Left In Lowell

Marty: I thought you were now an academician!

15 Responses to “Marty: I thought you were now an academician!”

1. Lynne Says:
   April 11th, 2007 at 1:24 pm

   Interesting link between Ellen Meehan’s business and Tsongas’ apparent stance in driving towards universal health care via private industry. Although I am loath to draw total conclusions based on circumstantial evidence, it does make one wonder.

   Nice job, Mimi, and I agree with the premise…I too was disappointed that the Meehans are not remaining neutral at least officially. Though it’s not unethnical or certainly illegal for anyone to jump into the fray for one candidate or other, the appearance is definitely that of “passing the torch” regardless of whether or not the candidate in question is the best one for the job.

2. Thom B Says:
   April 11th, 2007 at 1:47 pm

   I’m just a little surprised that two female voices are against a woman having and expressing her own opinion. Marty’s wife has every right to endorse whoever she wants too. She is not limited to cookie recipes. Heck she could even endorse one of the Republican candidates but that would go against the Democratic dynasty already in place.

3. Mimi Says:
   April 11th, 2007 at 2:25 pm

   I wish this discussion was about independent female voices. If the Tsongas campaign is going to evoke Paul’s legacy, I think it is only fair that we evoke Marty’s legacy.

   As for the Democratic Dynasty, don’t blame the Democrats. It has been months since we have known that seat was going to be open and we still do not have one single Republican who has declared his/her candidacy.

4. ArtisFun Says:
   April 11th, 2007 at 4:31 pm

   “the appearance is definitely that of “passing the torch” regardless of whether or not the candidate in question is the best one for the job.” Lynne

   “I wish this discussion was about independent female voices. If the Tsongas campaign is going to evoke Paul’s legacy,” Mimi

   It’s funny to see this “concern” over the succession of this congressional seat. The seat held by John Jacob Rogers from 1913-1925 then by his widow Edith Nourse Rogers, probably one of the greatest congressmen/person/women in the history of the country, until 1960.

   Now that’s what I call Passing the Torch.

5. Beyond 495 » Meehan Endorses Tsongas Says:
   April 11th, 2007 at 5:12 pm

   […] 8217;s not kid ourselves here, okay? Seems Meehan is playing king queenmaker here. Mimi at Left in Lowell had this to say: I thought Congressman Mee […]

6. Lynne Says:
   April 11th, 2007 at 5:22 pm

   If you want to equate “inheriting the seat” to “guarranteed great conngressperson” just on the one instance, sure, but I don’t think logically the two always follow. Secondly, the atmosphere for elected office has changed around here, or didn’t we notice in 2006…lots of outsiders, netroots candidates, and unknowns got into office - because we are sick of the status quo and of dynasties. Just because it was acceptable to have dynasties in the past doesn’t mean we want one here, unless said person is qualified in their own right. I hope people are judging on that standard and not just because it worked before. Maybe.

   I have my reservations about Niki Tsongas. I like her a lot personally, but I think she’d better get focused and specific in the content of her campaign real fast, because she’s being surpassed by others on that score, and on the things she hasgotten specific on, I definitely disagree with her stance on some issues that are very important to me (universal public health care for one). I believe there are some VERY excellent people in this race, and I hope they get a chance DESPITE the dynasty aspect.

   That said, I won’t begrudge Niki the chance to prove herself as a candidate. However, I’m not gonna give anyone a free pass because they have widespread institutional support and ties to the past.

7. Lynne Says:
   April 11th, 2007 at 5:23 pm

   And Ellen and Marty DO have to consider the weight their voices carry…it’s not about independent women or stiffling Ellen’s voice. Her voice carries that weight of her spouse’s position, and if SHE were the sitting Congresswoman and Marty the spouse I would say the same thing.

   I’m telling you, if I were in office, and my husband wanted to go out and support someone, I’d better damn well have some input as to whether or not that’s a good idea.

8. Big News in Ma-05 : Left Ahead Says:
   April 11th, 2007 at 5:55 pm

   […] above the fray… Here’s my take on everything, Susan 495 has more - as well as Mimi over at LeftinLowell. Comments […]

9. wavemaker Says:
   April 11th, 2007 at 7:59 pm

   “Marty’s legacy?”

   Like violating term limits and fundraising excess??

10. Turch Says:
    April 12th, 2007 at 6:41 am

    I was undecided, but the impression I’m getting is that Tsongas is trying to win this election based on who her spouse was, and she names a campaign chair based on who HER spouse is. I’ve followed politics in this area for a while now - perhaps not as closely as some others here - but has Ellen Murphy ever gone by Ellen Meehan on a regular basis? It doesn’t matter to me if it’s women running because of who their husbands are, or husbands running because of who their wives are. I’m looking for a leader, not a legacy (to use the college admissions lingo).

11. Mimi Says:
    April 12th, 2007 at 6:56 am

    Turch, well said.

12. pete the pirate Says:
    April 12th, 2007 at 9:37 am

    i, too, am surprised that on this forum ellen meehan is not allowed to make her own decision to support tsongas.
    but then this,
    I’m telling you, if I were in office, and my husband wanted to go out and support someone, I’d better damn well have some input as to whether or not that’s a good idea.
    explains a lot, eh mr lynne?

13. Lynne Says:
    April 12th, 2007 at 9:54 am

    What term limits? There aren’t any.

    If you mean the self-imposed one, well, frankly, I just think he was silly for saying it in the first place. Two terms, isn’t that what he had said? Yeah, that’ll get you a basement office and a cup of crappy coffee. You cannot (unfortunately) get anything done until you been there a few terms…you know…that whole seniority thing. Marty was able to throw his weight around the last few years for the issues he cares about and for the district because he had been there long enough to gain seniority. Don’t knock that. It’s the currency of the game.

    Why he didn’t see that from the beginning, either from naive idealism or using it as a way to win, I couldn’t guess. As to his fundraising, it is my understanding he did it the old fashioned hard way, instead of through big corporate donors…that counts for something in my book. After all, Deval Patrick raised record amounts from small donors and brought in millions…Obama the same thing…while people like Hillary Clinton have to go after big money. I think I prefer the former.

    Pete: have you actually been reading what’s been said, or do you just plow through and attribute motivations to people? The Meehan name is MORE than just a couple of citizens of the district and therefore this has GOT to have been weighed when this decision was made. You entirely missed the point of my comment, but then, that explains a lot, doesn’t it, Pete?

14. pete the pirate Says:
    April 13th, 2007 at 9:03 am

    lynne, i did read all the comments. sorry if i don’t agree with each one, or more importantly, with you.
    marty apparently was questioned about this issue on wcap and apparently (i don’t listen to wcap that much) said that he had discussed the issue with ellen and weighed what the ramifications would be to him and as adults they decided that he decision would be hers. holy crap! is’nt that what i said? these two adults spoke together, addressed potential problems, and decided that ellen is an adult individual capable of a thought independant of her spouse.
    there you go lynne.
    critique to follow:

15. Mimi Says:
    April 13th, 2007 at 12:12 pm

    Pete:

    I am glad that Marty and Ellen discussed this issue as adults. I am sure he will act like an adult when a Mass Senate seat finally opens up and Theresa or Victoria decide to be Campaign Chair for Barney Frank, Ed Markey or Steve Lynch.

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