Community | January 19, 2010 | 248 comments

Brown wins Massachusetts Senate Race

source: http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/01/19/massachusetts.senate/index.html?hpt=T1

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EthicalVegan
Republican Scott Brown has won Tuesday's special election for the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by liberal Democrat Ted Kennedy, CNN projects based on actual results.

Brown, a Massachusetts state senator, had 52 percent of the vote to 47 percent for state Attorney General Martha Coakley, the Democratic contender, with over 69 percent of precincts reporting in results from the National Election Pool, a consortium of media organizations including CNN. Independent candidate Joseph Kennedy, a libertarian who is not related to the Kennedy political family of Massachusetts, had 1 percent.

At stake was President Obama's domestic agenda, including health care reform.

If Brown upsets Coakley, Republicans will strip Democrats of the 60-seat Senate supermajority needed to overcome GOP filibusters against future Senate action on a broad range of White House priorities.

Final numbers on election turnout are expected "to be pretty good" despite the wintry weather, said Brian McNiff, a spokesman for the office of Massachusetts Secretary of State Bill Galvin.

"I don't think weather is going to impede too many people" from coming out to vote, McNiff said Tuesday. "I think the interest in this election will trump any bad weather."

Galvin predicted Monday as many 2.2 million of the state's 4.5 million registered voters would vote -- at least double the turnout from December's primary. In one sign of high interest, more than 100,000 absentee ballots were requested ahead of the election, according to McNiff.

iReport: Send us your thoughts on the special election

Coakley was initially expected to easily win the race to replace Sen. Ted Kennedy, known as the "liberal lion" of the Senate who made health care reform the centerpiece of his nearly 47-year Senate career. Kennedy died of brain cancer in August.

Until recently, Brown was underfunded and unknown statewide. In addition, no Republican has won a U.S. Senate race in Massachusetts since 1972, and Democrats control the governorship, both houses of the state legislature, and the state's entire congressional delegation.

Please read "Comments" (Page 3) for CNN's update, as of 1/20/10, at 3:26AM, EST
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248 comments // Brown wins Massachusetts Senate Race

  • ryan8566
    • 0
      ryan8566  

    • had a chance to talk to some Dem. party members over the weekend, and for what it is worth will list a few points, in no order.: healthcare in mass. is 'universal', as some have pointed out, but ironically, is due to the (bi-polar, or flip flopper) Republican Governor, at that time, Mitt Romney...(who would have thought?) who pushed it thru the predominantally, if not totally Democrat legislature.
      Brown is elected to fill out Kennedy's term which ends in 2012...so as i think i put in another post, he has one year to learn his way around...two years to produce, and then one year to re-campaign. if the Dems don't get a really suitable candidate in the meantime, the shame is on us, but the responsibility will be on Phil Johnston, now, and hoping to maintain his position as Mass. party head.
      The GQ photo shoot=no harm, no foul. nobody really cared
      Coakley was a county prosecutor before becoming AG, and the 'hot story' was her lack/delay/refusal to prosecute a police officer who, off duty, while baby sitting, put a curling iron into the genitals of 5 month old baby, among other things, that i think have already been posted. both major Boston newspapers ran with this story the sunday before election, pointing out that this cop's father, not only a major union leader, was also
      a significant campaign contributor to Coakley. when coakley became AG, the new DA took the case and prosecuted it, getting a guity verdict and two (2) life sentences.
      Obama is ready to shake things up a little bit this week i hear by calling back the incredibally talented David Plouffe (just google). But, as much as i respect him, i still don't know why Rham Emmanuel hasnot been held accountable, or replaced.

    • 2 years ago
  • ride442
    • 0
      ride442  

    • He doesn't have to be a genius. Just have some common sence and he proved that by winning the people of this pure blue state over to his way of thinking. He doesn't seem to go straight by party lines, but look for what works. We need more like him. And as far as him being in GQ....he couldn't have won without the ladie's votes!

    • 2 years ago
  • EthicalVegan
  • jaystyx
    • 0
      jaystyx  

    • It must be nice for Massachusetts to have over 95% of the state population covered by private or state funded health care. Thanks to the voters of this state, the rest of the country may never enjoy the same benefit.

      I know Coakley was not the best candidate that the Dems could have put forward, but how can you justify filling Kennedy’s seat with a rank and file neo con Republican? Kennedy fought for universal health care throughout his long and respectable political career. Now that we are so close to realizing the dream that he did not live to see, Massachusetts voters move in the opposite direction.

      Thanks for nothing.

    • 2 years ago
  • legalizit
  • noxidereus
  • jimmysemens
    • 0
      jimmysemens [removed]  

    • The country may be ready for Dick Cheney to run for President in 2012.

      He may be old and may have been unpopular because of Iraq but if America wants to be safe from its enemies and its appeasing imbecile 'allies', he's the man to do it.

