http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/09/24/kennedy.replacement/index.html

Quote :

"Paul Kirk to fill Kennedy's Senate seat, sources say * Story Highlights * Kennedy family associates have said Paul Kirk is the family's choice * Announcement of interim replacement is scheduled for 11 a.m. ET at the Statehouse * Primaries to fill the seat are set for December 8 * General election will take place on January 19"

We should know for sure any second now... I'm still trying to find a live stream of this.

Some background on the Kirk guy:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32999189/ns/politics-capitol_hill/

Quote :

"Paul Kirk biography Name: Paul G. Kirk, Jr. Current: He's the chairman of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation's board of directors. Other experience: A former law firm partner, he's also the CEO of a Boston consulting firm. Additionally, Kirk is a member of the board of directors of The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., Rayonier, and Incorporated and Cedar Shopping Centers, Inc. From 1985 to 1989, Kirk served as chairman of the Democratic Party of the United States. He was also a special assistant for the late Sen. Ted Kennedy from 1969 to 1977. Education: He is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School"

Quote :

"Kirk also knows the senator's staff intimately and would likely be assured of their loyalty given his relationship with Kennedy. As a senior statesman who has never served in political office, poses no threat to any of the candidates competing in the upcoming special election."

After the interim months pass, these are the people in the running for the seat as it stands right now:

Quote :

"Republican State Sen. Scott Brown has announced that he will run for the seat on the Republican side, while state attorney Gen. Martha Coakley, Celtics co-owner Stephen Pagliuca and Rep. Mike Capuano are battling for the Democratic nomination"

9/24/2009 11:00:24 AM

I still would have liked to see them get caught up in their own political web/mess.

9/24/2009 11:32:52 AM

exactly. It's fucking asinine that they would flip flop this fucking hard on this issue. Twice. I voted for it before i voted against it before i voted for it.

9/24/2009 10:11:05 PM

not really. they flip flopped once. and it wasn't flip flopping as much as it was being political opportunists in 2004. but of the three states of the law for what happens in mass. when a senator needs to be replaced (pre-2004, 2004-2009 and now) i like the current version the best. it gives the state a senator in the interim between the loss of the senator and an interim election. before 2004 the appointed senator would serve out the rest of the senator's term without any special election.

9/24/2009 10:27:25 PM

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34300931/ns/politics-capitol_hill/

Quote :

