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Terrible Realities: Why Both the Left and Right Oppose Coakley’s Prosecutorial Overreach

By Bronwyn's Harbor on January 15, 2010 at 7:45 AM in Current Affairs

Rather than try to encapsulate this new article, or even quote from it, I implore you to read this shocking op-ed in today’s Wall Street Journal: “Martha Coakley’s Convictions – The role played by the U.S. Senate candidate in a notorious sex case raises questions about her judgment.” Yes, the author Dorothy Rabinowitz is a conservative, but the case she presents is compelling and heart-breaking. (See also: Red State blog’s “Martha Coakley: Terrible Prosecutor.”)

jeralynmerrittThe case described by Rabinowitz helps to explain to me why liberal blogger Jeralyn Merritt, a Denver defense attorney, has been such a passionate opponent of Coakley’s candidacy. (H/t Andy.) After all, Merritt’s blog is called “TalkLEFT,” and she supported Obama for president. But Merritt has intimate knowledge of how Martha Coakley handled prosecutorial cases, and is vehemently opposed to her. But it was the case described by Dorothy Rabinowitz, and more, that compelled Merritt to oppose Coakley for senator.

Merritt’s three recently expressed reservations, listed below, center on Coakley’s pivots around “hot potato” issues based entirely on Coakley’s whatever-it-takes political motives. Coakley also comes across as the nightmare image of a prosecutor, hellbent on winning a case no matter what tricks, including the manipulation of children, are required in order for her to win her case.

Even if you don’t remember her, you’ve doubtless seen Denver attorney Jeralyn Merritt on television as an expert commentator. Merritt also notes that Martha Coakley prosecuted the infamous Louise Woodward case, the nanny accused of murdering the child in her care via “shaken baby” syndrome. (By the way, that link takes you to a blog run by a New York Law School professor also profoundly opposed to Coakley’s candidacy.) At any rate, here are some of Jeralyn Merritt’s current concerns. Keep in mind as you read this list that her blog is named TalkLEFT:

(1) In “Another Reason Martha Coakley Should Not Be Senator,” Merritt writes:

I've never thought Martha Coakley would make a good U.S. Senator. I'm even more convinced now that she has signed her name to a brief restricting death penalty appeals, while claiming to be against the death penalty. … Read the details.

[...]

Martha Coakley hasn't changed a bit since she prosecuted nanny Louise Woodward. Or was involved in the Fells Acre case. She's no Ted Kennedy, that's for sure. I wouldn't vote for her for dogcatcher.

(2) In “Martha Coakley’s Bait and Switch on Abortion, Merritt writes:

Can't say I didn't warn you about Martha Coakley. The latest: a Bait and switch. During her campaign to replace Sen. Ted Kennedy, she said she wouldn't support a bill with restrictions on abortion.

Today, she announced her support for the health care bill with its restrictions on abortion funding.

…

[...]

Martha Coakley is not someone we need in the U.S. Senate. She certainly is no Ted Kennedy. (More here.)In my opinion, she's as unprincipled now as she was during the prosecution of nanny Louise Woodward.

(3) In the January 14th post, “Martha Coakley: Too Big a Risk for Senator,” Merritt — rather passionately — writes:

At Politico, Radley Balko summarizes Martha Coakley's prosecutorial over-reaching during her career and the threat she poses to those who care about criminal justice reform.

As a member of the Senate, not only would Coakley be creating new federal criminal laws; given her record as a prosecutor, there’s a good chance she’d serve on committees with oversight over the Justice Department and the judiciary. She’d also be casting votes to confirm or deny federal judicial appointments. Advocates for criminal justice reform should be wary. Coakley may share Kennedy’s opposition to the death penalty, but her record as a prosecutor leaves plenty of doubt about her commitment to justice.

I hope if you live in Massachussetts, you don't vote for Martha Coakley.

I’ve heard enough. This election is not any longer, for me, a referendum on Obamacare. This election is about electing the better of the two candidates. And Scott Brown is definitely the better of the two.

By the way, I was curious about Brown’s background, and found a good biography of his life at Wikipedia.

  • getfitnow

    I don’t think it’s terrible at all. citizens of all political stripes refuse to lock-step.

