thus far, the Reilly campaign is an empty shell

[welshTerrier2]

i want to be honest here; i will probably support Deval Patrick for Governor ... but i've withheld that endorsement because i thought it was important to truly understand exactly how both candidates, Reilly and Patrick, would address the many issues confronting Massachusetts ...

i have made regular calls to both candidates' campaign headquarters to discuss the issues and discuss the campaign itself ... i've heard both candidates speak ... and i spend a fair amount of time looking at their websites ...

i think we all agree it is imperative for Democrats to win back the Governorship this year ... it is inexcusable in a State like Massachusetts to keep electing republican governors ... inexcusable ...

so why does it keep happening over and over and over?

i think one of the problems has been that voters were turned off by political elitism ... they saw a Statehouse controlled by Democrats and saw the Party pushing Party insiders as their candidates ... i think the insider image made voters concerned that there would not be a check and balance between the legislature and the executive branch in the State ...

the worst thing we could possibly do is nominate someone with a very strong Beacon Hill odor ... it would allow Healey to run as a "someone has to keep an eye on them" outsider ... Reilly starts off dangerously close to falling into the same category as all the other Democratic "didn't-make-its" ...

but that doesn't mean, if Reilly runs an effective campaign that he is not worth considering ... my mind is still open to hear a real message backed up by a real vision and a real plan ...

but therein lies the rub ... Reilly's campaign, at least thus far, is an empty shell ... go look at his website ... it's nothing but a package of pretty words ... "Romney and Healy screwed up the State" ... "I want to create jobs" ... "I consider education very important" ... to this, after a big yawn or two, i respond, "wow, what a visionary" ...

so i called Reilly's campaign headquarters ... i told them that next week i'll be running as a delegate to the State convention ... i told them i cannot back a candidate whose entire campaign, at least thus far, is based on empty rhetoric ... the last thing the Massachusetts Democratic Party needs is another "he's a really good guy" candidate ... the last thing we need is another empty suit ... i said that if Reilly has something to say to voters he damned well better start saying it ... this is serious business this year and we can't afford to run another Ms. or Mr. Popular or another insider candidate if the bona fides aren't in place ...

the guy i spoke to agreed with me and said issues would be forthcoming ... and he made the same defense Reilly himself made in his speech announcing his candidacy ... he said Reilly wants to hear from voters to see what they believe is important before he issues his position statements ... i responded that listening to voters is always a good idea; failing to tell voters what you believe in when you're a candidate for Governor is NOT ...

this thread is NOT intended to bash Reilly ... it is intended to warn him and to warn Democrats that we cannot tolerate an empty shell campaign from any of our candidates ... running on personality, popularity and track record will NOT be enough for us to win in November ... let's demand a better accounting from the Reilly campaign ... we deserve better than we've gotten thus far ...

[janalfi]

1. I have to agree . . .

I saw Tom Reilly speak at the State Democratic Convention last year and he was awwwwfullll. He is another insider candidate who doesn't know where he stands until he someone tells him which way the wind seems to be blowing. He is typical of what the state party has been forcing us to vote for in the 20 years we've been losing.

Deval Patrick is the one to watch. I saw him at the convention last spring where he had people (and these are not easily excitable people) on their feet doing call and response. He is charming in small one-on-one meetings and excellent on television. I was at one of his appearances in my town and everyone who came in undecided was onboard by the end of the event. He spoke to the many issues brought up there - local aid, death penalty, housing, jobs, schools, alternative energy, etc. - with a firm grasp of each issue and he offered long-term solutions, instead of quick fix sound bites.

Unfortunately, because of the state convention is heavily weighted with "super delegates" and "ex officio" insiders, many of whom are pledged to Reilly, Patrick will have to work hard to get out the grassroots vote at the caucuses on February 4th. I am planning to attend the caucus in my town and on dragging my apolitical husband and son there as well. I am also calling as many progressives who are registered Democrats (a rare breed) as I can think of to help Patrick's slate win.

This is what I have been working towards since I signed on with my Democratic Town Committee during the Dean campaign . . . getting those that are in politics to play insider power games out, and those who want some real progressive change in this state in.

[welshTerrier2]

2. have we learned anything after all these losses ???

welcome to DU, janalfi !!

i was at last year's convention as well and Patrick blew the place away ... my own State Senator, who i believe is a Reilly supporter, said "why did they have to put Reilly on AFTER Patrick?" ... dullness aside, i thought what Reilly had to say wasn't "bad" but it lacked any sort of inspiration or vision (from what little i recall) ...

i'm really worried that Reilly is the big-name insider ... if that's where we end up, we're going to have a much-closer-than-necessary race in November ... any Democrat who thinks Healey will be easy to beat is wrong ... after all these years of republican rule, you'd think maybe we'd have learned a little something ... i'm not confident that's the case ...

[merbex]

3. Hi Janet !! Nice post,- you need to stop by here more often

I went to the PCDL Chairs breakfast Sat morning with Shawn and Reilly actually made an appearance

They let him speak first and you know that guy who always takes pictures? I think his name is Tootsie or something- anyway he asked the 1st question - softball "Will you support whoever the Democratic nominee is if you should lose in Sept?"

Reilly acted snippy and refused to answer with a yes or no - said something like "I fully intend to be that person" I think he was even asked a second time- wouldn't give an unequivocal answer

Then John Walsh gets up(for D. Patrick) and hits that thing out of the building- doesn't even wait for the question to be asked- "Absolutely we will support whoever wins....."

He made Reilly look so small

Did you go to Duxbury Patrick event last night?

Are you going to Norwell High tonight to see Deval?

[janalfi]

4. Duxbury, yes . . . Norwell, no

Susan

I went to Duxbury after town committee meeting (Terry Murray was there but was mum about governor's race)

Duxbury was SRO. Patrick took some tough questions (about Coca Cola and Ameriquest). I was too far away to hear the answers but they must have been good because afterwards even the bartender was talking him up.

Won't be at Norwell HS tonight but a lot of people from this area said they will be there. See you on the 1st.

PS "Tootsie" is Irving Russell. He and his wife Margaret are both on the state committee.

[TaleWgnDg]

5. Maybe this could be of some help, janalfi . . .

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Maybe this could be of some help, janalfi . . .

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=158x7565
post #7

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edited to add: And welcome to DU, janalfi . . .

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