delicious op-ed on The Lesser One

[MBS]

:evilgrin:
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2010/12/08/a_dicey_dynamic_for_brown/

SCOTT BROWN has enjoyed a charmed political existence this past year.

Transformed by the mood of the moment from a little-noticed state senator to a nationally known US senator, Brown has mostly managed to skip between the raindrops. . .
. . . Brown joined his fellow Republican senators (plus a few Democrats) in voting against extending the tax cuts for the middle class because of GOP insistence that any extension also include the breaks for top earners. That vote cast the differing Republican attitudes toward the unemployed and the affluent in sharp relief.

Although President Obama has now cut a deal with Congressional Republicans to extend both the unemployment benefits and all the income-tax cuts, Brown’s Saturday stance is sure to be campaign fodder. And by setting a 2012 expiration date for the tax cuts, the new deal, if approved, will put the issue front and center in the very year Brown must run again. Aside from the obvious equity concerns, our dismal fiscal situation should render it increasingly risible to claim deficit hawk credentials while favoring the long-term retention of the upper-earner breaks.

. ..
His laudable position on “don’t ask, don’t tell’’ notwithstanding, the senator more often acts like a pol trying to finesse rather than address difficult issues. On controversial matters, he usually keeps his options open as long as he can. He and his staff work to limit his exposure to tough media questions, sometimes by dodging reporters, other times by declaring that he is still studying the issue, still others by labeling a query too hypothetical or a matter too distant to comment on.

None of this is to predict his defeat in two years. The Democrats lack a compelling, instantly competitive challenger — if Deval Patrick and Vicki Kennedy stick to their resolve not to run, that is.
And yet, this much is clear. After a year of easy image-making, Scott Brown’s magic carpet ride is coming to an end.

:evilgrin::evilgrin::evilgrin:

[Mass]

1. Still too nice for my taste, but a clear progress from the love making of a Matt Viser.

Joan Vennoachi has been pretty good as well these last few months. Still a wannabee Maureen Dowd, but I guess I can stand it better when she goes after the other side.

[Mass]

2. BTW, the lesser senator does not know if he likes the deal.

I guess he has not received the talking points

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/articles/2010/12/08/obama_chides_democrats_calls_tax_deal_unavoidable/

Senator Scott Brown, a Massachusetts Republican, was noncommittal. “He will review the compromise, and while the proposal may not be ideal, he wants to make sure that it is good for American families and a victory for taxpayers,’’ said Gail Gitcho, the spokeswoman for the Massachusetts Republican.

while it seems the senior senator will be a good soldier, even if the article implies he is less than happy with the deal:

Senator John F. Kerry, a Massachusetts Democrat and a potential key vote, left open the possibility of supporting the measure. “We have a huge amount here that will go to working people, that goes to average Americans,’’ Kerry said after emerging from the Democratic meeting, noting a reduction in certain payroll taxes. “The middle class is going to get tax cuts that we never contemplated that we could get.’’

"Left open" does not imply a ringing endorsement.

Even Stephen Lynch dislikes the deal.

At least two members of the Massachusetts delegation announced their opposition, while others expressed reservations. Representative Barney Frank, a Newton Democrat, said he opposed the plan, while Representative James McGovern, a Worcester Democrat, called it “a lousy deal.’’ Representative Stephen F. Lynch, a South Boston Democrat, said he was “inclined to vote against a deal that equates the needs of long-term unemployed workers with individuals who earn over $200,000.’’

[karynnj]

3. Brown's spokesperson's response to this seems identical to all his responses

It almost seems that she could be replaced by an automatic response - like those you get on some work email accounts. Has there yet been a bill that, when asked, he actually knew well enough not to say that he would be reading it.

I interpret Kerry's response as you do - not a ringing endorsement - but noting that it does have more help for the middle class than expected. I would guess that from this - and the earlier MTP comments - that he likely will be a "yes" if needed. The economy needs the good parts, but he will clearly not be happy having to extend cuts he spoke against for years.

Meanwhile, the Boston Herald is asking him in an extremely nasty article to pay the higher rate that would have happened if the highest rate was not cut. http://www.bostonherald.com/news/columnists/view.bg?articleid=1301359

[wisteria]

4. Can we say, he better fasten his seatbelt because it is going to be a bumpy ride? n/t

[MBS]

5. yes, please, I hope so!! n/t