    I read a comment the other day re: the reporter who was pushed down by Coakley’s “goon”. It explained that this incident was a metaphor of how this adminstration/congress has been treating the American people. We’re tired of being pushed around and will not take it anymore!

    Go Scott!

  • alibe

    I am sure that the Obama people (knowing what slugs they are) have orchestrated the collapse of Coakley. THINK ABOUT IT! They do not want her. They do not want 60 votes. They would have no excuse to not do the right thing.  They want to “HAVE” to capitulate to the republicans. Why else would they have injected themdelves into the race and made her make the worst decisions possible for her. It is so KKKArlRovian. They always use his thinking as their model for governing. VOTE FOR COAKLEY…JUst to screw with the DNC and 0bama.

  • Bronwyn

    By “terrible,” I was referring to Coakley’s terrible record as a prosecutor.  There’s nothing as ugly as an overzealous prosecutor who destroys people’s lives even when there is reasonable doubt about a person’s guilt and especially when highly suspicious evidence is created by the prosecutor and her underlings.  Check out the articles by WSJ’s Rabinowitz and the link to the post by the NY law professor.  Coakley is the epitome of the kind of prosecutor who will do anything to win, no matter what she does to destroy the lives of those she’s chosen to prosecute.

  • alibe

    This “piling on” by the MSM is a sure sign that the villagers do not want Coakley.  It  is the same way they piled onto Hillary.  It is a dead giveaway.  Coakley will be a pain in the ass to 0bama and his goons.  Coakley stood with Hillary till the end. 

  • Mary cusack

    This and health care sealed the deal for me.  Woman standing for Woman’s issues?  Now just another Dem in Drag for me. She’s very lucky Brown didn’t go negative on HER.  All he had to do was bring up this black eye

  • Mary cusack

    Nice Try with reverse pychology there.  You almost had me.  

  • PA Caucasian

    No I”ve seen this theory elsewhere, I don’t buy it.

    The White House is currently working hard as they can to pass a bill, they were holed up until 1 a.m. this morning with Pelousy et al.

    This Brown phenomenon came out of left field and the MA machine was unprepared.

  • Mary cusack

    Coakly will do anything to get to power.  she has no heart.  I saw her in the debate and in other media.  there is no empathy in this woman

  • getfitnow

    gotcha!! :-D

  • getfitnow

    I give the voters of MA more credit than that.

  • getfitnow

    Women can be women’s worst enemy! Wake Up fems!

  • Pingback: Martha Coakley and the Amirault case

  • Texas Playwright

    Whew!  Thank goodness for the internet!  We the People are informing each other about our–ah, interesting, political system more and more via the web.  As the teevee “journalists” fail to do their jobs day after day, Larry’s blog and others have certainly educated me about our politicians, bankers, corporate heads and various government entities.

    As for Martha, what a disappointment.  Her lockstepping with the health insurance scam, no matter how “reluctantly” she’d support it, was the red flag for me.  Her prosecutorial misconduct re:  the above articles is a resounding red flag–no more incompetents in D.C.!

  • Bronwyn

    While it is important to note Coakley’s support for Hillary, that cannot be the sole reason to support her for senator when there are so many other glaring issues, not the least of which is that she will enable Congress to pass the monstrous Obamacare bill.

  • Bronwyn

    Thanks for the common sense response.  Some conspiracy theories are so far out of left field as to be ludicrous.

  • Tuppence 411

    Well, at least your not asking me to cry a river of tears for all those pedophile priests Martha was so mean to and threw in jail…….  I will vomit, however,  if  this thread turns into little Mathew’s skull fracture and hematoma was all his working mother’s fault for not being home in the first place.

    Martha can’t win for trying.  And I mean that literally and figuratively. 

    I guess in our zeal to send Obama and Washington a message, someone needs to be the scrapegoat.  My larger question is why is it always the woman?  

  • Sassy

    Bronwyn, you have made your case!
    Integrity in the courtroom is far more essential than in the political arena.
    There appears to be no doubt that Coakley sought success rather than justice at times. Very troubling!

