Tsongas Contemplating Run For Congress

Word on the street... (0.00 / 0)

From the Lowell caucus (i.e., relatively well-placed informants) is that Meehan is expected to be offered and to accept the position of UMass Chancellor.

I imagine that Niki Tsongas will have considerable local support.

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by: Tim Little @ Sat Feb 03, 2007 at 16:23:58 PM CST

I couldn't agree with you more... (5.00 / 1)

...about the need to have a lot more women in our Congressional delegation.  However, I know virtually nothing about where Niki Tsongas stands on anything, and I wouldn't support a woman candidate only because she is a woman.  Does anyone know anything about her political point of view?

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by: bluetoo @ Sat Feb 03, 2007 at 17:05:01 PM CST

Honestly... (5.00 / 1)

I don't know too much about her.

Apparently she's on the board of the Concord Coalition and the International Institute of Boston, and is Dean of External Affairs at Middlesex Community College,

She considered running for John Kerry's US Senate seat in the event he won the 2004 Presidential election, but ultimately decided against it. (Moot point anyways.)

She supported Bill Bradley for President in 2000.

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by: Tim Little @ Sat Feb 03, 2007 at 17:47:14 PM CST

[ Parent ]

and why is she the front runner anyway? (5.00 / 1)

because her name is the same as a former congressman?  I'm not saying should wouldn't be a good congresswomen, but that should be determined based on her politics and experience not her name.

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by: Marcus Graly @ Sun Feb 04, 2007 at 08:52:42 AM CST

[ Parent ]

She is progressive (0.00 / 0)

I know she is pro-choice and pro-marriage. I don't know specifics on other issues, but she is definitely on the left.

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by: politicaljunkie @ Mon Feb 05, 2007 at 11:15:25 AM CST

[ Parent ]

You know this how? (0.00 / 0)

Based on those two issues alone?  I think I'd want to hear more before claiming she's progressive especially since she's never held office.

The vast majority of MA Dems are pro-choice and pro-marriage.  I wouldn't call the vast majority progressive.

Let's wait until we have the facts.

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by: FactCheck @ Mon Feb 05, 2007 at 12:08:52 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Because I spoke with her (0.00 / 0)

I spoke with her last week and asked her about choice and marriage, but was only able to get an overarching sense of the other issues due to time contraints. Based on this conversation, and my prior knowledge of her, I feel very comfortable saying that she is progressive.

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by: politicaljunkie @ Mon Feb 05, 2007 at 15:21:41 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Interesting to see how this plays out (0.00 / 0)

If she is, in fact running, then I'm looking forward to seeing which candidate stands out from the pack as a solid progressive.

I'm heartened to hear that Ms. Tsongas is good on some key issues, but there's a difference between a reliable vote and a standard-bearer. Mike Moran has been a reliable vote. Carl Sciortino is a standard-bearer.

This is Tax-a-freakin'-chusetts! I want a Congressional delegation that matches our reputation. :)

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by: eury13 @ Mon Feb 05, 2007 at 22:01:40 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Can you back up that statement about Moran? (0.00 / 0)

Exactly how much more progressive can the guy possibly be?
Pro-choice
Pro-Gay Marriage
For-Universal Health Care
Pro-Worker...

It's the votes, the speaking on the floor and the working to build coalitions behind the scenes that would make someone a standard bearer. What part of that does Representative Moran not live up to your expectation in?

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by: AllstonProgressive @ Fri Mar 30, 2007 at 15:10:04 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

It will be a tough race (0.00 / 0)

she will likely face serious competition from Senator Baddour and others.

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by: AaronUSA @ Sat Feb 03, 2007 at 17:55:43 PM CST

Baddour (5.00 / 1)

Baddour only has two of the twenty-nine communities in the district - Haverhill and Methuen.  However, both of them are cities with strong mayors and Baddour has developed muscular political bases in both communities.  Name ID, ability to fundraise, and fluency on economic development issues will be Baddour's strength if the seat opens up.  He is going to face challenges dispelling notions that he's a DINO - (Democrat in Name Only)

All in all, gotta believe he's going to be a big contender.  Youthful looks and great hair always helps.

