Diane Patrick to endorse Capuano

Who cares? (3.50 / 12)

NO BODY

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by: The(Berkshire)HillshaveIs @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 15:00:54 PM CST

That is interesting (0.00 / 0)

It sort of begs the question of what Deval will do, especially given her rationale.

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by: JimC @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 15:11:12 PM CST

Patrick Endorsement (6.00 / 3)

Gov. Patrick has stated that he's not going to officially endorse anybody. Nevertheless, I think it's fair to say that this qualifies as a "quasi-endorsement", for what it's worth (probably not much).

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by: Hoyapaul @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 15:18:52 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Kind of like... (6.00 / 1)

...Marty Meehan's wife signing on as chair of Niki Tsongas' campaign while he officially didn't endorse.

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by: Christopher @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 15:25:10 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Yes, with one important difference (6.00 / 1)

Diane Patrick has been fairly visible since Deval came on the scene. I had never heard of Marty Meehan's wife (I don't live in his district) until she decided to endorse. So that felt more like a signal than this does, at least to me.

In other words, I can imagine the governor splitting with Diane on the endorsement. But I don't know, and I could be all wet on this.

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by: JimC @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 15:30:47 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Yes, you're all wet, imho (6.00 / 1)

You state

Diane Patrick has been fairly visible...

Really? In what way? Because the press dogged her and her family? I think she's been remarkably in the background, given her own very impressive credentials.

I know she's been the keynote speaker at several high-profile fundraisers for charitable causes, but I can't recall any other political statement she's made, before this one.

I know the Governor has been extremely emphatic about staying out of all political races (other than his own!), and I think that's proper (as much as I regret the absence of his endorsement in races where he has an obvious ally).

Yet, just as people tried to make a big deal out of Doug Rubin working for Steve P., and trying to attribute the Governor's "implicit" support to other actions his political friends have taken, I remain convinced that Deval is truly neutral on all of these races.

My own family is divided between Capuano and Khazei, yet I didn't detect any gloating by my partner over this endorsement. "Diane is her own person and is free to make up her own mind," was the comment I heard.

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by: Michael Forbes Wilcox @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 21:12:07 PM CST

[ Parent ]

"staying out of all political races" - Wasn't Wilkerson even pre-primary? (0.00 / 0)

Yr. Obedient Servant, Peter Porcupine, Republican

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by: Peter Porcupine @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 08:31:11 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Diane Patrick sees civil libterties as campaign issue (0.00 / 0)

"Mike has proven leadership on issues important to me such as improving education and fighting to protect our cherished civil liberties."

- Diane Patrick, Partner
Ropes & Gray

www.bit.ly/7Wousr - "Must include a public option"
www.bit.ly/7yaoMv - Coakley shifts, backs abortion curb
www.bit.ly/5f8CVb - John Kerry reporting for duty!
www.bit.ly/6rJnZU - Questions for Martha Coakley on Civil Rights  

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by: NeilSagan @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 16:54:35 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Thanks (0.00 / 0)

Not sure how I missed that.

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by: JimC @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 15:27:54 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Diane Patrick: Capuano a 'brilliant strategist' (0.00 / 0)

By Brian MacQuarrie, Globe Staff

DEDHAM -- Diane Patrick, wife of Governor Deval Patrick, formally endorsed Congressman Michael Capuano today in the special election race for the US Senate.

"Mike is, No. 1, a brilliant strategist, and I don't mean that in the sense of campaigning but in the sense of getting the job done," Diane Patrick said in an appearance with Capuano this morning at the Dedham Community Theater attended by about 150 people.

Capuano emphasized his experience as an elected official, which ranges from being a local school board member to being a congressman.

"There is nothing in government today - on a state, local, or federal level - that I have not been involved in," he said.

read more

www.bit.ly/7Wousr - "Must include a public option"
www.bit.ly/7yaoMv - Coakley shifts, backs abortion curb
www.bit.ly/5f8CVb - John Kerry reporting for duty!
www.bit.ly/6rJnZU - Questions for Martha Coakley on Civil Rights  

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by: NeilSagan @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 16:04:51 PM CST

[ Parent ]

First Lady of Mass. endorses Capuano for Senate (0.00 / 0)

www.bit.ly/7Wousr - "Must include a public option"
www.bit.ly/7yaoMv - Coakley shifts, backs abortion curb
www.bit.ly/5f8CVb - John Kerry reporting for duty!
www.bit.ly/6rJnZU - Questions for Martha Coakley on Civil Rights  

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by: NeilSagan @ Sun Nov 22, 2009 at 00:18:15 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Endorsement (4.50 / 2)

I confess I'm surprised to see Mrs. Patrick putting herself out in the political arena like this, but more power to her.