      This is a shattering defeat for the Democrats in a historic home state. They not only lose their 60th seat in the Senate so that the Republicans can invoke a filibuster if they so choose. But more important than that is that this race was a virtual referendum about Obama's socialist agenda. Those plans have now been well and truly rejected by voters, and in the most liberal state of the Union.
      The Wall Street Journal calls it
      'not the defeat of the messenger
      but the message', but the emperor is standing there with no clothes, just another politician, as vulnerable as any other. A 'messiah' now treading water instead of walking on it. Take a bow Massachusetts! Roll on 2012!

    • 2 years ago
  • jimmysemens
    • 0
      jimmysemens [removed]  
    • Image

    • The stunning upset for Obama in Massachusetts, where the Democrats have lost an apparently impregnable seat they had held for nearly six decades and with it their Senate super-majority, is being put down in some quarters to a revolt against the President’s health care plan, in others to a general disillusionment. Those crunching the numbers have a rather different explanation. While issues such as the economy and healthcare were undoubtedly important, one issue in particular appeared to be the clincher. As Clarice Feldman notes on American Thinker:

      The key issue for Massachusetts voters was not healthcare or spending. It was national security and the treatment of enemy terrorists.

      Of course it was. And the thuggery. And the arrogance.This is what the Republican victor, Scott Brown, said in his speech after the result:

      And let me say this, with respect to those who wish to harm us, I believe that our Constitution and laws exist to protect this nation - they do not grant rights and privileges to enemies in wartime. In dealing with terrorists, our tax dollars should pay for weapons to stop them, not lawyers to defend them.

      Raising taxes, taking over our health care, and giving new rights to terrorists is the wrong agenda for our country. What I've heard again and again on the campaign trail, is that our political leaders have grown aloof from the people, impatient with dissent, and comfortable in the back room making deals. And we can do better.

      They thought you were on board with all of their ambitions. They thought they owned your vote. They thought they couldn't lose.

      And now the game is up. A year on from the election of the man who was going to redeem America and save the planet, what an astounding repudiation by his own people. And given that Obama made himself the story by campaigning in Massachusetts, a brutally personal one. (Just as in his disastrous foreign policy excursions, where the result of Obama’s personal involvement is invariably to make things far worse).

      But what a time in world politics for the leader of the free world to have his legs taken from underneath him. Are the Republicans yet in a fit state to seize this opportunity?

      http://www.spectator.co.uk/melaniephillips/5721141/hopenchange-in-massachusetts....

    • 2 years ago
  • Paratus
    • 0
      Paratus  

    • Absolutely great! The Obama is 0/5 now. I read in the news this morning that he will stump for Harry Reid. Looks like Harry may be unemployed also.

      It's about time the state that sends such morons as Ted Kennedy and John Kerry to the Senate repeatedly got some sense. This was clearly a repudiation of Obamas healthcare and liberals spending. The rest of the country needs to wake up also. Perhaps state by state we can take the country back.

    • 2 years ago
  • Dejan_Croatia
    • 0
      Dejan_Croatia  

    • this shows that the American people are not ready for change because we are too stupid of a nation to realize health care is a right not a profit but i guess u.s will go back to its routine of being the shittiest industrialized country ever

    • 2 years ago
  • kennymotown
  • mojojuju
  • tommic
    • 0
      tommic  

    • The time has come for democrats to initiate a new brand of politics, one that does not play to all people but the base of its party, which in the Massachusetts special election failed to show up at the polls and vote. Young voters and minorities could have made a difference in this election had the democratic party paid attention. The lack of concern and the nomination of a weak candidate who was unable or unwilling to make the simple sacrifice of cancelling a vacation in order to fulfill her obligations to the community at large now haunts the party. We must have competent candidates who can energize people and carry the mantle of the party all the way through an election and get elected. Strong issue oriented people with charisma are the answer, not old time party stalwarts.
      The GOP has been able to control the conversation in politics through their fears, myths and lies for so long without strong rebuttal from democratic party leaders to deflect and correct those fears, myths and lies that it has given the GOP the upper hand in getting their message across. If we as a party need to resort to the same tactics as the GOP tea baggers, but with our own brand, then that is what we must do. The inability to rally people to the causes that the democratic party represents is an absolute failure of party politics by democratic leaders. Maybe its time for a infusion of fresh blood and ideas from new and different people, as the ones who are in place seem unable to do the job.

    • 2 years ago
  • fun_size
    • 0
      fun_size  

    • Hmmmm maybe this country would do a lot better if we turned it back into an Elite Democracy like the founding fathers intended...

    • 2 years ago
  • nursediesel
  • fun_size
  • jaystyx
    • 0
      jaystyx  

    • This could be a blessing in disguise. The Democrats need to realize that the Republicans are down but not out. Other Democrats running in 2010 need to take note.

    • 2 years ago
  • JanforGore
    • 0
      JanforGore  

    • While affiliated with no political party, I have one piece of advice for Democrats: stop resting on the Bush years and using that as an excuse thinking people will just vote Democratic if you mention his name.That dog won't hunt anymore. You need to give people something to vote for, not just someone to vote against! It's almost as if they set this up themselves with the bad campaign in order to have an excuse when people complain that nothing of substance was accomplished. Grow some cajones Democrats and stop being so much like Republicans you forget where you came from and what Democrats are supposed to represent: the people.