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by: 1812 @ Sat Feb 03, 2007 at 19:02:19 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Agreed (0.00 / 0)

I've met Baddour on a few occassions and I think he'll make an outstanding candidate, and will continue the strong legacy left by Congressman Meehan, should he choose to take the position at UML.

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by: AaronUSA @ Sat Feb 03, 2007 at 19:41:19 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Baddour Dismissed Deval... (0.00 / 0)

Baddour was a pre-primary Deval-disser...said on TV interviews repeatedly that Deval might look good to the convention delegates, but nominating him was a waste because he could not win in November and Dems wanted to win with a more experienced and well-known candidate.

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by: HLPeary @ Mon Feb 05, 2007 at 06:32:55 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Not alone (0.00 / 0)

In fairness to Baddour, he was not the only one.  The Governor's rise was a surprise to many observers in AND out of the party.

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by: 1812 @ Mon Feb 05, 2007 at 07:09:20 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Cast (5.00 / 2)

Others rumored to be interested:

State Senator Steve Panagiotakos - Lowell
State Senator Sue Tucker - Andover
State Representative Barry Finegold - Andover
State Representative James Eldridge - Acton
Mayor Jim Fiorentini - Haverhill
Fmr. Mayor Eileen Donoghue - Lowell
Dick Howe, Jr. - Registry of Deeds - Lowell
David O'Brien - DNC Committee Member - Concord

Here's a Lowell Sun piece from Kendall Wallace on the fray in the fifth:

Epic political battle brewing in 5th District
The Lowell Sun
Lowell Sun
Article Last Updated:02/03/2007 06:35:12 AM EST

Kendall Wallace is chairman of Lowell Publishing Co. He has more than 45 years of newspaper experience, starting as a reporter at The Sun in 1959.

LOWELL -- If Congressman Marty Meehan makes the move from the halls of Congress to the chancellor's office at UMass Lowell, it will open up the biggest political battle this district has seen in more than 35 years.

In 1972, incumbent Congressman F. Bradford Morse announced he would not seek re-election, leaving the seat open to attract a crowded field of Democrats and Republicans.

That campaign was the political debut for John F. Kerry, who ended up winning the Democratic nomination with 22 percent of the vote in a field that was a who's who of local candidates.

Kerry lost the general election to Republican Paul Cronin of Andover, after a very nasty campaign driven by The Sun and The Eagle-Tribune of Lawrence.

Lowell's leading candidate in the race was then state Rep. Paul Sheehy, who ran the best local campaign, but couldn't overcome the numbers because there were five Lowell candidates splitting up the rest of the vote while Kerry was running as the outsider.

Lowell candidates learned their lesson in that race and two years later Paul Tsongas was the sole Democrat running and he ousted Cronin in the general election, becoming the first Democrat to ever hold the 5th District seat.

So, if Meehan moves on, what happens now? Do Lowell Democrats get together and agree on a candidate or do they split the field and see the nomination go elsewhere?

Early indications are that former mayor and current City Councilor Eileen Donoghue likely will emerge as a front-runner. She's already looking at establishing an exploratory committee while beginning fundraising for what could be a very expensive battle.

State Sen. Steve Panagiotakos, who would have been the strongest challenger, has said he will not be a candidate.

Other local names that have surfaced include Register of Deeds Richard Howe Jr. and Lowell attorney Michael Gallagher, although they now say they are not running.

In the Lawrence end of the district, state Sens. Steve Baddour and Sue Tucker, plus state Rep. Barry Finegold have been mentioned as possible candidates.

In the southern end of the district, some think Rep. James Eldridge will take a look at the special election possibility.

In looking at the district and the candidates, Donoghue would be the strongest candidate from the Greater Lowell end of the district and Baddour is potentially the strongest from Greater Lawrence.

Donoghue plans to speak with Meehan and explain her strategy of getting out early and raising money in a campaign that could have a small window of time.

