Thoughts on Mass Senate Race Tuesday: Martha Coakley

[PADEMJES12]

Today the South Coast has endorsed Martha Coakley to become the next US Senator!

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091206/OPINION/912060315

Yesterday, UMASS Dartmouth and the South Coast Alliance held the final candidates forum for the Democratic US Senate candidates before the December 8, 2009 special election primary. All four of the candidates did a wonderful job i thought in articulating why it is they should be the one to try and fill the shoes of beloved longtime Senator Ted Kennedy. There's nothing better than confrontation early in the morning and my expectations were for some fireworks.

I was excited looking forward to some early morning fireworks and frisky exchanges between the candidates, particularly between Steve Pagliuca and Congressman Mike Capuano. I enjoyed the fireworks so much the other night that i had them on replay to chuckle, but I dont think the two candidates realized that they came off as somewhat combative to voters, while Martha Coakley kind of just had to hang out and smile and wait her turn to make points.

http://www.necn.com/...

My favorite line was when Steve Pagliuca called Mike Capuano the Sarah Palin of the healthcare bill or something. Someone should have handed Martha a referee's whistle. At UMASS, Pagliuca stressed public-private partnerships as a way to move Massachusetts job training and create more job opportunities.

Capuano for his part expanded upon Pagliuca's point saying we need the "jobs" to go into after the job training. However, it was a little awkward and funny for me to see Capuano suggest in a round about way, "well if you dont know who to vote for... vote for the candidate that your elected officials Barney Frank and Ed Markey have decided to support."

Alan Khazei for his part came off positive, is very visionary in terms of the future of the country, saying Massachusetts can be a center for green jobs and that New Bedford could be dredged and become the deep port we need coming out of Massachusetts. I think essentially everyone in the room agreed with him, but when he referred to the "jobs of the future" and green jobs... no one ever articulates on what exactly those are. Thats a problem. A "vague" problem.

Attorney General Martha Coakley impressed me and came off very "sunny" to me particularly as she pointed out regarding education that MORE MORE mentality alone is not the answer, and that we have to make sure we fund higher education and "No child left behind" programs. However, she elaborated and made a key point which registered... that these kids are not statistics and numbers, and we need to tailor our focus on the individual child's needs.

Coakley also made a key point which really registered with me. She has been aggressive in suing the EPA and has gone after Goldman Sachs and pharmaceutical companies for ripping consumers off and, I really like the fact that she cares alot about consumers, but also for taxpayers. By being sent to Washington, I feel she will be an asset because of her extensive watchdog experience and compassion for consumers. I also particularly like the fact that her being so effective in the Attorney General's office, she has had diverse experience going after the bad guys... taking on banking and corporations, and has also been working on legislation.

That being said, with funky bailout programs in Washington such as TARP and a seeming disconnect between providing massive financial institutions with billions of dollars, yet failing to see that funding needs allocated to jump start and "Reinvest" in mom and pop Main Street stores in Massachusetts and small towns across America, the choice became clear to me today: We need a watch dog and true custodian of the public trust, and thats why I've decided MARTHA COAKLEY is the candidate to vote for on December 8th.

[geckosfeet]

1. I am still on the fence between Coakley and Khazei. I like Khazei but

am spooked by his lack of experience in state legislature and legal proceedings.

My sense is that at least Coakley has experience as a lawyer and now as AG. She can navigate the inner workings of the state apparatus, even if there has been a little fuss over some of her court cases.

[PADEMJES12]

2. I was impressed with Khazei's vision

My theme for the candidates is we have the "hope" in the sense we "hope things will get better." To build on that hope we need results, tangible results, and we cannot let corporate america and financial institutions run rampant, such as been the case in Washington when they Congress voted for TARP and failed to be responsible custodians of the publics money in the sense that they knew what would happen with the banks and failed to take proactive action. That is why Martha will be good because she isnt a Washington insider and has a track record as AG protecting consumers and not being afraid to go after banks and financial institutions.

[chelsea0011]

14. I also like this vision thing he has going.

[No Elephants]

31. Coakley and Pag are probably the most conservative candidates and Capuano and Khazei are probably

the most liberal. So, I am a little surprised that you are torn between Coakley and Khazei.

