Words Of Wisdom

"If the Democrats run for cover, if we become pale carbon copies of the opposition, we will lose--and deserve to lose," he said. "The last thing this country needs is two Republican parties."

-Ted Kennedy

At some point either Democrats are going to wake up to the reality that people over the last two election cycle voted them in because we want DEMOCRATS running the country, or they will continue to try to look "centrist" and they will get their asses handed to them in November. Martha Coakley was a shitty candidate but even a shitty candidate wins that race yesterday if the legislation from last year, ie the stimulus bill and a health care bill, were more progressive.

Its really as black and white as you can get.

"As Opposed To Standing Outside Fenway Park In The Cold Shaking Hands?"

If there wasn't so much at stake because we have a pansy as Senate Majority Leader who can't keep his caucus in line and will allow Republicans to threaten to filibuster every single piece of meaningful legislation, I would say Martha Coakley deserves not only to lose this race but to be demolish. But I just refuse to see the gridlock in Congress get any worse only to usher in Mittens or Jindal, or some other Rethug ass hate into the Presidency in 2012. But if and when she gets into office she had better DAMN WELL vote with the caucus.

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Now If You Want To Make Hay Out Of Something On Scott Brown

Martha Coakley and the rest of the Mass. Democratic machine have really been making a mess out of things in her race for Ted Kennedy's seat of late, but if they want to get people off their ass to vote in the election they should play this clip of Scott Brown questioning whether President Obama's mother and father were married at the time of his birth. It shows that the "moderate" he has been pretending to be on the campaign trail is just an act and the REAL Scott Brown came out for just a minute. And while they are at it they should put out a press releaase calling on all of the GOP leadership to say whether they think what he said was appropriate and calling on him to apologize to President Obama.



That ladies and gentlemen is how you play effective politics.

And Then There Were 60

Paul Kirk is your new junior Senator from Massachusetts:

Governor Deval Patrick today named Paul G. Kirk Jr. to serve as interim US senator, making the announcement in the presence of the immediate family of the late Edward M. Kennedy.

"He is a distinguished lawyer, volunteer, and citizen, and he shares the sense of service that so distinguished Senator Ted Kennedy," Patrick said at a news conference at the State House. "Paul will not seek the open seat in the special election coming up in January. But for the next few months, he will carry on the work and the focus of Senator Kennedy, mindful of his mission, and his values, and his love of Massachusetts."

The late senator's widow, Victoria Reggie Kennedy, and one of his sons, Ted Kennedy Jr., watched from the audience as Patrick introduced his selection.

"This appointment is a profound honor," Kirk said. "I accept it with sincere humility."

Kirk, a longtime Kennedy family friend, reiterated that he would not run in the special election and said he planned to keep the late senator's staff.

I am still not sold on this move, but again it had damn well better equal 60 votes against a filibuster or the Democrats are screwed.

Not Sure If This Is Good News

The Hill

The Massachusetts Senate on Tuesday approved a bill that would allow Gov. Deval Patrick (D) to fill his state's vacant U.S. Senate seat by interim appointment.

The measure, passed 24-16, now heads back to both chambers for a routine procedural vote. If approved a second time, it would then head to the governor, whom lawmakers expect to sign the bill quickly.

The idea to revise state law and return Senate appointment power to the governor was first pitched by the late Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) in the weeks before his death.

I certainly hope that since President Obama and the White House pushed so hard for Massachusetts to change their law so that Governor Patrick can name Senator Kennedy's successor that they are reasonably assured that no Senate Democrats are going to support a Republican filibuster of health care reform. If not, this may go down as one of the worst political moves in the history of this country. With that seat open the Democrats would have had cover to pass health care reform through the Senate with reconciliation. Not only that, but reconciliation would have forced an even stronger public option and guaranteed that the bill was truly deficit neutral.

Now with the Democrats once again having 60 seats in the Senate they pretty much have to push the bill through with normal procedures and all 60 Senate Democrats banding together to overcome a Republican filibuster. If not then Republicans will use it as proof that the Democrats are pushing something on the American people that not even all of our own members can support. On the flip side just to get all 60 Democrats to stay together there may have to be so much watering down of the bill that its not even reform anymore.

I am going to keep my fingers crossed that the White House is going to be able to herd cats in the Senate but I am more than just a little bit nervous about this development.

The Stain Of Stupid

Well said Rachel, well said.

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