Brown said on Howie Carr’s show and in his ads, etc he wouldn’t vote the strict party line—he’d do what he thought best. That didn’t stop the Dems from running ads saying, “Who is Scott Brown, really? A Republican. Who will vote in lockstep with the Republican party. At times like these, we don’t need a Republican..like Scott Brown.”
“Republican” evidently meant “Nazi”. Did he vote the straight party line? No, but then again the GOP-e isn’t as conservative as we’d like.
The state’s voters are so brainwashed that some GOP candidates downplay the R-word and use terms like “independent voice”.
After years of Dem governors like Mike Dukakis (at least one Dem, though—Ed King—was conservative), there was a 16 yr period of GOP governors: Bill Weld, Paul Cellucci, Jane Swift, Mitt Romney. None hardcore conservative, but the Commonwealth started to pine for another Dem in the Corner Office and elected Deval Patrick in 06 and 10. “Together We Can”—a forerunner of Obama in 08. Charlie Baker, presumptive GOP nominee, may be facing someone like Martha Coakley. Yecch. Lesser of two...
Scott Brown compromised on issues on which MA citizens didn't want compromise. The invasion has destroyed a lot of those older manufacturing cities in MA. MA used to have a nicely regulated guest worker program to meet needs, and a nice balance of industrious immigrants who had established community ties when they got there.
MA would still I think like to go back to more government being local, easing of restrictions on small business, and local control over education curriculum. The residents tend to be anti-war, and now both parties are beating the war drums.
If MA residents always choose dems, it's because the 'pubs don't offer what they're looking for in smaller less intrusive government.
I'm speaking opinion, developed from living in four different MA towns over the course of almost 40 years. That includes being a frustrated Republican fed up with the 'pubs in charge who didn't want to hear anything from real voters.