WBZ reports the governor blanked the top of his ballot because he hates Trump but couldn't bring himself to vote for the Democrat. He had earlier said he would vote for the Trumpie who will be losing in a landslide to Sen. Ed Markey.
But, of course, the guy would only be in office for six months or so, because state law requires the governor to call a special election for a longer term replacement (which is how we initially got Markey after Kerry became secretary of state).
Even if he is one of the "good" ones. He will never go against the Republican machine - he endorsed Susan Collins (who then voted for Amy Coney Barrett), he will not vote against trump, and if given the chance, he will appoint a Republican to the Senate. Although Baker has been a decent governor for Massachusetts, he is not to be trusted, certainly not at the national level.
I confused her votes for Kavanaugh and Gorsuch with her vote against Barrett. But my point remains the same - she helped create the far-right Supreme Court we not have (voting against Barrett only after Barrett's victory was sealed and only to save her own seat). And Charlie Baker is still a Republican.
Imho, Amy Coney Barrett sounds like an extremely dangerous person. The fact that Donald Trump confirmed her nomination to the SCOTUS even before the Election took place is typical of how arrogant, egotistic, and bullying he is. He doesn't even give a shit about his supporters, who he's succeeded in fooling into thinking that he does care about them, when, in fact, he doesn't.
I have read that the MA leg will once again change the rules on Senate vacancy appoints and require Baker to pick a member of the vacating Senator’s party to replace her or him. And I am told that the Dems feel they have a veto proof majority on this.
(I do not have a source handy for this so take it as you will. I could be wrong.)
When we were all super confident Mitt Romney would be appointing President-elect John Kerry's Senate successor, the leg changed the laws on how replacements are appointed. It then changed the law again in 2009.
The guy is a republican. He's never claimed to be anything else. So it isn't surprising or newsworthy that he's supporting the republican candidates for other offices and not supporting Biden.
If people wanted a Democrat to govern Massachusetts, they should have voted for one. Baker has had 4 years to leave the GOP if he was so inclined.
When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to speak up. You have to say something; you have to do something.
That Charlie Baker calls himself a leader and acknowledges that Trump is tragically unfit for the Presidency but plainly refuses to take action is irresponsible. It says that he sees the current state of the economy and the pandemic but won’t take action to change the leadership in Washington. It says that he is fine with the status quo. It’s like seeing a car on fire but choosing not to call 911 because you believe other citizens will do that work for you. Lame.
No, it’s not principled to blank the ballot in this election. I know some here will make the case that a blank ballot is a valid choice, but there is only one candidate who uses his platform to amplify white supremacy, who has admitted to sexual assault, who is credibly accused of rape, who has courted and accepted foreign interference in our election, who intentionally inflicted psychological trauma on immigrant families and children via his border seperation policies, who abuses our courts to suppress legitimate voting rights, who failed in spectacular fashion in fighting a pandemic, who crashed the economy and lost more jobs than any other modern president. No, both choices are not “equally as unacceptable” in any sane framing of today’s election.
Yes, one vote is statistically insignificant and we have the vote-suppressing undemocratic Electoral College rendering millions of votes irrelevant, but a vote is a declaration of values. Baker abdicates personal responsibility and is fine with the values embodied by Trump occupying power for 4 more years.
Of course, the nakedly transparent reason for Baker to publicly announce that he blanked his ballot is because he is running for a 3rd term (or maybe Senate) and wants RNC money. If he publicly voted for Biden, that sweet, sweet RNC money that Baker has been raising for Washington for years does not get kickbacked to his campaign, rather it will go to what ever MAGA parody the state GOP can dig up to challenge him. Enjoy your MAGA money, Charlie.
just when I was starting to really enjoy my unaffiliated status (which I would describe as "liberal realist") and say nice things about a few Republicans–specifically, Charlie and Mitt–they both have to up and be complete cowards.
At least they were kind enough to remind me of why I loathe partisan politics.
So you don't like partisan politics but you only want to support people who vote for your preferred party? That's the very definition of partisan politics.
If you think Baker is doing a good job (or bad job) what's it matter who he is personally voting for?
I don't really care for Biden or establishment Dems in general. Part of why I left. And every regular here knows how much I detest Marty Walsh.
Biden was my 4th choice at best for the ticket, and Harris was near the bottom of my list. But Donald Trump is a dangerous cancer to this country, and the world. If you're taking a stand to not vote for him, especially as a Republican, you go all the way. You don't stand up there and talk the talk without walking the walk. The current COVID situation in the country is a great example of what happens when you take half-measures.