"Low turnout predicted for Mass. Senate vote Four Democratic candidates vie in primary for Edward Kennedy's seat BOSTON - Forget the ads, debates and endorsements. Come Tuesday, the only thing that matters for the candidates vying for the late Edward Kennedy's Senate seat is getting more of their voters to the polls than anyone else. A strong field operation, key in any major campaign, is all the more critical given the odd timing of the Massachusetts primary in early December and the fact that there are no other races on the ballot. "This is a very unusual situation," said Secretary of State William Galvin, who predicted voter turnout could be as low as 300,000 to 500,000. "We've never had a statewide special election. And it's in the winter, and now I'm hearing about snow. And it's coming during the holiday season," he said. Each of the four Democratic candidates — Attorney General Martha Coakley, U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano, Boston Celtics co-owner Stephen Pagliuca and City Year co-founder Alan Khazei — are playing to their strengths heading into the campaign's final 48 hours as they try to sew up their party's nomination. Coakley, hoping to become the first woman elected from Massachusetts to the U.S. Senate, has drawn backing from female lawmakers and activists, from state Senate President Therese Murray to Ms. magazine founder Gloria Steinem to the pro-abortion rights group EMILY's List. Coakley, leading in most polls, says she's not trying to take advantage of her position as the only female candidate, but a strong showing from female voters could prove critical on Tuesday. Like the other candidates, Coakley is taking to the road in the final days and ramping up her get-out-the-vote drive. Coakley spokesman Corey Welford said the campaign has spent months identifying voters and is planning on making thousands of phone calls to remind supporters to head to the polls. "We're taking no vote for granted," Welford said. Working-class underdog Capuano knows the benefits of a strong field operation. In 1998, Capuano was a five-term mayor of Somerville when he jumped into an open race for the Congressional district that gave Massachusetts Tip O'Neill and John F. Kennedy. Then-Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy II had decided not to seek re-election. In a 10-way race that included a couple of millionaire candidates and former Boston Mayor Ray Flynn, Capuano was able to use his base of support in Somerville to capture 24 percent of the primary vote — enough to win the Democratic nomination, and eventually the seat in Congress. Capuano, who has portrayed himself as the working-class underdog in the race, is hoping to repeat that kind of upset on Tuesday. "We've been steadily reaching out and identifying our voters and will be continuing to phone bank through the weekend and on Election Day," said campaign spokeswoman Alison Mills. Pagliuca, a multimillionaire, has spent millions of his own money to flood television, radio and Web sites with ads as he tries to overcome a name recognition gap compared to Coakley and Capuano. The political newcomer's campaign has been collecting names of supporters and has also been going door-to-door to urge people to vote Tuesday, according to campaign aide Matt O'Malley. O'Malley said the campaign is relying on "tried and true" methods like phone banks and bus tours, as well as new media techniques to help get supporters to the polls. "Steve's not a politician and I think that's playing very much in our favor," O'Malley said. "We're really excited. Our momentum is really building." Khazei, who's spent his adult life helping build the nonprofit service organization City Year, is courting the same young voters and first-time voters that helped propel both Gov. Deval Patrick and President Barack Obama into office. Getting those voters to the polls could be a challenge, and Khazei's campaign is using old and new techniques to rally support — from knocking on doors to posting on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. "We have a massive get-out-the-vote drive," said Khazei spokesman Dave Jacobson. The campaign hopes to knock on 50,000 doors in the final few days of the campaign. It also has phone banks going day and night to contact both undecided voters and supporters to remind them to make it to the polls. GOP nomination State Sen. Scott Brown of Wrentham and Duxbury attorney Jack E. Robinson are competing for the Republican nomination. Brown has the endorsements of virtually every major GOP figure in the state and is considered the front-runner against Robinson, who has run and lost three prior campaigns. The two meet for their final forum on Monday evening on WGBH's Greater Boston with Emily Rooney. Kennedy died Aug. 25 of brain cancer after nearly 47 years in the U.S. Senate. The primary is Tuesday, and the special election is Jan. 19. "

Assuming I'm reading that last part right, the primary is in only 2 days happening on Tuesday the 8th and based on the nature of MA, the primary for better or worse, is the real election.

12/6/2009 11:46:52 PM

Just heard on NPR that Attorney General Martha Coakley won the democratic primary with strong margins. And I think they said if she wins the general she'll be the first female senator from MA. The guy they had on to talk about it seemed to think that she'd be a shoe-in for the general since MA never elects republicans, especially since she won the primary by large margins rather than there being a lot of democratic party in-fighting. I guess we'll see in January.

12/9/2009 2:44:33 PM

10 days until the election

1/9/2010 8:43:09 PM

Rassmussen has Coakley leading her GOP challenger state senator Scott Brown by only 9 points.

A low democrat turn-out could make things pretty interesting.

1/9/2010 9:05:35 PM

Public Policy Polling puts Brown in the lead, but within the margin of error.

It is definitely an election to watch, but as a special election likely voters are party die-hards, and in Massachusetts that is mostly democrats.

1/9/2010 9:44:41 PM

^
True.. but even just a close race will put an even deeper terror into the hearts of democrat candidates this fall.

1/9/2010 11:30:06 PM

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/01/12/ma.senate.health.care/index.html'

Quote :

"CNN political analyst David Gergen, who moderated a debate between Brown and Coakley Monday night, said part of the closeness of the race is tied to the health care reform bill in Congress. "And his campaign has gotten a lot of traction suddenly, unexpectedly in the last few weeks by exactly that campaign pledge: 'I will send this bill back,'" Gergen said. ... Coakley said that she'd be "proud" to be the 60th vote to get health care reform passed."

Looks like both camps are trying to make the election a referendum on HCR.