I always love the "I'm staying out of this race, but I'll endorse through my spouse" type of endorsement.

So, for me, the real surprise is not that Mrs. Patrick is putting herself out there, but rather (some) surprise that, though this endorsement, Deval is implicitly announcing that he is supporting Capuano. I'm mainly surprised because, let's face it, Coakley will win the primary and trounce Brown in the general. So why (quasi-)endorse the very likely loser at this point in the campaign?

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by: Hoyapaul @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 15:15:28 PM CST

Endorse the best person in the race (6.00 / 7)

Not addressing the issue of "quasi-endorsement" but, there are those of us who endorse the person who we think is best for the position.  We may endorse, even if there is the possibility that the person might lose.  

Kate Donaghue, volunteer.

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by: Kate @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 15:21:37 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Endorsing the best candidate, not betting on the fastest horse. (6.00 / 1)

I'm so dissapointed in the 'endorse the frontrunner' attitude. The point of a primary, especially a primary in such a staunchly democratic state, is to ensure we pick the very best, most capable candidate to go into a general  election they're likely to dominate. In Massachusetts, this is where we find the real competition. We're lucky enough to live in a state where instead of having to fight tooth and nail to elect a democrat, we have the luxury to focus on chosing the democrat of the highest possible caliber. If Diane or Deval think Capuano would make a better Senator, I certainly hope they wouldn't let Coakley's polling numbers dictate their endorsement.

Let's be honest, whoever makes it through the primary is likely to smoke the competition in the general. Our votes and endorsements shouldn't be about who's ahead in the polls. They should be about who we think can best represent progressive interests.

So yeah, I get the political benefits of endorsing the frontrunner. But I wish we saw independence and courage taking precedence over stategy a little more often.  

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by: uffishThought @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 17:42:09 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Understood (0.00 / 0)

Though I'm raising the question from the perspective of the Governor, where the question of who to endorse necessarily goes beyond the idealistic question of "who is best for the position." There must be political reasons for this "quasi" endorsement, and I'm interested in what they may be, that's all.

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by: Hoyapaul @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 11:31:08 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Mrs. Patrick's Endorsement (0.00 / 0)

It is unfortunate that some people will assume that Mrs. Patrick's endorsement is somehow an "implicit" endorsement by the Governor.  The Governor issued a statement today saying that he will remain neutral in this race.

I am working with Steve Pagliuca, but I respect Mrs. Patrick's decision to endorse Congressman Capuano and also respect the fact that she made the decision for her own personal reasons.

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by: Doug Rubin @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 20:47:16 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Your comment was truly jaw-dropping... (4.50 / 2)

I do not believe that you believe your own comment.
No one with an ounce of political sense could believe that Diane Patrick would do anything political without weighing in with her husband first, given that it will affect his standing as Governor.  It would be totally out of character.

AND No one would have any doubt that people would indeed assume her endorsement reflected his approval....after all it will have consequences to his own upcoming race to hold onto his job.

Doug, you are being paid to support and advise Steve Pagliuca and the Governor...it is understandable that you would publicly stick up for the Patrick's decision to inject themselves in the Senate race...but it is truly hard for me to believe that it was a decision you advised them to take. Patrick supporters across the state are worried about the statewide election ahead and wish he (and his wife) would not take unnecessary actions that diminish his already weakened chances.

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by: HLPeary @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 07:10:50 AM CST

[ Parent ]

You may be over estimating the impact of this endorsment (6.00 / 1)

one way or the other but the more you say how truly cataclysmic Diane's endorsement of Mike Capuano is for Deval Patrick, the more I think Diane's endorsement of Mike Capuano helps Mika Capuano regardless of whether Diane is a cutout for Deval.

And let's face it, stating Diane is a cutout for Deval is not a particularly savory presumption for progressives who, at least traditionally, view a woman every bit as equal to her husband, capable of having her own well-reasoned point of view, and in some cases, twice as good as their male counterpart.  

www.bit.ly/7Wousr - "Must include a public option"
www.bit.ly/7yaoMv - Coakley shifts, backs abortion curb
www.bit.ly/5f8CVb - John Kerry reporting for duty!
www.bit.ly/6rJnZU - Questions for Martha Coakley on Civil Rights  

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by: NeilSagan @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 07:34:37 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Marital equality is not the issue here...by any stretch (0.00 / 0)

n/t

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by: HLPeary @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 08:29:22 AM CST

[ Parent ]

What's jaw-dropping are some of the comments to this post... (6.00 / 4)

I absolutely stand by my comment.

I believe the statements by Diane Patrick and Governor Patrick are sincere and reflect their individual decisions.

