Scott Brown and Martha Coakley campaigning Saturday, January 16, 2010
From Fox News Boston.
“Coakley counts on union muscle to win Senate race”
“Democrat Martha Coakley is counting on union muscle to help her win Tuesday’s U.S. Senate election in Massachusetts.
She kicked off the final weekend of campaigning Saturday with a stop at an International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers hall in Boston to encourage a group of canvassers.”
“Brown Leads Coakley 58-42 in Absentee Ballots– Coakley Losing 1 in 5 Dems to Brown …BIG UPDATE: BROWN PRESS CONFERENCE- PRESSING CHARGES AGAINST DEM PARTY”
“One in five democrats in Massachusetts is going with Scott Brown.
And, there’s more bad news for democrat Martha Coakley…
Scott Brown is leading in the absentee voting 58-42. 9% of registered voters said they have already cast a ballot.
Real Clear Politics reported:
Coakley loses one-in-five Democrats to Brown, while the Republican state senator has 94 percent of Republicans behind him. Brown has a commanding 58-37 advantage among “unenrolled” voters, mainly independents and those who prefer not to register affiliation with the major parties.”
“Dan Winslow, counsel for the Scott Brown for U.S. Senate campaign, will hold a media availability to announce the filing of a criminal complaint against the Massachusetts Democratic Party regarding a recent mailing paid for and sent by the Massachusetts Democratic Party. Winslow will make a statement and take reporters’ questions at MassGOP Headquarters in Boston TODAY at 4:00 PM.”
“Duty is the most sublime word in our language. Do your duty in all things. You cannot do more. You should never wish to do less.”…Robert E. Lee
I slept, and dreamed that life was Beauty;
I woke, and found that life was Duty.
Was thy dream then a shadowy lie?
Toil on, sad heart, courageously,
And thou shalt find thy dream to be
A noonday light and truth to thee…Ellen Stugis Hooper
I was discussing politics, the internet and news reporting during the past several years with an older friend of mine yesterday. The word and concept of duty came up and I was instantly reminded of one of my favorte quotes spoken by Kathryn Hepburn in the movie “Rooster Cogburn”, one of my favorite movies.
Scott Brown is running for US Senator from MA. Scott Brown is a fine example of living a life of duty. From the Scott Brown for US Senate website.
“Senator Brown is a proud member of the Massachusetts National Guard, where he has served for nearly three decades and currently holds the rank of Lt. Colonel in the Judge Advocate Generals (JAG) Corps. Brown was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service in homeland security following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. His career in public service began as selectman in Wrentham. He then went on to serve three terms as a State Representative and won his current State Senate seat in a special election in 2004. He is currently in his third Senate term.
In 2004, Senator Brown received the Public Servant of the Year Award from the United Chamber of Commerce for his leadership in reforming the state’s sex offender laws and protecting the rights of victims. He has also been recognized by the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) for his work in creating an environment that encourages job growth and expansion in Massachusetts.”
We all have important duties to fulfill. Certainly, voting is one of them. We must do more than simply voting ourselves. We must stay involved, stay informed and encourage others to do the same. We must help elect Scott Brown for the good of the country and the good of the citizens of MA. Six degrees of separation
“Six degrees of separation is the theory that anyone on the planet can be connected to any other person on the planet through a chain of acquaintances that has no more than five intermediaries. ”
Contact everyone you know, ask them to do the same and contact people in MA. Urge them to vote for Scott Brown. Let them know we are beside them.
“Poll shocker: Scott Brown surges ahead in Senate race”
“Riding a wave of opposition to Democratic health-care reform, GOP upstart Scott Brown is leading in the U.S. Senate race, raising the odds of a historic upset that would reverberate all the way to the White House, a new poll shows.
Although Brown’s 4-point lead over Democrat Martha Coakley is within the Suffolk University/7News survey’s margin of error, the underdog’s position at the top of the results stunned even pollster David Paleologos.
“It’s a Brown-out,” said Paleologos, director of Suffolk’s Political Research Center. “It’s a massive change in the political landscape.”
The poll shows Brown, a state senator from Wrentham, besting Coakley, the state’s attorney general, by 50 percent to 46 percent, the first major survey to show Brown in the lead. Unenrolled long-shot Joseph L. Kennedy, an information technology executive with no relation to the famous family, gets 3 percent of the vote. Only 1 percent of voters were undecided.
Paleologos said bellweather models show high numbers of independent voters turning out on election day, which benefits Brown, who has 65 percent of that bloc compared to Coakley’s 30 percent. Kennedy earns just 3 percent of the independent vote, and 1 percent are undecided.