1/13/2010 11:40:08 AM

Coakley in trouble? Pharma and HMO lobbyists to the rescue

Quote :

"With Democrat Martha Coakley in trouble in the Massachusetts special election to fill Ted Kennedy's seat, Democrats could lose vote No. 60 for President Obama's health-care bill. In response, an army of lobbyists for drug companies, health insurance companies, and hospitals has teamed up to throw a high-dollar Capitol Hill fundraiser for Coakley next Tuesday night. The invitation is here. Of the 22 names on the host committee--meaning they raised $10,000 or more for Coakley--17 are federally registered lobbyists, 15 of whom have health-care clients. Of the other five hosts, one is married to a lobbyist, one was a lobbyist in Pennsylvania, another is a lawyer at a lobbying firm, and another is a corporate CEO. Oh, and of course, there's also the political action commitee for Boston Scientific Corporation. All the leading drug companies have lobbyists on Coakley's host committee: Pfizer, Merck, Amgen, Sanofi-Aventis, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Astra-Zeneca, and more. On the insurance side of things, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Cigna, Humana, HealthSouth, and United Health all are represented on the host committee. Those HMOs (like Aetna) or drug companies who don't have lobbyists in Coakley's top tier of fundraisers? They're covered, because the host committee includes four lobbyists representing the Pharmaceutical Researchers and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), two representing America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), and one representing the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) So think of these top donors to health-care reform's 60th vote next time President Obama claims that he's battling the special interests in this battle. The army listed below is on Obama's side, and these clients will all benefit from "reform." Here are some of Coakley fundraiser hosts with some of their current health care clients: * Thomas Boggs, Patton Boggs: Bristol-Myers Squibb * Chuck Brain, Capitol Hill Strategies: Amgen, BIO, Merck, PhRMA * Susan Brophy, Glover Park Group: Blue Cross, Pfizer * Steven Champlin, Duberstein Group: AHIP, Novartis, Sanofi-Aventis * Licy Do Canto, Raben Group: Amgen * Gerald Cassidy, Cassidy & Associates: U. Mass Memorial Health Care * David Castagnetti, Mehlman, Vogel, Castagnetti: Abbot Labs, AHIP, Astra-Zenaca, General Electric, Humana, Merck, PhRMA. * Steven Elmendorf, Elmendorf Strategies: Medicines Company, PhRMA, United Health * Shannon Finley, Capitol Counsel: Amgen, Astra-Zeneca, Blue Cross, GE, PhRMA, Sanofi-Aventis. * Heather Podesta, Heather Podesta & Partners: Cigna, Eli Lilly, HealthSouth * Tony Podesta, Podesta Group: Amgen, GE, Merck, Novartis. * Robert Raben, Raben Group: Amgen, GE. If Coakley pulls it out, this is the crowd that will have brought her here. If health-care reform passes, this is the crew that will have won."

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/Coakley-in-trouble-Pharma-and-HMO-lobbyists-to-the-rescue-81067542.html#ixzz0cW9gmRFa


I posted this in another thread, but I think it fits here. So, in 5 days, can Scott Brown capitalize on distrust of DC in a solidly blue state? I think one this is almost certain, even if he loses he'll establish himself as a rising star in a GOP which could use one.

1/13/2010 1:57:11 PM

Yeah, both campaigns are coming into big money in the final days. Brown just got 1.3 million on Monday from an online fund raising effort which likely means a lot of money from out of state.

Not that the left isn't trying to do the same thing. I'm seeing Brown being painted as a hard right winger in their pleas for donations online.
http://www.bluemassgroup.com/diary/18306/who-is-scott-brown-a-george-w-bush-republican

Quote :

"# Just like George Bush, he claims to be a compassionate centrist but is in fact a ferociously partisan Republican. "I have a history of working as an independent thinker and voter having over 6,000 votes and working across Party lines ..." he told WGBH's Emily Rooney in 2009 (1'40" in this clip). Rooney swallowed the claim in the interview, but the Coakley campaign checked the facts and found that Brown has voted with the Republican leadership 96 percent of the time. Last week, true to form, he announced that if elected he will be the "41st Senator". # He claims to support Roe v. Wade but apparently hasn't read the decision: it permits late-late term abortions, which he opposes. (Incidentally, he supported the anti-choice Stupak-Pitts amendment: 3'53" in this clip.) # He claims states should be free to make their own laws about marriage but supports a Constitutional amendement to prevent millions of loving Americans from building strong families - which would trump any state legislation on the subject. # He wants to expand the tax policies of the Bush administration, which shifted taxes from the richest to the middle class, working class and poor, blew out the national budget, and left us with the economic collapse of 2008. # He believes, just like Dick Cheney, that torture is a fine way to gather information, and thinks it makes us stronger to ditch the rule of law and principle of checks-and-balances for anyone the government claims is a terrorist. Indeed, interestingly, he appears to have an almost unlimited faith in the effectiveness of government programs and his fellow government workers in the area of national security. # Finally, he has put political expediency ahead of stated principles. In the same interview with Rooney, he said he opposed health care reform primarily because it contained a public option, and also because it would increase costs. The public option has now, of course, been dropped as a practical matter and the Congressional Budget Office says the Senate plan will reduce premiums 14-20 percent for individuals who currently buy insurance. But Brown still opposes it just ... because. "