Back to Biden. Assuming he takes care of the Trump problem this year, 2024 is a clean slate for me personally. IMO, Romney is gearing up to throw his name back in for 2024, and I'd have been willing to give him my consideration. Until he voted to confirm Barrett, and with it Republican hypocrisy on confirming a Justice in an election year. Again, he talked a big game, but in the end he fell in line with the party instead of doing the right thing.
is going blue with or without his vote, and if Biden loses, Charlie still has to work with Twitler. Maybe not the battle to pick. (Baker turned out to be a lot better than I'd expected, so I'm feeling generous here.)
Adding to the list of reprehensible Trump behavior in my comment upthread, the administration confiscated PPE equipment that the Baker administration ordered because Kushner et. al. wanted to ratf*ck blue states and they didn’t have enough of their own in the strategic stockpile.
I can’t imagine a “Trump is awful and I blanked the ballot” is an olive branch that moves any needle in the executive branch. And I hope there is no way Baker will trust the administration ever again. I do, however, think it’s all about access to future RNC election funds.
Seems like the weather balloon Biden's campaign sent up last week about possibly considering Baker for a spot in the administration didn't get a positive response.
Comments
Profiles In Courage
Just when I start to kinda like the guy...
right?
I'm like..
Joe Biden offered you a job in his cabinet while Trump crapped on you multiple times, and you still won't for Biden?
But to be fair, at least Charlie is consistent. He didn't vote for Trump in 2016 either. I'll give him that at least.
Coward
According to him, he didn't vote in 2016 either. How is this guy allegedly so popular?
Because...
...dry toast isn't offensive. His philosophy is make no waves and you won't capsize.
So if Warren goes into Biden cabinet...
he's going to replace her with Shiva?
Bill Weld
He will throw a Republican in there to tip the senate back.
No need to tip it "back"...
...unfortunately.
And Warren won't get a cabinet position.
No, but he might try the Trump guy from Dover
But, of course, the guy would only be in office for six months or so, because state law requires the governor to call a special election for a longer term replacement (which is how we initially got Markey after Kerry became secretary of state).
After all, he is a Republican...
Even if he is one of the "good" ones. He will never go against the Republican machine - he endorsed Susan Collins (who then voted for Amy Coney Barrett), he will not vote against trump, and if given the chance, he will appoint a Republican to the Senate. Although Baker has been a decent governor for Massachusetts, he is not to be trusted, certainly not at the national level.
She actually didn't vote for
She actually didn't vote for ACB, but it seems like it was mostly a ploy to not completely destroy her chances of re-election
You are certainly entitled to not like Susan Collins
But lying about her damages your credibility. She was the only Republican to vote against confirming ACB.
Sorry, you are correct
I confused her votes for Kavanaugh and Gorsuch with her vote against Barrett. But my point remains the same - she helped create the far-right Supreme Court we not have (voting against Barrett only after Barrett's victory was sealed and only to save her own seat). And Charlie Baker is still a Republican.
Amy Coney Barrett--a dangerous person, imho.
Imho, Amy Coney Barrett sounds like an extremely dangerous person. The fact that Donald Trump confirmed her nomination to the SCOTUS even before the Election took place is typical of how arrogant, egotistic, and bullying he is. He doesn't even give a shit about his supporters, who he's succeeded in fooling into thinking that he does care about them, when, in fact, he doesn't.
Veto proof legislation
I have read that the MA leg will once again change the rules on Senate vacancy appoints and require Baker to pick a member of the vacating Senator’s party to replace her or him. And I am told that the Dems feel they have a veto proof majority on this.
(I do not have a source handy for this so take it as you will. I could be wrong.)
I can't imagine that such
I can't imagine that such legislation would have a snowball's chance in hell of passing muster on constitutional grounds (either state or federal).
The leg changes the appointment laws frequently
When we were all super confident Mitt Romney would be appointing President-elect John Kerry's Senate successor, the leg changed the laws on how replacements are appointed. It then changed the law again in 2009.
https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2009/sep/24/massachusetts-legislat...
A certain party got hoist on
A certain party got hoist on their own petard sometime around then or soon after, if I recall correctly.
Special election within 145-160 days of the vacancy
Baker would appoint a caretaker until the election was held
https://malegislature.gov/laws/generallaws/parti/titleviii/chapter54/sec...
I don't get this fascination
The guy is a republican. He's never claimed to be anything else. So it isn't surprising or newsworthy that he's supporting the republican candidates for other offices and not supporting Biden.
If people wanted a Democrat to govern Massachusetts, they should have voted for one. Baker has had 4 years to leave the GOP if he was so inclined.
right?? like... play
right?? like... play republican games, win republican prizes
I don't get the fascination
with the "need to know" how other people vote.
He's not just an "other person"
He's a public figure. He could have refused to answer, but he didn't, so we're entitled to judge him as the weakling coward he is.
So irresponsible
The late John Lewis said:
That Charlie Baker calls himself a leader and acknowledges that Trump is tragically unfit for the Presidency but plainly refuses to take action is irresponsible. It says that he sees the current state of the economy and the pandemic but won’t take action to change the leadership in Washington. It says that he is fine with the status quo. It’s like seeing a car on fire but choosing not to call 911 because you believe other citizens will do that work for you. Lame.