Given the 4.4-point margin of error, the poll shows Coakley could win the race, Paleologos said. But if Brown’s momentum holds, he is poised to succeed the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy – and to halt health-care reform, the issue the late senator dubbed “the cause of my life.”
Yet even in the bluest state, it appears Kennedy’s quest for universal health care has fallen out of favor, with 51 percent of voters saying they oppose the “national near-universal health-care package” and 61 percent saying they believe the government cannot afford to pay for it.
The poll, conducted Monday through Wednesday, surveyed 500 registered likely voters who knew the date of Tuesday’s election. It shows Brown leading all regions of the state except Suffolk County.
“Either Brown’s momentum accelerates and his lead widens, or this becomes a wake-up call for Coakley to become the ‘Comeback Kid’ this weekend,” Paleologos said.
And with 99 percent having made up their minds, voters may be hard to persuade.
The poll surveyed a carefully partitioned electorate meant to match voter turnout: 39 percent Democrat, 15 percent Republican and 45 percent unenrolled.”
The MA Republican Party has a new video out accusing Martha Coakley of taking money from health insurance lobbyists.
“Martha Coakley says she holds health insurers accountable, then one day later, takes money from the very same health insurance lobbyists at a Washington fundraiser.”
Was this a fair portrayal of Coakley’s ties to lobbyists and drug companies?
You decide.
From the Washington Examiner, January 8, 2010.
“Coakley in trouble? Pharma and HMO lobbyists to the rescue”
“With Democrat Martha Coakley in trouble in the Massachusetts special election to fill Ted Kennedy’s seat, Democrats could lose vote No. 60 for President Obama’s health-care bill. In response, an army of lobbyists for drug companies, health insurance companies, and hospitals has teamed up to throw a high-dollar Capitol Hill fundraiser for Coakley next Tuesday night. The invitation is here.
Of the 22 names on the host committee–meaning they raised $10,000 or more for Coakley–17 are federally registered lobbyists, 15 of whom have health-care clients. Of the other five hosts, one is married to a lobbyist, one was a lobbyist in Pennsylvania, another is a lawyer at a lobbying firm, and another is a corporate CEO. Oh, and of course, there’s also the political action commitee for Boston Scientific Corporation.
All the leading drug companies have lobbyists on Coakley’s host committee: Pfizer, Merck, Amgen, Sanofi-Aventis, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Astra-Zeneca, and more. On the insurance side of things, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Cigna, Humana, HealthSouth, and United Health all are represented on the host committee.”
“Here are some of Coakley fundraiser hosts with some of their current health care clients:
Thomas Boggs, Patton Boggs: Bristol-Myers Squibb
Chuck Brain, Capitol Hill Strategies: Amgen, BIO, Merck, PhRMA
Susan Brophy, Glover Park Group: Blue Cross, Pfizer
Steven Champlin, Duberstein Group: AHIP, Novartis, Sanofi-Aventis
Licy Do Canto, Raben Group: Amgen
Gerald Cassidy, Cassidy & Associates: U. Mass Memorial Health Care
David Castagnetti, Mehlman, Vogel, Castagnetti: Abbot Labs, AHIP, Astra-Zenaca, General Electric, Humana, Merck, PhRMA.
Steven Elmendorf, Elmendorf Strategies: Medicines Company, PhRMA, United Health
Shannon Finley, Capitol Counsel: Amgen, Astra-Zeneca, Blue Cross, GE, PhRMA, Sanofi-Aventis.
Heather Podesta, Heather Podesta & Partners: Cigna, Eli Lilly, HealthSouth
Tony Podesta, Podesta Group: Amgen, GE, Merck, Novartis.
Robert Raben, Raben Group: Amgen, GE. ”
“Fox News Reports On Martha Coakley’s “Controversial” DC Fundraiser With Health Care Lobbyists”
“It won’t be the first time but Martha Coakley smeared Scott Brown tonight outside of her big Washington DC lobbyist fundraiser.
Martha Coakley is a smear merchant.
She already tried to tie Republican Scott Brown to Rush Limbaugh even though the two have never met.
Now tonight Martha Coakley tried to tie Scott Brown to “extreme right groups” who she says are pouring money into Massachusetts. She says this despite the fact that Brown raised over $1.3 million, mostly in small donations, in an online money bomb yesterday. And, she had the gall to say this outside of her Washington DC lobbyist fundraiser where 22 big-time lobbyists from drug, health care and insurance companies met tonight to help bail her campaign out.
Brian Maloney has more on Coakley’s big money fundraiser tonight.
As if Martha Coakleys support from the corrupt establishment wasnt already clear enough, now comes word that a coalition of sleazebag industry lobbyists have teamed up with Bay State Democrats for an eleventh-hour bailout of her faltering campaign.
