I ran into a petitioner today - For Joe Kennedy, who is working to get his name on the ballot for the Senate race in Massachusetts, to replace Dead Ted. I had the time So, I stopped to inquire, and played dumb.
I fully expected this was 'Joe For Oil' Joe, as everybody supporting Dead Ted wanted him to jump in, since it is, after all, "The Kennedy's seat" -- I was wrong.
This Joe is a Libertarian. A tea partying, Low taxes, small government conservative, and the petitioners I ran into couldn't fill out forms fast enough. Not that they were lying at all, they were making it perfectly clear that this is not a Kennedy Clan Kennedy. So, this tells me one of two things.
A ) Massachusetts Voters are indeed stupid, and will knee-jerk vote for a Kennedy.
B ) Massachusetts Voters are fed up.
I suspect the answer is a combination of both.
Anyway, this Kennedy is an almost pure Libertarian. I don't agree with everything he believes, but I do agree with most of it - an interesting development indeed --especially in Massachusetts.
I would also be willing to bet that the Democrats who control The Commonwealth will find a way to insure that he is forbidden from being on the ballot.
here is his website -
http://joekennedyforsenate.com/index.php