Notes from MA: Okay, I'm a bit worried

[TayTay]

We could have a long night Tuesday and the unthinkable is now a possibility.

I hate writing that, but it's true. It's true for a lot of reasons. I can give you a few impressions on this, but they are limited because my time has been so limited lately. (BTW, my Mom went home yesterday. She has been in hospitals and rehab for over 100 days, but she is finally at home, continuing her recovery and things are looking good. Thanks again for all the well wishes and prayers. They meant more than I can say and I am deeply humbled and grateful for all the support.)

All politics is local. Again, all politics is local. MA Dems currently hold 89% of the elected offices in Massachusetts. That is an unsustainable number and we were due for a reckoning. Single-party holds of that magnitude breed arrogance. That is simply a fact of life. That is part of what is going on in Massachusetts.

We have had 3 concurrent Speakers of the Massachusetts House *indicted* in the last few years. Indicted and facing serious corruption charges. This fosters an attitude that the accumulation of power is done to benefit a small, in-bred and nurtured band of insiders. This is an underlying tension in the State. The counter to that is to pledge an overhaul of the way things are done and recommit to grassroots politics and getting out and meeting the people. This has not been done. Deval Patrick said he would do this and, for various reasons, he didn't. The infrastructure of the Democratic Party in MA is in severe disrepair and we need the kind of overhaul that the 06 and 08 races promised. That hasn't happened and we are seeing the result in this election.

The Democratic race, including the primary, has been incredibly tone deaf. This recession/depression has produced a enormous amount of pain and suffering and anxiety for a great many people. Voters want someone to acknowledge that in plain English. They don't want a position paper or a wonk response to their concerns; they want some human feeling and emotion and someone who understands those feelings. The Democrats have not done that. This is partly not Martha Coakley's fault. (Had Martha run a "I feel your pain" campaign, she would have been ridiculed as a phony. She is a cool customer and a highly competent public official. However, the recession has changed things and competence is not the most highly prized of commodities in politics this year.)

There will be a lot of dissection of this race on Tuesday, whether Martha wins or not. There were some big problems that go back a number of years here, in MA. A lot of these are not national problems. This race is only partially a national race, no matter what the idiots who don't live here are saying. It's not about Obama. It's not about a lot of things you are reading about. It's about the voters, it's about them, their troubles, their rage and their disgust. It's about the voters, not the politicians.

I have gotten over 15 phone calls and robocalls in just the last week. My kids have gotten their own calls. My husband got calls and I got my own calls. We have been inundated with ads from all sides and it has gone beyond a saturation point. (Most people want it to stop at this point. The negativity is making people angry and the endless phone calls are not helping. I know people who simply have stopped answering the phone.)

Several people I know who are reliable Dem voters are voting for Brown this time around. They want to "send a message" to The Powers That Be in this state that they are tired of being taken for granted and used as a fly-by state for pols from other places who want money. Voters want to be heard, not considered as foregone conclusions on a balance sheet.

And, as a footnote, every person I talked to was miffed to downright angry at the use of the term "Teddy Kennedy's Senate seat." It's our Senate seat and we elected Teddy to it because he was a good and gifted man. That didn't mean it was his, it meant he was a good Senator. But it's our Senate seat. That single sentiment tells you volumes about the race this time out. Volumes. It's about the voter, not the pols. Too many in this State have forgotten that and we well could lose on Tuesday because of that.

[wisteria]

1. I don't know what to say except the people need to consider how wrong Brown

is for Massachusetts. What a terrible way to send a message that you are pissed at local politcicians. The stupidity (sorry, but it is) of voting this way will affect us all. And, those people you know who are reliable Dem votes-how could they seriously vote for such a loser like Brown? How could a Brown vote actually help them?
I am upset, I really was hoping you still felt the say way as the other day. What you have said is very sad indeed- to get back at government at the local level they would do this to our national party. If Brown wins, it will benefit no one but Republicans. Is that what the Democats in Massachusetts want to do? Hand some power back to the party who didn't give a damn about "the people"?
As for the talk of this being "Teddy's seat", I think it has been over played, but still-to get that pissed over that? If Brown gets the seat it will be a Republican seat-not the people's seat.

I apologize for saying this, but I really, really, hope you are wrong about this.

[TayTay]

3. Coakley could still win.

And, if you put a gun to my head and made me pick a winner, I would pick her. But it is going to be closer than it should have been. I am upset and angry with what happened with this race and I am also guarding what I am saying. There is a lot more going on than I think people are reading about and a lot of it was screw-ups we made locally.

This is, in many ways, the most local Senate race I've seen in a while. It means one thing to national Dems and folks outside of MA and it means another in-state. Some races are just like that, depending on the year. (In '08, the races were national.)

In some ways this is also a bizarre election. It means one thing out of state and another in state and I'm not sure we can square that particular circle. Again, all politics are local. It well could be that the people that are being sent a message are MA Dems. (Not Obama, not Palin, not anyone else.) This screwup might just be a homegrown affair based on a lot of things that have been festering in state for the last few years and have found flower this year in this campaign. It happens.

[wisteria]

7. A Brown win will energize anything and everything Repub.

And, I won't even go into the thought of Massachusetts going red.
So much rides on this race and that is why I am so involved in it. I thought as you did though that Dem's were doing no campaigning and just expecting she would glide on in. I hope we all do not have to pay for the lack of effort put forth by your local Dem party.

[TayTay]

9. Me too!

God, I hope Martha pulls it out. But defeat is a possibility.

[karynnj]

11. I get what you are saying - it was somewhat similar in NJ, though different

Like MA, the Democrats controlled both houses of the state legislature, the Governorship and both Senators - not quite MA, but close. To make things worse, there was a huge sting that led to indictments of a large number of low level state officials - almost all Democrats months before the election. Even before this, corruption was rampant enough that the most difficult thing every time I phone banked was the people who brought up corruption as the reason for not voting. (Not hearing the word corruption even once when I did the Kerry calls was incredibly refreshing - but it sounds like that would not be the case calling in all other MA races.)

Unlike with Coakley, some of the problem here was Corzine's. He never really completely regained the respect of the state after the very nasty race 4 years before, where his ex-wife spoke out against him and there was a 4 year saga because he gave millions to an ex-girl friend, who headed a union that he negotiated with - and refused to release their emails - an issue in the papers for at least 2 years.

As will happen in MA, if it is close or a loss, NJ was spun as national. It wasn't, exit polls showed that Obama had an approval rating far above 50% for the people who voted.

Great to hear that your mom is home. Best wishes to her and to you - you guys have had a tough year.

