Massachusetts Gubernatorial Debate

27 Sept 02 | Lancey Howard

[Lancey Howard]

Here's a thread for the debate.
Input from Massachusetts folk who watched would be appreciated.

[Lancey Howard]

I thought Mitt came off very well as far as presentation and smoothness and coolness, etc. But as far as substance, he was appalling.

Did you know Mitt has a plan to address highway "rubbernecking" ? - - "When there is an accident, put up a screen so that people coming the other way don't slow down to stare." Seriously, this is his plan.

Also, he supports Massachusetts' gun control laws, probably the most restrictive in the country.

I was really disappointed. But then, this is Massachusetts - - as hopeless a liberal sewer as there is in the country.

[Lancey Howard]

When a panelist asked Mitt how he would fix the budget, Mitt said he was upset that 50,000 people were cut from the health care rolls, and he was upset that taxes were raised a billion dollars. You know what Mitt would do? He would attack "waste" and make government more "efficient". That's how he would fill the budget gap. (Groan.)

Still, he's probably as good as you are going to get in Massachusetts, so I hope he destroys this liberal scumbag Democrat Shannon O'Brien. I just hope there are enough conservatives in Massachusetts who are willing to hold their noses and vote for Mitt to put him over the top.

[SamAdams76]

I am somewhat put off by Mitt Romney. He just doesn't seem like a real guy. Then again, I have always been creeped out by people who are too "perfect." You know the type, gleaming white teeth, sculptured jaw, athletic build, perfectly tailored suits, perfect hair, etc. Like those people trying to sell you whole-life insurance door-to-door or try to sell you on some "business opportunity" that is actually some kind of pyramid multi-level marketing scheme.

Mitt comes across as somewhat stiff and plastic. Almost, in a way, like Al Gore or another fuddy-dud from Massachusetts, Mike Dukakis. You just can't picture the guy ever loosening up and cutting loose. You picture him walking around at home with a glass of V-8 in pressed, dry-cleaned pajamas and $125 slippers from some geeky outfitter from Maine.

That said, along with his stupid ideas like walling off accident scenes to prevent rubbernecking, he is still far better than the socialist insider he is running against. So yes, I will gladly hold my nose and vote for Mitt and his insufferable running mate (who missed her "Animal House" casting call as Mandy Pepperidge). The alternative is pure socialist hell (as opposed to partial socialist hell).

[Lancey Howard]

I was wondering - - how much capital is there in a name like "Shannon O'Brien"? I figure they gotta love it up there and especially in Boston. By the way, what is the name of Mitt's running mate?

[SamAdams76]

Kerry Murphy Healey is Mitt's running mate.

[Lancey Howard]

Kerry Murphy Healey is Mitt's running mate.

Amazing.

I remember how the Bruins could always be counted on to draft the best player with an Irish sounding name. They always seemed to come up players with names like "Terry O'Reilly". The Canadiens always managed to get the best player with a French sounding name, like "Guy Lefluer", although I believe that Montreal had their dibs on the French Canadians actually built into the rules of the draft up until the '60s or '70s. They were guaranteed the best French Canadian player available.

Funny thing, how important a name can be.

[grania]

Still, he's probably as good as you are going to get in Massachusetts, so I hope he destroys this liberal scumbag Democrat Shannon O'Brien.

Shannon O'Brien did not have the support of the unions...she's regarded as independent of their dictates.

Shannon O'Brien took over the treasurer's office from Republican Joe Malone, and it was in a shambles. She got the Big Dig budget (somewhat) under control and stopped the fiasco at the lottery where some of Malone's buddies were literally walking out with bags full of cash.

Shannon O'Brien has set up weekend workshops for state workers and retirees where the participants get a real good background on learning about finances and good decision making.

Mitt Romney's negativism about the other candidate for Lt. Governor, Jim Rappaport, offended a lot of Republicans who supported Rappaport.

Don't forget there are two other candidates...Stein (Green Party) and Carla Howell (Libertarian). There's also writing in Jim Rappaport as a protest vote (even if it won't be counted). And, I don't distrust Shannon O'Brien.

[Lancey Howard]

And, I don't distrust Shannon O'Brien.

Well, God bless you. I think you are on the wrong forum.
From what I heard tonight, she is a gun grabber, a socialist, and your basic boiler-plate liberal Democrat.
A real scumbag.
As such, I wouldn't trust her as far as I could shove her down a toilet.

[MoralSense]

Don't know about the gun-grabber bit. She has an "A" rating from either GOA or NRA, reportedly. In the primary, some of the other Dems tried to hold that against her. She's from Western Mass., and says gun ownership is important to people out there. Still, if she wins, don't look for any changes to Mass. gun laws.

I listened to most of the debate on the radio, and it was discouraging. Both candidates are "all goverment, all the time" types -- just different types. Romney's election would give a boost to Republican organizing prospects in the state, however, and the Republican operatives I know here are solidly behind him on purely partisan grounds.

[Lancey Howard]

Yes, I am not thrilled with Mitt by any stretch.
But I cannot imagine O'Brien got any kind of approval from 2nd Amendment groups. Not from what I heard. Both of these pigs talked about "common sense gun control" and both mentioned "sportsmen" and target shooting, as if the second amendment is in there for the benefit of sportsmen and target shooters rather than for the purpose of self defense, particularly against oppressive government scumbags just like them. The debate left me very discouraged, but only briefly. It is only Massachusetts after all, and that place disappeared down the liberal toilet long, long ago.

[MoralSense]

Well, I'm here in Mass. now, nothing to be done about that, and I do love New England. Please check out my columns on www.theamericanprowler.org about Republican politics in Massachusetts (under the byline Lawrence Henry). The first is up now under the headline, "Massachusetts Politics, and the Pro from Dover." The next, which will be called "The Youngest Republican," will appear in a week or so.

I know a number of Republican operatives here, and the party is NOT a lost cause.

[grania]

Your references to certain politicians as "scumbags" doesn't help your cause. Shannon O'Brien is by all accounts honest and capable.

What could Mitt Romney do to get my vote? Well, turn back the clock. Run with Jim Rappaport, who would (and has) helped build the party.

Kerry Healey has even less political experience that Jane Swift...not a pretty thought. Does anyone really believe Romney wouldn't jump to a prestigious national post if given the chance? That would leave us with Kerry Healey as governor...surely there are more qualified citizens.

I don't think Romney has signed a no new taxes pledge. He's emphasising his connections as a way to get business to Massachusetts. I see no evidence that the issues important to him are the ones that are important to me.

But, right now I'm leaning toward Stein, the Green candidate, as my protest vote. It won't be the double whammy of voting for someone who can beat Romney. And a write in vote isn't an effective statement...they aren't tallied and reported.

[Lancey Howard]

I will look for your columns. Thank you for the heads up.

As for the Republican Party in Massachusetts, is it lurching leftward, or are there still people with honor and decency there? I have to admit, the "Republicans" I have seen coming out of Massachusetts are pathetic, from Weld right on up to the most recent guy who thought it was a good idea for homosexual activists to go into the elementary schools and teach the kids about "fisting".... And Mitt doesn't look to be much improvement.

Anyways, best of luck up there - - but I think I'll stay away.

Regards,
LH

[MoralSense]

I know some fabulous people here, and they're not lurching leftward at all. My interviewee for "The Youngest Republican" points out -- quite realistically -- that Mass. voters may be habitual Democrats, but they are temperamentally very conservative on a number of issues: taxes, family, the military, official English, school vouchers, etc. Reagan won this state, and there are good reasons for that.