Ah, unexpectedly, I am in a good mood today

[TayTay]

This Ma election was, in many ways, like waiting for a terrible other shoe to drop. Finally, it dropped. The worst has happened. It is no longer threatening, it is no longer the constant anxiety of waiting for an awful thing to happen. It happened. The tower has fallen, the tsunami hit and there is massive damage left behind.

I am sorry if I am unable to join in the anger and blame game. I do not apologize for Mass voters, as I never would apologize for any voters. If it makes you feel better to demonize these voters, go ahead, be my guest. But I will neither join you nor wallow in any kind of self-pity or woe is me feeling. It's counter-productive.

There are lessons to be learned here. We should learn from them. There are new structures to be put up that are stronger than the last ones. We should build them. There are voters to reach and people to talk to in order to affect change and that rebuilding. We should do it.

I don't get to lick my wounds and feel bad for myself. It was never about me, so why should I feel that way? It is about what I believe in and making change and that is the hardest thing on the face of this earth to do. We evaluate what happened, look at the defeat, learn from it and move on.

[wisteria]

1. A little counter productive sure- but it is helpful health wise to release the anger at Mass. voters...

Those who saw fit to reward the Republicans for the years they brought us to this despair. But, I agree it is good to have it over and the worse done with. And, we can learn some lessons from this tragedy. It will benefit us. I think Obama will be a stronger leader because of this, we will learn not to take elections for granted, and we will learn that you have to reach the public and explain things to them-not just expect them to go along. The one thing I heard over and over again regarding health care was that people did not understand it and how it would really benefit them. What they did here, were Republicans and talk radio telling them how bad it was going to be. We need to do a damn better job framing issues and explaining them to the public if we want their support.

[Mass]

2. +1.

Can we learn from that, rather than blaming the voter?

[TayTay]

4. This is the countervailing point of view this morning in MA

My town Dem chair sent this out this morning. And if anyone thinks I will succumb to this type of thinking, they got another think coming:

Hello dem Committee Members:

Here are the election results for our town. This is the will of our people.

We have learned that they have rejected the current national policies regarding the disposition of terrorists, the health care legislation, immigration amnesty and other national policy positions and initiatives.

We have also learned that the national agenda has clearly overshadowed whatever state and local initiatives and actions were brought forward by our state Democratic candidate.

As we translate this into our local politics and government, in my opinion, this means we must produce more efficient and beneficial government for citizens, less taxes and a move to the center. This means no overrides, less bureacracy and a maintenance of services for citizens.

Citizenship may begin to take on a role similar to that of the French Code of Napoleon and the privileges of citizens of the Roman Empire. This means that actual citizens expect a certain set of privileges and protections and are willing to be taxed to support those. They do not expect their taxes to support privileges for non-citizens or for anything excessive or non-essential, unless the resources are adequate for this or a special circumstance arises.

This means our budget must display an economy of means to be supported by the citizens at the town meeting. Essential services to citizens are expected to be managed within the means that revenue currently affords. Anything else will not be accepted by the voters.

The uplifitng feature of this election is the notion that Massachusetts leads and has always put forth thinking, philosophy and opinion, that has moved the country forward in a positive way. Having said that, it could be that these election results display a restoring force, keeping us in a more balanced and less radical posture than the present national policies provide. Also that if citizens do disagree, there is a mechanism for them to be heard.

So we learn by listening. If not, we learn by losing. It could really be that simple and straightforward.


Best Regards,

The Chair

I have never read such a self-serving, cowardly and ignorant missive in my life as a Democrat. Hell no. And posted as a reminder to the group, yeah, we have to put up with this stuff in MA. Always did. We make progress despite this attitude. We fight.

[beachmom]

7. Oh. My. God. I'm speechless. nt

[TayTay]

9. I am not a "fluffy bunny" Democrat.

I do understand how hard this stuff is. I do understand and try and understand, constantly, how hard life is for a lot of people. I do understand that change is hard. I do recognize that the odds are against us. So be it.

Friggin fight for it. Giving up makes us look weak and without principles.

And I still don't feel sorry for myself, even given that this is what I have to work against. I am spoiling for a real fight. I want a real fight in which we actually show up and slug it out, toe to toe. Bring it on!

[Luftmensch067]

15. I've been shocked by my good mood as well!

I'm blaming the voters for a few days because I'm pissed off about what happened and I wish they were thinking a little more clearly and I'm scared about the anger and nastiness of the teabaggers, which I agree with some here is fed by the one-sided RW hate radio, BUT I also agree with JK and many here that there is no use long-term in blaming anyone else (that is what the very people I'm condemning do!) It is a HUGE relief to get to the end of this train wreck and now it's time to get to work and show voters that the Democrats really do care, really do understand why the electorate is angry and really do have real solutions.

Much as I hate the thought of Teddy being replaced by this poser (pun very much intended!) he was elected by a democratic majority and we've got to deal with him for a few years. And we've got to deal with the reasons he was elected right away!

I feel so lucky to have JK leading the way in this respect, just as Teddy would have, and I feel lucky to have the example of all the energetic, smart, right-thinking people in this forum to inspire me, too!

Let's go, Democrats!

[sandnsea]

17. Voters are scared and frustrated

They are lied to and bullied from all directions. There is no real refutiation of those lies, as far as I can tell.

So they vote accordingly, just like they do all over the country when this happens, I would add.

And this is what your Chair takes away from your election?? ick.

[wisteria]

19. The only part of this letter that doesn't belong at the bottom of a bird cage is,

"Also that if citizens do disagree, there is a mechanism for them to be heard."

