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Monday, June 30, 2003
Romney Steals Jane Swift Web-Site

The Fraud Governor recently unveiled massmeansbusiness.com, a web portal aimed at attracting business to Massachusetts. The portal "is another initiative in Romney's efforts to recharge the struggling state economy." (source: Boston Globe, 6/31/2003)

Another initiative in Romney's effort? Hold on there, Pardner.

First, massmeansbusiness.com is NOT a Romney initiative. The web-site was "created" by former Gov. Jane Swift (R- Flagbearer,RememberHer?). The domain name (massmeansbusines.com & org) was birthed on October 17, 2001 by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative in Westboro. (source: Register.com) Let us repeat: October 17, 2001.

And what was Willard Mitt Romney doing in October 2001? Flipping burgers as the Winter Games Chef. And saying if Jane Swift "wants a second term, then she should be the flag-bearer." (source: Boston Herald, 8/22/2001)

So why didn't Jane Swift get any credit for massmeanbusiness.com? Perhaps because by October 2001 her main mouth-piece, Jason Kauppi, had been replaced by Jim (the Invisible Man) Borghesani.

But more importantly, saying that this is ANOTHER Romney initiative presupposes that there are other Romney initiatives to improve the economy - beyond paying his loathsome spokesman $150,000-a-year.

And maybe there are; but to find them we'll have to wait until Team Action makes it's next Swift move.


Saturday, June 28, 2003
Romney Completes Pay-Raise Flip, Finds Wee Bit of Tolman Courage

More than a two years after Warren Tolman stood up to House Speaker Tom (www.TomFinneran.com) Finneran at the Democratic Convention in Springfield, the Fraud Governor finally found the courage to stand up to the powerful Democrat and squeak "no."

Of course, Tolman's stand was a bit more public and forceful. Tolman parked a large billboard outside the convention hall with a sign stating that "the status quo has got to go." (source: Boston Herald, 6/10/2001) Romney released a "written statement" on the Friday before July 4th Week saying he would oppose Speaker Finneran's pay-raise proposal because it lacked checks and balances and was therefore "unacceptable." (source: Boston Herald, 6/28/2003)

(And remember, Romney's courageous stand is a flip from his previous pay-raise position - see April 15, 2003 in this blog's archives.)

Yawn. Either Romney's loathsome $150,000-a-year spokesman is on vacation or the Corner Office is losing their fastball.

The only question now is how long will Romney stay in Finneran's face?

The early Vegas line says 'not too long.' Romney is expected to join hands with the House Speaker to kill Clean Elections. (source: Associated Press, 6/25/2003) Warren Tolman would not be proud.

So much for Romney the Reformer.

Maybe the Fraud Governor will shave his head and just look the part!


Friday, June 27, 2003
Romney's Damoned Past

Willard Mitt Romney is calling for UMASS President William Bulger to step down due to 'ethical lapses.' However, just last year, the Fraud Candidate refused to acknowledge his own ethical lapses that he suffered while sitting on the board of the shamed Damon Corp, which perpetrated one of the largest Medicare fraud cases in the history of the United States.

For example, Romney claimed that when confronted with evidence of fraud at Damon, he 'acted aggressively by seeking legal advice.' (source: Boston Globe, 10/25/2002) Hmm. Isn't this what Bulger said he did, too? Maybe Bulger was just following the lead of his (fraud) governor.

Romney expressed disgust with the UMASS trustees "contention that Bulger should stay because he hasn't been convicted of criminal wrongdoing - calling the argument 'totally inappropriate.' I personally have a much higher standard than that. We're looking for an individual whose character and management of the university reflects positively upon the university." (source: Boston Herald, 6/27/2003)

Yeah, sure. So why, last year, when confronted with evidence of corporate mismanagement and possible stock manipulation did Romney's strategist Mike Murphy say it was "misleadingly criticize Mitt Romney for a company he merely invested in but did not actively manage." And why was Murphy's bloviation followed by Romney's now loathsome $150,000-a-year spokesman whining, "It's possible he was still a principal but he had no decision-making authority." (source: Boston Globe, 10/24/2002)

Or did they believe that the Governor shouldn't be an individual whose character and management of his investments reflected positively upon the Commonwealth?

Perhaps that's why Romney was elected Fraud Governor!

Tuesday, June 24, 2003
Romney Memory Lapse Should Be Investigated

Suddenly it's Willard Mitt Romney who is having memory problems.

Just days after expressing disappointment in UMASS President William Bulger's appearance before a Congressional committee, the Fraud Governor is claiming no knowledge of a illegal advertising campaign that was four-walled across hate radio just days before the 2002 election.

