Thoughts on Massachusetts
Jan 21st, 2010 by Tennessee Walker
Am I still celebrating? Without a doubt!!! I am really happy not just for having a new Republican Senator. I am really happy for my friends in New England who have struggled for years swimming against the tide.
Yes, there are Republicans in Massachusetts (I actually have Republican friends in Boston!!!)
I have hesitated posting until I actually talked to people who were on the ground in Massachusetts and to get their view. I can post on my personal views of this race but I live in Delaware and not Massachusetts. I wanted to get the whole first hand accounts.
For the record I have reported on the polling in this race and I had friends in Massachusetts who were cautiously optimistic about this race from the beginning.
My Mass. contacts were pleased with the selection of Scott Brown as their candidate. Their initial assessment was that this was one of the best selections in a very bad situation. My contacts initially reflected the convential wisdom that the Democrat was going to win.
Again, according to my sources, the Massachusetts media is totally biased against anyone who is a Republican. The Boston Globe (owned by the New York Times) is essentially a shill of the Mass. Democrat Committee. But, there is a respite from the liberal bigotry and that is local and national talk radio.
Scott Brown was successful in using this media to bypass the Liberal TV and Print media. Brown drove his pickup truck and got traction on talk radio. He was everywhere.
My Mass. contacts saw momentum gaining early in December although Brown was still 20 points down at the time. The fact was that Brown was a local and not a statewide candidate in early December. While his friends and neighbors voted for him to go to the State Senate, He had never run statewide unlike Coakley who was the State’s Attorney General.
Brown was making headway throughout December and voters in Massachusetts were buying into his message but there were two events that began to flip the race in his favor.
The First and most important was the Senate healthcare deal whereby Senators Ben Nelson and Mary Landrieu were bought off. Brown campaigned from the beginning against Obama Care. This brought to the public’s attention that Brown was an alternative against Obama Care. The second was the outdoor hockey game between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Boston Bruins at Fenway Park. Scott Brown showed up and greeted fans. When asked why she was not campaigning, Coakley dissed the entire event and told all that she considered it beneath her to stand in the cold and greet hockey fans.
Boston has some Conservative talk radio that has some influence. But Boston has some really influential SPORTS talk radio that evidently everyone eventually listens to. Brown’s attendance at the Flyers/Bruins outdoor game at Fenway was duly noted. Coakley’s arrogant and condescending comments were also duly noted.
Usually, sports talk radio does not cover political topics. Martha Coakely left herself open with her comments denigrating campaigning at the Fenway event. Brown’s participation at Fenway gave him enormous amounts of positive media from call ins to sports talk radio that he would never have gotten anywhere else. Coakely’s comments earned her tons of negative publicity. The bigoted national media and the Bigoted Boston Globe never picked up on this. Massachusetts voters did pick up on this.
In short Massachusetts voters do not buy into the Obama agenda.(they still like him personally) They clearly wanted to send him a message but they needed to find a candidate they liked personally and who they saw as having a chance of winning. Scott Brown started to look like a potential winner by the end of December.
That brings us to January. My friends In Mass. saw the Brown trend. They were getting excited and still thought he would lose but thought he would run a good race.
And then the ultimate Washington Insider served up to Brown the softball he hit out of the Park. Alleged Republican David Gergen challenged Brown on how he could kill the disgusting Obama Care bill while sitting in the “Kennedy Seat”.
Brown delivered the line of the decade when he said that it’s not the Kennedy seat, IT’S THE PEOPLE’S SEAT!!. (This is A point liberals never seem to get.)
It is my view that this is when this became for conservatives and Repbulicans a national race. Scott Brown refused to accept the liberal orthodoxy that Senate seats should be handed down like church benefices. Brown’s smackdown also resonated in Massachusetts.
What had been a slow dribble to Brown became a torrent.
In typical liberal fashion the disgusting and dirty lying ads came from the liberal Democrats. The liberals also brought in union thugs from the SEIU although local SEIU members supported Brown.
