Thank You, Massachusetts

(Picture from here.)

I'm writing this before the polls close here in our state. I want to get my opinions down before they are soured by whoever wins.

For the fortunate people in Bumfudge, Idaho who haven't been barraged by what's happening up here, it's pretty simple. We have an incompetent Democrat campaigner in a death grip with a savvy Republican. This does not bode well for the state.

Here in Massachusetts we have a strong Democrat political machine. The machine churns up who's going to run and the voters respond. Unfortunately, the machine spits up candidates that satisfy the requirements of the machine but who are often only marginally electable. In 1990, William Weld was elected governor against John Silber, about as unelectable a Democrat as they come. He won 71% reelection against Mark ("Who the Hell was he?") Roosevelt. In 2002, Mitt Romney, as vicious a Republican as could be found anywhere in the country, much less in Massachusetts, trounced Shannon ("And who the Hell is she?") O'Brien. This, in an overwhelmingly Democrat state.

Party acceptables. Voter unacceptables.

Now we're doing it again.

Martha Coakley has been a party hack from day one. You can read about here here. She was attempting to win Ted Kennedy's seat-- who has never been a party hack. You can say many, many bad things about Ted but you cannot say he has been a party hack. So, who does the machine put up to succeed him? Martha ("Oh, yeah. She's the lady that... uh. Can't remember anything good.") Coakley.

But wait, you say: Didn't Coakley win the primary? Yes, she did. Her opponents were Mike Capuano, Alan Khazei and Stephen Pagliuca.

Mike Capuano was a progressive in the House representing the 8th District-- JFK and Tip O'Neill's seat. He actually has national experience and is a known progressive. Alan Khazei has been running interesting non-profits for years. He's one of the founders of City Year. Stephen Pagliuca is the co-owner of the Boston Celtics.

Capuano was the obvious choice. Khazei would have been interesting. Either of them would have been a good contender for Scott Brown. So what happened?

Who votes in the Democrat primary? Dyed in the wool Democrats, that's who. Even though voters classes as Independents can vote, they don't often show up in any numbers. Most Democrats don't, either. Primaries are poorly attended. Special primaries less so. Thus, we got Coakley who can't campaign to safe her life-- and is not campaigning now and it is her political life at stake. Instead, the Mass. Democrats are practicing pre-criminations and wandering around pointing fingers before the pools opened much less before they closed.

And Scott Brown, exactly the same sort of cut taxes and raise spending George Bush sort of Republican is rolling towards to the Senate.

Let us be absolutely clear. Scott Brown has pulled off no miracle. He has made no particularly interest sally into national politics. He was handed his opportunity on a gilded platter, lovingly crafted by the Democratic politicians of Massachusetts.

Thank you Massachusetts Democratic Party.

Addendum: Just to show you that Scott Brown is only supported by loyal Massachusetts Republicans, here is Fox News telling you that if Brown wins, you're 401 K will benefit. Somehow, this is not paying for votes.
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