And yes, it is true that I am paid to work with the Governor and Steve Pagliuca. But I also believe in them.  I also strongly support Diane Patrick and her right to make this endorsement.

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by: Doug Rubin @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 14:57:36 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I'm not that naive (0.00 / 0)

It is unfortunate that some people will assume that Mrs. Patrick's endorsement is somehow an "implicit" endorsement by the Governor...I respect Mrs. Patrick's decision to endorse Congressman Capuano and also respect the fact that she made the decision for her own personal reasons.

Given the fact that Mrs. Patrick has kept out of the political limelight for the most part, it's a little strange that she would even bother to publicly endorse, no?

And the notion that she did so "for her own personal reasons", with no input from the Governor, is pretty unlikely indeed. Politician spouses (both men and women...this has nothing to do with gender) understand the political ramifications of their actions, and do not simply emerge from relative obscurity to do something like this without the full consent, and probably encouragement, from the Governor and his political team.

That all said, how much does this endorsement matter? Not much at all.

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by: Hoyapaul @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 11:27:19 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Sure, 'cause God knows, (6.00 / 2)

no political wife would ever endorse a candidate her husband opposed.

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by: David @ Sun Nov 22, 2009 at 11:31:34 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Of course... (0.00 / 0)

There are just a couple teeny-tiny differences, such as the fact that Maria Shriver is far more high-profile politically than Mrs. Patrick (particularly as a member of the Kennedy family), and not to mention of a different political party from her husband.

But other than that it's exactly the same situation.

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by: Hoyapaul @ Sun Nov 22, 2009 at 14:03:03 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Glad we're in agreement, then. ;-) (0.00 / 0)

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by: David @ Sun Nov 22, 2009 at 15:58:28 PM CST

[ Parent ]

it's a little strange that she would even bother to publicly endorse, no? (0.00 / 0)

Not strange.  She is a partner at the biggest law firm in Boston.  Law firms have an interest in supporting  candidates, even to have one partner support one candidate and another partner to support a different one.  Relationships make the world go round.  

www.bit.ly/7Wousr - "Must include a public option"
www.bit.ly/7yaoMv - Coakley shifts, backs abortion curb
www.bit.ly/5f8CVb - John Kerry reporting for duty!
www.bit.ly/6rJnZU - Questions for Martha Coakley on Civil Rights  

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by: NeilSagan @ Sun Nov 22, 2009 at 12:07:04 PM CST

[ Parent ]

This is a payback endorsement (0.00 / 0)

Lots of folks owe Mikey- He will still be a Congressman capable of favors.
You heard her say that Caps was one of the first to support her husband- that's the way it works here- People have long, long memories.   You either owe or are owed.  That's the reality.  

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by: Bostonboomer @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 22:09:21 PM CST

[ Parent ]

where I come from (0.00 / 0)

politicians endorse their opponents.  I know it sounds crazy but that the way it works there.  And everybody has long memories.  

www.bit.ly/7Wousr - "Must include a public option"
www.bit.ly/7yaoMv - Coakley shifts, backs abortion curb
www.bit.ly/5f8CVb - John Kerry reporting for duty!
www.bit.ly/6rJnZU - Questions for Martha Coakley on Civil Rights  

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by: NeilSagan @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 22:21:07 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Come Hear Diane at the 50th "Open Mike" in Dedham (6.00 / 3)

See Mike in Dedham or throughout the state this weekend.

Diane Patrick will be the special guest at the Dedham "Open Mike."  

Kate Donaghue, volunteer.

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by: Kate @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 15:17:20 PM CST

Here's the link (6.00 / 2)

Link to full text of the endorsement here.  

Kate Donaghue, volunteer.

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by: Kate @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 15:41:46 PM CST

Is there sexism floating in this thread? (5.59 / 17)

Seriously.  Folks are suggesting/claiming that Mrs. Patrick is doing Mr. Patrick's bidding... instead of simply thinking for herself.

Maybe they're right.

Or, maybe little Mrs. Patrick put her big girl panties on this morning and made up her cute little mind for herself before baking snacks for all the boys before their poker game.

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by: stomv @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 15:52:49 PM CST

I don't think so. (4.80 / 5)

I think it's reasonable to wonder if one spouse is speaking for both regardless of which spouse actually holds the office.

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by: Christopher @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 18:24:58 PM CST

[ Parent ]

As far as I can tell... (6.00 / 1)

...the "big girl panties" reference is the most sexist thing about this exchange.  You could have at least said shoes or something.  I'm not sure why a basic observation about how things tend to work, especially since I was careful to say this could go either way gender-wise, got downrated above.

