Nikki Tsongas, MA 5 Is Up For Reelection in 2010 – Candidate Profile Jon Golnick (Republican) Running Against Tsongas

Niki Tsongas Puts Pelosi Before Constiuants - image Daily Life


Massachusetts Congressional District 5 Representative Niki Tsongas, who has previously run unopposed will face Republican Challenger, Jon Golnik, in the upcoming mid-term, November 2, 2010. Tsongas, who narrowly won a special election in 2007, to fill the 5th district seat which was held until 1997 by her late husband, Paul Tsongas – she defeated Ogonowski on the message of “Change” against former President George W. Bush, and a year into the 2006 Democrat takeover of the Congress.

That message of change was first used by Governor Deval Patrick, then Tsongas and of course, Obama in 2008. Tsongas, when one looks at the roll call votes from the 110th and 111th Congress is a “rubber-stamp” or reliable Democrat, voting straight party line. So much so, that, as a woman, she threw Hillary Clinton, who won the Massachusetts 2008 Democrat primary by a landslide, under the proverbial bus to support then candidate Obama as early as June of 2008. Which, all things considered was a slap in the face to the Clintons, who avidly supported her bid for election in 2007.

From Health Care Reform to defending ACORN, Tsongas has kept the priority of the DNC Progressives first - meanwhile the Massachusetts 5th District is at 9.6 percent according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

So the question is how well will this “dynasty” rubber-stamp Democrat candidate do against Opponent Jon Golnik? If the special election Tsongas won is any indication not so hot - it featured as somewhat low turnout for Tsongas. In the current economic climate, and her anti-Clinton, pro-Obama progressive voting pattern, one would be hard-pressed to give her positives odds of being sent back to Washington on after the mid-term.

Who is Jon Golnik? According to his website Jongolnick.com, he is not a politician, rather a small business owner in the district. He is a graduate of Dartmouth, (History), John Hopkins (Masters international studies) and Wharton School of Business (MBA), which said educational history should satisfy those who would berate higher education that does not stem from Harvard or Yale.

How desperate are the Democrats in the Massachusetts elections? Across the board, they are putting every GOP candidate under the microscope, and digging up “dirt”, specifically personal records, in order to find the least little straw upon which to grasp. The find on Golnik was a 2001 DUI, which he has asked and answered. It is apparently shocking when a Republican has one blot on his or her record, however, that particular charge is rampant on Beacon Hill, (Democrat State House), as well as in Washington. Consider the plea deal made by one Kennedy Congressional Representative who had gone on a drunken rampage with his vehicle when Congress was in session – business as usual.

Therefore, Jon Golnik is human and has made a mistake, once, almost 10 years ago –that’s all Tsongas Campaign has. Point of order – two wrongs don’t make a right, however, when it is decidedly uneven – as is 200 wrong versus 1 wrong, one might think that one wrong is forgivable (speaking of equal “wrongs” here). This is especially true, when one finds oneself out of a job, in the Fifth district, and can look forward to Nikki Tsongas voting reliability on every tax increase, every spending measure that Obama can possibly dream up – and there appear to be no limits.


Jon Golnick, 5th District Candidate Against Niki Tsongas - image:MassGOP

John Golnik, in his own words:

My decision to run is a long story but I hope an interesting one.

I had been actively involved in politics since I was a child. My mom's father (my maternal grandfather) was the longest serving/elected city official in Hartford, CT (City Treasurer). His name was John 'Bud' Mahon and came from Hartford's Irish section of town called 'Frog Hollow'.

As a kid I used to spend my summer days with him driving around Hartford to the different precincts. On election years he would ask people for their vote and on off years he would problem solve. My father's side of the family were Republicans. He was a delegate at the 1956 and 1960 Republican conventions. As family we were involved in elections, most active in Nixon's 1972 race and Ford and Reagan's races in 1976 and 1980. We did a lot of stuffing of envelopes and in 1980 I organized the high school kids for push
card distribution for our entire town.

I went to Dartmouth and was active there and then after graduating became very active in the Romney/Kennedy Senate race. Though I didn't live in MA but I came up on the weekends to
help my cousin get signatures etc. I wasn't as excited about Dole but did my share and then worked my fingers to the bone for George Bush. However, after 2000 I stopped 'cold turkey'. What makes a young activist go from one extreme to the other? I felt betrayed. I felt that the party I had worked so hard for my entire life ceased representing the ideas that drove me to volunteer, deficit spending, expansion of the federal government via No Child Left Behind.

I don’t’ want to bore you - I have more about this on my website


Anyhow, after the 2008 elections, while I was disturbed by Obama's election, I did feel his election was historic. However, I was more troubled by Niki Tsongas' running unopposed. Though I lived in Carlisle, a relatively liberal town on MA 5, most of the people I spoke with are right of center. So in January 2009, I went down to Sec State Galvin's offices and pulled all the election returns since 1980 (in MA-5). After inputting them into a
spreadsheet and taking a look I realized that MA-5 is a moderate district with 55% unaffiliated voters, and republicans ran well in the district.

