Comments on: Preparing the special election: The House records of 7 Massachusetts Democrats

By: MA-Sen: The Democratic Field - Blogs - NewsSpotz

MA-Sen: The Democratic Field - Blogs - NewsSpotz — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 00:32:47 +0000

[...] Capuano is a member of the Progressive Caucus who voted against the Iraq War and FISA. He has a 97% lifetime rating from the AFL-CIO, has ranged from 90-100% ratings from the League of Conservation Voters, and a 100% rating from Planned Parenthood. In an excellent writeup of the House members who were talked about as potential candidates, Campaign Diaries notes: [...]

By: Taniel

Taniel — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 04:10:28 +0000

I don’t think anyone suggested Capuano or Tierney should be dismissed, Maurice. They both can lay a claim to representing the left in the race (which will make their health care-behavior over the next few months that much more important). That would make them worth following in any primary, let alone one that’s taking place in Massachussetts.

By: Maurice

Maurice — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 03:58:44 +0000

If Nelson isn’t moderate, I don’t know who is…maybe Voinovich has the guts to be moderate now that he’s retiring.

But anyway, I’m not even sure if it is possible to discount Capuano or Tierney. Looking at some quick numbers, forty-nine current Senators were Representatives, and their average tenure was about 8.8 years. And most of the more experienced ones left behind a good subcommittee too. The ones who were in longer than Tierney has been:

Menendez: 13.5
Brown: 14
Durbin: 14
Roberts: 16
Sanders: 16
Snowe: 16
Wyden: 16
Schumer: 18
Cardin: 20

By: Preston

Preston — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 03:36:33 +0000

Yeah, I was just being picky. Of course, to me, none of those other senators are centrist either. Nelson used to be but once he got comfortable in holding his seat he learched to the left.

By: Taniel

Taniel — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 02:29:55 +0000

Preston,

I do not know the detail of Carper’s record off the top of my head - certainly not enough to give you a cogent response, and it’s something that is definitely worth looking into. But it did not seem to me a controversial point to make. I just checked his Progressive Punch rating, and his lifetime score makes him the 52nd Senator on a liberal-to-conservative scale. He is the most conservative Democrats among those who represent blue state; further to the right are only Pryor, Bayh, McCaskill, Lincoln, Landrieu, Baucus and Nelson.

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 00:54:44 +0000

I am glad Martha Coakley was not mentioned. She is not a serious contender. She just announced first to raise her profile but she has no realistic chance of winning if her lightweight image is anything to go by.

By: Maurice

Maurice — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 00:52:21 +0000

As far as I can feel out the field, it appears that any of the caucus members would have bowed to McGovern, but now that he’s basically out, I think Tierney will have the other two’s nod. After all, I’m fairly sure that most put modern liberalism above their own career; in the end, one of the progressives will win with 40 percent with 30 each for Coakley and Lynch.

By: Remainders: Corzine running on his record | Obama Biden White House

Remainders: Corzine running on his record | Obama Biden White House — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 00:43:43 +0000

[...] A handy guide for Massachusetts Democratic primary voters. [...]

By: Preston

Preston — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 22:38:39 +0000

Yeah, I know you were talking about Carper, Taniel. My point is that it forms a new definition of political centrism.

By: Cliff

Cliff — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 22:30:53 +0000

I’m sorry Meehan isn’t running. I don’t agree with him on much but I respect him. He’s also reasonably centrist for a Mass. dem.

I’m also disappointed McGovern isn’t going to run. He’s a hell of a nice guy, although slightly left of Marx. Still, we aren’t going to get that much better from Mass.