Blue Mass Group

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Michael Dukakis Officially Endorsing Capuano

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Dear Friend,

Tomorrow, I am formally endorsing Mike Capuano for US Senate during the Brookline Open Mike at the Washington Square Tavern, 714 Washington Street at 3:30pm.

I have known Mike Capuano ever since I met him as a young staffer at the State House. I watched him grow and develop into one of the best mayors in the Commonwealth and I have worked closely with him since his election to Congress.

I hope that you can join us for this event. Please visit http://mikecapuano.com/page/ev… to RSVP.

Mike’s passion for public service and his dedication to his constituents are obvious. But it is his courage and his conviction on the important issues of the time that impress me most of all.

He was one of the few dissenting voices in Congress to vote against the invasion of Iraq. He has raised important questions about our role in Afghanistan. He was committed to decent and affordable health care for all Americans when the issue seemed to have faded from the national radar screen. And, he understands as well or better than anyone in the Congress how important it is that we put our unemployed building trades workers to work rebuilding our crumbling transportation infrastructure and building a first class national rail passenger system.

We lost an extraordinary public servant when we lost Ted Kennedy. Filling his shoes in the United States Senate will take somebody who has many of his special qualities — a deep commitment to the welfare of ordinary Americans; the courage of his convictions; and at the same time the political skills to craft solutions to our problems that can work and win the support they need in the Congress of the United States.

Mike Capuano is that person.

I am proud to join Kitty in announcing my strong endorsement of his candidacy. I urge all of my fellow Massachusetts Democrats to support him on December 8th, and I will do everything I can between now and then to help him win the nomination and go on to victory in January.

Please join me as I announce my endorsement of Mike Capuano for US Senate. Visit http://mikecapuano.com/page/ev… to RSVP today!

Thank you,

Michael S. Dukakis

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Comments

  1. and points out that this is the first time since leaving office almost 20 years ago, that Dukakis has endorsed any Democrat in a statewide MA primary.

    <

    p>http://www.boston.com/news/loc…

    <

    p>That really underscores the importance of the race in the former Governor’s eyes.

  2. Mike Dukakis also, for the first time since leaving office, appeared at Brookline Town Meeting and spoke in support of a warrant article (and received a very warm welcome, I might add).

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    p>Perhaps the Paul Kirk episode (and the rather shabby treatment he received) catalyzed him to re-engage in local politics. I have a hard time identifying anyone else in Massachusetts who has demonstrated such life-long passion for health care and public transportation as Mike Dukakis.

    <

    p>This endorsement is big news for Mike Capuano. I suspect it has also not escaped the attention of Governor Patrick.

    <

    p>An energized and engaged Mike Dukakis could make for a very interesting 2010 campaign season.

  3. It’s great to see Michael out there in this important race.  If I had not already neem supporting Mike Capuano, the Dukakis endorsement would have clinched it!  Thank you, Michael!  Kate

  4. announcing the endorsement – nice touch.

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    p>He also invited us all to the “Open Mike” tomorrow in Brookline.

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    p>I might just go.  Anyone else going?

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    p>Thank you, Michael Dukakis!

    • As a side note, the owner of the Washington Square Tavern is a cyclist and, more importantly, supportive of bicycling issues.

    • It’s a five minute walk from my house, and I know the owner and the restaurant.

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      p>Sadly, family dynamics make it impossible for me to attend. I would love my three children to have a chance to meet Mike Dukakis and Mike Capuano, but it isn’t in the cards. Oh well.

      • or defies the laws of the universe.

        <

        p>I saw him at the event — with family in tow.  đź™‚

        • Actually, we were able to reschedule a North Shore engagement the kids had later in the evening, they really wanted to go (as did I).

          <

          p>I’m really glad I was able to be there, it was a great afternoon. My guys were really glad they came.

      • Feels undeniable to me that Capuano has some solid momentum right now.  I get the feeling that her momentum, on the other hand, has really stalled.  Probably because people have started to realize that, while she’s very smart, she’s not nearly the most qualified for the position.  I just hope there’s enough time left.

        • Martha’s opponent is a six-term US Congressman. She has less than 3 years experience in state wide office and has never legislated at any level.  

          <

          p>I’ll stick with my assessment, “When will the public realize just how unproven Martha Coakley is as a legislator?”  

  6. Hi All:

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    p>I received that robo call earlier from Governor Dukakis today as well. I am glad to be a supporter also, but it is difficult to make public meetings with twin two and a half year old sons. I wish that I could attend, it would be nice to see him again.

    <

    p>Respectfully Submitted,
    Sincerely,
    Wayne J. Wilson, Jr.
    Roslindale

  7. CQPolitics
    By Emily Cadei | November 28, 2009

    Former Massachusetts governor and 1988 Democratic presidential nominee Michael Dukakis will formally endorse Rep. Mike Capuano in the Democratic primary for the Senate special election Sunday at an event in Brookline, Mass.