Many of those involved in this hastily-organized rescue attempt have no Bay State ties, their only allegiance is to piggish K Street – Beltway lobbying firms.”
The MA senate debate between Scott Brown, Martha Coakley and Joseph L Kennedy took place last night January 11, 2010 at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. Here is a Youtube video with portions of video from Fox 25, Boston and News 22, WWLP, Springfield, MA. Links to the complete videos are below.
The Boston Globe provided interactive comments during the debate.
At 7:02 PM poll results were presented
What candidate do you support? Scott Brown (R)
( 71% )
Martha Coakley (D)
( 25% )
Joseph L. Kennedy (I)
( 4% )
Comments
6:52
Andrew Phelps (WBUR):
We’ll be watching and talking about the Senate debate, which starts at 7 p.m. sharp.
Monday January 11, 2010 6:52 Andrew Phelps (WBUR)
6:53
Andrew Phelps (WBUR):
Our guest bloggers this evening are Renee Loth, columnist for The Boston Globe; Ralph Ranalli, WGBH’s “Greater Boston”; and Julie Mehegan, deputy editorial page editor of The Boston Herald.
Monday January 11, 2010 6:53 Andrew Phelps (WBUR)
6:53
Andrew Phelps (WBUR):
The debate will be broadcast on television and radio stations throughout Massachusetts.
Monday January 11, 2010 6:53 Andrew Phelps (WBUR)
6:59
Julie Mehegan (Herald):
Those who plan to vote but haven’t paid attention at all to this race will probably be tuning in tonight, and the candidates know it. Big stakes.
Monday January 11, 2010 6:59 Julie Mehegan (Herald)
7:00
[Comment From BrianBrian: ]
Brown is raising a lot more money than I thought he would today…
Monday January 11, 2010 7:00 Brian
7:00
[Comment From Allen GAllen G: ]
Watching from Tennessee
Monday January 11, 2010 7:00 Allen G
7:01
[Comment From SteveSteve: ]
Watching from northern Virginia.
Monday January 11, 2010 7:01 Steve
7:01
[Comment From ChristopherChristopher: ]
Watching from Kalifornia
Monday January 11, 2010 7:01 Christopher
7:01
[Comment From Chris PChris P: ]
Watching from Virginia (former Mass resident)
Monday January 11, 2010 7:01 Chris P
7:02
[Comment From mlsmls: ]
logging in from texas…y’all hold the fate of our nation in your hand. do the right thing mass voters!
7:02
[Comment From LindaLinda: ]
Watching from Florida…go Scott!
Monday January 11, 2010 7:02 Linda
7:02
Ralph Ranalli – WGBH:
Complacency on the Democratic side will be the biggest enemy.
Monday January 11, 2010 7:02 Ralph Ranalli – WGBH
7:02
[Comment From JoannaJoanna: ]
Watching from Jacksonville, FL Go SCOTT
Monday January 11, 2010 7:02 Joanna
7:02
[Comment From AndrewAndrew: ]
watching from Pennsylvania! Go Brown!!!!
Monday January 11, 2010 7:02 Andrew
7:02
[Comment From Jo ElizabethJo Elizabeth: ]
Go Scott Brown!!!!!! Florida support 110%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The US Senate candidates from Massachusetts: Democrat Martha Coakley, Republican Scott Brown, and Independent Joseph L. Kennedy, are facing off in a final debate tonight. Watch and discuss as the debate unfolds live.”
A warning to the Democrat Party from the Washington Post (hardly a conservative rag) to listen to the American public and embrace centrist viewpoints.
“Keep the Big Tent big”
“The announcement by Alabama Rep. Parker Griffith that he is switching to the Republican Party is just the latest warning sign that the Democratic Party — my lifelong political home — has a critical decision to make: Either we plot a more moderate, centrist course or risk electoral disaster not just in the upcoming midterms but in many elections to come.
Rep. Griffith’s decision makes him the fifth centrist Democrat to either switch parties or announce plans to retire rather than stand for reelection in 2010. These announcements are a sharp reversal from the progress the Democratic Party made starting in 2006 and continuing in 2008, when it reestablished itself as the nation’s majority party for the first time in more than a decade. That success happened for one major reason: Democrats made inroads in geographies and constituencies that had trended Republican since the 1960s. In these two elections, a majority of independents and a sizable number of moderate Republicans joined the traditional Democratic base to sweep Democrats to commanding majorities in Congress and to bring Barack Obama to the White House.
These independents and Republicans supported Democrats based on a message indicating that the party would be a true Big Tent — that we would welcome a diversity of views even on tough issues such as abortion, gun rights and the role of government in the economy.
