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Jay Kaufman, how could you?
By adamg on Tue, 06/02/2009 - 10:50pm
Dan Dunn, who lives in Arlington, is not at all happy with his state rep, Jay Kaufman, because Kaufman didn't just vote to make Sal DiMasi house speaker, he did so with relish - and then defended him when the Globe first started asking questions about Cognos:
... End of questions about his integrity, Jay? Really? A grand jury still has some questions. So do I. And they're questions about you.
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Comments
Obviously if the fact that
Obviously if the fact that he had been taking bribes was known, the 130 or so Reps that voted for him wouldn't have. But if you want your legislator to commit political suicide based on what was at the time just rumor and tenuous connections, Mr. Dunn, go right ahead-- and you'll have a powerless Rep! Maybe Kaufman was too genorous with his words in support of DiMasi, but remember, progressives had the most to gain between DiMasi and Finneran. They were pretty grateful because of gay marriage, global warming legislation, health care, etc. Bottom line: DiMasi did shameful things and should go to jail if they are proven, but your post screams of a vendetta (maybe there's some history between you and Kaufman--I don't know, I'm from West Roxbury so don't follow Arlington politics).
We have a one party system
We have a one party system and this is what happens in that situation. What we really need is a strong second party, the republicans do not county as a second party anymore really. As much as I love my liberal ideals being spread there is something to be said about a little bit of competition and an ability by another wing to take over when things fall apart.
Incompetence of Mass. GOP
Culturally conservative Dems in Massachusetts (e.g., Finneran, pre-felon status) might be just as at home in a moderate-to-conservative GOP, perhaps even more so. With strong GOP leadership, they'd be ripe for the picking.
But what can be said of Republican governors like Weld and Romney who preferred to potter around rather than build a strong local GOP infrastructure?
I've been familiar with a few of the candidates the GOP has desperately served up simply to put a name on the ballot in legislative races, and two who come to mind (no names, sorry) are absolute dolts who crossed over after being thwarted at attempts to advance politically as Democrats.
you're re-writing history
At the time of DiMasi's re-election, it was much more than "just rumor and tenuous connections." Here's a list of everything we knew at that time, from a blog post I wrote then http://www.dandunn.org/blog/archives/468.
Note that DiMasi's flaws were so obvious that even the Globe called for a new leader.
My beef isn't just with Kaufman. It's with every one of the reps who supported DiMasi. The 7 who voted "present" get gold stars on their foreheads.
kayopi, It sounds like you
kayopi, It sounds like you have a little too much of the "stop snitchin" from Roxbury that filtered over to you. From what I gather is that you would rather have a elected official from your town tow the party line and try to get kickbacks later for doing it than standing up for what is the right thing to do. Maybe I'm just of a different mind set but I believe that the people we put in office are supposed to be moral and actually uphold the oath they took when they were elected to office.
I have been and still am disgusted with my rep Jim Miceli from Wilmington. Not only am I disgusted because he was a coward and voted for Dimasi but he puffed his chest out and gave a speech about how great Dimasi is and how he has done nothing but good for the state. I am appalled by the politics that go on in this state and there needs to be a massive change in the people running it during the next election cycle.