Interestingly, we found that MIT has a surprisingly strong libertarian streak — 498 people, or about 23 percent of respondents, said that they did consider themselves to be a libertarian. Of those, 35 percent said the Libertarian Party best reflects their views, and 23 percent said the Democratic Party best reflects their views. Only 30 self-identified libertarians, a mere six percent, felt the Tea Party best represented their views. That was only slightly less than the Republican Party, which captured 9 percent of self-identified Libertarians.

The poll, conducted in October, showed a full 9% of the respondents supporting the Libertarian Party. This number matched the support for the Republican Party, despite the fact that a significantly greater number of students are ideologically libertarian rather than members of the party. This seems to indicate room to grow for the party on campus.

There is no mention of the Green Party or other political parties, although ideologically much of the campus appears progressive. In addition, the poll has certain flaws- it was sent via email to all MIT students (to which 20% of the student body replied), so it has a certain degree of non-response bias.

Dear Friend of Liberty,

Like you, I am upset that the health care bill passed last night. Another huge expansion of government spending and government control is not good for our freedom or our health.

When I heard about the passage, I was reminded of the many hateful emails I received earlier this year demanding that the Libertarian Party make Libertarian Independent candidate Joe Kennedy drop out of the Massachusetts U.S. Senate race and endorse Republican Scott Brown. Doing so, “at this time, for this election, was more important than ever in order to save America from socialism,” or so they said. Even though Scott Brown supported Mitt Romney’s mandatory universal health insurance for Massachusetts residents, somehow electing a Republican, any Republican, instead of a Democrat was supposed to save America.

Even 30% of poll respondents on our website supported such a move.

I am proud that Libertarian Joe Kennedy stood firm and stayed in that race, despite the nasty messages and threats he received.

However, a lot of people gave in to that argument and voted for Scott Brown. What happened? The health care plan passed anyway. And on top of it, there’s now another big-government senator voting for things like “jobs packages.”

But if just 20% of Massachusetts residents had voted for Libertarian Joe Kennedy, I bet that would have sent such a loud message that it would have stopped this health care plan in its tracks. I think this is a clear reminder why we should all stand firm and vote for Libertarians, whether or not they’re in close races.

I watched just a few minutes of the debate last night on C-SPAN. I could not stand hearing Republicans proclaim in the same sentence that we need to oppose government takeover of health care, and also to protect Medicare! What hypocrites. Medicare is government health care too. It was the 2003 Republican Congress and President George Bush that passed the $400 billion Medicare prescription coverage expansion (that later turned out to cost over $1 trillion).

I was on a radio show this morning and a caller asked me, “Is there even any hope for America?” I want to thank him for asking me that, because I am reminded that America is still one of the freest and most prosperous nations on earth, even though that freedom and prosperity are at great risk. Things are getting tougher, but America is still a great place and our freedom is still worth fighting for even if we lose some battles along the way.

Somewhat related to this topic, we’ve had a poll on our website for a couple of weeks, which asks, “Which expensive government project do you support the most?”

Former Libertarian Presidential nominee Harry Browne used to say, “Would you give up your favorite federal programs if it meant you’d never have to pay income tax again?”

I hope you’ll go to the poll and pick the Libertarian option: “None of the above. Cut spending on all of them.” At the time of sending this message, that option has just 45% of the votes.

Sincerely,

Wes Benedict
Executive Director
Libertarian National Committee

P.S. If you have not yet become a member of the Libertarian Party and
wish to do so, please click here and join the only political party
dedicated to free markets and civil liberties. If you need to renew,
please click here. If you would like to make a contribution separate
from membership, please click here.

We learned today that the new Republican senator from Massachusetts, Scott Brown, plans to vote with Democrats in favor of a big-government jobs bill. It’s too bad Massachusetts voters missed the opportunity to elect Libertarian Joe Kennedy.

Before the election, many people were demanding that Joe Kennedy drop out of the race. In this article, Kennedy explains his decision to stay in.

Shortly after the election, Kennedy also sent the following thank-you note to his supporters:

I want to send a huge THANK YOU out to my supporters and congratulate Senator Brown on his new role in the U.S. Senate. Senator Brown ran a very aggressive campaign and was able to get the support and funds needed to pull a huge upset in Massachusetts. May he represent the people well.

As for me, I have already been asked by a large number of people What’s Next? I have been asked to run for Auditor (I am backing Kamal Jain for Auditor), Governor (The field for Governor already is full with multimillionaires), to run against Brown in 2012, to run against Kerry in 2014, to run against Barney Frank and many other positions. All I can say is I am flattered and honored by this show of continued support. Before I run for other positions, I need to talk about this race, some of the lessons learned, and the steps necessary for me to consider running in the future.