She also wants to talk to Nicola Tsongas and other potential candidates before officially filing an exploratory committee. But she's leaving little doubt that she would run.

Baddour, who once served as an aide to Meehan, has long considered a run for Congress. He and Meehan are close friends and he doesn't want to take any action until a change by Meehan is official.

In the meantime, he is weighing all the factors and the potential impact on his family and his career in the state Senate.

Baddour is highly regarded in the Senate and holds the chairmanship of the Transportation Committee and has been a major force in making the state take a serious look at an off-ramp on Route 93 that could create thousands of jobs in the Andover-Tewksbury-Wilmington corridor.

He is seen as a leader on economic development issues in the Merrimack Valley and one who can cross the line in support projects in Greater Lowell.

Donoghue has some of those same qualities and during her two terms as mayor she was active in the Merrimack Valley Economic Development Council and she's made a lot of friends and supporters throughout the region.

At this point Donoghue is the candidate most out-front and probably has the best chance to raise the money to run a proper campaign.

Mrs. Tsongas is a major factor with strong name recognition, but she has never run for office and hasn't lived in the district for a number of years. Paul Tsongas, who had a wonderful career, last served nearly 20 years ago.

Interestingly, Mrs. Tsongas may be far more interested in running than most expected. She has had serious talks with friends and has indicated that she really needs to explore the possibility. She has told people she would make a decision fairly soon and not leave other potential challengers wondering.

If Tsongas and Donoghue are candidates, it sets up a real door-to-door battle in the Lowell end of the district.

Massachusetts is one of the few states that has an all-male congressional delegation. Interestingly, Lowell was the home of one of the nation's first women in Congress, Edith Nourse Rogers, who served 18 consecutive terms over 35 years, which was the longest tenure by any woman elected to Congress.
 

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by: 1812 @ Sat Feb 03, 2007 at 18:55:11 PM CST

It's like a disease around here (5.00 / 1)

Please watch the copyright violations.

I think we can safely say Dick Howe is not interested. He said as much in the Eagle-Trib, not to mention to me personally. Good thing too, as I'd have a hard time choosing between him and other candidates. I've gotten to know Dick and he's very smart, fair, and just an all-around hard-working good public servant.

Left in Lowell: cuz why read the Lowell Sun if you don't have to? ;)

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by: Lynne @ Sat Feb 03, 2007 at 23:18:36 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Copyright violation? (3.33 / 6)

You mean because we didn't click on a link to read it on their own site, it's a copyright violation?  Is a copyright's value to force us to see that site's advertisements?  I refuse to risk downloading what might be there, it might be kiddie porn or something, or an Orbitz popup, how am i to know?  I want to see what someone wrote about something, not see ads, and it is fair use to let me know what someone wrote.  It is unfair use to force me to look at anything other than what i want to see.

More info at www.EggAndSperm.org

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by: John Howard @ Sun Feb 04, 2007 at 02:05:00 AM CST

[ Parent ]

That's not fair use (5.67 / 3)

Excerpting is fair use, copying the whole article isn't. Lowell Sun generates revenue through advertising. They use the revenue to pay the reporter who wrote it.  If you don't like that, don't read the article, but you don't have some right to an ad free copy. Sort of like how you don't have a right to take a loaf of bread, just because you don't feel like standing in line at the grocery store.

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by: Marcus Graly @ Sun Feb 04, 2007 at 08:57:10 AM CST

[ Parent ]

i think it is fair use (3.67 / 3)

It's more the use that matters, rather than whether it was excepted or not.  As long as it is for comment, criticism, news reporting, or one of those other things, it doesn't really matter how much of it is copied.  From the copyright office:

§ 107. Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use

Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 106 and 106A, the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright. In determining whether the use made of a work in any particular case is a fair use the factors to be considered shall include -

(1) the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes;

(2) the nature of the copyrighted work;

(3) the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and

(4) the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.

The fact that a work is unpublished shall not itself bar a finding of fair use if such finding is made upon consideration of all the above factors.

and more from the copyright office:

The distinction between "fair use" and infringement may be unclear and not easily defined. There is no specific number of words, lines, or notes that may safely be taken without permission. Acknowledging the source of the copyrighted material does not substitute for obtaining permission.