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by: Christopher @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 09:46:50 AM CST

[ Parent ]

No, (5.75 / 4)

the most sexist part was suggesting that her mind was "cute" and "little" and that she'd be "baking snacks for the boys".  

But come on.  The entire one sentence paragraph was satirical.  That was the point.  Twelve of the 15 raters saw that and gave the comment a 6.

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by: stomv @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 13:52:39 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Primaries and downratings (0.00 / 0)

You have to expect that any discussion of a Democratic primary is going to be accompanied by lots of downratings. That's just the nature of such discussions, I'm afraid.

During the last Senatorial primary, threads degenerated into battles about downratings or, still worse, downratings wars.

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by: KBusch @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 14:25:17 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Please (6.00 / 1)

My suggestion that Mrs. Patrick's endorsement has a political angle is not exactly a stretch. Seriously.

Your comment recalls the paraphrase of Capt. Renault in Casablanca -- "I'm shocked -- shocked! -- to find that politics is going on here."

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by: Hoyapaul @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 11:39:01 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Political tin-ears...continue to tintinabulate (5.50 / 4)

The governor is at about 35% in the polls. Hardly a position of strength. Why would he want to deliberately tick off the supporters of Coakley, Khazei and Pagliuca to endorse Capuano who currently can't break 16% himself in any poll? Deval had better continue to pray that Cahill hangs on to at least 20% in the Gov. race or Charlie Baker will be the beneficiary of yet another faux pas by the governor.

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by: HLPeary @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 15:53:41 PM CST

Are you suggesting (0.00 / 0)

that politicians should endorse the race leader out self-interest?  Clearly not everyone thinks that way. But maybe that's why Deval didn't endorse and his wife did: So they could choose who they favor and not the race leader, rather the person they think is the best candidate.

www.bit.ly/7Wousr - "Must include a public option"
www.bit.ly/7yaoMv - Coakley shifts, backs abortion curb
www.bit.ly/5f8CVb - John Kerry reporting for duty!
www.bit.ly/6rJnZU - Questions for Martha Coakley on Civil Rights  

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by: NeilSagan @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 16:53:03 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Frankly, the Democratic Party here is so huge and loose (6.00 / 4)

That at times I feel like it is not a "party" at all in the classic sense.

That is partly because the Republicans in this state have dwindled to such a small group that would-be candidates who, in another state, might be Republicans claim to be Democrats here.

"Big tent" is one thing - but one size fits all quickly diminishes meaning.

That is part of why I was so under impressed with this year's platform; in aiming to offend no one, it failed to either inspire, or delineate what is expected/inherent in "being a Democrat".

Too often politics in our state feels like Incumbents v. Newcomers more than party politics.


Deborah Sirotkin Butler
AmberPaw dot @aol.com

"Failure to plan is planning to fail."
Proverb

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by: AmberPaw @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 18:17:47 PM CST

[ Parent ]

See You (1.33 / 3)

In November. Oops, everything is wonderful in blue land. No problem.

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by: billxi @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 22:36:46 PM CST

[ Parent ]

No, Neil, I'm suggeting that (0.00 / 0)

the best move for Deval is to stay out of endorsing anyone and let the Democratic Primary voters decide for themselves. Diane Patrick is not going to make such a blatant political move without the okay from her husband...it would be totally out of character...if she were truly political, she would have advised her husband to stay neutral and be helpful to the party nominee after Dec. 8th.
Deval will need all of the Dem. Senate contenders pulling damn hard for him to survive next year. Ticking off 75% of them hardly seems wise.  

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by: HLPeary @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 18:48:21 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Huh (0.00 / 0)

That's exactly what he did.  He stayed out of endorsing anyone.

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by: stomv @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 20:32:37 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Right...duh. (6.00 / 2)

He may as well have had the guts to do it himself. No one...no one... will believe she would do anything to compromise her husband' chances for re-election with an independent endorsement move such as this...if she took the step, it was with his knowledge and approval.  The good news for Martha Coakley is that Hillary Clinton won the Democratic Primary here without support from the Patrick or Dukakis or Capuano families...and Martha Coakley will, too.

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by: HLPeary @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 20:49:51 PM CST

[ Parent ]

deciding for oneself (0.00 / 0)

the best move for Deval is to stay out of endorsing anyone and let the Democratic Primary voters decide for themselves.

