GOP Senate Nominee Open Thread w/ Poll.

Joe Perry would fit right in (0.00 / 0)

I'm very sure there are multiple Senators who have found "Love in an elevator", well if not love at least lust with an intern.

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by: Rob "EaBo Clipper" Eno @ Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 06:45:13 AM CDT

Joe Perry Massachusetts Republican (0.00 / 0)

"I've been a hardcore Republican my whole life." - Joe Perry

http://www.prefixmag.com/news/...

Joe Perry says national security and economic woes have prompted him to split from the rest of the entertainment world and throw his support behind John McCain.

"We pretty much stay out of it, but seeing so many people come out for Obama, I just felt like 'What the hell, I might as well raise my hand for this side," Perry said from his Duxbury home.

http://www.bostonherald.com/ne...

"Victory is Mine!" - Stewart Gilligan Griffin.

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by: Mike "DD4RP" Rossettie @ Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 06:55:12 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Mike Sullivan and Scott Brown get my votes (4.00 / 2)

And of course Kurt Schilling. He'd bring new young people into the party, and he's more conservative than many of these folks.

I love the categories, although next time I recommend: "Former-Transportation-Officials-Who-Need-Day-Jobs-and-Have-No-Where-Else-to-Go:" including Christy Mihos, Dan Grabauskas, Matt Amorello, Andrew Natsios, and Mary Connaughton.

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by: WhatWouldReaganDo @ Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 06:49:52 AM CDT

Short Cycle Elections .. (4.00 / 1)

Short cycle elections demand name recognition out front.
If we actualy want to win, wouldnt it be nice to see Cellucci give this a shot. My two cents ....

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by: nomad943 @ Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 07:28:18 AM CDT

I like Cellucci (0.00 / 0)

He's done a lot more than Weld, Romney etc. for Republicans running here in Massachusetts in recent years.  Oh yeah, and he still lives in Hudson.  I think he could be an excellent choice.

If he wants it.

"Victory is Mine!" - Stewart Gilligan Griffin.

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by: Mike "DD4RP" Rossettie @ Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 08:17:00 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I think Bob Hedlund will have to take a pass... (3.00 / 1)

And let me be the first in the RMG community to congratulate him as he enters a new phase of his life.

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by: Festus Garvey @ Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 07:33:10 AM CDT

Why no Chris Egan? (5.00 / 1)

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by: Festus Garvey @ Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 07:34:31 AM CDT

Good Call. (0.00 / 0)

He's exactly the type of fit for the Paratrooper category.  I just didn't think of him at the time.

"Victory is Mine!" - Stewart Gilligan Griffin.

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by: Mike "DD4RP" Rossettie @ Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 08:19:26 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

here you go (0.00 / 0)

http://www.usoecd.org/document...

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by: Rob "EaBo Clipper" Eno @ Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 08:21:06 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Andy Card "never ran for office before"???? (5.00 / 1)

I don't care how young you are, there is never an excuse for being ignorant about history.

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by: Festus Garvey @ Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 07:37:27 AM CDT

You caught me (0.00 / 0)

I actually added him in at the end without rereading how I defined the category.  Much like your "Chris Egan" he was someone I forgot about... but then remembered seconds before I posted.

"Victory is Mine!" - Stewart Gilligan Griffin.

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by: Mike "DD4RP" Rossettie @ Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 08:22:08 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

We need Brad Jones!!! (0.00 / 0)

Brad Friggin' Jones!!!

Oh Yeah!  my 2 cents.

Something tells me, this fall EaBo is going to feel silly for saying these words

"At this point in the race Team Baker Tisei has $2.25M cash on hand ...... I'd say Baker-Tisei is in pretty good shape for the General." - Rob Eno

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by: Republican Ram Rod Radio @ Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 08:45:58 AM CDT

Actually... (0.00 / 0)

...I always thought Brad Jones would make an excellent US president.  

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by: wendywalter @ Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 09:54:38 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Schilling would be an interesting choice (4.00 / 1)

I'm not sure he has thought through many of the issues, and that might hurt him because of his propensity to bloviate off-the-cuff.  But for just that reason, he is refreshing.  He's relatively open-minded, not afraid to be wrong, and he seems to know and accept that he's a blow-hard sometimes.

