Archive for the ‘opinion/news’ Category

I’m still in a bit of a daze as I start to re-transition to a normal life and try to catch up on sleep but I noticed that I didn’t do the “fun” posts that Dan and Stacy did so here is some of that:

Would you believe I was so tired I didn’t recognize Norah O’Donnell? Until I read Dan’s post I didn’t realize she was there. Then again ok it’s Norah O’Donnell she’s there, big deal.

Ace of spades is a nice quiet guy, his actual self is so counter instinctual to his blog.

I must have been the only guy there not drinking.

Ali Akbar (Brown’s new media guy) is a smart young young who has such a clear idea of what he wants to do it’s amazing. With the experience that age will bring he will really be a go to guy.

Update/Clarification: I should mention that Ali is not with the permanent staff but was hired by the Brown campaign. If what I saw was any indication I strongly suggest any person thinking of running a senate/house campaign give him a call to snap him up. He will be invaluable to you.

Oh and did I mention that some bloggers had better seats than media. (I wasn’t one of them) but that’s ok, in my opinion the stage wasn’t where the action is.

There is nothing that gives you the impression of the approach of old age than seeing all these people working and having the thought “My God they’re so young!” go through your head.

Speaking of going through one’s head, Pam Geller of Atlas tried on my fedora and I had to look away, my comment was I’m glad my wife didn’t know what I was thinking at that point. What was that thought? My God is this woman attractive!

I also complemented her on her work, the stuff she covers is very important, particularly with the level of indifference concerning Radical Islam.

Funny story I was discussing radical Islam with her for a bit when I realized that I hadn’t introduced myself to the lady to her left. (I’d already met Kerry Pickett) thinking I was being impolite to a lady I apologized and introduced myself. That person was Karen Tumulty of Time Magazine. I get the distinct impression that she thought I was trying to schmooze (hey look time talks to me), but unless she reads this (unlikely) she will never know.

Speaking of Kerry Pickett she was filing stories from my dining room table on Friday night. You can’t help but like this woman, she has competence in places that people don’t have, and has the bluntness of my older sister. She also has what I call the “20 year face” she is the type of woman who will look just as nice 20 years later. She reminds me of my wife brains and beauty. The fact that some lucky young man has not married her is a striking blow to the reputation of the entire male sex or a tribute to her good judgment in waiting for a guy worthy of her.

And yes I’m an old Sicilian Catholic that’s the way I think.

Speaking of young smart woman one of the great pleasure of the night was speaking with Roxeanne, ironic as one of my favorite films is Jose Ferrer’s as Cyrano de Bergerac

The concept that 1000 people were interested in what I had to say on a webcast was fascinating.

Strangely enough I had no interest in talking to the Brown daughters, but I must say I felt very good for his wife Gail who must have spent a lot of time biting her tongue in the last few weeks.

Carl Cameron is a very nice guy and gave us respect and time.

I can’t wait to find work so I can get a new laptop, mine is on its last legs.

Take a look at this video from 73wire Real Clear Politics and see if you can spot something important…

That is me in the background, While most of the reporter types were busy talking to themselves, I was interviewing the waitstaff. Why? Because they were the only voters in the room! I talked to more than a dozen of them and got great information on all kinds of things. It speaks volumes that a room full of reporters didn’t think of doing this.

If you want to get real answers to real questions ask Joe Malone, not Mitt Romney.

The local reporters don’t know how lucky they are. The Brown win will lead to more competitive races, which are less boring to cover.

I am not used to the amount of hits and e-mail I’ve gotten, it will be a bit till I’m caught up, and I apologize if I didn’t reply in my normal prompt way. No wonder instapundit doesn’t do comments.

None of the celebration stuff hit me, once I decided the race was over in my mind I was already thinking about the next story or maybe it was sheer exhaustion.

On and speaking of celebration I discovered Atlas dances while sitting down as I do.

Speaking of sheer exhaustion I’m hitting the sack since I have to be out of the house by 4. I can’t wait to return to a regular sleep cycle.

A lot of people are upset about this:

Sarah Palin, McCain’s former running mate and perhaps the most powerful brand in Republican politics, will stump for McCain in Arizona on March 26 and 27, a Palin adviser told CNN. The presence of Palin – and the considerable crowds and media attention she will draw – might give pause to J.D. Hayworth, the former Republican congressman and radio host who opposes McCain’s position on illegal immigration and is mulling a Senate run of his own.

