Statement (.doc file) from Joe Kennedy:
I want to thank the millions of Americans who have expressed their love and admiration for Senator Kennedy over the last few weeks. It was very moving to see so many people come out to pay their respects to a man who fought so hard to make this world a better place, especially for those struggling for life’s basic needs – a decent home, a living wage, a safe neighborhood, their daily bread, a good education, and access to health care.
Given all that my uncle accomplished, it was only natural to consider getting back involved in public office, and I appreciate all the calls of support and friendship that have poured in.
My father called politics an honorable profession, and I have profound respect for those who choose to advance the causes of social and economic justice in elective office. After much consideration, I have decided that the best way for me to contribute to those causes is by continuing my work at Citizens Energy Corporation.
Our efforts cover a broad array of the challenges facing this country – to heat the homes of the poor, install energy-savings technologies to cut costs for homeowners and businesses, build wind farms throughout the United States and Canada to lessen our dependence on foreign oil, and construct transmission lines to carry new sources of renewable energy.
Over 30 years after starting the company, there is much yet to be accomplished at Citizens Energy, and I continue to be committed to our mission of making life’s basic needs more affordable.
OK then. Expect Mike Capuano, at least, to jump in, claiming to have talked things over with his family and concluded that running for the Senate at this time was the right thing to do. No, no, Joe Kennedy’s announcement had nothing to do with it. đŸ˜‰ Steve Lynch, of course, will also announce. I think there’s a decent shot that John Tierney will join the fray as well.
Ed Markey? I don’t know — I still think there’s a good chance he won’t jump in. He’s sitting awful pretty right where he is. Jim McGovern? I haven’t heard any rumblings in that respect, though of course that could change.
But look out — the Republicans have already got a candidate too: Bob Burr, a selectman from Canton. Will Burr’s entry scare off Scott “Hey kids, go $%&# yourselves” Brown?
Big winner today: Martha Coakley. The more congressmen jump in, the clearer her path to victory.
with Citizens Energy. A lot of families are benefiting.
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p>It was nice to think that there would still be a Kennedy in the Senate, but there are some good prospects out there, to be sure.
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p>I’m definitely leaning Coakley.
he got booed right out of the gate and it never slowed down. I don’t know who I’ll back — but I look forward to making sure Mr. Lynch is not my next Senator. Seriously — you show up to a public option rally and have yet to take a position for the public option and get up to the mic expecting things to go well? Really?
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p>This is Massachusetts. He’s got the political cover to support the public option… he just doesn’t have the vision. Thanks anyway, says this former constituent.
First time I’ve heard his name mentioned. Seems like a decent guy, has a decent record, and was in the same Salem High class as my dad.
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p>That said does he have a lot of traction/support outside of his district?
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p>Markey has statewide name recognition just because of the many times he flirted with running for higher office before, ditto Meehan. McGovern IMO does not have much traction east of Worcester, although arguably he is to the most left out of our very left-wing delegation.
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p>I must say Coakley and Lynch must be happy about this. I would say the bigger the field the better it is for them.
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p>For Lynch he needs the liberals to divide themselves so he can take his 30-40% base of right of center Dems and independents to the bank. Most of his liberal critics wouldn’t desert him if he won the nomination, remember the D trumps all.
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p>As for Coakley, the logic is that the statewide recognition and organization gives her enough support that she can run first in her home base, and run second in her opponents districts. Also she would likely solidify the woman’s vote and hope that brings her through.
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p>If its Capuano, Lynch, and Coakley advantage Coakley.
If its Capuano, Tierney, Markey/Meehan, Lynch, and Coakley advantage Lynch me thinks.
I think that (1) Lynch will have trouble taking lots of Dems with him to the special-general. It will likely be enough anyway, but I do think he’ll be vulnerable to be primaried the next general-primary season. Also, (2) even if it is Cap, Tie, Mar/Mee, Lyn, and Coa — I think it’s still advantage Coakley. There’s plenty of time for her to screw it up with something she says/does or said/did, but she’s in the pole position, and the more oldish white men from the House who jump in, the better for her.
Link.
I certainly respect the fact that she got in without waiting to see which way the wind was going to blow.
check the wind and the weather, check their sails and a million other objective conditions.
Many delightful stories were told a couple weeks ago about the daring sailor Ted Kennedy who didn’t check the wind, the weather, the sails, the polls, the others, the media, the charts, etc before setting off. He struck out with confidence, not fear.
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p>Kennedy took chances in his sailboat. He took chances in his Senate seat. I’d like his successor to be similar.
have the skills, the experience and the equipment to sail into the wind — very slow progress that.
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p>And I betcha a cuppa coffee he checked everything on that pretty little boat.
but, as I said on another thread, if someone doesn’t want to be Senator enough that he’s willing to run and lose, then I’m not sure why I should vote for him.
