Lowell is not unique. Cities, like Quincy and Chicopee, suffer this cancerous malady. I’m referring to elected Democrats “crossing party lines.” Ostensibly, because they “vote for the best person.” They disguise their ruse, as stewardship. But, it is nothing more than cowardly, hedging of the electorates muses; while positioning their self-interest close to those that hold the ladle of tax dollars.
For the selfish, transaction minded politician, the world of politics is seen through this lens:
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| Bring Home The Bacon Politics |
While Republicans decry ‘wasteful government spending,’ many Democrats try to straddle a line, posing as a ‘fiscal watchdog.’ Yet, all the while, their only focus is robbing Peter to pay Paul. And, THEIR constituents are ALL named Paul! These charlatans become practiced in the art of insidiously using tax payer funded largess to barter influence, cronyism (fill in the blank _______ with tactics that slant the playing field), etc. Such a scheme is wildly successful in Massachusetts politics. When you are an elected patron, using ‘juice’ to get jobs and contracts; looking for folks to hold signs, knock doors, phone bank is easy, breezy beautiful. And, when you begin to factor in familial saturation, via the Fabergé effect (Link), the votes start to pile up.
Recently, Lowell has had a bumper crop of “Life Long Democrats!” crossing party lines, And, while it is pure speculation, as to what their motives are, I hold my votes for those that more clearly define what they are, and what they are not.
In today’s newspaper (Link), Lowellians got to read this.
(bold mine)
Baker picked up the endorsements of two wellknown city Democrats, Rep. David Nangle and Mayor Rodney Elliott.
Elliott said the state needs a governor with hands-on experience in finance and managing workforce. Nangle said Baker’s experience in both public and private sectors makes him the most suitable candidate.
Nangle said he thought carefully about the candidates, and chose who will be best for his district.
“Nobody comes to the top of the résume pile other than Charlie Baker,” Nangle said.
Nangle told The Sun he decided to endorse Baker about 10 to 14 days ago. He said he believed announcing his choice in the final days would be most effective for the campaign.
Nangle and Elliott also saw Baker as Lowell’s committed partner.
“We need a governor who understands cities, and Charlie Baker understands cities,” Elliott said.
“I’m confident that I can pick up the phone and ask Charlie for help.”
Seems Lowell’s latest Mayor (Plan E/Weak Mayor) isn’t shading his motivations, too much (Link).
Two other prominent (flash in the pan?) Lowellians, opted to jump fully onto the commercialism of the Baker Campaign.
Update: I hadn’t realized this video didn’t embed. Coding error on my part.
One of my media buddies tells me I have to excuse Dave Daly, because he is a business man. The gist of the assertion is that making a buck comes above all else. If profit outweighs principle, then what can I say?
But, before we get to the other cast member, fledgling Lowell pol, Corey Belanger,
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| Screen Grab from Baker TV ad, above |
we should talk about the titular ‘Clan Leader’ of Lowell’s run away Dems:
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| SUN / JULIA MALAKIE |
Doesn’t State Rep Dave Nangle just look like he is having the time of his life? Maybe, this picture is classier than an imagined one of him mooning Tom McGee? Or, Robert A. DeLeo? #countyourblessings But, bet your bippy, the grip ‘n grin for the Sun camera is nothing less than THAT! Ya see, Nangle has been down this road before. Surprised?
You may notice, I have a bias. I have no quarter for Nangle, et al political malfeasance. This is nothing new, as I have taken note, before (Link). But, my exclamations and less than flattering epithets have fallen on deaf ears within the City/State Party.
After Nangle endorsed Brown, against Elizabeth Warren, our Party did not break a sweat trying to find a primary opponent. There WAS some sort of public wrist slapping, but it appeared to be mild.
Nangle returns to Dems’ big tent
The Sun, 7/7/13 (Archived Offline)
STATE REP. Dave Nangle won’t be attending the Democratic Party convention in Lowell next Saturday because of his endorsement of the GOP’s Scott Brown in 2012, but that doesn’t mean the Lowell Democrat won’t partake in any of the weekend’s festivities.
Nangle said he will be attending host committee functions on Friday night, and he joined his other colleagues in Lowell’s Statehouse delegation in chipping in $300 for a big Friday night host committee party.
“I’m glad to participate with the Democratic Party and do my part,” Nangle said. “We want to show everyone that Lowell is a great city and we know how to welcome people.”
Nangle said he has had a couple of good conversations of late with State Democratic Party Chairman John Walsh and any bruised feelings about not endorsing Democrat Elizabeth Warren have been smoothed over.
The Lowell Democrat also said he plans to make the most of his Saturday away from the convention.
