Blue Mass Group

The first public appearance of the Dinosaur Twins last weekend was supposed to be a layup in front of thousands of evangelicals in Colorado Springs. Instead, the Per Diem Princess threw the ball over the backboard when she explained that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac had to be taken over because they had “gotten too big and too expensive to the taxpayers.” In reality, the private businesses didn’t cost taxpayers a cent until the Republicans nationalized them this week after years of blundering. The cost to the U.S. will likely be several hundred billion dollars, including $24 million in GOP-approved bonuses to executives of the botched businesses. Thanks, Bush administration! Interestingly, the traditional media largely missed the story. Typical adulatory coverage of the McCain-Palin event is here. The mainstream media a.k.a. the blogosphere were the ones who explained Ms. Congeniality’s whopper. See Sean’s fine observations on the subject here. The NYT caught up today. The corporate media has a challenger. Queue Apple’s “1984″ ad. What does McCain’s expression suggest to you?

Hometown hero Matt Damon very amusingly demolishes the GOP’s — “I can do my job, but really, all of that stuff doesn’t do any good if the people of Alaska’s heart isn’t right with God.” — evangelical hero, the “Per Diem Princess” (“The reports, which the governor and other state employees submit to get reimbursed for meals and lodging while on the road, also document thousands of dollars in per diem claims while staying in her own home.”) On the other hand, does it really strain credulity to believe that dinosaurs wandered the earth in 3,000 B.C. side by side with the Trojans? After all, one is running for Bush’s third term right now. Ba dump. I play here every night, folks.  

Up another 8-12%. Disgusting. What, exactly, are we getting for that extra money? Anyone? Anyone? All that money is for more imaging? Is it worth it? Anyone know? The recently passed cost control legislation calls for public hearings any time insurers raise their rates I want investigations, hearings, browbeating, transparency, whatever it takes. Where does the money go?

At the risk of being a lightening rod, I’m inspired to introduce a post showcasing Camille Paglia’s argument that Palin has very strong feminist appeal.  Paglia is about as progressive and feminist as it gets (in an unique trail-blazing Amelia Erhardt flavor) so her analysis is interesting.  She’s the sort of lesbian a conservative can respect.  (If only she didn’t speak so fast.)

cross posted at ONE Massachusetts

Real Clout's first rule of lobbying is knowing that elected and appointed officials make different decisions when watched by the affected constituency.

The Herald reports that the Boston City Council is trying to figure out how to handle the presence of constituents hanging around at council meetings, or heaven forbid in the corridors as they discuss and vote on issue of the day.

With all the brouhaha over “lipstick on a pig” today, one of our right wing posters said that even Fox News agrees that we’ve all had enough of this phony outrage business.  I couldn’t agree more, and I invite everyone to a discussion about a real, substantive issue:  tax policy.

BMG’ers — According to the AP, the State of Virginia recently launched a blog for residents to submit ideas on how to improve government performance. The site also will allow users to collaborate with others to rank and discuss the ideas through interactive voting. We’d love to know what you think of it, and if you know of any other examples of govt-run blogs like this one that we ought to be looking at.

Today’s lesson begins with a remark reported October 11, 2007 in the Chicago Tribune, when John McCain threw swine cosmetics in Hillary Clinton’s direction:

McCain criticized Democratic contenders for offering what he called costly universal health care proposals that require too much government regulation. While he said he had not studied Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton’s health-care plan, he said it was “eerily reminiscent” of the failed plan she offered as first lady in the early 1990s.

“I think they put some lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig,” he said of her proposal.

More pig history from Dick Cheney and Barack Obama after the fold.

And that would be the lack of attention that Massachusetts will be receiving and another reminder that it’s imperative we pass National Popular Vote legislation the next session which begins in January. I thought today would be the opportune time for this reminder since this week may very well be the last time we see Joe Biden (and Obama’s not even on our radar).  No, Biden’s not here campaigning for votes, but rather for money and that’s because of the current system we have known as the Electoral College.  Massachusetts is a safely blue state and simply doesn’t matter.  Let’s change that. So if there’s going to be any chance of having a National Popular Vote in 2012 or 2016 it is critical that Massachusetts add to the momentum of this movement which you can read about it’s progress here.  We’re already 50 of the 270 votes there. We came oh so very close this year with NPV passing both the House and Senate, but there wasn’t enough time for a procedural vote known as enactment.   Let’s make sure DiMasi and Murray know this is and will be a priority.  Call their offices at: DiMasi: 617-722-2500 Murray: 617-722-1500

Forget “Lipstick on a pig” the real pig is John McCain. Remember a few years ago he told what he said was a joke but shows what a pig he is. Going to reprint the “joke” here although it is in extreme bad form but it clearly demonstrates who the real “pig” is in this presidential campaign. Here goes:       “Quoting John McCain”   “ “Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly?          Because Janet Reno is her father.” <