This call was answered not just by voters but by a surge of smart, talented candidates who came forward to run and win under the Democratic banner in districts dominated by Republicans for a generation. These centrists swelled the party’s ranks in Congress and contributed to Obama’s victories in states such as Indiana, North Carolina, Virginia, Colorado and other Republican bastions.
But now they face a grim political fate. On the one hand, centrist Democrats are being vilified by left-wing bloggers, pundits and partisan news outlets for not being sufficiently liberal, “true” Democrats. On the other, Republicans are pounding them for their association with a party that seems to be advancing an agenda far to the left of most voters.
The political dangers of this situation could not be clearer.
Witness the losses in New Jersey and Virginia in this year’s off-year elections. In those gubernatorial contests, the margin of victory was provided to Republicans by independents — many of whom had voted for Obama. Just one year later, they had crossed back to the Republicans by 2-to-1 margins.
Witness the drumbeat of ominous poll results. Obama’s approval rating has fallen below 49 percent overall and is even lower — 41 percent — among independents. On the question of which party is best suited to manage the economy, there has been a 30-point swing toward Republicans since November 2008, according to Ipsos. Gallup’s generic congressional ballot shows Republicans leading Democrats. There is not a hint of silver lining in these numbers. They are the quantitative expression of the swing bloc of American politics slipping away.”
Larry Sinclair is running for Congress in Florida congressional district 24 as an independent. Larry Sinclair, despite the multitude of lies told about him, has done everything he has told me he was going to do, including writing and publishing a book about his drug and sex encounter with Barack Obama in 1999. I spoke at length with Larry several days ago about the disgusting behaviour of congressmen, especially their out of control spending of taxpayer money. Ever since I began following Larry Sinclair and his allegations early in 2008, it was apparent that Larry was not in this for the money. In fact, I have proof. If I did not believe that Larry Sinclair is sincere about his contract below, I would not publish it.
Larry Sinclair is going to need contributions to have any chance of success. He is also in need of volunteers in Florida. I will be posting more information about this soon.
Larry Sinclair and I are on the same page in regard to frugality and not wasting taxpayer money. I believe that Larry means every word below.
From Larry Sinclair for Congress:
Larry’s Contract with Florida’s 24.
I, Larry Sinclair (employee) do enter into “Larry’s Contract With Florida’s 24,” with all residents of Florida’s 24th Congressional District (employer) effective upon my election on November 2, 2010 to the United States House of Representatives.
The terms of “Larry’s Contract With Florida’s 24” will remain valid from the date elected (November 2, 2010 through such date Larry Sinclair is replaced by the voters of Florida’s 24th Congressional District.
I, Larry Sinclair, do agree to resign immediately from the U.S. House of Representatives (FL-24) upon the failure to comply with a single term of “Larry’s Contract With Florida’s 24” as set forth below:
1. I Larry Sinclair will NOT use one-cent of Tax-payer money to pay for any housing of any kind in Washington, D.C. or the surrounding areas while occupying Florida 24’s Congressional seat.
2. I Larry Sinclair will NOT use one-cent of Tax-payer money, directly nor indirectly, for any travel necessary and/or associated with my holding of Florida’s 24th Congressional Seat (including no use of military aircraft)
3. I Larry Sinclair WILL require that every Bill and/or amendment to any Bill be read aloud on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives in its entirety before any vote can take place.
4. I Larry Sinclair will NOT vote in favor of a single House Bill that contains one-cent of ear-marks for any congressional district of any kind. In addition I will immediately call out every member of Congress who seeks ear-marks.
5. I Larry Sinclair will NOT use one-cent of Tax-payer money to pay for a single meal, beverage, hotel room, airline ticket, etc…even if related to my job. I will pay for any and all such items in full from my salary as Rep. from Florida 24.
6. I Larry Sinclair will be on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives for every single vote during my term in the U.S. House.
7. I Larry Sinclair will fill any and all positions in my office with persons from Florida’s 24th Congressional District; I will NOT attend and/or participate in any political fund raisers during any time the U.S. Congress is in session;and, I WILL personally return every call from residents of Florida’s 24th Congressional District within 72 hours.
8. I Larry Sinclair will clearly post on the Internet a complete list of all persons meeting with me in my House Office each week. This list will include the names, Company/Organization represented, date, time and the exact amount of time each meeting took. In addition all meetings will be recorded and made available to residents of Florida 24.
9. I Larry Sinclair will return home to Florida’s 24th Congressional District every week/weekend the U.S. House is not in session and will meet with residents of Florida’s 24th Congressional District every weekend (each Saturday I will meet with FL-24 residents in two (2) different areas of the district.)
10. I Larry Sinclair will NOT sell my vote in Congress, and I WILL listen to ALL residents in FL-24 (I will not be bullied, threatened or intimidated by Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi or anyone else.)
Citizen WElls 