interesting possibility for a Dem senate candidate to replace the Lesser One

[MBS]

She's the only possibility I've yet heard of with the class and savvy worthy of this seat. . wonder if she'd do it. . .I'd sure support her to the hilt if she did. .

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/14/AR2010081402970_2.html?hpid=topnews

and

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/magazine/articles/2010/08/15/after_teddy/
quotes JK. .

“I think she can do what she wants,” says John Kerry. “She’s unbelievably capable, unbelievably smart, committed, knowledgeable about the issues.”

[Mass]

1. I have an issue with that. For the last year or so, she has been pushed

as the replacement for her husband and it seems to be more just because she is a Kennedy than for her personal accomplishment.

I am sure she is a very bright woman, but dont know much about her politics, and I am not sure that she would be a shoe-in against Brown if she did. I remember her ads for Coakley and she was not that good.

The other thing is that if she ran, it would give a poor image of Massachusetts that there are nobody else to become senator. (For the record, I am a big fan of her nephew Joe, but dont think he should run for exactly the same reason). I have a problem with political dynasties.

[Luftmensch067]

2. It's scary that we don't see strong alternatives for candidates yet!

I love Vicki and agree that she's more than capable, but I wouldn't wish it on her.

[MBS]

3. you guys raise valid points

I too don't like the idea of dynasties, and hope that we will have good candidates to choose from. . I just happen to like Vicki Kennedy a lot. There are definitely minuses as well as pluses to the idea. . one potential big minus is that all the things I like her for could possibly get diminished or erased by a foray in politics. I actually think she's politically savvy enough to make a wise decision about whether it's appropriate (and politically feasible) for her to run.

My theory (TOTAL speculation on my part -- no data at all) is that her ad for Coakley was perhaps ineffective because it was driven less by enthusiasm for the Coakley campaign, and instead by horror at the non-campaign of Coakley , and the astonishing prospect that the bungled Coakley-campaign (aptly described, IMHO, by a Dem activist friend of mine as "political malpractice") could lose her husband's seat to the Republicans . . that, because of that prospect, she was driven to do the ad, but might have had a bit of trouble marshalling positive enthusiasm for the candidate/campaign. . does this make any sense? I remember an interview (or maybe this was the ad?) just before the election when she said "we have to ask for people's vote". . maybe I'm wrong, but I took it to mean (again, total speculation) that she was appalled that Coakley wasn't doing that; Vicki's statement almost felt like she was PLEADING for the campaign to ask people for their votes.

And, like other people here, I like Elizabeth Warren: fingers crossed she gets that job she's so perfect for. . that also would provide a chance for her, and MA voters, to think about whether she might be a good Senate candidate in 2012.

Whatever happens, I just want the Dems to mount a really strong candidate , who will, like, actually campaign, and send Scott back home. We really need to get someone good (and Democratic!) back in that seat.

[JI7]

4. when it was thought Kerry would become President, weren't there a bunch of Dems ready

to go for that seat ?

what happened with all of that. are they scared since Brown won ? have they taken administration positions ? did they gain more power in their house seats with Dems taking control ?

What Kerry says about her can also be said about Caroline Kennedy and she wasn't a very good candidate. i mean, you can say the same about Coakley also.

i wish Barney Frank would run for the seat. but he has more power as House member now than he would as freshman jr senator.