[YvonneCa]

3. It is important to learn the...

...lessons. I am thinking very selfishly...as they are going after Boxer this fall, too.

[TayTay]

6. And the MA race may mean exactly nothing to that race

It depends on the good people of California. It is my impression that California voters also consider themselves to be innovative but very independent thinkers.

Barbara Boxer is an excellent Senator. She has every reason to go out and defend her positions and work hard for a well-deserved re-election. Well, make it so!

[YvonneCa]

10. You are right about Barbara Boxer...

...and she has my complete support. But that anger is here, too.

Californians are really hurting. I worry that Repubs will tap into that anger and hurt and turn it against Democrats...especially imcumbents like Boxer. Not everyone pays attention to the good work of people like Boxer and Kerry.They will be taken in. I hope I am wrong.

[MH1]

11. Californians are hurting because of Prop 13, right?

And other mismanagement at the state gov't level (like the debacle of electric utility deregulation), right?

Might it not help to remind Californians who was behind those initiatives that are actually causing their pain?

[YvonneCa]

14. Those are all factors....

...to explain Calilifornia's problems. Everyone has a different opinion, it seems. Mine is that the Initiative process is broken...many bad laws have been put in place. I think the Enron mess was the 'straw'that broke the camel's back, so to speak. Gov.Gray Davis should have been given a chance...not recalled. And the effect of GWBush economic policy for eight years did us in. JMO.;)

[Blaukraut]

5. What you said!

Last night, after already going to bed, neither Tony nor I could sleep and we talked for a long time. Tay, you know Tony, and he was saying exactly the same things that voters apparently were angry about. He was especially pissed at the local pols, saying that they get paid 60k and more a year to go to Boston and sit on their asses, arguing amongst themselves, or plotting a way to screw over the people, because they are guaranteed to keep winning and winning and winning.

1. Listen to the people
2. Don't sit on Beacon/Capitol Hill and act like you're destined to be there because you aren't and you can be replaced.

I think the time of a guaranteed election win is over, and that goes from the top down. JK isn't up until '14, but he better heed this warning. Our reps are all up, and they must reassess and remember who they're working and fighting for, and then go out and let the people know they haven't been forgotten. AND MEAN IT!

The republicans, teabaggers, whatever, have now found the perfect formula of an upset. Find a guaranteed seat, field a populist 'outsider' candidate, fly under the radar, and then cash in.

I listened to Brown at his presser today. The guy makes sense, he appeals to my middle-class, feeling-lied-to self. If I didn't know that he doesn't mean a thing he says, I'd actually give him the benefit of the doubt.

This is what *we* need to be - the populists. Since when do the republicans get to co-opt that message?

[TayTay]

8. We fight for it!

We show up and fight for it. We make our case to the people. We showcase what we believe in, we don't tolerate the crap the Repubs are flinging around and we SHOW UP AND FIGHT FOR IT.

The embarrassing part of this loss is the not fighting for it. That is the part that does make me wince. There is zero excuse for that. There is zero excuse for taking people for granted. We in MA have been ripe for a take-down for the reasons you and Tony talked about.

Yes, there is a lesson for Sen. Kerry in this. Yes, part of it is deeply unfair, but life is unfair and politics doubly so. Sen. Kerry needs to redouble his efforts at constituent services. (I think most of that reputation is undeserved. Bully for me. A lot of locals disagree with me. Fix the problem or whine about it.)

Beacon Hill and Capitol Hill are unresponsive to the people. We feel like outsiders in our own government. This is a recipe for change, either positive or negative.

[politicasista]

20. Good idea

Hope he heeds that advice.

Also, surround yourself with people-friendly, hard-working staffers, (not that his staff doesn't work hard, but heard that Kennedys was the best in DC.), and take no vote or person for granted.

[sandnsea]

18. You have to expose them as liars, every time

Sarah Palin was easy and so embarrassing the media lunged in. But if we think that just because we've done it once, people will be able to extrapolate that to every other Repub, well obviously not. And there's been nobody in some of these rural areas to refute the lies, while leaving the Dem candidate alone. It's The Lies, stupid. Ya know?

[MH1]

12. On the bright side: 2.5 vs. 6

Years for the good people of Massachusetts to be reminded WHY one should never, ever vote for a Republican, even if the Democratic candidate forgets to kiss your ass.

I predict that if Brown is as bad as we think, he'll be out on his ear in the next election, and it will be another 30+ years before a republican darkens an MA Senate seat.

:)

[TayTay]

13. 88% of all office holders in MA are still Dem

Every organization with a leftward bent or a populist bent will be gunning for Brown starting today. Every organizer in the State will be out to get this guy. The money to defeat him will pour in and the energy, once some healing sets in, will re-emerge.

The Democrat candidate actually went on vacation for six days to the Grand Caymans at Christmas time. Everything you need to know about why we lost is contained in that sentence.

[ObamaKerryDem]

16. You just made some really great points, I think.

And as much as this, no doubt, undeniably, inexcusably sucks, I'd much rather it be now than in November. Everything happens for a reason, they say...

[wisteria]

21. Well, this may make you smile a little bit.

Beck already has issues with Brown.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/michaelcalderone/0110/Beck_rips_Brown_for_available_comment.html



"I want a chastity belt on this man," Beck said. "I want his every move watched in Washington. I don't trust this guy. I'm just telling you."

"This one could end with a dead intern," Beck said, laughing.

[Mass]

22. He is going to have a tough time, stuck between the teabaggers and the moderate Republicans/Indies

in MA.

[wisteria]

23. Yes, that is what I was thinking-a lot of juggling. I hope he's up for it. n/t