[AllieB]

3. I'm voting for Capuano.

There are some issues with Coakley regarding the Fells Acre Day Care case and her 180 on the death penalty. I like Khazei, but he really doesn't have a chance.

[PADEMJES12]

4. i was laughing yesterday when

capuano suggested to the audience and was all reflective....
"well if u dont know who to vote for, support the candidate your
legislators have endrosed" I had a big smile on my face, i was hoping
he and pags would start up some fireworks for me. He did score debate
points with me. Martha did have a very good peformance, id never seen
any of them before, but was very impressed w her. I liked her broad
experience w the AGs office and how she conveyed that to the public.

[PADEMJES12]

5. i did like pagliuca's reflective comment...

in all seriousness... that jobs give people dignity. I like his private sector experience.

[AllieB]

7. The AG position is an administrative and not legislative position.

I really wish I could vote for a woman, but i don't think she has the fire in the belly that we need right now in the Senate, and I also question her Progressive credentials. Capuano voted against the Iraq war, against the Patriot Act, and against No child Left behind because it was an unfinded mandate that would hurt poor children. Please look up her involvement in the Fells Acre Day Care case before you make up your mind.

[PADEMJES12]

8. and no one has inquired why he approved a TARP

package w inadequate oversight on corporate bonuses, and stronger lending provisions.
Otherwise, we wouldnt be talking about the disconnect between getting big banks to lend our MA mom and pop stores money.

[horseshoecrab]

10. TARP vote

Steve Lynch, who you admire, voted for the TARP bill in the house, as did the entire MA delegation. Others who voted for TARP include Maxine Waters (CA), Anthony Weiner (NY), Alan Grayson (FL)and plenty more. Here's the vote:
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=h2009-26

Here are Mike Capuano's thoughts on the TARP vote, from his campaign's website:
http://www.mikecapuano.com/pages/the-economy

"Mike voted in favor of establishing the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) to help stabilize our economy and prevent a deepening financial crisis. At the time he described it as one of the most difficult votes he ever cast.

Mike felt strongly that doing nothing to prevent a recession that would result in massive job losses was not an option. He voted for TARP because he was not willing to risk Americans' pensions, investments and access to credit. Since the passage of TARP, the financial markets have displayed more confidence: banks have already repaid over $70 billion, and the U.S. Treasury has received over $12 billion in returns from TARP investments. When it comes to TARP and other emergency lending programs, Mike continues to speak out to the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department regarding the need to protect taxpayers."

So, you can frame the thing anyway you wish to, but the actual fact is that many progressive Democratic legislators felt the need to vote for TARP given the grim reality of the dismal financial situation which was the result of the dreadful Bush years.

horseshoecrab

[PADEMJES12]

11. Thats why i like Martha! She will get tough proactively

with them ensuring oversight as a part of the original legislation, as opposed to an afterthought.
Shes been a leader in developing the Consumer Protection agency, meeting w President Obama and
testifying. Thats an agency designed to protect the dignity of our hardworking door-to-door families on
Main Street!

Thank you for your response and elaboration. They should of have had the
safeguards and oversight into the plan before the plan was enacted. Martha will whip them into shape :)

Best of luck to all the candidates tomorrow, may the best guy or gal :) win.

[horseshoecrab]

12. Martha would not have been able to do as you claim

Unfortunate, but true. You can say she would, but there were experienced, progressive legislators voting who could not do as you wish either.

BTW - Massachusetts has been a leader in consumer protection for years. (Since the 1960s, under Atty. Gen'l Bellotti I think.) Martha is truly a newcomer in that field.

Agreed that on the federal level we need a consumer protection agency. Capuano believes that too. He and Patrick Kennedy are cooking up legislation to deal with the usurious interest rates being charged by credit card companies these days.

No matter how you cut it, Capuano is a true contender for the progressive seat of Ted Kennedy. Martha Coakley is not.

As a woman, I wish I could have more faith in her, but I don't. Her view of almost every issue is filtered through her law enforcement background, not through a progressive legislative background.

I'm voting for Capuano and no, I don't work for the campaign.

