Oh, Who Could Have Predicted THIS?

http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2012/02/josh_mandel_to_skip_city...

"Josh Mandel to skip City Club debate among Republican contenders for U.S. Senate seat."

Me! Me!

Damn, why didn't I find some suckers and make some sizable bets on this? How does $10,000 sound?

He's got a "scheduling conflict," says his communications director. More likely, he thinks he's too high and mighty to appear on the same stage with the conglomeration of no-names and Tea Party wingnuts also running in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate. Plus he would be forced to actually say something, and maybe reveal where he stands on more than two or three issues. You can't fill up your whole time by repeating over and over that you served two tours of duty in Iraq.

There was some good news in this story though. Sez the communications director, "We also informed them that we are committed to participating in the City Club debate with Sen. [Sherrod] Brown this fall."

I can hardly wait!

According to this story, the Empty Suit has been avoiding all local community events, focusing on raising massive amounts of cash out of state. That means that Mandel, without much to run on and an inexperienced debater who's never been known for his outspoken public advocacy of much of anything, won't have had much practice for the big event. I eagerly await his saying to Brown's face that he (Brown) hasn't focused enough on jobs. Brown better be practicing keeping a straight face – before he opens his mouth and blows little Joshie away with actual facts.

This will be a can't-miss event.