Local Massachusetts folks will not forget how much lying the liberals did about Scott Brown.
Ayla Brown, Scott’s daughter called Coakely out on this very issue. Scot Brown filed charges against Coakely for her lies.
As the Coakley campaign faded and failed, the candidate could not help to keep digging deeper into the trench where she was already sinking to deep. Her idiotic comment about Red Sox hero Curt Schilling (former Philadelphia Phillie), demonstrated better than any Scott Brown commet, how out of touch Coakely was.
She was already sinking. Demonstrating a total lack of Boston Sports knowledge just pulled another plug.
I think she was already a loser. Her comments just added nails to her own coffin.
Massachusetts voters wanted to send a message. They needed to see someone who could be a winner. Scott Brown began to look like a vehicle for this and in the end he won. This is what my friends in Massachusetts saw.
In the end they saw a building and budding candidacy before anyone in the national scene saw it. They initially did not see Scott Brown as a winner. They saw things turn around with the Nelson bribery of the Health Care plan which occurred at the same time as the Fenway Park Hockey game. Many Massachusetts residents wanted to send a message. Scott Brown successfully sold himself as the correct vehicle to send a message.
Many thanks to all of my friends in Mass. including a Republican from the Boston suburbs and a Democrat from central Mass.
Thank you to Pandora who offered her congrats to us for winning this race. Other than calling friends and encouraging them to work hard, I did nothing in this race. Pandora’s classy congratulations gives me a reason to pause to unload on liberals. This pause lasts about 12 hours.
I still like you Pandora, regardless.
I can’t wrap my mind around how this win was a vote against HCR if Brown didn’t run any ads about it. If it was his number one issue, don’t you think he would have cuts some ads trumpeting his position?
I see it mostly as a really good ground game by Brown. He exploited the advantages that he had, while Coakley underplayed every hand she was dealt. I know that people outside of MA think that it is some sort of bastion of liberalism, but I think that is a bit of a misconception. There has always been a strong conservative undercurrent there, Ted Kennedy discusses it in his memoirs.
I guess we will see what happens…
Two things, Brown voted for Mass Care and the voters who viewed health care as #1 issue went for Coakley by 10%.
Republicans would be wise not to forget about health care.
Mike Protack
From what I have seen so far, Scott Brown looks okay. His tone seems less confrontational. He said he had a good talk with the President, they laughed a lot – which is good. He said he thinks all Americans deserve good health care, that since the issue is important to the President he will certainly be looking hard at the issue. Sounds tolerant of others. Says he will represent the people who elected him, suggesting he’s not a robot to any Party ideology. All around, in the little bit I have seen and heard he sounds like a sensible Republican, just what we need. The best part is this new United States Senator is a product of our free and fair election process, just like the President of the United States.
We have to respect the process, it is all we have.
“I can’t wrap my mind around how this win was a vote against HCR if Brown didn’t run any ads about it. If it was his number one issue, don’t you think he would have cuts some ads trumpeting his position?”
Why Brown would have needed ads when his statement that he would be the 41st vote against Obama care was getting regular and free play in the media?
Don’t forget his statement that It was the people’s seat was in response to a question from David Gergen about Brown’s opposition to Obama Care.
His position regarding terrorism and support of the military also gained him significant support.
Tennessee – Progressives can’t understand that Americans have the ability to formulate opinions based on subtle tactics like being the 41st vote. Nor can they understand that he could reach out to his base via means other than TV ads. Progressives only understand propaganda.
And yet he supported Massachusetts health care… unless I missed the part where he called for, and ran on, its repeal?
Be careful what you wish for, guys. So far I’m hearing all sorts of excuses for “pro-choice, pro- Mass. health care” Brown. One might be forgiven for questioning your stated, “true Conservative” principles.
And if you’re celebrating Brown’s victory, why are (some) you demanding Castle’s defeat? Am I the only one seeing the disconnect?
