Romney did something last night that I didn’t expect him to do, and obviously Obama didn’t expect him to do. He suddenly became the moderate Massachusetts governor again.Michael Tomasky, chalking Romney’s success last night up to the adoption (or re-adoption) of a moderate political ideology. In returning to his circa-2002 policy positions, Romney “disavowed or contradicted virtually everything he’s been saying for the past 18 months,” Tomasky says, citing Romney’s stated positions on preexisting conditions, taxes, Medicaid and school funding. source
The Massachusetts Senate race is shaping up to be one of the closest races of 2012, with Brown and Warren consistently running within just a few points of one another. If you missed tonight’s debate, here are two recaps.
It’s time for Democrats to grow a backbone and stand up for what we believe!Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, speaking before the DNC tonight. Consistent with the theme of tonight’s speakers, Patrick is delivering a speech heavy on the fire and bravado, attacking Mitt Romney, his state’s former governor, as having been “more interested in having the job than in doing the job.”
What’s the downside? Jon Stewart getting all serious and haughty? Harry Reid could not care less.A Harry Reid confidante, quoted in Politico • On the majority leader’s recent allegations about Mitt Romney. Stewart called Reid a “really terrible person” for
If they’re not willing to say that — that’s their prerogative — but clearly they’re not Mitt Romney delegates.A national Republican Party leader • Discussing an issue with Republican delegates in Massachusetts — sixteen Ron Paul backers who defeated Mitt Romney’s picks — who were disqualified after failing to file affidavits pledging their support to Romney. The delegates say the affidavits were a ploy, and they were received the forms less than a week before the set deadline. Republican leaders are reportedly concerned that the Paul-supporting delegates may cause trouble at the Tampa convention next month. Paul has officially stopped campaigning, but his supporters hope to make their presence known at the convention.
Back in January, Republican Sen. Scott Brown and his Senate opponent, Elizabeth Warren, signed a pledge to effectively ban or neutralize outside money — saying that they would donate to charity if a group advertised for them or against their opponent. Brown, who faced a tough 2010 special election for this reason, fought for the deal — which was initially seen as a coup for him because of his war chest. But since then, Warren has had one very prime weak spot — her ancestry controversy — that outside groups weren’t able to exploit because of the document above. Plus, she’s become a huge fundraiser in her own right. So Brown is suddenly having regrets. But is this an example that other campaigns can follow?
Was sleep medication the cause? Kerry Kennedy is avoiding the spotlight in the wake of a DUI late last week. Kerry, the daughter of Robert F. Kennedy who was once married to current New York governor Andrew Cuomo, was arrested early Friday in Westchester County, NY after her car smashed into a tractor-trailer. Early reports suggested Ambien was the cause — her cousin, former Rep. Patrick Kennedy, had a similar Ambien-induced incident in 2006. Her blood test results will take a week to come back, however. Kerry’s family had been in the news recently; she allegedly had an emotional reaction to the illegal re-burial of her sister-in-law, Mary Richardson Kennedy, which her family only found out after the burial took place. source
Oprah interviews the Romneys: Miss Winfrey took a trip to Massachusetts this weekend to talk with the Republican presidential candidate and his wife. The interview will run in her “O” Magazine. She remains a strong Obama supporter — an endorsement she first made in 2008, after years of keeping her political views of her media empire. Why haven’t we seen her campaign as hard as she did four years ago? “I will not be out there because I’m trying to fix a network.” source
But seriously … I am not kidding.
I’m not watching all of...
Yahoo wants to buy Hulu now too. They’re going on an “I...
I’m moving back to New York in a few days. Unlike past...
OMG. I got so...
In this week’s Newsweek, a little...
Tumblr this morning. [h/t anne]
#@#$%!.tumblr.com
This non-endorsement pledge is unprecedented and is not being required of any other persons or entities. To us, such a pledge seems inappropriate when a non-media sponsor issues a debate invitation. We can assure both campaigns that the debate will be fair, just as the one we cosponsored between Senator Brown and Attorney General Martha Coakley in 2010 was fair.A statement by the Edward M. Kennedy Institute • Expressing anger over a main condition set by Sen. Scott Brown that he’ll only take part in senatorial debates to be held at the institute on the condition that Vicki Kennedy, Ted Kennedy’s widow who plays a key role in the institute, not endorse anyone in the campaign. Brown’s campaign manager, upon word of this statement, said Brown would decline the offer to debate: “We respect Vicki Kennedy’s decision but we regret that we cannot accept a debate invitation from someone who plans to endorse Scott Brown’s opponent.” (ht sarahlee310)
At the Massachusetts Democratic Convention on Saturday, where Warren won the party’s endorsement with 96 percent of the vote, she said, “I’d love to see some debates with Scott Brown. Let’s start. Let’s get started. I’m ready,” according to the Boston Globe.
Brown countered with specifics on Sunday, telling the Boston Herald, “I would think three or four is probably what we did with Martha [Coakley] last time, so that’s probably about right.”
Warren was silent on the matter until last night, when she agreed to the four debates.
Expect lively debates.
Watch this video. Feel good about Scott Brown. Then, after you’re done watching the clip of the Massachusetts senator draining a three pointer from half-court, know that Democrats in the state are using this as evidence that the Senator is improperly using taxpayer money to shoot campaign videos, as this video was shot by one of his staffers. Now the answer to that is “uh, of course not, because the congressional staffer was just lucky enough to catch Scott Brown shoot an underhand three pointer from half-court.” But Democrats in Massachusetts are facing trouble of their own, with Elizabeth Warren continuing to face questions about whether she improperly claimed to be Native American during her educational career. But maybe you don’t care about any of that. In that case, we recommend you just watch the video. source
How could you Scott Brown? How could you?! (Editor’s note: Looks like he just handed the election to Elizabeth Warren. We bet Scott hangs out at Buck Foston’s.) source
Copyright 2009-2013 Ernie Smith • Ask us stuff! • E-mail us • Follow us on Twitter • Follow us on Facebook
