Boston Globe: 45% say Kerry should quit seat, poll indicates

[physioex]

The Democratic National Convention hasn't started yet, but the partisan gamesmanship is already underway in Boston. The Republican National Committee yesterday released a poll it commissioned that says nearly half of Massachusetts voters believe John F. Kerry should resign from the Senate as he runs for president.

In a survey of 500 Bay State voters conducted last Sunday and Monday, 59 percent said they ''are concerned" that Kerry ''missed 70 percent of the votes in the Senate over the last two years" and 45 percent say he should resign his Senate seat, according to an RNC spokeswoman, Christine Iverson.

<snip>

A Kerry spokesman, Michael Meehan, laughed as he was read the poll results.

''The Republicans' frustration is understandable," he said. ''They haven't been able to beat him for more than 20 years, and now they hope he'll quit over a cooked poll. It's laughable."

<snip>
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/07/24/45_say_kerry_should_quit_seat_poll_indicates/

My first LBN, hope it's not a dupe..

[LarryBaker]

1. I think he should resign too

It's the honorable thing to do. I hope one does not have to be a repug to think so.

[physioex]

4. I agree....I think he should resign also....

He had the courage to mortgage his house when his campagin was down. I think it would be acceptable if he resigned, but not appeasement of the Repugs....

[DeaconBlues]

17. Yeah, let's let the Republican governor decide

who will be the next Senator from Mass. That's the ticket.

[Moloch]

38. Kerry is not representing his constituency

and giving the * camp one of the only arguments they can think of against Kerry.

I don't want Romney to chose Kerry's sucessor either, but the honorable thing for Kerry to do is step down.

Edwards too.

[OKNancy]

39. Edwards long ago

said he was not running again. There is no reason for him to give up a seat that the replacement would have for just a few months..IMO

[Frodo]

50. Yes there IS. Erskin Bowles has a real SHOT at winning NC.

If he was the incumbent Senator and could make a couple votes that NC likes he could be a virtual lock.

Let Edwards step down (he's not making any votes anyway) and let the Governor replace him with Bowles.

[Judi Lynn]

41. Maybe you should mull over Republican Senator Murkowski

who ran for the Governor's position in Alaska recently, won it, then appointed his Republican daughter, Lisa to fill his place.

No one sensible is going to say Democrats should withdraw from their own Senate or House seats to run, while Republicans don't. That is simply too stupid for words, and damned easy to see through.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Murkowski names daughter to U.S. Senate
Mulder in the running for Lisa Murkowski's state House seat

Web Posted: December 20, 2002


By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER
THE JUNEAU EMPIRE © 2002

Gov. Frank Murkowski today appointed his daughter Lisa Murkowski to succeed him as Alaska's junior U.S. senator.
The appointment was made official after Lisa Murkowski was sworn in at noon in Anchorage.

The announcement was met with some skepticism about the month-long interview process the elder Murkowski held with some 26 potential replacements.

Standing next to his daughter at the Governor's Conference Room at the Atwood Building in downtown Anchorage, Gov. Murkowski said the appointment is "probably one of the most important decisions I will make as your governor."

"Above all, I felt the person who I appoint to the remaining two years of my term should be someone who shares my basic philosophy, my values - but particularly one who shares on the issue of Alaska matters that are before us," Murkowski said.
(snip/...)

Hand-off: Gov. Frank Murkowski, right, congratulates his daughter state Rep. Lisa Murkowski, an Anchorage Republican, after he appointed her to his U.S. Senate seat today in Anchorage. Frank Murkowski resigned from the Senate seat when he was sworn in as governor Dec. 2.
AL GRILLO/ THE ASSOCIATED PRESS


http://www.aklegislature.com/stories/122002/murkowski.shtml

[Zidane]

42. I thought the legislature

recently decided it would now be chosen by a vote?

[Frances]

32. When Bush resigns as President, then Kerry should resign as

Senator.

Fair is fair.

[LarryBaker]

35. So Clinton should have resigned when Bob Dole gave up his seat?

I think not.

