Current Article

Highlights from the Coakley/Brown Debate:

By Bronwyn's Harbor on January 12, 2010 at 1:00 PM in Current Affairs

Stop for a second and imagine — just imagine! — the hue and cry from the mainstream media had Sarah Palin said something like this! We’d never hear the end of it! If this got the non-stop coverage it deserves, this would spell the end of Coakley’s campaign, and assure Scott Brown’s victory. But she’s a Democrat anointed by the White House and the Kennedy family and, as we’ve learned with Harry Reid, that’s what makes the difference. “Coakley says no more terrorists in Afghanistan,” writes Ed Morrissey for Hot Air:

While most of the post-debate attention has focused on Scott Brown’s Reaganesque moment in declaring that the Senate seat doesn’t belong to the Kennedy family or the Democrats but to all Massachusetts voters, Coakley had a Gerald Ford-esque moment on the war in Afghanistan. She declared Afghanistan to be terrorist-free and wants the troops to come home now … [Go here to see the video and more of Morrissey's reactions.]

Gateway Pundit joins in with “Martha Coakley Is Not Just Wrong on Terror War – She’s Dangerous (Must-See Video)” (mentioning the suicide bomber who murdered 7 CIA agents). And The Weekly Standard piles on with “The Democratic candidate declares there are no terrorists left in Afghanistan..”

Then there’s Coakley’s agreement with the Obama administration that KSM deserves a trial in New York City:

From The Weekly Standard’s “Brown and Coakley Debate in Massachusetts | The Democratic candidate declares there are no terrorists left in Afghanistan“:

Brown’s question for Coakley was on the culture war/war on terror. After pointing out that Coakley wants to give Khalid Sheikh Mohammed constitutional rights to a civilian trial in New York, Brown asked Coakley if she’d support the death penalty for KSM. She replied that she would support the law of the land, even though she’s personally opposed to the death penalty and would not vote for it.

Getting back to Coakley’s astounding statement that there are no terrorists in Afghanistan, Gateway Pundit writes:

There are no terrorists in Afghanistan?

On Wednesday December 30 Jordanian doctor and Al-Qaeda blogger Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal al-Balawi killed 7 CIA officers in a suicide bomb attack at an outpost in southeastern Afghanistan. Before he murdered the Americans in Afghanistan he recorded a tape with the local Taliban leader. The Taliban released the tape after his death.

On Monday Senate Candidate Martha Coakley told Massachusetts voters that it was time to pull out of Afghanistan. Coakley said she was not sure there was a way to succeed.

“I think we have done what we are going to be able to do in Afghanistan. I think that we should plan an exit strategy. Yes. I’m not sure there is a way to succeed. If the goal was and the mission in Afghanistan was to go in because we believed that the Taliban was giving harbor to terrorists. We supported that. I supported that. They’re gone. They’re not there anymore.”

She’s not just wrong- She’s dangerous.

In his “martyrdom” tape Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal al-Balawi warned that the Al-Qaeda attacks would spread outside of the Pakistan-Afghanistan borders.

My pal Curt over at Flopping Aces nails it with this commentary at the end of his post this morning:

Apparently she has the same basic understanding of this war that Obama does. At one point she has the gall to say she doesn’t believe we can succeed in Afghanistan and in the other breath she asserts that the Taliban is not a terrorist organization when she utters “If the goal was and the mission in Afghanistan was to go in because we believed that the Taliban was giving harbor to terrorists”. Helllllloooooo? They don’t “harbor” terrorists since they ARE the terrorists.

I am continually amazed at the utter ignorance in the left today.

In the meantime, desperate Coakley supporters are releasing attack ads against Brown, but with such haste that they misspelled the name of the state as “Massachusettes.”

Coakley’s beliefs and remarks seem suited solely for the narrow Daily Kos constituency, not for average Massachusetts voters, who are largely independent, which means that they are for being tough on terrorism. Coakley does not sound like a good fit for the typical voter. Brown, on the other hand, seems to grasp what being a U.S. Senator is all about:

SCOTT BROWN: It’s not the Kennedy seat, it’s the people’s seat.

Bronwyn

I could add this to the post, but am going to put it up here:

Amazing: Scott Brown about to raise $1 million for the day; Update: Done!

