Winslow launches exploratory committee

I like his focus (0.00 / 0)

"We need to fix a broken Washington where progress is being hampered by partisan gridlock. If we continue to elect the same Washington politicians, we can not expect different results."

"The people of Massachusetts and all Americans deserve solutions from their elected officials. Washington needs to focus on problem solving and implement ideas that will create jobs and grow our economy," said Winslow

I like the idea of fixing the partisan gridlock. That Washington gridlock is caused (in part at least) by the same friction that is dividing the Massachusetts GOP, because extremists refuse to compromise. They'd rather lose completely than give any ground on their "principles" which they have taken to such libertarian extremes that most people don't want to be associated with either party. It really is the Libertarians in both parties who are causing the gridlock, they prefer a dysfunctional government. If they went to the Libertarian party like they should, the non-Libertarians left would be happy to get to work making solutions.

I also like that he mentions "all Americans" because that shows he knows the role of a Senator is not to bring pork back to their state, but to serve the People of the United States.

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by: John Howard @ Tue Feb 05, 2013 at 18:56:56 PM UTC

Winslow himself is more libertarian than anything. (0.00 / 0)

http://knowthyneighbor.blogs.c...

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by: Couves @ Tue Feb 05, 2013 at 23:44:40 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I'm keeping an open mind (0.00 / 0)

He seems more like a "responsible government" pragmatist than an anti-government Libertarian to me. And though he counseled for the "Party A/Party B" marriage licenses, which I was appalled at and wanted Romney to appeal the ruling or at least wait for the Legislature to change the MGL like the Goodridge decision, I am keeping an open mind that it was an example of his pragmatism; he wasn't necessarily embracing the radical implications like same-sex conception or stripping conception rights from marriage, he was just making a quick change to fit with the current understanding, which was limited.

I like that he did not answer the GLBT survey question about transgenderism because he wanted to know more about it. He might have the same question I have, about whether it entails a right to reproduce as the other sex, or with people of either sex, which would be hugely expensive and unethical and open a huge can of worms.

I'm keeping an open mind because he could still convince me that he is not a transhumanist/postgenderist by supporting an egg and sperm law, and he now thinks same-sex couples should have Civil Unions defined as "marriage minus conception rights" so that marriage continues to approve and allow the conception of offspring using the couple's own genes. But if he thinks we should let labs make babies that are the offspring of same-sex couples, then yeah, he's too libertarian for me.

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by: John Howard @ Wed Feb 06, 2013 at 00:22:30 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

So, 5k sigs a week? (5.00 / 1)

I'm having a hard time treating anyone that didn't announce by yesterday as being serious.

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"That it ceased to exist, I'll grant you, but whether or not it failed cannot be definitively said." - Metropolitan (1990)

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by: Patrick @ Tue Feb 05, 2013 at 18:58:08 PM UTC

Failing to get the signatures wouldn't be a bad thing (0.00 / 0)

He would be guaranteed not to lose in a primary, and he'd have some momentum and sympathy to make it a sticker campaign. Sticker campaigns have a built in advantage in special elections, since only motivated people turn out, and stickers help motivate people.

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by: John Howard @ Tue Feb 05, 2013 at 19:07:47 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

go for it Dan (0.00 / 0)

I bet you will be really good in the debates.

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by: roarkarchitect @ Tue Feb 05, 2013 at 18:59:17 PM UTC

Doug Bennett is not running if Winslow gets in. (5.00 / 2)

https://twitter.com/dbernstein...  

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"That it ceased to exist, I'll grant you, but whether or not it failed cannot be definitively said." - Metropolitan (1990)

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by: Patrick @ Tue Feb 05, 2013 at 19:53:02 PM UTC

Exploratory committee!?!?!?! (2.00 / 2)

What kind of message does that send to people?  We all know that announcing a exploratory committee is pretty much saying your running.  But it's a tool when you want to get in early and if things explode, you have an out by saying you're no longer exploring.  But with days to get 15,000 sigs (to get 10,000) and weeks away from a general election, the signal of an exploratory committee is that you don't know what your doing.  

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by: Simple J. Malarkey @ Tue Feb 05, 2013 at 20:52:36 PM UTC

Short (4.00 / 1)

I hope that Winslow's exploratory phase is exceedingly short!  Time is quickly slipping, slipping, slipping into the future.