[bobbyboucher]

49. Just plain dumb.

If Dole seat would have been given to a Democrat as soon as he resigned he wouldn't have done it. Don't stroll in here and start extolling ridiculous crap when our nation is under the thumb of lunatic Republican garbage.

A good reality check might be in order for you.

[struggle4progress]

46. And I bet 45% would support Bush resigning. eom

[CookieD]

56. Excellent point!

If Kerry isn't representing his constituency because he is out campaigning, how can anyone argue * is representing his own constituency? (I'm talking about America, not his real constituency in the red states.)

Campaigning is a political fact of life. Constituents understand that. Kerry may be missing a few votes here and there, but what do you want to bet his status as the Democratic nominee gets him a HECK of a lot of benefits for his constituents in Massachussetts.

[Piperay]

12. Kerry can resign

after he wins the eletion, that's soon enough.

[Rowdyboy]

33. Mid-November sounds like a good time for President Kerry

to give up his senate seat. Anything earlier than that is just wistful thinking by Republicans who are trying to give Kerry a black eye using doctored, Rethug party-financed polls.

Did George Bush give up the governorship of Texas when he ran for president? How about Clinton in 1992? Hell no! And neither should JK.

[leesa]

25. Right. And then let's ram through as many psychotic Christo-Fascist judge

as they can, right? No one asked Bush to resign and he's been on the campaign trail since he started.

[Frodo]

52. They're going to do that anyway if they lose

One Senate vote won't make any difference if they "nuke" the filibuster argument.

And a President can do his job from just about anywhere, a Senator can't. We can't point to any bill signings or cabinet meetings that Bush missed because of campaigning. Kerry can't BE a Senator without being in Washington. Every time they want to make him look bad they can schedule a bill to pass by one vote and the news is that Kerry kept it from being stopped because he couldn't be bothered to show up to do his job.

Remember the mini-flap about Kerry "not having time" for that terrorism briefing? ("They tried to give me one, but I've been busy"). Bush can get his any time any where because AF1 if a flying White House.

[2Design]

26. Not a good idea to resign.....with rethug as governor...he would

appoint a rethug ..who would be in there until 2006...this is partisan bs....

liberman didn't resign his post...while running for vp

not a smart move to resign position....rethugs want the advantage...when kerry wins there will be special vote by the people for someone else and that person will most likely be a dem....mitt romney may be in there now....

but after all of his shenanigans....I would be surpised if this dem state puts him back...they may be more awake to the fact that they stupidly put in a rethug...not understanding the consequences of that.

[mom cat]

36. I think he should resign when he is sworn in as president. He is a

senator who represents me and I do not want my voice unrepresented for even a second. That would hand the republicans an opening to shove more oppressive measures down the throats of the unwilling. He has taken an oath to fulfill his obligations as a senator to represent us and he should honor that commitment and the commitment he has to the people of this state. :dem:

[Longhorn79]

53. Your voice being unrepresented is the point

The democrats included in the 45% that agree he should resign don't want to be unrepresented or greatly under-represented as is the case, now.

[doctorbombeigh]

62. They aren't un-represented at all...

As a born and raised Boston Democrat (now a Cali transplant) I assure you that we know how to handle one of our own running for President.

For one thing, we like our people to run for President, it makes us happy (even from afar). For another, we have Senator Kennedy right there, all the time, keeping a sharp eye on our interests. With his experience and seniority, Kennedy's worth two average Senators - easy. If he's needed for a vote, Kerry will show up and vote.

Otherwise, the country needs him on the campaign trail and we'll need him back in the Senate should Bush prevail. We will NOT be needing a Mitt the Twit appointee, thank you very much. Massachusetts voters aren't stupid, they can suck it up for a few more months.

[doctorbombeigh]

61. By law, he must resign the Senate prior to being sworn in as Pres. n/t

[BiggJawn]

45. Bush needs to go first.

Dumbya has spent what, 44% of his time in office "On Vacation"? and this past year, when he's not drunk at the ranch, he's travelling the country and popping in at Bagdhad to say "Hi! Tax cuts for th' Rich! Now, where's that fundraiser being held at, Karl?"

