Seating Scott Brown
MA GOP Sen.-elect Scott Brown’s certification has been moved up from February 11 to tomorrow.
He’s already missed the Senate vote on Bernanke’s second term and on raising the debt limit.
Not sure why he waited to hurry things up now. But better late…
US Senator-elect Scott Brown this afternoon sent a letter to Governor Deval Patrick and Secretary of State William Galvin, requesting them to “certify without delay” the results of the Jan. 19 special election.
In a letter written by his legal counsel, Daniel B. Winslow, Brown said he wanted the results certified no later than 11 a.m. Thursday so that he can deliver a copy to the Secretary of the United States Senate in time to be administered the oath of office by Thursday afternoon.
Brown had initially planned to be sworn into office Feb. 11 but, Winslow wrote, he has been advised that there are a number of votes scheduled prior to that date. For that reason, he wants certification to occur immediately.
More:
The demand reversed Brown’s earlier declaration that he did not want to be sworn in until Feb. 11, a grace period he said he needed to hire a staff and prepare for his new responsibilities. It also followed criticism from conservative radio hosts and newspaper columnists about what one dubbed a “three-week victory lap.”
The senator-elect now says there are Senate votes in which he may want to participate, but he didn’t specify which ones.
***
Spot the red flag from the Boston Globe interview the other day with Brown on his staff picks:
Where are you with your staff?
“We’re good. In Boston right now we’re almost fully staffed, in Boston. We have about 27-28 positions in Washington, we’ve got maybe a quarter of them filled.”
27-28 total?
“In Boston, in DC. I’ve got about 7 or 8 here.”
What’s a full complement?
“That’ll be a full staff.”
We heard you may be hiring one or two from Kennedy’s office?
“Yeah, yeah.”
Is that an olive branch gesture?
“I just go — I don’t care who they are as long as they’re good people and they’ll be trustworthy and loyal and they’ll do their jobs, I don’t care. Kennedy had some of the best people in the country and I’m honored to have some of them and I have the best immigration person in the country, and–”
Is it Elizabeth-?
“It’s uh, it’s Emily, uh, what’s Emily’s last name? I just call her Em, so. And I have it all written down. I don’t even know my own name right now.” [The staffer is Emily Winterson, the late Senator Kennedy's immigration liaison.]
Is there another? Two from EMK staff?
“You have to check with Beth — Beth Lindstrom’s handling all that. But we’re looking for people form all over, regardless of who they work for, Democrat, Republican, liberal, conservative, we want the best people who want to have an exciting opportunity.
“We have over 1,800 applications, resumes. It’s phenomenal.
“We have 33 openings and we’ve probably hired a little under half of those.”
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Holy Crap! That’s not just a red flag, that’s the freakin bull!
Well, that should disqualify any Democrats.
Hello? Scott? Is this thing on?
“Keep your friends close, keep your …………..”
Errah and Kerry is . . . . windsurfing??!!
I wouldn’t over-react to the significance of particular staff picks yet. I would first ask Brown if they reflect his agenda and if not, why. Good staff people don’t have to be ideological. They just are good at getting things done.
Besides, the national agenda (Tea Party) seems to be the rising agenda anyway and Brown would be a fool to be picking up pennies in front of that steam roller.
Like I said in earlier posts with respect to Scott Brown: He is at BEST a ‘block of wood’ wedged against Obamacare…for everything else he appears to be a pretty-boy ‘blockhead’ in the McCain mold.
This is NOT something you want repeated across the country, folks.
BTW, I never thought I would see the day where it might be possible to see two Republican senators and a Republican governor in MA but it might happen. Gov. Patrick is unpopular and I can’t see Kerry surviving without Kennedy to prop him up.
I never thought I would live to see the Red Sox win the World Series either. And then you have the Patriots and now the ‘Aints are in the Super Bowl. Nothing is impossible.
Brown could have been seated immediately. . . but HE had to make the case. None of the other senators or states could make the case that he should be voting since he was elected.
I’m not all that enthusiastic about Brown, but he’ll be a lot better than many senators who are just plain detrimental (Kerry, Schumer, Reid).
He had to make his case for his seating. Kirk was more than happy to continue voting until the regular election in 3 years.
Brown probably didn’t want to rock the boat. He probably didn’t want to upset people of Mass who like Obama and the D agenda. But in my opinion, he came across as weak in the delay in getting seated.
It was his fight. Everyone in the country on the right would have helped him. . . but he had to initiate it.
I remember how it was a top priority to get Owens seated immediately – day or two after as I recall.
