Could/would Deval Patrick run against Scott Brown if Kerry becomes SOS?

I know a lot of people have expressed concern about the risk of Scott Brown taking Kerry's Senate seat if he gets tapped for the cabinet, but I think if Governor Patrick ran we would be in good shape. His approval ratings have recovered in MA and we have not had any black senators since Obama became president. I don't know if he would run, since he still has 2 years left as governor. But if he did I think he could win and it would be great to have him as a senator. Has he given any indication whether he would consider it?

Even if he didn't, aren't there plenty of other Democrats who could run and win the seat? What about Niki Tsongas, or Ed Markey, or Mike Capuano? I find it hard to believe that in a state as Democratic as Massachusetts there is nobody who could beat Scott Brown in a special election. But I haven't lived in Massachusetts since I was 2, so maybe I am missing something.

FirstRead: Republicans Got Crushed on the Issues Too

The Republicans' Electoral Map Problem

Interesting article. I wish the author had addressed how 2000 happened if we have such an electoral advantage. I did read recently that some pundits in the runup to 2000 thought Gore might win the electoral college but lose the popular vote.

Regardless of who it advantages, I still want to repeal the Electoral College. It's unfair and it causes half the country to be completely ignored and arguably disadvantaged in policy as a result of tendencies by presidents and legislators who might want to run for president to favor swing states.

Instead of boycotting Applebee's...

At first glance, our instinct is to boycott Applebee's because of what the owner said about laying people off to avoid paying for health insurance. However, if we do that we hurt the workers even more, and if Applebee's goes out of business, the story won't be the boycott, but that Obamacare drove them out of business. So I have an idea: instead of boycotting, we should eat at Applebee's and order in such a way that supports the workers more than the business, by ordering the lowest-profit margin items, drinking water, and leaving a generous tip.

I did a little bit of research on restaurant profit margins, and in most cases, items such as steak and seafood are "lost leaders", where the restaurant doesn't make very much but uses to draw people in. This is particularly true in recent years, with rising costs of raw materials. On the other hand, pasta dishes tend to be a big money-maker for restaurants, since pasta is so cheap. And it goes without saying that restaurants make much bigger profits on drinks than they do on food (including soft drinks). According to a friend who worked in a restaurant, appetizers tend to also be high profit items. Here is a list of which items in restaurants tend to be high or low margin.

One way to spot which items are the highest margin is where they are placed on the menu. Anything in a box is designed to highlight the highest margin. Additionally, items in the top-right corner or middle of menus tend to be high margin, because studies have shown that is where the eyes gravitate first. So if you eat at Applebee's, avoid anything in a box or the top-right corner. On some longer restaurant menus, the low margin items are often placed on the last page.

In some, my suggestion is that instead of boycotting Applebee's, we should go there and:
1) Order only water - no other drinks. If you must order another drink, order one with free refills and get several refills.
2) Not order appetizers
3) Order low-profit entrees such as steaks and seafood
4) Tip generously
5) Include a note that you are tipping an extra few dollars to cover the cost of health insurance for the workers, and would be happy to do so every time

I know it's a bit of an unconventional approach, and there are plenty of other reasons not to eat at chain restaurants. I also know some of you are vegetarians. But for those who currently eat at Applebee's, this might be a better approach than boycotting, because it will send a message without hurting the workers.

Thoughts? In particular, I would appreciate information from people who have worked in restaurants (especially restaurants similar to Applebee's) about what items are the most and least profitable.

ON EDIT: For Papa John's, I was thinking maybe we could start a campaign to add 14 cents to each order with a note that we support Obamacare and are willing to pay the extra 14 cents.

Former Ron Paul Aide: Boycott Democrats

Of all the sore loser ideas I have seen, this has to take the cake:

Former Ron Paul aide Eric Dondero says the only recourse to President Obama's re-election is "outright revolt" and is launching a "personal boycott" of Democrats.

He writes: "All family and friends, even close family and friends, who I know to be Democrats are hereby dead to me. I vow never to speak to them again for the rest of my life, or have any communications with them. They are in short, the enemies of liberty. They deserve nothing less than hatred and utter contempt."

Disturbing tweet about OH early voting

Not trying to be a Debbie Downer, but just saw this tweet that indicates how important GOTV is in Ohio tomorrow:

OH EARLY VOTE: Data suggests a much narrower Dem early vote/enthusiasm advantage than in '08, all pointing to a photo finish (in Ohio)

This coming from David Wasserman, who seems to be non-partisan and was more upbeat about Obama's chances in Virginia based on early voting numbers.

The moment I had a feeling Obama was going to win

It was over the summer, when I saw Obama give the lifetime achievement award to Bob Dylan and they played "The Times They Are a Changin" in the background. Just the day before, I had rewatched the episode of West Wing where they played that song in the scene where the president gets reelected. I said to my dad at the time "I think this is a good sign."

Earlier tonight I listened to that song and I could just feel it that we are going to win tomorrow. I'll admit, the latest ABC/WashPost poll didn't hurt, but I can just feel it in my gut that we are going to win. I just wish I wasn't so far from the action this time...in 2008 I got to go to Obama's last rally in Manassas and it was so exciting, because we all knew he was going to win and the excitement was incredible.

Final Ohio Poll (U of Cincinatti): Obama 50, Romney 48.5

Still too close for comfort given my lack of trust in the GOP-controlled voting apparatus there, but at least we are at 50.

The Senate race is Brown 50.6, Mandel 46.8

http://www.ipr.uc.edu/documents/op110512.pdf