Who'd the MA ReTHUGs poll? Other ReTHUGs?

Why should he be any different than the rest of us, or do you always quit your present job before you go seeking a new one?
I know *I* don't.

[thebigidea]

47. No, one only has to be a fan of Republican governors to think so.

[yardwork]

55. Kerry should NOT resign! We need him in the Senate

assuming he wins the presidential election, we'll need Kerry in the Senate until January, because the Republicans are going to be going bananas trying to steal everything in sight.

[DemBones DemBones]

2. Ha ha! What percent of the voters

are RW nutjobs?!

[WindRavenX]

3. To some degree...

...I agree with this. If the Democrats had a solid command of the Senate, resigning his seat would probably be the smart move to do. But given the fact the Republicans control the Senate...Kerry cannot give his seat up.

[DieboldMustDie]

5. I don't recall Shrubby resigning the Texas governorship...

during his 2000 run. :shrug:

[physioex]

7. Isn't it funny how they always define the "agenda".....

Walrus Rove must be at it again...

[Spiffarino]

19. That's because being Texas Gov isn't a real job. n/t

[Longhorn]

31. You're right.

Bush didn't resign as governor until December 21, 2000.

[lovedems]

34. Off topic but I watched POV last night about the Texas political race in

2002 and they followed Rose and Green on the campaign trail.

Green is text book definition of a fundie nut job! Is Rose your state rep? Is he doing a fine job? Is he liked in your district? It was a good program and they pointed out at the end all of the illelgal money that was discovered "after the fact" that led to the republican sweep in Texas in 2002. The program seemed unsure if Texas was a "republican state" or a "George Bush" state, wondering if the republican surge was temporary or verging on permanent. They pointed out how totally effed up Texas is with it's low taxes. It ranks 50th in the nation for uninsured children and in the upper 40's for education spending and health care. Hopefully for you Texans, the republican surge is temporary because it sounds like your state needs some help after being under republican control.

[Longhorn]

60. I also caught POV and found it hard to watch, except I knew the ending!

Green is as sleazy as he appeared on the show -- I've met him several times -- and Patrick is as genuine, honest, and intelligent as he appears -- I know him as well as he is a friend of our daughter's and I worked in his campaign.

Patrick has been an outstanding state rep -- named Rookie of the Year by Texas Monthly. The district is mostly Republican and Patrick really had to move to the middle, both in the campaign and during his first term, in order to appeal to the majority of voters. The campaign hasn't heated up yet -- I can't even remember the name of his opponent -- but when it does, they will mostly criticize him for joining the other Texas Democrats when they went to Oklahoma to bust a quorum in order to fight Delay's redistricting bill. Otherwise, he has been praised by Democrats and Republicans alike.

The Republicans in this state are about as conservative as they get. When we moved to Houston from Indiana in 1971, my Goldwater-Republican parents were considered wild-eyed liberals. My mother is a pro-choice feminist who will never leave the party because she was born and raised in it -- but I know she is sickened by what it has become, especially in this state. I'm the "black sheep" of the family due to my "brainwashing" at the University of Texas.

By the way, we have no state income tax but we pay over 8.5% in state and local sales tax and thousands of dollars a year in property taxes. But the quickest way to political suicide in this state is to even mention a state income tax. So we wallow in last place in most social and educational services and continue to brag about how great we are! :shrug:

[Gunit_Sangh]

6. Funny ....

I never heard cries that shrub should have resigned as guv of texas when HE was running for prez.

[sofa king]

8. I got it! Kerry steps down if Bush does, too.

'Cause just like Texans seemed to realize back in 2000, Bush isn't really in charge, anyway.

Edit: on a schoolmarmish note, there is an obvious Republican precedent for this: Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole resigned in 1996.

Democrats, however, play the game a little smarter. Joe Lieberman, for example, was re-elected to the Senate in 2000, while simultaneously losing as Vice President. I don't think Lyndon Johnson resigned his position as Senate Majority Leader in 1960, but you'll need someone else to confirm that.

[flaminbats]

10. seems fair to me..

but does that mean Bush would be running against Cheney for President?