Everbody get out and vote tomorrow!

horseshoecrab

[AllieB]

13. I would like to ask Martha Coakley about Fells Acre

When Martha Coakley became district attorney of Middlesex County in 1999, the Amiraults were still in the news. But by this time hardly anyone believed they were guilty of the horrendous crimes they were alleged to have committed. In fact there was no evidence that anyone had abused any children in the Fells Acres Day Care.

But what did Martha Coakley do when the Parole Board voted unanimously (5-0) to pardon Gerald Amirault? She did everything in her power to see that he stayed in prison, including sending an assistant DA to oppose his release at the hearing. Coakley also went on talk shows to spout her views about his guilt.

It seems to me that many Coakley supporters don't understand basic legislative processes. They say in theory 'Martha would have done this', affording her powers beyond that of someone in Congress. I like Coakley, but she is not right for the job.

[horseshoecrab]

15. "affording her powers beyond that of someone in Congress"

Exactly AllieB!


Regarding the Amiraults, there's really nothing rational to explain the obsessive persecution of that family by a series of Middlesex County DAs. A terrible and tragic case.


horseshoecrab

:hi:

[No Elephants]

18. Most of Martha's career, she has done nothing but act as a prosecutor, which was her job.

As far as I can tell, she displayed no interest whatever in broader issues until she set her sights on Kennedy's seat.

As a prosecutor, she did go after some lawbreakers, but that was her job. She was able to do so--and had a duty to do so--only because the legislator put those laws on the books. She had nothing to do with getting legislation enacted. In doing her job, she showed nothing like the fire and skill of, for example, Andrew Cuomo.

As far as the TARP, if you recall, it went to Congress as the Presidential campaign was nearing its end, as maybe a one page bill, with Paulson saying we were facing global economic collapse unless it was enacted in a day or so. And, in fact, global credit was about to come to a complete halt due mostly to AIG and derviatives. That would have been a cataclysmic disaster.

Despite the urgings of Paulson, Congress did take a bit longer than a couple of days. I think it was only about a week, total, though. That was probably record time for a Democratic Congress acting on a massive economi bill requested by a Republican administration. I wish it had been stricter, too, but I don't think Congress had the luxury of time for fiddling, debates, fillibusters, etc.

And, with all due respect, Martha's comments about voting against the health care bill solely bc of the Stupak Amendment pretty much proved she is clueless about how federal legislation gets done. Even Stupak is currently saying his amendment is now dead in the water (but hope for health care reform remains alive bc people like Capuano knew beter than to kill it bc of the Stupak Amendment.

So, giving the emergency situation at the time of the TARP and her lack of knowledge of law making, I very much doubt that her performance on the TARP would have been as you imagine it would have been.

[No Elephants]

32. "No one has inquired why he approved a TARP" because we understand why the TARP had to be

approved. Had Coakley been in D.C. at the time, she would have approved it as well (assuming she gtasped the gravity and urgency of the situation).

[PADEMJES12]

9. and Marthas the manager we need :)

she has a role in several different tasks, and to suggest that she doesnt collaborate on legislation w state law makers
and that developed by her office, is really missing the target so to speak.

[No Elephants]

19. Can you name any legislation her office developed or that she collaborated in getting passed?

Not sure which management skills she has that the others don't have more of. Besides, management skills seem more pertinent to an executive position, like Governor, than they do to a legislative position, like Senator. Sure, they all have to manage their offices, but the other candidates have had to manage more than Martha. As a prosecutor or AG, her managerial skills are more like managing a small sized law firm that is funded by taxpayers and therefore has no need to turn a profit, or even to break even.

[No Elephants]

22. P.S. Just wondering: Why do you hide your profile?

[Mass]

6. Same here.

[No Elephants]

17. Voting for Khazei is like voting for Nader in 2000. You'd only be taking votes from Capuano.

[debbierlus]

16. Have you read this article - I think it should be considered before voting

Read it and decide for yourself. I think this action shows incredibly poor judgement and lack of insight and ethics:

http://www.examiner.com/x-14537-Albany-CPS-and-Family-Court-Examiner~y2009m9d4-Involvement-in-Amirault-case-makes-Martha-Coakley-unfit-to-replace-Ted-Kennedy-as-Senator

When Martha Coakley became district attorney of Middlesex County in 1999, the Amiraults were still in the news. But by this time hardly anyone believed they were guilty of the horrendous crimes they were alleged to have committed. In fact there was no evidence that anyone had abused any children in the Fells Acres Day Care.

