Blue Mass Group

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Thank You. Now the Real Work Begins.

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I want to thank the editors of Blue Mass Group for their endorsement, and everyone on this forum who supported my campaign for the Democratic Nomination for State Auditor.  But I also want to thank those of you who supported the other candidates in the race.  I have spoken with both Guy Glodis and Mike Lake since the Primary, and I congratulated them on their campaigns.   Both Guy and Mike have graciously offered their support for me and the rest of the Democratic ticket as we take on the Republicans in just over 6 weeks.  And the fact is that I am a much better candidate today because of Guy and Mike and their challenging campaigns.

My opponent, Mary Connaughton, claims that, because she is a CPA, she is qualified to be State Auditor.  In her recent rhetoric, she claims that she will be an independent auditor, free from political influence.

But you don’t have to look further than her speech at the Republican Convention in April 2010 to see the shallowness of her rhetoric.  In that speech, Connaughton reveled in the moniker given to her by the Boston Globe when she was on the Turnpike Authority board – “the thorniest thorn in the side of Governor Patrick” – to great applause from the assembled Republicans.  And Connaughton went on to say “When I was first appointed to the Turnpike Board in 2005, the Boston Herald wrote that Governor Romney unleashed an attack dog on the Turnpike Authority.  The Associated Press referred to me as a pit bill.  And I’m telling you, if you liked me as a pit bull on the Turnpike Board you’ll love me as a pit pull in the State Auditor’s office.”

“Thorniest thorn in the side of Governor Patrick.”  “Pit bull in the State Auditor’s office.”  That doesn’t sound like an independent State Auditor.  In fact, Mary Connaughton is the candidate of Scott Brown and Mitt Romney, who are both headlining fundraisers for her.  And on March 30, 2010, she tweeted “Biil [sic] Hudak celebrated his birthday in style tonight at Kowloons in Saugus. Wish I went for seconds on the egg rolls.”

I need your help to defeat this Republican candidate with nothing more than a clearly partisan Republican agenda for the State Auditor’s Office.  I hope that you will agree with me that we need a State Auditor with a belief in and a track record of reforming how government works, and not just another Republican dedicated to trashing public service.  If you can help, please go to my website, www.suzannebump.com to contribute to my campaign so we will have the resources to take on Mary Connaughton.  And if you have some time between now and November 2, please sign up to volunteer at www.suzannebump.com/volunteer/.

Thank you.

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  1. you should talk about why you’re so good instead of going negative on why Mary Z. is so bad. You on the other hand will be another Democratic rubber stamp for Deval and his party to spend our money in anyway they want. We want someone in the office of Auditor to be a check on excessive spending and to be “thorn” in the side of the Governor. We want deals like he was offering Marian Walsh to be investigated, we want Charter schools to be looked at… we want accountability so don’t be so quick to criticize some of the very reasons a candidate like Mary Z is so appealing.

    <

    p>So Susan, what do you think of Denucci’s parting pay raise for his staff? And what do you think about Denucci’s scandalous hiring of a cousin?

    • You on the other hand will be another Democratic rubber stamp for Deval and his party to spend our money in anyway they want. We want someone in the office of Auditor to be a check on excessive spending and to be “thorn” in the side of the Governor.

      It seems Republicans think that the position of Auditor is a dictatorial one. The new Auditor will replace our legislature.

      <

      p>Friends, is this stupid or what? The Auditor is not a stamper, rubber or otherwise on government spending. Instead, the role of the auditor is to aggressively check whether funds are being spent for their intended purpose. I’m surprised how often the Other Side keeps getting this wrong in their pronouncements.

      <

      p>Perhaps they’re hoping to win by promoting misunderstanding?

      <

      p>Charming.

      • You on the other hand will be another Democratic rubber stamp for Deval and his party to spend our money in anyway they want. We want someone in the office of Auditor to be a check on excessive spending and to be “thorn” in the side of the Governor.