1/13/2010 4:03:36 PM

Quote :

"Yeah, both campaigns are coming into big money in the final days."

Well I was just pointing to the incongruity of someone supposedly "fixing" health care and "taking on" the HMOs having to depend on them for financial contributions to win a Senate seat.


They're working awfully hard to make sure that the Democratic Party has 60 votes in the Senate.

1/13/2010 4:38:21 PM

Just on the topic on money in politics and the health care debate, here is an article I looked at for my ethics class late last semester (big money is playing both sides against the middle):

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/15/us/politics/15health.html

Quote :

"WASHINGTON — In the official record of the historic House debate on overhauling health care, the speeches of many lawmakers echo with similarities. Often, that was no accident. Statements by more than a dozen lawmakers were ghostwritten, in whole or in part, by Washington lobbyists working for Genentech, one of the world’s largest biotechnology companies. E-mail messages obtained by The New York Times show that the lobbyists drafted one statement for Democrats and another for Republicans. The lobbyists, employed by Genentech and by two Washington law firms, were remarkably successful in getting the statements printed in the Congressional Record under the names of different members of Congress. Genentech, a subsidiary of the Swiss drug giant Roche, estimates that 42 House members picked up some of its talking points — 22 Republicans and 20 Democrats, an unusual bipartisan coup for lobbyists. "

1/13/2010 5:50:59 PM

I was talking with LunaK earlier and mentioned that absent one offhand and obscure racist reference by Senate candidate George Allen back in 2006 this entire debate may have had a completely different course.

I don't think most people have the foggiest idea of how embedded lobbyists are in the legislative process, for better and for worse really.

1/13/2010 5:56:49 PM

Coakley Thug Roughs Up Reporter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8CdfQGlgVw

1/13/2010 6:04:14 PM

from a political blog I read:

Quote :

"Coakley is doing herself no favors. Her most recent eyebrow raising comment came in a conversation with Boston Globe; when asked whether she wasn't doing enough to win the race, Coakley shot back: "As opposed to standing outside Fenway Park? In the cold? Shaking hands? This is a special election." Um, OK."

Right now the Democratic party is out-spending the GOP 2:1. If Scott Brown comes within 10 points of Coakley, it is be a moral victory for the GOP, especially in Mass.

1/14/2010 10:06:48 AM

I don't know what fucktard they got to run Coakley's race, but shit. Spelling Massachusetts wrong in an ad?!?!

JV, people, JV

1/14/2010 10:15:21 AM

But it's TED KENNEDY's seat! Where does it say that a senator has to actually be alive?

Surely Barney Frank and company can come up with some loophole that would put Teddy back in his seat.

1/14/2010 10:17:26 AM

ala weekend at bernies?

1/14/2010 10:18:19 AM

Coakley dodges question about Afghanistan claim
January 12th, 2010

Quote :

" Washington (CNN) – Democrat Martha Coakley dodged a pointed question Tuesday about her claim during a Massachusetts Senate debate the night before that terrorists are no longer in Afghanistan. During Monday's debate with Republican Scott Brown, Coakley questioned why the United States still has troops in Afghanistan. She claimed that the al Qaeda terrorists who were originally targeted by American military action have migrated elsewhere, rendering the mission moot. 'They're gone,' she said. 'They're not there anymore. They're in, apparently Yemen, they're in Pakistan.' A reporter asked Coakley about that claim after a Capitol Hill fundraiser on Tuesday. 'Do you stand by that remark?' he asked. Coakely, standing before a small cluster of reporters and cameras, listened to the question, then quickly looked in a different direction. 'I'm sorry,' she said. 'Did anybody else have a question?' The Democrat responded to another reporter who asked why she made the last-minute fundraising trip to Washington. Coakley said she was in the middle of 'a very intense campaign.' 'We are facing a candidate from Massachusetts who is being supportive by extreme right groups including many Republican groups who are pouring money into Massachusetts attacking my record and distorting my record,' Coakley said. 'I'm doing everything that I need to be competitive in this race.'"