He's got money.  He's got name recognition.  I'm not sure he has the desire, though, and I doubt he'd enter into a Senate race without an honest 100% commitment to win.

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by: Steve Stein @ Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 10:13:06 AM CDT

Schilling is up to his neck in a start-up... (0.00 / 0)

It sounds like he's carry a payroll for at least 50 people and he's out hunting for investors...my bet is he's thinking the timing is not right.

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by: Festus Garvey @ Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 11:55:36 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Famous thoughts from Curt Schilling (4.00 / 1)

April 2, 2008

“I would love to see McCain and Obama shake up the world and join together on a ticket. Regardless of their disagreements on many issues, I think both of these men care enough about our country to look out for us first, and their personal agendas second.” 

Curt would be better off sticking to his charitable work.

You don't get the government you want, you get the government you deserve

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by: Rick @ Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 11:57:43 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Cellucci, too (4.00 / 1)

Kind of an old name, but plausible if he's got the money.

One thing I value above all others in a representative is listening to (or at least acknowledging) constituent input.

Cellucci was my state senator for a while, and he was good at this.  Plus he might be the only living ex-Governor with a positive approval rating in the Commonwealth.

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by: Steve Stein @ Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 10:17:10 AM CDT

I like him too (0.00 / 0)

Not sure if he's willing...but I thought one of the issues he had....that was bought up more than once during his term was that the man was in hock up to his eyeballs.  There was serious dollars he was in debt...not sure what his status is now, but it was an issue back then.  The press was trying to draw the conclusion...."If this man can't manager his own personal finances how can he be entrusted to deal with the State's".....they were taking a little whack at him of course.  We all know the legislature controls the purse strings.  I'm not sure if the veto proof majority took hold before, after or during his term.

Follow me on twitter @garyrlake

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by: garyrlake @ Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 11:30:14 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

When I think Cellucci... (0.00 / 0)

...I think of the contract he approved for the T letting folks retire after 20 years, regardless of how old they are--no surprise that the Carmen's union supported him over Harshbarger in the next election.

Cellucci made big money after his Ambassador to Canada gig...but the RUMORS will still persist for why he went into debt (and it had nothing to do with paying for his kids education)

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by: Festus Garvey @ Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 11:59:53 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

This seems like a no brainer for Scott Brown (0.00 / 0)

DD4RP said:

"US Senate is very tempting.  If you win, It's a much better office than LG.  You get to keep your seat in the legislature if you lose.  You'd get to keep your US Senate seat for 3 years even if you lose re-election.  Even in a "worst case likely scenario" you raise your profile statewide and are set up for things down the road..."

This seems like a no brainer for a guy like Scott Brown.  Everything I know about him seems to suggest he'd have the ambition to do it, and it would certainly raise his profile.  The fact that he could run without having to give up his seat (win or lose) makes a sitting legislator like him a perfect candidate.  

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by: LeominsterR @ Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 11:20:21 AM CDT

Yup (0.00 / 0)

He was my first choice.

Follow me on twitter @garyrlake

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by: garyrlake @ Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 11:31:53 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

my choices (0.00 / 0)

in order:

Scott brown

then further down Schilling, Lees, Don Humason (R-Westfield)

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by: SpringfieldGOPSec @ Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 18:45:49 PM CDT

Tough Choices (0.00 / 0)

There are some mighty tough choices for me on that list.  Without necessarily revealing how I voted:

Sheriff Tom Hodgson.  Hodgson is my sheriff & in recent years a virtual neighbor.  He's done a tremendous amount of good here in Bristol County.  He's one of those who I'd be honored to have as my commanding officer in a political army.

Peter Torkildsen.  I got to know Peter during his tenure as our MassGOP chairman.  We may have differences on social issues as I suspect that I'm a bit more conservative but I deeply repsect Peter and would be very comfortable with him as our junior senator.

