Senator Chris Dodd's clipped, deep-registered cadence always reminds me of a 30's gumshoe charmer. And I'm not alone. Mark Leibovich of the NYT points out Dodd's magnificent handshake and calls him a "throwback to a presanctimonious era when politicians were not so intent on fashioning themselves outsiders and anti-politicians." Blogger Chris Dahlen compares him to Cary Grant and likens his a retro appeal to a Brooks Brothers suit.
In terms of dogs, Senator Chris Dodd is one of the most famous dogs of the 20th century, Asta the clever Wire Fox Terrier of "The Thin Man" series.
Asta (born Skippy) was tenacious, perfectly groomed, and beloved by many a doting actress. Did you know Senator Dodd dated Carrie Fisher and Bianca Jagger?
Asta also played Katherine Hepburn's dog George who buries Cary Grant's dinosaur bone in "Brining Up Baby." By doing so, he saves them from their own foolish choices.
Similarly, Dodd was the only campaigning Senator who flew back to Washington to stop Harry Reid's FISA legislation that would have given immunity to telecom companies that helped the government spy on us. (wtf Harry Reid?!) Dodd threatened a filibuster (like Jimmy Stewart's Mr. Smith) and after 10 hours railing against Reid and the Bush administration, Reid pulled the bill. It was a great moment for Dodd and one I truly admire.
Senator Dodd's seemingly insurmountable problem is that he's a 20th century star in a 21st century race. And although I don't think Senator Dodd's campaign will have the Hollywood ending of a surprise win, he's shown himself to be a classy politician at a time when they just aren't making them like that any more.
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