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/01/12/coakley-dodges-question-about-afghanistan-claim/

Coakley's death penalty chameleon act unimpressive
January 13, 2010

Quote :

"When the topic turned to the death penalty, Coakley, who had once favored capital punishment for cop killers and murderers who slay again while in prison, said she was now against it in any circumstance. She contrasted her stand with that of Capuano, who in 2001 had voted for federal anti-terrorism legislation that included capital punishment for terrorists who bomb public areas or government buildings."

Quote :

"'I'm saying I don't think a death penalty is appropriate,’' she said. 'I think we need to do other things to protect ourselves from terrorists, but I think the death penalty is not appropriate.’’ Fast forward to Monday's US Senate debate. Republican nominee Scott Brown asked Coakley whether she would favor the death penalty for Khalid Shaikh Mohammed if he is found guilty for the September 11 attacks. 'He will get the death penalty if he is found guilty,' she said. Brown then asked whether she agreed that he should get the death penalty. 'Yes, because that is what the federal law says right now,' Coakley replied."

http://tinyurl.com/ydwn4rz

1/14/2010 3:31:01 PM

Im kind of hoping Coakley wins...she will be instant entertainment. what a dingbat.

1/14/2010 3:55:50 PM

^ Except this election's just too important.

Martha Coakley Buys Her Union Support

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S518s32jjic

1/14/2010 4:02:52 PM

She's getting more than just union support, the whole democratic machine has geared up light of those bad polling numbers from Rassmussen & Public Policy Polling. I've gotten e-mails asking me to make calls for her campaign & donate to her campaign and the like from the DSCC, Moveon.org, Organizing for America, Emily's List, something from John Kerry, Air America, Sen. Bob Menendez, Stonewall Democrats, and others. And the liberal side of the blogosphere has lit up too on DialyKos, PamsHouseblend, BlueMass, the Huffington Post, and more. I haven't donated anything nor made any calls, but I've seen the netroots go crazy in the past week because the polling.


Now speaking of entertainment value, Brown has some of his own. He's been a speaker at a Tea Party event and then denied having heard of the tea party movement, and he's posed for some interesting pictures (not that I think that will have any bearing on the election, only its entertainment value):



I think regardless of who wins, it promises to be entertaining, and an election to watch.

1/14/2010 4:24:40 PM

haha!!

1/14/2010 4:27:13 PM

^^ Well, he must have good genes--have you seen his daughter, Ayla?

1/14/2010 4:35:18 PM

Quote :

" He's been a speaker at a Tea Party event and then denied having heard of the tea party movement"

To be fair, that seems like it was the Boston Globe's screwup and he was actually just trying to deny the interviewers opinion of what constitutes the Tea Party Movement.

http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/senate-republicans/audio-reveals-scott-brown-didnt-really-say-he-hadnt-heard-of-tea-partiers/

1/14/2010 7:00:22 PM

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/01/14/ma-senate-race-now-a-toss-up-analysts-say/

Quote :

"Massachusetts Senate race now a toss-up, analysts say Posted: January 14th, 2010 06:49 PM ET Washington (CNN) – The Massachusetts Senate race between Democrat Martha Coakley and Republican Scott Brown is now a tossup, according to two respected, non-partisan analysts. The Cook Political Report, published by analyst Charlie Cook, and the Rothenberg Political Report, published by analyst Stuart Rothenberg, both said Thursday that the race between Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley and Massachusetts State Sen. Scott Brown to be a toss-up. National political trends are playing a major role in the race, according to the Rothenberg Political Report."

Both sides of the political spectrum are still trying to play this up as a referendum on health care reform, and the political climate in general. One side is going to end up regretting building it up so much as such an important election nationally, but at this point it is difficult to tell which side that is.


Looks like the left just pulled out their big gun today, if the President steps in and they lose, then its going to hurt, bad. (and here is there more grassrootsy vid too)



[Edited on January 14, 2010 at 11:40 PM. Reason : .]