Asserting that Deval endorsed Capuano is a nuanced and couterfactual argument that contradicts direct statements by Diane and Deval.  Regardless - whether he did or did not endorse Capuano - how is his "endorsement" in any way obstructive of how Democratic Party voters decide for themselves?

www.bit.ly/7Wousr - "Must include a public option"
www.bit.ly/7yaoMv - Coakley shifts, backs abortion curb
www.bit.ly/5f8CVb - John Kerry reporting for duty!
www.bit.ly/6rJnZU - Questions for Martha Coakley on Civil Rights  

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by: NeilSagan @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 11:57:39 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Apparently, once a prominent Democrat (6.00 / 3)

speaks in favor of one candidate or another, the rest of us simply reach behind the left ear, flip the lock on the cranial vault, open that sucker up, and remove our brains.  

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by: lightiris @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 12:01:03 PM CST

[ Parent ]

honestly (6.00 / 2)

I still haven't read one argument that compells me to believe this endorsement is anything more than an endorsement ...one of many by many endorsers endorsing many different candidates, all individually without much consequence, taken together amassing some force of persuasion.  

If HLPeary is pissing on this endorsement because s/he favors a candidate other than Capuano, the controversy and debate being stirred on BMG is clearly drawing more attention to the endorsement than it would garner on its own.  

www.bit.ly/7Wousr - "Must include a public option"
www.bit.ly/7yaoMv - Coakley shifts, backs abortion curb
www.bit.ly/5f8CVb - John Kerry reporting for duty!
www.bit.ly/6rJnZU - Questions for Martha Coakley on Civil Rights  

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by: NeilSagan @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 12:14:08 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I genuinely believe part of this overreaction (5.86 / 7)

is the notion that, once again, a prominent Democratic female has decided to favor someone other than Coakley.  We've seen over-the-top stuff suggesting that anyone's endorsement of Capuano is an endorsement of the status quo (whatever that is) and a vote in favor of some sort of good ol' boys club, but gawd forbid a woman should stake ground in that camp.  For example, look at the reaction by some of the Coakley supporters around here to Nancy Pelosi's endorsement of Capuano.  Seems to me that if there's ever a clubby sort of element here it's the one that presumes there's some sort of community of Democratic women who are expected to support a strong female candidate simply because she's female.  Failure to do so calls into question one's commitment to gender equality, feminist concerns, the status of women, and the role of women in American political leadership.  At its extreme, this sort of thinking reduces those who support candidates other than Coakley to self-loathing women and sexist men.  Meh.  

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by: lightiris @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 12:45:35 PM CST

[ Parent ]

in this campaign season (5.00 / 3)

criticism of Coakley unreasonably leads to calling " into question one's commitment to gender equality, feminist concerns, the status of women, and the role of women in American political leadership" limited mostly to forums like WomenforCoakley and BMG as far as I can tell.  

In addition (and I find this phenomenon equally disturbing) is the untoward criticism of women in politics who endorse candidates other than Coakley, such as Nancy Pelosi, Diane Patrick and State Sen. Marion Walsh as if they must be ostracized from the club for their "egregious offense."  

Do you think Coakley's service in the Senate would be equally driven by this gender justice, us and them, worldview if she were to win in January?  


www.bit.ly/7Wousr - "Must include a public option"
www.bit.ly/7yaoMv - Coakley shifts, backs abortion curb
www.bit.ly/5f8CVb - John Kerry reporting for duty!
www.bit.ly/6rJnZU - Questions for Martha Coakley on Civil Rights  

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by: NeilSagan @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 13:31:07 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I don't know. (0.00 / 0)

Certainly her comments regarding how she would have voted had she been Capuano are real cause for concern.  Whether or not she can remain so rigidly ideological under the pressures of the seat will remain to be seen.  I do think, however, that unless she strays beyond the pale, her supporters will remain aggressively protective (how ironic) and that is a problem for another day.  The tent will have gotten a lot smaller, I fear.  

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by: lightiris @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 14:19:47 PM CST

[ Parent ]

cause for concern (0.00 / 0)

Certainly her comments regarding how she would have voted had she been Capuano are real cause for concern.

On matters of gender politics, she's committed and what we've seen in consistent with her sense of integrity.  

What you see is what you get ...unless it's about her having some exposure and then she's ready to assign blame (as all good attorneys do effortlessly) even if she's responsible.  

www.bit.ly/7Wousr - "Must include a public option"
www.bit.ly/7yaoMv - Coakley shifts, backs abortion curb
www.bit.ly/5f8CVb - John Kerry reporting for duty!
www.bit.ly/6rJnZU - Questions for Martha Coakley on Civil Rights  

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by: NeilSagan @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 15:15:43 PM CST

[ Parent ]

25 6s for you, my good friend (6.00 / 1)

Because you wrote most of my comment for me.  

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by: Judy Meredith @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 17:15:49 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Thank you. (0.00 / 0)

FWIW, I respect you tremendously, so your respect for me means something.  Thanks.  

