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Lynch not running for Senate
By adamg on Tue, 09/15/2009 - 11:44am
Channel 7 reports US Rep. Stephen Lynch finds running statewide in 90 days too big a challenge. Doesn't mention getting booed by union members over health care on Labor Day.
So raises the question of what happens if we do lose a congressional seat. Or maybe not: The Legislature is not as liberal as our statewide reputation and it decides where to draw the lines. Frank vs. Lynch?
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Lynch and the Public Health Insurance Option
Now Lynch has to hope the Baucus bill from the Senate Finance Committee is watered down sufficiently so he can vote for it, and thus keep his union support.
Sen. Harken, Kennedy's committee replacement as chair, announced yesterday that bill that comes out of the Senate will have a strong public option. Public Option explained video.
If you support health care reform and a strong public option, call your congressmen and ask if they have taken the pledge to
Olver, John MA-01 202-225-5335
McGovern, James MA-03 202-225-6101
Frank, Barney MA-04 202-225-5931
Tierney, John MA-06 202-225-8020
Markey, Ed MA-07 202-225-2836
Capuano, Michael MA-08 202-225-5111
Lynch, Stephen F. MA-09 202-225-8273
The public option is favored by 66% of US doctors and 77% of all Americans as of June. The number is down to over 50%.
What happened to the massive
What happened to the massive Democratic field we were supposed to see? This went from a Battle Royal to what may be a one on one in December very fast. At least the indy possibilities will make it more interesting come 2010.
Following Teddy
Labor is starting to rev up its pressure on Reps and Senators who aren't supporting a full-fledged health insurance plan. I'm sure this was a big part behind Lynch's decision. Labor is not going to let Kennedy's successor be someone who is seen as lukewarm, at best, on health care for all.
As for the narrowing field, I'm surprised and I'm not. This is everyone's big chance, but there's a huge potential downside: Following Teddy is like being the guy who will follow Tom Brady after he retires.
Many of those who are testing the waters are perfectly respectable candidates, but up against the memory of Kennedy they look smaller than life. It's a really hard act to follow, especially in the aftermath of the near-state funeral accorded to Teddy.
Ted Kennedy was the 29 year
Ted Kennedy was the 29 year old little brother of Jack and Robert Kennedy. At the time of his election he was not well respected.
Fast forward to the day he died, flags fell to half staff almost on their own accord. People who did not even like him flooded into the streets. There were tears in the eyes of hard core republicans and liberals were reduced to blubbering.
I think they all know it will be a tough first 6 years but Teddy showed it is possible to change perceptions as many times as you want if you just give it the old college try.
probably not
I wouldn't look to the Kennedy story as reason to believe that any of the current possibilities have that grander potential. Most are much further into their lives and political careers than Teddy was at 29; we have a much better sense of who they are and will be.
I think Capuano has some of the grassroots worldview that Kennedy, despite his wealth, possessed in abundance. I haven't seen that quality in Coakley, though I haven't followed her career closely. As for the other names bandied about, who knows?
Easy call if we factor in
Easy call if we factor in seniority, which we usually do.