Tuesday, September 30, 2003
Healey: 'Lie Your Way To Death!'
One of our favorite Willard Mitt moments came last year when the Fraud Candidate claimed his running matron, Sherry Kerry Healey, had written 'four books' on criminal justice. Even Healey fled Pinnochio Mitt's nose, calling her musings “white papers.” (source: Boston Globe, 10/28/2002)
Admit it, you may not respect Romney, but he probably makes you laugh.
Being big fans of Sherry Kerry (we love the way she rebuilt the Republican State Committee) we ran out and downloaded all four of her ‘books.’ We even read them. Okay, we skimmed. Okay, we did word searches.
But we have them. Really, we do.
And we were happy to see that Sherry Kerry, in all her wisdom and foresight, saw fit to include a section in her 1996 opus, “Preventing Gang- and Drug-Related Witness Intimidation,” on how lying witnesses can help prosecutors secure death penalty convictions.
“(W)itnesses who report that they can no longer recall what they saw or heard are free to take the stand and say, "I don't remember." That way the witness will not be held in contempt. (A lawyer) can (then) introduce the person's previous sworn statement from the preliminary hearing into evidence, and the jury can decide whether the discrepancy is based on fear of retaliation.” (source: National Criminal Justice Reference Service)
Sooo, if a witness really can't remember, Sherry Kerry is saying that a smart prosecutor can make it look like they are too afraid to remember, and that a sympathetic jury will assume that a frightened witness must be a truthful witness.
Sweet! Truth is not a prosecutorial prerequisite in capital punishment cases. Simon (Sherry Kerry) says.
Now what was that about trusting Team Reform to come up with the perfect death penalty again?
One of our favorite Willard Mitt moments came last year when the Fraud Candidate claimed his running matron, Sherry Kerry Healey, had written 'four books' on criminal justice. Even Healey fled Pinnochio Mitt's nose, calling her musings “white papers.” (source: Boston Globe, 10/28/2002)
Admit it, you may not respect Romney, but he probably makes you laugh.
Being big fans of Sherry Kerry (we love the way she rebuilt the Republican State Committee) we ran out and downloaded all four of her ‘books.’ We even read them. Okay, we skimmed. Okay, we did word searches.
But we have them. Really, we do.
And we were happy to see that Sherry Kerry, in all her wisdom and foresight, saw fit to include a section in her 1996 opus, “Preventing Gang- and Drug-Related Witness Intimidation,” on how lying witnesses can help prosecutors secure death penalty convictions.
“(W)itnesses who report that they can no longer recall what they saw or heard are free to take the stand and say, "I don't remember." That way the witness will not be held in contempt. (A lawyer) can (then) introduce the person's previous sworn statement from the preliminary hearing into evidence, and the jury can decide whether the discrepancy is based on fear of retaliation.” (source: National Criminal Justice Reference Service)
Sooo, if a witness really can't remember, Sherry Kerry is saying that a smart prosecutor can make it look like they are too afraid to remember, and that a sympathetic jury will assume that a frightened witness must be a truthful witness.
Sweet! Truth is not a prosecutorial prerequisite in capital punishment cases. Simon (Sherry Kerry) says.
Now what was that about trusting Team Reform to come up with the perfect death penalty again?
Monday, September 29, 2003
Romney Gives Small Business Owners The Business
Willard Mitt has lowered his sights. Despite promising to implement a 100-day action plan to bring jobs to Massachusetts and traverse the country acting as the state’s top salesman, the Fraud Governor is now promising to … “cut red tape.” (source: Office of (Fraud) Gov., “Romney cuts red tape to help Bay State small businesses,” 9/25/2003)
And create a state Small Business Advocate.
So thanks for nothing, Fraudo. The last time we checked, small business owners worry about payroll, state-mandates, and fees. Yet Romney was silent on those issues.
For example, last year Romney threatened to index the state’s minimum wage to $6.96 by 2004. (source: Boston Globe, 7/25/2002) That three percent increase in business payrolls would not exactly be small-business friendly.
But the Fraud Governor’s Executive Decree said nothing of his intent to freeze or inflate the minimum wage.
And as for his vaunted Advocate, will the Advocate be able to argue retroactively on behalf of businesses who have been whacked into submission by fee increases?
Yeah, we thought not.
But in all fairness we recognize that Romney’s tank-is-empty small business plan could have been worse.
The former multi-level marketing maven could have handed out placards reading "Lose 30 pounds in 30 days!" "Work from home!" "Make cash with your computer!" (with a nod to the Ace of the Boston Herald, 10/25/2002)
(PS: Note to Ch. 25's VB, television adds ten pounds. Get BEHIND the desk!)
Willard Mitt has lowered his sights. Despite promising to implement a 100-day action plan to bring jobs to Massachusetts and traverse the country acting as the state’s top salesman, the Fraud Governor is now promising to … “cut red tape.” (source: Office of (Fraud) Gov., “Romney cuts red tape to help Bay State small businesses,” 9/25/2003)
And create a state Small Business Advocate.
So thanks for nothing, Fraudo. The last time we checked, small business owners worry about payroll, state-mandates, and fees. Yet Romney was silent on those issues.
For example, last year Romney threatened to index the state’s minimum wage to $6.96 by 2004. (source: Boston Globe, 7/25/2002) That three percent increase in business payrolls would not exactly be small-business friendly.
But the Fraud Governor’s Executive Decree said nothing of his intent to freeze or inflate the minimum wage.
And as for his vaunted Advocate, will the Advocate be able to argue retroactively on behalf of businesses who have been whacked into submission by fee increases?
Yeah, we thought not.
But in all fairness we recognize that Romney’s tank-is-empty small business plan could have been worse.
The former multi-level marketing maven could have handed out placards reading "Lose 30 pounds in 30 days!" "Work from home!" "Make cash with your computer!" (with a nod to the Ace of the Boston Herald, 10/25/2002)
(PS: Note to Ch. 25's VB, television adds ten pounds. Get BEHIND the desk!)
Friday, September 26, 2003
Romney Denounces Romney Cuts As ‘Testament To Mismanagement.’
We’re curious. What did Willard Mitt say last October when then-Gov. Jane Swift (R-Flagbearer) implemented across-the-board budget-balancing program cuts aimed at state-sponsored health care programs?
Sherman, set the Wayback Machine for October 15, 2002.
“The across-the-board cuts are usually quite destructive. It is a testament to mismanagement,” Romney said at a press conference. (source: Boston Herald, 10/15/2002)
Now that’s a sound bite: It’s a testament to mismanagement.
