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Another Perspective
The View From Jamaica Plain
Will Massachusetts ever be the same again?
When 2010 rang in residents of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts could be certain of three things. The sun would rise in the east, there would be snow on the ground, and a Democrat would be elected to succeed Ted Kennedy in the Senate.
In retrospect one cannot blame the Democrats for believing the Special Senate election in Massachusetts was for "Ted Kennedy's seat." After all, when Edward Moore Kennedy was sworn into office Scott Brown was but a 3-year-old. One could make the case that Democrats looked upon Massachusetts voters as children to be seen but not heard. Well, last night Massachusetts voters were heard by an entire nation. Say hello to Senator-elect Scott Brown, R -- MA, and say goodbye to Obamacare (unless Harry Reid sees fit to ram it through before swearing Brown into office).
So how did this all happen over the course of less than a month? How was it that Scott Brown lawn signs were showing up in The People's Republic of Cambridge? When a colleague told me of this sight it was at that point I thought Brown could win. If Democrats can't hold onto Cantabrigians, then who can they count on?
Well, it's quite simple really. The more people saw of Scott Brown the more they liked him. The more the people saw of Martha Coakley the more they didn't like her. Throw in a lackluster performance by President Obama during a campaign stop for her over the weekend and you have a perfect storm where the winds of change have blown back in his face.
Brown began on a clever note when he reminded Massachusetts voters that President Kennedy was a tax cutter at heart. Of course, Brown is hardly the first Republican in favor of a tax cut. This tax cutter resonated with people because he wears regular clothes, drives an old pick up truck, and also genuinely enjoys talking with people as well as listening to them. People might not agree with Brown's position on the War in Afghanistan but he's a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserve and there are some Massachusetts liberals who respect his stance. Brown also had a magic number -- 41. He turned this election into a referendum on Obamacare.
And then there was Martha. What didn't she do wrong? If Paul McCartney was advising Coakley he might say, "Martha my dear. Hold your hand out, you silly girl. See what you've done." Martha Coakley could write a book titled, "How Not to Win an Election Campaign." The table of contents might look something like this:
Introduction -- The Campaign Has Been Won, Time For a Well-Deserved Vacation
Chapter One -- Getting Those Taxes Up
Chapter Two -- How to Handle Pesky Reporters
Chapter Three -- How to Make Terrorists Disappear From Afghanistan
Chapter Four -- Employment Opportunities for Catholics Outside The Health Care Field
Chapter Five -- How to Convince People Your Opponent Likes Rape
Chapter Six -- Remedial Spelling
Chapter Seven -- How to Avoid Contact with Voters in Cold Weather
Chapter Eight -- Boston Sports Legends & Landmarks 101
About the Author
Aaron Goldstein writes from Boston, Massachusetts.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (84) | Leave a comment
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drudge ette obama| 1.20.10 @ 6:17AM
The $100 I sent Scott Brown last week was the best $100 I ever spent.
No kings in America!
Now we go to the next challenge and do it all over again!
You are next, Reid. You are next, Arlen! Let's get Kerry, too.
Alan Brooks| 1.20.10 @ 10:02AM
Be the same? of course it will. New England??
Pingback| 1.20.10 @ 7:21AM
The Two Malcontents » The View From Jamaica Plain links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Melvin| 1.20.10 @ 7:41AM
You know a fact that hasn't been really brought up to date is that Martha is the A.G. for MS. Since she has done an absolutely horrendous job running for Senator can it be equally said that she is just as horrendous as Attorney General?
Just something to chew on this morning.
Alan Brooks| 1.20.10 @ 12:21PM
You are another sober commenter.
Douver2| 1.20.10 @ 7:42AM
During the Democrat occupation of the Bay State's people's seats I used the name Machusetts when referring to that territory because the citizens were sending their asses to Washington. Now that the good people of Massachusetts have shown some ass and determined their destiny,their senatorial delegation is only half-ass ie: John effing Kerry. Congratulations.
Dagny Taggert| 1.20.10 @ 9:47AM
Kerry is next. Curt Schilling R-Massachusetts. In the words of the Jimmy Fund (local children's cancer charity): "I can dream, can't I?"
Alan Brooks| 1.20.10 @ 12:23PM
And wish upon a star.
Pick four leaf clovers.
Brown can only do better than Coakley-- but that is not saying much.
Tony in Central PA| 1.20.10 @ 12:19PM
Dems are in such disarray MSNBC should have been broadcast on Comedy Central last night. Predictably, the consensus is that this was strictly a local election, as were all of the other Democratic losses since The One assumed office. It was a weak Democratic candidate narrowly defeated by a well - organized cabal of teabaggers, skinheads and John Birches. Yeah, that's it. Sounds like a winning strategy to keep believing this through 2012.
