- Jack Robinson (R) for Massachusetts 9th?
Interestingly, for a while this seemed the most covered of these races here. There has been an interview with Jack, and the candidate has also become a somewhat active poster. Personally, though Steve Lynch’s conservatism and support for the Iraq war are definitely big problems, I also think that the importance of the control of the US House is far too huge to really warrant giving a moderate Republican a chance. I’d like there to be more moderate Republicans, though they are unfortunately the most vurnerable at times like these: I like Lincoln Chafee and (until recently) used to respect Chris Shays a lot, but their national party is responsible for the disaster our country is in. Sorry Link, and sorry Jack!
- Jill Stein (GRP) for Secretary of State?
This race is finally seeming to get some more attention here recently, especially with this vibrant discussion and recent endorsement by the MetroWest Daily News. Personally, Jill Stein was the first candidate I ever voted for, and thus I’m somewhat sentimental, but also on basic issues of voting rights, lobbying reform, and corporate oversight, she has since the beginning of this campaing been the clear second choice to John Bonifaz’s almost identical platform and extensive voting rights advocacy experience. I think the MetroWest editorial wrote it better than I could, so just read that. This race I am enthusiastically a supporter of Jill Stein.
- Samiyah Diaz (R) for 2nd Suffolk?
This one I am more confused on and haven’t seen much discussion since the recount ended. I’m instinctively leaning towards Samiyah, given Wilkerson’s extensive record of corruption, but don’t really know enough about her to make a judgment. Anyone want to share some arguments for or against?
These are my thoughts, and I invite everyone here to share their thoughts on these different races,and any other challengers that seem interesting.
UPDATE: It was pointed out in the comments that I forgot to give a choice for “none of the above” and apologize.
Thanks to Samiyah Diaz for presenting an argument for herself here! It was a very helpful read to me and hope so to others also.
Also, I don’t think the discussion needs to be limited to races where the BMG endorsed candidate lost: for example, I would welcome thoughtful arguments from Gabrieli or Reilly supporters who are now supporting another candidate for governor.
and for the WFP guy challenging DeNucci. I don’t know anything bad about Cahill so I voted for him, and I voted for Coakley with genuine enthusiasm from her ads.
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I don’t live in either the 9th or the 2nd Suffolk, but I agree with your reasons for voting against our BMG colleague Jack Robinson in spite of his collegiality and my problems with Lynch. With the Republican in the state senate race the party affiliation is more symbolic because there’s no way that one race is going to affect how the senate is run. But the R after the name is of great symbolic importance to me this time around. It’s not like 1978 when I voted for Hatch over King (de mortuis nil nisi bonum). I wouldn’t support endorsing a Republican for dogcatcher in this climate.
Those were the only non-Dems I voted for. There were a few races I left blank, though (cough homophobic superior court justice, cough Jeffrey Sanchez).
Stein- Absolutely. Time for the Chicken Galvin Reuinion Tour!
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Robinson- Nope.
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Diaz- Not my district.
…but seriously, do you think Karl Rove knows the Second Suffolk EXISTS?
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In my area, we have fielded 8 moderate, 1 arch-conservative, candidates for the Legislature. PLEASE explain how turning over the entire apparatus of state government to a single party is somehow poking a stick in George Bush’s eye.
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You would GENUINELY choose a corrupt and inept Democrat over a competent and respectable Republican? Do you now see how that makes you PART of the problem?
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Besides, who will you be able to blame when things go wrong?
I would rather have some more moderate Republicans in our state house than not, and I think Samiyah Diaz is probably a great example, though I don’t know enough about her specifically to write much of an argument. Any one want to write an argument for? Who was it, amicus, the Samiyah supporter?
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I really don’t know that much about her, just moved into the district last year. I also know that my friend who works for Mass Equality asked me to vote for Wilkerson because she is not “inept” politically, and supposedly can work favors to get progressive stuff through.
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Despite her corruption, Wilkerson has done yeoman’s work on progressive issues. Why would a “blue” website push to move a seat from “progressive” to “moderate”?
Thanks for posting that message from Samiyah. I commend it to anyone open-minded enough to consider change in state government. But not to disappoint Alexwill, I’ve tossed in my two cents here: http://www.bluemassg…
Sorry but I am not into protest votes.
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1. Jack E. Robinson – while I have my differences with Lynch on a couple of social issues, he is a bedrock, lunchpail economic Democrat who, if the Dems do squeek a majority, can benefit the 9th District. Can’t imagine casting a vote for a Repiblican for federal office as a progressive.
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2. Stein – candidate looking for office to run for in 2010 once again. Galvin smoked Bonifaz, it was an embarassing loss for progressives. The guy couldn’t break 20% and whined the entire time that his opponent should be giving him chances to win. Yeah right, and Barney Frank gives helping hands to people who run against him.
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3. The Wilkerson race is over. She has shown her strength in that District. What are you going to protest with the vote -that a minority district supports a long-time progressive minority candidate?
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Seems BMG’s endorsed candidates lost 4 of 5 elections. And don’t think people don’t notice when groups seeking respect make far out endorsements. Spend the next week getting Deval’s numbers as high as possible or drive to NH and help Paul Hodes and Carol Shea Porter.
The Blues in Blue Mass Stands for Liberal and Progressive not the Democratic party
“The Blues in Blue Mass Stands for Liberal and Progressive not the Democratic party”
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Well said. I would be very happy to see BMG consider these endorsements, even though some might blow an aneurysm at the very thought of endorsing a Republican.
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It adds greatly to BMG’s credibility in promoting progressive values when it’s able to look beyond party affiliation and make an endorsement based on whether the candidate is a genuine progressive choice.
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Personally, I’m already convinced that Stein is a genuine progressive. I’d be interested to hear the debate over whether or not that’s true about Robinson and Diaz. And what about endorsing Rand Wilson?
