Something amusing is happening in Massachusetts. Barack Obama-wannabe Democratic Governor Deval Patrick is looking to run for re-election. The Democratic State Treasurer Tim Cahill probably can’t win a Democratic primary against him, so what does he do? He becomes an independent.
State Treasurer Tim Cahill this week will change his political party designation from Democrat to unenrolled, the first step in mounting an independent challenge to Democratic governor Deval Patrick in the 2010 general election, two advisers said today.
The thing is, this might create an opportunity for Republicans. A 3-way race could be winnable, even in a state as blue as Massachusetts. This leaves an opening for someone like Charlie Baker, who has both political or business experience. Baker would have to step down as the CEO of a health care company, a subject that happens to be one of the state’s major problems:
The centerpiece of Massachusetts’ 2006 health reform bill is Commonwealth Care, a government program that provides free and subsidized insurance plans to low- and moderate-income patients. It’s spending has doubled in the last two years, jumping from $630 million in 2007 to an estimated $1.3 billion in fiscal year 2009.
Last year, rising costs lead Commonwealth Care officials to approve a 12 percent rate increase, meaning that basic insurance costs will cut even deeper into the incomes of most participating patients.
Alternatively… Mitt Romney could run. He won once. He made the problem, but has complained that it wasn’t implemented as he would have. He could run, win, and fix it… I’d even endorse him.
But probably not. Probably we will have to support Charlie Baker in his fight to save his state.
Unfortunately, People Will Heed The Call TO Fight RINOS
Swamp_Yankee Tuesday, July 7th at 10:13PM EDT (link)Baker Will Have a Primary Fight.
Christy Mihos will run and has hired Dick Morris. Its a good example of how people from far away can misread “RINOS”. I suspect Baker is not a solid conservative, but he is a good guy, very competent anda fiscal conservative.
Mihos sensing an opportunity to capitalize on the anger has been showing up at tea parties and talking the talk, but he ran as an independent in 2006 as a centrist who could work with both parties. But he will run to the Right of Baker as an opportunist, not as a principled conservtive, and suckers will fall for it.
Not Dead Yet!
Isn't it just as likely
Blenheim Tuesday, July 7th at 11:23PM EDT (link)that Cahill, running as an independent, would take as many votes from Baker as Patrick?
I disagree with the premise here
Sundayjack Tuesday, July 7th at 11:35PM EDT (link)I can’t figure where Cahill’s head is at, but his Independent candidacy is the surest way to secure a second term for that model of incompetence, Deval Patrick. People who aren’t voting for Deval aren’t voting for Deval - plain and simple. More than that, Tim Cahill just can’t read polls. But then, he’s no genius, It is the height of election arrogance for him to think that he’s attractive enough to lure away soft Deval Dems. Deval is running behind “Anyone Else,” and the only thing that people know about Tim Cahill in July 2009 is that he’s he’s a state-wide Dem with aspirations for the corner office. And, today, that’s enough. Add a third candidate and the dynamic changes. In a three-way election, a general election, when Deval highlights the market losses under Cahill’s watch (plus, when people actually HEAR the guy speak) the numbers will break 40-30-30, with Deval picking up a second term. It’s Clinton-Bush-Perot redux.
Dumb dumb move by Tim Cahill.
Romney?
TS Atomic Wednesday, July 8th at 7:29AM EDT (link)Do folks still think Romney remotely resembles a republican after enacting socialized health-care in his state? Romney is a textbook example of what’s wrong with the GOP. I wouldn’t vote for him if he were running against Ted Kennedy. Supporting him should be classified as self-destructive behavior.
You may get the impression I don’t much care for Romeny…
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What can not be remedied, must be endured.
It would take more than that to save MA
alchemist17 Wednesday, July 8th at 11:05AM EDT (link)You’d need something on the order of storming Beacon Hill with torches and pitchforks, burning down the state house, dumping the ashes in the bay and salting the earth so nothing would ever grow there again. That might start to get the attention of the legislators, but even that’s not a sure thing.
Breaking; We've Got Another "Quitter": Baker Resigns CEO Positions
Swamp_Yankee Wednesday, July 8th at 11:22AM EDT (link)It’s offical. Baker announced this morning. Stealing Cahill’s thunder.
Looks like I’ll have somehing to do before I pack up my bags and leave the area.
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/politics/view.bg?articleid=1183631&pos=breaking
Not Dead Yet!