It goes awfully well with the Fraud Governor’s position on how the Commonwealth should control Medicaid spending. Fraudo is capping CommonHealth - which provides coverage to people with disabilities, Family Assistance - which covers uninsured children and their families and HIV-positive patients, and Mass-Health Essential – which was started in July to replace a program eliminated for unemployed adults. (source: Boston Herald, 9/25/2003)
In other words, he is implementing across-the-board cuts to state-sponsored health care programs.
Romney is Swift-er than he appeared.
We’re curious. What did Willard Mitt say last October when then-Gov. Jane Swift (R-Flagbearer) implemented across-the-board budget-balancing program cuts aimed at state-sponsored health care programs?
Sherman, set the Wayback Machine for October 15, 2002.
“The across-the-board cuts are usually quite destructive. It is a testament to mismanagement,” Romney said at a press conference. (source: Boston Herald, 10/15/2002)
Now that’s a sound bite: It’s a testament to mismanagement.
It goes awfully well with the Fraud Governor’s position on how the Commonwealth should control Medicaid spending. Fraudo is capping CommonHealth - which provides coverage to people with disabilities, Family Assistance - which covers uninsured children and their families and HIV-positive patients, and Mass-Health Essential – which was started in July to replace a program eliminated for unemployed adults. (source: Boston Herald, 9/25/2003)
In other words, he is implementing across-the-board cuts to state-sponsored health care programs.
Romney is Swift-er than he appeared.
Thursday, September 25, 2003
Romney Kills Death Squad’s Independence
The fix is in. Or the results will be tossed out.
That’s the only message one can take from the comments Willard Mitt made in the wake of announcing his Council on Capital Punishment (aka, Willard’s Death Squad.) (source: Boston Globe, 9/24/2003)
Romney once claimed that the death penalty would be a defining issue of his administration. However, earlier this year, when the Legislature held a hearing on the issue, the Fraud Governor was nowhere to be seen. (source: Boston Globe, 3/27/2003)
Of course, that was then.
Now it’s different. Why? Because Romney said so.
Willard’s Death Squad will ascertain whether or not science can be used to link defendants to crimes. However, Romney admitted that if his Death Squad “cannot fashion a foolproof system of determining guilt, it would not shake his support for the death penalty.” (source: Boston Globe, 9/24/2003)
In other words, ‘run around and make a lot of noise. And if you come back with something other than what I am looking for, don’t come back.’
Sounds like Bain and Co all over again. (Hello, Guinness!)
This is not the Fraud Governor’s first foray into forensic science. Not too long ago he dismissed ballistic fingerprinting, saying “the science was too new to be trusted.” (source: Massnews.com)
Note to Willard’s Death Squad: Ignore ‘new’ science.
Old science is presumably fair game. Assuming it returns Romney’s requested results.
The fix is in. Or the results will be tossed out.
That’s the only message one can take from the comments Willard Mitt made in the wake of announcing his Council on Capital Punishment (aka, Willard’s Death Squad.) (source: Boston Globe, 9/24/2003)
Romney once claimed that the death penalty would be a defining issue of his administration. However, earlier this year, when the Legislature held a hearing on the issue, the Fraud Governor was nowhere to be seen. (source: Boston Globe, 3/27/2003)
Of course, that was then.
Now it’s different. Why? Because Romney said so.
Willard’s Death Squad will ascertain whether or not science can be used to link defendants to crimes. However, Romney admitted that if his Death Squad “cannot fashion a foolproof system of determining guilt, it would not shake his support for the death penalty.” (source: Boston Globe, 9/24/2003)
In other words, ‘run around and make a lot of noise. And if you come back with something other than what I am looking for, don’t come back.’
Sounds like Bain and Co all over again. (Hello, Guinness!)
This is not the Fraud Governor’s first foray into forensic science. Not too long ago he dismissed ballistic fingerprinting, saying “the science was too new to be trusted.” (source: Massnews.com)
Note to Willard’s Death Squad: Ignore ‘new’ science.
Old science is presumably fair game. Assuming it returns Romney’s requested results.
Wednesday, September 24, 2003
Romney Derails Campaign Transit Pledge
After months of sending mixed signals, Willard Mitt yesterday rolled his wrist and approved the Greenbush commuter rail project. (source: Boston Globe, 9/23/2003)
The Fraud Governor claimed that his approval was based upon several defined factors. However, last year, the Fraud Candidate said "It’s time to have clear, objective criteria to evaluate all capital projects and rank them according to need. Let’s take the politics out of the process." (source: Romney2002.com, "Romney Healey Propose Commuter Bill of Rights," 9/3/2002)
Note that Fraudo did not say "evaluate all capital projects except Greenbush and rank them according to need." He said all projects.
Apologists for Team Reform will point that Romney’s Chief of Commonwealth Development, Doug Foy, recently said the administration and the legislature should formulate "a 25-year state transportation plan to create a list of transportation priorities to create a road map for transportation spending." (source: Boston Globe, 9/23/2003) But aside from the fact that Foy is presuming future legislatures and governors will allow themselves to be held hostage to a 25-year Master Plan, there is no getting around the fact that Romney pulled Greenbush out of the pile and gave it special consideration.
So why don’t the people of Fall River and New Bedford deserve special consideration? Can their rail spur be built, too?
It’s almost as if the process is being controlled by politics.
Gee.
Romney’s commuter bill of rights contained one other interesting line. He said his administration would have "a zero-tolerance policy for Big Dig-like cost overruns. We will insist upon top-of-the-line management for all transportation projects. Families in Massachusetts must live with their budgets and so should state government." (source: Romney2002.com, "Romney Healey Propose Commuter Bill of Rights," 9/3/2002)
The MBTA said the Greenbush project would cost $479 million dollars.
We’ll be watching.
After months of sending mixed signals, Willard Mitt yesterday rolled his wrist and approved the Greenbush commuter rail project. (source: Boston Globe, 9/23/2003)
The Fraud Governor claimed that his approval was based upon several defined factors. However, last year, the Fraud Candidate said "It’s time to have clear, objective criteria to evaluate all capital projects and rank them according to need. Let’s take the politics out of the process." (source: Romney2002.com, "Romney Healey Propose Commuter Bill of Rights," 9/3/2002)
Note that Fraudo did not say "evaluate all capital projects except Greenbush and rank them according to need." He said all projects.
Apologists for Team Reform will point that Romney’s Chief of Commonwealth Development, Doug Foy, recently said the administration and the legislature should formulate "a 25-year state transportation plan to create a list of transportation priorities to create a road map for transportation spending." (source: Boston Globe, 9/23/2003) But aside from the fact that Foy is presuming future legislatures and governors will allow themselves to be held hostage to a 25-year Master Plan, there is no getting around the fact that Romney pulled Greenbush out of the pile and gave it special consideration.