Although some might disagree I think this is not only the right thing but it tells me something good about Sarah Palin, to wit:

You might recall I talked to the Mayor of Fitchburg yesterday, although it may hurt her politically she honored her 20 year friendship with her when she needed it, not discarding her for political expediency.

Sarah Palin was chosen by John McCain to be his running mate, when others have attacked her he not only did not, but also didn’t betray his friends who did the attacking. He was loyal.

Sarah Palin knows that a McCain endorsement will hurt her with the tea party people and with people who don’t like McCain. It doesn’t matter, McCain stood by her, she is standing by him.

This is important, if your pol is not honorable then the right position is only right until they need a new one (read Harold Ford).

Remember if she would sell McCain she will sell you.

Update: Michelle doesn’t like the situation but acknowledges the problem:

Tea Party activists are rightly outraged by Sarah Palin’s decision to campaign for McCain, whose entrenched incumbency and progressive views are anathema to the movement. At least she has an excuse: She’s caught between a loyalty rock and a partisan hard place.

Conservatives for Palin notes she is getting hit hard, but Hotair I believe gets it right:

I don’t think anyone will be swayed by Palin’s endorsement. No one seriously believes she’d be backing him if not for her personal loyalty to him, and McCain’s sufficiently infamous for his centrism that even her support won’t scrub him clean in the eyes of tea partiers. Which means this is actually a pretty shrewd move on her part: She gets credit for being a good soldier, especially in light of the sniping at her from his former campaign aides, whereas he gets maybe a few extra votes from conservatives.

We discussed this before he went home and Stacy thought the fault was McCain for putting her in that position.

…would take the right lesson or the wrong lesson from yesterday’s vote:

As I was driving home with Stacy after an errand I heard Rush reading this column in the Globe and I had my answer.

The sheer contempt for the electorate that the column and those who commented with approval of it drips of the bigotry I heard at the Obama rally combined with the arrogance of the Coakley campaign.

If the GOP doesn’t take advantage of this foolishness it’s only because they are not trying or in the word of Phil Sheridan:

Ride right through them, they’re demoralized as hell

If we don’t ride through them it’s because we are not trying.

Update: Camp of the Saints links and has pictures!

…but Dan’s system is snarfing something that my system can’t so I’ll type in my updates that I missed.

9:11 p.m Net is down again this is becoming a pain in the neck

9:13 p.m. Stacy is not a happy man right now

9:18 p.m. Talking to network lady working on it.

9:20 p.m. I’ve just been told that Coakley has conceded

9:22 p.m. The room just went up in a roar, they have found out and the crowd has gone wild….

9:29 p.m. Very jealous of Ace’s air card right now

9:40 p.m. Went through the crowd and talked to Joe Malone. He believes there will be no problem getting national GOP money to support local candidates for statewide office. He didn’t pad the answer.

9:50 p.m. Crowd chanting yankees suck when they show the Coakley stuff on the screen

9:52 p.m. Ace is blogging up a storm, since I can’t get on I’m searching out people to talk to for news.

10:01 p.m. The Loudest boo came when she thanked President Obama.

10:04 p.m. I’m still shocked it was only 5 pts.

10:05 p.m. For Martha Coakley the big question is: Can she get up off the mat and learn from this defeat enough to defend her job?

10:25 p.m. The warm up speakers are up, the crowd is VERY happy, I’m surprised how subdued I am.

10:28 p.m. Romney says the country has reason to thank us, he’s damn right.

10:31 p.m. Chant of “Gas up the truck”

10:32 p.m. Chant of “41!” followed by “People’s seat.”, now chant of “seat him now”

10:37 p.m. “It was all of us against the machine.” Boy I wish I could see Olberman’s face

10:38 p.m. Gail Huff is on the stage, I’m glad she can finally enjoy this.

10:39 p.m. He just said his daughters are both available, a bunch of heads at NOW just blew up.

10:43 p.m. Thanked John McCain (also was gracious to Kerry, and the President) should thank the Other McCain too

10:46 p.m. “When they’re in trouble in Massachusetts, they’re in trouble everywhere.” Democrats should be afraid very afraid.

10:48 p.m. Hits the heathcare bill, more than anything else that caused democrats to cross over.

10:50 p.m. USA chant

10:51 p.m. I really owe Dan Collins a big one for this.

10:57 p.m. “I’m nobody’s senator but yours” Down come the balloons.

11:00 p.m. I’m still pretty surprised at the smallness of the win. Expected much more, I will be very interested in the breakdown of the Democratic absentee vote,