Owens was a congressman, and Brown is a senator. Seems if they can do it in one case…
This clueless wonder had best remember his staff is his first liason working with lobbyists, constituents and submitting reams of paper to help you craft your decisions and ultimately bills you’ll either vote for or sponsor.
Well, he had been assured by the Senate Democratic leadership that they would refrain from any Healthcare votes till he was sworn in.
He has just learned that that doesn’t mean the sleazy Dems won’t rush votes on other major stuff (like debt limits and key appointments) whilst they can (yes, they can!)
I’m comfortable about Brown’s proven commitment to fiscal restraint, military strength and homeland security, veterans’ issues and education (he supports choice in education.) He statedly regrets his Cap-N’Trade vote in Mass. as a mistake.
His concession to abortion under extreme circumstances is understandable, particularly in Mass.
My concern is his hiring of Kennedy’s immigration liaison (which he was reportedly almost to tears in gratitude over).
I hope that his avowed position against illegal amnesty in favor of expedited facilitation of the LEGAL immigration process for fairness’ sake on behalf of those suffering in long waiting lines overseas explains this odd staffing choice.
He may be looking to exploit the Kennedy office’s reputation for slick legislative/procedural manipulation of immigration requirements on behalf of a surge in Irish migration – which coincidentally redounded to an even more massive Hispanic influx. I hope that’s all that his reliance on her “immigration liaison” skill is going to be all about.
I don’t begrudge him hiring already tendered staff. It’s a huge leap for him (for anyone). I’m sure he’s smart enough to know the direction voters want him to go.
I just heard this on Rush this a.m. I also don’t understand what took him so long to insist on being seated. AND, isn’t allowing the fill-in senator to continue to vote against the law??? There is an officially elected senator waiting to be certified and they still allow an appointed fill-in to vote on those huge bills? Something stinks here! Why are these people being allowed to get away with these travesties? Is there no one with a spine there in DC to call them on this corruption? Common republicans…get with the program!! The progressives are going to do everything in their power to get the health bill passed and this gives them the opportunity! This is crazy!
That is not always true, PP. Who a Congressman/Senator picks for staff reflects exactly who he/she is, and as such they almost always adamantly loyal to that Congressman/Senators mores and ideology.
If not, he is a miniature George W. Bush in the making in that these dems are in the perfect position to make trouble for him in the future. This is very dumb on his part either way in my opinion.
It really bugs me though that he wasn’t ready to serve upon being elected. Says plenty about how serious he was when he ran. Just a lucky guy who was in the right place at the right time. I don’t expect him to get re-elected in 2012.
Good for him. He should be sworn in as soon as legally possible.
As for red flags, they can be changed as time goes by. With over 1,800 inquiries to become a memebr of his staff, there is less to be concerned about than meets the eye. He has leadership that will almost certainly help him in all areas of putting his office together.
Give Scott Brown a chance to settle in.
I’m giving you a chance, Scott. Your “pro-choice” position is strike one.
Please don’t go to strike two.
tre,
I’m with you on Scott. It is getting harder and harder for me to trust any person running for office, but I guess I have to believe they aren’t lying to me in order for me to vote for them.
L
Holding judgement until I see how he votes. We’ll see and are watching.
At least my Rubio seems to be a-ok.
Scott, you’re a young, good looking guy. Don’t go all ‘Tiger’ on us while in DC. You have a babe-licious wife and terrific kids. Remember that, and count your blessings!
Oh boy. If he is as clueless as he appears this may be a short Republican revolution. Old Kennedy staff will be unrepentant moles.
More reasons for term limits. On staffers as well.
Per The Corner:
What fricken’ moron made that “deal” for the GOP? I guess we should be happy it’s February 11th of this year.
“Stupid Party” is too kind a way of describing it. These people will sell Manhattan back to the Indians for less than Peter Minuit paid for it.
Democrat staff are DEMOCRATS! Never Ever Trust a Democrat! These liberal staffers will leak Senator elect Brown’s private thoughts and conversations with other Republicans to the enemy’s camp. If these staffers are so great, why didn’t any of them urge Brown to be seated immediately? Yea, you got a bunch of Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan’s in your platoon, Mr Brown.
I don’t begrudge him hiring already tendered staff. It’s a huge leap for him (for anyone). I’m sure he’s smart enough to know the direction voters want him to go.
If he’s that smart then he’ll be an exception to the rule in the Senate.
From Scott Brown’s website…we will hold him to his word on illegal immigration:
*Main thing is to get him seated before any more cloture votes; The Dems are not to be trusted, and I hope Scott Brown understands that; At present, he is far better for conservatives than Coakley would have been; I hope and pray that will not change once he starts voting.