      And Jubal, I don't think it was because she was a woman, she just wasn't the right woman.

    • 2 years ago
  • Conniepae
    • 0
      Conniepae  

    • http://www.opednews.com/articles/BIPARTISANLY-YOURS-COAKLE-by-Bev-Harris-100120-...

      A couple weeks ago, when mainstream media started reporting Brown pulling ahead in the polls, I questioned the use of electronic voting and the lack of change, since the 2000 fiasco. I questioned if the machines were still hackable. Could the results be changed electronically? Today I found an article by Bev Harris, the same person who brought up the irregularities between hand counted and electronically counted voting in past elections.

      Once again another conspiracy, which will go unanswered? We will all just 'move along'. Mainstream media have been spinning Brown moving ahead in the polls for a couple weeks. The 'spin was in', no need to look further? Anyone who would challenge the results, would be considered a 'conspiracy theorist'.

      If Bev Harris is correct, I do think further investigation is required. Once again, it will not change the results, but it may at least make people more aware of the possibility of 'electronic tampering' with our electoral process. We can't wait until the next election to question the use of voting machines, which may be hackable, or changeable.

      I live in Cuyahoga County, where the 2006 President Election ended with questions. A judge ordered all ballots, held until the legal case was settled. Unfortunately, the ballots were destroyed against the judge’s orders. Leaving no ballots available for further investigation. We all just ‘moved along’.

    • 2 years ago
  • Conniepae
    • 0
      Conniepae  
    • Conniepae:

      By Bev Harris

      This article is about our right to know, not about Martha Coakley or Scott Brown. And lest you think something here favors a Democrat, just you wait, I'm still working on anomalies in the NY-23 election that are just plain hard to 'splain. As Richard Hayes Phillips says when people tell him to forget it, "I'm a historian, I've got all the time in the world." NY-23 still has history to be written. My public records are starting to arrive. But that's another story.

      Back to Massachusetts, I think you have a right to know that Coakley won the hand counts there. According to preliminary media results by municipality, Democrat Martha Coakley won Massachusetts overall in its hand counted locations,* with 51.12% of the vote (32,247 hand counted votes) to Brown's 30,136, which garnered him 47.77% of hand counted votes. Margin: 3.35% lead for Coakley.

      Massachusetts has 71 hand count locations, 91 ES&S locations, and 187 Diebold locations, with two I call the mystery municipalities (Northbridge and Milton) apparently using optical scanners, not sure what kind.

    • 2 years ago
  • Guyatthebusstation
  • dcr2r
    • 0
      dcr2r  

    • You think she lost because she was a woman? lol opinions.

      Why do all of you think in such a strict partisan manner? Bush sucks, Obama sucks, they all suck. Yeah, this country is run by corporations no matter who is in office. I like that analogy asherp utilized in their diatribe- very true!

      Now, I'm a conservative and I disagree with the healthcare reform as a whole, specifically because it's a garbage bill that accomplishes very little with a very large price tag that we can hardly manage at this point. Not to mention it will probably inflate once it is being implemented. Just because a minimal percentage of Americans are without healthcare does not mean that we should jeopardize ourselves into creating a solution which is not beneficial or adequate and wastes our money. This should be a methodical process which evaluates all possible solutions in an objective fashion. Anywho, there are tons of issues with this solution and I don't want to go on and on. Why do most of you believe that this is the only viable solution to this issue? Just because they give us this option does not mean that it is the superior one. There are many solutions to a single problem and this solution is clearly a tragedy. It sickens me too watch people bitch at each other over a shitty topic and solution.

      Don't just accept what is right there in front of you. I think we can all agree that there are better solutions out there.

      As for Brown, congrats to him and this should just serve as a lesson for Democrats to stop sucking and to get their shit together. I can't believe they couldn't produce a better campaign but I suppose this is just reactionary to the shitastic job congress and the executive have been doing. I guess that's Karma.

    • 2 years ago
  • Guyatthebusstation
  • jubal
    • 0
      jubal  

    • I think the Dems should have had a man run for this seat. It seems obvious to me that a woman didn't stand a chance against the GOP running with a man. The seat was held by a man for decades. I hate to say it because it sounds sexist, but I really think it made a difference with many swing voters. Oakley just wasn't a strong enough candidate.

    • 2 years ago
  • ryan8566
    • 0
      ryan8566  
    • jubal:

      your point re: a woman candidate, not only shows your total lack of history/knowledge re: politics, but, esp. mass. politics. it may help if you knew her name: C-O-A-K-L-E-Y.
      your comment that it 'may sound sexist' is close...it is absolutely sexist, probably misogynist.

