California 24th: Grubb on Maggin.

Jeff Grubb comments on Maggin's run for congress:

So my old comic book editor is running for office. Elliot was one of the editors on the now-classic Forgotten Realms book back in the 80s…

…Elliot has always had a political outlook, which spills into his public, personal, and fictional lives. Most recently, in the DC Universe, he was the Oliver (Green Arrow) Queen's campaign manager in the superhero's run for Mayor of Star City…

…Rep Elton Gallegy has been making noises about stepping down for medical reasons (he's been in office for 24 years), but has a massive war chest.

Elliot has company for the Democratic primary - other candidates include the Democrat candidate from 2006, Jill Martinez, businesswoman Mary Pallant, 2004 nominee Brett Wagner, and maybe former mayor of Ventura Richard Francis.

It looks like a crowded field. Maybe Elliot can get Oliver Queen's campaign manager to help out.

In the article, Grubb links to a New York Times/Congressional Quarterly article which gives an overview of the California 24th race. The article is dated July 11th, so it doesn't make any mention of Maggin.

If Gallegly doesn't run for a 12th consecutive term (whatever happend to the term-limits movement?) It may open up a greater possibility for a the GOP to lose the seat as it would no longer reap the benefits of incumbency. Much of that depends on the quality of canditates that the Republicans can get to run, of which I've yet to read of anyone looking to step up.

Maggin's best hope is for Gallegly to run again. An open seat would attract even more Democrats into the race. And by the sounds of things the other Dems have the connections to get funds raised and a good campaign team put together. Maggin's rather thin political resume puts him at a disadvantage at the primary stage.

Maggin for Congress: Opening analysis

From Jamie at the Eye of Polyphemus:

Rarely do the worlds of comic books and politics, two of my favorite subjects collide...

"You had me at 'hello'."

...but it has just happened. Eliot S! Maggin (The “!” is not a typo), former writer for Superman and Justice League, has thrown his hat into the political ring for the second time.

Jamie comments on Maggin's announcement:

Maggin further stereotypes his opponents with the broadest brush strokes in the liberal arsenal. I cannot comment much on Gallegly. He is one of the more subdued Republican members of Congress. That he is tells me his district is a reliably conservative district full of affluent constituents who want low taxes and do not care much for political activism, particularly of the liberal stripe.

I noticed that populist/progressive rhetoric too. Especially when Maggin writes:

We approach a condition where a small group of enormously wealthy people are served by a growing community of servants, and opportunity is a foreign notion. And when anyone anywhere notices this out loud he is immediately accused of being a “class warrior” or a “blame-gamer” or a “conspiracy theorist” or some such centrally generated piece of tripe talk.

If there's really a conspiracy behind a thing, then it's no longer a theory.

I'll concede that I was thinking "class warrior", but "conspiracy theorist" never came to mind until Maggin brought it up.

This shows a bit of amateurism, as he's giving his opposition a blueprint for campaigning against him (assuming they ever recognize his existence).

Jamie assesses the incumbent:

I cannot comment much on Gallegly. He is one of the more subdued Republican members of Congress. That he is tells me his district is a reliably conservative district full of affluent constituents who want low taxes and do not care much for political activism, particularly of the liberal stripe.

Indeed, in looking at the district borders, it looks quite gerrymandered. The district is drawn up to avoid a thin stretch of coastline where I presume the wealthier entertainment industry figures (read: limousine liberals) live.

I suspect that Maggin would do far better to do package his opposition to the incumbent Gallegly so that middle of the road, and maybe even Republicans would consider voting for him.

Unfortunatly, I fear that Maggin may be a full blown "Oliver Queen liberal" prone towards the tribalism that I've commented about before on this blog.

A candidate has to realise that an election is not about the candidates. It's about the voters, and their concerns and interests. If you're running a third party "carry the banner" race, where you're promoting a party, you can do that, but in those cases you are looking more for publicity than votes. Maggin seems to be running for the Democratic nomination, so that's out.

Then again, Maggin has only just announced. He may yet form a team that runs a decent campaign. Having run in New Hampshire years ago may help him, but it will probably be a shock to him how much he'll be ignored by the media and the public in southern California.

None the less, I still applaud the effort. I may not agree with Maggin's politics, but I do admire his participation. For far too many people, politics is something far removed from the common man's effort. Stepping into the arena is the first step, improving one's game is the second.

Comic Book Writer to run for the U.S. House

Elliot S! Maggin (not a typo, that is an exclamation point after his middle initial), author of comic books and prose books, including the highly praised novel, Superman: Miracle Monday, and the novelization of Kingdom Come, has announced his candidacy for the US House of Representatives in the California 24th district.

Maggin's declaration of his candidacy is posted at his website.

A list of links of sources I'm using to research this race can be found at del.icio.us .

So long as Elliot is in the race, I'll be watching and commenting on it. So stay tuned to ComicsPundit: Your home for coverage of the Calfiornia 24th district race for the U.S. House.