Be Afraid, Brooks Patterson, Be Very Afraid

I just ran across this article from the Eccentric newspaper.
TOM WATKINS: Be afraid, Brooks Patterson, be very afraid
July 24, 2008

After watching the speeches of Senators Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John McCain on Tuesday, June 3rd, the night Senator Obama clinched the Democratic nomination, I believe that 2008 could be one of those political tsunami years that wipes out all in its path. Republicans should be very worried at the national, state and local levels.

To juxtapose the energy, focus and desire not simply between the Democratic candidates and their Republican counterparts, but between their supporters, was like the proverbial "night and day."

Senator McCain was, well, let me be kind — dreadful — while both Clinton and Obama were inspiring and uplifting. McCain appeared to be speaking at a corpse convention as if he was afraid of waking them up! If things do not catch fire on the Republican side of the ticket given the dismal poll numbers of the President and the loss of conservative brand appeal, it could spell doom for anyone with the letter "R" after their name on the ballot.

As I watched that night I thought of a friend, the long-standing Republican, Oakland County Executive Brooks Patterson, could be in what we call in political parlance "deep doo doo."

No, it is not just the Obama McCain match-up that could prove to be problematic in and of itself. What is emerging may be the perfect political storm that could knock off the Republican political icon who as been a fixture in Oakland County for over three decades.

How could Brooks be knocked off his perch? Let me count the ways:

1) The excitement Senator Obama generates could push the Democratic vote surge to its highest level in the history of Oakland County. It should be noted that Oakland County, typically Republican, has been trending Democratic in the last several presidential elections.

Dems Thrilled with Prospects to Win in Oakland County

Today's Oakland Press discusses how the Democrats in Oakland County are really excited about their prospects of winning in the fall, especially the race against Joe Knollenberg, now that Peters has national assistance. Other county-wide races are looking good too with the best candidates in years. Click here to read all about it.

Kevorkian Planning run in 9th

Now, I have to admit, I didn't see this one coming. Jack Kevorkian apparently is planning to run for Congress in the 9th Congresional District. I wonder how much press beyond this article in the Oakland Press Kevorkian will get and is he planning on running as an independent or as a Democrat? I don't see him challenging Knollenberg as a Republican, given his views on assisted suicide, although that would be a hoot if he did run as a Republican.