1/14/2010 11:18:47 PM

DO WANT!

1/15/2010 12:26:20 AM

Quote :

"One side is going to end up regretting building it up so much as such an important election nationally, but at this point it is difficult to tell which side that is."

I don't think a loss will hurt the GOP nearly as much as a loss (or even a narrow win) will for the DP. The DP is spending 2:1 in a blue state which hasn't elected a Republican to the senate since 1979 and the more Coakley opens her mouth the closer she comes to losing. This shouldn't have even been a competition.

I also want to scream at both ads about their claims to "reform" given my healthcare related post in this thread. Her election is being financed by the people she's supposed to regulate. How anyone with a good consci . . . oh, right politics. Nevermind

[Edited on January 15, 2010 at 12:41 AM. Reason : 11666]

1/15/2010 12:39:22 AM

As of about an hour ago, Nate Silver joined in calling this a toss-up, after putting together all the public polling since the start of this year, he sees them both tied at 48%.

1/15/2010 12:57:08 AM

^^^^ Why isn't Obama campaigning in person for Coakley in Massachusetts?

Obama keeps his distance from Mass. race
Friday, January 15, 2010

Quote :

"Coming off stinging election losses in Virginia and New Jersey -- not to mention Copenhagen, where he failed to win the 2018 Olympics for his hometown of Chicago -- President Obama is staying away from what could become another painful loss. Even though the campaign of Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley has been making quiet entreaties, the president has no plans to visit her in the last week of the special election to fill the Senate seat once held by the late Edward M. Kennedy. 'It's not on our schedule to go to next week,' White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said matter-of-factly. With Mrs. Coakley flagging in the polls and Republican Scott Brown closing fast -- one recent polls puts him 2 points ahead -- Mr. Obama has decided to keep his fingerprints off a race that would be an embarrassment for Democrats should they lose, given that Mr. Obama won the state in 2008 by a 27 point margin. Mr. Obama last year lost a high-profile bid to bring the Olympics to his hometown, even after he flew to Copenhagen to make a personal pitch. That slight followed the gubernatorial losses last November in Virginia and New Jersey, where Mr. Obama campaigned hard for the Democrats only to see them defeated."

http://washingtontimes.com/news/2010/jan/15/obama-keeping-his-distance-massachusetts-race/

^^^

1/15/2010 5:05:59 AM

^ Politically, that makes sense. He doesn't need to be seen stumping for a flailing (though probably still victorious) Senatorial candidate with Haiti still a pressing issue.


I say "probably victorious" despite the fact that a new Suffolk University poll puts Scott Brown ahead by 4:

Quote :

"A Suffolk University poll released Thursday evening shows Republican Scott Brown four points ahead of Democrat Martha Coakley as he continues his improbable surge in the Massachusetts Senate special election. The poll reports Brown is leading Coakley, 50 to 46 percent, just within the margin of error. Independent candidate Joe Kennedy received 3 percent. Suffolk pollster David Paleologos told the Boston Herald even he was surprised by the poll’s results, noting that their models show a likely high turnout of independent voters next Tuesday, which is likely to benefit Brown. The results also showed Brown leading in all the state’s regions except Suffolk County. Brown’s favorability ratings are also higher than Coakley’s, with 57 percent saying they have a favorable opinion of the state senator and just 19 percent having an unfavorable opinion. Forty-nine percent say they have a favorable opinion of Coakley, while 41 percent have an unfavorable opinion of the attorney general. "

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0110/31534.html#ixzz0ch11SBlg

1/15/2010 9:51:58 AM

Quote :

"Why isn't Obama campaigning in person for Coakley in Massachusetts?"

I think this is very interesting. Obama's people must remember his failed attempts to help lib candidates in SC and NJ. He doesn't want to get tied to another loser.

If his internal polling shows that she will probably lose...you won't see him giving a passionate MLK speech in Boston on Monday.

On the other hand, this seat is very important in maintaining his filibuster-proof senate. He may have to risk more loss of coat-tail credibility in order to get uninspired dem voters to the polls.

1/15/2010 10:18:30 AM

not to mention the Olympic campaigning he did that resulted in Chicago finishing last. while not political, it was embarrassing just the same. he has to be careful as to who he hitches his wagon to.

