Interesting local news. Take with a grain of salt.

[TayTay]

Are Meehan's future plans top secret?
The Lowell Sun
Article Last Updated: 01/21/2007 06:39:16 AM EST

A SUN STAFF REPORT

U.S. REP. MARTY Meehan, who just turned 50, wants everyone -- or most everyone -- to know he's happy in Congress and wants to remain in the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives, where the newfound power must be intoxicating and invigorating.

But if you believe where there's smoke, there's fire, Meehan's eighth term could be his last.

Consider:

SNIP -- local stuff that seems to indicate that Marty Meehan is looking to cash in at a new job in Massachusetts.
End SNIP

Obviously, the cagey Meehan has feelers out.

With the emergence of Illinois Sen. Barack Obama as a presidential candidate -- maybe on the same ticket with New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton -- it's looking more and more like Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry will not be a candidate for president. Meehan has coveted a move to the Senate for years.

http://www.lowellsun.com/fastsearchresults/ci_5056955

Marty Meehan has wanted to be a Senator since, ahm, ever I think. He has $4 million in the bank just in case a Senate seat opens. It is very significant that he is thinking of dropping out of public service. Very, very significant. I wonder what he is hearing locally?

Oh, and don't shoot the messenger. I am only reporting local rumors. And that's all they are, rumors.

[Mass]

1. I tend to take everything the Sun says with a grain of salt.

Even if Meehan thinks of getting out of public service, there are many other explanations, aside from the fact that Kerry is not running, that could explain that (particularly considering that Kennedy will not be senator forever).

Among them, the first seat that will open will be very contested among Democrats: about every Congressman + half a dozen other people want to run for it, including people who have a personal fortune that makes the $4 millions of Meehan a small sum.

Also, he may be calculating that, even if Kerry runs, given the field among Democrats, he may drop out at some point and run for Senator, and is not ready to wait and see, particularly considering that there will be one seat less in MA (not sure how the lines will be drawn. Is it known at this point?).

And of course, there is the possibility that Kerry does not run, but, to be honest, the Sun is not exactly where I would look for my information about Kerry.

And, being the head of the e Massachusetts Biotechnology Council, a $420,000-a-year position, or anything of the sort, could be a good position for him, allowing him to stay in Boston with his family.

So, let's wait and see.

[karynnj]

4. Thanks Mass

That makes sense and gives hope back.

[MarjorieG]

2. Hmmm

I do see a Hillary/Obama ticket, definitely adding imagination and magic to a Bill3 run, in the making for years. They have so consolidated support among organizational Dems, corporate interests, netroots who want to be in for the win and maybe paid-beyond Daou, I do feel we are going through the motions. Just as in 2004, when we had to rely on the media to tell our truth, and it never got out.

Given the overly-hyped assumption of another Clinton war room victory, we must fight the sense of our just going through the motions for something pre-ordained.

If it were Kerry's turn in 2004, Hillary's in 2008, least they could have been more supportive. Have a sense an order was sent to stand down, or why work if it won't be a win during wartime. Either way, the Dems let us down, and maybe feel Kerry is not being obedient and staying in the place they made for him. Am I bitter?

Still don't like those McCurry and Carville statements in Woodward's book, if true.

I sense Kerry is running, and would like to see him uncorked, what I call Kerry in full, and show how he is, just because.

[MarjorieG]

3. Marty's decision may be about Marty, whatever it is.

[karynnj]

5. I'm surprised there has not been more of a reaction

to those Carville and McCurry comments. It was obvious from Carville's TV appearances that he was less than helpful - so there was reason that questions should have been asked.

The thing that seems particularly nasty is the way they treated Kerry after he lost. It's clear he fought his heart out and they ssat on their hands as Bush et co tried everything they could to absolutely destroy both of the Kerrys. They had the dignity to stand up against it.

Yet they have never given him the smallest amount of respect - coming close to saying he's not a party leader. He won the right to be one of the leaders and has worked hard to bne worthy of that label.

It really angers me that they would let Bush continue for four years - just for selfish political game. With the war going as it did, they are absolutely iummoral and with NO redeaming characteristics. If they did this, they are as bad as Bush.

[MBS]

6. they may be right about Meehan,

but my bet (ok, hope) is that they're wrong about Kerry. I hope they end up embarrassed by this statement: " it's looking more and more like Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry will not be a candidate for president. "