Yesterday, just shortly after Campaign and Political Finance released its finding, Romney hurried past reporters in the State House claiming ignorance of the ads, saying "I'm not actually familiar with it."

Romney's loathsome $150,000-a-year spokesman compounded the lie, cowardly mewling "`it's not a situation we're familiar with. We have nothing to say." (source: Boston Herald, 6/24/2003)

Fine. Then riddle me this: if Romney and his loathsome aide were unfamiliar with the ads, how did they last year categorically deny that their campaign was uninvolved in the illegal activity? (Last November, when asked about the ads by the Boston Globe the Fraud Candidate said, "We don't have anything to do with this." (source: Boston Globe, 11/5/2002))

Romney and his loathsome aide appear to have either been complicit in the illegal activity, or are now lying about their knowledge of the advertising campaign.

The state Attorney General or the state Ethics Commission should convene an investigation to find out what really happened, and levy penalties against those responsible for breaking the law.

Monday, June 23, 2003
Found Guilty! Romney Crony Broke Law

An illegal campaign ad helped Willard Mitt Romney win the governors race last year. The $50,000 ad, which urged supporters of left-wing-nut Jill Stein to vote for Romney, was part of a last-minute barrage of negative campaigning, and invoked the name of Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone who had recently died. It was paid for by a shadowy group out of Washington, D.C. called "Citizens for Good Government." A spokseman for the group said it backed Romney's candidacy but had no connection to the Romney campaign or the GOP. Romney continued this charade, telling Boston newspapers "We don't have anything to do with this." (source: Boston Globe, 11/5/2002)

Tell it to someone who cares, Fraudo. The Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance today (June 2003) fined John W. Childs and Robert A. Maginn for illegally sponsoring the ads and violating campaign finance law. (source: State House News Service, 6/23/2003)

Maginn and Childs. Sound familiar? John Maginn is a Bain Capital drop-out who lost his Treasurer's race to Shannon O'Brien in 1998. On October 9, 2002 Maginn stood in front of the State House with Romney and endorsed the Fraud Candidate on jobs and the economy. He was listed on the subsequent press release that Romney's now loathsome $150,000-a-year spokesman released (source: Fraud Gov campaign, "Business Leaders Endorse Romney on Jobs and the Economy, Romney Denounces O'Brien for Dinosaur Insults" 10/0/2002)

But here is where it gets weird. Robert Maginn was a supporter of Wilard Mitt Romney and (according to OCPF) gave him $500 on June 29, 2002. However, Childs was not a Romney supporter. He never gave Romney cash - at least not legally.

This is not to say the famously shy* Childs abhorred contributions. On February 28, 2002, John Childs gave $500 to Lord Jim Rappaport. (Sherry Healey, bow your blond dye-job in shame. Again.) But Childs never gave to Romney. (Neither did his lovely and talented wife, Marlene.)

So why would he make a $25,000 illegal campaign contribution to Willard Mitt Romney? Like Carl Bernstein once said, follow the money, doofus.

John M. Childs owns (through his investment firm J. W. Childs Associates) a number of companies, including the Edison Schools, which run for-profit charter schools. When things looked tight, Childs, who has given to a passel of Republican candidates, from Rick Lazio to John Ashcroft to James E. Rogan to Spencer Abraham, sat on the sidelines. (source: opensecrets.com; OCPF) He sat and he sat and he sat and he didn't give to Romney - or O'Brien. He was playing it safe.

However, when it came down to crunch time and the polls began to break, Romney loyalist Robert Maginn trolled for illegal contributions to put his dark master over the top, and came up gangbusters.

And now Romney is coming up gangbusters for Childs. Just last week, in fact, the Fraud Governor came out against a legislative moratorium on charter schools. (source: Associated Press, 6/18/2003) Which means more work for Childs' Edison Schools.

Translation: Childs Backed Romney, Romney backs the Edison Schools. Romney must have bought Ivory Soap Inc. He has a lot of hands to wash.

*(Childs told the Boston Globe in 1995 "My theory has generally been: Don't talk to people and they won't write about you." Good theory. But will it stop them from putting your address (421 Heath Street, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467) on the internet?) (source: OCPF)


Saturday, June 21, 2003
Romney Pal Afraid of Moving?

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/techpolitics/howie_carr.html

Friday, June 20, 2003
Romney Bails Out Killer

And we thought Willard Mitt Romney was tough on crime.