    • 2 years ago
  • EthicalVegan
  • jubal
    • 0
      jubal  
    • jubal:

      Perhaps I may lack knowledge of Mass. Politics, but I hear what the Fundamentalist Republican voters here in my state say about women in politics, they should stay out of it, unless they are Sarah Palin. Also, Brown's campaign was sexist and so it framed the debate in the state calling into question Coakley's ability to do the job based on her gender. Remember the comments about the curling iron? If the Dems had a male candidate of the caliber of Teddy, Brown wouldn't have been able to play the gender card.

      Personally I would prefer to have women run the government and let the met go back to hunting and fishing. Although MotherForTruth might disagree with the idea of "women running things" as she is on a quest for justice in dealing with men and women fairly in cases of domestic violence and rape.

    • 2 years ago
  • s0uthc0ast
    • 0
      s0uthc0ast  

    • Oh gawd.
      It is just so funny to watch the simpering liberal/progressive/neo-socialists peeing their pants because the chance of stealing more of their neighbors' money is slipping away.
      Time to get a job folks.
      Get a life.
      Get a clue.

    • 2 years ago
  • s0uthc0ast
  • s0uthc0ast
  • Buddha2112
  • indecisiveh
    • 0
      indecisiveh  

    • Sometimes I feel like It would just be easier to let go of progress and become the arrogant, self-centered, exploitive, "Great American" that Hannity and Brown wants us all to be.

      It would so much easier to just admit that we do not have the resources to heal the sick or care for our neighbor and just concede the point that some people just aren't meant to be healthy due to there financial circumstances. This way any problems that come up can be solved by blaming the afflicted, without having to fix the flaws that plague the healthcare system.

      It would be even easier to watch 700 club and fox news and just act accordingly. I can claim to save babies by strewing there dead bodies on protest signs. I can draw a hiller mustache on a picture of whatever political figure I disagree with.

      And that my friends is what we are up against. Scrooge and the Church Lady vs. Corporate Interests in Washington.

      All the while no one is listening to the progressives with amazing ideas like Outlawing corporate cover up of rape and offering affordable health care to citizens. Which seems to be the difficult path, and the road better suited to our needs as a mega country.

      So what will be the easy way or the hard way?

    • 2 years ago
  • bashirdr
    • 0
      bashirdr  

    • Way to go massachusetts morons. I know your state has health care, but people in the other 49 would have liked some too. Not to mention the rest of much-needed reforms on Obama's agenda. Very short-sighted and foolish vote on your part. Now republicans can gridlock the government in the name of the people.

      So much for progress.

    • 2 years ago
  • ryan8566
    • 0
      ryan8566  
    • bashirdr:

      good point...any you are from what state? and seeing your obvious knowledge of politics, how many people from your state contributed, personally, or otherwise to the race? which you acutely acknowledge the consequences are more than local...but national. i don't know for sure, but i doubt mass. has a monopoly on morons.

    • 2 years ago
  • bashirdr
  • asherp
    • 0
      asherp  

    • Hey Democrats... maybe you should stop putting forwards crappy candidates, and when you have political capital and a 60 vote majority, ACTUALLY USE THEM.

      It's absurd how the Democrats have controlled both legislative branches, and the presidency, and somehow STILL couldn't get anything done.

      Meanwhile, during the last 2 years of the Bush presidency, the democrats controlled congress and let Bush do whatever the hell he wanted.

      And Democrats have since gained a larger majority in both the house and senate than the Republicans have had in the PAST 23 YEARS.

      Why is this?

      Simple: the Republicans are open about sucking corporate cock. The Democrats are closeted about it.

      If the two major parties were girlfriends, the Republicans would say, "I'm cheating on you."
      While the Democrats would say, "I love you SO MUCH. Now I'm going to be out of town for a week, and I'm going to be out of cellphone range, so don't bother calling."

    • 2 years ago
  • indecisiveh
  • good_stuff
    • 0
      good_stuff  

    • Well, back to the same old same old political stalemate that can't do anything but increase the budget. When are we going to get a 3rd political party?

    • 2 years ago
  • jimmysemens
  • warhawk187
    • 0
      warhawk187  

    • Once again the Democratic party has managed to shoot themselves in the foot once again, when they had the upper hand in the Senate.

      WE NEED MORE THAN TWO PARTIES! This two party system is getting worse and worse due to the obstruction practices of the Republican party, and the inability for the Democratic Party to take charge and be progressive. Rather, the Dems just dance around the moderate line and slowly lose ground to the Repubs who just use fear-mongering and outright half-truths about passing any sort of needed legislation.

      Anyone here know how to get a referendum passed to have a multi-party system? Cuz what we have is CLEARLY not working.

    • 2 years ago
  • BrushwithDeathToothpaste
  • EdJoyProductions
  • biggranny
  • s0uthc0ast
  • s0uthc0ast
    • 0
      s0uthc0ast  

    • SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT!
      SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT! SCOTT BROWN FOR PRESIDENT!