But what did Martha Coakley do when the Parole Board voted unanimously (5-0) to pardon Gerald Amirault? She did everything in her power to see that he stayed in prison, including sending an assistant DA to oppose his release at the hearing. Coakley also went on talk shows to spout her views about his guilt. (Read about Martha Coakley's involvement in Cheryl Amirault's Plea Bargain also).

In a bid to be re-elected Governor of Massachusetts, Governor Jane Swift, rejected the Parole Board's decision. There is little doubt, however, that Martha Coakley's actions strengthened Governor Swift's resolve to deny Gerald Amirault's release from prison.

Governor Jane Swift sold Gerald Amirault's freedom for what she hoped would be another term as Governor of Massachusetts, but the voters chose Mitt Romney instead. Martha Coakley worked harder than Jane Swift to keep an innocent man in prison, seemingly for political advantage also.

If Senator Edward Kennedy was a lion in the cause of justice, and there is some debate about that, then Martha Coakley is a barn cat whose actions are based on primitive instinctual forces of political survival and savagery. Her lack of a sense of what constitutes justice and injustice makes Martha Coakley unfit to be a United States senator, particularly considering she would be filling Ted Kennedy's shoes.

A letter to the editor of the Boston Herald by Margaret Hagen, a professor of psychology at Boston

[PADEMJES12]

20. Back up the dump truck.... somebodys desperate!!!!!!!!!

Get out the vote today for MARTHA COAKLEY!!!!!!!! Half hr till polls open

[No Elephants]

25. Nothing says "desperate" like posts with 16 exclamation points, but zero facts.

[AllieB]

28. I haven't seen one cogent, thoughtful response that could possible sway someone Coakley's way.

Hence, I smell trolling.

[No Elephants]

33. Probably correct.

On the other hand, one of her threads made up Ian David's mind--to vote for Capuano. So, I'd like her to post as much as possible.

;-)

[debbierlus]

38. That is because that is indefensible - they think it is an awful thing thing to point out

It IS awful.

But, not to point out. Awful that she DID it.

This decision shows more then just poor judgemnt and lack of ethics, it shows a mean-spirited and unevolved human being who has no business in the Senate.

[No Elephants]

21. Coakley also kicked off her Senate campaign using AG campaign funds, in violation of campaign

laws. Not great behavior for a prosecutor, all the way around.

But, I oppose her because her fairly long career had been so undistinguished until she set her sights on Ted Kennedy's seat and because she seems like the least informed and least bright of the four Democratic hopefuls. She has a few catch phrases that she uses over and over, even when they are non sequiturs, and that's about it. Also, in 2004, she said the dangers of the Patriot Act were being overstated. She did not oppose it until 2007, AFTER a mostly Republican Supreme Court had already declared several of its provisions unconstitutional. Capuano voted against it during the heat of the post 911 frenzy, when doing so took both comprehension of the provisions of the Act and of the Constitution, as well as real political courage.

Bill Clinton may have endorsed Coakley bc she best fits the DLC mold and also bc she supported Hillary against Obama. At that, he waited until the very last minute, perhaps waiting to see whether or not she might actually need his endorsement or whether he could safely remain silent.

Capuano, on the other hand, has been endorsed by every member of the Massachusetts delegation who has spoken out for any of the candiates, by Kitty and Mike Dukakis and by Ms. Patrick, as well as many unions. But, more than that, his voting record proves beyond a doubt that he is a truly progressive, principled Democrat and his years of federal legislative experience will serve us well, especially with the health care bill still pending.

Coakley has said she would have voted against the health care on the House, strictly bc of the Stupak Amendment, which shows she is clueless about how things get done on Capitol Hill (or how far reaching the Hyde Amendment already is--if she even knows the Hyde Amendment). If it had been up to her, the bill would have died in the house, and, with it, all hope of health care/health insurance reform. Instead, that hope lives and grows, while even Stupak thinks his amendment is dead.

