My wife just checked in after class and she told me that one of our classmates, Will, said that State Senator Steve Panagiotakos is not running for re-election this fall. So, I nipped over to Dick Howe's blog and sure enough, there was a link to The Lowell Sun, with the article, "Sen. Panagiotakos will not seek re-election".
This is an interesting development, especially since even the Republicans in Lowell see the State Senator has holding a secure seat. We are looking for candidates for State Rep, but State Senator was seen as a bridge too far.
The big question is, how will the dominos fall, and with just about a month left to collect signatures.
Regards — Cliff
6 comments:
I said this on my blog...but I'm a little annoyed that it was announced so late. We all want to see candidates fielded, and honestly, he's been talking about retiring a long time now...I doubt he came to the conclusion just last week.
Giving candidates little time to jump into the race...it just seems wrong.
The other state Senators who are retiring announced quite some time ago.
I believe Lynne is correct here, in that this is very short notice. It suggests that some back room dealing was going on, not that I would tie Eileen Donoghue to it. It could be a deal that fell through for one reason or another. But, there is always the change that something untoward popped up in Sen Panagiotakos' life, although we all hope that such is not the case.
It does suggest that there is less democracy in the Democratic Party than some members might have hoped. This seems not to have been on the agenda for GLAD when they last met.
All that said, I wish the Senator well in his future endeavors. He has done many good things for Lowell.
On the other hand, the recent dominance of the political scene by Democrats has not been good for developing a strong and rich democratic tradition of two party government.
Regards — Cliff
I believe Lynne is correct here, in that this is very short notice. It suggests that some back room dealing was going on, not that I would tie Eileen Donoghue to it. It could be a deal that fell through for one reason or another. But, there is always the change that something untoward popped up in Sen Panagiotakos' life, although we all hope that such is not the case.
Cliff, you are concern trolling here, a la Faux News with your "curious" pose. Also, the use of "untoward" is clever because that could mean anything from cancer to legal action.
It does suggest that there is less democracy in the Democratic Party than some members might have hoped. This seems not to have been on the agenda for GLAD when they last met.
My super insider status leads me to believe that the State Senator was juggling his cards very close to his chest.
All that said, I wish the Senator well in his future endeavors. He has done many good things for Lowell.
I'll take you at your word on this.
On the other hand, the recent dominance of the political scene by Democrats has not been good for developing a strong and rich democratic tradition of two party government.
This line prompted my comment. ROTFL Maybe the lack of Republican leaders that offer palatable solutions to Bay Staters is more to blame than any thing else. Plus, on the national level, why would we want to send a Massachusetts "rino" down to DC, knowing that they will serve the interests of the Southern Rump Party that is the shell of yesterdays GOP.
First off, the reason the second comment was deleted is that the author misspelled Ms Donoghue's name, as he is wont to do with many words.
And on to Jack's comments (Good morning Jack).
The Blogger agrees with Greg Page that a comment to a blog post deserves an acknowledgement. The exception, in my mind, is when there is a discussion going on between two or more commenters, in which case it is polite to not jump in and disrupt the flow of the debate.
So, I thought it was right and proper that I should acknowledge Lynne's comment and the fact that I agreed with her meant that I tried to reinforce what she said.
I am not really sure what "concern trolling" is, although I am guessing that "Faux News" does not, in this case, refer to the MSM, which is the way I would have used the term, but instead to that Aussie Empire, Fox News.
Jack, I do thank you for your kind words about my use of the word "untoward". It is a very useful little word.
Re the penultimate paragraph, I would not endanger my immortal soul by lying about such a thing.
But, moving on to the picture in my mind of you on the floor in uncontrolled laughter, I agree that it is a lack of leadership on the part of the Republican Party and I believe that this endangers us as citizens. I just wish more people recognized this fact, as obviously you do. You, however, being a Democrat through and through, are not part of the solution. There are other, discouraged, folks out there who do need to take responsibility. We are back to those famous words from Lord Acton: "Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely".
Frankly, with Robert Byrd still in the US Senate, I reject the idea that the Republican Party is the Southern Rump Party or that it is the Shell of yesterday's GOP. It wasn't the unified Democratic Party that give LBJ Civil Rights Legislation in the 1960s. It was the Republican Party reaching across the aisle.
But, in the end, the question is, should the Republican Party in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts contest every election, even though its candidates are mostly sacrificial lambs, or should it work to build its infrastructure and define itself better?
And, if I stand for the Republican Nomination for State Senate, will you send me a check for $100?
Regards — Cliff
Cliff,
I will not fawn over you in public. You can verify with Greg, if you, or any other, doubt my sincerity.
Should you run, I will sit down with you and discuss if I have a role in your campaign.
If I can not come to terms with an out right endorsement and full engagement on your behalf, I swear to sit on my hands. I will not work against you, my friend.
You'll get your $100 worth outta me, one way or another.
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