(01-14-2010 11:29 PM)gsloth Wrote:  Who would have thunk that the seat of the Kennedys is at risk for the Democrats? The poll numbers keep shrinking (or have disappeared in some instances) for the Democratic nominee, and now a couple of respected political pundits are calling this race a toss-up.

To me, I'm thinking this is a mix of a bad campaign and some anti-national Democrat fever going on. (Sounds in many ways like the Virginia gubernatorial race in November.) But will the votes go that way in 4 days? I guess we'll have to watch and see. This is one of the bluest states in the nation, so I'm really shocked by the poll numbers. And I wonder whether this is just anti-national Democrat, or potentially bordering on anti-incumbent (of which Republicans might want to worry, too).

Quote:By working kitchens, bars and sidewalks, however, Brown was positioned to capitalize on the rising tide of discontent at the grass-roots level over taxes, unemployment and Washington. The frustration is especially evident among independents, who account for fully half of Massachusetts voters by registration. And after repeatedly winning election to the state Senate from a district Obama won with 60 percent, Brown had experience framing a message with broad appeal. "This is a big tent, folks," he said Friday. "One thing I know you all have in common is you believe in fairness and good government."

In mid-December, the National Republican Senatorial Committee conducted a poll that showed Brown trailing by only 13 points, but it kept the results to itself. Coakley continued operating on the assumption that for all intents and purposes she had won the seat with the Dec. 8 primary, a common assumption in the state known as the bluest of the blue.

"I think we overestimated the state's Democraticness and underestimated the national mood," one senior Democratic strategist said Friday. "We thought that the state's deep blue voting pattern would help us withstand national trends."

(01-19-2010 12:22 PM)THRILL Wrote:  Truthfully a Brown win would be great for the country. Not just because I'm a Republican but anytime long time comfortable politicians of either party are forced to pay attention to the people its a good thing.

(01-20-2010 10:12 PM)WMD Owl Wrote:  

(01-19-2010 12:22 PM)THRILL Wrote:  Truthfully a Brown win would be great for the country. Not just because I'm a Republican but anytime long time comfortable politicians of either party are forced to pay attention to the people its a good thing.

I bet the Dems run one of Bobby or Ted Kennedy's kids when Brown comes up for re-election in a couple of years. This could be an easy take-back.

(01-21-2010 06:47 AM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  If Brown votes straight Republican, maybe. But I bet you he doesn't - he's a talented politician who can be popular in that state if he votes like perhaps the Maine senators, Olympia Snowe or Susan Collins (moderate instead of conservative). I do think he wouldn't have won if he had run against Kennedy's widow, but from all indications his opponent in this election was a disaster.

I like him reading about him at first glance. He's conservative but free minded. I also liked his daughter a lot when she was one of the final 24 on American Idol four years ago. She's a senior basketball player at Boston College now.

(01-20-2010 10:12 PM)WMD Owl Wrote:  

(01-19-2010 12:22 PM)THRILL Wrote:  Truthfully a Brown win would be great for the country. Not just because I'm a Republican but anytime long time comfortable politicians of either party are forced to pay attention to the people its a good thing.

I bet the Dems run one of Bobby or Ted Kennedy's kids when Brown comes up for re-election in a couple of years. This could be an easy take-back.

(01-21-2010 07:37 AM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  Maybe on Obama but aren't the Democrats deciding not to force the health insurance bill through before they lose the 60 vote filibuster-proof majority? I thought I read they're going to wait now.

(01-21-2010 07:15 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  From what I've read I have hopes the he will vote fiscally conservative, socially moderate to liberal.

(01-21-2010 11:57 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(01-21-2010 07:15 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  From what I've read I have hopes the he will vote fiscally conservative, socially moderate to liberal.

I hope he votes like he talks, which is like you said in the quote. Shouldn't all politicians generally vote like they talk? Obama's quick shedding of his sheep's clothing is part of the reason for this thread.
I think a lot of the populist unrest is because we are tired of the old bait-'n-switch. Obama promised change, instead delivered more of the same and worse.
If a third party arises, Brown could be the guy to make it happen.

(01-21-2010 12:05 PM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(01-21-2010 11:57 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(01-21-2010 07:15 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  From what I've read I have hopes the he will vote fiscally conservative, socially moderate to liberal.

I hope he votes like he talks, which is like you said in the quote. Shouldn't all politicians generally vote like they talk? Obama's quick shedding of his sheep's clothing is part of the reason for this thread.
I think a lot of the populist unrest is because we are tired of the old bait-'n-switch. Obama promised change, instead delivered more of the same and worse.
If a third party arises, Brown could be the guy to make it happen.

So, you get that sense about him too?

I really think the future for the republicans is combining fiscal conservatism with some populism, and going for the Main Street side of the Main Street-Wall Street debate. I thought Palin could have led that, but the McCain staff tried instead to force her into some sympathetic mistreated-woman box, and that not only didn't work but it also turned Palin into severely damaged goods.

If the republicans don't go that way, I think the TEA party will morph into a force in that direction. And I could see Brown as the guy out in front of that.

(01-22-2010 05:09 PM)RiceDoc Wrote:  Old footage reset a thousand times before, but I thought this one was especically well done! Even Hitler can't believe it!

(01-25-2010 09:13 PM)georgewebb Wrote:  

(01-22-2010 05:09 PM)RiceDoc Wrote:  Old footage reset a thousand times before, but I thought this one was especically well done! Even Hitler can't believe it!

Man, that was hilarious! Not because of any association between Hitler and Obama, but because the notion of Hitler as a disgruntled campaign supporter spouting off about current American politics is pretty funny, and because the spoof is indeed very well done.

It's weird how funny Hitler images can be. I remember one two-second scene in the Simpsons, which showed the quality control at the Duff Beer bottling line. Bottles went down the line with all kinds of impurities: a syringe, a rat, Hitler's head. The depiction of Hitler's head in the Duff Beer bottling line had me laughing like crazy.

Part of it is that Hitler is one of those people who looks like his own caricature, which makes him instantly recognizable. I read somewhere that Hitler is the most well-recognized non-fiction character in the history of film.

(01-26-2010 09:19 PM)75src Wrote:  ...the German does not match the English words put on the screen.

(01-26-2010 09:19 PM)75src Wrote:  The clip looks like it came from Inglorious Basterds and the German does not match the English words put on the screen. The film depicted Hitler as being the vulgar person he was.