I went back home and talked with my wife. Both of us were extremely concerned about the direction of the country and that our children (10 and 8) wouldn't inherit a country that was better than the way we found it with more opportunities than we had ourselves. Based on this fear and the fact that no one was stepping up, we decided that Niki Tsongas should not run unopposed. In August I hired a general consultant and we started putting things in place. We announced November 22.


I hope I didn't bore you. It is along story but I hope a little
interesting.

Jon Golnik is far from boring, and is a formidable opponent going forth to do battle with one “dynasty, rubber stamp, incumbent; Nikki Tsongas.

Therefore, expect to see more tags put on Jon in the District media as the race heats up – as well as the national press. In fact, every candidate running against an incumbent Democrat in MA, has already been painted with the liberal “Tea Party Brush”. Which, considering that Massachusetts does not move to sound bites, rather the electorate moves to what it sees happening in their own homes - continued employment, and a lack of concern for the citizens by some representatives. Representatives like Tsongas, who just don’t think the people know better than she does. Given her career, first as a wife of a politician and then on her own, forming close ties to ACORN and Obama. Tsongas would do best in this election by running ad denouncing her affiliation with the above, and running to the right of Jon Golnik, like so many of her Democrat Counterparts are doing now, however, it appears it may be a too little too late even for that ploy.

To find out more about Jon Golnik visit his website: jongolnik.com and help him send Niki Tsongas back to the private sector – which, having spent no time there, may give her quite the shock.

Tsongas Points to keep in Mind:
1.Threw Clinton under the Bus against the wishes of her own political party constituents by supporting Obama
2.Threw the district, the Commonwealth and America under the bus by rubber stamping every bill Pelosi and Obama put before her.

Although hardly an “entrenched politician” she has shown no loyalty to anyone, with the exception of the DNC progressive. Is this blog partisan, yes, somewhat, but more tired of those who think that a political office is “owned” and that “they are above the people they represent”.

In the 5th District, you have a choice, visit Jon Golnik’s website and donate, whatever you can, time and treasure –yes we can, in Massachusetts, take our country back and insure that the Congress will be returned to the people - one district at a time, in fine Bay State form.

Barney Frank (D-MA) – in Trouble – Bill Clinton Heading to the 4th District to Stump for Barney Mae – Pushes Richard Neal (D-MA) Under Bus

Former President Bill Clinton, the Democrat Party’s last popular President, will be heading into the Bay State on the 26th of September to help out Barney Frank. The “rally” will take place at Tauten High School at 2:00 pm. Frank, who is facing the first serious challenge of his career from former Democrat turned Republican, Sean Beilat, will need more than a visit from Bill Clinton, to save his career. It is suggested he go to the nearest shrine and start asking for a miracle, because he’s going to need one. Bielat, a Marine, successful businessman and former Congressional page, is the miracle that 4th District Republicans and Independents have been waiting for. In the September 14th Republican primary, Bielat took the essential districts necessary to not only win the primary, but to send Barney Frank on a permanent vacation.

Meanwhile, Hampden 2nd District incumbent, Richard Neal, is apparently, for now, being thrown under the proverbial bus, as his Clinton visit, first brought up in July, is apparently on the back-burner. How many candidates can Bill Clinton save in one day? Apparently, he has priorities. Neal, who is also facing a challenge for the first time, has his hands full with GOP’s Tom Wesley, a U.S. Navy veteran, and international business man. Wesley won a hard-fought campaign against Northampton Doctor, Jay Fleitman in the September 14th primary and has a considerable grass roots game on covering the districts urban and rural areas. Richard Neal, stated plainly, is popular in the District, with the press and with the Unions, and he needed that Bill Clinton visit to up his image.

There are two ways to look at this particular “snub” if one will – Either Clinton feels Neal can handle Wesley, while Frank is of the two, in bigger trouble, or it’s a waste of time (given internals), so why bother? No stranger to the Bay State, Clinton may make a return visit should the almost publically invisible tax man, Neal, beg, or perhaps the task of defending Neal will be left to Obama, which would surely get a thank you note for the President by one Tom Wesley.

In either event, what Clintons’ visit for Frank and snub to Neal at the same time implies is that there are more than one or two competitive congressional races in the Bay State. Of course, the super delegate vote may come into play, Barney Frank stood by Hillary Clinton, while Richard Neal - cast his vote for Obama.

To learn more about the Candidates who would retire Frank and Neal:
seanbielat.org donate, volunteer, donate!
tomwesley.com donate, volunteer, donate!

