Massachusetts' love/hate relationship with Democrats

Washington Post ^ | January 17, 2010 | E.J. Dionne

[ricks_place]

At the risk of flacking for the Boston Globe – a newspaper, I confess, that I dearly love, and not just for its Red Sox coverage – I’d like to share one other insight from a Globe columnist.

This morning, Joan Vennochi makes an essential point: There is a long history of Massachusetts voters getting fed up with the dominance of Democrats in the state legislature and of sending a message of protest by voting for Republicans at the top of the ballot. This year, that disaffection is compounded by the unpopularity of Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick. (By the way, if you thought that Massachusetts votes only for Democrats, consider that Patrick -- elected in 2006 -- was the first Democrat to win a governor’s race since 1986.)

Here’s the core of Vennochi’s argument:

It’s no coincidence that one of [Republican Scott] Brown’s political ads includes a shot of [Democrat Martha] Coakley seated next to two highly unpopular Democrats: Governor Deval Patrick and ex-Speaker of the House Salvatore F. DiMasi.

[ricks_place]

We need a rationale for the loss in deep blue territory. Thanks E. J. ! lol

[Publius]

And so the spin begins.

[DGHoodini]

Got a question for you Mass Dems:

Say Coakley wins on Tuesday.

Considering the revelation that have been revealed over the last few weeks about her character...

When do you think you’ll see her *in* Massachusetts, giving a rats ass about the the common mans’ plight in the commonwealth of Massachusetts?

Come to think of it: When do you expect to see her at *all* except on TV from D.C., standing behind Chuckie the Schmuck, at Senatorial Press announcements and attending White House parties?

[JPG]

C’mon, E.J., don't be so hard on yourself. We've never accused you of ‘flacking’, we've simply said that you are a FLACK. BTW, the diction lessons you've been taking from Barney Frank to get rid of your lisp aren't working.

[capydick]

But if Democrats in Massachusetts were in a better position with voters, she would be doing better, too.

But - they're not - thats the point.

Coakley faces a double-whammy, and it’s helpful that Vennochi has pointed to the aspect of her troubles that outsiders are most likely to ignore.

Helpful to who? The elite who need an excuse to make themselves feel better about the ass-whooping they're gonna get this year?

[FromLori]

40 Leaders From The Home Of The Reagan Democrats Are Traveling To Mass To Kick Some Donkey

http://beforeitsnews.com/story/12355/40_Leaders_From_The_Home_Of_The_Reagan_Democrats_Are_Traveling_To_Mass_To_Kick_Some_Donkey_A_For_Brown.html

[muawiyah]

Isn’t DeVal in prison yet?

[LostInBayport]

And so the spin begins.

Right. It will be disaffection with democrat politicians within the state, the fading of the Kennedy "mystique" (retch), the ill effects of daylight savings time or too much salt in the diets of Mass. residents.

Anything but what it is: national disgust at Obama and the democrat Congress, from lunatic spending to that healthcare monstrosity. Rationalize, rationalize...the truth still has a way of making itself known, despite the Boston Glob and their ilk.

[Leisler]

Wrong.

Coakley, very bad and unattractive candidate.
Brown, good and attractive candidate.

Mitt could of been a Senator, pre or post Governor.

There are a lot of conservative Democrats, that are more conservative than a lot of liberal Republicans.

A lot of Republicans have left the week, pathetic, elderly GOP, but will never, well almost never, vote Democrat.

There really isn’t much risk for Democrats to vote a Republican, even if it an Attila The Hun Republican, because the organized crime family, ie, the Democrat Party of MassachusettEs, has the state all tied up. Coakley is unpleasant, never did anything for anyone, unpopular politician. Never underestimate the desire of Democrats to put a knife in her.

The national GOP better watch itself, it’s not loved either. It’s just the less worse, that in the future is felt it will worsen the country slower than the Democrats.

Obama is down here, Deval has paved the way, but isn’t out yet. The Kool Aid drinkers still haven’t taken that first step away from their idol.

[x]

Here’s the core of Vennochi’s argument:

It’s no coincidence that one of [Republican Scott] Brown’s political ads includes a shot of [Democrat Martha] Coakley seated next to two highly unpopular Democrats: Governor Deval Patrick and ex-Speaker of the House Salvatore F. DiMasi.

Something is rotten at the core, then. Most people in Massachusetts probably don't know who DiMasi is. But even assuming they do, most voters don't know what he looks like. Patrick is certainly unpopular, but I doubt Democrats could write off a loss in the Brown-Coakley race to purely local factors.

FWIW, E.J. Sr. was a dentist in Fall River and a Republican, and probably a more useful member of society than E.J. Jr. Senior died when Junior was in his teens, but young E.J. managed to have a very privileged upbringing for somebody from Fall River: prep school, Harvard, Oxford.

[sr4402]

Brown, good and attractive candidate.

Brown is giving the voters something easy to understand: If you vote for me I'll send it back to the Drawing board.

It couldn't be clearer.

[Brugmansian]

Doesn’t occur to EJ that voters may see the same corruption and power grabs they hate in the Bay State writ large in the form of Obama, Pelosi and Reid.

Deval Patrick, Coakley and DiMasi are just local versions of what Democrats have in DC.

[Leisler]

Sort of wrong. The voters were ahead, as usual. I don’t know if Brown is poll driven, or as I suspect fairly common sense, and assure of himself( which he is ).

Unlike Mitt who in classic CEO/Corporate GOP elitists style was poll driven. Like he is selling a new brand of detergent.

You got to be real and not drip desperation. People sense a fake, especially a poor one, which a lot of RINO’s are.