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by: lightiris @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 17:36:39 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Annoying Assumptions (0.00 / 0)

As I talk with people, there are those who find it annoying that people assume that a prominent or active woman Democrat will be a Coakley supporter.  Have many had that experience?

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by: KTHiker @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 23:30:32 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Some are saying (0.00 / 0)

they don't know what you mean.

Shoe bomber, underwear bomber -- why aren't we waging war on clothes?

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by: kirth @ Sun Nov 22, 2009 at 06:48:05 AM CST

[ Parent ]

I'm not sure I've seen one comment in this thread that suggests Diane Patrick should endorse Coakley because she's a woman. (0.00 / 0)

I'm sure it's being said elsewhere (there are very few things you can think of that aren't being said somewhere), but you seem to go on at length about comments no one here has made.

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by: ChrisO @ Sun Nov 22, 2009 at 10:11:52 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Out of context. (0.00 / 0)

My comment is in the context of dialogue that has occurred here for three months, not this one post.  Unless you've been paying close attention to this site since Martha Coakley's announcement, you may not have any real sense of what I'm talking about.  If, however, you have been paying close attention to the comments on this site and don't know what I'm "going on at length" (?) about, then I don't know what to say.  I'm a pit puzzled how one paragraph and three comments on this post constitute "at length," but whatever.  I've intentionally kept my distance since the initial dust-up over Fells Acre in September.  A few comments about the treatment of Nancy Pelosi post endorsement and that's about it.  

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by: lightiris @ Sun Nov 22, 2009 at 10:59:49 AM CST

[ Parent ]

So, (6.00 / 5)

are you saying that the Governor should endorse Martha Coakley -- the candidate who wasn't with him in the Governor's race, endorsed the opposing candidate in the presidential race, and was rumored to be looking at running against him in 2010?

Maybe loyalty still means something to the Governor.  Capuano endorsed him in the primary, worked hard to get him elected, was with the same presidential candidate (the winner), and was actually helpful in acting as a go-between the Governor and DiMasi during the casino debate.

He's far more likely to get my vote for Governor if he DOES endorse Capuano,  because loyalty means something to me too.

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by: DCA-BOS @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 19:49:33 PM CST

[ Parent ]

He will need your vote. (6.00 / 2)

He will needlessly lose votes of many Coakley, Pagliucca and Khazei supporters. Neutrality was his best political move for the primary and all out support for the Democratic nominee in the final. The Governor has a tough fight ahead...he cannot afford to fritter away votes.

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by: HLPeary @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 20:54:13 PM CST

[ Parent ]

With all due respect... (5.00 / 2)

That is stupid.  

Deval is not going to lose any votes by anything that happens in this race.

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by: DoubleMan @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 21:00:25 PM CST

[ Parent ]

The non-endorsement (6.00 / 1)

that led to Deval Patrick's political Armageddon. God save the Commonwealth.  

www.bit.ly/7Wousr - "Must include a public option"
www.bit.ly/7yaoMv - Coakley shifts, backs abortion curb
www.bit.ly/5f8CVb - John Kerry reporting for duty!
www.bit.ly/6rJnZU - Questions for Martha Coakley on Civil Rights  

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by: NeilSagan @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 21:03:47 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Wow (6.00 / 1)

Maybe Diane Patrick thinks that Capuano is the best candidate.  Maybe I think that the Governor should show some political courage and stand with someone who stood with him.  I don't know when loyalty became such a bad word around here.  

If the Coakley, Pagliuca and Khazei supporters don't vote for Patrick based on this, then that's pretty pathetic.  Are they going to go with Cahill or Baker?  Cause I don't think either one of them has the same values as any of the candidates in this race.

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by: DCA-BOS @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 21:49:40 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Are you talking about Charlie Baker, (6.00 / 1)

the pro-choice, anti-death penalty, very pro-local aid, pro-tax cut Republican? The Governor's race hasn't even begun yet. Don't lose sight of history...Bill Weld could not win with just GOP votes, he won with the votes of Independent AND Democratic women in a political climate in which the public was angry at the state government and its leaders. Sound at all familiar?

Don't take a Democratic victory for granted...we have a tough fight ahead next year!

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by: HLPeary @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 07:23:08 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Weld won because he was running against John Silber (6.00 / 3)

This is not to say Baker could not win, but I think he has a lot of political baggage to overcome.  Christy Mihos might even have a better chance in the republican primary than Baker--and that would be a disaster.  But I just want to remind you that the real reason Bill Weld won was because he was running against John Silber--who was detested by a lot of democrats, including me.  That election was the first time I voted for a republican since the 1960's, when I voted for John Lindsay as mayor of New York.

