{"id":2323,"date":"2010-08-23T09:56:47","date_gmt":"2010-08-23T13:56:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nicholsclan.com\/tinblog\/?p=2323"},"modified":"2010-11-24T09:42:35","modified_gmt":"2010-11-24T14:42:35","slug":"is-lazio-chicken-or-smart-to-avoid-debate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timscogitorium.com\/tinblog\/2010\/08\/is-lazio-chicken-or-smart-to-avoid-debate.html","title":{"rendered":"Is Lazio chicken or smart to avoid debate?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"chicken_suit\"<\/a>
Photo by Andrew Bishop<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The New York GOP Gubernatorial primary race has taken a turn for the interesting as candidate Carl Paladino has unleashed “Little Ricky” (a staffer in a chicken suit) to dog his opponent Rick Lazio.\u00a0 At issue is Lazio’s unwillingness to commit to a debate<\/a> with Paladino, hence Paladino’s attempt to call him “chicken”.<\/p>\n

On the one hand, it would seem Lazio is not really playing fair.\u00a0 After all, voters should get to hear their candidates out, and political debates have long been the gold standard for sorting out potential politicians.<\/p>\n

Yet on the other hand, Lazio has little to gain by engaging Paladino.\u00a0 He’s currently enjoying a 30% lead in the polls.\u00a0 Further, Lazio has the overwhelming support of the Republican party officials in New York.\u00a0 Meanwhile, millionaire developer Paladino basically bought his way into the race and forced a primary against the GOP’s wishes.\u00a0 And he’s threatening to run as a third party in November if he loses the GOP nod anyway.\u00a0 Debating Paladino arguably only lends credibility to a fringe candidate.<\/p>\n

Not that Paladino minds being on the fringe.\u00a0 He’s increasingly positioning himself as a Tea Party candidate.\u00a0 He’s even gone so far as to recommend New York’s prisons be turned into dormitories<\/a> for the poor where they will be put to work for the state and taught lessons in personal hygiene.\u00a0 After all, how does one achieve affluence if one doesn’t know how to properly use a loofah?\u00a0 It would be incredible (and a little sad) if his plans to open indigent work camps resonated strongly with New York voters.\u00a0 It certainly seems Paladino is more of an irritant to the GOP than a serious contender.<\/p>\n

Still, Paladino is a valid candidate.\u00a0 No one is questioning his right to run.\u00a0 As a candidate, he should have the right to face off against his opponent, the right to take his shot.\u00a0 If he’s really as far out there as he seems, Lazio should have no trouble taking him down.<\/p>\n

Granted, Lazio, doesn’t have to debate Paladino… but he should.\u00a0 Ideally, with both men wearing chicken suits.\u00a0 That would be must-see TV.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The New York GOP Gubernatorial primary race has taken a turn for the interesting as candidate Carl Paladino has unleashed<\/p>\n

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