# The Hackett Factor: Portent of Disaster or Harbiner of Doom? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 3, 2005, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hackett-factor-portent-of-disaster-or-harbiner-of-doom/315379 "2005-08-03T00:41:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hackett-factor-portent-of-disaster-or-harbiner-of-doom/315379/1 "2005-08-03T00:41:31Z")
The brief skinny: Paul Hackett is a soldier returned from Iraq, running for office in Ohio’s 2nd District, running as a Democrat. And saying some very not nice things about The Leader. Very not nice. He is opposed by Ms. Jean Schmidt, who says some kinda mean things about Mr. Hackett (not as mean as what Mr. Limbaugh had to say, but thats another matter…). Ms Schmidt appears to be running on a platform of I Love The Leader! Mr. Hacketts platform: The Leader Bites It! The polls are closing, the results will be coming in, and people who give a rats ass are invited to gloat and/or opine. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hackett-factor-portent-of-disaster-or-harbiner-of-doom/315379/2 "2005-08-03T00:46:53Z")
Ummmm…ok? I hope whoever wins is an honest politician. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hackett-factor-portent-of-disaster-or-harbiner-of-doom/315379/3 "2005-08-03T00:47:41Z")
It’s worth noting that the local Republicans have been hard at work with a [Swift Boat-type smear](http://www.swingstateproject.com/2005/07/oh-2_swift_boat.php) of Hackett. But then, if the GOP has no shame in [going after Max Cleland,](http://www.veteransforpeace.org/Max_Cleland_070303.htm) Hackett certainly wouldn’t pose a problem for them. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hackett-factor-portent-of-disaster-or-harbiner-of-doom/315379/4 "2005-08-03T00:52:02Z")
And, of course, that’s a _harbinger_ of doom. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hackett-factor-portent-of-disaster-or-harbiner-of-doom/315379/5 "2005-08-03T00:55:10Z")
OH-2 is just to strongly republican for Hackett to win, but the big suprise will that he will lose by single digit percentage points. A blue waltzed into a red and almost pulled it off. I think it will ultimately send a message to the extreme right wing of the party that maybe they aren’t as invincible as they think they are. Hopefully a centrist movement grows out of it. ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hackett-factor-portent-of-disaster-or-harbiner-of-doom/315379/6 "2005-08-03T00:56:40Z")
Hey Luci, its harbin **g** er… 😛 ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hackett-factor-portent-of-disaster-or-harbiner-of-doom/315379/7 "2005-08-03T00:57:16Z")
There is also a cheeseburger of doom, and a cooler of doom, and hairbrainer of doom. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hackett-factor-portent-of-disaster-or-harbiner-of-doom/315379/8 "2005-08-03T00:57:42Z")
I hope one of our local nutjobs can confirm for me how things work. The American Soldier - Hero, guardian, father, brother, son, the man we owe our freedome and respect The American Soldier Criticizing The Leader - Fucking douchebag hippie So, really, as long as they stay Over There they’re heroes. Who knows **what** they’ll say once they get back here? All correct? -Joe ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hackett-factor-portent-of-disaster-or-harbiner-of-doom/315379/9 "2005-08-03T00:57:55Z")
I swear your post wasn’t there when I started typing the above. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hackett-factor-portent-of-disaster-or-harbiner-of-doom/315379/10 "2005-08-03T00:58:52Z")
(and after we give him our freedome maybe we can thank him for our **freedom** ) -Joe^2 ---
**Author:** ![Atticus\_Finch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Atticus\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atticus_Finch)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hackett-factor-portent-of-disaster-or-harbiner-of-doom/315379/11 "2005-08-03T01:06:41Z")
If you’re alleging a Swift Boat style smear campaign against this guy, can you provide evidence of it? Defamatory statements, that kind of thing? **Rjung’s** link is incredibly vague. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hackett-factor-portent-of-disaster-or-harbiner-of-doom/315379/12 "2005-08-03T01:13:27Z")
I just took a look at preliminary results. As of 8:59 pm EDT and with 84% of the precincts reported the total vote was 15,207 votes cast out of 60,900 registered voters. With a clear difference between the two candidates 3 out of 4 voters didn’t bother to show up. Pitiful. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hackett-factor-portent-of-disaster-or-harbiner-of-doom/315379/13 "2005-08-03T01:15:27Z")
> [@Atticus Finch](#): > > If you’re alleging a Swift Boat style smear campaign against this guy, can you provide evidence of it? Defamatory statements, that kind of thing? **Rjung’s** link is incredibly vague. His link is not vague. Or you can just go to [Deaf oxycontin addict’s website](http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/today.guest.html) and see how Hackett is listed at the top of the front page. Of course, the worthless shitbag also calls McCain a pussy (boy, them RW talkers sure love their veterans - or at least claim to around election time) and whines about how the Democrats were being bullies with the whole Bolton deal. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hackett-factor-portent-of-disaster-or-harbiner-of-doom/315379/14 "2005-08-03T01:30:19Z")
Rush calling a guy fresh back from Fellujah a “Staff Puke” is pretty damn disgusting. When I read about that and the attempted smears, I contributed 20 bucks to Hackett’s campaign. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hackett-factor-portent-of-disaster-or-harbiner-of-doom/315379/15 "2005-08-03T01:48:15Z")
As of an hour ago, neck and neck, 52% to 48% in favor of Shmidt. Now, I had heard vague mentions that this was a very conservative district, and any Dem contender wasn’t considered much of a threat. Anybody got any good background on this? I could go looking for it if I weren’t so lazy and easily…ooooh! shiny! ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hackett-factor-portent-of-disaster-or-harbiner-of-doom/315379/16 "2005-08-03T01:52:29Z")
No Democrat has received more than 37% of the vote in that district since 1974. Even if Hackett loses, the narrowness of the race should send chills down the spines of the Republican leadership. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hackett-factor-portent-of-disaster-or-harbiner-of-doom/315379/17 "2005-08-03T01:54:39Z")
[662 precincts of 753 reporting](http://www.wcpo.com/news/2005/local/08/02/election_results.html) JEAN SCHMIDT 49,681 50% PAUL HACKETT 48,811 50% Last Updated: 8/02/2005 9:53pm Wow. If it stays this close expect a recount. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hackett-factor-portent-of-disaster-or-harbiner-of-doom/315379/18 "2005-08-03T01:57:43Z")
[off topic completely] Looking at the map of the district reminded me that Portsmouth, Ohio has some really nice [murals](http://www.portsmouthmuralproducts.com/) on the floodwall. Well worth seeing if you’re in the area. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hackett-factor-portent-of-disaster-or-harbiner-of-doom/315379/19 "2005-08-03T02:01:36Z")
Not that far off topic. True, its not about the murals on the wall, its about the handwriting. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hackett-factor-portent-of-disaster-or-harbiner-of-doom/315379/20 "2005-08-03T02:04:22Z")
> [@NurseCarmen](#): > > …Wow. If it stays this close expect a recount. 210 write-in votes for Buddy Hackett have been discovered… DEGENERATING… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hackett-factor-portent-of-disaster-or-harbiner-of-doom/315379.md?page=2)