Posted yesterday at
http://hotair.com/archives/2010/01/11/amazing-scott-brown-about-to-raise-1-million-for-the-day/
WestVirginia304

I hope the SNL writers will forgive the play on this..

Coakley: ”I can’t see terrorists from my house. They must be gone!”
Bronwyn

It’s frightening that a highly educated political professional would come out with a statement like that. Doesn’t she even read the daily newspaper or watch any TV news? (And the pundits thought Sarah Palin was ignorant …)
I’m a Linda too

Oh man. I would like a strong, smart woman to win the MASS seat, but she sure didn’t show that. Too many mistakes in a row for her. And as Americans see, one Senate vote matters.

I guess now we see why she didn’t want to do the debates in the first place.

She may still win. Look, Obama did and they knew he was bad when they chose Hillary over the Kennedy, Kerry’s and Obama the first time they had a choice.

But I know many womens advocates, both men and women, who were going to sacrifice her to stop the Democrats diasterous bills, Cap and Trade-Away Our Economy & Security and the HI MED (Health Insurance Mandate & Expansion by Democrats), but now this just gives reasons why not to choose her,
propertius

Bronwyn,

The Afghan bomber is a bad example: Khost is located on the border with Pakistan. Balawi (the bomber) was brought to the base from Pakistan.

As for trying KSM as the criminal he is, I think Larry is in favor of that, too. Does that make him :”dangerous” or just “wrong”?
Peggy Sue

Brown is now up to 1.3 million dollars in his “Money Bomb” fund raising effort. Look, I think Martha Coakley is absolutely qualified for the Senate spot. But what Scott Brown has captured is the anger of the electorate over the irresponsible and thuggish behavior in DC.

The clip you put up, Bronwyn, on the healthcare segment and Brown’s statement:

“With all due respect, this is not Ted Kennedy’s seat. It’s not the Democratic Party’s seat. It’s the people’s seat.”

is what people are hungering for–a voice in what’s going on, instead of this train wreck we all see whizzing down the track.

The irony of this whole race [just from a woman's single point of view] is that we’re seeing a mini-replay of what happened to Hillary in 2008. Not that the details or behind the scene political machinations are similar. But you have a qualified woman, who everyone assumed would take this election in a cakewalk. And then, you have a man, basically an unknown quantity, spark the imagination and tap into the unfocused anger in electorate.

If Brown pulls this off [and it's still a big "if"], I hope he’s the real deal. Because there’s a breaking point before this anger explodes into something far more dangerous.

I feel a certain empathy for Coakley. It’s bad timing right now and I think she hurt herself with Indies when she turned on a dime and said she “would” support the healthcare bill, reluctantly or not. During the primary, she vowed to fight the Stupak language and work for a better piece of legislation.

These constant reversals are what really, really tick people off. The comments on Afghanistan aren’t helping her. But to be honest, I have grave misgivings myself about Afghanistan.

The debate last night wounded Coakley. Most polls are giving Brown a 75% win. That’s not good the week before an election.

Should be interesting!
oowawa

Yes–evidently the Last Terrorist in Afghanistan blew himself up in the recent suicide bombing that massacred 7 CIA agents. No more left! All the other terrorists are on vacation in Pakistan. So let’s get out of Afghanistan and leave its inhabitants to their peaceful agrarian life of growing heroin.
Sassy

I heard a report a couple of days ago that campaign funds were picking up for Brown. That was an understatement.
Who briefed Coakley on terrorism? What a statement to make in the closing days of this race.
In my mind, that should end her chances.
Mary Cusack

Massachusettes is one of those extra states Obama was talking about turning the primaries
Bronwyn

No. Larry is vehemently opposed to trying KSM in New York City, and he’s said so on TV. Check out his latest interview on CNN, with Kyra Phillips — at least i think that that is the interview. (Btw, I’ve listed all of Larry’s recent media appearances below his photo in the middle column.)
I’m a Linda too

I think last nights debate and his appearances on FOX lastnight after and this morning has changed the race permanently.

He’s been very strong.

I know I surely expected her to be much better and stronger than she is.