    • 2 years ago
  • EdJoyProductions
  • mojojuju
  • s0uthc0ast
  • s0uthc0ast
    • 0
      s0uthc0ast  

    • We have elected REAL Hope and Change!!!!
      A message has been sent to Barak Obama, Barney Frank, Chuck Schumer, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi.
      These sinkers and floaters in the political toilet bowl need to b flushed!

    • 2 years ago
  • TheEmpireGuy
    • 0
      TheEmpireGuy  
    • s0uthc0ast:

      You see, it's Conservatives like you that give the rest of us Conservatives a bad name. Thinking that a Republican can solve our problems. This is no victory for the country, we are just going through the motions.
      More Dems, more Reps, it doesn't matter, it's just the same cycle we've been going through for decades.

    • 2 years ago
  • s0uthc0ast
    • 0
      s0uthc0ast  

    • I hope this election will motivate the moonbats to move to..oh I dunno France.
      Canada?
      How about Germany?
      I hear Haiti has a lovely climate and there is a huge supply of shovel ready jobs.

    • 2 years ago
  • jimmysemens
  • s0uthc0ast
    • 0
      s0uthc0ast  

    • The people have spoken!
      For the First Time in My Adult Lifetime I'm Really Proud of My State.
      To the United States, I would like to apologize for the 48 years of socialism we helped foist on you.
      With Scott Brown, we are trying to atone for our sin.

    • 2 years ago
  • s0uthc0ast
    • 0
      s0uthc0ast  

    • Well this is 0 for 3 on 0bama. Good job 0!
      Yeeeha.
      Scott Brown for President!
      This was indeed the third referendum on 0bama. after Deeds and Corzine.
      Scott Brown is smart in that he gave us a reason to vote for him. The moonbats tried to come up with a reason not to vote for Scott but gave no reason to vote for Martha.

    • 2 years ago
  • UrbanGypsy
    • 0
      UrbanGypsy  

    • I've come to the point where I don't really get to worried about who gets elected. I remember the jubilation I felt when the Dems won in 2006 and 2008, and the sadness of the losses in 2004. But I've come to the point where it doesn't affect me.

      You get what you deserve America...

    • 2 years ago
  • jimmysemens
    • 0
      jimmysemens [removed]  

    • ''And let me say this with respect to the people who wish to harm us, I believe–and I know all of you believe–that our Constitution and laws exist to protect THIS nation. Let me make it very, very, very clear, they do not grant rights and privileges to enemies in wartime. And the message we need to send in dealing with terrorists: our tax dollars–our tax dollars–should pay for weapons to stop them and not lawyers to defend them. . . Giving new rights to terrorists is the wrong agenda for our country.''...Scott Brown

      The Post Obama Revolution begins. All lis not lost. Keep fighting for the good. This is a very good first step towards returning some sanity to Washington and curbing the Obama/Dem Nannystate nightmare.

    • 2 years ago
  • 2helenahandbasket
  • copperdragon
  • wintermadness90
    • 0
      wintermadness90  

    • Why do people narrow down their choices to either Democrat or Republican? If you genuinely believe the country needs to change then vote third party. I guess the voters of Massachusetts wanted another major party douche nozzle.

    • 2 years ago
  • indecisiveh
    • 0
      indecisiveh  
    • wintermadness90:

      One suggestion:

      It could be possibly that looking at the statistical reality of a race you have one vote, you can use it to affect th election either by voting democrat or republican or you can make your personal stand by voting another party which will quickly turn into the realization that no one cares if you voted for a third party.

      Dems promise great things but fail to deliver and Republicons are simply crooked. I vote for democrats in order to vote against republicans. The first step to solving our problems is to get rid of the Republican party all together.

      Some also a believe a good strategy, especially those who are seeking a third party, should show up at there local Democratic caucuses and take over the democratic party and turn it into something that resembles a third part but still has the name recognition.

      I'll be the first to vote for a third party candidate with a statistical chance at winning, but unfortunately that does not exist. Even Ron Paul had to run as Republican even though he is clearly a third party, because, even he doesn't want to fall on the wrong side of the overwhelming statistics.

      In short, it's better do something than virtually nothing.

    • 2 years ago
  • EthicalVegan
    • 0
      EthicalVegan  

    • ...Continued...

      Vicki Kennedy, the late senator's widow, called on state Democrats to turn out to save her husband's legacy.

      "We need your help. We need your support. We need you to get out there and vote on Tuesday," Kennedy said. "We need you to bring your neighbors. We need you to bring your friends."

      Brown, who has trumpeted his 30 years of service in the National Guard, hewed to traditional GOP themes in his victory speech. He promised to back tax cuts and be tough on terrorists, and to oppose Obama's health care overhaul effort.

      "People do not want a trillion dollar health-care plan that is being forced on the American people," Brown said.

      Brown said his victory defied "the odds and experts" who predicted that the Senate seat held by Democrats for more than 50 years would not change hands.

      Instead, independent voters who outnumber registered Democrats and Republicans combined in Massachusetts strongly supported Brown.

