Blue Mass Group

The Middleborough recall election that was spurred by anti-casino candidates and revelations of fiscal mismanagement by the Board of Selectmen failed on three counts. [http://www.middlebor...]

  One thing that I like is a good debate.  A few days ago, the League of Women Voters held a pretty good one.  Their first rule was “No Personal Attacks.”  The first thing Ogonowsky did was launch into an attack of Niki Tsongas.  Initially, she wisely did not return fire.  After some time passed, she had to, and did, very effectively.   So, what did Ogonowsky say?  First, he opened the debate with the promise that Niki Tsongas would distort your views through some Democratic magic.  Second, the Lowell Sun, stated that Ogonowski was attacking Niki Tsongas for stating that Social Security should continue starting at age sixty five.  He even painted a pleasant picture of his parents being chagrined if it was raised to sixty seven or so.  Third, Ogonowski pointed out that he would sit in a bunker, lying in the sand, and down, “a couple of Budweisers (apparently,  he drinks Budweisers).”  I do not believe that Ogonowski has ever claimed to serve in Iraq, but he sure painted a picture of an amiable commander downing a couple of brewskys with his men in a desert nation.  Where was that sand located?  He didn’t say.  Fourth, Ogonowsky [...]

Newt Gingrich has announced that he will not run for the Republican nomination for president in 2008.  It would have cut into his apparently wildly profitable speech-giving. “Newt is not running,” spokesman Rick Tyler said. “It is legally impermissible for him to continue on as chairman of American Solutions (for Winning the Future) and to explore a campaign for president.” Gingrich decided “to continue on raising the challenges America faces and finding solutions to those challenges” as the group’s chairman, Tyler said, “rather than pursuing the presidency.” … American Solutions, a tax-exempt committee he started last October, has paid for Gingrich’s travel and has a pollster and fundraiser on staff. The outfit has raised more than $3 million, mostly from two benefactors who each gave $1 million: Sheldon Adelson, chairman and chief executive of the Las Vegas Sands Corp., and North Carolina real estate developer Fred Godley. Gingrich makes hundreds of speeches each year, many paid. He will not say how much he charges, and neither will the Washington Speakers Bureau, which books him. But some clients have said they paid $40,000 for a speech. So there will be no last-minute savior on the GOP side.  And on the Democratic [...]

This is why views such as tblade’s are so dangerous.  While free speech is important, tempering that speech so as not to give aid and comfort to the enemy is equally as important.  The Iranian government use things such as tblade’s blog post regarding our military as propoganda.  This ultimately has the effect of possibly puting the lives of our service members in jeapardy. Iranian lawmakers on Saturday labelled the US army and CIA as terrorist groups. The parliament said in a statement, cited by IRNA, that the US army has a record of terrorist operations mentioning bombardment of Hiroshima and Nagasaki with nuclear bombs and CIA has been involved in establishment of terror networks and training terrorists worldwide. That is why JK was so vehement in denouncing tblade’s comments. 

Via the BugGirl blog U.S. Says No to Next Global Test of Advanced Math, Science Students “In 1995, the United States lagged behind most of the world on a test of advanced mathematics and physics taken by graduating high school students from 16 countries. That won’t happen again, if the Bush Administration has its way: It has decided not to participate in the next version of the test. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES), says it is bowing out of 2008 TIMSSA, an advanced version of the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study given quadrennially to younger students, because it can’t fit the $5 million to $10 million price tag into its flat budget?.. But many leaders in the mathematics community believe that the Administration opted out because it feared another poor U.S. performance would reflect badly on its signature education program, the 2002 No Child Left Behind Act.” http://membracid.wor… I suppose that, if the government of a country doesn’t want to know how poorly its educational system is doing in comparison with educational systems of other countries, the first country will just not participate in [...]

On March 19th, 25 union members of Sign & Pictoral Local #391 and IBEW Local #103, were forced on strike by Texas-based Clear Channel Outdoor. Governor Patrick, Lt Governor Murray, U.S. Senators Ted Kennedy and John Kerry, every member of the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation, Mayor Menino and 5th CD Democratic nominee Niki Tsongas (whose campaign is boycotting Clear Channel billboards)have all supported the workers and requested Clear Channel settle. Clear Channel has ignored them. Jon Chesto, the Business Editor of the Quincy Patriot Ledger, has covered this story since it began (unlike the Globe and Herald). His column today was right on point: http://ledger.southo…

It amazes me how so called progressives are supporting a candidate who is so beholden to the special interests and PACs that you profess to abhor.  Just take Tsongas’ recent FEC 48 hour report. She raised $36,000 on Thursday in $1000 or more donations.  Of this $36,000 only one donation was from the district, one donation.  Who made up the bulk of these donations? PACs and special interests, including Anti-Castro PAC USA-Cuba Democracy PAC which is pro-embargo, not exactly the progressive position.  The people of the 5th District are seeing right through this.  They want a congressman from the district, not one from outside the district bought and paid for with outside money. 

Come to Hudson on Tuesday, October 2 to talk about blogs and to help elect Niki Tsongas to Congress.  The discussion topic at the M&W Dems monthly meetup meeting is the benefits and limitations of political blogging and some “how to” on starting a regional blog.  We’d love to have some BMGers join us at this informal meeting at the Hudson Portuguese Club at 13 Port Street in Hudson. BMG’s own Charley and Mike Combs will be our special guests. Please come and share your experiences.  Let us know what works and what doesn’t.  If you started a successful community blog, come and tell us what made it work.  If you gave it a try and it was a massive failure, let us know what went wrong. If you can’t come, please post here. BMGers came out for our endorsed candidate, Jamie Eldridge, in the Fifth CD primary.  Now, some of us will be phoning for Niki Tsongas, our Democratic nominee.  The first half hour of the M&W Dems meeting will be dedicated for a phone bank for Niki Tsongas.  So come for the phone bank, come for the meeting or come for both! The meeting will be informal and [...]

It’s time to toss away partisan arguments and crack open a cold beer and celebrate! WHO CARES ABOUT A STUPID ASS CASINO?!?! WE’RE THE EFFING AL EAST CHAMPS! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

A little off topic but this is a must see video. Here is some background – Kevin Everett is a football player for the Buffalo Bills. He was injured in a football game a couple of weeks ago. Initially they believed he would never walk again. The following video is a news report on the amazing progress he has made. It may also be the funniest video I have ever seen.