Oh Teddy Where Art Thou?

Many who know me know that I am a political junkie, especially when it comes to the Legislative Branch.  If there is a scandal, election, or significant juicy something or other about a Senator or Congressman I usually am aware of it.  The special election to fill former Senator Ted Kennedy's seat in Massachusetts is no exception.  Sitting in my home in Rhode Island these past weeks, I have been lambasted with Coakley-Brown PALOOZA on television!  The mud slinging that has occurred has been remarkable.  This stuff equates the "Obama is a terrorist!" and "McCain is an old Republican" that was the year 2008 and I couldn't have thought of any other way to spend the first days of 2010.  As Massachusetts prepares to vote for Martha Coakley, Scott Brown, or ANOTHER Kennedy (yea, that guy), I have some thoughts to share.


First - Does Martha Coakley deserve to win?  This disgruntled Democrat says no.  A self-proclaimed "bad" campaigner, Martha Coakley's campaign strategy has been on the lack-luster side.  According to a piece done by the Boston Globe this past week and with some paraphrasing, I've determined that Coakley has a five step process when she comes to town.  Step 1 - Come into town. Step 2 - Meet the Mayor and the Board of Selectmen. Step 3 - Take a photo with the previous persons for the local paper.  Step 4 - Shake hands with the common folk (only some, gotta keep it moving). Step 5 - Move on to the next town.  I'm sorry but when did that work for a GENERAL ELECTION.  Oh Martha, you're stuck in the primaries aren't you?  Just because Ted Kennedy was a Democrat and his widow likes you, doesn't mean you can't actually talk to the people who are going to vote for you!

Second - Scott Brown friend or foe?  Hard to say.  As a Democrat, I'm supposed to say he's a foe and will ruin the country and further perpetuate Glen Beck's takeover of the world.  However as someone with a brain I do have to say that while I agree with him on absolutely nothing, he wins this fight as the best politician.  When just last year he polled at under 10% for name recognition to being statistically tied or even ahead of Coakley is just remarkable. Yes Martha, 90% of Massachusetts didn't even know who this guy was just 4 months ago and now he may beat you tomorrow.  Scott, you ran a great campaign and should be proud of yourself and if you become the next Senator from Massachusetts, good luck.  I can't wait to see how Harry Reid will try and crawl out of his fox hole.

Third - Who will win?  I don't know.  Last week I would have told you Coakley.  At this point I'm going with Charlie Cook and I'm staying in the Toss-Up Category.  I know everyone is tired of hearing it, but Health Care Reform maybe the issue that best gets the vote out.  Senator Ted Kennedy left a legacy that is going to be hard to fill.  Just look at his 2,500 page Health Care Reform Bill he left us (literally, ask me how heavy it is, I carried through the Capital Building).  Scott Brown has vowed to slow down on Health Care, Martha Coakley has vowed to be the 60th vote that Obama needs to get it done.

I hope that a Democrat retains the seat that Teddy sat in, however at this point there is not much to get excited about.  However if this election teaches anything, it should be that Democrats need to wake up and realize that holding a super majority doesn't mean anything if you don't do anything with it!  And also, (and I thought this was self explanatory) in order to win an election, campaigning usually helps.  We'll see what happens tomorrow.

To everyone who is eligible to vote in Massachusetts please GO VOTE tomorrow regardless of who you support.  It is very important that everyone's voice be heard.  And besides, if you don't vote you don't get to complain about the decisions that your representatives make for YOU.  Look for my reaction to tomorrow's vote to come later.