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by: elliebear @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 09:34:11 AM CST

[ Parent ]

who can forget (6.00 / 1)

Silber's flipping out during an interview with Natalie Jacobson?

Silber later blamed Natalie for his loss:

Failed Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Silber yesterday cited his recent contentious interview with WCVB-TV (Ch. 5) anchorwoman Natalie Jacobson as a key factor in his defeat Tuesday, but blamed Jacobson for the verbal fireworks, saying she had entered his home "under a flag of truce" only to barrage his family with "aggressive, hostile questions."

The question:  "What are your strengths and weakness?"

The whole thing is in the first link, but it's to a Google book.

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by: huh @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 09:43:57 AM CST

[ Parent ]

When was I (0.00 / 0)

taking a Democratic victory for granted?  And how is being anti-tax one of the values that we share?

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by: DCA-BOS @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 11:26:49 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Wasn't with him in the Governor's race? (0.00 / 0)

Maybe not the primary, but in the general she used HER ad buys to promote his candidacy since her opponent was an asterisk.  I'm not sure I've ever seen that before.

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by: Christopher @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 09:49:19 AM CST

[ Parent ]

I was talking (0.00 / 0)

the primary.  Capuano was with Patrick from the beginning.  Sure, Coakley was with him after he was the nominee, but so was pretty much every other Democratic officeholder in the state.

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by: DCA-BOS @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 11:28:11 AM CST

[ Parent ]

last time i checked (0.00 / 0)

Cahill was doing better in the polls than Baker. Frankly, and perhaps this is off topic, but I wonder why people aren't wondering if Charlie Baker can hang on to that 16% he's barely cracking. And, quite frankly, I wonder if he's even going to get past the primary (at this point, I have my sincerest doubts).

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My thoughts are mine and mine alone. They should not be considered representative of any other organization, group or person - save me.

~Ryan.

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by: Ryepower12 @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 00:14:37 AM CST

[ Parent ]

globe story (0.00 / 0)

"After 25 years of marriage, I know Diane to be a smart, independent woman who makes her own decisions,'' the governor said. "I wouldn't have it any other way. Neither would she.''

"I respect her decision to endorse,'' he added. "But it is hers alone. Officially and personally, I will remain neutral through the Democratic primary. After that, I will work just as hard as I can to ensure that the Democratic nominee is our next US senator.''

Last week, the governor told reporters at the State House that he is friends with many of those who are running.

"They're all very, very worthy candidates,'' Patrick said. "I'm trying my very best to remain neutral. I don't think we can lose with any one of them.''

Diane Patrick to endorse Capuano for Senate seat
By Matt Viser | Globe Staff | November 21, 2009 | LINK

www.bit.ly/7Wousr - "Must include a public option"
www.bit.ly/7yaoMv - Coakley shifts, backs abortion curb
www.bit.ly/5f8CVb - John Kerry reporting for duty!
www.bit.ly/6rJnZU - Questions for Martha Coakley on Civil Rights  

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by: NeilSagan @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 08:17:25 AM CST

And you expected him to say something else? (6.00 / 1)

it's called having it both ways...and every time the Governor has tried to do that, he has come out on the short end of the public opinion stick.

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by: HLPeary @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 08:32:25 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Pretty dishonest (6.00 / 2)

It strikes me as pretty dishonest to have waited to do this until right after the Women for Deval event in the middle of the week.  Many of the big fund-raisers for that event are Coakley supporters and I know that at least some (if not all) of them would not have come out for and raised money for the Deval event if they'd known about this.  

Frankly, as a very early (pre-announcement) and strong supporter of Deval the first time around I have been so disappointed by his actions at governor--starting with his call to Citibank on behalf of a predatory mortgage lender. I had hoped that things would get better but they have not--it seems that he is tone deaf.   I had decided before this that I was going to sit out this election--not work for him or give him any money but still vote for him, unless someone better came along.  I still feel that way, now more strongly than ever.

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by: elliebear @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 09:22:55 AM CST

[ Parent ]

opportunistic (0.00 / 0)

If its true that the timing was arranged and is more than coincidence - delay Diane's endorsement so as to reap a maximum benefit in the fundraiser -  its seems to me that its just smart politics and not nefarious or unethical.  At the same time, I'm sure you have other substantive reasons for being dissapointed by Deval.

www.bit.ly/7Wousr - "Must include a public option"
www.bit.ly/7yaoMv - Coakley shifts, backs abortion curb
www.bit.ly/5f8CVb - John Kerry reporting for duty!
www.bit.ly/6rJnZU - Questions for Martha Coakley on Civil Rights  

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by: NeilSagan @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 12:07:16 PM CST

[ Parent ]

opportunistic 2 (6.00 / 1)

It just seems dishonest, if not unethical.