This was a learning experience. We ran the best race for Senate possible given the limited fundraising budget of a meager $18,000. With each step in the process, we learned and many times by trial and error. In addition, we faced obstacles never imagined. During the campaign, we faced sharp criticism and a change of heart from key supporters. Tea Party supporters turned their back on our campaign, despite my personal commitments in the past to numerous local events. Fellow Libertarians sent email after email asking me to drop out and support Brown. Members of the Independent party requested that we throw our support to Scott Brown. The negative email campaign from Tea Parties and Brown supporters from across the country impacted us greatly and we did not have the staff to compete against it. For those who are not aware, my unpaid campaign staff consisted of part-timers with limited campaign experience, and faced with the unmanageable task of coordinating campaign efforts across the state.

Here is my promise to you: I will do what needs to be done in Washington. I will go down there and file legislation to cut spending, hack jobs, useless departments and anything I find that is wasteful. I will fight lobbyists, cut my own salary and work to bring the Washington aristocracy back to earth. I will work to eliminate the FED, end any wars and ensure equal rights for all. I want to do this. And, I want your help.

Our biggest lesson learned is support and backing are essential. I will not run a losing campaign again. I need you to take an active role in mobilizing resources across the state while raising funds to pay for staff and advertising amongst other campaign costs. We can do this together. I will keep this site up, spread my own word, join organizations and sacrifice my own time. I ask of you, what are you willing to sacrifice for your country, your state, and your liberties?

If you want me to run again, I leave it up to you. Find me events, spread the word, and find a way to assist in funding my next campaign. When elected I will work harder for you and your wallet than anyone in government today. If you want me to run again we need to start today. Spread the word, get more people to join the site and keep the energy flowing. Let us together continue what we started and bring back a government of and for the people.

Thank you again.

Joseph L. Kennedy

Thank You

I want to send a huge THANK YOU out to my supporters and congratulate Senator Brown on his new role in the U.S. Senate. Senator Brown ran a very aggressive campaign and was able to get the support and funds needed to pull a huge upset in Massachusetts. May he represent the people well.

As for me, I have already been asked by a large number of people “What’s Next”? I have been asked to run for Auditor (I am backing Kamal Jain for Auditor), Governor (The field for Governor already is full with multimillionaires), to run against Brown in 2012, to run against Kerry in 2014, to run against Barney Frank and many other positions. All I can say is I am flattered and honored by this show of continued support. Before I run for other positions, I need to talk this race, some of the lessons learned, and the steps necessary for me to consider running in the future.

This was a learning experience. We ran the best race for Senate possible given the limited fundraising budget of a meager $18,000. With each step in the process, we learned and many times by trial and error. In addition, we faced obstacles never imagined. During the campaign, we faced sharp criticism and a change of heart from key supporters. Tea Party supporters turned their back on our campaign, despite my personal commitments in the past to numerous local events. Fellow Libertarians sent email after email asking me to drop out and support Brown. Members of the Independent party requested that we throw our support to Scott Brown. The negative email campaign from Tea Parties and Brown supporters from across the country impacted us greatly and we did not have the staff to compete against it. For those who are not aware, my unpaid campaign staff consisted of part-timers with limited campaign experience, and faced with the unmanageable task of coordinating campaign efforts across the state.

Here is my promise to you; I will do what needs to be done in Washington. I will go down there and file legislation to cut spending, hack jobs, useless departments and anything I find that is wasteful. I will fight lobbyists, cut my own salary and work to bring the Washington aristocracy back to earth. I will work to eliminate the FED, end any wars and ensure equal rights for all. I want to do this. And, I want your help.

Our biggest lesson learned is support and backing are essential. I will not run a losing campaign again. I need you to take an active role in mobilizing resources across the state while raising funds to pay for staff and advertising amongst other campaign costs. We can do this together. I will keep this site up, spread my own word, join organizations and sacrifice my own time. I ask of you, what are you willing to sacrifice for your country, your state, and your liberties?

If you want me to run again, I leave it up to you. Find me events, spread the word, and find a way to assist in funding my next campaign. When elected I will work harder for you and your wallet than anyone in government today. If you want me to run again we need to start today. Spread the word, get more people to join the site and keep the energy flowing. Let us together continue what we started and bring back a government of and for the people.

Thank you again.
Joseph L Kennedy

Dear IPR, this caught my attention. Please use as you see fit:

Massachusetts Republicans are asking Joe Kennedy to join the GOP and run for Secretary of State. This is from Red Mass Group, the main blog for MA Republicans.

Dear Joe Kennedy, Please Run for Secretary of State

http://www.redmassgroup.com/diary/6981/

The current Secretary of State, Galvin, tried to keep Bob Barr off the ballot in 2008. (He wanted to place on the ballot a losing candidate for the LP Presidential nomination)

Barr Wins Massachusetts Substitution Case

http://www.ballot-access.org/2008/09/22/barr-wins-massachusetts-substitution-case/

The Boston Globe reports that Democrat Martha Coakley has called her Republican opponent, Scott Brown, and congratulated him on his victory.

