Posted on 10/07/2007 6:03:10 PM PDT by Clintonfatigued
Local Republicans and others got an opportunity to meet and chat with two candidates seeking office: Jim Ogonowski, candidate for U.S. House of Representatives and Jeff Beatty, candidate for U.S. Senate.
Ogonowski is running for the seat previously held by Martin Meehan. Beatty will be running against John Kerry. State Sen. Bruce Tarr from Gloucester was also in attendance.
Paul Avella introduced Ogonowski to the crowd. After a standing ovation, Ogonowski spoke about his roots in the Merrimack Valley. He explained that his family came to America from Poland.
“I want to be clear, I am for immigration, but I will never vote for a bill that includes amnesty for those who break our laws,” said Ogonowski. He said that securing the U.S. borders and reducing the incentives for illegal immigration are steps necessary to ensure the safety of America.
When his brother, John, was killed in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Ogonowski took over his brother’s Dracut farm. After detailing the farm’s finances, he asked the crowd, “Can you guess what the single largest expense is?”
The crowd threw out some guesses before Ogonowski answered. “Taxes are the largest expense for the farm,” he said. “We get taxed to death, and then when we die, we get taxed again.”
Ogonowski explained how many families are forced to sell their small businesses to pay the estate taxes when the owner dies. Reforming taxation would be high on Ogonowski's agenda when he gets to Washington.
Next up was candidate Jeff Beatty of Harwich, who is running against John Kerry for Senate in 2008.
Beatty spoke of his background as an officer in the U.S. Army. He talked about his being an Officer in the U.S. Army's elite Delta Force, including his experiences in combat and being wounded
(Excerpt) Read more at wickedlocal.com ...
“We can support our troops by giving them a Senator who respects them, and does not use them as a punchline,” said Beatty.
That line is priceless.
The election for the special is a week from Tuesday, October 16th.
It’s hard to imagine a Republican doing well in that election, but no one thought that Paul Hackett would do well, either. Who knows? Maybe this one could go our way.
And if Niki Tsongas actually falls, than John Kerry could be next (given his high negative ratings).
If Og wins, that would be almost as big an upset as Mike Harrington’s win in a special election in the 6th when the relatively young Republican George Bates died in 1969. But in Harrington’s case, that was the first time a Democrat had won that seat since the 19th century. In that instance, that was an early referendum on Nixon’s administration (which also demonstrated the singularly visceral negative reaction to him in MA that culminated with his loss of the state in 1972).
Sounds like this guy can trump Kerry’s phony record and make a mockery of his Purple Hearts, Silver Star and trip to Cambodia — all in just under 4 months in Vietnam....
The country deserved better from Mass..
Kerry + Kennedy = Massoftwoshits, in need of an enema.
Niki Tsongas.
Her husband was a Senator.
I hope the Ogonowski campaign has some plans to monitor any potential voter fraud that may occur. Lots of illegals in that district.
You’re right. But it appears that John Kerry is wearing out his welcome. Polls show him with negative ratings of over 40%. Perhaps even the populace of Massachusetts has its limits with their politicians.
MA ping
Beatty is a great guy, can he win?... well you saw the polls.
If Niki Tsongas loses, than Kerry could be next. It would give the Beatty campaign a psychological boost.
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