  • mountainaires

    Wow, Coakley’s a disaster for the Democrats! I am pulling for Scott Brown but am glad to hear Merritt’s opposed to her and is filling in the details as to why! 

    Thanks for the wiki on Scott Brown, great stuff! :)

  • HARP

    The poll surveyed a carefully partitioned electorate meant to match voter turnout: 39 percent Democrat, 15 percent Republican and 45 percent unenrolled.
    The Democratic sample is +24 — and Scott Brown still leads?

    Suffolk has the same number of Dems crossing for Brown as PPP did last weekend — 17 percent, a shocking amount.

    If this many Dems are voting for Brown because of healthcare, the Republicans will use this as a model come Nov.

  • jackie s

    I totally believe women are their own worst enemy.  But in the case of Coakley she is our worst enemy.

    She is willing to destroy people for her own ambition.  SHe is willing to strip people of their Constitutional Rights to serve her purposes.

    Wow sounds just like Obama.

    Ladies, we must support women with records of good works and honest dealings. Not elitist power drunk conformists that feel they are too good for the common man.

  • HARP

    One thing worries me.

    “It’s not the people who vote that count. It’s the people who count the votes.” 

  • Guest

    Obamacare will be tied up in the courts for years to come. I hardly think voting on that single issue should be anything but a short-sighted reason to put anyone in office for 6 years…

  • jbjd

    “There’s nothing as ugly as an overzealous prosecutor who destroys people’s lives even when there is reasonable doubt about a person’s guilt and especially when highly suspicious evidence is created by the prosecutor and her underlings.”

    I would add, “…or one who refuses to prosecute a man accused of child abuse whose guilt is highly likely but who is a well-heeled personal friend.”  (And I am not talking about the case of the police officer who raped the toddler…)

  • Jackie S

    I am not a fan of Bill Clinton, never was, but I am offended that he is campaigning in MA instead of doing what he is supposed to do for Haiti.

    He has a special envoy post for the UN and Obama (shithead that he is) requested that Bill and W focus on the people of Haiti.

    Bushy as little as everyone thinks of him is on task where it matters working to help the Hatians while Billy is prostituting for a bad candidate in MA.

    I don’t know kids–priorities.

  • UM

    It appears that people are taken in by the propoganda of right wing loons like Ann Coulter. Martha Coakely is the better of the two candidates and I am voting for her on tuesday

  • FranSC

    Well, Jackie S, you are completely out of touch with what has been going on since the Haitian earthquake.  Bill Clinton was on Greta’s show by phone pleading for help (money) Wed. night.  He had already geared his foundation in that direction.  He is front and center of the relief effort and SO is Hillary.  Any other massive effort comes way behind BC’s. 

    The ONLY reason 0zero got involved was 1)because BC asked him to do so (since 0 is clueless) - 0 is not going to appoint BC to anything that he doesn’t have to for fear of being upstaged.  Whether 0 formally ‘appointed’ him, the Bushs or not, BC was already on the way.  2) The most likely reason B0 got involved other than the usual American efforts in such disasters, is so he can, as usual, swoop in at the end and claim the credit.  3) Both 0zero and BC have been scheduled to help Coakley this week for weeks.  0 has bailed out because unless 0 can swoop in at the last minute and look like the ‘savior’ for Coakley, he is not going to do it.  He won’t risk Coakley losing and him being blamed.  4) BC has every reason to not help the dems particularly 0′s agenda, but because Coakley was loyal to Hillary, he will keep his promise to Coakley while his Global Initiative and Clinton Foundation are frantically working on the Haiti relief and rescue efforts.

    It’s ok to not like BC, but don’t come to the site that is the most expert on the Clintons and spout such ignorance.

  • cat

    two years.

  • WestVirginia304

    It appears the DSCC was not watching the debate and did not hear Brown say the seat is not Kennedy’s, but the people’s seat.  They just sent out an email blast this morning titled:  Kennedy’s Desk

    begin email text:
    *********************************

    What you do in the next two minutes could mean the difference between keeping Ted Kennedy’s seat blue, or ceding his seat to a tea-bag Republican.

    Scott Brown has vowed to be the 41st vote to kill health care legislation and the rest of President Obama’s agenda. We can’t let him get anywhere near Kennedy’s desk.