David| 1.20.10 @ 1:14PM
I supported Scott Brown and who are you to call me a teabagger, skinhead or John Bircher. Your bigoted beliefs notwithstanding, I am none of the above.
David| 1.20.10 @ 1:01PM
Just as America is not Obama liberal, Massachusetts is not a red state. Obama was elected under a perfect storm of circumstances. Scott Brown was elected under similarly rare circumstances. Regardless of his performance in the Senate, odds are Scott Brown will not be reelected in 2012.
Mutt the Hoople| 1.20.10 @ 1:36PM
I for one disagree that Martha Coakley ran a horrible campaign. She's an old campaign veteran, who won the AG's office and defeated 3 other candidates in a Primary by 100,000 votes.
She made some missteps, and Scott Brown ran a flawless campaign, but she didn't bad enough mistakes to lose this election. The only reason she lost was because this election was a referendum on Barack Hussein Obama (mmm mmm mmm).
sestamibi| 1.20.10 @ 2:16PM
Unfortunately, Aaron, the Dems did hold onto the "Cantabridgians". According to the NY Times interactive election result map, Coakley got 84% there--far more than the 68% she got in Boston.
Rich| 1.20.10 @ 4:22PM
Nobody said he would take Cambridge. The fact that there were any Brown signs at all in Cambridge spelled doom for Coakley.
Rich| 1.20.10 @ 4:29PM
Also, there was no love lost for Kennedy, as Barnstable (which includes Hyannis and Hyannisport) went almost 2 to 1 for Brown.
Jason Kane| 1.20.10 @ 3:06PM
Ms. Coakley is emblematic of the arrogance of the radical leftist who are now in charge. They are led by a post colonial African Marxist to whom Ms. Pelosi and Mr. Reid play Engels and Lenin.
They, like all dictators of the left wish the government to do your thinking for you. They wat the government to own the means of production and accumulation of wealth. It is the reason they were born: to rule as if by divine right over lesser mortals.
So why should Ms. Coakley campaign. She has the permanent underclass created and nurtured by democrats since Lyndon B. Johnson to do their bidding: the welfare slaves. The seat eas HERS! Not to win but by right. She is a liberal and thus entitled.
America woke up! It may yet be too late to save our once proud country, but last night was a win at the Alamo. Pending medical legislation must
be defeated as it seeks to control us; not to fix a system. They WILL deny naysayers medical care at some point. Those having control are pathologically unable to avoid exercising it.
Pingback| 1.20.10 @ 5:16PM
The American Spectator : The View From Jamaica Plain | Jamaica today links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
PCC| 1.20.10 @ 5:25PM
Right on, Mr. Goldstein. Funny book!
Pingback| 1.20.10 @ 6:50PM
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Ret. Marine| 1.20.10 @ 7:19PM
Lets all be mindful of the present situation the "won" finds himself in these days, seems nothing is getting passed. He is very much of a state denial that I am sure of and most likely pissed to the high heavens over his inability to "fundamentally change this nation".
He now finds his hope and change agenda hitting a brick wall. We should be mindful of his type when things don't go the way he demands. I'd be willing to bet some one is getting an arse shew'n this morning over this 5-0 defeat and to boot on his aniversary. It must "suck" to be him today.
Christopher Holland| 1.20.10 @ 7:50PM
I would like to thank Barack Obama for doing more in twelve months to promote conservative policies and energise conservative voters than George W Bush and George HW Bush between then did in 12 years. With friends like the Bushes, conservatives don't need enemies, but with enemies like Obama, we sure have a lot of good friends. Keep up the good work, Barry, I will do everything to keep you on this path.
Pingback| 1.20.10 @ 7:57PM
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Greg LaButti| 1.21.10 @ 12:22PM
What's another interesting tidbit in Scott Brown's election is that he won Barney Frank's district by about 1500 votes. Coakley won the very liberal cities of Brookline and Newton by a combined 20k votes. Brown won the rest of the district by over 21k votes. I wonder if old Barney is beginning to realize what's going in Massachusetts when he says that the Dems should go slower on
Obamacare.
Tenn Slim| 1.22.10 @ 10:06AM
Opine
S. Brown won. Now on to the next step. Will he hold firm, stand tall for his gut beliefs or fold.
Time and only time will tell.
bt
WE won a victory, no doubt. The LEFTIES are in temporary disarray. They will recover and then Katy Bar the Door.
end
Semper Fi
We Will Prevail.
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