In February, the Fraud Governor went to Salem and said that he would shut down the Salem Harbor power plant because it was unsafe. "I will not protect jobs that kill people. And that plant kills people," he screamed with typical understatement. (source: Boston Globe, 2/7/2003)

But this month Romney unveiled an agreement that keeps the plant (that "kills people"!) open, postponing its having to meet 'tough clean-air standards' until 2006. (source: Boston Herald, 6/14/2003)

Holy smokes! Willard Mitt Romney just wrote the Salem Harbor Killer a three-year bail ticket.

What about its health impact?

Well, the city Salem really can't complain. After all, they voted for O'Brien 10,602 - 9,455. (source: PD-43) They are getting what they deserve.

But what about next-door neighbor Beverly Farms? What did they ever do to Team Romney?

Isn't Beverly Farms the home of Lt. Gov. Sherry Healey?

Oh, that explains it!

Thursday, June 19, 2003
Romney's Layoffs Not Laid Off

Shortly after taking office, the Fraud Governor announced that he would fire a number of flacks to "save money" and crowed about "a major reduction" in the number of press secretaries throughout state government. (source: Fraud Gov's Office, Press Release, 1/28/2003)

Romney's loathsome $150,000-a-year spokesman blamed the job action on the economy. His press release was headed "WITH BUDGET CRISIS LOOMING, ROMNEY MOVES TO CUT PRESS OPERATION."

Well, the budget crisis must be over. Because many of the flacks who were fired to save money are still on the state payroll. (source: Boston Herald, 6/19/2003)

Like Darrell Pressley, who was working for the Department of Environmental Management and now works for the Department of Environmental Management.

Like Brook Chipman, who was working for the Governor's Highway Safety Bureau and now works for the Governor's Highway Safety Bureau.

Like Bill Davis and Bob Greco, who were working for the Department of Fish and Wildlife and now work for the Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Like Heather Shannon, who was working for the Division of Health Care Finance and Policy and now works for the Division of Health Care Finance and Policy.

And like Joseph VanDeventer, who worked for the state Racing Commission and now works for the state Racing Commission.

And these aren't even the fortunate ones. Some who were "fired" are now earning more than before their traumatic life change. Like Nicholas Burk, who was earning $43,000-a-year in the Office of Refugees and Immigrants, was fired by Romney, and now earns $46,000-a-year in (all together now) the Office of Refugees and Immigrants.

Confused? Don't be. The story line is simple.
1) Romney fires aides.
2) Aides do not leave.
3) Some earn more then before they were fired.

Sounds a little like Melville's "Bartleby, the Scrivener." (Go to your library.)
Sounds a LOT like Romney the Fraud.


Monday, June 16, 2003

High Tech Group Hits Romney on SUV Flip

Saying that he is telling tax-payers "Do as I say, not as I do", a Massachusetts high tech group recently hit the Fraud Governor for taking a "fleet of three gargantuan sport utility vehicles and a van" to a conference in Wakefield "less than four months after grandstanding against tax-funded sport utility vehicles." (source: www.masshightech.com)

The group pointed out that "judging by the high gloss on the Expedition triplets after a week and a half of pollen-drenched rain, it appears there’s a state budgetary line item somewhere for auto detailing as well."

But here we think they went too far. After all, maybe the Fraud Governor protects his swanky trucks with the same gell he uses on his (weekly dyed?) hair.





Wednesday, June 11, 2003

Romney Fails To Keep Kindergarten Pledge

Last year, the Fraud Candidate spoke forcefully in support of full-day kindergarten. His public education overhaul, “K through Job: Remediate, Renovate, Innovate," included expansion of full-day kindergarten. (source: Boston Globe, 6/5/2002) His pre-election stump to the teachers union also included the promotion of full-day kindergarten. (source: Boston Globe, 10/13/2002)

Unfortunately, when it came time to pay the piper, Romney decided to fully fund the $100 million dollar Quinn Bill, yet did nothing about expanding full-day kindergarten. In fact, the Fraud Governor’s budget ended up reducing funds for kindergarten. (source: Boston Globe, 3/4/2003, 3/6/2003 & 4/27/2003)

Which is why Romney’s recent comments to a forum marking the Education Reform Act were so surprising. The Fraud Governor said “the state should be able to take over under-performing districts with broad powers to fire teachers, send kids to full-day kindergarten and make their parents go to class.” (source: Boston Herald, 5/2/2003)

Send kids to full-day kindergarten? Sounds like a great idea.

Of course, it sounded like a great idea last year, too. Which may be why the Fraud Governor refused to fund full-day kindergarten this year. If he plays his cards right, Romney can use this idea for the rest of his electoral life!

