Patterico's Pontifications

1/8/2010

Political Timing (Updated x2)

Filed under: Health Care,Obama,Politics — DRJ @ 8:58 pm



[Guest post by DRJ]

Massachusetts has scheduled a special election for January 19, 2010, to replace Senator Ted Kennedy. Democrat Martha Coakley will face Republican Scott Brown. Coakley leads but Brown is narrowing the gap in this traditionally blue state. However, if Brown should win, Democratic leaders may prolong certification of the election so his vote won’t impact Obama’s health care reform plans:

“The U.S. Senate ultimately will schedule the swearing-in of Kirk’s successor, but not until the state certifies the election.

Today, a spokesman for Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin, who is overseeing the election but did not respond to a call seeking comment, said certification of the Jan. 19 election by the Governor’s Council would take a while.

“Because it’s a federal election,” spokesman Brian McNiff said. “We’d have to wait 10 days for absentee and military ballots to come in.”

Another source told the Herald that Galvin’s office has said the election won’t be certified until Feb. 20 – well after the president’s address.

Since the U.S. Senate doesn’t meet again in formal session until Jan. 20, Bay State voters will have made their decision before a vote on health-care reform could be held. But [current Senator Paul] Kirk and Galvin’s office said today a victorious Brown would be left in limbo.

In contrast, Rep. Niki Tsongas (D-Lowell) was sworn in at the U.S. House of Representatives on Oct. 18, 2007, just two days after winning a special election to replace Martin Meehan. In that case, Tsongas made it to Capitol Hill in time to override a presidential veto of the expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program.”

H/T Hot Air.

— DRJ

UPDATE: William A. Jacobson at Leg*al In*sur*rec*tion looks into whether SEIU is behind some anti-Brown push-polling in Massachusetts.

UPDATE 2: Via GatewayPundit, Brown appeared on Sean Hannity tonight and promised to be the 41st vote against ObamaCare.

61 Responses to “Political Timing (Updated x2)”

  1. fascist whores

    happyfeet (e9e587)

  2. Barack Obama has unleashed something very very ugly on our little country.

    I think he might could be evil. I really do.

    happyfeet (e9e587)

  3. The House and the Senate have been trending authoritarian for a while now. Hard to argue you live in a free country when your legislature is run by two thin-skinned control freaks.

    chaos (9c54c6)

  4. Thanks for bringing up the Tsongas business. Isn’t it interesting how “..that’s different..” is the watchword of these leftists?

    I mean, it’s not hypocrisy when they do this sort of thing, somehow. And I think that they should have to defend it and explain why it isn’t hypocrisy.

    The thing that the Left forgets about all this, is that these actions provide a precedent for Republicans to do exactly the same.

    Except the Right isn’t as hypocritical and venal. Now, many on the Left will shriek and carry on at that statement. But I think that the RNC needs to come up with a long list of dishonest behaviors since the Democrats took over. It’s a long list, and it is difficult for leftists to argue about it.

    Especially as more time goes on.

    Kind of like that whole “CNN will televise the Health Care Bill negotiations,” right? Whoops.

    Eric Blair (ddbceb)

  5. Let them try!

    I can see the ads now…

    Patricia (b05e7f)

  6. The thing that the Left forgets about all this, is that these actions provide a precedent for Republicans to do exactly the same.

    Except that MA is the state that changed the law regarding how senate vacancies are filled. And then changed it again a few years later. All to benefit the Dems.

    I expect the Democrats to file suit unless Brown wins over 90% of the vote on election night.

    MU789 (514c52)

  7. Oh, I think they will try, Patricia. Didn’t you see Pelosi smirk about POTUS’ CNN promises?

    Their justification? “I won.”

    Boy I hope we can throw a lot of the bums out. Fingers crossed.

    Eric Blair (ddbceb)

  8. I think that Hugh Hewitt had a book out a few years ago titled: “They Can’t Cheat If It’s Not Close.”

    The only thing that can save the Democrats, I think, is apathy. And there is a lot of it to go around.

    Eric Blair (ddbceb)

  9. how many dead voters are there in Taxachusetts?

    redc1c4 (fb8750)

  10. I think that Hugh Hewitt had a book out a few years ago titled: “They Can’t Cheat If It’s Not Close.”

    Ah, the heady days of 2005 when a “realignment election” had just happened and Karl Rove was going to rule America for decades…

    chaos (9c54c6)

  11. I’ve updated the post on anti-Brown push-polling.

    DRJ (84a0c3)

  12. I updated it again regarding Brown’s promise that, if elected, he will be the 41st vote against ObamaCare.

    DRJ (84a0c3)

  13. Ah, SEIU. Say no more. The soul of ACORN, beating protestors, voting fraud, and ‘he migh be in a hate group’ smears.

    Why the GOP doesn’t make a huge issue out of this is completely beyond me. at least put them on the defensive. We have them on tape beating down a man. Unions are part of the major long-term problem in this country. The GOP keeps helping Hollywood keep much stronger IP rights than would be necessary, and rarely takes a stand against organized crime unions.

