Explanation impossible? Well, maybe not.

Honestly, the production could have been better and I haven't actually seen the ad run because I don't watch much local TV except for MASN and that network doesn't put many political ads on during the summer a year and a half out from the general election. Nonetheless, this ad is quite funny in a "sad, but true" way:

I don't doubt that Frank Kratovil is "just following orders" because he's a freshman legislator from a vulnerable district and his first priority is getting himself re-elected. Otherwise, it may be tough for him to continue living in the shadow of the Bay Bridge so he can claim to hold those "Eastern Shore values".

There is an element of disingenuousness, though, about the NRCC's claim of Kratovil "voting with Nancy Pelosi 89% of the time." Aside from the really conservative folks who simply skip votes renaming a post office or honoring some sports team for winning a championship, most Congressmen do vote with Nancy Pelosi a staggering percentage of the time, and Frank has occasionally gone off the liberal reservation to vote properly on issues - although far less often than a real conservative in the Andy Harris mold would have done. Nor should it be said that Kratovil doesn't attempt to play on that liberal staple, class envy.

Even on a bill Frank introduced which would help out small business there is a hesitation of sorts, as in this example. Why stop the break in 2011? Is there some magic formula that says we're only allowed to keep our deduction through 2011 before it hurts the government? In a way that practice reminds me of the grants that help out cities on a temporary basis until they have to come up with the money themselves after the grant runs its course - usually resulting in either layoffs or increased taxes.

In any event, enjoy this initial salvo of Campaign 2010 and gird your loins from occasional shots across the bow for the next 10 months or so. It'll start getting really nasty about this time next year.