Her responses and answers were all her own.
timmy

Coakley is going to pay for the sins of Obama and the Dem congress and I feel good about it. Anything to punish the Dem party is good for me….
I’m a Linda too

Boston.com survey on debate.
Coakley tanked.
propertius

In any event, what concerns me most about Coakley is this:

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/Coakley-in-trouble-Pharma-and-HMO-lobbyists-to-the-rescue-81067542.html

She’s bought and paid for (not that I think a Republican would be any better).
propertius

My apologies for mischaracterizing Larry’s views, by the way.
I’m a Linda too

Oy vey. It just keeps getting better. Uh er worse.

“A new ad from Democratic Rep. Martha Coakley – the party’s candidate to replace the late Sen. Ted Kennedy – misspells her home state of Massachusetts. (Photo Credit: Coakley Campaign)”
oowawa

what Scott Brown has captured is the anger of the electorate

Right. The “anger of the electorate” is the “high ground” indeed, and if you capture that, you are probably going to win the battle.
Tuppence 411

It is interesting to view the national attention this race is getting and seeing the difference an injection of cash can make, but the fact of the matter is that Massachusetts voters will decide this race based on Massachusetts issues. And right now those issues are: the economy, jobs, taxes, and healthcare. I agree with Brown on his position regarding terrorists, but I know that alone won’t steal enough votes away from Martha for him to win here. And Coakley? Her supporters just held a news conference on women’s reproductive rights. Please in a state that elected “Multi-choice Mitt” as governor? That is not a forefront issue in MA voters minds right now. Two well know phrases come to mind. ” It’s the economy stupid” and “all politics are local”. Here in MA we have a failing economy, heading back to being Taxachusetts, RomneyCare which is neither affordable or accessible, a failing administration with Deval Patrick, and corruption at the Statehouse. The canidate that best connects with unenrolled voters on those issues will win next Tuesday.
Onofre’s arm

Hey oowawa, perhaps all of the Afghan terrorists went to “Sandals” for vacation. I recall a “Sandals” promotional aimed at terrorists: “Tired of lugging around backpacks or vests filled with plastique and ball bearings? Want to get away from the highly stressful world of Jihad? leave your troubles in your tent and come to Sandals. Turn your burqa babies into Bahama Mamas and stroll six feet ahead of them down our sandy beaches. Get blown away by our well stocked poolside juice bar, the first 72 virgin Bloody Mary’s are complimentary, as are the Camel cigarettes. You and the kids can try to fool the explosive detectors, and ride the Falling Airline, or the Magic Prayer Rug Ride at the nearby Caliphate Theme park, and destroy model synagogues with exploding golf balls at the Palestine Putt-Putt course. Win two free nights by attending a short presentation offering Al Qaeda safe house timeshares in locations all over the world; brunch included. Don’t pass up your last chance for some needed R&R before martyrdom, and book NOW to receive a free remote controlled Bin Laden action figure for the kiddies, (dialysis machine, AK-47, and batteries extra). We accept Visa (especially forged ones). Check out time depends upon the length of fuse we use.
Guest

Over the next few weeks she ‘crammed furiously’, using index cards for prompts.
However, according to the book, the vice presidential candidate’s mental state began to falter.
‘She wasn’t eating (a few small bites of steak a day, no more). She wasn’t drinking (maybe half a can of Diet Doctor Pepper, no water, ever). She wasn’t sleeping (not much more than a couple of hours a night, max),’ the authors write.
While being drilled for upcoming interviews, ‘she would routinely shut down – chin on her chest, arms folded, eyes cast to the floor, speechless and motionless, lost in what those around her described as a kind of catatonic stupor’.
The morning of her ill-fated CBS interview with Katie Couric, Ms Palin – ‘her eyes glassy and dead’ – was unresponsive to attempts to prep her as she was being made up.
‘As they were about to set off to meet Couric, Palin announced “I hate this makeup” -smearing it off her face, messing up her hair, complaining she looked fat,’ the book says
I’m a Linda too

WOW!!!
That says it all.
Peggy Sue

Though the Far Left just loves slamming Bill Clinton, the Clinton campaign line is right up there with the best: It’s the economy, stupid. Tip O’Neil’s line: All politics are local, is true wisdom. Forgetting that line is something the Dems will live to regret.

Since you’re in Massachusetts is it true that the Brown campaign has flooded neighborhoods with signs? What about people on the ground? I’m reading that the energy [at least at the moment] is all with Brown and that he truly has momentum [not the least of which is reflected the incredible amount of money he's raised in the last 24 hours].