    Dukakis, the state’s longest serving governor after serving from 1975-1979 and again from 1983-1991, joins his wife Kitty, in endorsing Capuano in the four-person race. The primary election is Dec. 8.

    In a statement issued by the Capuano campaign, Dukakis said he met the six-term congressman “as a young staffer at the State House,” then “watched him grow and develop into one of the best mayors in the Commonwealth” and “worked closely with him since his election to Congress.”

    read more…

  8. Capuano, as the only member of Congress in the Senate race, has the most policy-oriented travel experience. He has visited troops in Kuwait and injured soldiers in Germany. He met with President Shimon Peres in Israel, President Hosni Mubarak in Egypt, and President Hamid Karzai in Afghanistan. He has also sat with Gerry Adams of Sinn Fein, US General George Casey, President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, and members of Parliament in Kenya.

    In 2006, Capuano traveled to Sudan, where he met with government officials and expressed outrage over their treatment of citizens and the genocide in Darfur. In February, he was in Afghanistan with a delegation that included US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

    “I understand fully well that as a member of Congress I can meet with presidents and heads of state, [and] I’ve taken advantage of that,” Capuano said. “It’s not the only reason to vote for me, but it is part and parcel that, on Jan. 20, I would hit the ground running and the others wouldn’t.”

        • same article:

          Coakley, who has the least foreign travel experience, said she believes she is prepared to face foreign policy questions.

          “Travel may be broadening but it may not be depthening, if that’s a word,” Coakley said. “The fact that you’ve been somewhere may or may not be relevant to how you think about problem-solving.”

          <

          p>earlier:

          “I have a sister who lives overseas, and she’s been in England and now lives in the Middle East.”

          <

          p>the next day, October 26, 2009:

          Coakley declined to comment specifically on her remark, but said she believes foreign policy is taking a back seat to economic issues in the race to succeed U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy.

          “Coakley: Few go to Senate with foreign policy experience” By Laura Crimaldi link

  9. This race is really heating up. Capuano has been steadily gaining momentum as voters learn more and more about the race and the various candidates. I think Coakley’s early lead (a product of simple name-recognition) led her to become a little too complacent. While she was suffering from front-runner syndrome (dodging questions, talking around answers, and ignoring the blogs), Mike was out engaging the public, meeting with voters, and racking up high-profile endorsements.

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    p>Add Dukakis’ endorsement (a very impressive one, from a man who’s dedicated his life to public service) to the top of the pile. Nancy Pelosi, Diane Patrick, almost all of the Congressmen from Massachusetts, a whole host of State Senators and Representatives and 20 Massachusetts Mayors all deciding to throw their weight behind Mike? Definitely more than a fluke. That’s a decidedly strong showing of support from liberal stalwarts and champions of progressive values.

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    p>Things are looking good for Capuano! Looks like this underdog has a shot!

  10. He’s for Charter Schools and Merit Pay for teachers tied to students scores on standardized tests.

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    p>The Globe is also for Merit Pay and Charter Schools.

    <

    p>I’m not a bit surprised.

  11. <embed pluginspage="http://www.adobe.com/go/getflashplayer&quot; src="http://www.necn.com/avp32.swf?or9tCGBds;m8t}#D@7i,MUZ-da9DMrBXjMg-W2}l{La.(fnS^.gk3>$U.O3^$7#UsS.xE7<?{cu_zN?{0PFhFiQBn.?pMbgvp_&&lt;^!R_B$xCsO*B^jSbXeuKvsHV&gt;dL1}pysH-9BbBi*lG/ds#fXU]WD_(zFS)_/RIm{b9u-WZkmk6|b5?n&gt;2-o&lt;|Qk*ipgT$8x ;vT65FR9g*;A&*]HV8$4zjut$4>_A8!]o6J<!Ul>!Z2gmI WFI[:)y3_=SYWTma,R^jAey8g]N#!Y}GR)0H1KTQ?N5g]Fu5<SQa” type=”application/x-shockwave-flash” allowfullscreen=”true” wmode=”transparent” allowscriptaccess=”always” width=”320″ height=”240″>

  12. I thought bluemassgroup was supposed to be a neutral site and am surprised at all the Capuano posters on it.

    • …it’s all those opinionated people who write on it that’s causing the problem.  Including those of us who were here long before the special election began.

      • thats what this site is for. its a place for fellow DEMs to speak about how they feel! and on this story DUKE is a fantastic endorsement pickup hes a state wide official and believes Cappy will do the best job state wide.  

    • I thought Mike Dukakis was supposed to be a neutral Democrat and am surprised at the Mike Dukakis endorsement.  

    • Blue Mass Group is not an “unbiased site,” except in the sense that we welcome all viewpoints here.  There happen to be a lot of Capuano supporters who are active contributors, which explains why you’re reading a lot of pro-Capuano comments.  The Editors of the site have not yet publicly endorsed, but expect to do so as soon as one of them gets off his a$$ and finishes the endorsement.  [slinks away in shame]

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