So why don’t the people of Fall River and New Bedford deserve special consideration? Can their rail spur be built, too?
It’s almost as if the process is being controlled by politics.
Gee.
Romney’s commuter bill of rights contained one other interesting line. He said his administration would have "a zero-tolerance policy for Big Dig-like cost overruns. We will insist upon top-of-the-line management for all transportation projects. Families in Massachusetts must live with their budgets and so should state government." (source: Romney2002.com, "Romney Healey Propose Commuter Bill of Rights," 9/3/2002)
The MBTA said the Greenbush project would cost $479 million dollars.
We’ll be watching.
Tuesday, September 23, 2003
Thrilla in Manilla, er ... North Adams ... Continues
Does Willard Mitt have it in for North Adams? After all, the city voted for O’Brien in 2002, its Mayor famously wrestled with Romney’s loathsome $150,000-a-year spokesman, and it is decidedly Jane Swift (R-Flagbearer) country. Well, Team Reform is looking to take it up a notch.
Joe Rappa, director of Romney’s Massachusetts Office of Education Quality and Accountability, has notified the city that the state may take over the school system.
Rappa claims that the North Adams schools are inferior. (source: Boston Globe, 9/8/2003)
So what’s the rap on Joe Rappa? And what does he know about inferior schools?
Plenty!
In 1995, when Rappa was Attleboro School Superintendent, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) issued an accreditation warning to Attleboro High. Left uncorrected, the warning could have led to the school’s loss of accreditation.
According to press reports, Rappa withheld the accreditation warning and did not forward it to the school committee. Insiders speculate Rappa feared the warning would harm his professional standing (i.e. his three-year salary average.) He allegedly hid the warning in his desk, where it was found years later, unopened. The Attleboro School Committee found out about the warning when NEASC notified them that the threat was being removed. Asked about his negligent and, some might say illegal, action, Rappa told a reporter, "I have no comment. This is old news. I was in Attleboro for nine years, now I'm in Leominster. Goodbye." (source: Worcester T&G, 9/23/1998)
But that’s not the end of the story.
Rappa’s office is not the only entity to audit the North Adams schools. The High School recently underwent a review by (insert ironic ‘tsk’ here) NEASC. (source: North Adams Transcript, 9/13/2003) Yep, the self-same group that whacked Rappa’s Attleboro High school.
NEASC commended Drury for its educational program. (source: North Adams Transcript, 9/13/2003) But Romney/Rappa will not relent.
Mayor Barrett, here’s a suggestion. If you don’t like Rappa’s report on your schools, just put it in a desk drawer for a few years. It worked for Rappa. And you’ll be able to focus on what’s truly important.
Like your next bout with Team Reform.
“In this corner ….”
Does Willard Mitt have it in for North Adams? After all, the city voted for O’Brien in 2002, its Mayor famously wrestled with Romney’s loathsome $150,000-a-year spokesman, and it is decidedly Jane Swift (R-Flagbearer) country. Well, Team Reform is looking to take it up a notch.
Joe Rappa, director of Romney’s Massachusetts Office of Education Quality and Accountability, has notified the city that the state may take over the school system.
Rappa claims that the North Adams schools are inferior. (source: Boston Globe, 9/8/2003)
So what’s the rap on Joe Rappa? And what does he know about inferior schools?
Plenty!
In 1995, when Rappa was Attleboro School Superintendent, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) issued an accreditation warning to Attleboro High. Left uncorrected, the warning could have led to the school’s loss of accreditation.
According to press reports, Rappa withheld the accreditation warning and did not forward it to the school committee. Insiders speculate Rappa feared the warning would harm his professional standing (i.e. his three-year salary average.) He allegedly hid the warning in his desk, where it was found years later, unopened. The Attleboro School Committee found out about the warning when NEASC notified them that the threat was being removed. Asked about his negligent and, some might say illegal, action, Rappa told a reporter, "I have no comment. This is old news. I was in Attleboro for nine years, now I'm in Leominster. Goodbye." (source: Worcester T&G, 9/23/1998)
But that’s not the end of the story.
Rappa’s office is not the only entity to audit the North Adams schools. The High School recently underwent a review by (insert ironic ‘tsk’ here) NEASC. (source: North Adams Transcript, 9/13/2003) Yep, the self-same group that whacked Rappa’s Attleboro High school.
NEASC commended Drury for its educational program. (source: North Adams Transcript, 9/13/2003) But Romney/Rappa will not relent.
Mayor Barrett, here’s a suggestion. If you don’t like Rappa’s report on your schools, just put it in a desk drawer for a few years. It worked for Rappa. And you’ll be able to focus on what’s truly important.
Like your next bout with Team Reform.
“In this corner ….”
Monday, September 22, 2003
Romney Say, Romney Do
Last week, Willard Mitt said he would support the California Recall Election “candidacy of one of the Republicans. I will at some point decide who I think stands the best chance of being elected governor, and who'd be the best governor of the state, and expect to support them any way I can.”
Looks like the Fraud Governor is either waiting for a poll, or doing what he does best: say one thing, and do something else.
Like not run for Governor: “If (Jane Swift) wants a second term, then she should be a flag bearer.” (source: Boston Herald, 8/22/2001)
Or not pick a lieutenant governor: “My plan is to have members of the Republican Party pick my running mate.” (source: Boston Globe, 3/21/2002)
Or not tap new revenue: “The easy way to fix any problem is to go to the people and say you have to pay more money, but that’s not what the job of management is.” (source: Boston Herald, 3/22/2002)
Or not cut vital programs: “Romney insisted he would be able to deal with the deficit by eliminating patronage and waste, using reserves and tobacco settlement money and securing more federal funds.” (source: Boston Herald, 12/6/2002)
So, do you believe that Romney has not picked a California candidate?
And is he backing McClintock, the staid Senator? Or Arnold, the misogynistic boor? (source: Boston Globe, 9/21/2003)
We’ve seen Team Reform. Romney’s with the horndog. (source: Boston Globe, 9/21/2003)
Bank on it.
Last week, Willard Mitt said he would support the California Recall Election “candidacy of one of the Republicans. I will at some point decide who I think stands the best chance of being elected governor, and who'd be the best governor of the state, and expect to support them any way I can.”
Looks like the Fraud Governor is either waiting for a poll, or doing what he does best: say one thing, and do something else.
