The Massachusetts Democratic candidates debate that aired on NECN just concluded. Chris Gabrieli was the clear winner. Chris Gabrieli showed that he understands complex issues and has the ability to implement practical solutions that will get results for the people of Massachusetts. On healthcare, education, taxes and immigration issues, Chris was clear, thoughtful, realistic and honest about how he would address these issues and what their realist outcomes would be. Voters appreciate Gabrieli’s straightforward approach to the issues and the results that can be achieved.
Please share widely!
shillelaghlaw says
Thought I’d get in on the arbitrary and biased critique business, myself.
shillelaghlaw says
Just wanted to be equal opportunity in my arbitrariness!
discobolos says
I listened to the NECN debate earlier tonight. I was surprised at how many times the other two candidates said “I agree with Chris”? Several times they answered the question exactly the same way Chris Gabrieli originally responded. The polls are showing Gabrieli as the strongest gubernatorial candidate to beat Healy in November. I agree.
rightmiddleleft says
The Reilly strategy of looking directly into the camera and talking to the average voter about simple issues is what won the debate tonite. The scripted ,staccato responses will connect because Joe Blow does not care about stem cells research or the legalities of gay marriage.
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He connects with the cost of state college , the tax rollback , prescription drug imports (despite the bio tech opposition), immigration rights and yes most of all public safety where Reilly has the edge. Gas at $3 /gallon and all of the above are real issues today and not dreamy political promises or 5 year business plans .
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Patrick seemed to agree with whatever Reilly or Gab had to say. He must of said “I agree Tom ” or I agree Chris” 10 or 15 times. He really must emerge from his coma and convince Joe blow why he is different. The convention bounce will surely dissipate this summer once the other 750,000 dem voters emerge from their own coma.
frankskeffington says
…that Reilly is ah a dullard who ah talks ah in cliche’ about ah experience.
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As for who won…yawn. It was a muggy summer night before a holiday weekend…please, do we really want to play such a silly game like that?
rightmiddleleft says
only wanted to point out that those voters are not as interested in complex issues as ah,the Gabbers .you are correct the debate was a bore.
frankskeffington says
greencape says
Rightmiddleleft,
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Do you really believe that Joe blow does not care about stem cell research????? I think that there are many “regular guys” such as myself who care a lot about stem cell research. Do you honestly believe that “Joe Blows” don’t have family or friends that are stricken with illnesses that may be helped by stem cell research? For that matter, Joe Blow himself may be ill. If you believe that only the intellectual elites or the wealthy care about stem cell research, you are obviously wrong and if Reilly shares your belief, he does so at his own peril. Chris Gabrieli’s devotion to and support of this important cause is one of the many reasons that I vigorously support him. My mom is a diabetic and my dad suffers from MS. There are many people like me who love someone who is ill and stem cell research may be able to help them. Not to mention, the economic benefits to the state that this research could bring. I thank Chris Gabrieli for his passion and support of this most important issue.
southshoreguy says
greencape had it correct. Gabrieli was very direct and specific. How many times – as noted earlier – did we hear the others say “I agree with Chris”? If forced to rank all three, I would rank it Gabrieli, Patrick, and Reilly in that order. Reilly’s closing statement was terrible (“I barely graduated from high school” Well, OK Tom, now I really want to vote for you!).
afertig says
I don’t really think you can say anybody “won.” There were no knock-out punches, everybody seem pretty on message, there were no new differences of opinion (even though R.D Sahl was much less congenial and tried to start a fight between the three candidates), and I think both Deval and Chris did a great job of explaining the complex problems the state faces and some possible solutions. I don’t think this debate will change much. Reill will trend down and Patrick and Gabrieli will both trend up.
bostonshepherd says
Saw a couple of minutes of the debate — was it aired during the Sox-Mets game? — and even though I’m a diehard political junkie like most BMG fans, I saw everybody’s lips moving but nothing being said.
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I know it’s a primary so the rhetoric is tuned to an high frequency heard only by beagles and progressive activists, but this was unbearable. I was amazed at how many threadbare progressive platitudes could be crammed into the 120 seconds I was allowed to watch (my wife screaming at me to change the channel back to the ball game.) Were the candidates trying to agree with each other so as not to risk alienating a single primary voter? Sounded like it in the brief segment I viewed.
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I apologize for criticizing what was probably an interesting debate if viewed in its entirety. But maybe if I heard anything interesting during my 2 minutes of listening, I might have stayed longer.
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Then again, I didnât miss Coco Crispâs unbelievable, game-winning, running backhanded catch of Dave Wrightâs hit to deep center. Thanks to my wife.
greencape says
I watched the entire debate….ok I’m a junkie…. but I also saw Coco’s great catch!
maverickdem says
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Honestly, this stuff is priceless! Greenscape, did you quick poll debate viewers in the 58 seconds after the debate’s end and your post to arrive at this conclusion? Do you know if voters prefer Coke or Pepsi?
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As a Reilly fan, I was very pleased with his performance. He clearly differentiated himself from his opponents by taking strong positions. Deval Patrick and Chris Gabrieli spent most of the night agreeing with each other while Tom Reilly carved out his own niche.
greencape says
because you do not agree with me, Maverickdem? I am entitled to my opinion as you are to yours. Isn’t that why we utilize this blog: to discuss issues and give opinions? Chris Gabrieli demonstrated his in depth knowledge of the issues and yet his answers were easily understood and concise. His responses explained the practical means that he will employ to solve the issues facing the next governor and the realistic results that he will achieve for the people of Massachusetts. Gabrieli differentiated himself from both Reilly and Patrick on the important issues of illegal immigration, healthcare costs, the recently passed healthcare law mainly with respect to the issues surrounding how it will be paid for, and taxes. I thought Chris’ interjection of his own personl experiences when speaking about healthcare costs and illegal immigration was particularly effective. With respect to Reilly, he too had his share of conciliatory statements such as “I agree with Chris” or “I agree with Deval”. Nevertheless, I thought his closing statement was awful. While I understand its intention, Reilly stating that “I barely graduated from high school” does not make any voter more likely to vote for him especially after we have all been witness to the disasterous consequences of electing an underachiever to the whitehouse.
maverickdem says
Greencape, of course you are entitled to your opinions – I never said you weren’t. However, I got a big chuckle when your opinion morphed into that of the “voters.”