[sofa king]

11. No, I think Cheney should resign, too.

Because he's the one really running the country, which means he really shouldn't neglect his duties as de facto President.

Come to think of it, Karl Rove tells 'em both what to do. He should resign from his position as l'eminance grise.

Aw, hell with it. Let's just ask them all to resign.

[TaleWgnDg]

65. uuummmm, yup, it would ! LOL

btw, your signature is funny as hell ... am still laughing!

:kick:

[Judi Lynn]

9. It's downright laughable.

Since WHEN do American candidates bail on their current positions to run for office?

This is the oddest scam the Republicans have tried to run: rewriting American political tradition all by themselves, just because it might benefit their side. Cheney THAT.

Thanks to the miracle of the new-fangled telephone, and internet, etc., a candidate knows what's going on in Washington just like THAT these days!

[underpants]

14. I've always understood that that was the unwritten rule

Used to be that if you were running for a higher office any criticism about the time it takes and the time missed is not mentioned. But, as you say, that was back in the good old days when there was some level of common decency and before them new fangled telEEphones.

[Judi Lynn]

29. You're Cheneying right!

I looked up "Public Opinion Strategies," the polling group and found the following contemptible information:

Gene Ulm is a partner of Public Opinion Strategies located in Alexandria, Virginia. POS is one of the largest political and public affairs survey research firms in the nation with clients including more than 45 Members of Congress, numerous Governors and Senators as well as Fortune 500 companies. We develop public opinion-based strategies for politics, government and business.

Campaign Politics

Since 1990, Mr. Ulm has gained extensive experience polling on behalf of successful U.S. Senate, gubernatorial, congressional, and state legislative campaigns. His political clients include Members of Congress, mayors, legislative caucuses, and business-oriented independent expenditure committees.

In 2001, Mr. Ulm conducted research on behalf of Jeff Miller's victorious special election campaign for Congress. During the 2000 election cycle, Gene polled for three Congressmen on the DNC's targeted list, Saxby Chambliss, Robin Hayes and Steve Horn, all of whom successfully defended their endangered seats. He also conducted research for Congressmen Mark Green and Joe Scarborough, as well as several state parties and individual legislators. In 1998, Gene led Mark Green's winning challenger campaign in Wisconsin's 8th Congressional District, the only Republican challenger to defeat a Democratic House incumbent in that cycle.
(snip/...)

http://www.pos.org/about/ulm.asp

It's only fitting that their initials are: "P.O.S.!"

[struggle4progress]

54. Remember: Voters love *, not his (nonexistent) accomplishments:

http://www.pos.org/presentations/63/popup.cfm?ID=27&Last=58&Pres=64

[Judi Lynn]

58. That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen!

They ~wove~ him for his "personal qualities" more than his "accomplishments."

WHAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS? What "personal qualities?"

Where can we get jobs like this? Those guys at "P.O.S." really have it made, don't they?

[struggle4progress]

59. But it probably DOES tell us what campaign they hoped to run:

all about the "hat," nothing about the "cattle."

My, what a big white hat he has! Everybody sez so. Etc etc :puke:

[bowens43]

13. I bet the DNC could release a poll

that says 47% think Bush should shove his head up his ass......

[Philothea]

16. Hahaha!

"I bet the DNC could release a poll


that says 47% think Bush should shove his head up his ass......"





55% say he should take it out of his ass.

[Spiffarino]

20. 102%?

Nah. Sounds like a Republican poll to me.

[hyphenate]

23. Nah, you're both wrong

85% think Bush should remove his head from Cheney's ass.

[SammyWinstonJack]

64. Heh!

I wanna be in that 47%. :bounce:

[underpants]

15. Kerry misses votes but the 9/11 report comes out and they go on vacation

Oh sorry for bringing that up

[Media_Lies_Daily]

18. When do they plan on polling voters in the Democratic Party?

[Spiffarino]

24. Why bother?

The Repugs don't plan to poll Democratic voters in the November election.

[TahitiNut]

21. TahitiNut Tribune: 48% say Bush should quit office, Pole indicates

:shrug:

[hyphenate]

22. As Ed Markey said....

When Senator Kerry is elected president, there will be a special election to fill the empty Senate seat, and he is planning on running for it.