Khazei's heart's in the right place, IMO, but voting for him will only help Coakley. I'd love to see Mike win this one and Khazei run for Mike's seat.

[PADEMJES12]

23. Have you no shame.... See you at the polls...

Seeing is believing :) Getting my sweet Coakley tee on now :)

[No Elephants]

24. Supporting Mike Capuano based on his voting record and experience, rather than supporting

an inferior candidate simply because her gender is the same as mine is shameful? LMAO.

Too bad you are unable to refute a single factual statement I've made and had to resort to something like that.

[PADEMJES12]

26. took long enough for u folks to make excuses on TARP

If you want a washington insider and business as usual, mikes your guy it seems. If you want someone to crack down on free bees to Wall Street then i suggest that folks look to Martha.

[AllieB]

29. I guess you didn't see above where many progressives voted for TARP

It sounds like you don't understand the legislative process.

[No Elephants]

30. No, it took YOU long enough to raise it, whereupon you revealed your cluelessness about the TARP,

which seems to match your candidate's cluelessness about how things get done on Capitol Hill.

I see you still have not a single fact to support your candidate or to knock down Capuano.

So far, as best I can tell, your posts have succeeded in getting zero votes for Coakley and Ian David's for Mike, so I am trying to encourage you to post as much as possible. Maybe you'll convince still more to vote for Capuano.

BTW, I would never try to stop "free bees to Wall Street." I'm fine with Wall Street getting stung as much as possible.

[PADEMJES12]

35. hey we'll rehatch our debate after the polls close

I have to volunteer to WIN this for Martha!!!!! Maybe we can canvass together in the general :)

[A-Long-Little-Doggie]

27. "Getting my sweet Coakley tee on now"

Going to work the polls for Coakley, are you? And just yesterday you told me you do not work for her campaign. Ooops! Caught red-handed!

[PADEMJES12]

34. im not a worker, im a volunteer!

ive volunteered for many politicans, mike flaherty, sonia diaz, etc etc.

[PADEMJES12]

36. i must thank you i only decided to volunteer for Martha after

reading some of your posts! Way to go!!!

[A-Long-Little-Doggie]

45. Yes, I have amazing powers over you.

Have you voted yet?? If not:

VOTE FOR MIKE CAPUANO!!!

[AllieB]

37. Just went out and voted for Capuano. Your lack of facts convinced me.

That and the Fells Acre travesty, Martha's concenient reversal on the death penalty, among other issues.

[PADEMJES12]

39. what did Pagliuca call capuano... the sarah palin of the

Democratic party???? Anyways, you already said u were voting for him in the first place far ago in the thread (#3)

[AllieB]

40. That was such a ridiculous insult. You're grasping at straws BTW.

If you don't admire Mike's legislative record, you are not a true progressive.

[PADEMJES12]

41. Capuano following Martha's lead :) progressive leader or follower?

U.S. Rep Michael Capuano — Coakley's opponent along with businessman Stephen Pagliuca and City Year founder Alan Khazei — now says he would vote against a final version of health-care reform if it were to include the abortion provision. He voted in favor of the House bill, he said, to move debate forward.

He can't have it both ways: Either health-care reform is too important to let abortion stand in the way or the bill would compromise women's rights too much.

Coakley carved out the liberal position on the issue, and Capuano followed.

[AllieB]

42. Again you show how you don't understand legislative procedure.

Of course I'll vote for Coakley if she wins the primary. But to say she will go to Washington and automatically be a leadershows breathtaking naivete on your part.

[PADEMJES12]

43. pretending to be a "know it all" is something i am not

I must admit. I am only human and can err. However, You tout Mike as thee "know it all", who cannot account
for "coulda, woulda, going to" disconnect between the "legislative" process and reality that results from it in
our communities. Perhaps that is the disconnect of Washignton DC in general. Martha has a great understanding of the
human element of this reality. Martha will be a good manager, and im sure she'll whip some people into shape.

[PADEMJES12]

46. Apparently my article was very convinving

thanks for the conversation AllieB and No Elephants. I want to welcome
you guys onto our team. Maybe we can do a camapign canvass and cocoa. Best wishes!

[TheCowsCameHome]

44. I'll take any one of them as long as they can beat Brown next month