[wisteria]

19. I thought about the similarities with the Corizan race to, but as you concluded

it was Corizan himself who was the problem. Cloakley is not an incumbent. However, she has been "around" for a long time.

[karynnj]

31. Early in the spring at my town's Democratic meeting

(not a big thing - there were about 10 people ) Every single person was unenthusiastic and everyone agreed that if it were Codey, who briefly was the acting governor - it would be very very easy as he was liked even by many who aren't Democrats.

[TayTay]

21. So true on John Kerry

There is a two-sided coin on perceptions about John Kerry. It is not entirely rational because sometimes perception is not entirely rational. John Kerry is not seen as corrupt and never has been. He is a reformer and has always had that reputation.

The other side of that coin is the silly "uninvolved" reputation that he sort of has. This is a contradiction in terms by the way, the kind of thing that can drive you crazy when you think about it.

Kerry is not a sleazy operator at all. This can create enemies all by itself. You can get the reputation of being above politics as usual. Enemies can take that and turn it, unfairly, into a reputation for being aloof and a person who thinks they are better than others. This is a maddening side effect of being a good guy. (Again, some of this stuff is a contradiction in terms and not rational. Politics is not always rational you know.)

Thanks for the nice wishes. I am exhausted but happy by the events with my Mom.

[whometense]

32. Great post

My congratulations as well on your mother finally getting to go home, and best wishes for her continued recovery.

I'm glad you brought up the "aloof" thing. That's a pet peeve of mine. I understand completely why people are angry at the campaign Coakley has run, but hearing her called "aloof" just drives me nuts - at least partly because of the JK echoes. My personal preference is for smart, thoughtful representatives.

I won't pretend to have my finger on the pulse of the state. I saw Brown and Coakley debate earlier this week, and thought he was a complete dolt. The Libertarian guy had some pretty awful ideas, but he was a lot better able to express them. Brown just mouthed repug talking points - BADLY. How anyone could seriously consider voting for him...

But I'm one of those who has stopped answering the phone. It never stops. When came home from work Friday there were something like 12 messages on the machine. Enough already. And yet, little educating is being dome. The ads (on tv as well) hammer you over the head constantly without delivering anything like a coherent or compelling message. From both sides.

I like Coakley, but her advertising is simply awful.

[Luftmensch067]

41. Echoing Whome in my joy that your mom is home!

And with a note about the Coakley ads: I haven't made a systematic study of the ads on both sides, but I have noticed that the Brown ads have voices that sound like they're from MA and the Coakley ads have booming Advertising voices, the kind you'd hear in a commercial or a movie preview.) It's hokey, but the local touch works. I know Coakley made at least one commercial with just her, talking about her childhood, and that annoyed me during the primary, but I think it was one of her more effective ads. Not that I don't enjoy seeing the DSCC ads describing Brown as the Republican liar he is. :-)

I did a tiny bit of phonebanking yesterday, just before lunch, and most people weren't answering their phones. The few people I did get were not exactly friendly, but only one was downright furious about all the calls she was getting and hung up on me. The rest assured me they were going to vote but wouldn't share their choice with me (I'm sure this happens other places, too, but I get the feeling this is very much a New England thing and it makes it very hard to do conventional phonebanking in which they always want to know who the contact is planning to vote for!) The OFA phonebanking site was mostly giving me numbers in Quincy and Weymouth. While I was home, I did get two calls FROM volunteers. They were both happy to hear that I was also a volunteer and a safe Coakley vote, and both told me they had also been called that morning by volunteers! At the time, I felt happy, knowing there were so many people energized to volunteer, but maybe that's a bad thing if the calls are alienating voters!

[Luftmensch067]

42. A Big Damn Moment!!!

Just got JK's latest email on this and my adoration knows no bounds:

Subject: It's go time

Hello Luftmensch,

No time for rhetoric or long emails: if you've been watching tv or
reading the news, you know what will be decided in the next 48 hours
in Massachusetts. If we work our tails off to get out the vote for
Martha Coakley, we will win. But we can't leave anything on the
table.

I'm running around on a new hip a week after surgery because this is
for keeps. On Friday, I was with President Clinton for Martha in
Boston and yesterday Ed Markey and I led a rally in Woburn. Today,
President Obama holds a rally in Boston. And Martha has thrown it
into a new gear - traveling all across the state.

But we need your help to finish the job. So, first off, don't forget
to vote on Tuesday! And make sure all of your friends vote on Tuesday
as well.

If you have any time at all this weekend, please help with Martha's
effortsto get as many people to the polls as possible. Just follow
this link and let them know how you can help:
http://www.marthacoakley.com/volunteer

This is a big damn moment - please give it your all. You know what's
riding on this.


Sincerely,

John Kerry

[ObamaKerryDem]

74. "A big damn moment"--I love it! And so true..

"I'm running around on a new hip a week after surgery because this is
for keeps"--Says it all. No matter what happens on Tuesday night, no one can say that JK didn't help or give it his all. This just further reaffirms why I admire him so much! :)

[TayTay]

46. This is heartbreaking

And with a note about the Coakley ads: I haven't made a systematic study of the ads on both sides, but I have noticed that the Brown ads have voices that sound like they're from MA and the Coakley ads have booming Advertising voices, the kind you'd hear in a commercial or a movie preview.)

What can I say? They were told, repeatedly, about this problem. Local people are not strange creatures who can't pronounce their words correctly and need to be taught what to do by PhD's and others who "study" politics. Local people *are* Massachusetts, the lifeblood of the state, as local people are the lifeblood of any state.

For so many reasons that I can't really get into, nothing breaks my heart more than this statement. It doesn't require a PhD and a DC address to "get" politics. You need and will always need genuine input from the people who live there. People do not like being thought of as afterthoughts or obstacles that you manipulate in order to get what you want. (Brown will learn this. He is getting the benefit of the doubt for being a newbie. That won't last because his campaign is fundamentally dishonest at it's core and that will tell in the end.)

[Blaukraut]

48. Brown is using Obama's playbook

His ads are overall fairly positive, and the one ad where he decries Coakley's attacks on him is pretty effective. He doesn't defend specific attacks, just 'sadly shakes his head at the desperation of Martha Coakley'. That's how it is being presented.
He's letting the 527s do the mudslinging and is keeping his nose clean. Smart move.

The negative ads are starting to put me off, so I can only imagine what they're doing to people whose minds are not solidly made up yet.