    ********************************

    Maybe Brown will bring his own desk.

     

  • Docelder

    Kennedy has been dead for months. The seat never was his, he just held it for nearly fifty years. No, it wasn’t his, he just felt entitled to it.

  • Docelder

    terrible prosecutor - Well how about as a person? We have seen a video clip of standing and watching one of her union strong arms batter a reporter on the street while she stood by and watched. Correct that… the union strong arm is an Obama appointee. Now, if she can’t run her own campaign, what makes anybody think she can vote by herself?

  • buzzlatte

    LOL!

  • Docelder

    A person is either of sound moral character or not. It doesn’t come and go at times.

  • creeper

    What a shame Merritt didn’t bring those same critical thinking skills to bear in 2008. 

  • nobamadem

    I wouldn’t go so far as to say “vote for Coak” but I do think all this negative press is a way for Obama to escape criticism for the election of Republican Scott Brown in Democrat Mass.  Where was all this information and press when she was way ahead?  This is all a defensive deflection of reality…and another body under Obama’s bus.

  • Docelder
  • margaret

    I live in MA, and I’m a lawyer, and much of the articles cited here is, in my opinion, slander.  Fells Acre case, kids were being tortured, Martha did the right thing.  And, on abortion, she has clearly stated that she will not vote for a version of the healthcare bill that includes the Stupak bill.  I’m still not going to vote for her, even though she supported Hillary.  She’s been a terrific attorney general, not afraid to take unpopular stands such as supporting gay rights.  I think the suggestion of prosecutorial misconduct is hogwash.  But now that she is beholden to the fundraising of the corrupt DNC machine she seems to be losing her principles.

  • margaret

    That Fells Acres case she handled well.  I’m not voting for her, but all the garbage about the innocence of these people who were dragging kids through tunnels into secret places where they tortured them, is just that – garbage.  There’s been lots of corroboration that those who want to pretend these child abusers were innocent just completely ignore.

  • margaret

    I live in MA and I know the mother of that police officer, and have reviewed evidence related to the case as a favor to her because I’m a lawyer, and it’s my opinion he didn’t do it but was framed by family members who did do it.

  • Tuppence 411

    I understand the zeal of sending a message  to the troika of Barky- Reid-Pelosi, but has anybody here actually looked at Brown’s voting record? Not what he says he is for or against in this campaign, but his actual votes?  Does anyone know his voting record on gay marriage?  gay adoption? access to abortion? constitutional ban on gay marriage? stem cell ? His position on DOMA? DADT? How about mandates and fines for individuals and small businesses who don’t carry health insurance?  (Yep, he voted FOR that here in MA.) How about prescription drug coverage for seniors on medicare? Services for blind? How about education opportunities for those mothers on welfare? Insurance regulation?  banking regulation?  How about tax credits for BIG business and tax cuts for the wealthy? How about preserving open space  and funding our parks? Sensible immigration reform? Limits on public school class sizes?  Anyone?  Bueller?  Bueller?  I do. His voting record is out there for anyone interested in viewing it.

    I may be pissed off at Washington too.  I may be a woman.  But I am a smart woman and I am not going to cut off my nose to spite my face.

  • UM

    I happen to agree with her. If your religious convictions (whether they may catholic, mormon, baptist, Buddhist or other) prevent you from doing your job, then maybe that job is not the right one for you….

  • Yttik

    “My larger question is why is it always the woman?”

    Yeah, funny that, isn’t it? And not funny in a good way.

  • buzzlatte

    Geez, and England’s King Charles II in the 1600′s tried to enlighten the masses about putting religion into perspective.  

  • Yttik

    I think there’s something to that accusation. I’ve been puzzled by the Dem response to Coakley, I mean with friends like those who needs enemies? Are they deliberately trying to make her lose?

  • buzzlatte

    …and also losing the election.  :-P

  • Docelder

    What she needs is some tolerance training. She shows contempt for the religion of 40% of her home state’s population.

  • Docelder

    Most people here aren’t single causers. Voting for single causes gave us Obama. In return, he has pissed on all the single cause voters that put him there. We need to think long term, and we need to think about the republic. There will be times again for the single causes, but not unless we keep the republic. If we lose that, there will be no more single causes.