        <

        p>I’ll stick by my words. When money is approved for projects, I hope it is spent properly and not by whomever is managing it decides. We need fiscal checks and balances and just because $1 million dollars may be budgeted for doing “X”, we need to make sure it isn’t being spent on “Y”.

        <

        p>Just as a position such as Attorney General can be very political in deciding what to investigate and prosecute, the same can be said for State Auditor.

        • Now the Auditor Dictator takes over the function of governor too!

          I hope it is spent properly and not by whomever is managing it decides.

          What does this mean? Does it mean that the Auditor — in the fertile Republican imagination — gets to override decisions by the executive branch? Where will this end?

          <

          p>Those wacky, wacky Republicans certainly are pursuing victory through inanity!

              • Winning certainly does have its upside but then it has the responsibility to perform.

                <

                p>You may remember a post I wrote oh 21 months ago regarding Obama winning and now he and the Democrats would have a slew of issues which they would have to manage OR the voters would punish them at the polls. I mentioned how he wouldn’t be able to point at the previous administration and initially he made some “it’s my watch now” announcements.

                <

                p>November will be here and I think it is pretty obvious that the people want a change… again. And for sure if Republicans do nothing, they will be punished in 2012.

                • This is maybe the twentieth time that you’ve retreated from a criticism into taunting about ultimate electoral victory.

                  <

                  p>You’re still completely wrong about the role of the auditor. Any number of Republican victories over any number of liberal heroes will not make you anymore correct about what you say.

          • It certainly seemed that tolerance of abuse and corruption was a BIG issue for the Auditor when Guy Glodis was the candidate.  Funny that, now he’s out, the Auditor’s role is so limited.

            <

            p>In any event, I don’t think that the specific description changes JohnD’s point at all.  It would be nice to have an auditor that is not on the same “team” as the entire rest of the government, and is therefore less likely to overlook corruption and patronage in state government.  For this reason, I will likewise be voting for the Republican in the non-governor, Lt gov statewide offices.

            • If I can convince myself that the Republican is setting out to be a great and scrupulous auditor rather than a World Famous Thorn, then I might join you. Were the times less partisan, I’d be less hesitant.

              • at least in Massachusetts.

                <

                p>Except to the extent that having one party control the entire government without check or meaningful opposition is partisan.

            • and then not caring.  I’m shocked, shocked! that someone who can’t quite get the auditors function down also can’t be bothered to worry about relatively basic details from a non-Christian religion.

              • I try to be well rounded but I just can’t get it in the hole. I guess I’m a much better best-ball golfer/conversationalist. My wife enjoys my speaking errors and thank God (my Christian one) for spellcheck. Oh well, have a nice day.

            • Here’s a tip — if you can’t be bothered to familiarize yourself with a religious tradition, then don’t make gratuitous (and wrong) references to it.

  2. Your Mary Z loves to play the outsider waif when it suits her purposes, and red meat attack dog when she thinks nobody is looking!

    <

    p>At the republican convention, Mary gave a speech dripping with partisan vemon…

    <

    p>At the democratic convention, Suzanne Bump gave a speech about following the lead of Joe DeNucci and insuring that politics is never a consideration in making auditing decisions.

    <

    p>Now, ‘Mary, Mary quite contrary’ claims she too will not be political!

    <

    p>PLEASE!!

    <

    p>I can only presume what our guest Republican poster would be writing if it was John Kerry who was flip flpping all over the place like Mary Z. is now!

    <

    p>One more point: if Charlie Baker and Mary Z think any democrat is going to be cowered into not comparing and contrasting the truth about who these folks were and what they did before they were candidates, with who they claim to be and what they say now as candidates, they are crazy!

    <

    p>For example, Mary can’t say she is a mainstream Republican and then cherrfully share the stage and Chinese spare ribs with wacko nut jobs like Bill Hudak and Mary can’t claim to be an outsider when she ran for the State legislature as one of the losing Mini Mitt clones who were rejected on mass by voters in in 2004!

