Da Techguy's (no longer backup) Blog

The last pre-polls closed moment I had was with Annie DiMartino who I didn’t realize was Annie until I came up to her wrapped up in a heavy coat and a hat.

Off Camera Annie thought that both Deval and Olver would win by a hair, she figured the project money for Olver would make the difference. She was the only thing grass-roots about this election for democrats. She thought it would be MUCH closer, then again in her years in politics the machine never really had to put its full effort out.

One of the few bright spots of the night was Jen Caissie’s win for Gov’s council. Remember without the democratic lock on that council you don’t get the 4-3 ruling that has convulsed the country for a decade. (and cost 3 iowa judges their jobs yesterday)

Mary had reason to cheer at the end of the day

In the parking lot that evening I noticed a man next to a truck on a cell phone telling a person he would be here until the fellow on the other line came down to vote. That is how a ground game is played particularly in a union. If you don’t tow the line you don’t get the job. Think of On the Waterfront with a political machine as Johnny Friendly and no violence. When Gov Patrick thanked the “get out the vote” campaign he knew what he was talking about.

People are wondering how Scott Brown managed to win statewide when no other Republican did. This is an easy one. There was no skin in the game for Beacon Hill. Brown was on the ticket alone and nobody’s personal fiefdom was on the line with no other democratic race involved. This was all about personal patronage the protection on the graft and their cookie jar. It is the reason you had hundreds of poll watchers out. They understood that if they lost, the money they get from you was dried up.

That BTW is way Saddam’s home area fought so hard in Iraq, it wasn’t because of their love for Saddam it’s because when he stole from the majority, they were the ones who benefited, they fought for the money.

BTW to everyone who was insisting that we tea party folks are backed by big money, Massachusetts put the lie to that canard. Marty Lamb for example was outspent 30-1. Run that through your head. 30 to 1.. The difference between the two campaigns were the difference between those paid to hold a sign and those who volunteered to do so.

Gracious in defeat

Bill Gunn started the evening with a prayer that all sides graciously accept God will and the results whatever they may be. When things went bad and he talked to us again he talked of all the hard work and all the money that we forced the other side to spend. It was a very encouraging speech.

Apparently that same prayer wasn’t said at the Barney Frank HQ. Have you ever seen a more ungracious winner that Barney Frank? It was as if he was offended that he had to actually run for his seat? What really offends him is the loss of his chairmanship. Good luck getting those expensive plane rides paid for without that authority.

Baring a retirement by another member. I hope Mr. Keating who won in the 10th after one of the most disgraceful campaigns I’ve seen enjoys his single term. As the newbie without a retirement there is no way he doesn’t end up restricted to run against a more experienced congressman.

Actually we will find out a lot about the popularity/power of Barney Frank by how that redistricting goes. If Keating’s district is merged with Frank then Barney will have a 2nd tough primary battle and this time the undeclared will likely turn out in DROVES to take the democratic ballot to pop him in the primary. If Keating ends up against Capuano that will speak to Barney’s clout.

The reason why the polls didn’t reflect how strong democrats would run in congress is the same reason why Sharon Angle out-polled Harry Reid right till election day. Without the machine to get them out the union voters would have stayed home.

The worst part of the results is the loss of fear by those in power. As recently as Sunday insiders expressed real fear about this election (which generated the machine in full swing) How restrained will those same office holders be after this victory? Do you think they are afraid of being audited by Susanne Bump or prosecuted by Coakley? HA!

The parallel that instantly comes to mind is Hal Chase’s “Trial” by the national league on Jan 30th 1919 over allegations of working with gamblers to throw ball games. (The same gamblers that he would help fix the world series with 9 months afterward) He was acquitted by the league and as Bill James said:

He was free, then. It had all been brought out into the open , and he had gotten by with it. This seems to have had a liberating effect of Chase’s activities…

This election will have a very liberating effect on the State Legislature and Gov Patrick. If you stayed home you cast that not guilty vote that will free them from all restraint.

I like Carla Howell but she has to stop putting questions on the ballot about sales tax repeal etc. First of all the legislature is not obliged to obey them and second of all it is stuff like that which drives union turnout. There were more people in Fitchburg holding signs against question 3 in ward 6 than for any democrat candidate.

The night of Scott Brown’s win I asked Gov Romney what he would do to make that night was Berlin 1989 vs Hungary in 1958, he answered in generalities. He performed in generalities during this election too. One campaign appearance at the end for Jeff Perry tells us that Mitt considered Massachusetts one thing, a stepping stone for the white house. A lot of republicans who could have used his help won’t forget that he was elsewhere during the campaign.

What needs to be done is this: The tea party folks who held signs and fought so hard need to run for local and city-wide elections. The State machine is less likely to bring out the muscle (which costs money that local campaigns don’t have) to put you down.