Well, it is what it is. A squander of epic, nay, historic, proportions.
We can mourn. We can point fingers. We can waste a lot of time and energy with an extended Night of the Long Knives. I prefer a fairly quiet post-mortem, then to begin to plan for 2012, beginning tomorrow.
Scott Brown knows there’s a target on his back. The teabaggers and GOP will begin in the morning to plan how to the keep the seat. We have to stay calm, unite behind one candidate who can connect with people, is not afraid to take the heat and viciousness and show strength and smarts in return, and plan to take it back.
Might I suggest… Mike Capuano?
Please share widely!
Probably in order of preference:
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p>(1) Joe Kennedy (the real one)
(2) Tim Murray
(3) Jim McGovern
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p>I wasn’t inspired by Capuano in the primaries, but he would have won this race, so throw him in in the mix as well.
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p>Now I can’t wait until 2012 — we’ll take this seat back. For the immediate future, though, beer.
I ran into him at Holliston High this morning. He said that he had never seen so much hate expressed in a Massachusetts election.
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p>I’m going to take Joe Kennedy at face value that he doesn’t want the job. Absent a massive turn-around, I don’t see it working for Tim Murray — much as I like him — unless he decides to NOT run for reelection as LG. And I don’t see why McGovern would want the job given his seniority.
because he’s the one with the best shot at winning it. Need I remind you that Capuano couldn’t beat Coakley? He couldn’t even come close.
David — may I remind you that Coakley started polling at least a year ago? Her web site was up shortly after Ted’s funeral. Capuano was much slower out of the gate out of respect to the family.
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p>I just don’t know that McGovern wants the job at this stage in his career, given what he has in hand. But I don’t pretend to be his close friend, let alone a member of his inner circle, so we’ll see…..
a regular election is a lot different than a special. Coakley largely got a free pass in the primary, while Capuano spent much of the time just introducing himself to people outside of Greater Boston. I wouldn’t underestimate Capuano if he had a lot more time to mount a campaign.
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p>As for McGovern, while I think he would be a great senator, he is second in seniority on the House Rules Committee and the chairwoman is in her 70s. Not sure we should be so quick to give up that kind of seniority.
He’s a very solid liberal ideologically, but I think he comes across to many people as a pretty solid middle-of-the road Democrat. (This is the opposite of Howard Dean, who I like but came across as more liberal than he actually is).
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p>This is a testament to the fact that McGovern is perhaps THE definition of hard-working retail politician — you do not ever have to worry about him not shaking hands or showing up to virtually every event in the state. If Joe Kennedy really is out, then McGovern’s my top choice.