Re: It was never about the name...

I'd say you are correct about that assessment, Kevin. Tribal politics are an art that I think most people outside the reservation only dimly understand, and I'm not going to be the guy that claims to be one that understands them, but I will say that one thing about this story is being overlooked a little. Tribal politics, perhaps influenced by history, are very fluid and at times harsh and brutal. Friends in tribal politics are fleeting. This is more true when it comes to their internal politics, but it is also true in their external politics. They may view Kagen as a better 'friend' than Gard right now, but I'd wager that Kagen's comments did not go unnoticed. If Kagen were to manage to win that seat, the tribes would cultivate a relationship with Kagen until such time that they could find a better friend. With his words in mind, they'd gladly throw him overboard in two years unless he sells his political soul to them. That means that if Kagen wins, he'll have to answer to them or they'll go looking for a sympathetic Republican that they can enthusiastically throw their weight behind. They may be viewing Kagen's stupid epithet as a gift, an inroad to having a lot of control over him. That's my two cents, take it for what it is worth.