    <

    p>If “John D” wants to pretend that’s negative, have him call up fellow Republican John McCain and ask him what W and his minions did to him and his family in the South Carolina primary in 2000!

    <

    p>Now, that was NEGATIVE!

    <

    p>  

    • You guys were given new life when Guy Glodis was beaten but Bump vs. Mary Z should be a great election.

      <

      p>Thanks for mentioning Kerry and reminding me how lucky JFK is not to be running this year. He would be toast up against almost anyone. Where the hell has JFK been hiding the last few months? My only hope is the people of MA keep some of the fire burning in their guts for Kerry’s next election.

      <

      p>I don’t mind if Bump wants to go negative by talking about her opponent. But she won’t be able to claim any moral high ground in the process. You can phrase it (“comparing and contrasting”) anyway you want but “I’m good, she sucks” is still negative. I’m just sayin…

      <

      p>PS You sound very angry… are you ok?

      • we play to win. Not to fit the constraints conservatives would place on us.

        <

        p>You’re believing your party’s own propaganda thinking that Democrats are supposed to ride unicorns and sprinkle fairy dust when they campaign. Contrary to conservative belief, democrats are NOT required to use “Kumbaya” as their campaign theme songs, shoot spitballs instead of bullets, or answer questions from the unappeasable.

        <

        p>Bottom-line, the only limitations to campaigning are what candidates can get away with and what actions they personally believe to be moral.

        <

        p>The difference between Republicans–at least at the national level–and Democrats is that the Republican Party considers moral ANY actions that lead to or enhances its power. As cold-hearted realists, GOPsters think they have a monopoly on tough campaigning. They’re wrong.

        • We’ll both play to win and whomever does better shall win. We’ll all try to do whatever we can “get away with and what actions they personally believe to be moral”

          <

          p>I was with you until you made your clairvoyant remark about…

          <

          p>

          …Republican Party considers moral ANY actions that lead to or enhances its power. As cold-hearted realists, GOPsters think they have a monopoly on tough campaigning. They’re wrong.

          <

          p>Sounds like something Jimmy Myers would say on his radio show. People like Myers and maybe yourself should stop when they start a sentence with “All Republicans… All Conservatives… All Tea Party protestors…”

          <

          p>You’re wrong!

          • You left out my qualification “at least at the national level.”

            <

            p>Of course, I think there are some orange jumpsuits from Muffy’s campaign that I could put on display.

          • I don’t see any evidence of that to date.

            <

            p>What I do see is lock-step negativism from the GOP, from the national level all the way to down-ballot local offices. As President Obama observed, the GOP places its own view of its own short-term political interests above all else at every opportunity.

            <

            p>I invite you to offer evidence that your candidate brings any new ideas to the table. So far, her campaign (like every other Republican I can think of save the two Republican heroes in Maine) reeks of the same hostile, uninformed negativism that dominates the national GOP.

            <

            p>When the GOP offers candidates who seem rather more like Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, and rather less like Sarah Palin and Christine O’Donnell, than I’ll be more sympathetic to your observations.

  3. First, it’s intersting that any mention of Kerry makes guys like you react like Pavlovs dogs, yet you become totally mute when it comes Mitt Romney – the greatest flip-flopper in the history of Mass. politics…

    <

    p>Second, OF COURSE YOU DON’T WANT BUMP TO DISTURB THE ‘MARY MYTH’…

    <

    p>Were I you, I’d also want her cloaked in the veneer of nonpartisan sainthood…

    <

    p>Trying to label as ‘negative’ the legitimate task of separating the ‘real Mary’ from her ‘Mary the Myth’ persona is like Charlie Baker claiming it’s negative when reporters ask him anything about his big dig financing scheme..

    <

    p>As far as I know Mary isn’t a bad person…

    <

    p>She is, however a republican insider who likes to pretend like she’s a non political outsider…

    <

    p>Like I said, not a bad person, but quite the hypocrite…  

  4. Have you been following the Gloucester charter school affair?  How do you plan to audit the work of your former colleague Paul Reville?