  • Yttik

    I really view her as a casualty of a perfect storm the Dems have been brewing. I don’t believe half the crap people are saying about her and I certainly don’t view her as the enemy.

    Ironically people would rather vote for an empty slate who once posed naked in a magazine because they are so angry at Obama. Well I remember how people were willing to vote for an empty slate instead of Hillary, because they were so angry at Bush. What people never seem to put into the equation is that if you’ve ever actually done anything, actually stuck your neck out, somebody is going to have complaints about you. Instead of taking this into consideration and electing highly experienced women, we always turn to the guy who has no critics because he has no accomplishments! I mean come on people, you spend years working as a prosecuter, fighting for victims, and  somebody is going to be pissed off at you.

  • TeakWoodKite

    … Stupak bill

    Stupak amendment, not a bill.

    I get your point….

  • Docelder

    Or, she culd have spent years serving as a prosecutor. She could have done the right thing in the face of adversity. Then people would be falling over to vote for her… instead of holding their nose just thinking about it.

  • Tuppence 411

    Sorry Doc, but  that made no sense to me.  Because it is very clear no one here has bothered to find out Brown’s voting history on any important issue~ including his role in RomneyCare, with its mandates and fines.   All everybody knows here is he will be the 41st vote and Martha’s a witch who should have been hung in Salem when she was there last week.

  • PA Caucasian

    So why don’t you present this exculpatory material to the current D.A. so the true perp can be prosecuted?
    If it’s your opinion that he was framed by familiy members who did do it, do you know who those family members are?

    and how can you live with yourself knowing that an innocent man is doing jail time for a heinous crime when the guilty party is free?

    Wouldn’t your time be better spent helping Officer Winfield instead of coming here to post pure unadulterated B.S.?

    The least you could do is refer his case to the Innocence Project.

  • Yttik

    Well, those of you who want a Brown win should be celebrating. Rumor has it President Obama has finally decided to make some robo calls and endorse Coakley. That should just about finish her off. I believe the words he used were something about how they were of one mind and she would be his voice.

    I’m telling you, there’s something to that theory that the Dems did not want a Coakley win.

  • Docelder

    Then maybe I took that bold typeface smart woman not cutting the nose off to spite the face part too literally then. My apologies.  :) I do have the sense that we are losing the republic here. Maybe it’s just me.

  • Docelder

    I think Brown can win, but I have doubts he will be declared the winner after the counts are done. We are all probably worrying about something that will never be allowed to happen to begin with. Sorry for hijacking the thread. I can’t help it. I think we are in serious trouble here.

  • I’m a Linda too

    Oh man, the Dem’s just can’t help themselves. Now Schumer plays in the gutter.

    Feeling the pressure, he now has just called Scott Brown a Far Right Wing Tea Bagger in an email. So, anyone they fear politically is a Far Right Winger Tea Bagger, huh?

    http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/01/14/schumer-pulls-tea-bagger-card-gop-candidate-brown/

  • Texas Playwright

    Revolution ain’t pretty.  I’m praying the American electorate will holler long and loud with voice and vote to reinstate our democratic Republic.  May take some time.  Who blinks first?

  • Texas Playwright

    Revolution is hard work.  May the American electorate holler long and loud with voice and vote to restore our represntative form of government. I’m not liking this creeping, accelerating fascism much.

  • jbjd

    “…I certainly don’t view her as the enemy”

    Well, I do, for reasons I have expressed previously on this blog.

  • PA Caucasian

    Rather than prosecute, Coakley agreed to grant Geoghan a year of probation in a closed-door proceeding that received no media attention at all. Because of the deal, Geoghan faced no formal charges and no criminal record.

    The American Thinker piece was critical for Coakley missing an opportunity to press the Arhcidocese for its volumes of documentation compiled against Geoghan.

    Coakley’s 1995 decision is widely criticized by activists, who note that even if a criminal prosecution fails or results in a conviction on lesser charges, it puts parents on notice in ways that may prevent future assaults. 

