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Author: TriSec    Date: 01/16/2010 14:29:24

I don't like Martha Coakley.

There, I said it.

I don't know what it is. She really and truly rubs me the wrong way. I don't think she's been that great of an Attorney General, and I also don't believe she has the temperment, passion, or wherewithal to be an effective senator.

I also didn't like the fact that Senator Kennedy's body was barely cold when the democratic machine in this state started lining up behind her; we had many good and bold candidates, but because it was important that she be the first woman senator from this state, she became the chosen one.

And her attitude all along has been all wrong...from the day she annouced, it felt like she expected to be called "Senator"....and this entire campaign and election was nothing more than a formality before she went to Washington.

But then along came Scott Brown.



You know, I wanted to like him. I really wanted to like Scott Brown. I don't care that he's a Republican; at least in this state, Republican is not a swear word yet. Some of the few left tend to have an independent streak, and they certainly don't march in lockstep with the party apparatus. Or do they? A brief check of my hot-button issues at Mr. Brown's website indicate that I could never vote for him.


Health Care
I believe that all Americans deserve health care coverage, but I am opposed to the health care legislation that is under consideration in Congress and will vote against it. It will raise taxes, increase government spending and lower the quality of care, especially for elders on Medicare. I support strengthening the existing private market system with policies that will drive down costs and make it easier for people to purchase affordable insurance. In Massachusetts, I support the 2006 healthcare law that was successful in expanding coverage, but I also recognize that the state must now turn its attention to controlling costs.

Abortion
While this decision should ultimately be made by the woman in consultation with her doctor, I believe we need to reduce the number of abortions in America. I believe government has the responsibility to regulate in this area and I support parental consent and notification requirements and I oppose partial birth abortion. I also believe there are people of good will on both sides of the issue and we ought to work together to support and promote adoption as an alternative to abortion.

Marriage
I believe marriage is between a man and a woman. States should be free to make their own laws in this area, so long as they reflect the people's will as expressed through them directly, or as expressed through their elected representatives.


There's more, but those three issues alone are killer.


So....you know I've been libertarian-leaning for years, as evidenced by the former occupant of the Saturday timeslot, "Libertarian Saturday". Coincidentally enough, we have a libertarian running by the name of Joseph L. Kennedy. (no relation to the former Senator). I gave his website a look as well, but as evidenced by the banner "The Tea Party Candidate", his positions were dead to me before I even looked, and that was the end of that.

Martha Coakley's positions don't even matter. We all know she's going down there to be the 60th vote, and her positions are going to be whatever the party leadership tells her they are.

But that's what it comes down to, isn't it?


I have to tell everyone, I've been listening to a lot of conservative radio over the last few weeks, and I've found that I've been enjoying it immensely. Not right-wing radio mind you. Those of you on the East Coast, I highly recommend you check out Dan Rea's Nightside. You might even be able to get it on terrestrial radio at 1030am...I can vouch for that myself, as I have listened to this station while driving on Flagler Boulevard in West Palm Beach...over 1300 miles away.

In any case, Dan is a self-described conservative libertarian. His show's saving grace is his attitude...much like our own website here, opposing viewpoints are tolerated and even encouraged as long as the callers remain civil and on-topic. It's quite a breath of fresh air.

Earlier this week, a caller to the show finally swayed my opinion and I decided that I needed to do what was right for the United States...instead of registering a protest vote, or throwing the whole works under the bus.

Martha is not really running on her own merits this time. When we re-elected Senator Kennedy four years ago, we knew exactly what he stood for and what he would do in the Senate, expecting that he would serve a full 6 years. Unfortunately, that was not to be.

This election is for the last 2 years of Senator Kennedy's term. Not a two-year term for Martha Coakley or Scott Brown.

In the end, that's the deciding factor.. Martha will be the automatic 60th vote; things will continue to get done, and even if you disagree with the content, methods, or final outcome of all the pending legislation...at least we'll still be moving forward.

Scott Brown will be the automatic NO vote, and will be in the Republican's pocket as another contrarian member of the party of no.

Who do you want in Washington?


 

5 comments (Latest Comment: 01/17/2010 14:23:36 by AuntAzalea)
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Comment by trojanrabbit on 01/16/2010 16:48:01
Tri, I find myself in sorta the same predicament as you. I don't like Coakley, at all. Even though Brown is my State Senator, I can't vote for him either. Every time I lean that way, I hear the morning clowns on WEEI sing his praises and that settles that.



However, I can no longer wrap my head around this 60 vote concept, as long as that 60 includes Lieberman. I still want to send a wake up call to the Democratic "leadership" that the only way to deal with the likes of Lieberman is to either make the Rethugs really filibuster, or get rid of it. If Reid would grow a pair and strip Lieberman of his chair I'd happily vote for Coakley. Voting for Brown would end any such pretense of 60 once and for all.



Yes, I've listened to Dan Rea from time to time and he is all that you say he is.



I suppose I should make it a sport while watching the football games this weekend and count the number of ads for each candidate and whether they are positive, negative, paid for by the candidate or by a special interest group.



The fantasy outcome would parallel what the Rethugs did to Franken. Coakley has a slim lead so there's a recount, and Brown takes the lead. The Democrats stall and stall but finally Brown takes his seat.



In August.



The noise from the right would be deafening, and they'd totally forget about how Franken was treated.



Quite simply, neither one of them deserves the seat, and I've got a lot of thinking to do before Tuesday.



Anyway, I'm now staring at the guts of my TV project that I've neglected since Thanksgiving due to the holidays and my wife's accident. I only have the recollection that I didn't like the last thing I did and was debating whether to strip a bunch of stuff out and start again, but there's so many parts hanging now it'll take me this weekend to figure out where everything goes. Damn glad I took lots of "before" pictures or I'd be dead in the water.

Comment by livingonli on 01/16/2010 18:05:28
The Libertarians embracing the teabagger movement makes it seem like they forgot any of the principaled opposition to Chimpy's policies. I think any third parties to stop the crap going on are going to have to come from the left.

Comment by BobR on 01/17/2010 00:19:50
I know it sucks having to choose the "lesser of two evils", but if you don't go and vote, you might end up with the greater of two evils. If MA lets that seat go Republican, the entire country will suffer.



Those if us that lived through the aftermath of 1994 know what it's like when nothing gets done.

Comment by livingonli on 01/17/2010 02:48:19
And we have to make sure those Diebold machines in Massachusetts can't flip the voting machines to the GOP since their machines apparently are making a presence in the state for this election.

Comment by AuntAzalea on 01/17/2010 14:23:36
Great blog Tri. I am only now getting to read it cause my Saturdays are utterly crazy! I would only have time to read this (or any) blog if it were condensed to one small sentence and texted to my phone. *sigh*



Anyway, I do understand your predicament. It is certainly not unlike almost all of my Southern state(s) picks. Most of them are DINO's. :(