Blue Mass Group

Question: is it ever a good idea, if you’re a politican, to say that there are occasions when you have not voted the way you wanted to vote? To be more specific, if Scott Brown could take back this comment to the Globe ($) (made late in 2006 when Deval Patrick had been elected Governor and incumbent Governor Romney was about to depart), would he? State Senator Scott P. Brown said it will be “refreshing” not to have a Republican in the corner office because he won’t have to “carry the governor’s water” and can vote how he wants to vote.

Update: LGBT organizations respond. See below the fold. As we approach the Christmas holidays, what editor thought this was fit to print? Here’s an excerpt from “Christmas carols — with a twist” written by columnist and copy editor Dan Phelps at the Lowell Sun. Lowell is the fourth largest city in Massachusetts and is located 20 miles northwest of Boston. We’re instructed to sing it “to the tune of ‘Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer’”. Chaz Bono got turned into a man, dear. Dancin’ with a woman on TV. You might say there’s no such thing as Santa Till you see what Chaz got ‘neath his tree. Chastity was once a cute girl On her parents’ TV show. Then she stunned the whole dang nation, When she said her girl parts had to go. Now transgenders in the Bay State Have a law that’s etched in black. It says they can change their gender. Then if they want, they can change it back. … Apparently the Lowell Sun doesn’t think that trans people are human beings worthy of common respect and dignity who might themselves be celebrating the Christmas holidays. No, the Lowell Sun seems to think that trans [...]

…and by meter running, he means that with the law in place to allow three casinos and a single slots parlor in MA, the public wants action — revenue, short and long-term jobs, and other proof that large-scale commercial gambling (euphemistically gaming) beyond the lottery is the right thing to do. Treasurer and Receiver General Steve Grossman joined Left Ahead today for an abbreviated (20-minute) show focused precisely on the what-now factor. Click the player below to hear what he says about: Selection of the five commissioners to set up and oversee the works What we expect to gain from the operations How fast we ramp up What his concerns are about the commissioner he picks, the two others he co-chooses, and the whole process Even though he’s the commonwealth’s pivotal money man and financial policy visionary, Grossman is quick to point out that he’s largely a spectator once the commission’s in place and the sites are awarded. He guides at this stage and then has to be hands off. Ideally, he’ll be figuratively counting money from the operational proceeds. It was just he and I today on this short show. I was plain about my trepidation.

So  I read about this youth hockey dust-up at Larz Anderson Park in Brookline (freakin’ guy has done shit with the Sox and already name a park after him. I’m tired over the over-glorification of Sox prospects. Don’t get me started.) I chuckled when I read the quote from a parent saying assistant coach and former Bruin tough guy Mike Milbury shouldn’t be around children because he broke up a fight between his son and another 12 year old player. Milbury also swore as he stepped in. The minutia is of course he-said-she-said but I believe it happened on the ice after a game with everyone on skates and the two kids covered head to toe in expensive protected gear. (maybe not helmet and stick, not sure) Visioning some Brookline dad being outraged at the un-P.C. actions towards his precious kid brought a smile to this face. A birkenstock wearing freak seeing youth hockey game for the first time. But Nooo. Now I find out the “victim” of Milbury’s assault plays for an Everett team. Hold Everything. I’ve warned you about Everett before. Lemme tell you something about Everett. They suck. A bunch of wussies who think that by acting loud [...]

Washington is at a standstill.  The public’s trust in our Congress is at an all-time low of about 15%.  Misguided feel-good assertions — cutting taxes will lower the deficit, for example — are winning support at the expense of the greater good and future generations.  A national tragedy is emerging: representative democracy, one of our greatest strengths as a country, is also becoming our greatest weakness. The most damaging feel-good pronouncements involve taxes, budget deficits, and the economy — all interrelated and taken together, the biggest challenge we face as a nation.  Today’s new generation of Republicans are pushing these policies, and in the process revealing one of two deceptions (or worse, both):  they are either purposely misleading Americans or they really don’t understand how budgets and the economy work.  Either way is wrong-headed.  An exploration of these two ruses sheds light on how we can emerge from the tax and budget gridlock that is paralyzing Washington. In the first deception, Republicans are trying to win elections by saying we can lower taxes and cut the deficit simultaneously.  This is trickle down economics, which has little basis in economic research or reality.  In fact, as history has proven over the [...]

Where:  North Station, Boston, Noon – 4:00 PM – December 19, 2011 Why:  Rally against HUD policy of “vacant conveyance” that requires eviction of tenants who are current in their rent, and keeping properties heated and clean, in order to get “free federal insurance” – for more information go to http://www.occupyboston.org/2011/12/18/jedi-knights-alliance-monday-rally/ Note:  light sabers provided, those willing to be Jedi Knights and help turn HUD from the Dark Side cordially invited.