# Old codger of a politician is a sexist dumbass

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-codger-of-a-politician-is-a-sexist-dumbass/344758>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [February 16, 2006, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-codger-of-a-politician-is-a-sexist-dumbass/344758 "2006-02-16T05:55:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 3

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2006, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-codger-of-a-politician-is-a-sexist-dumbass/344758/41 "2006-02-18T16:40:03Z")

</div>

> [@eleanorigby](#):
>
> So, is Cecil right when he slams Baltimore? Get the guy out of office–we can’t do it–but Marylanders can.  
> Jeesh–it sounds to me like he’s part court jester there and part “nothing you can do about it”. You can–kick the fucking goat the hell out. Better yet–get him defeated by a “little girl”.

Schaefer is, unfortunately, an individual example of the drawbacks of having an area completely dominated by one of the major political parties. Sure, Maryland has a Republican governor right now, but in many parts of this state, especially Baltimore city, the Democrats could run a trained monkey and still win the election. It’s the same for the Republicans in other parts of the country.

When one party has such dominance, its incentive to put up really good candidates decreases, and the internal party machine becomes more important than the wishes and the needs of the voters, because for the dominant party winning the primary and/or getting the support of party insiders is all you need to guarantee and election victory. And this system tends to favor those who already have built up powerful ties in the party hierarchy.

Of course, this insider’s or incumbent’s advantage is true in all politics, but it become particularly bad in areas where one party has an amost unassailable grip on elected offices.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2006, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-codger-of-a-politician-is-a-sexist-dumbass/344758/42 "2006-02-18T17:54:55Z")

</div>

I know. Heck, I live in Chicago (or near it). I don’t really care what party affiliation he has–and I don’t tar the Dems there with this idiot’s feather. I just want it to change. I showed my daughter the story–at least it IS newsworthy now, instead of SOP. I guess that’s something. \<sigh\>

Maybe this would create enough ire to oust him? (he is surely past his prime and needs to go golf 24/7–and yes, I know that’s agist and dont’ care).  
I won’t hold my breath.

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-codger-of-a-politician-is-a-sexist-dumbass/344758.md?page=2)