The Mass. Senate pushed through a bill a couple of weeks ago, I believe, that said there would be a special election within 120 days following Kerry's vacating the seat, to elect a new Senator. There will be NO filling of the seat by Republican governor Romney.

In fact, there is an overwhelming number of Democrats in the Mass. congress, so any chance of the Repukes' trying to hoodwink the state is very low. Thank the stars that we live in a Democratically controlled state.

[Tiberius]

37. Veto will be overridden after convention

http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=36904

Romney vetoes bill requiring special election for Kerry's seat
By Associated Press
Friday, July 23, 2004

BOSTON - Republican Gov. Mitt Romney on Friday issued a long-expected veto of a bill that would strip him of his power to appoint a replacement for U.S. Sen. John Kerry if the Democrat wins his race for the presidency.

The leadership of the overwhelmingly Democratic state Legislature has argued that the bill, which calls for a special election within 160 days, would allow voters to choose their own senator and prevent the governor from engaging in an act of patronage.

Republicans argue, however, that Massachusetts needs continuous representation in the U.S. Senate. By blocking the gubernatorial appointment, they said, Democrats are trying to ensure that a Republican doesn't get a foothold in the Senate, making it more difficult for a member of the state's all-Democratic congressional delegation to win the seat.

Under current law, the governor would appoint a replacement, who would serve until the next general election in 2006.

Earlier this month, when the Democratic bill arrived on his desk for the first time, Romney sent it back with an amendment that would allow him to appoint a replacement until the special election took place. The Legislature rejected the compromise and sent the bill back to him.

While Romney's position on the bill has been evident from the start, he has admittedly dragged his feet on issuing the veto, taking full advantage of the 10 days allotted him in hopes that time would run out on the legislative session, which ends July 31.

The Legislature, however, intends to return to override the veto on Friday or Saturday, after the Democratic National Convention ends Thursday evening.

[Randomthought]

27. Then 55% think he shouldn't resign.

What's their point?

[Rockholm]

28. It was a republican poll.

Biased to say the least. Funny, Romney demands that the people vote when it comes to equal marriage, but only he himself can decide who represents me in the Senate. Cheney you, Romney.

[WI_DEM]

30. Dole resigned in '96 becuz he needed to do something dramatic

to shake up the race and so he took the gamble. But did Senator John F. Kennedy resign in 1960? no. Did Sen. Barry Goldwater resign in '64? no. Did Senator George McGovern resign in '72? No. Did Governor Michael Dukakis resign in '88? No. Did Governor GW Bush resign in '00? No and they both missed alot of time running their states.

[stepnw1f]

40. This Is Pure Bull

I'm glad they won't give up the seat to a puke. We all know what these bastards are doing to this country. Even if it's temporary, Especially during an election.

[The_Casual_Observer]

43. Even though this is a meaningless poll, since when is 45%

a decisive number of people? Ever since chimp's approval rating has dropped this low?

[CookieD]

57. Since the 2000 election!

Remember in America the party with the fewest votes wins. :shrug:

[JerseygirlCT]

44. I'd love to see the actual poll questions

sounds a bit "pushy" to me...

[Don_G]

48. It's up to Kerry

[Jack Rabbit]

51. Of course he should resign his seat . . .

. . . after the election and before he moves into the White House.

[doctorbombeigh]

63. It's in the Constitution...

that no one person can hold two elected offices at the same time. He must resign his Senate seat prior to being sworn in as POTUS. That, unfortunately, will still stick MA with a Mitt the Twit appointee, but he'll have more pressure to appoint a moderate to the President's seat, one hopes. Of course, they'll be bitter, so Bill Weld is too much to hope for.

[TaleWgnDg]

66. uummmmm, here's the scoop on that "survey" company . . .

tis great to look behind the curtain in Ozland . . . <wink>

http://www.opensecrets.org/parties/expenddetail.asp?Cmte=NRCC&txtName=PUBLIC+OPINION+STRATEGIES

:kick: :kick: :kick: