Diehl’s strength? He’s not Liz
Hey, Geoff Diehl, here’s a lesson from the Sox that’s not too late for the learning; indeed, it’s timely food for thought in your attempt to topple Elizabeth Warren next month.
Look around and listen: There’s a restless wave of positive energy to be ridden and, odd as it may seem, it’s got little to do with you and lots to do with her.
It’s simple. The more she talks, the less appealing she becomes.
She claims our criminal justice system is racist, “and I mean front to back!” Can you believe it? Cops are being gunned down all across America, not because they’re white or black but because they’re wearing blue.
How can she not see that? How can she not weep and pray for those in law enforcement? Is her heart that cold, or is she simply too ruthlessly ambitious?
Her crowd, which is to say the lunatic fringe on the left, still asks Trump supporters, “How could you have voted for him?”
But they don’t seem to hear the frequent answer which is, “I didn’t vote for him; I voted against her,” meaning Hillary Clinton.
Therein lies the lesson: Diehl might be the choice of many voters who know too little about him but have seen too much of her.
You might call it a defensive vote.
Right now there are millions of baseball buffs around the country pulling for the Red Sox. Does that m7e .8 an (1t1h0e.y92a2 ll )love Boston? In a pig’s eye. It’s just that they detest Los Angeles, meaning anyone who beats the Dodgers is their cup of tea.
It’s an avalanche of goodwill inherited from battles fought elsewhere.
Perhaps the best example in this town came in the 1982 NBA playoffs when it became apparent Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, et al., were about to be dethroned by the intensely disliked Philadelphia 76ers in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals.
As the final seconds ticked away the Garden crowd began a thunderous chant of “Beat LA! Beat LA!,” wishing the Sixers well in the upcoming finals.
Was that because Boston fans developed a sudden affection for Darryl Dawkins, Maurice Cheeks or Andrew Toney?
Please. It was just that they abhorred the Lakers even more.
It works that way in politics, too, especially around here.
While it feels good to vote for someone you like, it can feel even better to vote against someone you disdain.
That’s why the best thing Geoff Diehl has going for him right now is that he’s not Elizabeth Warren.