I don't think that it was copied here for commercial purposes, no one comes to this site looking for the full text of New York Times articles, nor would they if it were more of a common practice.  If this site was intended as a place to get nytimes articles without having to go to the nytimes site, that would be different.  Rather, it is known as a site to comment on news, and articles themselves can be newsworthy.  Reprinting the entire article in question helps us comment on the article.  Excerpting from it misrepresents the work, or it might, whereas fully quoting the article helps us feel confident that nothing has been left out that substantially changes what we are commenting on.  Of course a link to see the original source would help our confidence even more, but a link to a site that we might not trust, or might not want to support, would lower the value of the copyrighted work, at least to me.  What lowers the value of articles on the nytimes site is their stupid registration process, and the stupidity of the nytimes itself.

More info at www.EggAndSperm.org

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by: John Howard @ Sun Feb 04, 2007 at 10:26:12 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Oh, Lowell Sun (2.00 / 3)

well, tell you what, I'll visit their site every now and then.  And if I ssee anything worth commenting on, I'll copy it here.

More info at www.EggAndSperm.org

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by: John Howard @ Sun Feb 04, 2007 at 10:29:02 AM CST

[ Parent ]

This is an interesting article. (1.50 / 2)

Click on the ads and they'll get paid.

More info at www.EggAndSperm.org

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by: John Howard @ Sun Feb 04, 2007 at 10:54:39 AM CST

[ Parent ]

doh, forgot the link! (3.00 / 2)

The whole point was this interesting article, which I thought was really really interesting, and would love to hear everyone's thoughts on it.  Let me know what you think!

More info at www.EggAndSperm.org

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by: John Howard @ Sun Feb 04, 2007 at 10:56:38 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Read what you wrote (5.00 / 1)

While you might be okay on (1) and (2), you're certainly in trouble on (3) and (4).  More to the point, it's well established that copying an entire work and republishing it on a website is not fair use and is very much illegal.  So while there may be grey areas, this is not one of them!

By the way, value of the work refers to how much money the owner can get out of it, not how much you "value" it.

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by: Marcus Graly @ Sun Feb 04, 2007 at 11:33:36 AM CST

[ Parent ]

weighed together (0.00 / 0)

We don't have to get 4 out of 4 here, if the case for 1 and 2 are strong, it's ok to have potential issues on 3 and 4. 

And it's entirely possible that reprinting a work could increase the value of that work for the owner of the copyright.  Say no one ever cared about it until it was copied here, and then it was recognized as a genius article for which there was much demand for official reprints from the Lowell Sun.  See?  So 4 is a wash, but 1 and 2 are clearly in force here.  3 was a judgement call in this case that it would be more educational to include all of it.

A violation is pretty much only when, well, say you've got a commercial website about cars, but it has crappy content, so you go to another car website and copy all their cool reviews and stories over to your site so yours is better.  Even if you cut a substantial amount of words out of the stolen articles to get by 3 and even if no one goes to your site anyways to get around 4, it's a violation because of 1 and 2.

More info at www.EggAndSperm.org

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by: John Howard @ Sun Feb 04, 2007 at 13:01:27 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Ultimately (0.00 / 0)

You can try and argue this from first principles, but the consensus on the blogosphere is that what you've done is not acceptable under fair use and would attract legal attention to BMG if the Lowell Sun chooses to pursue it.