I do appreciate a Member of Congress or a Constitutional office holder, or Local office holder who didn’t drag his/her friends and supporters into an expensive doomed campaign to prove that he/she was willing to lose to a Kennedy or had “nothing to lose” because he/she they could run and not have to give up their current seat.
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p>Especially if that Member of Congress or Constitutional or Local office holder already had a full plate of important work to do in a national or state or local policy arena.
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p>Isn’t this a once in a lifetime choice between personal political ambition and a life time opportunity to play a leadership role in a national state or local policy arena in the middle of a recovering economy?
of course I’m not talking about people being foolhardy. But none of the candidates we’re talking about here — Capuano, Markey, Meehan — are dark horses, even if Joe jumped in. The problem isn’t that these guys have no chance. Of course they have a chance, however this race shapes up. The problem is that it seems like they don’t want to run unless there’s no one in the race who’s more famous than they are. That’s lame, and they are, by extension, also lame. I haven’t decided who I’m backing, but each of these “what’s Joe gonna do” candidates starts out with a strike against them.
One could as well say that grit, and self knowledge have a real appeal.
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p>I do know that not all of my choices have been good ones [John Edwards does come to mind] but many have been.
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p>Where the candidate has been local and I “really get to know them” I have been quite happy with my picks.
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p>For me, my perceptions of character, personality, values, and grit as well as governance control. It looks like there will be several credible, high profile, well liked candidates so for a time, some of us will have to agree to disagree, then rally for the Democratic nominee whomever that may be.
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p>As to understanding of access to justice, independent judiciary, and the mechanics of separation of powers, for me I am supporting Martha Coakley at this time.
for a good candidate, maybe tomorrow, maybe the next day ..
to fish or cut bait. A smart sailor/fisher would have had gasoline in the backup engine, life vests, tacklebox, rod and reel, bait in the aft cabin, and a crew waiting for orders. Anyone who had to send his first mate to Walmart to pick up supplies and a newspaper deserves what he gets.
you don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.
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p>And yes, this metaphor has now gone completely off the rails.
sure, they may not die a tragic death in a sudden storm, but they don’t win. Coakley got a head start while the fellas were playing with knots.
I really do think as eury13 points out above, that this metaphor is off the rails (?) but I couldn’t resist this.
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p>from Wikapiedia
Beating
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p>Beating is the procedure by which a ship moves on a zig-zag course in the direction that the wind is blowing from. No sailing vessel can move directly against the wind, but that may be the direction it wants to go. Beating allows the vessel to advance against the wind direction.
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p>A ship that is beating will sail as close to the wind as possible; this position is known as close hauled. In general, the closest angle to the wind that a ship can sail is around 35 to 45 degrees. Some modern yachts can sail very near to the wind, while older ships, especially square-rigged ships, were much worse at it.
While any of the expected/likely Democratic candidates –Rep. Lynch excepted– would be a solid progressive vote in the US Senate, it would be nice to see an accomplished progressive with different (i.e. non-government) experience in this race.
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p>Isn’t there a successful human rights activist, breakthrough scientist, university president, physician-entrepreneur, retired military officer or business person in the Commonwealth who would make a great Senator? Not one person of color?
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p>As a state famous for generating exceptional leaders capable of national impact, it would be nice to have more diverse choices for an open US Senate seat. If not, I’ll vote to sic Capuano on the Senate Blue Dogs.
Mike Capuano has been a very welcome surprise during his tenure in the House — a consistent progressive voice.
The Senate should not be the first elective office one runs for and that would be a strike against the candidate in my book.
Most of us outside Middlesex County know her for blowing the Louise Woodward case. Then whining about her loss on TV. Not a good image. A serious question please: Has she done anything positive that was noticeable?
As I recall she went for murder and got it from the jury. Only the judge intervened to reduce the charge to manslaughter and the sentence to time served. That doesn’t reflecct on her abilities as prosecutor. In fact my big criticism of her is that she went for murder when the facts of the case seemed to pretty clearly call for manslaughter.
She’s a great candidate who has ably moved from criminal prosecution to into the broader world of civil and regulatory matters as Attorney General. However, she loses style points for the following:
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p>New to politics??? This is a weak attempt to make a connection to Kennedy. Let’s not forget Coakley took a flyer on a special election for a state rep seat in Dorchester in 1997 and finished in a tough fourth place. She has been ambitious and political for years. There’s nothing wrong with that – politics and ambition go hand-in-hand.
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p>She’s donated regularly to House and Senate leadership including Tom Finneran, John Rogers, and Sal DiMasi, and she’s vulnerable to charges that she was extremely weak on public corruption, especially Senator Wilkerson. Still, with Joe out she’s the class of what should turn out to be a very strong field if Capuano and Markey jump in.