    I’m sure there is a great short term justification for this long term oversight.

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  14. After I saw this, I went and read reader comments at both the Globe and the Herald. Even at the Herald, they agree this is slimey. These bombastic buffoons need to realize that I am among many that at one time, not very long ago, watched their local, and the presidential elections, but, no elections geographically far-reaching. No More. Done. And I mean Done. I am off to donate to Brown….again.

    sybilll (a863a7)

  15. Senator Kirk’s interim appointment ends immediately on the day the special election is held, no matter who turns out to be the winner.

    Official Internet Data Office (2748b2)

  16. “America is at that awkward stage.
    It’s too late to work within the system,
    but too early to shoot the bastards.”

    BUUUUUULLLLLLLLSSSSSSHHHHHHHIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTT!!!!

    TC (0b9ca4)

  17. OIDO, that seems to be the law. We’ll see how that works out. I don’t think Brown’s going to win anyway, and this may be an attempt to dispirit the GOP from turning out to vote. They are playing as dirty as humanly possible, and have already broken law in the recent endorsement from the interim Senator.

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  18. Why aint Romney out pulling on some bed sheets for Brown?

    TC (0b9ca4)

  19. Why aint Romney out pulling on some bed sheets for Brown?

    Cus he’s a weenie

    honestly if someone had just told mccain obama called him a honky and pissed him off mccain woulda got the job done

    now we gota hope mrs palin stops getting into little snits with the proles and starts actually laying the groundwork for running for the presidency all the country needs is a candidate who has some balls

    i mean id take cheney but hell yeah thatd be fine actually period

    chaos (9c54c6)

  20. MoveOn.org sent out a letter screaming “wolf” and asking for money….
    Dear MoveOn member,

    In 11 days, we could lose progressive hero Ted Kennedy’s Senate seat—and with it, any hope for passing major progressive legislation this year.

    A new poll Tuesday showed Democrat Martha Coakley’s lead in the special election to succeed Kennedy is at the edge of the margin of error, and the non-partisan Cook Political Report now says it’s very competitive.1 And today, some of the people behind the infamous Swift Boat and racist Willie Horton ads are spending $400,000 on a new attack ad. Republican Scott Brown and his extreme right-wing supporters are significantly outspending Coakley on TV.2

    A Republican victory here would be a catastrophe—Democrats would lose their 60th vote in the Senate, health care could die, and the Republicans could block pretty much anything they want.

    We can’t let a right-winger take over Ted Kennedy’s seat because not enough progressives are paying attention. Coakley urgently needs help before it’s too late. Your contribution in the next 24 hours will help her expand her all-out campaign for victory. Can you contribute $5 to Coakley’s campaign right away?
    -link here-
    Martha Coakley will carry on Ted Kennedy’s progressive legacy. In endorsing Coakley, Vicki Kennedy, Ted Kennedy’s wife, said, “My husband fought for healthcare reform for more than 40 years. Martha Coakley shares those critical beliefs.” Coakley has also been outspoken against restrictions in the bill on women’s right to choose.3

    As Massachusetts Attorney General, Coakley was aggressive in challenging the Wall Street titans who helped bring on the financial crisis, and she recovered tens of millions of dollars for taxpayers and victims of Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch, and UBS for their deceptive activities.4 She’ll be a strong fighter in Washington for tough regulations on the financial industry.

    And Republican Scott Brown? He’s a “free enterprise advocate”5 who thinks the system works just fine. But he’s giving Coakley a serious challenge. He promised, “As the 41st senator I can stop a lot of this stuff in its tracks….I can actually force them to go back to the drawing board.”6 And there are rumors that the Republican Party and the Club for Growth will also begin attack ads on Coakley soon.

    And the race is further confused by the presence of a 3rd candidate, named Joe Kennedy, who isn’t related to Ted Kennedy, but is a tea-party extremist. Martha Coakley needs our help to cut through the clutter and get her message out—on TV, at the doors, and on the phones.

    At this moment, when Ted Kennedy’s greatest goal in life is within reach, we cannot afford to let Republican extremists snatch away his legacy. Can you help with an urgent contribution of $5? Click here:

    redc1c4 (fb8750)

  21. How dare someone named Kennedy, but not related to John F Kennedy, run for office? That’s disgusting! And he’s a TEA Party supporter? Why, how dare he ask not what his country can do for him!