Like not run for Governor: “If (Jane Swift) wants a second term, then she should be a flag bearer.” (source: Boston Herald, 8/22/2001)
Or not pick a lieutenant governor: “My plan is to have members of the Republican Party pick my running mate.” (source: Boston Globe, 3/21/2002)
Or not tap new revenue: “The easy way to fix any problem is to go to the people and say you have to pay more money, but that’s not what the job of management is.” (source: Boston Herald, 3/22/2002)
Or not cut vital programs: “Romney insisted he would be able to deal with the deficit by eliminating patronage and waste, using reserves and tobacco settlement money and securing more federal funds.” (source: Boston Herald, 12/6/2002)
So, do you believe that Romney has not picked a California candidate?
And is he backing McClintock, the staid Senator? Or Arnold, the misogynistic boor? (source: Boston Globe, 9/21/2003)
We’ve seen Team Reform. Romney’s with the horndog. (source: Boston Globe, 9/21/2003)
Bank on it.
Saturday, September 20, 2003
With MA Workers Hurting, Romney/Healey Hire NH Firm
Lightweight Lt Gov Sherry Kerry Healey did not have a good week.
On Friday, Healey went to Hudson to announce a $3 million state ‘investment’ in the Assabet Valley Bike (Rail) Trail. (source: Office of (Fraud) Gov, Healey Breaks Ground on Assabet Rail Trail, 9/19/2003)
(Note to Eric Kriss – please give us your ‘this is the worse economic crisis since the Depression’ analogy one more time?)
Healey's accompanying press release stated that the project had been awarded to Steven and Roger Contracting Corporation of Lowell, Massachusetts.
Really? Because according to public records, Steven and Roger Contracting Corporation is a New Hampshire company. Its president (Roger Ploof, Jr) lives in Pelham, as does its treasurer. Its clerk is from Salem, NH, and its principle office is at 52 Windham Road, Pelham, NH, 03076. (source: www.state.ma.us/sec)
Steven and Roger have hired Beverly Martel of Lowell to give them a Massachusetts mattress address, but this is a New Hampshire company, just as sure as Romney is a Fraud Governor.
This when the state’s unemployment rate hit 5.8 percent, a nine-year high. (source: Boston Herald, 9/20/2003)
Thanks for nothing, Fraudo.
Earlier in the week, Healey announced the hiring of the first commissioner of the Department of (MDC Job) Conservation and Recreation, which was created to replace ‘the patronage-laden’ Metropolitan District Commission. (source: Boston Herald, 9/17/2003)
However, she refused to say whether the old MDC patronage had been sent to the curb, or simply put in the recycling bin.
For example, we could not see if former MDC acting commissioner William McKinney (R – Lost to Sprague in Primary) was at Healey’s announcement, however he was still answering his phone. So he is either Bartleby-ing, or hiding.
The MDC is dead? Long live the former MDC employees. David Balfour, you were robbed.
Lightweight Lt Gov Sherry Kerry Healey did not have a good week.
On Friday, Healey went to Hudson to announce a $3 million state ‘investment’ in the Assabet Valley Bike (Rail) Trail. (source: Office of (Fraud) Gov, Healey Breaks Ground on Assabet Rail Trail, 9/19/2003)
(Note to Eric Kriss – please give us your ‘this is the worse economic crisis since the Depression’ analogy one more time?)
Healey's accompanying press release stated that the project had been awarded to Steven and Roger Contracting Corporation of Lowell, Massachusetts.
Really? Because according to public records, Steven and Roger Contracting Corporation is a New Hampshire company. Its president (Roger Ploof, Jr) lives in Pelham, as does its treasurer. Its clerk is from Salem, NH, and its principle office is at 52 Windham Road, Pelham, NH, 03076. (source: www.state.ma.us/sec)
Steven and Roger have hired Beverly Martel of Lowell to give them a Massachusetts mattress address, but this is a New Hampshire company, just as sure as Romney is a Fraud Governor.
This when the state’s unemployment rate hit 5.8 percent, a nine-year high. (source: Boston Herald, 9/20/2003)
Thanks for nothing, Fraudo.
Earlier in the week, Healey announced the hiring of the first commissioner of the Department of (MDC Job) Conservation and Recreation, which was created to replace ‘the patronage-laden’ Metropolitan District Commission. (source: Boston Herald, 9/17/2003)
However, she refused to say whether the old MDC patronage had been sent to the curb, or simply put in the recycling bin.
For example, we could not see if former MDC acting commissioner William McKinney (R – Lost to Sprague in Primary) was at Healey’s announcement, however he was still answering his phone. So he is either Bartleby-ing, or hiding.
The MDC is dead? Long live the former MDC employees. David Balfour, you were robbed.
Friday, September 19, 2003
Lease to Own; MA (Fraud) Gov: $1,000 - Cheap!
Quick, where were you nine years, four months and one day ago? If you were like us, you were probably reading how Burnin’ Bill Vernon and his cronies over at the Republican State Committee were found guilty of selling access to then-Gov. Weld's administration. (source: Boston Globe, 5/18/1994)
Vernon and other Republican ne’er-do-wells had created the Commonwealth Business Council, a shakedown scheme that ended up costing them $50,000 in fines, and their reputations as law-abiding citizens.
Not that anyone cared. Weld chugged along, and Vernon became a lobbyist for the National Federation of Independent Business, and a Romney/Healey Inc campaign prop. (source: Boston Globe, 9/21/2002)
In fact, Vernon's model worked so well, that Team Reform appears to have trotted it out again.
Over the past two days, Willard Mitt has been hobnobbing with and promising sweet nothings to businessmen who paid the Republican Governors Association a vig of between $1,000 and $10,000. Among the corporations seeking favor were Raytheon, Verizon, Fleet Bank, Sovereign Bank, John Hancock, Mass Mutual, Parsons Brinckerhof, the Mass Biotech Council, and EMC. (source: Boston Globe, 9/19/2003)
Gee, do any of these companies have business before the Commonwealth? They wouldn't be seeking a quo to go along with their quid, would they?
On the other hand, we do recall that the Fraud Governor once promised to be the state’s top salesman. (source: Boston Herald, 5/15/2002)
Silly us, we thought Romney meant he'd be selling the state's promise, not promising to sell the State.
Quick, where were you nine years, four months and one day ago? If you were like us, you were probably reading how Burnin’ Bill Vernon and his cronies over at the Republican State Committee were found guilty of selling access to then-Gov. Weld's administration. (source: Boston Globe, 5/18/1994)
Vernon and other Republican ne’er-do-wells had created the Commonwealth Business Council, a shakedown scheme that ended up costing them $50,000 in fines, and their reputations as law-abiding citizens.
Not that anyone cared. Weld chugged along, and Vernon became a lobbyist for the National Federation of Independent Business, and a Romney/Healey Inc campaign prop. (source: Boston Globe, 9/21/2002)
In fact, Vernon's model worked so well, that Team Reform appears to have trotted it out again.
