. And among those who know what it is, it isn’t all that popular.

    So let’s say she she cleverly and cleanly pivots to her Build Back Better talking point. It is still a meaningless, inside Washington answer that doesn’t solve the inflation problem and doesn’t address the every day problems of Americans.

    All of our politics now is inside baseball aimed at insiders and a hyper engaged minority. None of it seems aimed at actually solving problems. It’s about “we got a giant bill passed!” Or “we hate the other side!”

    Harris is an unskilled politician. That’s why her campaign was stillborn. But even if she were more skilled, Washington would still be running in all the wrong directions. People can see that.

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  3. Mary Stine

    Curling and politics, finally explained, at the same time!! Score for Sarah!

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  4. Avatar photo
    J. Eric

    https://youtu.be/kssJdMtcSVg
    Came up in my feed. Seems kind of appropriate😎

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    1. Avatar photo
      J. Eric

      Or, this:
      https://youtube.com/watch?v=N_01LySbRnY&feature=share
      These are caricatures, of course, but has anything really changed?

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  5. Thomas Dickinson

    Did she try a lot of cases as an assistant DA? Cuz she sure doesn't seem to have the think-on-your-feet skills of a successful trial attorney. And good prosecutors know all about the importance of pre-trial preparation. Why doesn't she seem to?

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  6. Keith Schooley

    Your description of Harris's possible problems seems uncomfortably reminiscent of the former President.

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    1. Diane Hansen

      It smacks of the current president too

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  7. Avatar photo
    Sad Trombone

    I think it's a beautiful building.

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  8. Avatar photo
    Will Bates

    Harris' pivot was positively pitiful. What a preposterous position for a politician to promote.

    Peter Principle indeed, people.

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  9. Avatar photo
    Tmcke

    Can we relax here. Harris is not going to be president - unless Biden dies in office. And if that happens, all of the nonsense about communications will be meaningless. The issue will be how will Harris handle things. Well we don't know.

    She seems best at Senate Hearings (which are like show trials) and that is not preparation for the presidency.

    But glibness is not preparation either. Still Harris is no worse than most Veeps - and no better.

    I hope Biden lives the full 4 years.

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  10. Scott Duncan

    Okay. Who wrote what? The last item uses the first person and talks of past experiences as a comms aide. Who was it? Frustrating for the reader.

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    1. Avatar photocircle-angle-nib
      Sarah Isgur vertical-nib Author

      Yep. The email got a little messed up in editing. The quick hits are a joint effort w Audrey and Will and I wrote the Harris piece.

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      1. Scott Duncan

        Thanks Sarah, it was a very good piece.

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    2. Elaine Brown

      I think the comma aid was Sarah

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About Sarah Isgur

Sarah Isgur is a senior editor of The Dispatch and host of the Advisory Opinions podcast. With experience on three presidential campaigns and all three branches, she knows how decisions in Washington get made.
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About Audrey Fahlberg

Audrey is a reporter for The Dispatch covering Congress and campaigns. She was previously a Bartley Fellow at the Wall Street Journal and studied politics at the University of Virginia. Follow her on Twitter: @AudreyFahlberg.
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