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by: elliebear @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 12:32:31 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Working for candidates (6.00 / 1)

It's probably not the greatest idea to think that one is doing Deval a personal favor by working for him. Whatever one's disappointments with the Patrick Administration, one shudders to think of how a Republican Administration might have dealt with the recession. A more than good enough reason not to stay at home is to prevent a Romney Restoration.

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by: KBusch @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 14:30:40 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Coakley stood with Deval...maybe Patricks just forgot (0.00 / 0)

I hate to have to agree with elliebear on this one. In the presidential primary, the Patricks waited until after their own Women for Deval event (fundraiser) to announce that they were not with Hillary Clinton (as if that were ever going to be in doubt)...and now the timing of yet another Women for Deval event (fundraiser) conveniently takes place before announcing that they will not support the first women US Senator in Massachusetts history. Maybe coincidence but I do not believe in coincidence.

That nitpicking aside, I was more struck by Ms. Patrick's reasoning that she had to endorse Mike because he had been a strong supporter of her husband's campaign...that is laudable I guess, if Coakley had been unsupportive...but, if you will roll back the tape, you might remember the one moment when Kerry Healy seemed to be gaining traction on the crime issue with attacks against Deval...someone who was also running for statewide office stepped up and was the person in the pro-Deval commercial that stopped Healy in her tracks...seems others have conveniently forgotten that...Coakley was there for Deval. (How many pols do you know who would do that when their own name was on the same ballot?...any Congressmen step up then?)

Ms.Patrick also said she felt Mike had more experience...when experience was never an issue for her in the Governor's race. I just found her reasoning very confusing.

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by: HLPeary @ Sun Nov 22, 2009 at 08:21:50 AM CST

[ Parent ]

5 reasons Lori Ehrlich's endorses Coakley (0.00 / 0)

Local Democrats supporting Coakley include state Rep. Lori Ehrlich, D-Marblehead, and Marblehead Democratic Town Committee Chairman Phil Sweeney.

"I'm supporting Coakley because I've worked with her in a professional capacity and found her to be tenacious and hard working," Ehrlich explained of her choice.

Ehrlich added that she admires Coakley's work as a former prosecutor and said her judgment in the courtroom will translate well onto the Senate stage.

"I've admired her strength in the past," Ehrlich said.

As for gender, Ehrlich suggested that it played a part in her decision-making process, too.

"Maine and California have two female senators; it would be nice if Massachusetts could have one," she said, quickly adding, "That's not my sole reason for supporting her." link

www.bit.ly/7Wousr - "Must include a public option"
www.bit.ly/7yaoMv - Coakley shifts, backs abortion curb
www.bit.ly/5f8CVb - John Kerry reporting for duty!
www.bit.ly/6rJnZU - Questions for Martha Coakley on Civil Rights  

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by: NeilSagan @ Mon Nov 23, 2009 at 06:59:25 AM CST

Phil Sweeney's tepid reasons to endorse Coakley (0.00 / 0)

As for Sweeney's reasoning, he too has worked with Coakley in the past and found her "very approachable."

"She's easy to talk to and she gives you straight answers," Sweeney explained.

Like Ehrlich, Sweeney is impressed with Coakley's work as an attorney.

"She makes an effort to resolve the issues she's confronted with," he said.
{tries to solve problems}

Comparing her to Kennedy, he added that she seems to have the personality to bring people together.

"I think all four of them are qualified - I just like her approach a little bit better," he said.

Sweeney said that he's turned off by some of other candidates, whose "claims that they will go to Washington and set it on its heels" are off base, because whoever is elected will be the junior senator to John Kerry. Coakley, he asserted, has avoided what he calls that type of "hyperbole."

As for her stance on the health-care bill, Sweeney credited the attorney general with being straightforward with where she stands on the issue.

However, Sweeney said would not go as far as to call Coakley {not} a "star." None of the candidates are particularly remarkable, he said, which is part of the reason he thinks the election has not generated much public interest.

"I don't think she's going to be one of the great, outstanding senators, but she'll be as good as anybody else in the Senate, {not going to be a great senator} so I think, 'Why not give her a shot?'" Sweeney remarked. link

www.bit.ly/7Wousr - "Must include a public option"
www.bit.ly/7yaoMv - Coakley shifts, backs abortion curb
www.bit.ly/5f8CVb - John Kerry reporting for duty!
www.bit.ly/6rJnZU - Questions for Martha Coakley on Civil Rights  

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by: NeilSagan @ Mon Nov 23, 2009 at 07:29:05 AM CST