Comments on Ryan's Take: My Endorsement for the Senate: Alan Khazei

I agree with your ultimate assessment that Alan Kh...

2009-12-01T11:52:57.695-05:00

I agree with your ultimate assessment that Alan Khazei is an exciting candidate, whose uniqueness in leadership and experience we are lucky to have before us right now.

I have been bothered by the increasing whispers to the effect of "If Khazei's so great, I'll vote for him later when he runs for something else".

If we don't vote for the great, and best, candidates we want who are RUNNING RIGHT NOW, we will never get the candidates that we repeatedly SAY we want.

Mike Capuano is a good Congressman and I respect him.

If Alan Khazei weren't in the field, I would probably vote for him.

But Alan Khazei is running today, now, because there is an open senate seat today, now.

This is an opportunity, a window in history, and I call BS on the strategery of justifying NOT voting for him ("He really IS great...") by saying you'll vote for him "later" ("...so I'll vote for him if he runs for Something Else"). Or engaging in the shady whisper campaign "...it's a throwaway vote" [BS!].

I get the impulse (hey, we all want our candidate to win), but it strikes me as deeply cynical.

Vote for the best candidate, and if people of conscience DO this (instead of cynically triangulating their vote), the best candidate will win.

And to my eye, the very best candidate--an amazing candidate we are so fortunate to have running--is Alan Khazei.

I didn't think I needed to explain why I would...

2009-11-30T11:46:40.918-05:00

I didn't think I needed to explain why I wouldn't vote for Brown (or Jack E. Robinson, for that matter). This blog is clearly a the writings of a democratic activist ;)

As for Brown, there are many Massachusetts elected Republicans who I respect, but I don't think I could ever get passed the time he went into a school auditorium, held an assembly and started swearing and yelling at the kids at the assembly. Regardless of his positions (many of which I strenuously disagree with), his actions have made it impossible for me to place him into consideration.

why not brown

2009-11-30T06:30:38.575-05:00

why not brown

Quriltai, I'm just making the point that I t...

2009-11-29T20:15:42.654-05:00

Quriltai,

I'm just making the point that I think Capuano is still a good vote. I just think Khazei is a better one. Does the fact that I don't want to lose Capuano's voice factor into my decision? Possibly, but probably not, because if Capuano pulled a Bob Dole and announced he was retiring from the House either way, I'd vote for Khazei.

I only included my appreciation for all that Capuano has done -- and acknowledge the fact that, yes, I do think he'd be a solid Senator -- because I think that makes Khazei's impression on me all the more impressive.

Judy,

If you took this as a lukewarm endorsement, that is not at all my intention. I think Capuano would make a very good Senator, but I think Khazei will make a great one. I tried to make that distinction. Should Khazei lose and Capuano win, I will very enthusiastically support Capuano, whereas I probably would only vote for Coakley or Pagluici.

Ryan, Thank you for posting your thorough process...

2009-11-29T19:53:58.415-05:00

Ryan,

Thank you for posting your thorough process of vetting the candidates. I am officially on the fence between two great candidates.
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Huh. An interesting endorsement, and one that I c...

2009-11-29T19:51:30.776-05:00

Huh. An interesting endorsement, and one that I can't agree with to an extent...though for fairness' sake it may not be a bad idea to date the Fells Acre case.

The last paragraph, however, makes it seem as if you won't vote for Mike Capuano because he's too good at what he did. If Khazei is as serious about the change as he says he is, why not vote for Capuano and then vote for Khazei this fall when he runs for another office?

Ryan I do respect you and your regular informed an...

2009-11-29T19:43:20.495-05:00

Ryan I do respect you and your regular informed and sophisticated analysis, but this is lukewarm (at best)endorsement borders on being silly.