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Let’s hear it!
Blue Mass Group should re-endorse Claire Naughton, running for state rep in 1st Bristol District (open seat). BMG endorsed her in the past, and she did win her primary. Among other things, this is a chance to flip an anti-gay-marriage seat to pro-gay-marriage. Claire has also been clear and consistent on the same tax message Deval Patrick later adopted: we can’t cut the income tax because we need more local aid, and ought to focus on cutting property taxes first. Her Republican opponent’s #1 priority, in his own words, is to roll back the income tax. He also plans to vote for the amendment banning gay marriage.
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disclosure: I am Claire Naughton’s webmaster, and have volunteered on her campaign.
I would encourage promoting Diaz over Wilkerson. (I would encourage promoting just about anyone over Wilkerson.)
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Galvin, I don’t know. It’s a shame Bonifaz lost, but I ‘m not supporting Stein.
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I wouldn’t support Robinson, he’s just a nut, plain and simple. I live in Lynch’s district and I plan to do a write-in.
I was thinking of doing the same thing, but have no idea who to write in.
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If I still lived in Wilkerson’s district, I would write in Chang-Diaz. I find it hard to believe that any Republican, no matter how moderate, would be able to properly represent one of the most diverse districts in the state.
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I assume he’ll run for Lynch’s seat if it ever opens up, and I’m happy to cast my vote for him a few years early.
In a way, making protest votes in the general would be an insult and discouragement to the high-quality challengers in the primaries. They stood up when and where it mattered, expressed their values clearly in a meaningful way, and fought the good fight on behalf of us all. Have these three?
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That said, I am somewhat sympathetic toward Jill Stein, but the other two? Pffffft.
You ask “Should BMG promote non-Democrats?” then give no option to vote NO.
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How…Republican.
I realized that, and tried to edit it to add “none of the above”, but you can only edit the post, not the polls…
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you can vote for just other if you like đŸ™‚
Thanks, guys, for giving me a chance to earn a progressive nod for November 7. I got into this race in February to give voters a choice at the polls for the first time in ten years. But more than that, I think that competition is good for everyone, including incumbents (even though they hate us for it!), because it creates a forum for new ideas. I’ve run on a socially progressive and fiscally prudent platform. I’ve put many new ideas and suggestions for reform on the table in this campaign. It’d be great to win the election, so I actually could work to make these ideas a reality, but I’m realistic about my chances if people vote “the party line” on November 7. But you’ve asked for more about me, so I’d appreciate being considered for the BMG endorsement:
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First of all, as a single, working mom who also is finishing up my third year of law school, I haven’t had time to raise the funds to get my message out as well as I would have liked. Campaigning is a full time job, so it’s easier for incumbents or people who live with their parents. If elected, of course, I’d be a full time Senator, but why jump into the race if I couldn’t campaign full time? That was an easy choice for me: I believe we NEED more single moms, more working people, more people of diverse economic background to run for the Legislature. It’s the People’s General Court, after all, so I hope that my effort will encourage others to become active and engaged in public life. To offset my lack of funds, I have a detailed website at http://www.samiyah4senate.com. The website lists all of my proposals and media statements on issues such as public safety, education, economic opportunity, and quality of life. Many of my proposals are original ideas that can advance the policy debate in Massachusetts. Most of all, I wanted to put some solutions on the table.
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Some people think I’m motivated to run merely as an anti-Wilkerson candidate. Not so. In fact, my family and I have long supported Dianne. We supported her because of her stand on progressive issues and because diversity is a positive value in public life. But integrity and accountability also are important values in public life and we weren’t getting the complete package. I don’t believe it’s negative campaigning to point out Dianne’s incarceration for tax violations, or that she has repeatedly been sanctioned for ethics and campaign finance violations, or even that she filed a bill to extend Matt Amorello as the Chair of the Turnpike Authority. These are all relevant facts to a voter’s decision who to vote for on November 7. I’ve offered far more positive reasons to support me (hardly any covered by the press) than criticisms of Dianne (all covered by the press), but I know I can do the job and I know I will work hard to make people proud that they voted for Samiyah Diaz.
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Maybe this effort is symbolic at this point. Deval rightly is the source of much pride in the African-American community so that Dianne’s base vote will turn out strongly at the polls. But in a democracy, even symbols have value. People need to realize that a blank vote means a vote for Dianne. Sonia supporters need to realize that I am their best hope of seeing a competitive election for this seat in two years. And even Dianne supporters need to realize that the winds of political change are blowing in Massachusetts. I ask for your support, I hope I’ve earned it, and I’ll never forget it.
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Respectfully,
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Samiyah Diaz
My reading of history says that you have to vote your values and not your political party. Once you vote against your values in the name of party loyalty, you’re compromising yourself terribly.
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One reason why progressives are being ignored by the power brokers on Beacon Hill is that they have nowhere to turn when the Democratic Party leaders sell them out. If progressives show they will vote Green-Rainbow or Working Family when they are insulted, then their bargaining power will increase.
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Yes, I’m an eclectic voter. I vote mostly Democratic, but support Green-Rainbow and Working Family Party when they best reflect my values.
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I’m registered Green-Rainbow, but I’ve sent money to and worked for more Democrats than Greens – go figure. Those Democratic Party diehards who say they will never vote Green are trying to tell me I should never support a Democrat. I think they just don’t get it.
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Send a message to the establishment. Vote for Jill Stein, Jamie O’Keefe, and Rand Wilson, along with the good Democrats you can find on the ballot.
Pretty much everywhere where there was an independent, WFP, Green candidate, I voted for him/her. The only Dems who got my vote are the ones who ran unopposed or opposed only by Republicans. We need more ideas, and that means more real parties with access to people.