Understanding that there are 10 Congressional district races in Massachusetts this November, and all candidates are equally deserving, these two particular races need special attention as they represent opposition to candidates who have their hands on our finances for decades – The Hampden 2nd, has been studiously avoided by both the local and national press, and, for that reason, if one must choose between the two, please consider the Hampden Second.

Obama Visits Connecticut To Support Blumenthal and Raise Much-Needed Cash – Give’s Gift To GOP Senate Candidate Linda McMahon

Obama made a rare2010 visit to the Nutmeg state yesterday – his mission – to raise much needed cash for the DNC and support Senate Democrat candidate Richard Blumenthal. It must feel like Christmas at the McMahon household, as Obama’s visits usually herald the “kiss of death” to any candidate he approaches.

Blumenthal must be fairly desperate to take his chances with a presidential visit, even in the “blue” state of Connecticut, either that or he’s oblivious to what has happened to Democrat candidates who receive an Obama visit this close to an election. Blumenthal, is already a flawed candidate, having lied about his military record, having an issue with taking some PAC money for his campaign after saying he would not, and an August 26th report out of Connecticut that involve Blumenthal’s relationship with law firms and tobacco settlements that is dubbed as a “national scandal” by the Post. Therefore, a “boost from Obama” may just push the Blumenthal campaign over the ledge.

Connecticut has been noted, much like its neighbor immediately north (Massachusetts), as “Safe Democrat” for decades, due to several factors, one of which has been a lack of contested races, and or opposition candidates who were neither focused or funded – that was then, this is 2010. Linda McMahon has been outspending Blumenthal to the tune of her sister candidates in CA: Carly Fiorina and Meg Whitmen. Although money in 2010 isn’t obviously everything, it has, according to Bloomberg, significantly narrowed the poll gap in the McMahon – Blumenthal contest. One can’t go anywhere in CT without someone knowing who Linda McMahon is – she has made sure of that, and the papers, in their attempt to defend the “popular attorney generalmay fall short of their goal to give Blumenthal a boost. Especially in light of their announcement of a Presidential visit.

About that visit: The Bellingham Herald’s article says it all:

“President Barack Obama swooped almost literally into Republican Linda McMahon's backyard Thursday to raise money for Democrats and the wrestling maven's opponent at a big-money fundraiser in Connecticut's richest town.
Obama joined state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal at a fundraiser in Stamford and then at a $30,000-per-person dinner at the 20-acre estate of affordable housing developer Rich Richman. Richman's palatial home is not only in the same neighborhood as McMahon, but it is also within the same gated Conyers Farm development in Greenwich's exclusive "back country" neighborhood.”

The article goes on to describe Obama as having raised $1 million for the DNC and Blumenthal’s “300 hard core supporters” hoping to raise at least $400,000.

Keywords used by the locals: “Obama swoops” and “Linda McMahon’s backyard” says it all. Linda McMahon has insured she is known in every household in CT., not only by throwing scads of cash at the campaign, but my doing retail politics, door to doors and meet and greets. While Obama’s swooping into any given state to give a boost to a campaign, usually does not pan out as intended (MA, NJ, VA, etc., etc.). In addition, what is missed entirely is the fact that the $30,000 per plate, star studded, mansion set campaign stop for Blumenthal, was actually a visit to the CT elite in order to get cash for the DNC as it battles mid-term races in almost every district in the nation. As these Obama visits across the nation continue, they are based in areas where American’s wealthy class (Democrats) are able to still give substantial funds, rather than rely on the Democrat base, who are mostly out of work, or on the public doll and rethinking party affiliation.

Therein lays the difference in 2010 - $30,000 a plate dinners to raise funds for the DNC versus individual contributions from people who, in today’s economy, don’t have money to spare, giving to Republican and Tea Party candidates nationwide: the GOP may not have as much cash in Millions to spend on individual races, (talking in millions of dollars here) but what it lacks in cash it makes up for in voter enthusiasm. Plus, it has attracted the likes of aforementioned candidates McMahon, Carly Fiorina and Meg Whitman who are in a position to fund their own campaigns.

As September turns to October and the real heat turns up in the last two to three weeks of contests across the country, the handwriting will be on the wall, regardless of the media drumbeat about the “Party of No”. Perhaps because of visits by Obama, the lack of jobs, and the palpable angst of the people against the majority of Democrats either holding office or attempting to hold office, will, in all likelihood, turn into a route. Current polls, although kind to the GOP, regardless of whether the candidate is “electable” according to Karl Rove, will only tell the tale in the last two weeks of October. With so many races to cover, and so many Congressional races being decided by a handful of votes this fall, the winners will be those who have a positive message for the nation, and frankly, who are not entrenched incumbent Democrats with voting records that confirm their dedication to party over the electorate.