January 8, 2009
President-elect Hillary Obama Edwards announced that Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick will be nominated to be the next U.S. Attorney General.
The appointment of Patrick, a former Assistant Attorney General, was expected by Massachusetts insiders who cited the “no-win” political situation in the Bay State.
“When Governor Patrick walked into the Office, he was handed two ticking time-bombs that went off before he could implement his own agenda.” said one state official, who declined to be identified, referring to Casino gambling and a bi-partisan commission calling for tax and toll increases to pay for essential road and bridge repairs.
“Between the heated legislative battles around his casino plan and the amount of political capital Patrick had to spend attempting to fix the state’s infrastructure, Patrick’s own agenda got side tracked. His political base was disappointed with the casino plan and his opponents kicked him around on the gas tax and toll increases. Neither of these were issues he wanted to advance, but he inherited them and had to deal with them,” said another political observed.
“Clearly there was a giant void between the issues Patrick wanted to push—education, property tax relief, public safety and open government—and the issues that were forced onto him. But that’s the nature of the job” said the state official.
Patrick, who was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in the ‘90s, is expected to be easily confirmed again. His long rumored departure had already caused a rush of state Democrats to position themselves for a run in 2010. None of the Congressional delegation has expressed interest, given the additional 10 seats they gained in their majority this election cycle. Speculation centers on acting Governor Tim Murray being challenged by State Treasure Tim Cahill, who has an estimated $5 million dollar war chest in anticipation of a Patrick exit and Attorney General Martha Coakley, who has ascended to both District Attorney and Attorney General without any real opposition but is highly regarded and popular in Massachusetts.
Assuming it is a Murray, Cahill and Coakely primary contest, several “tier two” office holders are expected to run for their seats, thereby creating a domino effect of political turnover that the state has not experience in at least a decade.
though I don't think it's likely to become true. Governor Patrick will at least be around for a second term.
I legitimately thought I looked into a time machine and saw a future headline. I would say this headline nearly word for word will in fact be a reality come Jan 2009. Good call Frank!
Eventually, one way or the other, a US Senate seat will open up and our Attorney General, the most popular Democrat statewide, will be the first woman to hold that ol’ boy seat.
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Let the young men vie for the Corner office (Cahill will need a mountain of cash to compete with Tim Murray on competence and depth ..his daughter will have to come up with something much more substantive)…Martha will leave the Beacon Hill ego bumping to Therese….Martha’s got her eyes on DC and no one is going to best her in that contest…especially if there is a scrum of male Congressmen in the running.
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(Of course, if she stays put for whatever reason, Jim McGovern would be a stand out US Senator, too)
…or there is an untimely death…she'll have to wait until 2012.
As any good girl scout, Coakley is prepared for whatever comes…she’s got plenty to keep her busy in the meantime.
On the other side of the aisle, Frank what do you see?
Will Kerry Healey resurface as the Republican nominee and run ads directed at the legacy of Patrick's obvious lack of moral fiber and good judgement?
…but I just don't see Mitt hiring him.
should be appointed Gaming Commissioner. I kid, I kid!