Well, this sounds bad, too: Months before he helped pass tougher OUI laws on Beacon Hill, Senate President Robert E. Travaglini intervened on behalf of a convicted drunken driver and habitual traffic offender who allegedly lied about being a war hero to try to lighten his sentence, the Herald has learned. …In addition to his OUI conviction, Flynn [the driver] was busted at least nine times in Massachusetts and New Hampshire for driving with a suspended license. His record of motor-vehicle violations is 11 pages long.” So now we have Hillman, Trav, Galluccio, the O’Flaherty follies over Melanie’s Law … Maybe this exposes a degree of apathy among some elected officials about drunk driving … a degree of “There but for the grace of God go I.” Well, here’s my full disclosure on the issue: The man who should have been my brother-in-law didn’t live long enough for that, or even for me to meet him: My wife’s brother died as the result of a drunk driver smashing into his van on the highway, causing it to tip over into the median. He died a few days later. He was 19, and died senselessly and needlessly, just because someone was [...]
Pombo: Defeat me, please
Now here’s a quote for you, from environment-hating Republican Representative Richard Pombo of California: “There’s got to be something that you’re willing to lose your election over and for a lot of these guys there isn’t. Whichever way the political winds blow, that’s what they’re doing. And, quite frankly, that cuts both ways, that’s Democrat, that’s Republican.” Hat tip to Political Wire. I think he’s implying that he has the “integrity” to lose an election on “principle”. (Mr. Pombo’s “principles” apparently include auctioning off national parks to the highest bidder and kickin’ it with Jack Abramoff.) And I think that’s an invitation for Democrats to find out for which of these “principles” Pombo’s willing to lose.
21st Century Democrats endorse Bonifaz
(I am starting a new role on the Bonifaz campaign – see below)
As Andy noted on his blog the other day, this week the 21st Century Democrats endorsed John Bonifaz for Secretary. In their endorsement, they write,
John is a leading authority on election reform in the United States. [... his vision] centers around one main theme: Make voting as accessible as humanly possible to all citizens. In 1994, in an effort to start this fight, John helped start the National Voting Rights Institute [...]
Through his work with the NVRI, John has battled cases related to absentee ballots, provisional voting, candidate filing fees, public access to contribution records, and enforcement of campaign spending laws, among other things. John is a strong supporter of same-day registration, federal holiday and early voting, and restoring felons’ right to vote.
Who are the 21st Century Democrats, and why does their endorsement matter?
- Progressive PAC founded by Harkin, Hightower, and Evans
- One of the top national fundraisers, and affiliated with DFA
- They focus on campaign training and providing campaigns with grassroots organizers
In recent years, 21st Century Democrats have refocused their mission, and they focus their resources by endorsing very few candidates. In most states, they won’t endorse even one candidate. So, this is a big step. Read more about them below…
Martha Coakley endorses Gerry Leone for Middlesex DA
Here is the story Wow. This guy is really picking up steam. It’s not too late for Jarrett to drop out and save face.