    The article then goes into her prosecution’s reliance on junk science and questionable testimony to convict Amirault. I disagree with your assessment of this piece, that it somehow criticizes Coakley for aggressively prosecuting pedophile priests.

  • Tuppence 411

    Well Rush Limbaugh endorsed Brown the other day.  So that makes them even. I bet you at this point both canidates regret the nationalization of this race.  Martha lost her strongest asset- her integrity- after going to that lobby fundraiser in DC.  And Brown- can’t believe I am sticking up for him-  has every lunatic right wing group in the country tripping over themselves endorsing him whether he wants it or not. 

    It’s crazy here- television and radios ads are not even back to back,  there is like 4 or 6 in a row.  And all these groups on both sides are running their own commericals.  It is now impossible to figure out what is coming from either campaign and what is special interest groups.  It’s a major circus.

  • Obamastolemycountry

    after 50 years, Brown should be entitled to a new seat.  With the extra campaign contributions maybe he can buy one!  Massachusetts folks should also be entitled to replace an old dusty seat and America, too, is entitled to a new seat as well!  LOL!

    My 15 year old, politically inclined son, heard it referred to as Ted Kennedy’s seat the other day and he said why do they call it his seat?  I said because he sat in it for 50 years.  My son said gross!  It’s time to throw that one out and buy a new seat then!  LOL!

  • Docelder

    That is what I am saying as well. Nothing that has happened with this administration in the first year has been done above board or with good intention. I fear not enough people will wake up in time. I am not sure where that puts us as a nation, or where that puts families that are going to have to eventually abandon bailing water aboard the Titanic and just get onto their little dinghy and make plans to survive the coming ice bath.

  • Hmmm

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    It is perfectly reasonable not to vote for Coakley as a way to send a message to Washington that the health care bill is a sellout to insurance and pharmaceutical corporations, and a monstrous one at that.  Arguing that improvements will come, that it is similar to social security is bogus from the start.  Social Security was a government run program right from the beginning, not private enterprise.  Any future improvements the Democrats and the MSM try and spin as coming down the road will be fought tooth and nail by the insurance and pharmaceutical giants. So stay home and let Brown win and hope against hope that someone gets the message.

     Corporatist Democrats – and all Republicans – are obviously going to spin this in what ever way they imagine gives them an advantage or cover.  That includes Obama and of course, Rham, and alas, most of the Democrats in DC.

     But think, if people constantly acquiesce, if it’s always the reasonable people (70% in favor of public option) that have to compromise, if they never put their foot down, well of course they are going to be shafted perpetually.  It’s terrible to give Brown this victory, even if only for a couple of years.  It’s fraught with danger, but what else to do?

  • Hmmm

    It is perfectly reasonable not to vote for Coakley as a way to send a message to Washington that the health care bill is a sellout to insurance and pharmaceutical corporations, and a monstrous one at that.  Arguing that improvements will come, that it is similar to social security is bogus from the start.  Social Security was a government run program right from the beginning, not private enterprise.  Any future improvements the Democrats and the MSM try and spin as coming down the road will be fought tooth and nail by the insurance and pharmaceutical giants. So stay home and let Brown win and hope against hope that someone gets the message.
     Corporatist Democrats – and all Republicans – are obviously going to spin this in what ever way they imagine gives them an advantage or cover.  That includes Obama and of course, Rham, and alas, most of the Democrats in DC.
     But think, if people constantly acquiesce, if it’s always the reasonable people (70% in favor of public option) that have to compromise, if they never put their foot down, well of course they are going to be shafted perpetually.  It’s terrible to give Brown this victory, even if only for a couple of years.  It’s fraught with danger, but what else to do?

  • Docelder

    Well here comes the “hopenchange”. Obama is going to campaign for Coakley. Which is fitting since if she wins he will vote for her by proxy as well.

    http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9D8BJU04&show_article=1

  • Docelder

    I guess when he said it was the people’s seat… that made him a tea bagger. Schumer with his condescending “chattering class” comments and now this. Who died and left him boss anyway?

  • JustMe

    I expect Bill is doing double shift helping Coakley and spearheading
    Global Initiative and Clinton Foundation are frantically working on the Haiti relief and rescue efforts.  