[ObamaKerryDem]

72. You've pretty much read my mind on this, wisteria.

I mean, I understand (at least partly--as much as I can, I suppose, from the point of view of an outsider--I'm in AZ) feeling frustrated with a certain element of the party and the powerful people in the state...but honestly, if one is truly a Progressive, how could they possibly think Brown's election could be good for them and for what they want done in DC? Isn't that self-defeating? :shrug: I've heard the theories--about how Brown getting in over Coakley would allow (okay, possibly force..) us to scrap the current bill and start a fresh and that could mean the necessity of the 51 vote reconciliation tactic and the possibility of the inclusion of the public option afterall...but what if it doesn't? What if everything (as I fear it would in that case) just gets gridlocked with our supermajority lost and another Republican, anti-reformist, obstructionist in power? What, are we going to have to wait another 15 years? Not to mention all the problems it would present on so many other issues. I get that local politics come into play too..but again, ho would a Republican in power help that either, at least from a Progressive or longtime, dedicated Dem standpoint? In a rather off-beat way, it's like the so-called "PUMA" thing all over again! :banghead:

I watched Pres. Obama's speech at the rally just awhile ago and there did seem to be a lot of enthusiasm--so maybe all these 'red flags' and poll number worries are working to get people 'fired up' again and out to vote (for Coakley, that is)? I sure hope so! *crosses fingers*

[Blaukraut]

2. Did Brown really manage to fool the voters that badly?

Or do they simply not care about his positions and really only want to send a message? Because if that's the case, I can only hope that they will live to regret their choice. Eight years of Bush wasn't enough, apparently.
I understand the frustration and anger. The Dems have not done enough nationally, and locally many of them are corrupt. But does that mean they have to be replaced with people who do not even represent a fraction of our values? We can do better than Brown. Replace the crooks with honest progressives. They DO exist.

[TayTay]

4. I don't think voters care one way or another about Scott Brown

I think he's a vehicle for expressing anger and disappointment.

However, Scott Brown did use a new advertising agency that employed some talented people. Wish we had.

[wisteria]

8. Yeah, me to. But, it is imcredible to think "the people" don't care about an empty suit like Brown.

If they are angry and want things to change-he is not the answer.

[TayTay]

10. I have heard from a lot of people that they can vote him out in3 years

so it's safe to "send a message."

[Blaukraut]

14. Meanwhile, 3 years will be enough for him to get national creds

Mass voters do not realize the monster they will create. Someone over at BMG said the right would use him as their poster boy. Sarah's Prom king. Ugh. Kill me now.

[wisteria]

16. And, the next thing you know they will be running him for President with his daughter

singing at all his rallies.

[wisteria]

15. Do you refute that with something?Three years will benefit the Republican

party and stall much of Obama's agenda. Obama becomes a lame duck of sorts, and people are angry because noting is getting done and they blame him and the Dems.
This three year thing is a dumn way to think about this race. They could vote for Coakley, help the president help the people, and if they don't like her, vote her out in three years.

[TayTay]

26. Martha is running a competence campaign

And she is running an incumbent campaign. Problem is, she is not an incumbent Senator. This is also one of those years when a little more Bill Clinton, "I feel your pain" would have helped. That's not Martha. She would look fake doing that because she's not a "feel your pain" kind of candidate.

[wisteria]

28. Frankly, something like that coming from her would look phony.

I agree also that Coakley is in a tough position. I don't blame her for anything other than not doing any leg work to engage the voters.

[MH1]

5. Voters can be incredibly stupid

just speaking of my experience canvassing in PA of course. Most really have no clue about things like Supreme Court appointments, for example. (I don't know why. I clearly remember that being taught in high school, and I went to a not-great school.)

I remember the concept of "sending a message" by voting third party or not voting. How short sighted does someone have to be to think that? Ok, for the very far fringe who really honestly can't see the difference between the republican and the democrat, voting 3rd party might make sense. (I have some Constitution Party people on my block and canvassing them is great fun. Only because there will never be enough of them to matter.)

[wisteria]

12. The lack of understand regarding our government is shameful all over.

I wish there was a test voters had to take before they could vote. Don't people have American history in school any longer? You wouldn't know they did by the ignorance out here.

[TayTay]

6. A lot of analysis online is just stupid

Like this: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=7481489&mesg_id=7481489

Duh! Just duh! We are not losing because we are not progressive enough. We are plenty progressive. We have a failure to communicate, that's for sure. But voting for single-payor would not have solved this.

I mean seriously, there is so much junk analysis around.

[Blaukraut]

13. I totally agree with you there

I somehow doubt that progressives in MA are going out to vote for Brown because they think the healthcare bill isn't good enough. It's not, but those folks who are progressive enough to think that about the bill would be way too loathe to vote for a wingnut like Brown.(at least that would be my assessment).

[TayTay]

18. I honestly do still think Martha will win

But it might be under 5%. It might be by 2-3 percentage points which is bad news.

Scott Brown is not smart enough to be a US Senator. He is a "pretty boy." I have not heard a single voter who thinks Brown is the "second coming" of politicians in MA. He is a vehicle and Brown himself is interchangeable with a lot of other non-entity candidates who happen to hit a lucky year. There is nothing special about him or particularly notable. Should he be elected, he would probably be a 3 year and out guy. (I mean seriously, Brown would get nothing done and bring home no bacon at all. The rage that elected him would burn out and the backlash would be enormous. However, those are not factors in play right now, and right now is what counts.)

Hey, heard any voter anger lately about taxes and fees and bankers and bonus payments and cuts in services and so forth? Rightly or wrongly, there is a lot of blowback about that in this election. It's about us, the voters.

I seriously don't think this is about healthcare or national issues. However, I am starting to hear the ugly, ugly murmurings against "illegal" immigrants again. That is a warning sign that people are looking for scapegoats. Brown gives the appearance of listening to that. Again, perception is often not rooted in truth, it is perception and it matters in elections.

[wisteria]

22. I have heard mention of that too recently. Ugly times! n/t

[Blaukraut]

24. A win is a win. I don't even care if it's by 20 votes at this point.

People will forget the margin in 3 years. That Brown is just a vehicle here in MA is not surprising. The outside teabaggers are stuffing the suit and turning him into a savior.

On edit: I haven't heard any of the rumblings you have, but then again the only people I see anymore are fullblown repubs (Tony's coworkers) and their talking points are straight out of rightwing hate radio.

[TayTay]

27. People outside of MA don't know that RW talk radio is a force here

in that we don't have any LW or Dem radio around. (There is a small signal Lefty radio station, but it's not a factor.)

We do have RW radio in MA. There are times or election cycles when that is a big factor. This might be one of them.