    It’s amazing how moveon keeps talking about Ted Kennedy in that seat. There’s something sick about a place that thinks this seat is Ted’s. That shit wouldn’t fly in Texas. I can’t imagine someone saying ‘How dare this democrat try to run for Rick Perry’s mansion!’

    But in Mass. this really is like the voters deciding who will inherit poor Ted’s old office. Moveon doesn’t think this office belongs to the people, including TEA party supporters (numerous even in Massachusetts). It belongs to a rich democrat family.

    Even from a liberal’s perspective, it’s not a persuasive letter. All the have against Brown is that he’s a “right winger”, and all they have for Coakley is some kind of vague endorsement from Ted’s wife (permission to bequeath). Damn uncompelling.

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  22. Amusing that it’s so fascist to use legal stalling procedures to make it hard for someone to be the 41’st vote against something.

    [note: fished from spam filter. –Stashiu]

    imdw (e41223)

  23. Every single part of the Democrats’ push for this legislation involves dishonesty.

    Every single part.

    At no time have the Democrats truthfully described the legislation’s content, impact, cost, nor have they even followed the mandated House and Senate procedures.

    They can’t get their bill honestly and they know it.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  24. nor have they even followed the mandated House and Senate procedures.

    The Constitution says the House and Senate get to set their own rules. If the House and Senate violate their own rules to pass a law, does that make their actions unconstitutional?

    John Hitchcock (3fd153)

  25. that’s not amusing Mr. imdw things what are amusing include pumpkin pancakes and Katherine Heigl and pachinko machines but not noble if futile efforts to halt the descent of our little country into the suffocating embrace of dehumanizing dirty socialist penury

    happyfeet (e9e587)

  26. “The Constitution says the House and Senate get to set their own rules. If the House and Senate violate their own rules to pass a law, does that make their actions unconstitutional?”

    Or does that make their actions in conformity with the constitution that says the house and senate get to decide on their own without outside intervention?

    imdw (8f8ead)

  27. Dems Plan To Disenfranchise Massachusetts Voters If Brown Wins!…

    If you want evidence that the Democrats will engage in all manners of corruption to pass their risky health care scheme, here it is. Massachusetts Democrats, who already changed the rules in the middle of the game in order to……

    Rhymes With Right (a60b40)

  28. I see that good old imdw continues his nonsense trolling. And it is trolling for this simple fact: what would the press and the Left say if the Right had a majority and was using precisely this kind of approach to push for an anti-abortion bill?

    Why, we would hear no end of the hypocrisy! The unfairness! The outrage over the partisanship.

    Not like the crickets we hear now, or the fatuous defenses by undergraduate debate team types.

    But now, when this kind of hypocrisy is about things imdw likes, well, boy howdy this is just how politics works.

    “I won,” apparently.

    But it is sad to hear people who claim to be about fairness and social justice defend this kind of Chicago hackery. But not surprising.

    Eric Blair (ddbceb)

  29. Leaving goofy trolls aside, the Left needs to remember a basic fact: the best kinds of rules and laws are those you would not mind in the hands of your bitterest political enemies.

    Because pendulums swing. Sort of like the polls suggest currently.

    Eric Blair (ddbceb)

  30. Article 1, Section 5, Paragraph 2 of the Constitution:

    Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behavior, and, with the Concurrence of two-thirds, expel a Member.

    (I have the link to the Constitution and the Declaration in my sidebar.)

    It shows here that the Houses make their rules. What is understood (to most people) is that “rules is rules” in that the Houses can make the rules but cannot violate the rules once made. And that goes to my point of inquiry. If Congress violates its own rules to pass a law, has Congress acted unconstitutionally?

    John Hitchcock (3fd153)

  31. This is a fitting tribute to a state — to an ultra-blue state — chock full of limousine liberals:

    Los Angeles Times, October 2009:

    Three years ago, Massachusetts passed the most sweeping healthcare bill in the country, adopting a plan that closely resembles the proposals being considered by Congress. It is a plan that now offers powerful lessons for the whole nation.

    …[S]ome Massachusetts residents who buy coverage are paying less. But insurance premiums for most residents are going up, not down. Many middle-class people who had insurance before the overhaul see little change — except that they’re spending more. They’re seeing little or no difference in the quality of their care.

    In crafting their plan, Massachusetts lawmakers ducked the tough issues of cost control, including how much public and private insurers would pay physicians and hospitals. So the state still has some of the most expensive medical care in the U.S. And costs are rising faster than the national average. Far faster than wages too.

    Beyond the topic of healthcare, while a percentage of conservatives/Republicans in a variety of the 50 states of America would be as legislatively corrupt and constitutionally tricky (or dishonest) as the liberals/Democrats of Masschussetts have been in the way that US senators are chosen or elected by their state, I don’t believe they’d be quite so shameless and brazen. That’s why corruption — not to mention dumbed-down standards — is far more likely to be tolerated and even flourish when people of the left are running things.