    Hey Miss S Obama is not the only one with a “BlackBerry”
    Shape up lady get in the groove.

  • JustMe

    I expect Bill is doing double shift helping Coakley and spearheading his Global Initiative and Clinton Foundation that are frantically working on the Haiti relief and rescue efforts.   
     
    Hey Miss. S. Obama is not the only one with a “BlackBerry” 
    Shape up lady get into the groove.

  • Tuppence 411

    Martha Coakley won a sucessful conviction against Geoghan afterwards. He died in prison strangled by an inmate.

    As far as the  American Thinker piece… do you know who the former priest Paul Shanley even is?  Have you ever spoken to any of his victims?  It very much criticizes Coakley over the Shanley case.

    Have you ever spoken to any victims or any of their families in any counties here in MA who went to their DA’s for years, even decades, only to be turned away because there wasn’t enough evidence or they couldn’t get a prosecution.

    In hindsight, people can say she could have done more, faster, a better job – convienently over looking the fact she was the only DA doing anything for a very long time.

    But you wouldn’t know any of this,  because I am in MA  and  you are in PA. 

  • oowawa

    The situation is dire . . .
    The Hour is late . . .
    But:

  • Docelder

    I can see that movie being made. Obama could be played by Denzel. Not sure why I think he would be a fit… maybe that Manchurian movie. I wonder what director would be willing to play the role of Goebbels? Or rather which ones would actually refuse the chance to is the better question maybe.  8-)

  • PA Caucasian

    Coakley won the conviction against Geoghan only because he molested again after she cut the deal with him.

    Were the victims turned down because of lack of evidence – or because the word came down from on high (referring to the Kennedys, close friends of Cardinal Law,) to deep six any police complaints that came across the precinct desk. I recall testimony of officers, just regular cops, who were told to lay off the pedo priest cases, obviously the word had filtered down from their superiors.

    I realize you’re upset about the controversy surrounding your preferred candidate. It isn’t just myself who is pointing out inconsistencies about Coakley’s prosecutorial conduct. Jeralyn Merritt is based out of Colorado, do you think she shouldn’t speak out about these irregularities because she’s in Denver, not Boston?

    AFAIC you’re free to voice any opinion at all in reference to Pennsylvania politicos even though you’re in Massachusetts. I honor your right as an American citizen to do so.

  • Anonymous

    Maybe he could fly over Haiti, just to let them know that he cares.

  • cat

    Coakley won the conviction against Geoghan only because he molested again after she cut the deal with him. 

    BINGO

  • Tuppence 411

    Coakley won the conviction against Geoghan only because he molested again after she cut the deal with him.

     Your above statement of fact is so false and inaccurate.  Where did you get that information?  Thankfully by the 90′s even Cardinal Law knew enough to keep Geoghan away from parishes and children.  Hence the criticism, if she had gotten her hands on his medical records from the archdiocses she would have known they had sent him off for treatment many times.  Get it?

    His later conviction came as more and more families came forward, reporting past abuse.

    AFAIC, I am really not informed enough to comment on parish life or the state of the church in PA, so I wouldn’t have an opinion to post.

  • arabella trefoil

    No use of jet fuel is necessary. Obama should walk on water to get to Haiti.

  • arabella trefoil

    Did you vote for Obama? Do you support his healthcare plan?

  • arabella trefoil

    creeper, I could not agree with you more.

  • arabella trefoil

    Robocalls? I hate those things. If Obama really wants to help Coakley he shouldn’t do robocalls.

  • arabella trefoil

    I agree.

  • arabella trefoil

    Well stated.

  • PA Caucasian

    Boston Globe November 23, 2009:

    “Still, at the time of Geoghan’s probation, Cardinal Bernard Law, then the archbishop of Boston, and other church officials were holding thousands of pages of records documenting Geoghan’s decades of sexual abuse and the ineffective treatment he had received at psychiatric facilities. The records were released to the public in 2002 after legal action taken by the Globe for a series by the paper’s Spotlight Team showing that the archdiocese had concealed Geoghan’s abuses, as well as those of many other priests.

