Blue Mass Group

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Marzilli resigns

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Thank goodness.  Here’s his letter (pdf).  He’s out as of about an hour ago.  The Senate President’s statement:

In deference to the need for public trust on matters before this great institution, Jim Marzilli has made the right decision for the Massachusetts Senate, the citizens of the Commonwealth, and himself.  While the Senate deals with the conduct of another member, Jim Marzilli’s resignation will begin the process of restoring the public’s trust in their government. As we have stated previously in our strongest voice, Dianne Wilkerson should follow this example and resign immediately.

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  4. And, yes, Dianne Wilkerson should follow suit post haste.

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    p>I’m a long-time constituent of Wilkerson’s; it was very weird to read today’s “Marzilli goes to Germany” Globe article. My first instinct was to call my Senator to urge the removal of Marzilli…

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    p>Rogers and DiMasi, and every other pol who’s “crossed the line” should go too!! On their way out they ought to reinstate the Clean Elections Law for public financing of political campaigns that Massachusetts voters overwhelmingly enacted over a decade ago.

    • So far the extent of Dianne’s transgression is that she is caught in a Fed entrapment case that is being tried in the media.  This is a favorite tactic of the DJ that we have seen time and again to solve the Atlanta bombing, the anthrax case (twice, they finally pinned it on a dead man that could tell no tales), and numerous homeless people for “terrorism” where the FBI informants led the operation.  The next part of the scenario is that she will be offered a deal to plead to a couple months or face a gazillion years in prison on a jury trial.  Welcome to the US Department of Justice’s version of law.  How are their tactics any different from the Mafia? “We make you an offer you can’t refuse…”

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      p>I am astounded that so many buy into this sort of railroading.  The rub is that not only can they get Dianne, they can get you.  While I’ve never supported Dianne Wilkerson for any office, I am disgusted that so many people that should be horrified that these tactics are used in a nation that calls itself part of the free world, instead applaud what calls itself “the law”.

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      p>I fear those that pervert law more that I fear Dianne.

      <

      p>William Roper: So, now you give the Devil the benefit of law!
      Sir Thomas More: Yes! What would you do? Cut a great road through the law to get after the Devil?
      William Roper: Yes, I’d cut down every law in England to do that!
      Sir Thomas More: Oh? And when the last law was down, and the Devil turned ’round on you, where would you hide, Roper, the laws all being flat? This country is planted thick with laws, from coast to coast, Man’s laws, not God’s! And if you cut them down, and you’re just the man to do it, do you really think you could stand upright in the winds that would blow then? Yes, I’d give the Devil benefit of law, for my own safety’s sake!

      <

      p>-A Man For All Seasons
      Robert Bolt

      • Plus, Wilkerson’s flip-flopped on some VERY important progressive issues over the past year or so.

        The differences between Chang-Diaz and Wilkerson go beyind lawbreaking, ethics, and accountibility
        by: AnnEM Thu Sep 25, 2008

        “…Why did Sen Wilkerson work with House Speaker Finneran and many other sitting legislators to block the clean elections law that was passed by 70% of the voters? Why did she obstruct the will of the voters and collude with Finneran to stop a campaign finance reform that would have made it possible for more modest income residents, including more people of color, to run for elected office?

        Why did Sen Wilkerson help private real estate developers secure $10Mil in public funds for the Columbus Center luxury condo project after the developers had promised not to go after public funding for the project?

        Why did Sen Wilkerson first vote for the safe nurse staffing ratio bill (a measure to protect health care quality and equity that passed in the house with 80% approval) but then the next session vote against the bill? She voted for it one year and then after huge sums were spent by hospital executives against having DPH set safe nurse staffing requirements Sen Wilkerson repeatedly refused to take a public position on the bill. Then she voted against it.

        There’s more…

        http://vps28478.inmotionhosting.com/~bluema24/showD…

      • That’s an easy question, isn’t it?  She could have refused by saying “no thanks” when offered cash in exchange for political favors.  And nothing bad would have happened to her.  That’s what’s different.  She will likely plead entrapment, but that’s a very hard defense to win, and she’ll probably fail.

  5. -so find something else to talk about, right?  

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    p>And whatever his story really is, maybe privacy will help him get well.  Goodbye, goodluck, God speed.  

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    p>Consider this my last comment on J. James Marzilli.

  6. I don’t understand why we continue to think of mental illnesses as so different from physical illnesses.  Both have physiological bases, and both often lead to unfortunate responses by their sufferers.

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    p>If Jim Marzilli had cancer, for example, the public wouldn’t have insisted that he resign.  The press, his colleagues, his constituents all would have been supportive and sympathetic,  allowing him time to sort out his diagnosis, his insurance, and his future plans.

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    p>But he was unfortunate enough to contract an illness that caused him to exhibit inappropriate and distasteful behavior.
    The public response was fearful, vengeful, and unsympathetic.

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    p>Apparently the National Alliance on Mental Illness has a lot more work to do here in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

    • Well, I might agree if Lowell were the first incident. It wasn’t. He should have gotten into treatment earlier. None of this might have happened.

    • One day he’s voting on laws, the next he has absolutely no sense of right and wrong? A complete “psychotic break from reality”?
      Stranger things have happened, sure, but I just don’t know.

    • Yes, mental illness is a biologically-based group of illnesses. NAMI (Nat’l Alliance on Mental Illness) has done, and continues to do a lot of great work here in MA. In fact, NAMI-MA has Laurie Stillman as its Exec. Director, who followed Toby Fisher who was very very effective during his ED tenure. Laurie came to NAMI from being the director of HCFA’s Health Law Advocates for many years.  Children’s mental health is a major focus of those group’s activities of late.

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      p>btw I have a sister who was diagnosed with schizophrenia 25 years ago and remains disabled, although much better on the newer anti-psychotic meds.  The horror stories I could tell about her experiences, and those that our entire family went through due to stigma, discrimination in insurance coverage, etc. My heart goes out to Jim and to his family. I joined NAMI shortly after recovering from the agony of my sister’s diagnosis, to be part of their stigma-busting efforts as well as advocacy for an improved health care system for everyone, including folks with mental illness.

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      p>The details of Jim Marzilli’s illness situation did grant him special treatment–never coming to work but continuing to get a weekly paycheck (was he using sick time?)–but then to discover that he, apparently, was well enough to travel overseas in his State Senator capacity, but never show up for work… Well, that caused me to think it was time for him to cut the cord from the public payroll and to give someone else an opportunity to serve the constituents of his district as their state senator.

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      p>I encourage everyone to learn more about NAMI’s work–see http://namimass.org

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