Doesn’t Constitution say majority vote in the Senate, nothing about filibuster or 60 votes. That was a rule put in 1975? How about we get back to reading the Constitution? I think the GOP needs to be worried about Senator Scott. He may be a guy who makes intolerance looks bad.
“And if you’re celebrating Brown’s victory, why are (some) you demanding Castle’s defeat? Am I the only one seeing the disconnect?”
I definitely see it, Pandora. Brown is about as libertarian as you can get in MA, which means to say he is a liberal Republican. The far-right uber-conservatives of the R party better get a grip on the fact that we are a center-right, not an ultra-right nation. It was the Independents that were the factor for Brown (along with Coakley’s numerous missteps…geez one couldn’t ask for a worse candidate).
I will support Castle. I disagreed with his vote on Crap and Tax, and was a little disillusioned by his response to my letter. He pretty much said that the Senate would water it down so it wouldn’t be that bad.
I could never vote for a Christine O’Donnell, and I’m not alone.
Demanding ideological purity hasn’t worked for either party.
“And yet he supported Massachusetts health care… unless I missed the part where he called for, and ran on, its repeal?
Be careful what you wish for, guys. So far I’m hearing all sorts of excuses for “pro-choice, pro- Mass. health care” Brown. One might be forgiven for questioning your stated, “true Conservative” principles.
And if you’re celebrating Brown’s victory, why are (some) you demanding Castle’s defeat? Am I the only one seeing the disconnect?”
Brown accurately criticized Obama Care as a one size fits all approach . The Massachusetts Plan (which has not been a success) was a unique experiment funded in Massachusetts by a 2 billion dollar windfall. (Cigarette money) As a federalist, I agree with Brown that these types of experiments are best attempted at the State level.
Brown considers Roe v. Wade “settled law” but is in favor of Parental Notification laws and will vote for restrictions on Partial Birth Abortion.
I only know of one person on this site banging the drum for Castle’s defeat. (I am talking about posters and not those who comment) I know of one other who has said that he is supporting Chritine O’Donnell but that he will vote for Castle if he wins the primary.
Brown strikes just the right note on the war on terrorism. Unlike liberals, he wants to see tax dollars going to weapons for our soldiers and not for lawyers for the terrorists wanting to kill us.
Regarding conservative principles, I have no problem calling Brown a Conservative. His rationale for his votes come from a Conservative/Libertarian perspective. There are Conservatives who support the terms of Roe v. Wade.
I still don’t get why liberals turn a blind eye to honestly debated differences on the Conservative side. (Trust me we debate all the time.) It appears that liberals believe their own inane propaganda that Conservatives are mind numb robots marching in lock step and taking refuge in their “guns and religion”. But hey since it makes liberals feel better they can go ahead and believe it.
I would respectfully ask that you look up how Massachusetts funded it’s health care. (Hint: they didn’t do it by themselves)
And that’s quite an anti-liberal rant you got going there, Tennessee. Love the line about people like me hating the troops and lovin’ the terrorists. (and, yeah, that’s pretty much what you just said) Obviously my previous comment hit a nerve.
Keep in mind that Brown’s support for Mass. health care was on the state level, and wouldn’t violate the Constitution when it comes to states’ rights. I’m not saying that I like government-run health care either way, but better for the states to decide individually than the federal government to force it upon all.
Doesn’t Constitution say majority vote in the Senate, nothing about filibuster or 60 votes..
The Senate has the Constitutional authority to make it’s own procedural rules, and said rules require a 3/5ths of the Senate majority to over-ride a filibuster.
When the Socialists-Dems were in the minority, I was a proponent of forcing them to actually filibuster, rather than threaten a filibuster. This would have made them read the Bible (or, Das Capital), 24/7, and look like fools in the process.
Basically, what goes around, comes around. That’s politics.
So the theory is that a relatively unknown candidate can run in a special election and spend millions on advertising, but that he will only talk about being the 41st vote against healthcare reform (apparently his signature issue) on the sly? Really?