[wisteria]

29. RW talk radio is everywhere anymore and it is left unchecked or unchallenged.

So it can spread whatever vile message it so pleases and brings in people who listen to have their most vile thoughts confirmed and validated. RW talk radio is the only talk radio in my area- we have a station that plays one RW host or another all day and well into the night. There is no fairness, no balance, it is all about attacks on Democratic policies and people.
Democrats need to find a way to reach the people too to spread our good messages, but I don't think it is talk radio.

[ObamaKerryDem]

75. See now, as someone outside of MA, that's surprising...

Yet I wouldn't be surprised, if that is the case, if they are behind a lot of this either. *shakes head*

But wasn't Brown also endorsed by Rush Limbaugh? That couldn't help him a whole lot (beyond that certain element) there, could it? Can't imagine it would fly well with independents or folks on the fence? :shrug:

[Noisy Democrat]

34. I wonder how many people know

that Coakley is in favor of making the banks pay back the bailout and Brown isn't.

[wisteria]

17. I agree wtith you on this. n/t

[MBS]

35. On NPR lately, one "progressive" MA voter said that

he voted for Coakley in primary, but would not vote for Coakley (he wouldn't vote for Brown either) on Tuesday because she didni't come out forcefully for the public option in the HCR bill, and he felt it would be a good thing for the HCR bill to go down if it didn't have the public option.

Gee, isn't THAT a thoughtful way to cast your vote (or non-vote) :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :banghead: :banghead:

I had a voicemail message on my phone yesterday from a woman , formerly from MA (still with good, strong accent ;)), now in Florida, who begged us to vote for Coakley "for the sake of our children and grandchildren", and then she burst into tears .:(

[karynnj]

36. That is really stupid - as is almost everything at FDL

They are also going after Kerry's GOTV message. (Apparently they don't get that the insurance companies have funded via the Chamber of Commerce millions of dollars of ads against health care, nor did the actually watch (or if they did comprehend) any of the Finance Committee hearings.) seminal.firedoglake.com/diary/24456 ( add http:// )

These people are completely clueless and not in touch with reality. If they watched the hearings they would see that the Republicans were a big wall of solid "nos", other than Snowe, who is NOT a yes on the final bill. Among the Democrats, half of them were very cautious about anything that even approached a strong public option and their reasons were obviously sincerely held. There was NO WAY to come away from listening to them with the idea that if correctly presented, they would move to endorse "single payer".

One problem with this version of the radicalized left is that they are so convinced that they are right, they are unwilling to even engage anyone who is not with them in a civil manner. That will NEVER win them any converts. On the other side, I wish that the corporate contributions to Senators did not give them the weapon they have to attack the integrity of many. For perception alone, they need campaign finance reform. If nothing else, the fact that Dodd was destroyed at what should have been the height of his power should motivate Senators to see that it is in their interest. It was the perception of corruption that helped us in 2006. In addition to the financial reform, we need campaign finance reform to avoid being painted corrupt in 2010 or 2012 - and we need to see that our far left's allegations - ie FDL or bold progressives - will be used against us.

[wisteria]

20. I am going to ask this because no one else has. Could Coakley's sex be a factor

and a reason some are voting for Brown? As I understand it, there has never been a female Senator from Massachusetts.

[TayTay]

23. Yes and no

It should still be a net positive in driving turnout for her on election day. More women vote in MA than men and that is to her favor.

That said, we don't have a great track record at electing women to the higher state offices.

But, in this instance, I don't think it's a big factor.

[wisteria]

25. Thanks for the information. Let's here it for the women!! n/t

[wisteria]

30. Go Martha!

Here's to a win. :toast:

[Noisy Democrat]

33. Would you recommend people lay off the phonebanking?

Tay, I'm wondering -- back when it was the primary, JK vs. EOR, phonebanking near or on Election Day was valuable, because so many people said, "Oh my God, is it today?? I'll go right now!" I had thought that this election might be the same thing -- people might not know what day it is. Do you get the feeling that not only does everyone know what day it is, but they're totally, insanely sick of it and we'll just be pissing them off?

[karynnj]

39. Same here - I was intending to do some, but it really sounds

like it has already been done to the point of overkill. (Not to mention that after my daughter spent 4 years in Worcester, she claims I still can't pronounce the town's name correctly. )

I also wonder if gently pushing lefties who are from MA on line might actually add more votes. There does seem to be some real weakening of their initially strong "I will not vote for her." It would seem that calling and reading the scripts that everyone here is unimpressed by to random Democrats might be less productive. Here, we at least know where many of these people are coming from and know their values. Countering FDL, here and on Daily Kos - I'm not brave enough to go to FDL and that could be futile anyway.

[Mass]

40. Here (yes, it is hard to get the correct pronounciation)

http://www.worcestermass.com/pronounce/worcestercounty.shtml

Worcester
WAR-CHES-TAH
This is the incorrect way to say it. Someone from the south who doesn't know the proper pronunciation, trying to fake the accent.
WOO-STAH
This is the correct way to say it. This is the pronunciation used by most of the residents of the city and surrounding areas.
WIS-TAH
This is the correct way to say it. This is the pronunciation used mostly by people north of the city.
WOO-STER
This is the correct way to say it. This is the pronunciation used by people who have lived elsewhere and either now live in Worcester, or somewhere else.
WUSS-TAH
This is the incorrect way to say it. is the pronunciation used by most of the residents of the city and surrounding areas when they're putting down the city.
WAR-CHEST-ER
This is the incorrect way to say it. This is the pronunciation used by people from south of the Mason-Dixon line who have seen it in print. These are generally the people you hang up on when they call you, since they're telemarketers.
WAR-SES-TER
This is the incorrect way to say it. This is the other popular mis-pronunciation I hear often, this one I understand a little better, it sort-of looks like it should be said this way.
WOOSTER
This is the incorrect way to say it. This is how the name is spelled when someone outside of the region is trying to write down your address over the phone.

For the phonebank, I wished they were better organized. During the primary, the Capuano campaign called us 4 times, even after we answered we already voted the first time. We are now at my MIL house (she in 89). She is normally living alone. She has been getting calls every half hour this week-end. That would certainly not endear any of the two campaigns to her, if she was here right now (she is in AZ for the winter).

Just another push-poll for Brown, right now, this time about gay rights.

[karynnj]

53. I was doing the fourth, she wanted the second

[TayTay]

55. I think I say WIS-TAH

My brother lives in that area. He says Woo-stah.

Now say: My sis-tah took a boat from Bah Hahbah ta Glau-stah onna thihrd a May ta watch the Sawx game with ha in-laws. (Said really, really fast. No one can understand it who isn't from around here.)

Ah, you'll be talking like a native in no time.