*Another future sign will be who he hangs with, the McCain/Grahamnesty advocacy pimps for illegal alien amnesty camp, or the Coburn/DeMint/Inhofe/Sessions et al conservative camp; We shall be watching!
Are you talking about Oblamer or Brown?
This immigration liaison may just be familiar with the current immigration laws.
I’m with Lindsay on this one. And on the Rubio issue as well.
Litella.
Never mind.
Best that can be expected from a Republican who could win a statewide race in New England.
He won’t suck half as bad as Snowe.
I have a bad feeling about this. I realize he was the best we could do at the time and as a strategic move, it made sense. And still does. But with so many of these guys, as soon as they arrive in Washington, the temptation to go native is overwhelming. Here are the rules to be learned:
1. The Democrats are always right.
2. When they are wrong and destroying the nation, see rule 1.
I think most people on the right understand that in the coming years, we’re going to be spending a lot of time in the streets. The cards-letters-email thing doesn’t work anymore. I wonder if it ever did.
I know of no other way to win.
And, if he is more liberal than we’d like, and votes with the Dems on important issues to conservatives, they’ll be able to use him as being a bi-partison vote. Just sayin…
McCain, a pretty-boy? You’re right……..I’m not repeating that.
confession time-
I would have gone against my own rule of “I will never voting for a pro-death -lesser of two evils!” – and would have voted for Brown if I were a Mass. resident…
Saying that-I know that the R party is still a weak-aisle–reeeeaching wreck…
C-CS
A Demonrat will be back in that seat in 2013, no point worrying about it. Its Massachusetts, after all.
“I will never VOTE for a ….”
My fingers have done way too ‘walking’ today…:-)
C-CS
OK, so it’s not what I expected as far as hires are concerned, but think of what could’ve been if Brown wasn’t elected. It would’ve been the lockstep liberal Martha Coakley.
If we have to make progress incrementally, I’ll take Brown over anyone the Dems throw at us.
Can build from here…
Re: being seated and hiring some Kennedy staffers.
Brown may be like the Jimmy Stewart character in Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, idealistic and naive. I’ll give him a chance and believe he can be a quick learner and remain strong.
I do hope he is closely surrounded by trustworthy individuals who can oversee the staff.
I suspect when the honneymoon is over and the reality of Washington hits him he’ll look like a deer in the headlights for a while. But he seems like a solid guy, and you’re right, the quality of people he surrounds himself with will be key.
And Scott Brown will be President with Sarah Palin as Secretary of Energy.
Hey, only 142 days in the Senate and he’ll be qualified for the office!
Woooo, I like that!
And Barack Obama will be the White House Spokeshole.
Somewhere Keith Olbermann is beating a hooker and thinking of ways to accuse another Republican of sexism and hating women.
And Arlen Specter is considering changing his political party to Republican. Or maybe a sex change so he can act like a lady.
Oh brother. Can I get my money back?
Emily Winterson
Phil,
I’m gonna have to disagree with you on this one. Personnel IS policy. And that is never more true than on Capitol Hill.
Of course Kennedy’s staffers didn’t HAVE to be ideological. But I would bet you dollars they were ALL VERY IDEOLOGICAL, except for the “eye candy” he hired for “special events…”
Pray that Brown keeps his campaign promises long enough to hold Obamacare, Amnesty, civilian trials for terrorists, and Cap and trade at bay until we get a couple of reliable conservative senators in office. Of course, McCain should be a reliable conservative until at least November…I hope.
It’s sweet that she can play Lady Bountiful with the taxpayers money.
Winterson is.
Kennedy’s staff was the only one you could talk to for constituent services, Kerry’s were all entirely AWOL.
Hopefully that was the aspect Brown wanted to emulate. We’ll see how he goes. In the meantime I’m going to have his Senate email ready to go. I am, after all, his constituent.
Olberweinie? Me thinks the hooker would punch his lights out.
The likely role of many of these staffers is to answer his letters and emails. As long as they answer questions in a manner that meets with his approval, I don’t see a problem with him hiring some of Kennedy’s old staff. Let’s keep our eye on the ball – what will he do once he is seated? That’s what really matters.
As a DC native it is not uncommon for incoming newly elected pols to hire staff from the outgoing pols. Many of these staffers bounce between Reps and Dems. I agree ideology is important, but an experienced staff can make or break one of these elected folks. Some Rep and Sen. will purposely have both liberal and conservative staff members which can be helpful in pushing through a legislative agenda.