If that’s the case, your comment about weather conditions and last minute get out the vote efforts could actually tip this thing.

It’s still hard to get my head around. But then my native state of NJ just elected a Republican Governor.

The world has turned upside down!
Peggy Sue

PS: my post was in reply to Tuppence.
Guest

According to the book, Mr Schmidt and Rick Davis, McCain’s campaign manager, arrived at Ms Palin’s hotel room in Philadelphia and ‘were appalled by the scene they found’.
‘The room was hot and claustrophobic; the shades were drawn. The place was full of half-eaten hotel food and stank of mouldering french fries.
‘Palin, looking dazed, was surrounded, as usual, by stacks and stacks of index cards.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1242405/Sarah-Palin-join-Fox-News-Game-Change-book-exposes-bizarre-behaviour-election-campaign.html#ixzz0cQiXHJKF
oowawa

LOL Onofre’s arm–who would guess that such wicked sarcasm could lurk in a disembodied limb . . .
RPL

Peggy Sue, NJ has a histiry of electing Republican Governors. The most recent one before 2009 was Christine Todd Whitman.
Mary Cusack

ummm and what does this have to do with the topic at hand. what’s the matter Obot can’t find a place to wedge your palin hate?
Mary Cusack

In case you haven’t been reading we are talking about Massacusetts here.
propertius

So, looking at Larry’s January 8 appearance on CNN, I see the following extended quote in the transcript:

You know, when you go back and you look at the people that are in prison now who were terrorists, active terrorists, Fawaz Younis, who was taken into custody back in 1987, “The Blind Sheikh,” Rahman, who was implicated trying to blow up the Lincoln and Holland tunnels, you’ve got Kiki Moskira (ph) who blow up the Avianca plane, you’ve got Hakim Murad and Ramzi Yousef who were implicated in the Bojinka plot.
So, you’ve got a lot of terrorists who’ve been put on trial, who have giving up information either in the course of the trial, or prior to that. So this nonsense that somehow, using our criminal laws and acting like a civilized nation makes us, you know, wimps is, I think, doing a disservice to this country, because if it was good enough for Ronald Reagan and if it was good enough for George Herbert walker Bush, I think it ought to be good enough for us now.

Admittendly, this was in reference to the Christmas Crotch Bomber – but it shows that Larry is in favor of trying at least some of these guys in the criminal justice system. How is KSM different from Youris or Rahman?

Larry, if you’re following this thread I’d appreciate your comments.
Bronwyn

Guest, here are the rules at NoQuarter:

(1) You need to have a username. Guest won’t cut it.

(2) You must stay on topic. This is a thread about the Massachusetts senate race, and sections of that trashy book about Palin have nothing to do with this discussion.

If your behavior continues, you will be placed on moderation or banned.
Bronwyn

Guest, here are the rules at NoQuarter:

(1) You need to have a username. Guest won’t cut it.

(2) You must stay on topic. This is a thread about the Massachusetts senate race, and sections of that trashy book about Palin have nothing to do with this discussion.

If your behavior continues, you will be placed on moderation or banned.
Tuppence 411

Hi Peggy Sue, I am in Western MA and not seeing many Brown signs yet. I don’t know if that is because he conceded the area because Martha grew-up here, or because it is Clinton-country (we delivered the MA primary to Hillary), or if he is just focused on the larger population centers in the eastern part of the State. Brown wouldn’t be the first politician in MA to lose out by ignoring the western half of the state.

The funny thing is Massachusetts does elect Republicans for state and local races. We like the check and balance that it brings. Heck, before Deval Patrick the last Dem governor I remember is Dukakis! Whether Brown can tap into that and translate it to a national race- remains to be seen.

Both Brown and Martha have problems connecting to voters on the two big issues. Martha has flipped-flopped on health care and Brown helped bring us the failing, expensive RomneyCare at the state level. And taxes! The choices appear to be tax breaks for the wealthy or everybody getting nickled and dimed to death with fees.