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“Voters appreciate Gabrieli’s straightforward approach to the issues and the results that can be achieved.” Do they? How do we know? You may think so, but that doesn’t make it a fact, which is how it is stated. Heck, maybe they do, but we really just don’t know for sure, do we?
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So, no, I did not find your post comical simply because I disagree with portions of it. I found it amusing because it purported to quantify something that is simply unquantifiable, at least on the basis of last night’s debate.
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I’m pretty sure I wasn’t the only one rolling my eyes at that line, but then again, I really can’t speak on behalf of all the readers, can I? 🙂
goldsteingonewild says
….Gabs smacked Reilly around like a rag doll, over and over. The sheer violence of it was unexpected.
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Oh, wait, that was the Sox hitting Pedro.
shillelaghlaw says
This whole thread would be so much more meaningful if:
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— southshoreguy observed that Chris Gabrieli is totally amorphous on the issues, and lauded Tom Reilly for something…
— I had bothered to watch the debate instead of the Red Sox, and criticized Deval Patrick on a few of his positions.
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p>Instead, we have the usual suspects thumping their chests, and huffing and puffing on behalf of their favorite candidates. The same people are essentially posting the same posts as they did last week, and last month, and last year- Deval is too liberal, Chris is supported by hacks, and Reilly just plain sucks.
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p>Enough with the spin- no one here is going to be persuaded. (And the odds of you or me reaching a wider audeience by making the Herald’s Monday blog column are pretty infinitesimal.)
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p>At the risk of hurting my candidate- who already has this figured out- but in hopes of helping the eventual nominee, whomever he is, I’ll throw this out to everyone; instead of posturing and spinning for your guy here on BMG where everyone has decided who their guy is, go knock on your neighbor’s door, and tell them how great Tom Reilly, Chris Gabrieli, Deb Goldberg, Tim Murray, or Andrea Silbert is. Remember to plug for your local state legislator, Register of Deeds, Clerk of Courts, or County Commissioner, or candidate for whatever while you’re at it. And then visit the next house over. And keep going ’till your shoes wear out, you get bitten by a dog, or you’ve hit every house in your precinct.
Your word and your recommendation will mean much more to your neighbors than any TV ad or robo-call.
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greencape says
Your candidate is not the only one with loyal, hard working volunteers. I held signs for Chris Gabrieli twice in the last week, Fanueil Hall, Thursday 6-22 before the housing debate and so did about 75 other Gabrieli supporters, I also held signs for Gabrieli this Thursday, 6-29, outside Roxbury Community College prior to that debate as approximately 40 other Gabrieli supporters did. I also worked all day this afternoon at a booth for Chris at the Braintree 4th of July celebration. Chris spoke to over 1000 local residents and many signed up to volunteer for Chris’campaign. I also was able to give out many Gabrieli bumper stickers there. This morning, other volunteers marched with Gabrieli in a parade in New Bedford. Presently, I am working with a group of people from my hometown who will be putting up house signs and conducting other Gabrieli activities. Additionally, we are very busy identifying other Gabrieli supporters from our neighborhoods, places of employment and local,town sporting events. There are many ways to bring your candidate’s message to the voting public. From my own first hand experience, I know that the Gabrieli campaign has been working very hard to bring Chris’ candidacy and message to the voters. I am happy to spread the word that: CHRIS GABRIELI IS A GREAT GUY WHO WILL MAKE A GREAT GOVERNOR FOR THE PEOPLE OF MASSACHUSETTS. I have been and will happily continue to do just that.
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Thanks for the self-righteous advice and pep talk Shillelaghlaw, but the Gabrieli campaign doesn’t need it.
rightmiddleleft says
Patrick Moves to the Middle Part I :
is a basic primer on political strategy, nothing more or less.
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Patrick needs to move to the center to attract independents. This is not RML’s opinion but it is simply a fact that a liberal candidate cannot win for Governor in this state. As an unknown, he had to play his liberal card to get momentum in the convention. Where does he go from here?
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We all have our favorite candidates. Are you saying that we cannot comment on the strategy of our opponents? Reilly gets bashed quite a bit here by pinheads. If it is constructive criticism he deserves it, but so do the other candidates .
southshoreguy says
As much as I was honored to be mentioned in your post, a couple of things about it prompted me to respond 1) It’s inaccurate & 2) You’re a pompous self-righteous ass.
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In my posts – which have been relatively infrequent of late – I have criticized Reilly twice. Once for his lazy passive approach to the convention (which is really indisputable and opened the door for a 3rd candidate like Gabrieli) and secondly for his awful closing statement the other night (it was).
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As for your advice about working hard for my candidate, please do not preach or presume to know what I do or do not do. I am not a hack. I bust my butt in the private sector 50-60 hours a week, getting up at 5:30 each day while getting home between 6:30 and 7:00 PM on a good night. Since a recent debate was close to my office, I held a sign for Gabrieli prior to it. He had a great turnout, so my guess is that we are just as committed and know how to work just as hard as you say you do.
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If you actually took the time to read my posts, you would see that I often praise your candidate while also hitting him on occasion. So do your homework before spewing your high minded holier than thou crap. You might think only people for Deval have a right to post here. We all do, so get used to it.
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