“I’ll be at the beach or out golfing,” Nangle said.
City Councilor Rita Mercier likewise earned her persona non grata status at the upcoming convention for backing Brown. She also won’t be attending any convention parties, saying she was not invited.
“I’m a Democrat at heart, but I’m like a banished cat with rabies,” Mercier said. “I have a scarlet letter written on my forehead.”
-snip
As it turns out, Rita Mercier is still smarting over her treatment, by local Democrats, for supporting Scott Brown. You can hear her coached lamentations, from Oct. 29th, here (Link, 8:00 minute mark) But, note – she still topped the ticket in the last municipal election. So, her cries of torment are rather hollow.
I’m not so sure first term Councilor Corey Belanger will fare as well as the storm weathered Mercier. He has been trying to thread the needle.
Oopsie!
But, can we really blame Corey for kibbitzing with the “Hurray For Me” Dems? Their “Cake and Eat It, Too” disposition is tacitly tolerated by our party’s higher ups!
Lowell reps out of DeLeo ‘s doghouse?
The Sun, 8/3/14 (Archived Offline)
WHAT A difference 5 1/2 years make for state Reps. David Nangle and Tom Golden.The Lowell Democrats scored an impressive legislative feat this past week, getting a $20 million authorization inserted into the state’s $1.3 billion bond bill with the blessing of House Speaker Robert DeLeo . The local money will fund an expansion of the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell, adding a practice ice rink and conference rooms, and enlarging it to attract medium-sized conventions.
Few lawmakers had the same good fortune in a bill designed to repair state buildings and fund mental-health projects.
And to think there was a time when Nangle and Golden couldn’t get a phone call through to the speaker.
In 2008, Nangle, Golden and former state Rep. Kevin Murphy, now Lowell’s city manager, were relegated to the Statehouse doghouse after backing an unsuccessful attempt by Norwood’s John Rogers in a contentious leadership fight with DeLeo .
All were stripped of their chairmanship posts, stipends and — most important — access to leadership. State Rep. Colleen Garry, D-Dracut, also backed Norwood and suffered a similar fate.
Through the years, however, Nangle and Golden have slowly and steadily caught leadership’s eye.
-snip
Maybe, there is a fine line that needs to be finessed? Especially, in the battle ground cities that teeter on voting Republican? Further, I cannot always blame the electeds that opt to reflect the sentiments of the voters that bother to show up on Election Day. My own Rep will do, as much. But, on momentous occasions, like supporting Marriage Equality, he leads his constituency. I can only ask, so much
The true problem is not the nervous pols, shuttling their principles for votes, as those clearly depicted, above, so often do.
The bigger issue is a Party regime that ignores the blatant slights. Leaving those of us on the ground, in such places, left holding the bag.
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PS. Another opportunity to submit comment, and/or engage in debate, is provided via Facebook – Lowell Live Feed Forum (Link).
Can DeLeo not crack his whip on something like this to keep members in line? I’m more forgiving of Councilors, including the Mayor, since they aren’t elected on a partisan slate, just as long as they don’t claim seats on the Democratic City Committee or at the next convention.
“I’m more forgiving of Councilors, including the Mayor, since they aren’t elected on a partisan slate,..”
There is logic to this. Many Councilors are registered with our Party, but they don’t hold a partisan, elected position. Nor, for the most part, do they exercise any Party leadership role.
The thing that irks me about such folks, is the ‘Cake and Eat It, Too” part.
I watched the gleam in Rita Mercier’s eye, when in 2010, she pushed into the shot of the news photog; while the crowd cheered. Now, she bemoans that there is no cheering.
Guys like Nangle enjoy the subsidy provided by the Party. Talk of primaries are normally dampened by local leadership. The Lowell City Committee is wrapped around Nangle’s finger. Nangle is not a leper, as he should be. His pals commiserate with him at the local watering hole. They lick his ego wounds telling him, “The Boston liberals don’t GET Lowell. You do!” *barf*
…or find out about his events to list in my newsletter. He seems to have a base of his own independent of party.
I’d heard that a Lowell rep was endorsing Baker, but I didn’t realize he’d done it before.
Has he ever been primaried?
I don’t think primaries for incumbents is something they take kindly to in Lowell. Or, maybe that is just a MADEMS thing?
Not doubt, I can be proven wrong, if we go back some years. But, I don’t heard much about primaries in Lowell, unless there is an open seat.
These “democrats” aren’t fit to speak his name.
See diary for Baker ad, embedded.
The video seems chopped. But, the gist is that Karyn Polito & Nangle will bring home the bacon.
Must be the new Courthouse, they want sooo bad.