If the reported returns so far are accurate, it looks like Brown about 52%, Coakley about 47%. If that’s true, then it’s a pretty sad commentary on Massachusetts. Whodathunk that in the birthplace of the American Revolution, only 1 in 100 voters would support the only candidate who in any way stands for that Revolution’s values?

Update on the oddsmaker angle: Tuesday morning, I swagged the outcome as Brown 49%, Coakley 46%, Kennedy 5%. The actual outcome seems to have been Brown 52.2%, Coakley 46.8%, Kennedy 1%.

Recent polls had Kennedy at the 5% I predicted. I should have guessed that “wasted vote syndrome” would bring that way down, but I was unduly optimistic in this case — the “major party” candidates were just so godawful that I thought Kennedy’s vote would stick because it had no other even nominally worthwhile candidate to go to.

I’d be interested to know where that 4% did go to. Rasmussen had Coakley as the second choice of Kennedy supporters by a 2-1 margin. If that is how the fallaway from Kennedy broke, then Brown was doing better, and Coakley worse, than I thought before they picked up their respective last-minute-poltroon votes.

IPR posts about Joe Kennedy

Joe Kennedy For Senate

There has been a wave of videos modeled after the now notorious America Rising theme and their popularity is growing.  It must be the music in combination with rapid image rotation, because you could literally make any video popular. If you use this formula and stick pictures of zebras, unicorns and Teletubbies while threatening a revolution – people will cheer and run to the nearest gun store.

This video however is just embarrassing and indicative that a mental plague has afflicted Massachusetts.  Most of us were mortified one year ago at the rumbling Obama train.  We were scared to see so many people move lockstep like sheep and support a man for reasons they could not explain.  We kept hearing the muffled chant of “yes we can” and “change and hope”, but could not extract any information out of the unfortunate zombies awestruck by the Deity known as Obama.

We have on our hands a similar phenomena, but it is happening to the ideologically opposing demographic.  It is now the “conservatives” assuming troop formation and steadily marching to the beat of Scott Brown.  In this video we see parallels between the American revolution and a Brown victory.  Really?  Equating a minority movement fighting for people’s rights, individualism, liberty and freedom to one of the authors of RomneyCare?   Someone pinch me, I am in a never ending nightmare where my fellow Americans move from one Kool-aid station to the next.   Yet apparently a great victory is coming tomorrow, a victory so great that it’s greatness will only be eclipsed by the victory itself.  Have you actually asked yourself:  What does a Scott Brown victory do for you? This is not a Massachusetts miracle this is mass insanity.

(For the video see the original post)

From Arkady’s pre-election predictions at RightCondition:

When people ignore the issues and support a candidate because of an attractive personal element or as symbolic opposition this translates into votes. Obama sailed in on his oratory, intelligence, charm, skin color and as a symbol of opposition to Bush. Brown will sail in on his charm, oratory, intelligence and as a symbol of opposition to Obama(Care). Brown represents the 41st vote to filibuster ObamaCare something he repeatedly promised to do. Of course the irony is that ObamaCare will move to it’s destined location regardless of Brown! It may very well die without a vote at all or they may push it through as is (assuming Pelosi concedes), but either way Brown’s role will not be significant. All these factors coalescing together have formed an incredible surge in momentum and are now on the cusp of handing the Democrats a most bitter upset. By tomorrow evening the torch of the Kennedy dynasty that has kept the liberal fire going for over 60 years will finally go dark.

Majority of Americans will be celebrating a great victory tomorrow and many will believe that a new era is upon us. Of course many believed the same just over a year ago when Obama assumed the White House. I wrote to you then that no good change would come and so far this has been the case and I write to you now that Brown’s election is meaningless. Brown represents the same old tired big spending, smooth talking liberal Republicans that have dominated Washington DC for decades and if you expect an old dog to learn new tricks, then you are gullible and misguided.

Aftermath: Brown wins, now what?

Not too bad on the prediction, eh folks?  I am a bit bummed out that my candidate of choice failed to get my predicted 3%, but Joe Kennedy ran to the best of his abilities and passionately argued for small government.  I applaud him for that and hopefully the 22,000 people who cast their votes will have their voices heard at some point in the future.  So now what?

Let’s go over the good.  First of all, as discussed previously some liberals are probably on the verge of a mental breakdown.  Always good.  It looks like their prediction for the collapse of the GOP has proven to be a bit premature, as this piece from Time aptly suggests:  Republicans in Distress: Is the Party Over?