      "Tonight, the independent majority has delivered a great victory," Brown said, later adding: "What happened here in Massachusetts can happen all over America."

      Facing the possibility of Coakley's defeat, Democrats were trying to figure out whether they could pass a health care overhaul without that crucial 60th Senate vote. But top White House aides publicly insisted they were not engaging in any talk of contingency plans because they thought Coakley would win.

      Two Democratic sources in close contact with the White House told CNN on Monday that they'd urged the administration, in the event of a Brown victory, to push House Democrats to pass the Senate's health care bill as currently written. Doing so would prevent the plan from having to be taken up by the Senate again.

      "I think the Senate bill clearly is better than nothing," House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Maryland, said Tuesday.

      A third option would be for Democrats to revisit the idea of trying to push health care through the Senate with only 51 votes -- a simple majority.

      But to do that Democrats would have to use a process known as reconciliation, which presents technical and procedural issues that would delay the process for a long time. A number of Democrats are eager to put the health care debate behind them and move on to economic issues such as job creation as soon as possible this election year.

      Senate Democrats could also try again to get moderate GOP Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine to vote for a compromise health reform plan. Multiple Democratic sources, however, have said they think that is unlikely now.

      CNN's Jim Acosta, Dana Bash, Kevin Bohn, Ed Henry, John King, Suzanne Malveaux, Shawna Shepherd, Jessica Yellin, Kevin Bohn, Alan Silverleib and Tom Cohen contributed to this report.

    • 2 years ago
  • MoonLoon
    • 0
      MoonLoon  
    • EthicalVegan:

      "Vickie Kennedy"! She is Victoria Reggie, the daughter of convicted Federal Judge Edmund Reggie from Crowley, LA. with ties to legalised gambling, horse racing, and off track gambling. All close friends of the Kennedy's, Edwin Edwards (convicted Governor) of Louisiana, John Breaux( lobbyist), John John (look it up), Billy Tauzin( another ex-politician lobbyist) and a host of Democratic politicians that have connived to control the U.S. through graft and corruption. Again the tip of the iceberg regarding corruption in the Democratic/Republican parties. By the way these were all Democrats. I could also mention Ray Nagin, Kathleen Blanco, Representative Jefferson, and a host of other crooked democrats that I cannot recall, that have provided a base of corruption just as disgusting as the Bush/Cheney agendas.
      This is a snapshot of the idols that the demented worship!

    • 2 years ago
  • EthicalVegan
    • 0
      EthicalVegan  

    • ...Continued...

      Coakley was initially expected to easily win the race to replace Kennedy, who made health care reform the centerpiece of his Senate career.

      Until recently, Brown was underfunded and unknown statewide. Waging a nationally backed campaign that included driving his pickup around the state, Brown surged in the weeks preceding Tuesday's vote and led in all the final polls.

      In a sign of the high stakes involved, the Coakley campaign held an afternoon news conference Tuesday to complain that voters in three places received ballots already marked for Brown.

      McNiff confirmed that the secretary of state's offices received two reports of voters saying they received pre-marked ballots. The suspect ballots were invalidated and the voters received new ballots, McNiff said.

      Kevin Conroy, the Coakley campaign manager, said the "disturbing incidents" raised questions about the integrity of the election. In response, the Brown campaign issued a statement criticizing Coakley's team.

      "Reports that the Coakley campaign is making reckless accusations regarding the integrity of today's election is a reminder that they are a desperate campaign," Daniel B. Winslow, the counsel for the Brown campaign, said in the statement.

      Obama had been "surprised and frustrated" by the race, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Tuesday.

      Obama and former President Bill Clinton hit the campaign trail in the final week in an attempt to save Coakley's campaign, which observers say was hampered by complacency and missteps.

      Obama crushed Sen. John McCain in Massachusetts in 2008, beating the GOP presidential nominee by 26 points.

      "If you were fired up in the last election, I need you more fired up in this election," Obama urged a crowd at a Coakley campaign rally on Sunday.

      ... Continued...

    • 2 years ago
  • EthicalVegan
    • 0
      EthicalVegan  

    • ...Continued...

      "When there's trouble in Massachusetts, rest assured there's trouble everywhere, and they know it," Brown said of the Democratic Party.

      Republican leaders sounded a similar theme, saying Americans were fed up with what they called Democratic arrogance in Washington.

      "Americans are investing their hopes in good Republican candidates to reverse a year-long Democrat trend of ignoring the American people on the issues of health care, spending and the growth of government," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, said in a statement.

      The seat vacated by Kennedy's death is currently held by his former aide and longtime friend Paul Kirk, who was appointed on an interim basis.

      Obama called Brown and Coakley on Tuesday night, and a White House statement said the president "told Sen. Brown that he looks forward to working with him on the urgent economic challenges facing Massachusetts families and struggling families across our nation."

      Massachusetts Secretary of State Bill Galvin said last week that certifying Tuesday's election results could take more than two weeks -- potentially enough time to allow congressional Democrats to pass a final health care bill before Brown is seated.

