Faux pas #1
In 2004, Senator John Kerry was running for president. To many, his chances of winning looked good. Good enough that the possible consequence of him leaving his senatorial post began to rattle the nerves of Democrats. At that time, the law allowed the governor to appoint a senator if the seat became vacant. And who was governor in 2004? Mitt Romney, a Republican.
However, the state leglislature was dominated then as it is now by Democrats. What did they do? Take precautionary measures. Change the law so the governor no longer had the option of appointing a U.S. senator. Give the choice to the people! Hold a special election! A good populist move.
Next we have 2009. Senator Kennedy, in failing health, resigns. But Romney is no longer governor. Deval Patrick is governor and he is a Democrat. So it is safe to let the governor appoint a new senator, but wait! He can't! The law was changed to hold a special election! But that can't happen for a few months, and in the meantime the Democrats are one vote short of a super majority in Washington D.C. One vote short and that won't get resolved until the special election to be held between 145 and 160 days after the seat becomes vacant. Now the Democrats may not be able to ram their agenda down the national throat.
But there is a solution! Change the law again! Give appointment power back to the governor! So that is what the Democrats did. The day was saved!
Unfortunately, in spite of all this chicanery, the Democrats proved to be true to their tradition. Their agenda went nowhere.
Faux pas #2
The economy tanked in a very big way. On a massive, even worldwide scale. No matter who made this all happen, the Democrats were in control and had the power to start bailing out the sinking ship. So what did they do? They bailed out the banks who lied, cheated, and purloined on a gigantic scale. In Massachusetts of course they couldn't raid the treasury, so in the midst of very high unemployment and foreclosure rates, they raised the sales tax.
Faux pas #3
Massachusetts has long been dominated by Democrats. Next to the governor, the single most powerful person in the state is the speaker of the house. So for a long time the speaker has been a Democrat. They say power corrupts, and they appear to be right. Three speakers have left in disgrace: Charlie Flaherty, Tom Finneran, Sal DiMasi, in that order. DiMasi is under indictment, along with fellow Democrats former state senator Dianne Wilkerson and Boston Councilman Chuck Turner.
Special Election
So when the special election finally came around after a Democrat was safely installed as interim senator, the Democrat nominee, current Attorney General Martha Coakley, seemed a sure winner. The only competition was an upstart Republican state senator from Wrentham that no one ever heard of, named Scott Brown. But he was no danger to Democrat hegemony in Massachusetts. The voters of Massachusetts haven't voted for a Republican senator for something like 42 years! Why would they do that now? Why indeed.
In 2004, Senator John Kerry was running for president. To many, his chances of winning looked good. Good enough that the possible consequence of him leaving his senatorial post began to rattle the nerves of Democrats. At that time, the law allowed the governor to appoint a senator if the seat became vacant. And who was governor in 2004? Mitt Romney, a Republican.
However, the state leglislature was dominated then as it is now by Democrats. What did they do? Take precautionary measures. Change the law so the governor no longer had the option of appointing a U.S. senator. Give the choice to the people! Hold a special election! A good populist move.
Next we have 2009. Senator Kennedy, in failing health, resigns. But Romney is no longer governor. Deval Patrick is governor and he is a Democrat. So it is safe to let the governor appoint a new senator, but wait! He can't! The law was changed to hold a special election! But that can't happen for a few months, and in the meantime the Democrats are one vote short of a super majority in Washington D.C. One vote short and that won't get resolved until the special election to be held between 145 and 160 days after the seat becomes vacant. Now the Democrats may not be able to ram their agenda down the national throat.
But there is a solution! Change the law again! Give appointment power back to the governor! So that is what the Democrats did. The day was saved!
Unfortunately, in spite of all this chicanery, the Democrats proved to be true to their tradition. Their agenda went nowhere.
Faux pas #2
The economy tanked in a very big way. On a massive, even worldwide scale. No matter who made this all happen, the Democrats were in control and had the power to start bailing out the sinking ship. So what did they do? They bailed out the banks who lied, cheated, and purloined on a gigantic scale. In Massachusetts of course they couldn't raid the treasury, so in the midst of very high unemployment and foreclosure rates, they raised the sales tax.
Faux pas #3
Massachusetts has long been dominated by Democrats. Next to the governor, the single most powerful person in the state is the speaker of the house. So for a long time the speaker has been a Democrat. They say power corrupts, and they appear to be right. Three speakers have left in disgrace: Charlie Flaherty, Tom Finneran, Sal DiMasi, in that order. DiMasi is under indictment, along with fellow Democrats former state senator Dianne Wilkerson and Boston Councilman Chuck Turner.
Special Election
So when the special election finally came around after a Democrat was safely installed as interim senator, the Democrat nominee, current Attorney General Martha Coakley, seemed a sure winner. The only competition was an upstart Republican state senator from Wrentham that no one ever heard of, named Scott Brown. But he was no danger to Democrat hegemony in Massachusetts. The voters of Massachusetts haven't voted for a Republican senator for something like 42 years! Why would they do that now? Why indeed.
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