WINNERS:
Bob DeLeo (Duh)
His staff (Duh again)
Winthrop (OMG, how many times can I say “duh”? Duh.)
Suffolk Downs (At Least four times. Duh.)
Future speakers (Five, five Duhs. Duh)
The House as an Institution: By definition term limits causes turmoil inside the House and weakens it on the oustide. A lame duck speaker gives a governor and senate a huge advantage in getting things done as House members obsess about his replacement and are they “in” with the right people. Totally sucks the air out of the place.
LOSERS:
Ron Mariano: The majority leader/kingmaker is not happy. Jesus effin cripes. He’s spent the past six years making sure his hand chosen minion will be the next speaker, in this case Brian Dempsey. Do you know how many goddamn dinners he’s had to endure with schlomo reps from East Puttsville and other god forsaken places in order to get the one and only thing they have that’s worth anything? Other than the name they spit out when called for their speaker vote they’re worthless. WORTHLESS I TELL YOU!
So now he has to keep them all in line for much longer than anticipated. First off, them being made to do something they don’t like to do (vote to extend the term limits – makes them look bad at home and second (actually a derivitive of the first thing) this is the type of vote that can come back during election season and severely bite many of them on thier asses.
Brian Dempsey: How pissed off is this guy right now? How long will this go on for? Can he keep his people together? Trust me on this. Nobody is more interested in Bob DeLeo’s health right now than Brian Dempsey.
LOOZAHS:
Tom Sannicandro: The courageous and overly self-impressed liberal’s liberal from Framingham whose politics is pretty much opposite of the very conservative (Massachusetts Democratic conservative) Bob DeLeo sent out a transparent, insulting, embarrassing, shameful, moronic, naive, etc. etc. tweet this morning.
Check this gem out from Tom the savvy politician:
” @SpeakerDeLeo has changed the world for people with disabilities, we need his continued leadership #mapoli @TheArcofMass @TheMDSC @MassADDP“
Really Tom? Really? Which chairmanship are you gunning for? What was the purpose of the tweet? Are you for real dude? Not only has he “changed the world” for peoiple with disabilities he’s so awsome he needs to stay. Are you fucking high?
Now if Scaccia or some other old timer with institutional respect and buddies with DeLeo tweeted this out I’d laugh and say “good job.”
But you Tom? Baahahah. Not only does this tweet prove you a fraud it proves you a clueless one.
Instead of keeping of your mouth shut and voting you had to go above a beyond. Another lightweight.
Brad Garrett, I mean Garrett Bradley: Oh sure he’s been whipping up the votes for DeLeo. By that I mean he’s been calling up reps and having a conversation that goes something like this.
Rep. Bippity Bop: Hello
Brad: Hey Bip, it’s me Brad.
Bip: Oh, hey Brad.
Brad: Listen, Bip, leadership, including the speaker, want to make some rules changes come next term. As you know some of our current rules do nothing but weaken us as an institution and that’s never good.
Bip: So true. So true.
Brad: Right. So we’re gonna get rid of the speaker’s terms limits and a few other things so we can move this place in the right direction. All right?
Bip: You tell the speaker I’m here for him when it counts. He has my support on the rules changes.
Brad: He’ll appreciate that Bip. He’ll appreciate that. Take care.
Bip: You too Brad, take care.
Click
After hanging up Representative Bop mumbles to himself, “Muuuuthah Fuuuckah. I can’t believe these guys.”
And scene
That’s not politics Brad, I mean Garrett, no, screw it, I mean Brad. That’s just being a messenger. Like a pencil and paper. Like a tool.
But that’s not my problem with Brad Garrett aka Garrett Bradley. My problem is that the triple eagle rep, from upper crust Hingham in 2015 thinks he’s a working class rep. from Lowell in 1970. He’s got relatives up the kazoo on the state payroll. Not one or two. Many more. Very unbecoming Brad. Not cool anymore. Take care of one, maybe two. So un-Hingham like.
Anyway because of Brad’s willingness to carry the ball for the speaker on this he’s put a bull’s-eye on himself and that’s resulted in the uncovering of the family employment racket he’s got going.
The problem ladies and gents is that for the most part the quality of people running for the legislature has gotten worse and worse.
What more can I say?
scout says
Is ears perking up at the US Attorneys office (and maybe even a newly fiesty Mass AG’s office) as another speakah-for-life is so much more of an interesting target than one who will be gone soon anyway. The chances of a 4th speaker in a row getting indicted just went up exponentially.
WINNER: DeLeo’s lawyers
SomervilleTom says
When a clearly corrupt unindicted co-conspirator doubles down on his racket like this, I certainly hope it attracts attention in any enforcement office that genuinely opposes flagrant corruption.
This guy couldn’t wait to get in front of cameras decrying the Probation Department prosecutions and verdicts. He follows that up with this flagrant power grab a few short months later.
I’m not sure this going to stay local. The national Democratic party got a fair amount of mileage out of the various shenanigans in Texas not too far back. The national GOP is still smarting from the smackdown Scott Brown got here.
I look for more attention from the US Attorney’s office. The GOP is looking for ways to defeat Ms. Clinton in 2016. Tying her to the corrupt Democratic machinery here in MA is a tempting strategy.
Winner: The national GOP and Massachusetts right-wing crazies.
Peter Porcupine says
Were they not there, or did they vote ‘present’?
Donald Green says
my Rep, Jim Dwyer, voted against repealing term limits. Thank you Rep Dwyer for showing political courage. Other Reps who did the same should get recognition in this forum.
jconway says
Any links?
Christopher says
Ha – that’s a good one!:)
bigd says
http://www.mass.gov/legis/journal/RollCallPdfs/189/00012.pdf?Session=189&RollCall=00012
kregan67 says
Does EB3 have for this statement, presented as fact?
>>By definition term limits causes turmoil inside the House and weakens it on the oustide. A lame duck speaker gives a governor and senate a huge advantage in getting things done as House members obsess about his replacement and are they “in” with the right people. Totally sucks the air out of the place.>>>
Since the only turnover we have experienced in this slot in recent memory has been created by the clink of a jail cell, I don’t see how any contemporary evidence can be brought to bear on this argument. Furthermore, if House members don’t want to obsess and primp–THEY DON”T HAVE TO!
Moreover, if DeLeo wants the House to be strong (my Corruption Strong bumper sticker will go on when the weather warms up!) he could STEP DOWN as Speaker and BAM–the Lame Duck problem is el-solved-o, or at least pushed out 6 or 6 years. Moreover, he could hand-pick his successor.
But my guess is the people who REALLY pay DeLeo’s salary (hint: not the taxpayers) wouldn’t be crazy about this idea.
The real losers here are the voters, especially those of us who believe in government, believe in those who get involved in it because they in turn believe they can make a positive difference in the lives of all of us.
I too am proud to be represented by one of the few dissenters–Carolyn Dykema of Holliston–and just plain disgusted at everyone else.
Go Pats!