      But multiple Democratic sources said that is unlikely. Even if House and Senate Democrats could reach a deal to meld their bills and pass them in the next couple of weeks, there would be a huge outcry from not only Republicans, but also an increasingly distrustful public if they appeared to be rushing it through.

      Galvin had predicted as many 2.2 million of the state's 4.5 million registered voters would vote -- at least double the turnout from December's primary. In one sign of high interest, more than 100,000 absentee ballots were requested ahead of the election, according to Brian McNiff, Galvin's spokesman.

      ...Continued...

    • 2 years ago
  • EthicalVegan
    • 0
      EthicalVegan  
    • Image

    • http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/01/20/massachusetts.senate/index.html?hpt=T1

      CNN UPDATE - 1/20/10 - 3:26AM EST

      Boston, Massachusetts (CNN) -- In a stunning upset that reshaped the U.S. political landscape, Republican Scott Brown won Tuesday's special election in Massachusetts for the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by liberal Democrat Ted Kennedy.

      With 99 percent of the results counted, Brown had 52 percent of the vote to 47 percent for Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, the Democratic candidate, according to the the National Election Pool, a consortium of media organizations including CNN. Independent candidate Joseph Kennedy, a libertarian who is not related to the Kennedy political family of Massachusetts, had 1 percent.

      Brown's victory made real the once unthinkable prospect of a Republican filling the seat held by Kennedy, known as the liberal lion, for almost 47 years until his death due to brain cancer last August. Before Kennedy won the seat for the first time in 1962, his older brother John held it for nearly eight years until his election as U.S. president in 1960.

      "This really does change everything, you know that?" said Mitt Romney, the former GOP governor of Massachusetts who introduced Brown at his victory rally.

      Voters across Massachusetts braved winter cold and snow for an election with high stakes -- the domestic agenda of President Obama, including his top domestic priority, health care reform.

      Brown's victory strips Democrats of their 60-seat Senate super-majority, needed to overcome GOP filibusters against future Senate action on a broad range of White House priorities. Senate Democrats needed all 60 votes in their caucus to pass the health care bill, and the loss of one seat now imperils generating that support again for a compromise measure worked out with the House.

      "Forty one, forty one," chanted the crowd at Brown's rally, referring to his new status as the Senate's 41st Republican. Brown, a state senator until now, heralded his victory as the start of more election surprises in 2010.

      No Republican had won a U.S. Senate race in Massachusetts since 1972, and Democrats control the governorship, both houses of the state legislature, and the state's entire congressional delegation.

      Continued...

    • 2 years ago
  • BKsaysAction
    • 0
      BKsaysAction  

    • Coakley was a horrible idea for a replacement and she did the dumbest thing you can do in boston, call a redsox a yankee's fan. Let's face it dems suck at getting anything done because no one has any balls. Republicans are all balls and no brains that play dirty and live ritch. It's time for a third party.

    • 2 years ago
  • fun_size
    • 0
      fun_size  

    • Ah America home of the greedy and land of the stupid. On the "left" weve got limp dick Democrats and and on the "right" weve got asshole Republicans to represent us. No wonder this country is going to shit.

    • 2 years ago
  • good_stuff
  • artemis6
    • 0
      artemis6  

    • It wouldn't be a surprise if this election was stolen , considering the flawed voting methods floating about . And the desperate state of the republican party . I hope there is an investigation .

    • 2 years ago
  • Saladin
  • fun_size
    • 0
      fun_size  
    • artemis6:

      Yep Saladins right. He carries "public appeal" in that he seems like the kind of guy youll run into at a bar. For christs sake he fucking posed nude in a magazine... and now he is a US Senator. Its mind boggling.

    • 2 years ago
  • EdJoyProductions
  • 2helenahandbasket
    • 0
      2helenahandbasket  
    • artemis6:

      Ahhhhhhh, yes. The old "Somehow he stole the election because the Republicans are desperate" claim. I was wondering when someone would mention it............

      Actually he won the election because those folks from all over referred to as The Tea Party are really and truly mad as hell at what they (we) voted for and what they (we)actually GOT. They hoped for and desperately wanted CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN and they just got more of the same, only worse. It's time politicians of every ilk wake up and listen to the voice of the people, because if not the people will throw them out in a heartbeat. And the voices of the people are saying NO MORE GIVEAWAYS. WE CAN'T PAY WHAT WE OWE RIGHT NOW.

    • 2 years ago
  • hektic
  • Varex_Sythe
    • 0
      Varex_Sythe  

    • If the guy won then the guy won, the only thing I want to know before I either accept or reject this as a fair election is, what method of voting do they use in Massachusetts?

    • 2 years ago
  • Saladin
    • 0
      Saladin  

    • I don't understand why Republicans are celebrating.

      You guys aren't in power with this, now NOTHING is going to happen. Not good, not bad, nothing.

      Do you WANT the country to get fucked? Do you like it when we stagnate into oblivion?

