Dayton Does What He Does Best

I can't say that I was surprised when the Brave Sir Robin (aka Mark Dayton, D-MN) announced that he would not run for another term in the US Senate. I didn't predict it, but I wasn't surprised. With an abyssmal track record, an extremely anemic thumb-war chest, and a plumeting approval rating, the block-lettered handwriting was on the wall. If Dayton was going to get re-elected, he would need to quickly acquire a quality he has never been able to muster: courage.

I realize that may seem a bit harsh, but let's examine his record. Dayton was elected in 2000 not because he was a great candidate. In fact, he was barely visible. He won because the Minnesota Left-stream Media made sure that the campaign was about Rod Grams' family instead of real issues. Dayton got elected because he wasn't the guy who had an adult son in trouble with the law. Though every orifice of Rod Grams' personal life was examined, Dayton's was magically spared from any scrutiny.

What is Dayton's claim to fame after 4+ years in the US Senate? He was the only Senator to over-react to a Terrorism Report by closing his office and sending his staff home. Wait. I take that back. He was the only one of the three branches of government who took his ball and ran home. He's also famous for his rude treatment of Defense Secretary Rumsfeld and Secretary of State nominee Condi Rice. I suppose one could call that courage. The same kind of courage a wimpy 5th grader finds when he's standing with his buddies on the playground while they are picking on one of the other kids during recess. I doubt he would have the same courage if he met with Secretary Rice mano a mano, so to speak.

So what should we expect from Mark Dayton when things get tough? To borrow a line from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, "Run away! Run away!"