Easy way to fake being local: Just remember to call people "Hon" and a "wicked sweethaht." It'll do in a pinch.

[Mass]

63. My husband says Woo-stah as well, but he went to college there.

[TayTay]

45. GOTV phonebanking does work

But because we are the "only game in town" right now in terms of elections, the phone calls have been incessant. So have the ads. It's gotten beyond the saturation point, on both sides. Ahm, I am afraid this will not be a pleasant task as people have just had it with the constant calls.

I would never discourage anyone from making phone calls. The scripts for election day are usually very short and they "pull" identified voters. That is a good thing. It is up to the campaign to make sure that the right list of voters is pulled and that all GOTV efforts are efficient and pleasant. So, if you can make calls on Tuesday, they are most humbly appreciated.

Be as brief as possible when you call and commiserate if someone says they have had phone calls already. That should make it better. And again, thank you for doing this.

[rox63]

37. Drag every Mass Dem you know out to the polls on Tuesday

It will be a matter of who shows up at the polls. Every republican in the state is going to get to the polls to vote for Brown. We just have to outnumber them. We do outnumber them in the state population. It's just a matter of getting voters to care enough about this election to get off their asses and vote.

[Mass]

38. Unfortunately, I wished I could disagree with you on something.

I cant.

I still think she will win, but it will be by a thread (which I will be happy with). If I am angry at the message, I dont want to know what independents are. Who the heck authorized ads like Vicky Kennedy's ad and the "rape" folder. I live in one of the richest city in the state and stores are closing. Who really thought that the message was about getting the country to have the healthcare plan when we already have it. Jobs, the economy. What is so hard to understand.

I sincerely hope that there will be a discussion about the party after this election, whoever will win. Sadly, I am skeptical. When a Senate leader can say that increasing the sales tax is the fair way to solve the deficit, this talks about a disconnect in a state where the income tax is flat. When our local authority in our town has to increase property tax because so many non-profit dont pay any income tax even if they are educational institutions with 5 digits tutions, there is a disconnect. And we are a privileged town. I dont really want to know what it is like in towns like Lawrence, or Springfield.

Also, I think that many of the stuff we see on the blogs about Brown will be getting people to change their votes. At this point, those who will vote against her will be sending a message to the power to be both in DC and in Boston (I just think it is too bad she did not rerun these ads about being from Western Mass and understanding problems there. People there are mad at the Boston machine (not that their machine is any better, BTW, just the perception of being ignored). But all this is 20/20 hindsight. This, however, should be a message for 2010. a Baker/Tisei ticket would come with a very moderate and business based image that is always well received in MA (see Romney). If people get even more fed up with the Beacon Hill smugness, we will have another Republican governor, and we will not even be able to point out that these are RW nuts.

Unfortunately, I am concerned that, for the power to be in the state, all they will think is that Martha Coakley is not Ted Kennedy (duh) and that we need a man who can drink a beer and talk baseball.

[Mass]

43. And happy to hear the good news about your mother.nt

[TayTay]

44. What she said n/t

[MonteLukast]

52. She MUST win, for another reason.

So next election, she can put what she's learned from this scare to good use. I can guarantee you, with our friendly reminders, she WON'T make these same campaign mistakes again.

But she has to win. You can't apply what you've learned if you're not in the game. I wish people would stop calling losses "learning experiences" already. It's no good as an experience if you're out.

[wisteria]

57. Reading some posts last night I have to agree with you about beer and sports.

This comment seems to say a lot about how petty this is getting. Baseball and beer should not be a qualifier for higher office, but unfortunately, it seems to be one of the criteria people judge candidates by.


"Unfortunately, I am concerned that, for the power to be in the state, all they will think is that Martha Coakley is not Ted Kennedy (duh) and that we need a man who can drink a beer and talk baseball."

[TayTay]

47. Ah, btw, in the "leave no stone unturned" department

Ah, I did convince my Mom to go vote on Tuesday. (We forgot to get the absentee in all the excitement and she can go to the front of the line with her support people and vote.)

Ah, does that make me evil?

[Blaukraut]

49. No, it makes you smart and your mom a hero. Go Tay's Mom! n/t

[karynnj]

64. What you said - Yay for tay's mom and all of you in MA voting for Coakley

[wisteria]

58. No, it makes your Mom and you true patriots.

I am happy that you mother is doing better Tay, It made my day when you told us she was coming home.

[ObamaKerryDem]

77. I agree--and happy to hear your mom is doing better, TayTay :)

[Blaukraut]

50. Oh, weather report says snow showers possible Tuesday

That sucks. I hope that this time people will not be put off by a few flakes.

[TayTay]

51. Being put off by a few flakes

There goes the Brown vote.

Ba-dum-dum.

I couldn't resist. sorry.

[Luftmensch067]

54. ROFL!

Thanks, I needed that. :-)

[wisteria]

59. LOL n/t

[ObamaKerryDem]

78. LOL!

Good one! :D

[Blaukraut]

56. Expected turnout up to 70% per the Herald

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/politics/view.bg?&articleid=1226134&format=&page=1&listingType=MA2004#articleFull

If this holds true, both sides will benefit, but ours probably a little bit more.

[wisteria]

60. I have been praying that people vote with a level head rather than with emotional thought.n/t

[Blaukraut]

61. My suspicions as to the typical Brown voter are confirmed

Over at BMG a post about overzealous Brown supporters, they link to a report at National Journal. I'm not going to link it here, but you guys can follow BMG's link.

http://www.bluemassgroup.com/diary/18436/dnc-coakley-signs-burned-in-hyannis-arrests-made

Some tidbits:

"I'll tell you what," Brown said, using a megaphone to address the crowd. "There's negative campaigning, and then there's malicious campaigning."

"She's malicious!" a man in the crowd cried out. "She's a phony!" shouted another. "Shove a curling iron up her butt!" a third man interjected a few moments later.

snip

Brown will hold his own rally later today, headlined by ex-Boston Red Sox ace Curt Schilling, ex-BC/NFL quarterback Doug Flutie and "Cheers" actor John Ratzenberger. The rally is set for this afternoon in Worcester.

Schilling has reportedly recorded robocalls supporting Brown. A Brown spokesperson said the campaign did not have any knowledge of the calls.

We're looking at middle aged white men, likely blue collar, and from the sound of it, sexist. Brown is obviously trying to cash in on Martha's Shilling gaffe, and is appealing to the male sports-oriented contingent. Most of the ones I know of that sort are low information voters, listen to 96.9 (right wing hate radio) and tend to be more conservative anyway.

[TayTay]

62. Oy, he's recruiting from those who flunked kindergarten, again.

Typical Mass GOP.