    <

    p>I’ve written to your campaign twice about this matter and so far have received no answer.

    <

    p>According to today’s paper, the Inspector General’s office is now looking at whether federal funds have been spent properly.  This follows on the heels of the Attorney General’s office finding that contracts related to the school construction were awarded improperly.

    <

    p>I’m curious, how do you feel about the style of governing your former cabinet colleague Secretary Reville displays in his now famous email, and how will you be able to independently audit your former colleagues in the Patrick administration?

    • I supported Suzanne in the primary and I asked her this question myself (in general terms about independence, not this specific issue), largely to prepare her for it as I knew she would be asked.  She points out that her experience and activities in the cabinet and legislature show that she can and has been independent.  I’m sure she’ll be happy to elaborate.  What I’ve found ironic is Connaughton’s suggestion that she’ll continue to be a thorn in Patrick’s side, which indicates to me she’s expecting the Governor to win re-election.

  5. So Susan, what do you think of Denucci’s parting pay raise for his staff?

    <

    p>

    And what do you think about Denucci’s scandalous hiring of a cousin?

      • You ask a question or make a remark about a candidate and their minions come to their aid and defense. I would assume one of Bump’s lackeys would jump in and state where she stands on these two issues. I looked myself and couldn’t find her positions.

        <

        p>On a completely different subject… Someday when you have some free time I’d love to hear your opinions of Bloom Energy’s product (Solid Oxide Fuel Cells).

        • well, not really.  Here’s why:

          <

          p>CH4 + 3O2 -> CO2 + 4H2O + electrons

          <

          p>This is the solid oxide fuel cell chemical reaction.  The fuel is methane, also known as natural gas.  Add oxygen, and you get electrons and water… and carbon dioxide.  Cee Oh too.  That stuff which is contributing to global warming.

          <

          p>So look, natural gas is cleaner than oil or coal.  But it’s not clean.  The fuel for their fuel cell is natural gas.  Combustion of natural gas contributes to climate change (though not as much as dirtier fuels).  Unlike oil, combustion of natural gas tends to be clean on site, which is to say that it doesn’t put particulates into the air locally — much less in the way of soot, ash, and other things which your lungs don’t like.  However, the claim that it is clean ends there… it’s not any cleaner for the environment than a natural gas powered MBTA bus or hot water heater… better than oil, worse than renewables.  I’d also add that the search for natural gas (and oil — they go hand in hand) is how we end up with big pools of oil in the Gulf of Mexico, amongst other places.

          <

          p>

          <

          p>If you really want to have clean electricity, buy NSTAR Green which uses renewable, non-carbon based fuels… currently, 100% wind power.  NStar regular (not-green) has the following mix:

          <

          p>Biomass 1%
          Other Renewables 5%
          Large Hydroelectric 3%
          Coal 14%
          Municipal Trash 4%
          Natural Gas 36%
          Oil 7%
          Nuclear 30%

          <

          p>So, if you had NStar regular, then 43% of your electricity has zero carbon emissions (other renew, hydro, nuclear) or has carbon emissions which are exactly offset by the fuel in a short term carbon cycle (biomass, trash).  Another 36% is already gas, so lets simply eliminate it from all sides since it’s a wash.  Going with the fuel cell therefore trades
          14% coal, 7% oil, and 43% non-carbon
          for
          64% natural gas.

          <

          p>Now, per million btu, we get the following carbon emissions:
          nat gas 117 lbs CO2
          oil 164 lbs CO2
          coal 208 lbs CO2

          <

          p>so with the traditional NStar mix, you’re getting
          .14 * 208 + .07 * 164 = 40.06 lbs CO2 per million btu consumed, whereas that extra natural gas is
          .64 * 117 = 74.88 lbs CO2.