Tuesday, June 10, 2003
Romney Steals O'Brien Prescription Drug Plan

After failing to produce a plan to extend the Prescription Advantage program, the Fraud Governor yesterday announced plans to "use a 10-year old federal law that allows health facilities to buy drugs at prices nearly 50 percent below wholesale" to help community health centers offer deep discounts to patients without prescription drug coverage. (source: Boston Globe, 6/10/2003)

Romney's scheme is modeled after a plan that was released by Democrat Shannon O'Brien last year, whereby "the state should encourage community health centers to take advantage of a 1992 federal law that allows health centers to buy inexpensive prescription drugs for patients." (source: Boston Globe, 8/14/2002)

The August 2002 article outlining O'Brien's proposal was titled "O'BRIEN PROPOSES `REALISTIC' HEALTH PLAN."

The June 2003 article outlining Romney's proposal should have been titled "ROMNEY STEALS HEALTH PLAN."




Thursday, June 05, 2003
Spokesman wins Szell Safety Award

If you read William Goldman's Marathon Man, you'll remember Dr. "Is it safe?" Szell.

Well, yesterday the Fraud Governor's loathsome $150,000-a-year spokesman proved that it is never too late to be safe when he came out against the prescription drug tax that has been in force since January, 2003.

"Good riddance to a bad idea," FG's two-timing mouthpiece said, giving off the false impression that Gov. No-Tax has been fighting the good fight against the revenue feed all along. (source: Boston Globe, 6/5/2003) Because as observors of the Mess on Beacon Hill can attest, not too long ago the Fraud Governor was singing a different song.

Late last year, Romney's now loathsome $150,000-a-year spokesman said Romney's focus was then on restructuring state government. "He indicated Romney would not seek to repeal the (prescription drug) tax after he takes office on Thursday. "I don't think the Commonwealth is in a position to forfeit any revenue at this time," he said."" (source: Boston Globe, 12/31/2002)

Let's go to the video and take a look at that one again. "I don't think the Commonwealth is in a position to forfeit any revenue at this time." But now it's "Good riddance to a bad idea."

How about, good riddance to a bad spokesman? (Is it safe? Guess not!)


Wednesday, June 04, 2003
Romney Flips on Bulger

You knew it would happen. Almost nine months to the day he told Globe columnist Jeff Jacoby that he would not criticize UMASS president William Bulger for having a criminal brother ("Somehow that old biblical phrase about not being my brother's keeper seems to apply here." (source: Boston Globe, 9/5/2002)) the Fraud Governor unloaded and completed his slow-motion f-l-i-p.

Romney said he may now use to the University's "board of directors" (sic) to unseat the former Senate President. (source: Boston Globe, 6/4/2003)

What a guy. Let the word go forth, Willard Mitt Romney is taking on Bill Bulger. The Fraud Governor's courageous stand will surely be an example of all who define leadership in the future.

Romney is also expected to take a position on the Vietnam War very, very soon.

Tuesday, June 03, 2003
Deep-Sixing DEP

Back when Romney oversaw the Utah Olympics, the former Winter Games Chef was charged with breaking pledges to protect the environmental. Just last year, Save Our Canyons, a Wasatch Range (Utah) conservation group released a "laundry list" of Romney's broken environmental pledges. (source: Salt Lake Tribune, 1/23/2002) The Romney Games were said to have left "profound ecological consequences" on Utah. (source: CommonDreams.org quoted in Los Angeles Times, 2/3/2002)

Which made the Fraud Governor's pro-green statements in the wake of the Buzzards Bay oil spill earlier this year all that more surprising. (Romney had proposed tougher laws for polluters (source: Boston Globe, 6/3/2003)) Romney didn't appear to care about the environment last year; why should we believe he cares about it this year?

Well, we can all get over being surprised. The Fraud Environmentalist is back!

Saying that they are not worth funding, Romney has decided to cut 72 positions from the Department of Environmental Protection. Romney's DEP Commissioner, Ed Kunce, told the Globe that DEP will take a back seat in a number of areas. Responsibility for these issues will be redirected to municipalities and local health boards. However, according to the Mass. Municipal Association, there is no one at the local level to absorb that responsibility. (source: Boston Globe, 6/3/2003)

Oddly enough, earlier this year - before the nasty oil spill positioned Romney on a real issue - the Fraud Governor had issued a nifty little press release that declaimed (yes, declaimed!) that job growth was tied to a cleaner environment. (source: Massachusetts Technology Collaborative website, press release dated 1/22/2003)

But now Romney is cutting funding for a cleaner environment.

So much for that economic rebound. And we had such hope!


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