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by: brittain333 @ Mon Feb 05, 2007 at 14:45:47 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Impact not intent (5.00 / 2)

This laws works as much on the principle of impact.  This article was quoted on a website that is a for-profit venture (remember, we're for the politics, but this is not non-profit, and the law doesn't care if you're making $200 or $2 million), and is easily accessible.  Thus, though its main purposes are discussion and critcism, to the extent that someone else can make money by offering this copyrighted material, it does violate fair use.  The emereging standard for article quotes on blogs is 1/4 to 1/3 of the article.

~~~~
Believe it or not, I have even more to say...

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by: sabutai @ Sun Feb 04, 2007 at 10:30:34 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Well, let's emerge a better standard (0.00 / 0)

Where there is no limit to how much we can copy to a blog.

This blog doesn't make money by offering copyrighted material, it makes money by offering a place where people can comment on the news, and on what other people are saying, whether they say it in a copyrighted work or not, we should be able to include it for our convenience in our own comments, since it's newsworthy. 

A link to their site might give them a chance to pay their writers, though. 

More info at www.EggAndSperm.org

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by: John Howard @ Sun Feb 04, 2007 at 10:50:28 AM CST

[ Parent ]

That said, a limit is good (0.00 / 0)

from our perspective, if someone posted some huge article in its entirity it would be annoying.

More info at www.EggAndSperm.org

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by: John Howard @ Sun Feb 04, 2007 at 10:52:12 AM CST

[ Parent ]

supporting Eldridge (5.50 / 2)

Of the cast so far, I've heard the best things about Acton state rep James Eldridge - who I hear will be running if this seat opens up.  I'm planning to support him.

It's easy to point at the gender of the Congressional delegation and say we need some variety, but if you've been observing our politics more deeply - as many readers here have - you can see that we really need some more institutional variety.  We need to get some more people into the top ranks of Massachusetts politics who aren't part of the same narrow party establishment.  Deval Patrick was a great start.  Having an energetic new independent progressive in one of the Congressional seats would be a great continuation.

One thing I particularly like about Eldridge is that he's the only elected official in Massachusetts who first got into office as a clean elections candidate.  We've been talking about the broken national campaign finance system recently.  Let's send someone to Congress who can both advocate for and be an example for public financing.

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by: Cos @ Sun Feb 04, 2007 at 10:06:23 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Not either/or (5.50 / 2)

It doesn't matter what nature of institutions we have, if the end result is still a white male polity, there is something wrong.  Yes, Patrick did win election to a degree on grass-roots sentiment, but that doesn't reduce our need to have thorough representation among our leaders.  While I would like to see greater transparency, there's nothing shallow about recognizing how shameful it is that Massachusetts has only 1 person of color and 1 woman among our Congressional delegation, state constitutional officers, and state legislative leaders.

~~~~
Believe it or not, I have even more to say...

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by: sabutai @ Sun Feb 04, 2007 at 10:35:19 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Fine, but (4.67 / 3)

I'd still vote for Jamie Eldridge over Condi Rice any day of the week.

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by: eury13 @ Sun Feb 04, 2007 at 10:47:54 AM CST

[ Parent ]

diversity (6.00 / 2)

I didn't posit an either/or.  There are a variety of qualities we want, and they have varying priorities.  Gender is an easy one to point because you don't need to pay much attention see it, but that doesn't necessarily make it the most important.

If you look at the candidates the new progressive movement has backed, you'll see this movement has a lot of diversity: Robert Reich, Carl Sciortino, Pat Jehlen, Gibran Rivera, Sam Yoon, Claire Naughton, Tim Schofield, Deval Patrick, Denise Provost, Sonia Chang-Diaz... but we don't pick them for that diversity - we're a genuinely diverse political movement.

I see a lot of value - including greater diversity - in supporting the ascendancy of the Massachusetts progressive movement within the Democratic party.  I see less value in picking women or minorities for being women & minorities: some value, but less.  When the two coincide, as they often do, great.  But in this case, it's pretty clear to me from conversations with several people, that Jamie Eldridge would be the right candidate for the progressive movement.

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by: Cos @ Sun Feb 04, 2007 at 12:12:49 PM CST

[ Parent ]

1 of 10 v. 10 of 10 (5.50 / 2)

Much has been made about the fact that losing Meehan will be bad for the district because of his seniority in Congress.  It's a good point and while no candidate coming into the seat would make up the 15 years, seniority is not the only measure of clout and influence in Washington.  If that were the case, leadership would always be the longest serving members in Congress.  Newer members like Rahm Emanuel, Mike Capuano and Debbie Wasserman-Schultz have been able to amass clout and influence in the party and their delegations.