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by: BNCordeiro @ Tue Feb 05, 2013 at 21:45:04 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Socialist. (2.00 / 2)

So you're down with feeding the babies who don't have enough to eat? And to shoe the children with no shoes on their feet? What about housing the people livin' in the street?  

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by: chrismatth @ Tue Feb 05, 2013 at 23:00:58 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I never liked chrismatth (3.75 / 4)

Molon Labe

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by: Republican Ram Rod Radio @ Wed Feb 06, 2013 at 18:12:23 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Better then Gomez (5.00 / 1)

Dan Winslow certainly better that Gomez. At least he's won something and to everyone's best knowledge he didn't vote for or donate to Obama EVER !

Although he's a moderate, he knows enough to know that the base can't be alienated. Indeed he knows the base needs to be courted.

The only problem in his voting record, is that I hear he supported the Bathroom Bill, when the Bathroom and locker-room language were still in the legislation. If that's true, he needs to do walk it back as a mistake. Most liberals wouldn't vote for that bill with that language. Otherwise, when the base finds out about it, they might vote for him, but they ain't gonna work for him.

But other than that Dan makes a good candidate to represent the Moderate wing of that party. And if he's the nominee I can support him.

My preference is that Michael Sullivan gets in this race. He has the most gravitas and the least to lose. He has a great resume, he'll have the support of the base, and if he loses he's not worried about a future run for anything.

That said, if Sullivan doesn't get in the race, I could support Winslow. Obviously if Winslow wins a primary over Sullivan, he'd get my support and vote.

Gomez is a non-starter as Bill Weld was. You don't vote for Obama and give him $1,000 and then expect support to be a Republican Senate Candidate. Even-still, rumor has it, key King Makers brought him down to Washington to meet the Republican Senatorial victory committee (or whatever it's called). Think about! If this is true, a guy couldn't win a Selectman's race, and he's being ushered around as our next US Senate candidate. This is total insanity!

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by: John DiMascio @ Wed Feb 06, 2013 at 22:01:07 PM UTC

NRSC (0.00 / 0)

I think that you're referring to the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

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by: BNCordeiro @ Wed Feb 06, 2013 at 22:56:56 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Thanks Brock (0.00 / 0)

Yes that's what I'm referring to.

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by: John DiMascio @ Thu Feb 07, 2013 at 07:49:27 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Agreed - pick a winner (0.00 / 0)

Yes - US Senate isn't an entry-level job.  Dan's won elections on the local and representative level, and has been a hard worker for the party for many, many years.

Go Dan!

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by: WeldforPrez @ Wed Feb 06, 2013 at 22:51:03 PM UTC

Can we assume he will be running a sticker campaign to get on the ballot? (0.00 / 0)

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"That it ceased to exist, I'll grant you, but whether or not it failed cannot be definitively said." - Metropolitan (1990)

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by: Patrick @ Thu Feb 07, 2013 at 00:26:43 AM UTC

Maybe not (0.00 / 0)

If certain people are backing Gomez, they'll hire professional signature gatherers for him.

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by: John DiMascio @ Thu Feb 07, 2013 at 00:50:00 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I don't think it matters. (0.00 / 0)

Gomez could get on the ballot with sigs, but Winslow could get more write-ins and knock him off in the primary.

With the AG race in 2010 we had 2 write-in candidates with McKenna besting Carbone.  McKenna mailed out 50k stickers and got 27k votes.  Have we ever had a write-in in a state wide election beat someone who merely had their name on the ballot?  I assume that simply being on the ballot alone gets one a fair number of votes.

Beatty got 51k votes in the 2008 primary.

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"That it ceased to exist, I'll grant you, but whether or not it failed cannot be definitively said." - Metropolitan (1990)

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by: Patrick @ Thu Feb 07, 2013 at 01:19:47 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

What is cheaper... (0.00 / 0)

$30,000 for 10,000 certified sigs or mailing 50k in stickers out (along with hiring a field staff to make it happen)?  I think buying the sigs is the safest bet.

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by: Simple J. Malarkey @ Thu Feb 07, 2013 at 04:29:16 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I do too. (0.00 / 0)

I wonder what would happen if 50,000 stickers were mailed out with a misspelling.  Would "Dan Winlow" stickers get tossed out?