          <

          p>At the end of the day, NStar’s non-green mix has a lower carbon footprint than this so-called clean fuel cell.  Now it’s true that we’ve got to worry about the combustion efficiency as well as the turbine efficiency (I assume the fuel cell is very highly efficient, though I don’t know for sure), but even still… it’s just not greener than NStar because NStar is using 43% carbon free and 36% natural gas already.  If you were in Ohio or Kentucky where their electricity mix has remarkably high coal mix, it might be a winner.  But it’s not one in New England, and in fact it will become a bigger and bigger loser because the New England states (except for NH?) require more and more renewables in the electricity mix every single year.*

          <

          p>How’s that?

          <

          p>

          <

          p> * VT is slightly different — they don’t allow any more carbon based electricity on the grid, so all increased demand must be met by renewables.  This is different than most states, whos RPS requires that the percent which is renewable (wind, solar, small hydro, etc) is required to increase each year.

          • As you say, in states where their “mix” is poor, solid fuel cells could help. But it’s also true that in these same states, a strategy similar to MA’s wold help even more.

            <

            p>Thanks for the 411.

            • to remember the chemical equation.

              <

              p>To add on to the observation that “in states where their “mix” is poor, solid fuel cells could help” — don’t forget that you’ve also got to have natural gas access at the curb.  Lots of parts of the country don’t.  Here’s a map of the natural gas pipelines — which is a good approximation for availability.  If you’re within a few pixels of a blue line, you very well might have gas.  If you’re not — you don’t.

              <

              p>

              <

              p>Now here’s a few years old map of how much coal each state uses in generating electricity

              <

              p>

              <

              p>found on a years old diary of mine, Coal’s Stranglehold on Congress.

              <

              p>Note that states like Ohio and West Virginia use lots of coal and have lots of natural gas access — they’re the best places for fuel cells like these if you’re interested in reducing your own contribution to air pollution and carbon emissions because your state and/or light company can’t or won’t.  However, if you live in a state like Colorado, Utah, or New Mexico, your state uses lots of coal and it’s unlikely you’ll have natural gas at your curb to allow you to do better than they can do.  So really, for this to be useful from a pollution reduction standpoint, you’ve got to both (i) live in a state with high coal/oil usage and (ii) live in a state with plentiful access to natural gas.

              <

              p>

              <

              p>And this analysis in no way compares the effectiveness per dollar invested in reducing carbon or air pollution when compared to PV or personal wind power.  It goes without saying that negawatts (conservation) is far more price effective as a first step.

        • What does what we think about those two questions reflect on Bump, since you are asking about personal opinions not party policy. It is fair to ask Bump what she thinks about those two issues, and it is fair to ask us as well, but don’t confuse our opinions with hers.

  6. With all due respect to the Democrat candidate, I intend to cast my vote for the CPA/Auditor. For once, I feel like there is someone who is filling a position that is qualified for the position. I can’t believe that Guy Glodis felt he was qualified to be an auditor….lol.

    • any more than the director of a hospital performs kidney transplants or the chief of police walks the beat.  Managers of organizations are paid to manage, not to do.  It doesn’t matter much if Mary Connaughton or Suzanne Bump can perform an audit — it really matters if they are competent at running an organization which performs audits — can they allocate resources, set policy and priorities, motivate, and otherwise manage the organization?

      <

      p>That’s what matters.

      • don’t think anyone is suggesting that the auditor is physically going to be performing audits on their own; would be nice though to have someone in there who actually understands what their entity does for once.

        • Actually, someone IS suggesting that the Auditor will physically do the audits herself. That someone is Mary Connaughton. She demonstrates an astounding lack of understanding of the position and the issues if you actually listen to her.  

        • …and CPA notwithstanding I got the sense at the MassVote forum before the primary that Suzanne Bump among all candidates in attendance (2 Dems, 2 GOP, 1 Green) had the best grasp of what the office of Auditor of the Commonwealth actually does and can do.

            • So why do you feel you have the right to even respond? Do you know what an auditor does, and can you make a convincing argument for your candidate, aside from the tiresome right-wing talking points against the Democrat? Didn’t think so.  

              • And obviously Governors don’t need to know anything about governing… although I don’t suggest people start thinking this way in their next job search.

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