Well look what we have here. Where to begin?
First up is Eddie and Stevie. Two Irish Catholic working class background guys who definitely sat at different lunch tables in high school.
Markey’s been in Congress since 1976. let me say that again. Markey’s been in Congress since 1976. Thirty-seven years before he was elected Albert Einstein wrote a letter to Franklin Roosevelt informing him of the science of the atomic bomb.
Lemme tell you boys and girls, people in 1976 Massachusetts would have never elected a congressman to the senate who had been there that long. Thirty-years ago was ancient history then and it should be now.
Steve Jobs founded Apple in 1976. MIght as well have been Newton getting boinked on the head by an apple. That’s how old and stale this guy is.
Think of all the people and things that have come and gone since then.
But not Eddie.
Is it because he’s that popular?
No compadres, he’s really not that popular among his constituents. Most haven’t a clue who he is while a good chunk of the others are at best ambivalent. Sure the local officials like him. But they should. They’ve been going to him for decades to sign off on some federal grant or what have you.
But he’s no Lynchy. Or McGovern, Tierney, or Tsongas for that matter. Maybe’a he’a solid vote for the national Dems, but really, who the hell are they to tell us who our next Senator is?
(BTW Eddie, I know the national liberals are all about guns right now, but frankly myself and most other Massachusettians don’t give a rat’s ass about guns. We care about jobs and more jobs, not to mention infrastructure and education, and throw in clean energy and a dash of global warming for Charley. But really Eddie, Your Making MY Point!)
What’s that? That’s what they did before?
Yes I know, but that’s because the the people let them. Perhaps not this time.
But anyway, there is more to it than personality and voting record and whose father can beat whose.
Nope, it’s about organization. And guess what? Fast Eddie Markey has none.
But Lynchy does.
John Walsh ain’t lifting a finger for Markey in the primary unless he has to. And even then he’ll fake it.
But Lynchy’s people can organize an GOTV on a dime. That’s what unions do. A GOTV doesn’t mean union members and their families. It means getting out everyone who probably will vote for him.
Can Markey match it? Yes he has some enthusiastic experienced people. Most were at Kate’s Christmas party.
But getting this group together when the leadership is weak can easily turn into a disaster. Especially in a quick campaign season.
The best thing I can predict about this race is that Lynch will get more votes in Markey’s congressional district than Markey will in his.
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Hey Nick Collins, sorry to tell you this but it’s a Dorchester senate seat not Southie’s. And, btw, you’re not true Southie. Your father is from Charlestown.
And don’t forget your opponents and their friends whom you pissed off when you beat them two years ago. You’re gonna get a hell of a lot more blanks in Sothie than Forry will get in her district.
And don’t count on your Dorchester friends whom you automatically assume will be supporting you. Most will not raise a finger and others will be openly supporting her.
The true Dorchester guys will be giving her their vote.
The daughter of immigrants and educated at St. Kevin’s, Monsignor Ryan’s, and Boston College. She’a all Dorchester.
Nick, I suggest you need a tad bit more seasoning in the House. Southie has a history of elected smart and savvy politicians. This includes Lynchy and Ray Flynn and of course Mike Flaherty Sr. and Jr., Bill Bulger, Joe Moakley, Jack Hart and many more.
You’re not there yet and this race could hurt you for a long time. I suggest you get outside your circle and talk to the Dorchester guys.
bean says
He’s got Carl Nilsson, fresh from OFA, running the field operation. Carl brings the OFA volunteers. Markey’s also been hiring from Warren’s field team and is activating the Warren volunteers. Plus Markey’s team ran the coordinated campaign GOTV in 2010 in his district, so he’s got all those names. The activists are with Markey, not Lynch. Lynch’s long anti-choice record, his votes against the Affordable Care Act, and against the assault weapons ban and for the Keystone pipeline just aren’t going to wow the Democratic base in a primary in Massachusetts.
kate says
Sorry I missed you at the Holiday Party. You should have introduced yourself.
kirth says
Wow, eb3 can read minds. Lots of them, all at once.
Eb3 knows this how, exactly? Amazing that those constituents keep voting for the guy every two years, and that nobody that they actually do like has showed up to take that seat away from Markey.
Eb3’s not done with the mind-reading:
Unless he’s seen some poll that the rest of us missed, he must be mind-reading. If it’s just anecdata he’s basing this on, well, my anecdata says he’s completely wrong about this. In the last week I’ve heard people talking about guns at work, at the grocery, and even in the post office. Maybe all those people are not true Massachusettsians, or something.
BTW, I remember 1976 like it was yesterday, which is largely the basis for my not voting Republican at all for the last 30 years – I remember things that used to be good that they’ve screwed up (with help from Clintonites). My mom remembers 1939 like it was yesterday. I kind of doubt that eb3 is such a young, hip, and up-to-date guy that he actually has no use for anything 37 years old. Maybe I’m wrong about that. Tell us about your favorite hip-hop acts, eb.
John Tehan says
Choice quote:
The by-laws of the state Democratic Party preclude the state committee from helping any candidate during a primary.
Ryan says
an interesting read — love the prose — yet, one of the less believable you’ve written.
Sometimes you’ve got your finger on Average Joe’s pulse pretty good, but I think you’re off by a couple centimeters on this one.
Lynch should by no means be dismissed — I’ve been harping on every Markey supporter that’ll listen that Lynch has a history of pwning progressives and they better be ready — but I think you tremendously underestimate the grassroots support Markey will have, so long as he fully utilizes it.
cannoneo says
Nick Collins is embarrassingly raw and, nothing against the guy, he has not done anything to earn a bigger constituency. Linda Forry, on the other hand, is a rising star with a ton of experience and, like Ernie said, she has all the born-n-bred regular Jill mojo you could want.