1/15/2010 10:24:26 AM

Quote :

"The Washington Examiner is reporting on supposed internal poll numbers from Democratic Senate candidate Martha Coakley, fighting for the ancestral Kennedy seat, which have her actually behind her GOP opponent Scott Brown now. Simultanously, Obama approval ratings remain at 60 percent there. Does lead one to imagine how grim things could get nationally for the Dems in 2010 if his approval ratings are consistently smaller than that across the nation. Excerpt: "I have heard that in the last two days the bottom has fallen out of her poll numbers," says one well-connected Democratic strategist. In her own polling, Coakley is said to be around five points behind Republican Scott Brown. "If she's not six or eight ahead going into the election, all the intensity is on the other side in terms of turnout," the Democrat says. "So right now, she is destined to lose.".... With the election still four days away, Democrats are still hoping that "something could happen" to change the dynamics of the race. But until that thing happens, the situation as it exists today explains Barack Obama's decision not to travel to Massachusetts to campaign for Coakley....For national Democrats, the task is now to insulate Obama against any suggestion that a Coakley defeat would be a judgment on the president's agenda and performance in office. The Washington Post this morning is reporting merely a "dead heat" between Coakley and Brown. Michael Moynihan blogged about the Coakley/Brown race yesterday."

http://reason.com/blog/2010/01/15/massachusetts-still-loving-oba

Here's a good way to piss off 39% of your voters....

Quote :

"How can a Massachusetts Senate candidate possibly offend 39 percent of voters in her state? If it's Democrat Attorney General Martha Coakley, she would tell devout Catholics not to bother working in an emergency room (H/T Jim Hoft - Big Government). In the audio clip below, Ms. Coakley chokes on a question from radio host Ken Pittman referring to the conscience clause. Under the conscience clause, workers in health-care environments ranging from doctors to maintenance men can refuse to offer services, information, or advice to patients on issues like contraception, blood transfusions, etc..if the workers are morally against it. Here is how Ms. Coakley handled the matter. (audio and transcript below): Ken Pittman: Right, if you are a Catholic, and believe what the Pope teaches that any form of birth control is a sin. ah you don’t want to do that. Martha Coakley: No we have a separation of church and state Ken, lets be clear. Ken Pittman: In the emergency room you still have your religious freedom. Martha Coakley: (……uh, eh…um..) The law says that people are allowed to have that. You can have religious freedom but you probably shouldn’t work in the emergency room."

1/15/2010 10:48:08 AM

Quote :

"Here's a good way to piss off 39% of your voters..."

1. What she said was true. If your religion prevents you from doing a significant part of your job, then you don't need to be in that line of work.

2. 39% of the voters are Catholic. That doesn't mean 39% of voters care about this. I was raised Catholic, and I can't think of a single person who actually bought into the Church's stance on contraception whole cloth.

1/15/2010 12:02:12 PM

Quote :

"1. What she said was true."

which is why she sucks as a politician


Looks like the President will be campaigning for her on Sunday. We'll see how it pays off.

1/15/2010 3:01:52 PM

Questions about Coakley's handling of this case are heating up:

Some saw Coakley as lax on '05 rape case
January 6, 2010

Quote :

"In October 2005, a Somerville police officer living in Melrose raped his 23-month-old niece with a hot object, most likely a curling iron. Keith Winfield, then 31, told police he was alone with the toddler that day and made additional statements that would ultimately be used to convict him. But in the aftermath of the crime, a Middlesex County grand jury overseen by Martha Coakley, then the district attorney, investigated without taking action. It was only after the toddler's mother filed applications for criminal complaints that Coakley won grand jury indictments charging rape and assault and battery. Even then, nearly 10 months after the crime, Coakley's office recommended that Winfield be released on personal recognizance, with no cash bail. He remained free until December 2007, when Coakley's successor as district attorney won a conviction and two life terms. Coakley, now the Democratic candidate for US Senate, has made much of her record prosecuting crimes against children, and says her office handled this investigation appropriately. But the case stands out as one in which she drew criticism for not being aggressive enough. Indeed, the case gave rise to Coakley's last competitive election. Larry Frisoli, a Cambridge attorney who had represented the family of Jeffrey Curley, a 10-year-old Cambridge boy murdered by sexual predators in an infamous 1997 case, was so angered by Coakley's handling of the Winfield investigation that he ran against her as a Republican for attorney general in 2006, ultimately unsuccessfully. 'That was the principal reason Larry decided to run,' said Frank Frisoli, Larry's brother and former law partner. 'He clearly felt that procedure was not being followed.'"