Over the past two days, Willard Mitt has been hobnobbing with and promising sweet nothings to businessmen who paid the Republican Governors Association a vig of between $1,000 and $10,000. Among the corporations seeking favor were Raytheon, Verizon, Fleet Bank, Sovereign Bank, John Hancock, Mass Mutual, Parsons Brinckerhof, the Mass Biotech Council, and EMC. (source: Boston Globe, 9/19/2003)
Gee, do any of these companies have business before the Commonwealth? They wouldn't be seeking a quo to go along with their quid, would they?
On the other hand, we do recall that the Fraud Governor once promised to be the state’s top salesman. (source: Boston Herald, 5/15/2002)
Silly us, we thought Romney meant he'd be selling the state's promise, not promising to sell the State.
Thursday, September 18, 2003
Tagg, You’re It!
Remember all that talk about how Willard Mitt wanted to lead a revitalization of the Republican Party in Massachusetts, yet that despite Dom Ianno’s frantic fund-raising, the State Committee was barely able to keep its collective heads above water? (source: Boston Globe, 8/15/2003)
Remember those whispers that too many 'consultants' were bleeding the place dry? (source: massreform.com)
Do you think that they were referring to Tagg Romney? The Fraud Governor has stashed his eldest heir, Tagg, on the payroll of the Romney/Healey Committee to the tune of more than $24,000 in seven short months. (source: OCPF)
True, this is not quite “loathsome" money, but it’s a heck of a lot more than you would expect to pay someone who purportedly had enough to pay cash for his Marsh Street manse. (source: Boston Herald, 3/5/2002) Yes, purportedly.
Not that we begrudge Tagg’s tagging Republican blue-hairs for $3+G’s a month. After all, his $11,000 property tax must be a killer, (unless, of course, Tagg is following in the footsteps of his tax-delinquent father and stiffing the taxman.) (source: Boston Herald, 6/12/2002)
Not too long ago, Willard acknowledged he could not grift his son into a state job saying it “wouldn’t look right.” (source: Boston Magazine, 1/2003)
Once again, we agree with the Fraud Governor.
It’s nice to see that Tagg is cutting such an independent swath through life.
Remember all that talk about how Willard Mitt wanted to lead a revitalization of the Republican Party in Massachusetts, yet that despite Dom Ianno’s frantic fund-raising, the State Committee was barely able to keep its collective heads above water? (source: Boston Globe, 8/15/2003)
Remember those whispers that too many 'consultants' were bleeding the place dry? (source: massreform.com)
Do you think that they were referring to Tagg Romney? The Fraud Governor has stashed his eldest heir, Tagg, on the payroll of the Romney/Healey Committee to the tune of more than $24,000 in seven short months. (source: OCPF)
True, this is not quite “loathsome" money, but it’s a heck of a lot more than you would expect to pay someone who purportedly had enough to pay cash for his Marsh Street manse. (source: Boston Herald, 3/5/2002) Yes, purportedly.
Not that we begrudge Tagg’s tagging Republican blue-hairs for $3+G’s a month. After all, his $11,000 property tax must be a killer, (unless, of course, Tagg is following in the footsteps of his tax-delinquent father and stiffing the taxman.) (source: Boston Herald, 6/12/2002)
Not too long ago, Willard acknowledged he could not grift his son into a state job saying it “wouldn’t look right.” (source: Boston Magazine, 1/2003)
Once again, we agree with the Fraud Governor.
It’s nice to see that Tagg is cutting such an independent swath through life.
Wednesday, September 17, 2003
Romney Steals Ideas, But Still Needs Vision
Is it us, or does each of Willard Mitt’s solutions include firing someone? Well, here he goes again. The Fraud Governor announced that in order to help clean up the state’s finances he wants to fire the unemployed by reducing their benefits from 30 to 26 weeks. (source: Boston Globe, 9/17/2003) This from a fribble who sponged off his father and did not work full-time until he was 28 years of age – including the years he spent ducking the Vietnam War in France. (source: Boston Globe, 8/7/1994)
Now we’re not saying that Willard is in a rut. But we do believe that Romney's directionless flailing make him appear to be ... directionless. He needs to knit his free-floating, stolen ideas into a larger, coordinated (albeit stolen) tapestry.
For example, over the past two weeks, Romney has stolen and repackaged some very creative ideas, but has failed to coordinate their delivery. He stole the legislature's initiative on Commonwealth security, and the Speaker's initiative on economic development, and yesterday proved he is a bi-partisan thief by stealing John Ashcroft’s heinous idea to encourage citizens to spy on their fellow citizens. (source: Boston Globe, 9/17/2003)
However, rather than work to coordinate an inter-related policy, Romney lets each stolen idea fall to the wayside, ignored, while he thunders off, like a besotted proselytizer, seeking new concepts to convert.
We think Romney should take a step back and knit his ill-gotten ideas together.
For example, rather than just prematurely terminating unemployment benefits, and whining about an unsecure Commonwealth, Willard should be proactive. Cut unemployment benefits, hand each out-of-work whelp a tin star and draft them into the Romney Reactionary Corps of Citizen Cspies.
They’ll be poor, pissed, and looking for payback. Give them a black shirt and a truncheon and let the fun begin!
Start governing, (Fraud) Governor, or get out of the way.
Is it us, or does each of Willard Mitt’s solutions include firing someone? Well, here he goes again. The Fraud Governor announced that in order to help clean up the state’s finances he wants to fire the unemployed by reducing their benefits from 30 to 26 weeks. (source: Boston Globe, 9/17/2003) This from a fribble who sponged off his father and did not work full-time until he was 28 years of age – including the years he spent ducking the Vietnam War in France. (source: Boston Globe, 8/7/1994)
Now we’re not saying that Willard is in a rut. But we do believe that Romney's directionless flailing make him appear to be ... directionless. He needs to knit his free-floating, stolen ideas into a larger, coordinated (albeit stolen) tapestry.
For example, over the past two weeks, Romney has stolen and repackaged some very creative ideas, but has failed to coordinate their delivery. He stole the legislature's initiative on Commonwealth security, and the Speaker's initiative on economic development, and yesterday proved he is a bi-partisan thief by stealing John Ashcroft’s heinous idea to encourage citizens to spy on their fellow citizens. (source: Boston Globe, 9/17/2003)
However, rather than work to coordinate an inter-related policy, Romney lets each stolen idea fall to the wayside, ignored, while he thunders off, like a besotted proselytizer, seeking new concepts to convert.
We think Romney should take a step back and knit his ill-gotten ideas together.