So are the Republicans going extinct? And can the death march be stopped? The Washington critiques of the Republican Party as powerless, leaderless and rudderless — the new Donner party — are not very illuminating.

Nothing would make Time happier than one party rule.   Alas, the GOP with the help of Rasmussen has shocked the nation and more importantly shocked the liberal base of Massachusetts bringing us to the next point.  Kennedy dynasty.  Demolished.  While many people have strong sentimental attachment to the Kennedy family, sentimental attachment to any political figure is creepy and belongs in Fascist Italy or Soviet Russia.  It is time this monarchical dynasty end it’s control over this Senate seat and give someone else a try.  Thirdly, Obama just received another slap in the face.  I guess the New Jersey/Virginia incidents did not leave a mark, but as they say, third time is the charm.  Perhaps next time Obama decides to stump for someone, they will think twice. 

Lastly, the Democrats will have to play real dirty now and if you thought the Nelson bribe was bad, wait until you see what is coming next.  With their hand forced Reid/Pelosi will stop at nothing to accomplish their agenda.  Reid is politically dead anyway, so he has nothing to lose and Pelosi will simply not squander 6 months of hard work because of this unfortunate incident.  It will be exciting to see just how creative they will get and I fear that reconciliation may be back on the table – especially if Democrats have come to terms with their political fate coming this November!

On to the bad.  Fundamentally speaking, despite some rather creative analogies to Concord and Lexington, nothing was accomplished.  Yes, one seat flipped from blue to red for the next two years, but in reality nothing changed.  Brown is still a liberal Republican and just because he talks a good game or calls himself fiscally conservative does not make him so.  No, the author of RomneyCare and opposer of all tax cuts is a big spending Republican and that is a fact.  So while his presence takes away the Democrat majority, it only does so as long as the Democrats continue to push a radical agenda.  This is crucial to understand.  If Reid or Pelosi decide to play ball and are wiling to compromise then Brown and his ilk will concede immediately.   It won’t happen right away, but it will happen eventually and that is a guarantee.  Politicians like Brown have a very nice record, a record most people chose to ignore and it suggests that he views Government as a useful tool in domestic and fiscal capacities – you have been warned. 

Ultimately the difference between the two parties narrows and despite the preposterous claims of “revolution” and “we are the champions” there is only victor today; Government.  It’s growth did not suffer a blow today and it’s agenda will continue; it will bob and weave and even pretend to be your friend, but it’s growth is as certain as the rising sun and effects as powerful as the sun’s heat.  Many continue bouncing between the Left and the Right desperately seeking change, failing to realize the distance between the Left and the Right is rapidly shrinking and will eventually reduce the once dramatic bounce to a stationary spin.  This is our legacy and we are doomed to repeat it.

America is asleep and a great awakening is required to dramatically alter our course.  Tea parties, marches and protests are a good start, but I am afraid more is needed.  Despite the mounting economic hardship, rising unemployment and declining purchasing power of our currency, America sleeps.   If bouncing between the comforts of our two political parties is sufficient to dull the senses, then we have much to learn.  Only further economic hardship, more unemployment and further damaging inflation can awaken the sleeping giant and we are rapidly running out of time. 

If time runs out, we will be at a crossroads in the future and the direction of this country will heavily depend on the collective desire of the American people.  We will either fight for our Constitution, our traditions and our laws or we will plunge into chaos.  My only hope is that we are not faced with such a dilemma, because if history is any indication the outcome of all such previous situations results in totalitarian control.  Make November, 2010 the month of real change.

On that lovely note, congratulations Scott Brown.

IPR posts about Joe Kennedy

Joe Kennedy For Senate

In this Dedham Transcript article, Joe Kennedy discusses the election, his opponents, and those who demanded that he drop out.

Detailed election results are available here.

The Libertarian Party congratulates Joe on his run. Visit his campaign website.

IPR posts about Joe Kennedy

Joe Kennedy For Senate

Any Attempt to Pass Universal Healthcare Now will Damage the Obama Presidency Beyond Repair…and Result in Unrest in the Streets.

Las Vegas Oddsmaker-Turned-Vice Presidential-Nominee Predicted Scott Brown Victory in Massachusetts…and Now Makes More Controversial Political Predictions.

Last Night’s Big Winners: Tea Parties, Conservatives, Libertarians, Small Business Owners, the Cop from Cambridge, and Hillary Clinton.

Last Night’s Big Losers: Obama, Harry Reid, Ted Kennedy, Unions, and Universal Healthcare.

By Wayne Allyn Root, 2008 Libertarian Vice Presidential Nominee

A few thoughts and predictions on winners and losers after the historic upset in Massachusetts last night:

The citizen revolution- as predicted in the sub title of my new book- has begun. The Tea Parties really are the most popular political party in America.

