However we must be sure that the letter of resignation is genuine. The Congressman does have a history of writing non-genuine letters of resignation.
Meehan campaigned fiercely on the importance of term limits in 1992. On the House floor in 1995 he scolded members who might go back on their promise to limit their tenure in office. “The best test of any politicians’ credibility on term limits,” he said, “is whether they are willing to put their careers where their mouths are and limit their own service.” Meehan failed that test in March, telling his constituents that he has gained too much influence in the House to step aside. In 1995, however, he had written a letter to the House clerk to ensure his term-limits pledge. “Should I be elected to serve more than two additional terms in the U.S. House of Representatives following the 104th Congress” Meehan declared, “by this letter I hereby resign and direct you to remove my name permanently from the Roll of Members.”
By that letter of resignation the clock should have started 2,264 days ago on January 3, 2001. We are way overdue for that special election.
First, there is absolutely no evidence that there’s even going to be a primary for city council. Unless the tussle over the City Manager last year prompts another bunch of Cox buddies to run, it’s likely we’ll have the same go-around that we did in ’05 – namely, not enough candidates to trigger a primary. Right now, it’s not looking very heavy on new recruits for the CC race.
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I think technically, Meehan hasn’t yet been hired. There’s still some sort of negotiation still going on (it was mentioned at today’s Meehan St. Patty’s Day breakfast). Therefore, it’d be inappropriate for him to send that letter as yet. I think your supposition is more sour grapes than accurate analysis.
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By the way, there’s no evidence that the local “machine” has come together to back Donoghue, except for a few. There’s more than one machine here, you know, and Pangy’s is not the only one.
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As to that silly promise of staying only two terms, I think he shouldn’t have given it in the first place. 4 years in Congress is no where near enough to get anything useful done. He’s made some stupid mistakes, some humerous, like his staff getting caught editing his Wikipedia entry, but on the whole, Meehan, especially lately with his seniority, has stood up for some pretty brave things. His stand on Iraq, though it turned around later than we would have liked, has been steller for a couple years now, and he’s standing out on the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy, not exactly a third rail in politics but close. His environmental record is great (and as Chancellor, I hope he can revive and renew UML’s great Green Chem and renewable energy programs).
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I have disagreed with Meehan on several occasions, but this characterization of him seems a little over the top, don’t you think?
As Meehan apparently addressed this this morning on local talk radio.
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the piece. The piece still brings up a good point, Why hasn’t he resigned.
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I still believe the Lowell Machine would prefer a November election to coincide with the City Council Elections.
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My parting shot at Mr. Meehan was just that a parting shot… I apologized for it up front.
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And if you’ve read the Lowell Sun recently both Dan Phelps and Jim Campinini have taken similar shots…
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http://www.lowellsun…
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http://www.lowellsun…
Campinini’s the smartest political analyst in the M’Valley. Not.
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Eveyrone here takes anything from the Lowell Sun, unless it happens to get something right by accident or it’s an article from the likes of some of the better reporters, with a big ol’ pile of salt. Especially from Jim Campinini. I’ve been able to drive trucks through the holes in his logic at every turn.
I can do this and I’m not really all that bright myself.
but it is my experience that the Lowell Sun is the single largest political force in the City of Lowell. Now it may be changing with the changing demographics of the city, i.e. more people moving up to Lowell from Boston to live in Downtown. But in my 32 years of living in Lowell(with brief stays in Dracut and Chelmsford) from the day I was born up until about two years ago, I know the power of the Sun. It can make or break a candidate in Lowell.
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Let’s wait until “The Column” to see what they have to say on the matter of this post. I imagine they’ll say something.
They have a political agenda and now-waning political influence, but that doesn’t make them credible, that just makes them powerful.
I’m looking forward to the day that Left in Lowell can make or break a candidate in Lowell.
I think we’re a long way from that, but we’re trying to do our part to open the conversation.
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I would prefer that the Sun do its job right more of the time…sure, I wasn’t a journalist major but I have an English B.A., and I know agenda-driven media when I see it. The Sun needs to be less a cheerleader and more of a objective source for news. They do get it from time to time, and for instance I’ve never seen a bad Chris Scott article, but man, it’s like you have to take a Loyalty Oath to Lowell and the Sun to work there.
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The Sun has MAJOR “Gatekeeperphile” Syndrome.
Oh yes. The platform that Republicans ran on in 1994, what was that called again, Contract with America. EaBoClipper, you do seem genuine in holding our elected officials to these term limit pledges. You have detailed the case for Marty Meehan pretty well. Even took some time to do a little math. Any stats for us on the entire Republican party? Or is it just Marty?
and that is the race we are all talking about. No I haven’t. But you know what I would be just as upset about a Republican using term limits to get elected as I am with Marty.
That piece of crap Jon Kyl, Craig Thomas and Olympia Stowe pledged from the Senate.
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Our Contract with America Reps who pledged (but it still never made it out of the house with a Republican majority, and that was their freakin’ platform!)
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Steve Chabot
Tom Davis
Rodney Frelinghuysen
Doc Hastings
Walter Jones
Ray LaHood
Tom Latham
Steven LaTourette
Sue Myrick
George Radanovich
John Shadegg
Mac Thornberry
Todd Tiahrt
Dave Weldon
Jerry Weller
Ed Whitfield
Roger Wicker
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There were others who ran and lost (why did they even run?), so they didn’t make the list and others who never did pledge so they didn’t make it either. 2006 was they year they were supposed to leave, so I hope you join me and ask for their resignation letter, maybe we can put a counter with the days waiting for resignation.
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A few notables on the list of running but something happened; Mark Foley, Mike DeWine and Rob Ney.