Coakley vs. Brown

[Ghostwriter]

This is fascinating.

http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/p...7468963846.pdf

If this holds it would be one of the biggest upsets ever. Think App. State over Michigan or Boise State over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl.

[KSigkid]

I was waiting for someone to post about this - it's HUGE news, and would be completely shocking if Brown came all the way back and won. I've been a Brown fan for quite some time, since he originally ran for state senate back in 03/04. My wife worked with some people who are now on the campaign, so I'd be happy for them as well.

Coakley has run one of the worst campaigns in recent memory. She had a lot of momentum going into the election, having been a successful District Attorney and being the current AG. Boston-area lawyers are heavily Democrat, and Coakley was getting a lot of money thrown her way. She sat back at the beginning of the campaign and was a little lazy in her campaign strategy, and for some reason allowed Brown to get out in front on issues. By the time she adopted an active campaign strategy, she's ended up leaning towards attack ads, and it hasn't really helped.

Plus, she's made some unfortunate statements (including referring to Curt Schilling as a Yankees fan), which haven't helped.

If Coakley loses this race, she has no one to blame but herself - she ran a horrible campaign (on the level of the Dukakis Presidential campaign and Tom Reilly's campaign for MA Governor).

[ThetaPrincess24]

Go Brown!

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

I was waiting for someone to post about this - it's HUGE news, and would be completely shocking if Brown came all the way back and won. I've been a Brown fan for quite some time, since he originally ran for state senate back in 03/04. My wife worked with some people who are now on the campaign, so I'd be happy for them as well.

Coakley has run one of the worst campaigns in recent memory. She had a lot of momentum going into the election, having been a successful District Attorney and being the current AG. Boston-area lawyers are heavily Democrat, and Coakley was getting a lot of money thrown her way. She sat back at the beginning of the campaign and was a little lazy in her campaign strategy, and for some reason allowed Brown to get out in front on issues. By the time she adopted an active campaign strategy, she's ended up leaning towards attack ads, and it hasn't really helped.

Plus, she's made some unfortunate statements (including referring to Curt Schilling as a Yankees fan), which haven't helped.

If Coakley loses this race, she has no one to blame but herself - she ran a horrible campaign (on the level of the Dukakis Presidential campaign and Tom Reilly's campaign for MA Governor).

I agree completely!

And Coakley's claim that there are no longer any terrorists in Afghanistan probably didn't help her cause, either.

[UGAalum94]

One of the things I think is entertaining about this campaign is watching the right-y bloggers that I read try to find the right amount of enthusiasm.

First, they don't know how realistic chances for the win are and then they have to constantly keep themselves from overheating by reminding themselves that he's likely to be a liberal Republican, but they'll definitely take what they can get in Massachusetts.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

One of the things I think is entertaining about this campaign is watching the right-y bloggers that I read try to find the right amount of enthusiasm.

First, they don't know how realistic chances for the win are and then they have to constantly keep themselves from overheating by reminding themselves that he's likely to be a liberal Republican, but they'll definitely take what they can get in Massachusetts.

He's not that liberal though...he's conservative on economics, gun rights, the death penalty, and on marriage laws (i.e. he thinks marriage should be limited to a man and a woman).

He's not on the far right, but he's definitely not a liberal Republican.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

He's not that liberal though...he's conservative on economics, gun rights, the death penalty, and on marriage laws (i.e. he thinks marriage should be limited to a man and a woman).

He's not on the far right, but he's definitely not a liberal Republican.

I wasn't thinking so much that he was actually liberal in comparison to the whole electorate, just in comparison conservative bloggers.

ETA: I haven't looked at his record at all really before today. The bloggers weren't anti-Brown at all, but were just noting kind of where things stood that the right was this fired up over a fairly moderate guy and was it wise to be.

[AGDee]

People do that with Michigan as well. They forget that most of the geographic state is red, but the part that is blue has the highest population. We had a Republican for 8 years before our current Democratic Governor. We went Reagan. Our state congress is Republican. Yet, people think we're totally blue.

[ThetaPrincess24]

Originally Posted by AGDee

People do that with Michigan as well. They forget that most of the geographic state is red, but the part that is blue has the highest population. We had a Republican for 8 years before our current Democratic Governor. We went Reagan. Our state congress is Republican. Yet, people think we're totally blue.

I think it comes from Detroit. When I see Michigan on TV regarding politics or the economy the focus is always on Detroit. Detroit is a part of Michigan...not all of Michigan.

[Ghostwriter]

"In Scott Brown we have an irresponsible, homophobic, racist, reactionary, ex-nude model, teabagging supporter of violence against woman and against politicians with whom he disagrees," MSNBC host Keith Olbermann said.

Wow! What happened to the "liberal" mantra of "Peace, Love and Understanding"?

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by Ghostwriter

"In Scott Brown we have an irresponsible, homophobic, racist, reactionary, ex-nude model, teabagging supporter of violence against woman and against politicians with whom he disagrees," MSNBC host Keith Olbermann said.

Wow! What happened to the "liberal" mantra of "Peace, Love and Understanding"?

Olbermann isn't a serious newsman (not that he ever claimed to be), but simply a talking head pushing his own agenda. That doesn't make him any worse than a Bill O'Reilly figure, but it also means that we don't have to give much serious thought to his commentary.

[Ghostwriter]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

Olbermann isn't a serious newsman (not that he ever claimed to be), but simply a talking head pushing his own agenda. That doesn't make him any worse than a Bill O'Reilly figure, but it also means that we don't have to give much serious thought to his commentary.

I agree that Olberman is not a newsperson but he is a commentator/pundit with his own show. I see no reason why he should not have been called to the carpet for these comments.

^^^The term teabaggers/teabagging is offensive to me. Maybe others think it is funny but really. I would never stir up stink about people using the term but it is crass and uncalled for.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by Ghostwriter

"In Scott Brown we have an irresponsible, homophobic, racist, reactionary, ex-nude model, teabagging supporter of violence against woman and against politicians with whom he disagrees," MSNBC host Keith Olbermann said.

Wow! What happened to the "liberal" mantra of "Peace, Love and Understanding"?

I can't wait until the Teaparty goes away just so I don't have to hear this anymore. I know I work with mostly men and all, but does anybody else think nasty thoughts when they read this?

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

I can't wait until the Teaparty goes away just so I don't have to hear this anymore. I know I work with mostly men and all, but does anybody else think nasty thoughts when they read this?

So you fault the Tea Party for the inappropriate nickname that their opponents use?

(No doubt you may have ideological issues with the Tea Party as well, but as far as the immature name calling, it kind of seems like you're blaming the victims.)

[AGDee]

The media story I saw about it yesterday morning implied that this is essentially an election about national health care and that, since Massachusetts already has their own health plan, many are against national health care. What do those closer to this state think of this analysis?