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2016 Postmortem

WI_DEM

(33,497 posts) Wed Jan 30, 2013, 11:40 AM Jan 2013

It's Cowan! Second African-American in current Senate [View all]

BOSTON (Reuters) - Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick on Wednesday is to name his former chief of staff, William Cowan, to fill the U.S. Senate seat that John Kerry will vacate this week when he succeeds Hillary Clinton as secretary of state, Boston's WBZ television reported.

Patrick's office declined to comment on the pick, saying only that the governor planned to make an announcement at 11 a.m. ET (1600 GMT). A Democrat, Cowan would be the second African-American in the current Senate and would serve until a June 25 election in which Kerry's permanent replacement is selected.

In choosing his former chief of staff, Patrick bypasses recently retired U.S. Congressman Barney Frank, who had publicly said he wanted the job.

The appointment maintains the Democrats' majority in the Senate, at least until the special election.

http://news.yahoo.com/massachusetts-governor-patrick-names-william-cowan-senate-local-150416647.html

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It's Cowan! Second African-American in current Senate [View all] WI_DEM Jan 2013 OP

There are positives and negatives probably for both Cowan and Franks LiberalFighter Jan 2013 #1

What are the negatives with Cowan? I thought he was fairly noncontroversial. Liberal_Stalwart71 Jan 2013 #5

No experience on the legislative side in either the House or Senate. LiberalFighter Jan 2013 #6

But, doesn't being the Chief of Staff almost require that he has great insight into Liberal_Stalwart71 Jan 2013 #8

It all depends on the style he utilized as CoS LiberalFighter Jan 2013 #10

Considering the other black guy is a goddamn loon, Arkana Jan 2013 #2

Amen! madashelltoo Jan 2013 #3

I think it's a great move. Why? Several theories... Liberal_Stalwart71 Jan 2013 #4

Point 1 is moot imo unless he becomes a candidate in the special election. LiberalFighter Jan 2013 #7

Good points all around. If Cowan has been a CoS for 1 or 2 years, that could be a plus. Liberal_Stalwart71 Jan 2013 #9

This message was self-deleted by its author seaglass Jan 2013 #11

Thanks for the correction. I thought he wanted someone who would run, but I was mistaken. Liberal_Stalwart71 Jan 2013 #12

This message was self-deleted by its author seaglass Jan 2013 #13

That's not unusual to appoint an acquantance is it, though? When Mel Carnahan died in the Liberal_Stalwart71 Jan 2013 #14

This message was self-deleted by its author seaglass Jan 2013 #15

But Cowan will only be in for a very short time. He won't even be relevant. You wouldn't Liberal_Stalwart71 Jan 2013 #16

This message was self-deleted by its author seaglass Jan 2013 #17

No, not really. I trying to get you to see that it's no big deal. Does anyone even remember Kaufman? Liberal_Stalwart71 Jan 2013 #19

Cowan serves in the US Senate for 5 more months. NPolitics1979 Jan 2013 #18

Cowan has said he has no interest in running for office now or in the future. Marrah_G Jan 2013 #21

Franks would have been more fun.. . . . . .n/t annabanana Jan 2013 #20