As of this writing, the “Time Since Markey’s Climate Debate Challenge to Joe Kennedy” at the top of this group’s page reads 58 days, 12 hours, and a number of minutes. As a Joe Kennedy supporter (as I state each time I write, I volunteer for him), I never liked this clock. It always felt needlessly confrontational to me, and seemed to contribute to an unnecessarily unpleasant tone to the Senate primary. But, although I didn’t like it, I could comprehend the logic behind it. And when Charley posted on October 30th “The Joe Kennedy Timer Still Ticks On,” I didn’t agree with the tactic, but I understood it.
Now we are a little over a week since the climate forum/debate was held, and the clocks ticks on—to what? The forum/debate has passed. Congressman Kennedy did not attend the (I would argue, unilaterally) scheduled event initiated by Senator Markey. And I understand that some choose to make an issue of that, and choose to cite the number of days that Congressman Kennedy had to accept the invitation. I think it’s unfortunate and inaccurate to hold this out as a metric of Congressman Kennedy’s devotion to addressing the climate crisis, particularly when he speaks of the “intersectional” climate issue multiple times each week across the Commonwealth and the country (highlighting the social and economic injustices associated with it, as he did in a Commonwealth Magazine op ed, just yesterday), when he is an original Co-Sponsor of the Green New Deal, and when Congressman Kennedy and Senator Markey have virtually identical lifetime scores from the League of Conservation Voters (94% for Senator Markey; 95% for Congressman Kennedy). So, this clock always seemed to be a myopic metric of the candidates’ stance on the climate crisis (and, for that matter on the Senate primary in general, which includes many critical issues). Still, I got it as a political strategy to try to make a point.
Now, I just don’t get it. The climate forum/debate was held. What exactly is the clock ticking towards? If it’s towards meaningful discussion by Congressman Kennedy about the climate crisis, it should never have started (see above remarks). If it’s towards some future to-be-determined debate with Senator Markey and Ms. Liss-Riordan, then it’s meaningless. We could just as easily (and I would argue, more meaningfully), be counting the number times each candidate has met with constituents to discuss the climate crisis and other issues (especially west of 495), or the number of days since Congressman Kennedy invited the candidates to sign the People’s Pledge, or any one of a number of things that are serious and important in this primary. Whatever cache the clock may have had while trying to make a political point and pressure a candidate, is long past. So, what’s the point, exactly?
The Clock is removed; long live the Clock.
I think it served its purpose. Joe is an elected official looking for a promotion. He will be confronted throughout his career, whether he moves up or not.
I will confront Joe as I’ve done with anyone else — be it Charlie Baker or Deval Patrick or whomever — who I think needed it.
I appreciate your response, and your interest in holding elected officials accountable for their choices. Though I disagreed with you on this particular situation, I share your investment in our democracy. Thank you.
One person I would like to hold accountable is Bill Galvin who is making it needlessly harder for working families and college students to vote in this primary by opposing moving it to after Labor Day. Additionally, he still is opposing same day registration which makes it harder for veterans and other citizens who frequently move to vote.
I would hope Ed Markey and the Sunrise Movement can join Joe Kennedy’s call to move the primary so more youth and working families can participate. It’s a sincere request and not meant as a dig-I really think this primary would benefit from as much youth participation as possible. Galvin is likelier to listen if all candidates make the request.
Pretty sure those things require a law rather than just a Galvin say-so. I thought our primary was 9/15.
To clarify Galvin and his allies in the Leg are trying to move it before Labor Day, and Kennedy wants to keep it when it is after Labor Day.
I am also sick of this guy keeping his profile higher by spending tax money on ads ostensibly for his office. The ads are awkward and shoehorn his face into them for his own political purposes.
I think his ads convey important information.
The veteran in front of a bad green screen of the old Fore River plant or the teacher in front of a green screen of a classroom both saying “how nice mistah Galvin got us ah money back”. Well yeah, that’s literally his job. Every progressive challenger has flamed out, but even a moderately ambitious statewide pol should be able to make a competency based argument and learn from Zakim’s mistakes. Maybe I’ll collect signatures next cycle, he is truly ridiculous.
Of course it’s his job, but I suspect very much NOT common knowledge. He also has ads reminding people to register and vote, which is also his job.
That is the job of his office, not one guy. You can give out this information with putting Mr. Razorproof on the screen. Having an old white guy tell people to register will be a lot less effective than a diverse crew. Unless you don’t want that diverse population to register.
Why should he not be the face of his own office? I don’t understand the hostility here.