Ted Kennedy is rolling over in his grave. His seat has gone not just to a Republican…not just to a conservative…but to a Tea Party-supported candidate who drives a pickup truck.

Obama denigrated the cop from Cambridge, Massachusetts only a few short months ago…now the Cambridge Police Department (who endorsed Scott Brown) and the state of Massachusetts have handed Obama the most humiliating defeat in political history. Call it the revenge of the Cambridge cops!

Obama just became the biggest flameout in U.S. political history. If you can’t win in the bluest state in America…you’re going to lose by a landslide in 2010 and 2012 everywhere else. Can you imagine? Obama and Obamacare were just repudiated by the same voters that brought us the Kennedys, McGovern, Dukakis and Kerry.

Why did this happen in Massachusetts of all places? Because Massachusetts just happens to be the only state in America that already has universal healthcare. They are the only voters who know for a fact that government-run healthcare is a catastrophe…and that every word coming out of Obama’s mouth is a lie. Their vote is witness to their anger and disillusion.



This was NOT a Republican victory. Those who think it is are sadly mistaken. Just as Obama’s victory was misunderstood from day one- it was never a vote for Obama and the Democrats. It was a vote against Bush. Scott Brown’s victory was a vote for conservative fiscal principles…against universal healthcare….against bigger government…against socialism…and against Obama.

The same Tea Party voters who handed Scott Brown the biggest upset in political history will throw his butt out of office if he betrays their principles of smaller government, lower taxes and power to the people. No one politician and no one party is in control now. The people are in control- just as the Founding Fathers intended.

Conservatives, Libertarians, small business owners, and anyone who stands for smaller government won a huge victory tonight…as did the American taxpayer. The grownups who actually pay the taxes and create the jobs are taking back the country.

For the Rest of the article, click here: Citizen Revolution!

IPR posts about Joe Kennedy

Joe Kennedy For Senate

At the point at which 94% of the vote had been counted in the special U.S. Senate race in Massachusetts, the vote was: 1,148,400 for the Republican nominee; 1,029,600 for the Democratic nominee; 22,100 for the Libertarian who was running as an independent candidate. The percentages at that point were: Republican 52.2%; Democratic 46.8%; Libertarian independent 1.0%.

Here is a newspaper interview [Dedham’s Joe Kennedy: ‘We made a statement. People listened’] with the Libertarian candidate, Joseph Kennedy, conducted after the results were known.

IPR posts about Joe Kennedy

Joe Kennedy For Senate

Liberty for Massachusetts? Unlikely, but worth pursuing anyway

I’m taking a break — just finished another 100 name/phone number matches for the Massachusetts Libertarian “Get Out The Vote” phone banks — and I’d like to take a minute to formally endorse Joe Kennedy.

He’s not one of “those” Kennedys, as he’s gone out of his way to make clear (Democrat Martha Coakley’s campaign has also been vocal in driving home that point, for obvious reasons).

This Kennedy is the pro-freedom candidate — the only pro-freedom candidate — in today’s election to fill the US Senate seat vacated by Ted Kennedy’s death.

Just to elaborate a bit on that point: If you’re a Massachusetts voter and you vote for anyone but Joe Kennedy today, you’re voting against freedom, baseball, apple pie, Mom and America.

Whether or not you’re a Massachusettsian, if you’re voting or working for or donating to or talking up any candidate except Joe Kennedy today, you’re pissing on the graves of the Lexington and Concord Minutemen. You’re spiking the cannon that Knox dragged down from Ticonderoga. You’re making a mockery of the Boston Tea Party and you’re dancing in the blood of Samuel Gray, James Caldwell, Crispus Attucks, Samuel Maverick and Patrick Carr.

Yes, it really is that simple.

Can Kennedy win? Well, yes — if a plurality of Massachusetts voters decide to support him.

Is that likely to happen? Of course not. Libertarians haven’t yet persuaded a plurality of Massachusetts voters that we represent their highest aspirations while the Republicans and Democrats represent nothing worthy of support.

Does it matter whether or not Kennedy wins? Yes, it does. Because he will not win, the Senate will remain 100% anti-freedom instead of becoming even a paltry 1% pro-freedom. Over the course of Ted Kennedy’s unexpired term, it’s likely that that one pro-freedom vote would have made a difference in any number of bills — passing them, defeating them, or amending them to make them better.

Since he won’t win, does it matter which of the two anti-freedom candidates wins? Not really.

There are differences between Brown and Coakley, and between their parties, but not differences substantial enough to merit supporting either one. Do you really care that much whether the creatures gnawing the flesh off your bones are coyotes or happen to be hyenas?

Voting for or otherwise supporting Joe Kennedy means never having to say you’re sorry. It means knowing that you did the best you could do for Massachusetts and for America. That’s something worth knowing about yourself even if 95% of the people around you couldn’t, wouldn’t, or didn’t put down the Demopublican crack pipe.