Liars. I honestly can't stand those folks. Liars.

[wisteria]

65. That would describe a lot of voters in my area. n/t

[Mass]

67. The rallye was in West Springfield. There are a bunch of tea-baggers in this area.

This morning, there were about 3 times more signs for Brown that Coakley there (which still does not make it a lot, but still, it was good to reach Amherst this afternoon to drop my son to college and see no Brown signs there, nor in the Boston area.

[CBHagman]

66. Thanks for your perspective.

It helps to hear what's actually going on in MA, as opposed to reading the digested-and-spat-out version of things I'm getting in my local paper.

What's the best thing for those of us outside of the state to do? I have been asked to phone bank but frankly haven't felt comfortable doing that the last couple of elections (Basically, I did anything but phone bank in '06 and '08). Of course I donated to Martha Coakley as soon as she won the primary, and have given since then, but it's not like I could wave signs or drive people to the polls.

[Blaukraut]

70. Phonebanking and donations are pretty much it for you guys

But just having your moral support online and knowing you're rooting for us helps already :)

I hear you about phonebanking. It's not my favorite thing to do either. You have to have a thick hide, because at this late point, you'll encounter a lot of exasperated folks who may be rude to you, their fifteenth caller.

You can defang the rudelings by empathizing with them, letting them know you'd be just as aggravated, but that it's better to be called fifteen times and know to go out and vote, than not to be called at all and miss the date.

Still, if you definitely are averse to phonebanking, make another donation, and give us Massholes here and elsewhere atta boys and 'girls. Thank you so much for everything, CB!

[CBHagman]

88. Consider yourself "Atta-boyed/girled."

:grouphug:

Wow. I've almost been afraid to look at the papers/polls/weather reports.

Hang in there, Bay Staters! We are all pulling for you. :hi:

Must donate tonight...

[Inuca]

68. Just finished reading through

the whole thread. I am scared :-(.

And Tay, great news about your mom, she is better and she can VOTE.

Tough evening ahead for Tuesday.... fingers and toes crossed, that's the only useful thing I can do at this point, I am afraid.

[MBS]

69. just watched the Obama rally on CPAN and there was a LOT of energy

there. Obama's sense of humor was in fine form (by the time he was done, people just automatically laughed every time he mentioned the truck)

That, combined with seeing the JK youtube videos from Friday's rally, gave me hope.

[Inuca]

79. Damn! I missed it! n/t

Truck? What truck?

[MBS]

81. Video archive is on CSPAN

Obama's speech only, though.
http://www.cspan.org/Watch/Media/2010/01/17/HP/R/28527/Mass+Senate+race+in+final+days+Pres+Obama+to+campaign+in+state.aspx

Scott Brown has been driving his pickup truck around the state, making a big deal about its 200,000 miles on the odometer, how he's a man of the people because he drives a truck, etc and other nauseating comments (I have to say that the truck looks pretty nice to me, though). Lots of jokes among Dems (JK on the 15th, Obama today) about the truck going the wrong direction, etc..

[Inuca]

83. Thanks

I seldom watch clips online, very restrictive satellite ISP. The pleasures of country living.

[ProSense]

71. This episode is making me angry.

Brown, the gloaters and the media are proving what is wrong with this country. Sickening.

Still, I appreciate your perspective.

Also, I'm really glad to hear that your mom is doing well on the road to full recovery.

Thanks Tay.

[MBS]

73. be sure to watch that Jan 15 video by JK

whometense posted it on one of these threads. . in the first half he got right to the core of the general problem, but put it (in his usual style) in a way that gave me some hope.

I too am sickened, and, I have to say, also frightened by Palin-teabagger-Limbaugh-etc folks.

[Mass]

76. Seems that Brown had a big event in Worcester, according to GOP strategists.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/17/AR2010011702034.html?hpid=topnews

Brown spent most of his Sunday outside Boston, attending several rallies with former Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling and former Boston College football hero Doug Flutie. His last event, in Worcester, drew more than 1,000 people, according to Republican strategists.

As big as Coakley in Boston

Obama was the latest of a series of high-profile Democrats to stump for Coakley, including former president Bill Clinton on Friday and Kennedy's widow, Vicki, who has been on the trail all weekend with the attorney general.

"The eyes of the country are on us. What we do here is going to be the shot heard round the world," Vicki Kennedy told union leaders Sunday in Quincy at a gathering of about 75 local activists.

"This is a very special Senate seat," Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) told a crowd of about 1,000 supporters, moments before Obama came on stage to thunderous applause

But not as big as the Herald says

http://news.bostonherald.com/news/politics/view/20100117scott_brown_rallies_the_vote_in_worcester/

An animated crowd of more than 3,000 supporters are rallying for GOP Senate hopeful Scott Brown in Worcester this afternoon, in a last-minute get-out-the vote push for the suddenly popular state senator.

[Mass]

80. Sadly, the Herald tribune seems correct.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/01/a_long_line_wai.html

[Blaukraut]

82. On NECN just a few minutes ago they listed 1500 and about 600

in overflow rooms. They also mentioned that a lot of those people were from other states, TX, MS, etc, which gels with graywarrior's statement in GD that Tierney said Brown's visibility people were one big group and bussed across the state.

I was pissed at NECN's biased reporting, though. They showed snippets of Brown's rally over and over but only showed an empty NU parking area with the lone reporter talking about the event.

[fedupinBushcountry]

84. A reporter (O'Donnell) from MSNBC

said that the line went for blocks for the Coakley rally and she suspected maybe thousands did not get in.

As for Brown , I so think this is media and teabagger (GOP) lead. Before you even said that they were bussed in, I knew that is the only way he got a big crowd. Mass had mentioned that teabaggers were being bussed in for Coakley's rally well I think they were bussed in for Brown. Then I was watching CNN and they had a biased report with a Brown spokesman and a CNN analyst, no one from the Dem side. IMO, I think the media is pushing this with help from the GOP and if they are they deserve to be called out on it when Coakley wins, which I think she will.

[wisteria]

87. I agree, we should come down on them big time. They are definitely trying to manipulate the election

and make it appear that Brown has it.
As you mentioned and I read a couple of days ago, Teabaggers were converging on Mass.this weekend to work for Brown.

[wisteria]

86. How many at Brown's rally were Repubs from out of town in to do canvas for him

this weekend? I still say his numbers are over inflated.

[wisteria]

85. None of the crowd number jive with what I have been reading.

Oh, and keep in mind that his crowds have a lot of out of towner's in them. Tea baggers invaded this weekend.
And, the NYT reported that 1,500 attending the Obama rally inside with an overflow of 2,000 if another area.

