She Loves, She Loves Me Not, She Loves Me, ….
Speculation on whether Tom Kopko will challenge Marty Nohe in a Republican primary challenge continues to run rampant (here and here). I am sorry, but I cannot help but find the situation somewhat comical.
If and when Tom Kopko decides to run, then we will know. Until then, how much difference does it make? What can we do about it?
In this case at least, I suppose there has been one possible benefit from the speculation. The speculation has served Tom Kopko as a trial balloon. After all this discussion, Kopko ought to have some idea whether an announcement that he plans to challenge Nohe would be welcomed. Since BVBL and Virginia Virtucon have handled the affair with some dignity (in spite of BVLI’s doomsday theatrics) and probably given Kopko some useful feedback, I suppose these blogs are to be commended.
Nonetheless, blogs sometimes remind me of the mass media. Instead of reporting real news or discussing real problems, the news media too often fills air time with speculation, some of it positively inane. Often, this amounts to nothing more than harmless gossip. Sometimes the gossip is not so harmless.
We should be wary of aping such behavior. Unfortunately, some blogs do. Occasionally, some bloggers will even manage to work themselves into a hissy fit over what a possible candidate might do. When a blogger does such a thing, they should not be surprised when they end up more embarrassed than their target.
I haven’t seen much dignity in the way BVBL handled it. But how “dignified” can you be when you are just reporting incorrect stuff again and again? “He’s going to announce any day now!”. “He’s going to announce Thursday”. Oh wait, he’s put it off until THIS Thursday”. “Oh, he’s announcing something Else this thursday”. Oh, never mind.
It’s not the first time this type of rumor has been used to build up support for a preferred candidate. Maureen Cadigan got a whole fundraiser out of the spectre of a primary challenge that never came close to materializing (I’m not saying it was her rumor, just that there was a rumor).
I’m glad Tom is staying, IF he is staying. After all, until Thursday we still don’t really know.
I’d much rather report the news when it is actually news.
At least BVBL isn’t trying to claim that he changed the course of history, like Vincent over at TooConservatives always did when he got a rumor wrong “I wasn’t wrong, but after the heat I put on the candidate they decided it best not to enter the race”.