Game Day in Taxachusetts

It’s about 4am in Massachusetts right now. The polls open at 7am and close at 8pm (unless the rules have changed since November).

Prediction #1

Photo from fOTOGLIF
Scott Brown wins the election by 4-7%. Maybe more, but I think that’s a reasonable projection.

All three candidates will be working their Get Out The Vote operations to the very last minute, but Brown and Kennedy have the advantage.

It’s winter weather with snow and rain in the forecast. Democratic voters are already demoralized. Maybe they’ll brave the cold and wind and sludge to vote, maybe they’ll stay inside where it’s nice and warm.

Brown voters are energized — not for any particularly good reason, but hey, people in India get killed in senseless religious stampedes all the time, don’t they?

Most Kennedy voters are ideological voters. They never expected their candidate to win. Although they’re doing their best to make that happen, they’ll vote come hell or high water to have their dissenting voices heard, to send their message, to register their preference in the face of the knowledge that that preference will not be realized … this time.

Scientific Wild Ass Guess: Brown 49%, Coakley 46%, Kennedy 5%.

But I could be very wrong.

Prediction #2

There will be controversy.

If Brown wins by a smidgen, of course, we’ll have the whole “hanging chad” recount routine a la Bush v. Gore, Franken v. Coleman, etc.

If Coakley wins, the margin won’t matter — all we’ll hear about for the next six months is vote fraud, whether there’s any evidence for it or not.

If Brown wins, his seating will be delayed. All it takes is a few local clerks willing to stall for the full 15 days they’re allowed before they have to certify their tallies to the Secretary of State. Other delaying tactics become available after that. Unless the Senate Democratic Caucus’s party discipline breaks down completely — which is possible if enough Senators start seeing pitchforks and tar in their re-election futures — Brown will be sworn and seated when Joe Biden and/or Harry Reid damn well feel like getting around to it.

While Brown’s seating is delayed, Republicans will try to keep temporary appointee Paul Kirk, whose replacement is to be chosen today, from voting in the US Senate.

Their argument is complete BS (hint: “Qualified,” as used in the General Laws of Massachusetts, specifically alludes to “qualification by oath” — an elected official becomes “qualified” when he’s sworn in, which can’t happen until the election is certified), but they’ll make it anyway. Not because they think it’s a winning argument, but because they’ll be playing primarily to people who’ll believe, well, pretty much anything. Barack Obama is a Kenyan-born secret Muslim! Saddam Hussein planned to attack the US with flying killer robots! And so on, and so forth.

Asides

The two best things that could happen to the Democratic Party, and the two worst things that could happen to the Republican Party right now would be:

- Scott Brown winning today’s election; and

- ObamaCare going down in flames.

If Brown wins, the Democratic base gets re-energized/re-mobilized for this year’s campaign. If Coakley wins … hey, a Democrat won in Massachusetts … yawn.

If Brown wins, we get to find out whether the Tea Party populists are the real thing or just political streetwalkers. The GOP establishment thinks it’s bought the Tea Parties for a one-night stand (a threesome with Dede Scozzafava Lite) on January 19th, and it thinks it can buy them again for a Tuesday night gangbang in November.

If the GOP establishment is right, the Tea Partiers will take the money on the nightstand and start lubing up for Round Two. If the GOP establishment is wrong, the Tea Partiers will back third party candidates in November. My guess is that we’ll see some of both, and that there will either be two distinct Tea Party movements or one pale shadow of a Tea Party movement by November.

If Coakley wins, the Tea Party movement may be able to forget what a bullshit whistledick hack of a candidate Brown was, tell itself that the money on the nightstand must have been accidentally dropped there, and convince itself that its gentleman admirer really does plan to leave his wife for it after the … special party (“really, honey, the ball gag and handcuffs will be fun and my buddies will use condoms, I promise — let’s just get adventurous this once!”) … in Novemeber.

If ObamaCare fails, the Democrats get to blame them there obstructionist Republicans for the next ten months. If ObamaCare passes, the Democrats have to spend the next ten months defending it. Which explains why GOP Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has been busting his ass to make sure it passes.

I don’t know if the Democrats have really thought this thing out yet. I get the feeling that they really will push ObamaCare through. Won’t be the first time they’ve snatched defeat from the jaws of … well, lesser defeat.

The GOP will pick up seats in both houses of Congress in November. A Brown victory probably means a minimum of two fewer pickups in each house, though, and dumping ObamaCare would cut the GOP’s gains even further.