[TayTay]

89. My daughter did not get into the rally

She was inline at 9:30 am and still got turned away.

She did say the Brown supporters were everywhere.

Again, I think Marhther can and will win, but it it is nail-biter right now.

[wisteria]

90. I appreicate the information. How many of those Brown supporters do you think were from out of town?

[TayTay]

91. Probably a lot.

However, I bet the Worcester rally yesterday was chock full of mostly locals.

There are and always have been conservatives and Republicans in MA. This is their moment, as they see it, to shine. They have lived in a state of hopelessness for a long time. To actually have a good shot at taking a Senate seat is probably the biggest thing for them since Weld in 1990. They are going to be out in force and they will attract middle-of-the-roaders as well.

[whometense]

92. Impossible to know for sure,

but BMG theorizes (with some photographic evidence) that there was astroturfing going on. Which is not to negate your comments. Only that the national repug were not taking any chances that there would be a low local turnout. More pics at the link.

http://www.bluemassgroup.com/diary/18455/doh-brown-campaign-astroturfed-worcester-rally

[TayTay]

94. I have no doubt we are being invaded by "foreigners" from other states

(Foreigners is a joke of course. We are provincial and insular around here a lot of the time.)

Check the Boston Globe yesterday and today: Brown placed a full page ad in the paper both days. He took out the same in local papers all over MA. Also, Brown has outpurchased Marhther 5-1 on local radio stations. (I got that info from a friend who owns one of those stations and is a Dem, btw.)

[whometense]

95. Plus, I've all but given up watching tv.

I've counted 6 Brown ads in a row, many times this past weekend, none of them paid for by the campaign itself.

I don't know how other MA voters see that, but I find it offensive, obnoxious, and it REALLY gets my back up being told how to vote by people who don't even live here. Not to mention that there is no content to Brown or to his campaign except for his Mittens-like pretty boy good looks, his American Idol runner up daughter (who robocalled us yesterday) and his goddamned pickup truck.

It is to barf.

[rox63]

104. I'm with you on that

I am so sick and tired of people who've never even been here talking out their asses about us and our politics. And it's not just the teevee ads. DU has been pissing me off to the nth degree the last few days. (see new sig line)

[Blaukraut]

106. You think it's bad now?

The best thing for all of us Massholes (in case of a brown win) is to stay away from tv news and probably GD and GDP, too.

It will be endless gloating on tv, and 'This election was a referendum on Obama...yada yada...this bodes ill for the Democrats all over America....yada yada'

And on DU, it will be constant 'The progressives of Mass. sent a message because they were disappointed with Obama/healthcare/corporate sellout of Dems...etc etc'

I think I'll do a Pipi Longstocking marathon on DVD, and after that, Harry Potter, and then Lord Of The Rings. That should cover a week or so. :cry:

[rox63]

107. I'll do a week-long marathon of HGTV

Skip the news and politics, bring on the decorating and remodeling. :)

[Mass]

108. I've been watching The West Wing on line for the last two weeks.

Too many ads for my taste and too many pundits. I guess I can start watching season 2 now.

[TayTay]

110. I have never seen that show

though I have heard it was well written and acted. Someday, in my copious free time, I will watch it.

[Blaukraut]

111. Heh, better than Matthews getting tingles on his leg from Brown

You know it's coming.

[whometense]

112. House M.D.

if it comes to that (and I sincerely hope it won't) I will bury myself in medical mystery and acerbic witticisms.

[wisteria]

122. LOL. I will be avoiding talk radio, TV news, Blog news, And ET

I suppose I will just cut myself off from any sort of RW drool until sometime next month. I hope it does not come to this. I will not give up on Massachusetts voters or Coakley.

[Blaukraut]

93. Silver lining, should the inconceivable happen

I really believe that a Brown win will serve as a wake-up call for local Dem establishment and that he will not survive past '12. I can see Dems moving heaven and earth to get his ass out of that seat.

We do need to change our primaries from open to closed. I'm betting that will change the party registration makeup of our state and force a lot of Indies to get off the fence in one direction or another.

[Mass]

96. I hope you're right , but I've seen way too many comments concerning Martha's campaigning skills

and way too little about other issues. This reminds me of 2002 where the only reason we lost to Romney was because of O'Brien campaign skills apparently. This was the first campaign I was following closely in MA, and, while in both cases obviously the candidate had faults, I am concerned the discussion will stop there.

[wisteria]

101. That was the Governors race and your Republicans always seem to take those seats -

except for Patrick. This is a senate race. I hold out hope she will pull this out. The Repubs are trying to get this so much they may be trying to hard and turning people off.

[MBS]

97. I hope that this campaign/election will serve as a wake-up call for local Dems

even if (please God) we pull out this win.
I'm also with you on the closed primaries.

[wisteria]

100. Do not even think about the inconceivable. Coakley will win!! n/t

[Mass]

98. I'm hard to discourage, but the avalanche of polls all going in the wrong direction

really worries me.

I know what I said about polls earlier, but is it possible that they all use the wrong screening? Now ARG has a poll where 1/4 of the Dems vote for Brown. http://americanresearchgroup.com/

I dont know. It becomes impossible to figure out what is going on. On one side, there seems to be a Democratic mobilization ( 2/3 of the calls I get are for Coakley, a post on kos says that Brown is paying temp for GOTV). On the other side, all the quantitative measures are going in the wrong direction.

[wisteria]

99. Don't give up hope, polls have all been wrong in the past.

And, there is a huge push by anyone affiliated with Republicans to throw a bone or two Browns way. You know the people of Massachusetts well, do you really think so many of them would vote against their ideals?

[Mass]

102. I know there are a bunch of people who are tired of the Democratic machine and

of people who react each time the word tax is said. These people are not Democrat, they are not republican. They just see that their life is more and more difficult. Brown has hit all the good word for these people.

I also know that stats and registration all say the state is not as liberal as people may think. Only 25 to 30 % of people describe themselves as liberal.

It is hard for me to believe that people did not see through Scott Brown and his games of playing the nice guy and the moderate, but still.

[karynnj]

103. I can see why they might have trouble seeing through him

It sounds like few people had any image of him at all before the start of the race. Unfortunately, he was given a large amount of time to completely paint the picture of who he was, with no Democratic push back at the beginning. He then listed all these moderate views as his - and for a long time no one pointed out his record. People here laughed at the JFK ad - thinking it pretty unbelievable that a Republican could pick up the JFK legacy as his AND argue it is not where the Democratic party is. But, the Republicans have tried to steal JFK (and even FDR once) as theirs. Given that he was saying he was moderate, the JFK steal might not have seemed that far off. (Consider the 2 hottest button liberal issues, gay marriage and legal abortion were not even on the horizon then - nor was the woman's lib movement - though it was starting.)