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/articles/2010/01/06/some_saw_coakley_as_lax_on_05_rape_case/

1/16/2010 3:56:42 AM

Quote :

"Poll Watch: American Research Group Massachusetts Senatorial Survey American Research Group Massachusetts Senatorial Survey * Scott Brown (R) 48% * Martha Coakley (D) 45% * Joseph Kennedy (I) 2% * Undecided 5% Survey of 600 likely voters was conducted January 12-14, 2010. The margin of error is +/- 4 percentage points. Party ID breakdown: 44% Democrat; 20% Republican; 36% Independent. Inside the numbers: Brown leads Coakley 94% to 1% among registered Republicans and he leads 58% to 37% among unenrolled voters. Coakley leads Brown 71% to 20% among registered Democrats. A total of 8% of Democrats and 5% of Republicans remain undecided. Brown leads 54% to 39% among men while Coakley leads 50% to 44% among women. Brown leads 52% to 42% among likely voters age 18 to 49 and Coakley leads 47% to 46% among voters 50 and older. A total of 9% of likely voters say they have already voted by absentee ballot, with Brown leading Coakley 58% to 42%."

http://race42008.com/2010/01/15/poll-watch-american-research-group-massachusetts-senatorial-survey/

1/16/2010 10:44:30 AM

Anyone have any polling on how popular the health care bill is in Massachusetts? The President touted this bill as being inspired by the Massachusetts plan but Mass now has the highest insurance rates in the country and costs are only climbing.

Now, since Coakley simply can't run against health care reform (it'd be too late anyway) is the fear of a national clusterfuck like Mass has propelling his campaign?

1/16/2010 11:31:15 AM

from what i've heard last night on pbs, mass already has pretty good state health care, so its citizens don't have much interest in a federal plan

1/16/2010 12:17:38 PM

because pbs surely has no dog in this fight.

1/16/2010 12:29:46 PM

Quote :

"MARK SHIELDS: One wrinkle on the health thing... JIM LEHRER: OK. MARK SHIELDS: ... that Scott Brown has a very adroit answer, which is, we in Massachusetts already have health insurance. They do. I mean, they have universal health insurance, Mitt Romney's plan, which he owned and then disowned during the -- his campaign for presidency. JIM LEHRER: But it is still in existence. MARK SHIELDS: But he said -- that's right. It is still the law. And 96 percent of the people in Massachusetts have health coverage. He said, why should we pay our taxes to cover people in Texas? So, I mean, there is a certain sense of pride, as well as provincialism, as well as anti-tax in his message. Republicans have already won this race, Jim. I mean, let's get that straight."

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/jan-june10/sb_01-15.html

1/16/2010 1:45:45 PM

Quote :

"Even though the campaign of Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley has been making quiet entreaties, the president has no plans to visit her in the last week of the special election to fill the Senate seat once held by the late Edward M. Kennedy."

http://tinyurl.com/yajxskx

Quote :

"Q Robert, why isn't the President going to campaign for Martha Coakley? It's a tight race, very important to his agenda, potentially. MR. GIBBS: It's just not on our schedule to go to next week. Q All right, then why is it not on the schedule? MR. GIBBS: It's just not on the schedule. Q Has he been asked by the Coakley campaign to come? MR. GIBBS: Not that I'm aware of. Q Has he been asked to stay away? MR. GIBBS: Not that I'm aware of. (Laughter.)"

http://tinyurl.com/yhbt336

It appears that someone's having trouble with the truth.

1/17/2010 5:31:38 AM

My guess is they were holding off making public announcements that the President was going on the campaign trail as long as possible to separate it from being tied by the media into the story of earthquake relief efforts.

1/17/2010 6:56:00 AM

What? The union turning against Lord Obama?

1/17/2010 10:18:48 AM

Calling Curt Schilling a Yankee was pretty hilarious on Coakley's part. She has a serious case of foot in mouth disease.

1/17/2010 10:28:43 AM

and then she tried to cover by saying, "well he's not a redsox player anymore"

HAHA

1/17/2010 11:00:12 AM