Senate Special Election in MA

[Olo401]

Today is the special election in Massachusetts to fill the US Senate seat vacated by the death of Ted Kennedy. Candidates are Martha Coakley (D), Scott Brown (R) and Joseph Kennedy (I-L, no relation to the late senator's family).

I'm kinda glad there hasn't been a dedicated thread about this up 'til now because it would've devolved into our own BG brand of political gutterball (myself included).. So why make one now, on the day of the election? Well because no matter which side you support or lean, no matter what you believe is right and wrong for the country, this one special election is going to set the tone of what happens in the US for at least the next year, and that in turn could impact how much economic conditions here and around the world improve or decline.. or just plain stagnate. So it does in a way affect us all.

Anyways if you're up Massachusetts way GO VOTE!!! and feel free to pop in with a polling place report. I'm gonna be dropping in with reports from around the state (it's kinda easy living next door to MA and calling all over the state daily for work, not to mention being a political junkie) & vote tallies tonight. Only one request.. let's try to keep this one thread civil, at least for today.

[tyven]

who is expected to win? the bitch?

[Jodwahh]

Only one request.. let's try to keep this one thread civil, at least for today.

who is expected to win? the bitch?

This thread's off to an epic start lol.

[Therin]

I fail to see how this will "set the tone of what happens in the US for at least the next year" when it's obvious who's going to win already. I mean, why does MA even hold elections anymore?

[Olo401]

I fail to see how this will "set the tone of what happens in the US for at least the next year"

With Kennedy, the Democrats held a 58-40-2 margin in the US Senate (with the 2 independents leaning to the Dem side). The Republicans have been voting as a block against most major legislation proposed in the current session, but were unable to stop anything because of the Senate rules that require 3/5 majoity (60 votes) to end debate and force a vote. Switching any one vote would mean that debate could go on indefinitely on any legislation that didn't have the Republican's political stamp of approval. That means two things - either nothing will get done at all for the next year, or the Dems be forced cave and give the Reps whatever they want, even if it means their own agenda is off the table.

...when it's obvious who's going to win already. I mean, why does MA even hold elections anymore?

Ahhh but you see that's not true at all.. it was a few weeks ago after the primary was held but the polling recently was point to a tied race. Quite a shock considering Obama won MA by a huge margin in 2008 and Teddy had been winning by 10-20% margins for decades. There's all kind of factors that played into this being a close race.

And then there's this today from Nate Silver's 538.com website : "The FiveThirtyEight Senate Forecasting Model, which correctly predicted the outcome of all 35 Senate races in 2008, now regards Republican Scott Brown as a 74 percent favorite to win the Senate seat in Massachusetts..."

I guess you can also look back further to MA electing Mitt Romney to two terms as governor.. the point is that not even the most party-heavy states or districts always go for that party.

[Olo401]

who is expected to win? the bitch?

Nah Moots isn't running.

[ZarakiKujata]

daily show last night summed up nicely my feelings about this race and the 'significance' its been given.

[Acturus]

I've never enjoyed having a congress and a president on the same political side.

At the same time, given how polarized the political parties have become over ther last two decades, it really bothers me to see contestation in either side of congress, because it just means that those who want their agendas pushed through have to become more devious and underhanded.

If nothing else, perhaps it will give President Obama an opportunity to actually work with Congress directly, as opposed to his current method of "Issue Edict, Await Results".

[Ragnus]

Despite hating politics, I have to admit that it's rather refreshing to see such a close race. From what I heard on the radio this morning, Brown is actually up by double digit numbers in Poll watches in the three towns that usually vote along with how the overall state vote turns out. Link to the poll is here

We haven't had a Senator with a R next to it's name since the seventies. Despite the majority of people here in MA being Democrats, Brown is winning a lot of people over because Coakley has run a lackluster campaign combined with having the image of being a very hollow, and disconnected from reality candidate who has started to run a very very dirty campaign in the last 2-3 weeks. Then again her standings are still very high because of the Democratic nature of the state and the overall loyalty to the party.

Either way, just having a race this close in a notoriously blue state is a huge morale boost for the right. If Brown does pull off the win, then I definitely think that it is a huge statement about the current state of this nation especially after Obama himself did show up to endorse Coakley(something he originally didn't plan to do).

[willriker]

omg the daily shows take on this was so funny i was crying. I just tried to find the video on You Tube, but i could not find it.

[Rowe]

It's at the daily show's website I just watched it, yeah it's was pretty funny.

[guartz]

ah statists. Your politics make me lol. How serious, grown men can accept trash like this is amazing to me.

[Kuya]

So if the Democrats lose this seat, their watered down legislations from last year might be even more watered down this year? Perhaps we shall have to take enemas soon.

[Neoscrilla]

Fuck these two, I'm voting for Pedro.
http://www.teesnthings.com/ProductIm...on-sticker.jpg

[ZarakiKujata]

So if the Democrats lose this seat, their watered down legislations from last year might be even more watered down this year? Perhaps we shall have to take enemas soon.

It will get watered down and then still fail to pass because I doubt democrats could enact real progressive legislation even if they had all 100 seats in the senate.

[Leif]

Scott Brown is sexy.

If he can be this close to getting elected in the Soviet Union, there is still hope for America! Even though he is running against a woman who is most easily and accurately described as pure evil (see: Gerald Amirault), it's a relief to know not all Massachusetts voters are completely insane.

[Olo401]

Small update.. there's a steady snowfall going on across most of the state but it's warm enough where it probably won't make much of an impact until after sundown, and by then it's supposed to stop. Early polling places were busy, but lines short because there's only one item on the ballot.

Also of note, there's lots of Brown campaign workers outside the polls in some spots.

[Olo401]

inflammatory crap

Only one request.. let's try to keep this one thread civil, at least for today.

Thanks. I really appreciate it. And yes, I did take you off ignore long enough to read it.

[willriker]

grrr found the clip but cant figure out how to place it on the forums like other people do. anyone know how to do this?

anywho here is the link

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mo...mass-backwards

the part with mass elections starts at 30 seconds into the clip. It pretty much is the best commentary i have seen about this messed up situation.

[Leif]

Thanks. I really appreciate it. And yes, I did take you off ignore long enough to read it.

Oh, give me a break. I only called Massachusetts the Soviet Union, its citizens usually insane, Martha Coakley evil, and Scott Brown sexy.

How inflammatory!



I think everyone is closely watching this race because its incredibly intense.