      Don't answer that, you voted for Bush and Palin.

    • 2 years ago
  • fun_size
    • 0
      fun_size  
    • Saladin:

      Yeah look how tough it was even trying to get Healthcare passed even though Dems had a super majority. Now ANYTHING literally ANYTHING the Democrats try to push through will be blocked by filibuster. And i thought America couldnt sink any lower...

      I guess were seeing the effects of our shitty school system now. Most Americans are fat idiots that are easily distracted and more concerned with appearance than substance.

    • 2 years ago
  • Guyatthebusstation
    • 0
      Guyatthebusstation  
    • Saladin:

      I'm ecstatic that the legislature just got stalemated.

      Some of us don't want to see the commerce clause of the constitution becoming infinitely elastic. The last administration already destroyed the Constitution with the patriot act, our current administration than extended it in March. Now the FED GOV is looking to pass a bill that will (after the inevitable supreme court case and assuming it gets upheld) allow the FED GOV will be able to mandate virtually any aspect of individual behavior.

    • 2 years ago
  • Saladin
    • 0
      Saladin  
    • Saladin:

      Spare me the pseduolegal bullshit.

      Nothing in the constitution says business can't be regulated, what the hell else would the government's purpose be besides preventing fraud and unscrupulous practices?

      But thanks for admitting you don't give a shit about anything, that's some refreshing honesty.

    • 2 years ago
  • Guyatthebusstation
    • 0
      Guyatthebusstation  
    • Saladin:

      Thanks for admitting you haven't read the Constitution and don't give a shit about it.

      Show me what part of the Constitution gives the Federal government the power to mandate insurance?

      As far as the powers of the FED the 10th amendment summed it up pretty well.

    • 2 years ago
  • artemis6
  • CarlosIsDown
    • 0
      CarlosIsDown  

    • Meh. Coakley was shit (I guess. I'm taking Jons word for it) when it came to campaigning. Why should Mass. care if the rest of the country doesn't get better healthcare? I'm wondering how the fuck she won the primary? Ah well. Let the people die. If the Reps cared about healthcare, they'd at least try to solve the problems in a republican way instead of killing all hopes of reform. But then that would make Obama's presidency some kind of success, and we don't want that, do we?

    • 2 years ago
  • cubbyrose
    • 0
      cubbyrose  
    • Image

    • fuck me. even though i strongly reject drawing party lines and subscribing to any bullshit party dogma, i think the republican party is the central breeding ground for all ignorance and hate and they just stole the one chance this country had of any meaningful reform against the disgustingly powerful and rich insurance companies. look up just how much the ceo of united health makes per day ( @ bravenewfilms.com) ...and the rest of us just get fucked over and over by his company. this country is in a terrible place.

    • 2 years ago
  • EthicalVegan
  • cubbyrose
    • 0
      cubbyrose  
    • Image

    • fuck me. even though i strongly reject drawing party lines and subscribing to any bullshit party dogma, i think the republican party is the central breeding ground for all ignorance and hate and they just stole the one chance this country had of any meaningful reform against the disgustingly powerful and rich insurance companies. look up just how much the ceo of united health makes per day ( @ bravenewfilms.com) ...and the rest of us just get fucked over and over by his company. this country is in a terrible place.

    • 2 years ago
  • cubbyrose
    • 0
      cubbyrose  
    • Image

    • fuck me. even though i strongly reject drawing party lines and subscribing to any bullshit party dogma, i think the republican party is the central breeding ground for all ignorance and hate and they just stole the one chance this country had of any meaningful reform against the disgustingly powerful and rich insurance companies. look up just how much the ceo of united health makes per day ( www.bravenewfilms.com) ...and the rest of us just get fucked over and over by his company. this country is in a terrible place.

    • 2 years ago
  • JonRaymond
  • Guyatthebusstation
  • JohnA
  • JonRaymond
    • 0
      JonRaymond  

    • The health care bill sucks anyway. It may have to get worse before it gets better. With any luck we'll see this spark a revolution.

    • 2 years ago
  • Maxwells
    • 0
      Maxwells  

    • Funny how the very seat vacated by the passing of the “Liberal Lion” and “Healthcare Champion” himself, Ted Kennedy… now leaves the healthcare bill “dead in the water”

      Isn’t it ironic, don’t cha think?

    • 2 years ago
  • QueenGloria
  • Ajil
  • Maxwells
  • occhipij
  • schrock
  • ras_menelik
  • courage
    • 0
      courage  

    • SAVED from the leftist destructors by the blue blue state of Massachusetts who would have thought it.Does Saul's Rules for Radicals cover the will of the people standing up against the marxist cancer?

    • 2 years ago
  • sarahjesse
    • 0
      sarahjesse  

    • You say that he won't do anything, that he's just another Republican, but please, enlighten me with what Coakley would do....Attack her competition repeatedly? She lost A LOT of votes with all of her verbal attacks, that's for sure.

    • 2 years ago
  • ras_menelik
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