So should we expect that Mike Castle will fail to mention his years of service? Christine O’Donnell won’t talk about Castle’s cap-and-trade vote? Bonini won’t discuss cutting spending? I’ll keep my eyes peeled for that.
And to be accused of only understanding propaganda from a guy that screams socialism and death panels just completes the picture of right-wing cluelessness.
Look, even most libertarians are far to the right of Mike Castle. At least Libertarians are familiar with the Constitution. I’m not Mike Castle even knows where to find that document.
*I’m not *sure* Mike Castle even knows where to find that document.
..just completes the picture of right-wing cluelessness.
Yeah..the ‘cluelessness’ that now holds the ‘Kennedy seat.’ At the end of the day, that’s all that matters…a seat that was, for decades, a guaranteed vote for the Dems is now gone. Hilarious.
If you want to talk about ‘cluelessness,’ watch the left wing media pundits like Matthews, Blitzer, Schultz, et al. They actually think that the vote in Mass was about ‘the economy.’ What did Coakley have to do with ‘the economy?’
The Mass election was about the repudiation of the Socialist-Democrats’ left-wing, behind closed doors agenda. That’s also why the left lost in New Jersey (Corzine) and got annihilated in Virginia (Deeds); and in ’10, it will be coming to a theater near you.
In the meantime, pinkos, keep your heads buried in the sand.
Did you see Blitzer as the results came in to CNN? CLASSIC look of dejection on his face. “Brown leads 53-46 but remember, only 80 percent of the vote is in, there is still a chance…” lol priceless
“I would respectfully ask that you look up how Massachusetts funded it’s health care. (Hint: they didn’t do it by themselves)
And that’s quite an anti-liberal rant you got going there, Tennessee. Love the line about people like me hating the troops and lovin’ the terrorists. (and, yeah, that’s pretty much what you just said) Obviously my previous comment hit a nerve.”
Pandora, I know how Massachusetts funded their program. I have friends in Mass. who kept me informed. I also was lucky enough to hear Mitt Romney explain the plan and the program in person.
As for the anti liberal rant you take exception to, that was part of Scott Brown’s stump speech and was part of his acceptance speech. That is why I quote it on a comments thread about Scott Brown. I can understand why you didn’t want to watch Brown’s acceptance speech. I personally think that Brown’s tough approach to terrorism and the weak kneed approach of the Obama administration and his liberal acolytes gained Brown votes.
I think closing Gitmo and Mirandizing underwear bombers from Yemen are the wrong approach to fighting terrorism. Liberals are on record for supporting these policies that I and Scott Brown oppose.
Are you telling us you want to not close Gitmo. and are in favor of a tougher approach to getting intelligence from folks like the Underwear bomber?
Pandora, I know how Massachusetts funded their program.
No, you don’t.
Yes I do. Tag you’re it.
Massachusetts had help from the Federal Government to fund its program. I believe to the tune of 385 million annually.
Read on:
http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=10381
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/11/03/romney_health_plan_difficult_to_copy/
And while Massachusetts did tap into its “free care pool” to act like they paid for it all by themselves simply isn’t true.
Um guys, could someone rescue my comment from moderation? I think I posted too many links!
Maybe DP should censor your comments, like they do at Pathetic Delaware ‘Liberal.’
And that would be their choice, Rick.
I’m not big on censoring – and have personally never banned anyone – but the line, for me, is drawn at blatant sexual vulgarity and people who go out of their way to tell me they know who I am and where I live – which I’ve dealt with several times. As one of a few female bloggers in Delaware I can’t tell you how many times I’ve dealt with things like this, and how often policy disagreement devolves into stalker/threatening tactics – and which will have me deleting a comment.
Which is something female bloggers deal with far too often, and something probably worthy of a post. Unless you think someone telling me I need their co*k between my legs is okay?
But if DP would rather do without my comments, that is their call, and I would respect it. That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t write about it, but I’m pretty comfortable with my reputation in the DE blogosphere to probably get away with a good ol’ rant.