For example, rather than just prematurely terminating unemployment benefits, and whining about an unsecure Commonwealth, Willard should be proactive. Cut unemployment benefits, hand each out-of-work whelp a tin star and draft them into the Romney Reactionary Corps of Citizen Cspies.
They’ll be poor, pissed, and looking for payback. Give them a black shirt and a truncheon and let the fun begin!
Start governing, (Fraud) Governor, or get out of the way.
Tuesday, September 16, 2003
Can Romney Come Clean on Cloning?
Willard Mitt yesterday announced that he supported tax-cuts for companies creating manufacturing jobs in biotechnology. (source: Boston Globe, 9/16/2003) (Raytheon and Honeywell, please come home, all is forgiven!)
Team Reform’s PR wing (aka the State Republican Party) joined the party with Strongman Darrell “I am not a hack” Crate claiming that Romney’s policies would enable eight Massachusetts companies to add 700 jobs in the Commonwealth over the next few years. Therion Biologics president and CEO Mark Leuchtenberger was then led out to pronounce Romney’s presence at a press conference "testament to his ongoing support of the Commonwealth’s biotechnology industry." (source: The Bay State Republican, 9/15/2003)
Beauty. Eight companies bring 700 jobs to Massachusetts, but the featured quote goes to Therion, which will be creating but 25 jobs. (source: The Bay State Republican, 9/15/2003) We wonder if Leuchtenberger’s maxing out to Romney Inc last September had anything to do with his product placement. (source: OCPF)
We also wonder why, amidst all the heady talk of tax cuts and business incentives, Romney refuses to do the one thing that the biotech industry says it needs to actually stimulate job creation: allow cloning research. (source: Boston Herald, 7/12/2003)
Last year, the Fraud Candidate ducked the cloning issue, using his now loathsome $150,000-a-year spokesman as a human shield to maunder that Romney hadn’t “looked at [cloning] closely enough. It's a very complicated subject and we want to know it more thoroughly.” (source: Boston Globe, 6/14/2002)
Time’s up, Goober. You’ve had over a year to make a decision. Do you support cloning or not?
And try not to be clouded by the fact that your political consultant, Mike Murphy, led the move against cloning by producing the “Stop Human Cloning” ad campaign that ran across America last spring. (source: cloninginformation.org)
Try to do the right thing, Willard. For the biotech industry, not Murphy, Pintak, Gautier Hudome.
Willard Mitt yesterday announced that he supported tax-cuts for companies creating manufacturing jobs in biotechnology. (source: Boston Globe, 9/16/2003) (Raytheon and Honeywell, please come home, all is forgiven!)
Team Reform’s PR wing (aka the State Republican Party) joined the party with Strongman Darrell “I am not a hack” Crate claiming that Romney’s policies would enable eight Massachusetts companies to add 700 jobs in the Commonwealth over the next few years. Therion Biologics president and CEO Mark Leuchtenberger was then led out to pronounce Romney’s presence at a press conference "testament to his ongoing support of the Commonwealth’s biotechnology industry." (source: The Bay State Republican, 9/15/2003)
Beauty. Eight companies bring 700 jobs to Massachusetts, but the featured quote goes to Therion, which will be creating but 25 jobs. (source: The Bay State Republican, 9/15/2003) We wonder if Leuchtenberger’s maxing out to Romney Inc last September had anything to do with his product placement. (source: OCPF)
We also wonder why, amidst all the heady talk of tax cuts and business incentives, Romney refuses to do the one thing that the biotech industry says it needs to actually stimulate job creation: allow cloning research. (source: Boston Herald, 7/12/2003)
Last year, the Fraud Candidate ducked the cloning issue, using his now loathsome $150,000-a-year spokesman as a human shield to maunder that Romney hadn’t “looked at [cloning] closely enough. It's a very complicated subject and we want to know it more thoroughly.” (source: Boston Globe, 6/14/2002)
Time’s up, Goober. You’ve had over a year to make a decision. Do you support cloning or not?
And try not to be clouded by the fact that your political consultant, Mike Murphy, led the move against cloning by producing the “Stop Human Cloning” ad campaign that ran across America last spring. (source: cloninginformation.org)
Try to do the right thing, Willard. For the biotech industry, not Murphy, Pintak, Gautier Hudome.
Monday, September 15, 2003
On Defending a Hack
Someone said that someone said that RiaF is nothing but partisan boilerplate. (source: Boston Phoenix, 8/22/2003) We respectfully say ‘pshaw.’
First, we’re not afraid to defend Willard Mitt when he is falsely accused. For example, some Democrats recently fluttered their eyelids long enough to denounce Romney’s stashing of "GOP loyalist Mary Jo Griffin in a new post at the Registry of Motor Vehicles" and claimed Griffin was a patronage hire, despite Romney’s repeated criticisms of state government patronage. (source: Boston Herald, 9/13/2003)
The root word of ‘patronage’ is patron. Griffin didn’t need a patron to get her Registry gig. She got it because she is a Republican in a Republican administration – i.e. a hack. True, her hubby is a sycophantic WBZ-am talk host, but she is already in the system. Ergo, according to the Rules of Beacon Hill, Romney should not be criticized for flooding the system with patronage detritus. He is merely shuffling a hack to a new fiefdom.
Besides, technically, Griffin was hired by Registrar Kim Hinden. If Hinden had hired Bob Platt, or a former aide to Sen. Tisei, perhaps other questions would be raised. (Insert audience gasp here.) But she didn’t. She hired a hack. Dog bites man, film at never.
Second, if we were the only voice calling Romney a fraud, then we would wear our hair shirt proudly, and go to the beach. However, we are not alone. In fact, some very prominent Republican activists are also calling the emperor ‘nek-ed.’
Mass Reform, (‘Republicans leading the charge for government reform in Massachusetts; A New Generation of Republicans changing the state Republican Party forever’) has taken to pointing out the Fraud Governor’s shortcomings and inconsistent blatherings.
Our favorite line to date: “Governor Romney set his sights on totally eliminating 1% of the waste and inefficiency on Beacon Hill. I’ll never forget standing in the rain in April of 2002 holding a “Let’s get rid of 1% of the waste in government” sign.” (source: www.massreform.com 8/18/2003)
Now that’s what we call Partisan Boilerplate!
Someone said that someone said that RiaF is nothing but partisan boilerplate. (source: Boston Phoenix, 8/22/2003) We respectfully say ‘pshaw.’