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"That it ceased to exist, I'll grant you, but whether or not it failed cannot be definitively said." - Metropolitan (1990)

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by: Patrick @ Thu Feb 07, 2013 at 04:33:16 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

McKenna (0.00 / 0)

   Distributed 100,000 stickers.
  27,711 votes was a great return on investment still.

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by: billxi @ Thu Feb 07, 2013 at 14:46:39 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I thought it was wikipedia where I got the info. (0.00 / 0)

Can't find it now.  It was 50,000 sticker packs mailed out.  Each pack had 2 stickers.

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"That it ceased to exist, I'll grant you, but whether or not it failed cannot be definitively said." - Metropolitan (1990)

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by: Patrick @ Fri Feb 08, 2013 at 19:31:10 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

So how does that work? (0.00 / 0)

Let's say no one gets 10,000 signatures. Would there still be a primary ballot with only a write-in space on it? And lets say three candidates all run sticker campaigns and get the 10,000 required, only one, (the winner) gets to be on the ballot as the Republican in the general election, right?

Also, stickers aren't really necessary at all, especially for a name as easy to spell as "Dan Winslow" (or "John Howard":)) which are all that is required when the person is well-known enough to get more than a handful of write-ins (address is not necessary). But stickers are a great gimmick to get people to take action, according to direct mail experts.

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by: John Howard @ Thu Feb 07, 2013 at 00:50:14 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

What if I just write in "DW" (5.00 / 3)

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"That it ceased to exist, I'll grant you, but whether or not it failed cannot be definitively said." - Metropolitan (1990)

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by: Patrick @ Thu Feb 07, 2013 at 01:02:33 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

This comment legit made me burst out laughing...n/t (5.00 / 1)

Follow me on Twitter?  Sure, why not.  www.twitter.com/paulferro

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by: Paul R. Ferro @ Thu Feb 07, 2013 at 03:51:38 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Did you argue voter intent in 2000? (0.00 / 0)

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by: Simple J. Malarkey @ Thu Feb 07, 2013 at 04:30:19 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Yo Assface (0.00 / 0)

   Maybe that felonious clerk in New Bedford will do her legally appointed task this time too.
  Or be in prison. Where she belongs! Galvin too!

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by: billxi @ Thu Feb 07, 2013 at 14:52:46 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Wouldn't expect that to count (0.00 / 0)

Heh, good question. I think if he had spent the run-up to the election telling people to write in DW and thousands of people write in DW then I think we should count them as votes for Dan Winslow. But otherwise, I would expect that's throwing away your vote. But "Dan Winslow" would surely be a vote for Dan Winslow, if someone wanted to vote for some other Dan Winslow, they'd have to specify the other guy's address.

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by: John Howard @ Thu Feb 07, 2013 at 03:59:42 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

DITTO PAUL - LOL (0.00 / 0)

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by: Term Limits @ Thu Feb 07, 2013 at 06:27:39 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Not a Sticker Campaign (5.00 / 2)

With just three business days since Friday's announcement, we have made great progress in the accelerated exploratory phase of this statewide challenge. Today my team pulled nomination papers from the State Secretary and necessary vendors are ready and we're quickly assembling a quality, experienced team.  Most importantly, the grassroots needed for success are growing because of this effort and I am 100% confident that I will be able to qualify for the ballot by the deadline.  Just a few more logistical steps to launch.  Stay tuned.

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by: Dan Winslow @ Thu Feb 07, 2013 at 04:56:23 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Not that you have time (0.00 / 0)

but the GOP should be fighting this short window tooth and nail!

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by: Term Limits @ Thu Feb 07, 2013 at 06:29:02 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Papers have been pulled. (0.00 / 0)

https://twitter.com/danwinslow...

Nomination papers pulled at State Secretary. Vendors lined up. Team assembling quickly.Call sheets ready.Growing grassroots. #masen

— Dan Winslow (@danwinslow)

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"That it ceased to exist, I'll grant you, but whether or not it failed cannot be definitively said." - Metropolitan (1990)

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by: Patrick @ Thu Feb 07, 2013 at 04:30:41 AM UTC