Wednesday, August 02, 2006
'Let's embrace the legislative races'
A truly provocative post over at Mass. GOP News: How Republicans can win by losing the gubernatorial race and concentrating on legislative races. Now we're talking. Democrats are running around with their cute bumper-sticker mantra: "Sixteen years. Had enough?" Republicans should counter with: "Forty years. Had enough?" -- a reference to the Democratic hammerlock on the Legislature through both Dem and GOP governors. Anyone who has read 'Black Mass' and 'Brothers Bulger' knows full well that Massachusetts' cesspool politics start at the State House. ...
... But there's one problem with the post's theory: It smacks of desperation. Storming the State House bastille is not a 'short term' adventure. It's a long-term slugfest strategy of winning two or three legislative seats at a time -- and holding them. Mitt's all-out offensive in 2004 didn't work. Republicans need to be realistic -- and constantly aware that Independents now make up the majority in Massachusetts. ... FYI: I am not a Republican. I'm just against one-party states. I covered Illinois state government for a while and, believe me, its old GOP-controlled State House became rotten to the core after too many years of power. I see the same thing happening in Massachusetts. After the Big Dig fiasco, there's a sentiment out there for major change in Massachusetts. Let's hope voters finally do something about it. ... Mass. GOP post via Adam.
Update -- To demonstrate my noblesse oblige nonpartisan throw-the-rascals-out sentiment, I truly hope this happens. Via Andrew, on the first day of his cold-turkey Mel-withdrawal program.
Update II -- Dan calls the Mass. GOP News' plan a 'breathtakingly stupid notion.' I agree in the sense that Republicans shouldn't give up on the 2006 gubernatorial race or future statewide races -- something I neglected to mention. But what I love about the post is the angry emphasis on taking on the Legislature. Want to change the corrupt political culture in Massachusetts? Start with the one institution that hasn't changed over the decades: The Democratic-controlled Legislature. Electing a Republican or Democratic governor this year won't change much. And we all know it.
A truly provocative post over at Mass. GOP News: How Republicans can win by losing the gubernatorial race and concentrating on legislative races. Now we're talking. Democrats are running around with their cute bumper-sticker mantra: "Sixteen years. Had enough?" Republicans should counter with: "Forty years. Had enough?" -- a reference to the Democratic hammerlock on the Legislature through both Dem and GOP governors. Anyone who has read 'Black Mass' and 'Brothers Bulger' knows full well that Massachusetts' cesspool politics start at the State House. ...
... But there's one problem with the post's theory: It smacks of desperation. Storming the State House bastille is not a 'short term' adventure. It's a long-term slugfest strategy of winning two or three legislative seats at a time -- and holding them. Mitt's all-out offensive in 2004 didn't work. Republicans need to be realistic -- and constantly aware that Independents now make up the majority in Massachusetts. ... FYI: I am not a Republican. I'm just against one-party states. I covered Illinois state government for a while and, believe me, its old GOP-controlled State House became rotten to the core after too many years of power. I see the same thing happening in Massachusetts. After the Big Dig fiasco, there's a sentiment out there for major change in Massachusetts. Let's hope voters finally do something about it. ... Mass. GOP post via Adam.
Update -- To demonstrate my noblesse oblige nonpartisan throw-the-rascals-out sentiment, I truly hope this happens. Via Andrew, on the first day of his cold-turkey Mel-withdrawal program.
Update II -- Dan calls the Mass. GOP News' plan a 'breathtakingly stupid notion.' I agree in the sense that Republicans shouldn't give up on the 2006 gubernatorial race or future statewide races -- something I neglected to mention. But what I love about the post is the angry emphasis on taking on the Legislature. Want to change the corrupt political culture in Massachusetts? Start with the one institution that hasn't changed over the decades: The Democratic-controlled Legislature. Electing a Republican or Democratic governor this year won't change much. And we all know it.