Jim Rappaport.  I met Jim in 2002 at a meeting of the Republican Club of Southeastern Massachusetts here in New Bedford.  Jim had just announced his candidacy for Lt. Governor and I backed him from day 1.  I proudly stormed the 2002 Convention floor for Jim.  Yes, I still retain a soft spot for Jim Rappaport and it would be hard for me to turn him down if he puts out a call for volunteers.

Bob Hedlund.  What can you say, you just can't help but love Bob Hedlund.

Jeff Perry.  I may agree more with him on the issues than just about anyone in our legislative caucus.  I simply devoured his book, My GOP, because his GOP is MY GOP.

Scott Brown.  I didn't know much about Scott until he ran in the special election for State Senate.  As a Bristol County Young Repubilcan, and Scott's district includes the northern portion, I made the drive up there (at the time I rarely drove north of Taunton so that was quite a feat) and phone banked (which while utterly crucial is my LEAST favorite political activity).  Since then, Scott has come down to the SouthCoast repeatedly to help us fundraise - including at our recent "Big Dartmouth RTC Thingy."  Scott has been a good friend to my district and I deeply appreciate his time & attention to us down here in southern Bristol County.


"Tomorrow will be better for as long as America keeps alive the ideals of freedom and a better life." - Walt Disney

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by: BNCordeiro @ Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 19:29:33 PM CDT

Brown (0.00 / 0)

Is without a doubt one of the most visible candidates I have ever seen in my lifetime in MA.  Barely a week goes by when I don't see or hear him somewhere (recently he's been in national media...MSNBC, Fox).  He's on local cable in the Attleboro area, he at almost every local event (along with Betty Poirier), and is great at constituent response.  He's not a hard right winger....very moderate on social issues, fiscally conservative, active in military reserves (and veteran's issues), issues involving the elderly, and crimes against children.  He has broad appeal across the more moderate voting blocks.

But you are correct....there are more than few highly desirable right-of-center to choose from. I'm a fan of Hodgson and Hedlund as well.

But this brings up another question,  Has anyone floated the name Betty Poirier?  She's been a strong voice in this area for years, but somewhat less well known.

Follow me on twitter @garyrlake

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by: garyrlake @ Sat Aug 29, 2009 at 12:30:59 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Sullivan is my first choice. (0.00 / 0)

Brown is my second choice.  Nothing against Scott Brown, but Sullivan has been dealing with things at the federal level for the past 8 years.  That experience should count a great a deal in his favor.

Over at BMG, I noticed that someone suggested that Baker may run for the Senate seat since it might be a better fit for him with his health care background.  I think that would be odd for Baker to do, but the poster had a point about health care being the issue of the moment.  Sullivan actually had some dealings with the health care industry during his tenure as US Attorney:
http://money.cnn.com/magazines...

That puts him ahead of others in my opinion.

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"It is true that I am of an older fashion; much that I love has been destroyed or sent into exile." - The Judgement of Dr. Johnson, Act III

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by: Patrick @ Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 19:31:54 PM CDT

BMG (0.00 / 0)

Loves to try to pick our candidates. Of course, they're already compiling negative campaign information to use in the general election.  

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by: billxi @ Sat Aug 29, 2009 at 10:47:59 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

charlie baker should run (0.00 / 0)

i have been thinking about this a bit and i wonder if baker isn't in the wrong race. health care is an important issue right now and we need to be able to show voters that we have positive solutions to the problem that don't involve socialism. charlie has a lot of experience in the field and could build a coalition of republican and independent voters to win a special election and get sent to d.c. to help save our health care system in america. the democrats are going to run a lunatic who will be more of the same. we have a chance to win this one but we need the right man for the job!
it might be time for charlie to switch gears and run for the senate special election.  

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by: petesmit @ Sat Aug 29, 2009 at 19:38:34 PM CDT

Har har har! (0.00 / 0)

OK I admit, good one Cool Cal!

"When buying and selling are controlled by legislation, the first things to be bought and sold are legislators." -PJ O'Rourke

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by: South Shore Republican @ Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 08:07:14 AM CDT