Let me pose this question.
Do you think the Massachusetts GOP is overplaying their hand by pushing an ethics probe?
Why not leave well enough alone and let the two major Boston newspapers continue to write about the Ameriquest call, hell they are even reporting about what people think about the story as a front page item. That’s a windfall for the local GOP. We’re in what seems to be an otherwise slow news cycle locally, so this might still have some life left in it for a few more days.
But instead the Republican Party and Brian Dodge submitted a letter to the state Ethics Commission. We later find out that the Mass GOP only submitted the letter because the state watchdog groups who questioned the phone call saw nothing illegal and were not going to pursue any further action.
Government watchdogs have said the governor’s phone call was a poor decision – especially since Citigroup does millions of dollars in business with the state – but it does not appear to constitute any legal violations.
and here:
The GOP filed the complaint after Common Cause of Massachusetts, which was critical of Patrick’s telephone call, declined to do so.
People already have a widespread suspicion of the government and concerns about partisanship. I think we understand the game plan of the Mass GOP, hype all issues involving Deval Patrick figuring that eventually they would add up to something. The problem is that the GOP will instead look like they are crying wolf and will lose credibility if they continue to push these type of “scandals”.
But lets take a look at what they really want to investigate criminally. From the Herald. (emphasis mine)
Patrick reiterated that he had no financial interest in the Ameriquest deal, but Republicans cited provisions of state law prohibiting public officials from creating even the appearance of a conflict.
So the GOP wants to push the argument that they want an investigation on something that was not illegal but instead could have the appearance of a conflict. Nice. Well played.
republican-rock-radio-machine says
Johnk….you sound nervous.
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smile
johnk says
The GOP hasn’t done much right over the past few years. I’m thinking that pushing a probe instead of having the normal criticisms and enjoying in the Dem in fighting between the lege and exec might be the better path. Now they have put themselves in the three ring circus instead of agreeing with most people that it was a wrong thing to do. There is a difference between wrong and illegal. Could it be that it come back to bite them? Possibly, it they want to push an agenda to the people but are instead shown to be partisan and not putting forth an honest effort to serve the people as elected.
jk says
The Repubs should have just sat back and said “hey look at this over here, now look at that”
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If they wanted to make the complaint, they should have done it through a thrid party like barbara anderson.
nopolitician says
In Springfield, the Director of our Financial Control Board is from Andover. He hired an Andover company for a privatization effort.
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Is that the “appearance of impropriety”, even if it turns out that nothing wrong was done?
peter-porcupine says
If you follow proper procedures, there is not problem.
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A ‘worldwide search’ for a new manager for the state pension fund turned up….the brother of the President of the Senate, Mike Traviglini. But Mike has done a great job, increased returns, and made the board more efficient. He also had a brother who properly consulted with the State Ethics Board before acting.
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THAT is what Deval doesn’t get – merely because he staged a state-wide coronation doesn’t actually MAKE him a king.
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BTW – you don’t ‘push’ with the State Ethics Board. You make a referral or formal complaint, and they will announce their finding. There isn’t a bog show trial or anything – they examine the circumstanes, the relevant law or regulation, and announce their decision.
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My money is on a reprimand with no fine as a result.
johnk says
didn’t think is was worthy of an ethics probe. These groups do often file complaints, but instead we get what seems to be a partisan cheap shot. It was a cheap shot that they didn’t have to make. Common Cause would not file a complaint so the state GOP does.
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Does that make the GOP look better? Nope. I think they overplayed this one and makes them seem like a bunch of dimwits trying push something that wasn’t there. Deval might even score some points if the stupidness continues.
charley-on-the-mta says
With all respect to our BMG denizens, the MA GOP has no hand to overplay. They have 5 senators out of 40, for cryin’ eye.
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It’s not going anywhere. Poof.
peter-porcupine says
Since the request was made, they will decide the case. And as I said, they are not interested in party or popularity – just, well, ethics.
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I could have made the referral myself. It would have equal validity.
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And don’t suggest that they won’t take it seriously because the requesting group is smaller than the one the complainant belongs to. They take this seriously, and I am surprised you imply otherwise.
johnk says
That’s what I wanted to post. They are pushing a loser when they were dealt a pair of aces. There’s a point when you push things too far when opposite happens.
kbusch says
My concern has been that this has been a story with an extra dollop of innuendo and invented controversy. It might be good for everyone if it were resolved objectively — unless, of course, that process drags out into a huge distraction.
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I expect that we’ll find that there was nothing involved or that there was little involved. Then, the issue can go away. We can return then to thinking about the Big Dig or Walter Reed or the US Attorneys or the unaccounted for billions in Iraqi reconstruction or the misuse of intelligence about North Korea or the attempts to foment a war with Iran or addressing health care or addressing education or improving the business climate or . . .
peter-porcupine says
…and that is tenuous until the Governor is granted authority over the Pike system.
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BTW – Jane Swift was exonerated by the Ethics Commission about the helicopter ride, as she didn’t order it – the State Police did as her transport deciders. Of course, she had lost the nomination by then…
kbusch says
Agreed. Others issues affect the state (healthcare, e.g.); still others are more deserving of media attention.