IPR posts about Joe Kennedy

Joe Kennedy For Senate

Independent voters in Massachusetts are an unpredictable breed and downright ornery when times are bad. On Tuesday, they will determine who will be the state’s next US senator in a race too close to call, capturing the nation’s attention because the fate of a national health care overhaul hangs in the balance.  Termed unenrolled voters because they are not affiliated with a party, independents constitute a majority of the registered voters in the state.  Republicans, outnumbered by Democrats by more than 3 to 1, need to capture a huge majority of independents and a slice of moderate and conservative Democrats to win statewide elections.  [Emphasis added.]

Gallup Polls provide some more numbers:

As Massachusetts prepares for its high-visibility special Senate election on Jan. 19, a new Gallup analysis shows that the state has significantly more residents identifying as political independents (49%) than as Democrats (35%). The percent identifying themselves as Democratic matches the national average, while the percent independent is well above the national norm.

IPR posts about Joe Kennedy

Joe Kennedy For Senate

Political Predictions of GOP Victory…from the Only Las Vegas Oddsmaker-Turned Vice Presidential Nominee

By Wayne Allyn Root, 2008 Libertarian Vice Presidential Nominee

It was only a few weeks ago that I predicted in a commentary that Democrats would pass universal healthcare without a so-called “public option.” At the time, Democratic leaders in Congress were screaming hysterically about the public option having to be included. I predicted in my commentary that this was all a smokescreen…a charade…to distract the voters. Democrats never intended to pass a public option. The plan all along was to pass something with a different name, that appears at first glance to be “more moderate,” and claim they had compromised. In reality this 2000+ page healthcare monstrosity is the death of American business. It is the opening for socialism (government control of business and our lives- medical and financial) that Obama and his radical leftist cabal have sought from day one. My prediction has come true. That’s exactly what is happening.

It was only a few days ago that I predicted in a commentary that President Obama never intended to tax high value health insurance plans that belong to union members. That too was a smokescreen intended to make him look “fair.” In the end I predicted that Obama would give a corrupt special interest gift to the unions that contributed so mightily to his election, and find a way to make unions wiggle out of paying for universal healthcare. That’s exactly what happened late last week. Obama gave the unions an exemption so outrageous it should lead to revolution in the streets from…everyone else. Where’s my exemption? Where’s yours?

I have news for Obama- If you think everyone in the country should pay for universal healthcare…except union members…YOU JUST PROVED YOU’RE NOT ONLY A SOCIALIST….BUT A CORRUPT ONE TOO.

Obama’s corrupt compromise gave unions a 5-year exemption from higher taxes, while the rest of us suffer right away. But that’s only the start of this outrageous scam. The reason Obama gave the unions until 2018 to start paying…is all part of his cynical game. This deal buys them all 8 years to figure out how to exempt union members permanently- in the smoke-filled backroom, while no one is watching and this controversy is forgotten. So there’s my next prediction…if Democrats stay in power, unions will never wind up paying a dime for universal healthcare.

But here’s my most important prediction of all- Obama and the Democrats are about to be swept out of office in the biggest Tea Party revolt since 1776. As a matter of fact, my gut instinct tells me Massachusetts Republican U.S. Senate candidate Scott Brown will pull one of the most shocking political upsets in history on Tuesday. Mark it down…whether Brown wins, or simply comes close…the Tea Party political revolution began in Massachusetts just like the first one in 1776.

The only thing standing in the way of this “mother of all upsets” is Obama and his corrupt Massachusetts labor union buddies bringing thousands of dead bodies to the polls on Tuesday. My guess is they are digging up the graves right now. But I don’t think it will be enough. Even the liberal voters of Massachusetts have had enough. What happened? Simple. The citizens of Massachusetts got a head start on experiencing “universal healthcare.” As the first state with government-run healthcare (courtesy of Mitt Romney) they found out firsthand that it’s a huge fraud- medical costs rise, wait times rise, quality of care deteriorates. The Obama lies only work on those who have never experienced government-run healthcare.

Despite my support for a true fiscal conservative named Joe Kennedy, the Libertarian in that MASS. U.S. Senate race, I believe that a Scott Brown victory will be a huge victory for Tea Parties and be the ultimate “canary in the coal mine.” Brown’s victory will destroy the 60 vote margin needed to pass universal healthcare in the U.S. Senate. This red victory in a blue state will give Obama, Reid, Pelosi, Dodd, and Barney Frank a preview of the political beat-down to come. Even the swine flu never caused the amount of violent shaking and vomiting that you’ll see in Washington D.C. on Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.

See the whole article at Root For America

IPR posts about Joe Kennedy

Joe Kennedy For Senate

WASHINGTON, DC (January 18, 2010) – William Greene, Chairman of the conservative online political action committee RightMarch.com PAC, announced today that Independent candidate Joseph Kennedy is taking enough votes from Martha Coakley to insure her loss in the upcoming special election for U.S. Senate in Massachusetts.