Obviously, regardless of who is elected, it will be difficult for the new member to be as influential and effective as Meehan.  However, a woman or person of color would certainly be more distinctive in the delegation.  Being the one woman or person of color out of the ten members in the delegation will give that member, and the district he/she represents, a little more focus.

If voters in the 5th know that the newly elected member will be 10th out of 10 in the delegation and 435th out of 435 in the House, electing someone that will enable the district to at least have a distinct voice separate from the other 9 white males representing us in Washington will help make up for the seniority lost in losing Meehan.

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by: 1812 @ Sun Feb 04, 2007 at 14:18:58 PM CST

[ Parent ]

losing seniority (0.00 / 0)

I wonder if we should consider setting a maximum length of time that a congressman can remain in office, so that the voters don't just stick with people for their senoirity, and instead we can more freely elect new and progressive members aren't shut out of the process when they arrive in Washington.

I wonder if anyone has ever proposed setting some sort of maximum number of terms that a person can serve?

More info at www.EggAndSperm.org

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by: John Howard @ Sun Feb 04, 2007 at 17:26:22 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Eldridge (5.00 / 2)

I read on DailyKos that Rep. Eldridge is considering a run. Of all of the names mentioned, he's the only one I know to be a solid progressive. Heck, he's the only candidate to ever win a seat under Massachusetts' short-lived clean election laws.

I've met Rep. Eldridge on a couple of occasions and I like him and his pedigree a lot. From a progressive point of view, any other candidates will have to prove that they're just as good on the issues to earn my support.

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by: eury13 @ Sat Feb 03, 2007 at 20:52:11 PM CST

Why? (5.00 / 1)

First off, why is Meehan leaving?  I'm guessing that when Kerry announced he wasn't going anywhere, Meehan gave up the ghost.  But after 12 years in the wilderness, I'd have thought he'd want a good 2 years in the majority.  To trade that in for the chancellorship of UMass-Lowell surprises me.

That said, I"d like to hear more about Tsongas.  For instance, I'd like to hear if she has any real qualifications beyond her last name.

~~~~
Believe it or not, I have even more to say...

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by: sabutai @ Sat Feb 03, 2007 at 23:15:25 PM CST

The speculation in Lowell (5.33 / 3)

Is that Meehan is getting somewhat tired of the dig Congressional grind. Amongst other things, he and his wife have had two children since he was was first elected, and presumably would like to spend some time with, closer to home.

In addition, the UMass Chancellor's position would likely represent a significant pay raise, and -- as one well-placed elected official said to me yesterday, it would open up all sorts of other opportunities for Meehan down the line.

Again, all of this is speculation, but it would not be at all surprising for him to make the move.

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by: Tim Little @ Sun Feb 04, 2007 at 10:40:55 AM CST

[ Parent ]

And... (0.00 / 0)

As you allude, there are also all sorts of new opportunities for Meehan in Congress, so the decision will hardly be cut-and-dried, whatever path he chooses.

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by: Tim Little @ Sun Feb 04, 2007 at 10:44:13 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Eileen McNamara in the Globe (0.00 / 0)

says he's in it for the money -- campus chancellor is a pretty good gig at UMass, and the pension implications of being in a high-paying state job for a few years are significant.  Not that a long-serving Congressman has any particular financial worries for the rest of his life...

McNamara's article.

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by: DaveMB @ Sun Feb 04, 2007 at 13:30:22 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Bring Back Jimmy Shannon (0.00 / 0)

Although he was in COngress a long time ago, he is young.  He was when in Congress a great anti-war member, and he arrives with some congressional senority which is always helpful. 

Draft Shannon

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by: bottomofthehill @ Mon Feb 05, 2007 at 11:56:02 AM CST

Shannon (0.00 / 0)

Not that he has to be living in the district, but I believe he lives right outside. 

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by: 1812 @ Mon Feb 05, 2007 at 20:51:12 PM CST

[ Parent ]