Consider that people believed W was a compassionate conservative and they ignored his past. It happens on both sides - look at how many people very seriously believed every word John Edwards said - in both 2004 and 2008, though the image jumped radically on the political spectrum.

I hope that enough of his record has gotten out or that enough people simply realize that voting for him is voting for grid lock. (With CNN spinning that it would be wrong, if he won, for the Congress to push through a bill. I mean we would only have 59% of the Senate and about the same in the House - more than Bush ever had - and they didn't argue it was wrong for the Republicans to pass the bankruptcy bill. (I think the phrase was "elections matter".)

I wish you and the other MA Democrats the best of luck in having people, who when they get in the voting booth have cold feet about pulling that Republican lever.

[wisteria]

113. Cold feet voting for the Republican- I am praying for that !!n/t

[whometense]

105. That's my big problem too -

the voters here couldn't see through Mitt Romney either.

[Blaukraut]

109. Some of my friends from when I worked in retail are that type

of voter. They say they lean Dem, are registered Independent, watch FOX news, listen to 96.9, whine about the big dig, taxes, Patrick, Kerry, etc etc.
They'll vote for Brown, I'm almost positive. Not because they listened to everything he had to say and did their research. Nah. They heard 'taxes', 'truck', 'hi dad', and the women even liked the cosmo spread.

I'm sorry, people should not be allowed to vote unless they pass a comprehensive test about policies of the political parties and can answer basic questions as to where their chosen candidate stands. Low information voters are going to be our undoing.

[wisteria]

115. I agree, it is a privilage to vote and it should be done with thought and wisdom.

If that were the case, Brown wouldn't be as close as he is. And, I will tell you this, his little act is showing up in a lot of places in Pa. Repubs who come on like Brown, pretend to be hard working and humble, and say they will work hard for your vote. The listen to your problems and claim to understand and they say they intend to get something done about if they are given the chance to be elected.
Our party had better wake up, they are using grassroots with a lying twist of course, to their advantage.
In Massachusetts, it is my opinion that the Dem's had the rug pulled out from under them in regards to Coakley.

[ObamaKerryDem]

123. +1

It's the "guy you want to have a beer with" bullshit from 2000, 2004 all over again with some of these people....*sigh*

[wisteria]

124. YThe macho jock crap. And, you know what that got us before. n/t

[ObamaKerryDem]

125. Absolutely. You'd think that after 8 years of Bush and the whole Palin debacle..

..more of these folks would have a more finetuned bullshit detector. *facepalm*

*continues to cross fingers for a Coakley win...*

[Blaukraut]

114. I just had a pretty unnerving thought

Ok, to be honest, I'm pretty much prepared for a loss tomorrow. I wish I could say I'm hopeful, but being hopeful just gets you hurt all the time.

This win would grow their balls to such enormous proportions, they'd need wheelbarrows to cart them around.
So here's what crossed my mind. If 'it' happens tomorrow, will the teabaggers and repugs get so emboldened that they will try to topple everyone of our reps, and JK? I can see it coming. And will we be prepared for this eventuality?

[TayTay]

116. Yes and no

And they will be misreading the election results. The Tea Party people are not really a factor in this. Should they overinflate their role here, it would be hubris on an epic scale and they will hurt themselves.

This election is about change in Massachusetts. I know the race has huge national implications, but it's about Massachusetts, at it's core. And the people do not see the dire consequences that national bloggers are seeing.

My brother explained his vote for Brown as wanting more diversity in-state. I have heard that over and over. When one side is not listening, then something fills that listening void.

And people seriously say that if they don't like this guy they can vote him out in 3 years. They don't perceive that as a problem because they don't see it as mattering that much. Fundamentally, that is a negative attitude, not a positive need for doing new things.

Completely different take on what it all means from the electorate. Sadly, not much because not much is perceived to happen no matter what.

Sigh!

[wisteria]

118. How can they not see the national implications of voting for Brown?

It is all over the news. You would have to be hiding under a rock not to know how this is being spun. Your own brother? He really thinks Brown can work some magic and is qualified to be a US Senator?

[Blaukraut]

119. I don't get the diversity thing, especially when it comes to Senate

Essentially what Mass voters are doing now is cancelling out their voice in the Senate. For everything Senator Kerry would advocate, Brown would negate it with an automatic no vote. Sure, he likely won't last beyond '12, because he's really between a rock and a hard place. If he votes with the Senate repubs as a bloc, Mass. voters will boot him. If he strays from the repub party line, he'll get primaried.
But 3 years is a long time to do damage, and I can't understand how at least the Independents here wouldn't reconsider, especially those who voted for Obama. If they want to send a message, they should stick to local, in-state races.

[wisteria]

121. I agree. and that part about them canceling out Kerry's vote is on the mark.

I can just imagine, Sen. Kerry pushes his bill for climate control and this asshole Brown votes against it. It just isn't health care that is at stake here, it is Pres. Obama's entire agenda. Thus we face a real possibility of Obama being a one term president.
And, to reward the Republicans like this after they have done nothing but lie to us, ruin our economy, start an unneccessary war and obstuct without merrit everything Obama has wanted to achieve. There will be no diversity in Massachusetts or in the Senate.

[Kerryvisionary]

120. This was true of HI, where I grew up, too

Democratic for decades and there was corruption and stagnation and complacency, just like here. Another state which was Dem because of immigrant populations who had been helped by politicians and then just kept voting blue. But one of my best friends and her mom, who were from a solid Dem background, represented the wish to "send a message" and the attempt to break up the Democratic machine when they voted for Linda Lingle, a Republican, for governor. I haven't kept up with HI politics so I don't know what kind of job she's done, but she's held power as governor since 2002 in a state that had always been a shoo-in for any Democrat.

That said, I'm trying to be hopeful about tomorrow. A friend is taking the day off to canvass and drive voters to the polls on the North Shore. Not sure what I'm going to do, other than get up early and vote. Maybe I can make some GOTV calls at lunch. Mostly, I'll be suffering and waiting and praying for MA voters to use their sanity!

As Sam Goldwyn reportedly said when asked about "message movies": "If you want to send a message, call Western Union!"

[wisteria]

117. It is hard to lose, but you can not give up until it is really over.

That is the attitude they are hoping for, others see that you have given up and then they give up too.
Much of what I have seen positive for Brown, comes from Repubs themselves. They are trying to create this idea of inevitability.
Don't let them do that to you.