“Our proprietary internal polling of likely voters in Massachusetts this past weekend makes one thing very clear,” said William Greene, Chairman of the RightMarch.com PAC. “Joe Kennedy is siphoning off a large chunk of votes from Martha Coakley, the Democrat nominee for U.S. Senate.”

The special election, to fill the remaining two years of the late Sen. Edward Kennedy’s term, will be held on January 19th. Besides Joseph Kennedy (who is not related to Ted Kennedy), Coakley and Republican Scott Brown will also be on the ballot. “In many ‘normal’ elections, when there is a third-party candidate like Joe Kennedy, he often takes votes from the Republican candidate,” said Greene. “But in this special election, we’re seeing that Republicans who originally weren’t going to vote are now planning to vote for Joe Kennedy, and more importantly, a large percentage of Democrats are also planning to vote for Kennedy – more than likely, because of confusion regarding his name. Polls are showing Coakley at below 50% now – it’s obvious that things would be different if Kennedy weren’t on the ballot.”

The RightMarch.com PAC is a web-based, conservative political action committee, dedicated to giving hundreds of thousands of hardworking, patriotic Americans across the country a strong collective voice in the political process. For more information, visit www.RightMarchPAC.com or call 1-877-266-6596.

IPR posts about Joe Kennedy

Joe Kennedy For Senate

As far as we know the opinions are offered are only those of the people talking and have not been cleared with any campaign. In this youtube clip, supporters of Joe Kennedy offer their take on Big Government Republican Scott Brown and Big Government Democrat Martha Coakley at the Obama / Coakley rally at Northeastern University, Boston MA:

IPR posts about Joe Kennedy

Joe Kennedy For Senate

Embedding disabled – please see at youtube.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZ4QdAU-FTg&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXVPWQ1Euww&feature=related

IPR posts about Joe Kennedy

Joe Kennedy For Senate

Youtube By MikeCann

http://www.youtube.com/user/MikeCANN

IPR posts about Joe Kennedy

Joe Kennedy For Senate

Joe Kennedy on Neil Cavuto 01/12/2010:

IPR posts about Joe Kennedy

Joe Kennedy For Senate

Kennedy has come under pressure — he said he’s received five death threats — to withdraw because of his potential spoiler role. But he said those threats haven’t come from Coakley supporters, as he expected. Instead, he said, they’ve come from Brown backers.

He said Brown supporters have gotten emotional and are “blaming me for a Brown loss — and the advancement of Obamacare.”

Kennedy said he’s the only candidate against government-run health care, because Brown supports former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s version of public health care.

“The funny thing about the Brown supporters, they’re so unbelievably clueless,” he said. “If I withdrew from the race today, my vote would be split 60-40 going to Coakley.”

IPR posts about Joe Kennedy

Joe Kennedy For Senate

Scott Brown, Republican extraordinaire can make political history and shake 200 years of politics to their core. He can overnight transform his name and become truly the man of the people immortalized as the most selfless, thoughtful and generous man in political history. He can do all this literally in one day, by dropping out and supporting independent candidate Joe Kennedy!

Like Scott Brown said, this is the people’s seat and with the most selfless gesture he can change everything by handing the race to a tea party activist Joe Kennedy. With Joe’s 3-5% support coming from Massachusetts anti-war progressives and small government aficionados Brown’s voters and money will give Kennedy enough votes to beat Coakley. Brown will be able to drive a stake through the two party system as the independent and free thinking man he claims to be and dismantle the Democratic establishment in one swoop. Overnight the media programmed to only cover and perpetuate the two party system will be stunned and scrambling for cover while the name Scott Brown will resonate through America at breakneck speed.

People out of state have become involved in this race due to the 41st vote to stop ObamaCare. Kennedy will deliver on that promise and promised to lead the fight to repeal every aspect of ObamaCare in the chance it passes. Imagine the impact a repeal can have on the demoralized liberal base and only a non-partisan fighter like Kennedy can lead it further inspiring small government candidates around the nation! Our safety will be guaranteed as Kennedy plans to use all money saved in stopping the 8 year war in Afghanistan to strengthen and built up our borders, a true national defense policy. Our critical debt situation stands to be improved as Kennedy and like-minded Senators turn their attention on spending.

Brown’s gesture will be transformed into a powerful testament to America’s social and cultural fiber. An ability to put personal ambitions aside and help out the little guy, strengthen and bolster the free spirit and empower the outsider. Politics as we know it will change forever and possibly usher in a renaissance within the Republican party. A movement bolstered by traditional conservative ideals built on our Constitution and strengthened by the American spirit. Brown’s resignation will catapult the Tea Party movement into the premiere movement in America and will guarantee our voice in the seat of power.

IPR posts about Joe Kennedy

Joe Kennedy For Senate