No, it’s not principled to blank the ballot in this election. I know some here will make the case that a blank ballot is a valid choice, but there is only one candidate who uses his platform to amplify white supremacy, who has admitted to sexual assault, who is credibly accused of rape, who has courted and accepted foreign interference in our election, who intentionally inflicted psychological trauma on immigrant families and children via his border seperation policies, who abuses our courts to suppress legitimate voting rights, who failed in spectacular fashion in fighting a pandemic, who crashed the economy and lost more jobs than any other modern president. No, both choices are not “equally as unacceptable” in any sane framing of today’s election.
Yes, one vote is statistically insignificant and we have the vote-suppressing undemocratic Electoral College rendering millions of votes irrelevant, but a vote is a declaration of values. Baker abdicates personal responsibility and is fine with the values embodied by Trump occupying power for 4 more years.
Of course, the nakedly transparent reason for Baker to publicly announce that he blanked his ballot is because he is running for a 3rd term (or maybe Senate) and wants RNC money. If he publicly voted for Biden, that sweet, sweet RNC money that Baker has been raising for Washington for years does not get kickbacked to his campaign, rather it will go to what ever MAGA parody the state GOP can dig up to challenge him. Enjoy your MAGA money, Charlie.
Once a Republican
always a Republican.
You know...
just when I was starting to really enjoy my unaffiliated status (which I would describe as "liberal realist") and say nice things about a few Republicans–specifically, Charlie and Mitt–they both have to up and be complete cowards.
At least they were kind enough to remind me of why I loathe partisan politics.
Hold on
So you don't like partisan politics but you only want to support people who vote for your preferred party? That's the very definition of partisan politics.
If you think Baker is doing a good job (or bad job) what's it matter who he is personally voting for?
I have no preferred party
I don't really care for Biden or establishment Dems in general. Part of why I left. And every regular here knows how much I detest Marty Walsh.
Biden was my 4th choice at best for the ticket, and Harris was near the bottom of my list. But Donald Trump is a dangerous cancer to this country, and the world. If you're taking a stand to not vote for him, especially as a Republican, you go all the way. You don't stand up there and talk the talk without walking the walk. The current COVID situation in the country is a great example of what happens when you take half-measures.
Back to Biden. Assuming he takes care of the Trump problem this year, 2024 is a clean slate for me personally. IMO, Romney is gearing up to throw his name back in for 2024, and I'd have been willing to give him my consideration. Until he voted to confirm Barrett, and with it Republican hypocrisy on confirming a Justice in an election year. Again, he talked a big game, but in the end he fell in line with the party instead of doing the right thing.
Backing up your words with actions is everything.
i wrote my own name in.
i wrote my own name in.
Perhaps Nobody can return the favor
And vote for Charlie Baker.
Not brave, but perhaps strategic? The Commonwealth
is going blue with or without his vote, and if Biden loses, Charlie still has to work with Twitler. Maybe not the battle to pick. (Baker turned out to be a lot better than I'd expected, so I'm feeling generous here.)
Covid PPE confiscation
Adding to the list of reprehensible Trump behavior in my comment upthread, the administration confiscated PPE equipment that the Baker administration ordered because Kushner et. al. wanted to ratf*ck blue states and they didn’t have enough of their own in the strategic stockpile.
I can’t imagine a “Trump is awful and I blanked the ballot” is an olive branch that moves any needle in the executive branch. And I hope there is no way Baker will trust the administration ever again. I do, however, think it’s all about access to future RNC election funds.
Meanwhile, in Vermont:
Meanwhile, in Vermont:
https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/2020-election...
Name the last Republican that
Name the last Republican that had any balls..... Go ahead, I'll wait.
Eisenhower?
.
Paul LePage
He might not have had the policy views you liked, but you have to admit, his cajones were big.
Cajones are drawers, boxes or
Cajones are drawers, boxes or crates
Cojones is the word you are looking for
Respetuosamente,
To be fair
That kind of language error is a tip to the former governor.
And though I probably could not have spelled it right, it did feel like I misspelled it when I typed it.
Equating courage with male genitalia...
...may, just may, be part of the problem.
Larry Hogan, the governor of Maryland:
Larry Hogan, the governor of Maryland, is a Republican who seems to be pretty sensible and responsible, regarding the lockdowns in his state.
Larry Hogan
The governor who basically did the exact same thing Governor Baker did, with the same results.
He can't win the Republican
He can't win the Republican nomination in 2024 if he voted for Biden. It is that simple. Blanking is a dodge that allows him to still run in 2024.
Seems like the weather
Seems like the weather balloon Biden's campaign sent up last week about possibly considering Baker for a spot in the administration didn't get a positive response.