    Mark (411533)

  32. Scott Brown seems to be a good man; Barack Obama, not so much.

    Old Coot (d2bd0f)

  33. You get the inpression that all Democrats do is lie,cheat or steal?

    On second thought, it’s very likely to be the truth.

    bill-tb (541ea9)

  34. #30 John Hitchcock:

    If Congress violates its own rules to pass a law, has Congress acted unconstitutionally?

    Frequently.

    EW1(SG) (edc268)

  35. “It shows here that the Houses make their rules. What is understood (to most people) is that “rules is rules” in that the Houses can make the rules but cannot violate the rules once made. And that goes to my point of inquiry. If Congress violates its own rules to pass a law, has Congress acted unconstitutionally?”

    Remember all the GOP talk of ‘nuclear options’ ? that was about violating — i mean, changing — the rules once made.

    I think they should have done it.

    imdw (f7b257)

  36. Say, when do classes start, imdw?

    Eric Blair (ddbceb)

  37. Middle schools are on snow break probably.

    Techie (43d092)

  38. Comment by imdw

    You are such a fucking idiot.

    You could do the world a favor and stop using the resources required to post your comments.

    EW1(SG) (edc268)

  39. No, imdw, the GOP talk was all about using the rules to their advantage to the best of their ability. Do try to keep up, will you?

    John Hitchcock (3fd153)

  40. No, imdw, the GOP talk was all about using the rules to their advantage to the best of their ability. The GOP doesn’t even have to power to circumvent any rules, or even to prevent the Dems from violating rules. Do try to keep up, will you?

    John Hitchcock (3fd153)

  41. Assuming that the election isn’t lost in recounts (e.g. MN), any attempt to artificially prevent a duly elected Senator from taking his seat while other business is rushed through will be seen, correctly, as illegitimate.

    What will happen is this: The Senate Republicans (and possibly the House Republicans) will all fly home, while stating that ANY business that the Senate conducts while a non-Senator is voting will forever be considered null and void by the Republican Party.

    Great political theater and impossible for the media to ignore. Fox will refer to the Rump Senate, CNN will have endless discussions pro and con, and MSNBC will go on about how special elections really don’t measure the “real” voters’ mood.

    And, instead of reducing partisanship, Reid, Pelosi and Obama will have turned the dials up to 11 or 12. The center will not look kindly on that, or indeed the notion of dissing the voters’ will.

    Kevin Murphy (3c3db0)

  42. “No, imdw, the GOP talk was all about using the rules to their advantage to the best of their ability.”

    The nuclear option? that was about changing the rules on filibusters.

    imdw (7c85b9)

  43. imdw, whatever Harry Reid thinks the Senate rules do or do not allow, failure to seat a clearly elected Senator, and letting a shill vote in his stead, just won’t fly. Might as well be caught stuffing ballot boxes for all the public support he’ll get.

    Except of course from idiots.

    Kevin Murphy (3c3db0)

  44. Well, I for one can’t wait until imdw gets back to his classes.

    Or puts on a paper hat.

    Either one.

    Eric Blair (ddbceb)

  45. And, frankly, Paul Kirk could see himself up on civil rights charges should he vote as a Senator after he’s been replaced. Even if it take until 2013 to bring the charges.

    Kevin Murphy (3c3db0)

  46. Since at most times his head is up his backside, he seems to have a “paper hat” on quite a lot.

    AD - RtR/OS! (946807)

  47. The nuclear option? that was about changing the rules on filibusters.
    Comment by imdw — 1/9/2010 @ 1:58 pm

    Which is different than just ignoring rules when they become inconvenient.

    Stashiu3 (44da70)

  48. ” Which is different than just ignoring rules when they become inconvenient.”

    So they’ll change them instead of ignoring them? Ok.

    imdw (241c75)

  49. Now Brown is even with Coakley!

    Was there this much passion and angst when Clinton was elected, before the GOP took Congress back? I just sort of oblivious, working, etc. My Republican CPA laughed out loud at me when I asked for my middle class Clinton tax cuts the April after the election…

    This is kind of exciting.

    Patricia (b05e7f)

  50. In ’94, the conventional, inside-the-beltway, wisdom was that it was impossible for the GOP to take back the House after wandering in the wilderness for fourty years; after all, Bob Michel was a go-along-to-get-along leader, and Newt was a bomb-thrower – all of the effective politicians were on the Dem side of the aisle.
    Then, Newt and Dick Armey launched the “Contract With America”, nationalized the election, and the rest is history.

    AD - RtR/OS! (946807)

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