GOP Scrapes the Bottom of the Barrel for Opponent to Kennedy

[kerrygoddess]

GOP Scrapes the Bottom of the Barrel for Opponent to Kennedy
October 13th, 2005

The GOP has scraped the bottom of the barrel looking for an opponent to Ted Kennedy in the 2006 Senatorial Race in MA. So far, the GOP has not been able to find anyone with the gumption to give it a go. Kennedy is a formidable candidate who is too well ensconced in his position as the senior Senator from MA.

The Boston Globe reported yesterday, that “Massachusetts Republican Party officials, down to their last chance to find a credible candidate, are working to persuade Essex Sheriff Frank G. Cousins Jr. to run against US Senator Edward M. Kennedy next year.”

Cousins, is a 47-year-old former Republican state representative from Newburyport, MA. Prior to his appointment to the Essex Sheriff’s post, by former Governor William Weld in 1996 to fill a vacancy,“Frank Cousins served two terms as State Representative (1992-1996) from the 1st Essex District and was a Newburyport City Councilor (1989-1993).” He was the first African-American to be appointed as a Massachusetts sheriff.

One would have to ask why would some one with so little experience in the political arena even agree to run against the “Lion of Senate”, Ted Kennedy. Ambition, perhaps… but it certainly doesn’t seem very wise.

MORE & LINKS - http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=828

[AX10]

1. In this Climate Kennedy will get 75%+.

It's a futile move on Cousins behalf.

[Imalittleteapot]

2. Big waste of laundered GOP corporate money. n/t

[Todd B]

3. I guess that's *one* way to kill your political career...

Find someone with absolutely no experience and run them against Senator Kennedy in the heart of Massachusetts.

Yeah, that's a great idea.

And what ever happened to the talk of the GOP finding someone to run against Senator Kerry in '08? I thought I read somewhere that one of the Swift Boat Liars was going to challenge him, or something.

[freethought]

7. Kerry ran unopposed last time.

Last time Kennedy ran I believe there was republican opposition but it was totally ineffectual. You would ask people if they new if Ted Kennedy was running and they'd answer "Of Course!". Ask them if they knew who his opponent was and you were likely to get "Someone's running against him!?"

[MaineDem]

4. MA did have an African American GOP Senator before

Remember Ed Brooke?

BROOKE, Edward William, III, a Senator from Massachusetts; born in Washington, D.C., October 26, 1919; attended the public schools of Washington, D.C.; graduated from Howard University, Washington, D.C., in 1941; graduated, Boston University Law School 1948; captain, United States Army, infantry, with five years of active service in the European theater of operations; chairman of Finance Commission, city of Boston 1961-1962; elected attorney general of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1962; reelected in 1964; elected as a Republican to the United States Senate in 1966; reelected in 1972 and served from January 3, 1967, to January 3, 1979; unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1978; first African American elected to the Senate by popular vote; lawyer; awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom on June 23, 2004; is a resident of Miami, Fla.

I seem to remember he wasn't a bad Senator.

In '78 he lost to Paul Tsongas.

[abluelady]

5. I understand Where You're Coming From

but I live in a red state and more often than not no Dems are run. I really feel that we should have someone running in every race, just to get our platform out there. One of these days we just might win a seat.

[freethought]

6. "The Lion of the Senate" isn't even going to

feed on that republican carcass. Likely, he'll ignore it and leave it for the vultures and hyenas.
One of the last times Kennedy was up for reelection, repubs put Mitt Romney up against him. As the campaigns went on Teddy and "Mittens" ran nearly neck and neck. As the election drew nearer, Kennedy pulled out. Kennedy wound up pounding Romney in the election. Pretty sweet!

I have said a few times before, and this is not a smear against Ted Kennedy, the only way Ted Kennedy will leave the Senate is in a wooden box. I like Ted Kennedy, I even think that the repub takeover of congress has, at least in some respects, been good for him. It has kind of rejuvinated his "fight".

GO TED!!!
:kick: :applause: :applause: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

[FARAFIELD]

8. more like

Who is the pitiful lambiekins that they will put up against Ted, he is a little over the top sometimes, but still is very popular in his state and provides a valuable service to the country, he is going to wipe the floor with whomever they send up there, in fact the Reps ought not to even try to recruit anyone as they will have to sell it as a slaughter.

[Tigress DEM]

15. Kennedy in the Senate and Conyers in the House have been rock solid.

In a related thread: Ted is asking for help to keep the House of Reps from doing B***'s dirty work and taking out that bothersome anti-torture provision in the House Defense Bill.

Here's the link if you want to help, http://www.tedkennedy.com/antitorture


Here's the DU thread if you want to read his original letter.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2156654&mesg_id=2156654

[Metta]

9. Let them waste their money.

They don't know when to cut and run unless they can intimidate us anyway.

[recoveringdittohed]

10. Maybe they could get Alan Keyes to move to Massachusetts from Illinois

That tactic worked so well against Obama. :evilgrin:

[Eugene]

11. The GOP is looking for a martyr.

They will probably find another local businessman
to "fight the good fight" and declare a moral victory
if they can hold Ted under 70%.

If they can't find a credible candidate, some jackass
will step forward, like the one who ran against Ted in 2000.

[kerrygoddess]

12. This ain't the guy then...

because he's no MA corporate big wig with beaucoup right wing bucks.

[Carla in Ca]

13. The GOP IS the bottom of the barrel

Their time has expired, give up now.


Quote of the day:

The president's going to ask some questions and he may ask all 6 of them, all 3 of them. He might have such a great time talking to you. He might come up with some new questions. So what we want to be prepared for is to not stutter. If there's a question that the president comes up with that we haven't drilled through today I expect the microphone to go through to you Captain Kennedy.

[rpannier]

14. They should get shill o'lielly to run

He talked about running in New York State for Senate. He could move to Massachussetts and run unopposed in the primary. Then he'd get his butt kicked by Sen. Kennedy and claim the ACLU, MoveON and Media Matters sabotagued his campaign.