First, we’re not afraid to defend Willard Mitt when he is falsely accused. For example, some Democrats recently fluttered their eyelids long enough to denounce Romney’s stashing of "GOP loyalist Mary Jo Griffin in a new post at the Registry of Motor Vehicles" and claimed Griffin was a patronage hire, despite Romney’s repeated criticisms of state government patronage. (source: Boston Herald, 9/13/2003)
The root word of ‘patronage’ is patron. Griffin didn’t need a patron to get her Registry gig. She got it because she is a Republican in a Republican administration – i.e. a hack. True, her hubby is a sycophantic WBZ-am talk host, but she is already in the system. Ergo, according to the Rules of Beacon Hill, Romney should not be criticized for flooding the system with patronage detritus. He is merely shuffling a hack to a new fiefdom.
Besides, technically, Griffin was hired by Registrar Kim Hinden. If Hinden had hired Bob Platt, or a former aide to Sen. Tisei, perhaps other questions would be raised. (Insert audience gasp here.) But she didn’t. She hired a hack. Dog bites man, film at never.
Second, if we were the only voice calling Romney a fraud, then we would wear our hair shirt proudly, and go to the beach. However, we are not alone. In fact, some very prominent Republican activists are also calling the emperor ‘nek-ed.’
Mass Reform, (‘Republicans leading the charge for government reform in Massachusetts; A New Generation of Republicans changing the state Republican Party forever’) has taken to pointing out the Fraud Governor’s shortcomings and inconsistent blatherings.
Our favorite line to date: “Governor Romney set his sights on totally eliminating 1% of the waste and inefficiency on Beacon Hill. I’ll never forget standing in the rain in April of 2002 holding a “Let’s get rid of 1% of the waste in government” sign.” (source: www.massreform.com 8/18/2003)
Now that’s what we call Partisan Boilerplate!
Saturday, September 13, 2003
Mitt’s Mob Man Makes Money Move
Run-Mitt Monahan, who’s alleged mob-ties forced Willard Mitt to ask for his head (source: Boston Globe, 8/29/2003) has decided to hold his ground and now says he won’t resign. He says that Romney “lieutenants acted heavy-handed and precipitously without knowledge of the facts.” (source: Boston Globe, 9/11/2003) Gee, you’d think he could have called them ‘loathsome lieutenants’, but hey, every day can’t be Christmas.
So now we have, what was called in less sensitive times, a Mexican standoff. Except neither party is Mexican. (Unless you count the time Willard’s polygamous great-grandfather took his three wives south-of-the-border in a self-imposed exile. (source: Washington Post, 7/9/1998) But we digress.
Romney claims he wants Genaro Angiulo’s business partner (that would be Monahan – source: Boston Globe, 9/11/2003) gone. Monahan says he’s not budging. He was hired to do a job and he’ll do it. Damn it.
Why does this seem so familiar?
Is this the point where Romney threatens to appoint Alan Dershowitz, George Daher and Howie Carr to the Civil Service Commission as he did when he was trying to kick Bill Bulger to the curb? (source: Boston Globe, 8/8/2003)
Or does he simply keep sending out his loathsome $150,000-a-year spokesman to take another bullet as Monahan racks up valuable months toward his three-year salary average? That way, the Fraud Governor gets to keep making fraudulent 'reform' statements, and his pal gets to grab a higher retirement kiss.
The sacred 'win-win!'
Granted, this sounds antithetical to Romney’s planned pension reform, which he announced, saying “To receive a pension at a huge multiple of the median income . . . and to do so based upon a few years of high income after many years of more normal income, makes no sense. It's wrong, and we're going to propose that that's changed in a pension reform plan.” (source: Boston Globe, 9/6/2003)
We’ll believe it when we see it. But it gives us an idea on how to treat Run-Mitt Monahan. Let him keep his job and earn whatever he can grab from now until the voters throw Team Reform out of office. But when Monahan retires, give him the $4,800 a year pension he deserves. (source: Boston Globe, 8/22/2003)
We figure those conditions would start Run-Mitt Monahan running for the hills all by himself, singing ‘take this pension and shove it, I’m not hacking here no more….'
Run-Mitt Monahan, who’s alleged mob-ties forced Willard Mitt to ask for his head (source: Boston Globe, 8/29/2003) has decided to hold his ground and now says he won’t resign. He says that Romney “lieutenants acted heavy-handed and precipitously without knowledge of the facts.” (source: Boston Globe, 9/11/2003) Gee, you’d think he could have called them ‘loathsome lieutenants’, but hey, every day can’t be Christmas.
So now we have, what was called in less sensitive times, a Mexican standoff. Except neither party is Mexican. (Unless you count the time Willard’s polygamous great-grandfather took his three wives south-of-the-border in a self-imposed exile. (source: Washington Post, 7/9/1998) But we digress.
Romney claims he wants Genaro Angiulo’s business partner (that would be Monahan – source: Boston Globe, 9/11/2003) gone. Monahan says he’s not budging. He was hired to do a job and he’ll do it. Damn it.
Why does this seem so familiar?
Is this the point where Romney threatens to appoint Alan Dershowitz, George Daher and Howie Carr to the Civil Service Commission as he did when he was trying to kick Bill Bulger to the curb? (source: Boston Globe, 8/8/2003)
Or does he simply keep sending out his loathsome $150,000-a-year spokesman to take another bullet as Monahan racks up valuable months toward his three-year salary average? That way, the Fraud Governor gets to keep making fraudulent 'reform' statements, and his pal gets to grab a higher retirement kiss.
The sacred 'win-win!'
Granted, this sounds antithetical to Romney’s planned pension reform, which he announced, saying “To receive a pension at a huge multiple of the median income . . . and to do so based upon a few years of high income after many years of more normal income, makes no sense. It's wrong, and we're going to propose that that's changed in a pension reform plan.” (source: Boston Globe, 9/6/2003)
We’ll believe it when we see it. But it gives us an idea on how to treat Run-Mitt Monahan. Let him keep his job and earn whatever he can grab from now until the voters throw Team Reform out of office. But when Monahan retires, give him the $4,800 a year pension he deserves. (source: Boston Globe, 8/22/2003)
We figure those conditions would start Run-Mitt Monahan running for the hills all by himself, singing ‘take this pension and shove it, I’m not hacking here no more….'
Friday, September 12, 2003
Flynn Blames Romney for Public Safety Cuts, May Mean Kaos
Last August, Willard Mitt and Kerry “Sherry Staples” Healey (R-Where is she?) unveiled a ‘criminal justice plan’ replete with ‘making judges more accountable’ and ‘ridding the courts of patronage’ and cracking down on sex offenders’ and providing help to victims of domestic violence.’ (source: romney2002.com, “Romney/Healey unveil criminal justice plan.’, 8/20/02)
Surprisingly, the ‘plan’ said nothing about downsizing local public safety forces. Yet this is what has happened, if you can believe Edward Flynn, Romney’s Secretary of Public Safety, who recently told a legislative panel that Romney and lawmaker imposed local aid cuts resulted in public safety layoffs. “This is an ugly, ugly, ugly, forced-choice, zero-sum game for everyone. No one's happy about that.” (source: Boston Herald, 9/11/2003)
Wow, a triple Ugly!