    In 1999, when Coakley indicted Geoghan in the case involving the boy at the swimming pool, there was far more public suspicion about priests and sexual abuse – and about Geoghan – than there was when she lost her case against Manning. By then, Garabedian had filed lawsuits on behalf of more than 50 of Geoghan’s victims. And in 1998, Law had successfully moved to defrock Geoghan in a highly publicized punitive procedure approved by Pope John Paul II.”

    1995 – Coakley cuts the deal
    1999 – indicts Geoghan for a molestation charge at a public swimming pool. Bernard Law may have been able to remove Geoghan from parochial activities, but the Cardinal had no control over what Geoghan did for recreation.

  • buzzlatte

    I understood it to be that a single issue voter would be one that votes for a woman just because they, too, are a woman.

    The problem with that is blindness to the merits of the two candidates.  It’s the same thing the blacks did.  They voted on skin color rather than experience.  Women voting for Coakley based only on gender are just as blind.

    Brown may not be ideal, but Coakley has become another symbol of Democratic overreach and big government and that, in turn, is an unpopular message to the masses.

  • Nellie

    Today at 1:30PM. WBUR (NPR Station In MA) announced that 0 is flying in to help Coakley on Sunday.

    That pretty well guarantees that Coakley will most likely lose. WHY?

    1. There is a Suffolk University Poll released today that Shows Brown +4 points. The race is now that close.

    2. For those not familiar with greater Boston, 0 appearance guarantess angering the most people possible in Eastern MA. The two main routes from the North into Boston will be closed (RT 93 S over the Tobin Bridge, and RT 95 S). Routes 24 North into Boston and RT 128 into Boston will be impassable. The Mass pike leads directly into Boston from West to East, guaranteeing massive traffic Jams.

    Therefore, people in the greater Boston Environs will have to suffer major traffic jams to travel North, or Sourh to Cape Cod and Points West. People coming from western points, North or South Shore areas will have to travel to Routes 495 and 290 near Worcester to try and avoid the worst traffic jams, and will add anywhere between 1-2 hours to their travel time.

    So by “helping” Coackley 0 screws up the holiday weekend travel for both residents of MA and surrounding states, as well as those who had any plans in the greater Boston Area. There may be some truth that 0 actually is trying to blame Coackley if she loses and is doing his best to anger people under the guise of “help”.

  • getfitnow

    AMEN!!

  • getfitnow

    Did  see the latest negative ad they launched–then pulled–connecting Brown with Wall St and, wait—9/11.

  • getfitnow

    I don’t have to listen to Ann Coulter or any other pundit to know who the right candidate is. :-D

  • Docelder

    This Brown guy seems real. Coakley seems oversold.

  • Nellie

    Bronwyn,

    “Coakley is the epitome of the kind of prosecutor who will do anything to win, no matter what she does to destroy the lives of those she’s chosen to prosecute.”

    BINGO!!

    It is true Coakley expends her time prosecuting and trying every trick to hold the indigent, disabled and those with few resources in jail. Conversely, she backs down on anyone who actually DESERVES jail, when it onflicts with her Political Progess forward.

    Here is a graphic case of a Somerville policeman who was convicted of “raping” his 27 month old neice with a curling iron. Not only did he use a curling iron, it was HOT when this deranged act was done. Yet Coackely stated he was “stressed” poor baby. Her husband is/was also a policeman.

    Here are the details of that poor baby hideously damaged by a trusted relative:

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    <![endif]–>http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2010/01/06/some_saw_coakley_as_lax_on_05_rape_case/

  • Nellie

    Conversely she does NOT speedily prosecute those who deserve it, if it will impede her forward Political Progress.

    http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2010/01/06/some_saw_coakley_as_lax_on_05_rape_case/

    Please do not read this if eating or drinking. The details are truly nauseating.
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  • Nellie

    Conversely she does NOT speedily prosecute those who deserve it, if it will impede her forward Political Progress.  Please do not read this if eating or drinking. The details are truly nauseating.
     
    http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2010/01/06/some_saw_coakley_as_lax_on_05_rape_case/  
     
     

  • TeakWoodKite

    It is of note that the next person to hold the office got a stiff sentence in the case. It smells of neglect, as jbjd has described in a professional capasity.

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