It’s Martha’s to lose, mostly because she is a known commodity and besides a few missteps, is well respected.
sowsear

Go getum, Bronwyn
stodghie

no, brown is not in favor of giving terrorist civil right!
stodghie

sassy, she will pay for following the dictates of the obama party versus the needs of her potential constituents. and they know it.
stodghie

guest, leave sarah alone! pathetic.
stodghie

guest, yawn you are boring!
stodghie

coakley has supported the dims flawed stragedy to her shame. so no matter if she is a woman or man, no matter the color, she does not deserve to be senator. no one from either party deserves to be elected who puts their party first.
stodghie

martha lost it when she supported obama’s stragedy over the needs of the people. any politican who does that deserves to lose. shelia jackson lee is in trouble in texas.
Docelder

Yep, talking incessantly about Palin right now is just about as lame as going on about Bush. Is anybody in this administration responsible for themselves or not? Or are they to spend their entire time in power comparing themselves to a known failed President and an unelected Vice Presidentiial candidate? Does the bar really have to be so low?
Peggy Sue

I’m aware of the history, Guest. I was born and raised in NJ.

Christie’s win was a shot across the bow to the smug, [and sadly corrupt] Democratic machine and was directly linked to Corzine’s growing personal unpopularity. Obama spent precious capital to stomp for Corzine in Camden and Newark. It didn’t help. I suspect that’s why he’s not thrilled about going to Massachusetts to help Coakley.

Jersey is in bad shape financially, property taxes are hideous and car insurance has always been through the roof. The state is on the “endangered” list.

Still, I didn’t hear Cristie offering any stunning resolutions. In fact, he was pretty vague on the particulars.

It wasn’t that Christie was a visionary candidate, but that the election tapped into the electorate’s anger, frustration and financial bleeding.

Will it make a difference? That’s anyone’s guess.
Peggy Sue

Oops! That should have been addressed to RPL. Sorry about that!
Peggy Sue

Interesting, Tuppence. Thanks for the additional info. A local perspective is always valuable, far more trustworthy than the national press.
Doc99

Scott Brown hit Gergen with the best counterpunch since Bentsen’s “You’re no Jack Kennedy.” Hoo Rah!
Docelder

Yes, the people’s senate seat and not “Kennedy’s” seat. This is as it should be. Now we will see whether the people in Massachusetts can stand for freedom and reclaim this senate seat for themselves, or whether they will hand it right back to machine politics. This is so much more than an election or a referendum on Obamacare. So much more.

It reminds me of the guy being rolled over by the tank in Tiananmen Square, or when the Berlin Wall fell. This is one of those moments, or it can be.
PA Caucasian

Let’s hear it for Massachusettes!

(the Massachusettes, are they the Patriots cheerleaders?) :*
Texas Playwright

Law of attraction. Poor thinking attracts poor acting. Dems, take a year long vacation as the lowest paid workers in the Middle East. Might educate you all a little bit.
Portia Elizabeth

I had been an early supporter of Martha Coakley because I liked the ethical way she supprted Hillary. So I watched part of the debate last night on local TV. I was surprised and disappointed to see Martha continually interrupt Brown, injecting her own questions to the point that he had to reply, more than once, that he was not on the witness stand in her courtroom and should be allowed to finish his answers. I think Scott Brown came across as thoughtful and reasonable while Martha Coakley presented an image of rudeness and stridence. (The third candidate (ironically named Kennedy), wasn’t much more than an afterthought.)

I’m not allowed to vote in MA since I live in NH, but I hope Brown gets it.
Mary cusack

I’m from western Mass. On the way to work I saw one brave sign. but my estimation is that for every brave soul around northampton are 10 who are afraid to because of the liberal backlash
American Power

American Power tracked-back with, “They’re Gone? Martha Coakley Clueless on AF-PAK Strategic Theater.”
Chicago Joe

Actually 1.3 million. First time in my life I donated to a Republican.
Chicago Joe

The question from David Gergen that set up this response crystallized the left bias of the media. His tone was almost accusatory toward Brown, and he jiu-jitsued him.
Chicago Joe

Admin, please remove these OT posts by guest which are a misguided effort to deride a certain politician.
sybilll

LOL, that made me *snort*. I’m not sure why, but, one of my favorite moments was when Brown carefully explained (as though to a 5 year old), paraphrasing, “I am Scott Brown, from Weltham. I drive an old truck, and you are running against ME, not Bush/Cheney”. Maybe I’m just up to my eyeballs with but but but but Bush.
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