Get a gripe, Mr. Secretary. Last spring, your Fraud Boss announced the largest antiterrorism deployment since 2001 to protect the state's bridges, power plants, arenas, and public gathering places. (source: Boston Globe, 3/19/2003)
And he tipped his hand about the future of public safety.
"Citizens of the Commonwealth should not see a dramatic change,” Romney said, describing the deployment. “In most cases, security will be invisible. Plainclothes personnel and other resources are being deployed, but you will not notice a particular change in the way our Operation Liberty Shield is being carried out." (source: Boston Globe, 3/19/2003)
There you have it: ‘security will be invisible.’
Which is why we at RiaF suggest that next time Secretary Flynn wants to complain about local public safety staffing levels, he first break out the Cone-of-Silence, or use his shoe-phone to call Chief and check if, in fact, local public safety officials have been laid off, or if they have merely been rendered invisible, as part of an larger Romney plan.
Stay in CONTROL, Secretary. Otherwise, you’re only helping KAOS!
Last August, Willard Mitt and Kerry “Sherry Staples” Healey (R-Where is she?) unveiled a ‘criminal justice plan’ replete with ‘making judges more accountable’ and ‘ridding the courts of patronage’ and cracking down on sex offenders’ and providing help to victims of domestic violence.’ (source: romney2002.com, “Romney/Healey unveil criminal justice plan.’, 8/20/02)
Surprisingly, the ‘plan’ said nothing about downsizing local public safety forces. Yet this is what has happened, if you can believe Edward Flynn, Romney’s Secretary of Public Safety, who recently told a legislative panel that Romney and lawmaker imposed local aid cuts resulted in public safety layoffs. “This is an ugly, ugly, ugly, forced-choice, zero-sum game for everyone. No one's happy about that.” (source: Boston Herald, 9/11/2003)
Wow, a triple Ugly!
Get a gripe, Mr. Secretary. Last spring, your Fraud Boss announced the largest antiterrorism deployment since 2001 to protect the state's bridges, power plants, arenas, and public gathering places. (source: Boston Globe, 3/19/2003)
And he tipped his hand about the future of public safety.
"Citizens of the Commonwealth should not see a dramatic change,” Romney said, describing the deployment. “In most cases, security will be invisible. Plainclothes personnel and other resources are being deployed, but you will not notice a particular change in the way our Operation Liberty Shield is being carried out." (source: Boston Globe, 3/19/2003)
There you have it: ‘security will be invisible.’
Which is why we at RiaF suggest that next time Secretary Flynn wants to complain about local public safety staffing levels, he first break out the Cone-of-Silence, or use his shoe-phone to call Chief and check if, in fact, local public safety officials have been laid off, or if they have merely been rendered invisible, as part of an larger Romney plan.
Stay in CONTROL, Secretary. Otherwise, you’re only helping KAOS!
Sunday, September 07, 2003
Romney’s Alarming Use Of 9/11
One of Mitt Romney’s more unbecoming fictions is that he was in Washington D.C. on September 11, 2001 presciently seeking Winter Games anti-terrorism funding. (source: Deseret News, 9/11/2001) In fact, Romney was seeking to “reimburse Utah law enforcement agencies for expenses incurred paying overtime to officers covering the shifts of colleagues loaned to the Utah Olympic Public Safety Command for the 2002 Winter Games.” (source: Salt Lake Tribune, 9/2/2001)
Romney was so sketchy about his mission he told a reporter “I have to get the message out that these are legitimate needs. I don’t want anyone to view this as porcine.” (source: Salt Lake Tribune, 9/2/2001)
Had the feds not paid the overtime, the monies would have come out of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee’s (SLOC) contingency fund. (source: Salt Lake Tribune, 9/2/2001) And according to the Los Angeles Times, most of SLOC’s eventual “surplus, $47 million, came from a contingency fund that largely went untouched during the Games.” (source: LA Times, 4/24/2002)
As such, Romney’s trip was less to protect the Winter Games than to protect his reputation as a fiscal manager.
Two years later, Romney is still using 9/11 for personal gain.
On Saturday, the Romney Administration released a ‘Report Card’ on the state’s security preparedness that showed the Commonwealth has made great strides since 2001. (source: Boston Globe, 9/7/2003) However, Romney refused to cite any research defending his ‘findings’.
Romney released the ‘Report’ just days before a legislative panel began a widely anticipated assessment of statewide preparedness.
It appears that Team Reform is simply trying to stake a claim.
More discomforting, however, is the way the administration released its ‘Report’ – on a quiet Saturday, to selected media outlets though a password-coded conference call. (They weren’t simply looking for a big-splash Sunday story, were they?) The few faxes that were sent were blind faxed (no attribution) by aides to Romney’s loathsome $150,000-a-year spokesman. (Ahem.) Sources said.
Why the secrecy? Maybe because Romney’s preparedness claims, if fully vetted, could easily be blown up by pesky legislators with subpoena power. For example, how have Romney’s local aid cuts changed the preparedness of municipalities that are contiguous to natural gas facilities? Don’t ask Romney, he’d rather focus on how Logan Airport is a national model for airport safety.
As they said in LA Confidential, "you heard it here first, off the record, on the QT, and very hush-hush…."
It’s all almost impenetrable. Almost.
One of Mitt Romney’s more unbecoming fictions is that he was in Washington D.C. on September 11, 2001 presciently seeking Winter Games anti-terrorism funding. (source: Deseret News, 9/11/2001) In fact, Romney was seeking to “reimburse Utah law enforcement agencies for expenses incurred paying overtime to officers covering the shifts of colleagues loaned to the Utah Olympic Public Safety Command for the 2002 Winter Games.” (source: Salt Lake Tribune, 9/2/2001)
Romney was so sketchy about his mission he told a reporter “I have to get the message out that these are legitimate needs. I don’t want anyone to view this as porcine.” (source: Salt Lake Tribune, 9/2/2001)
Had the feds not paid the overtime, the monies would have come out of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee’s (SLOC) contingency fund. (source: Salt Lake Tribune, 9/2/2001) And according to the Los Angeles Times, most of SLOC’s eventual “surplus, $47 million, came from a contingency fund that largely went untouched during the Games.” (source: LA Times, 4/24/2002)
As such, Romney’s trip was less to protect the Winter Games than to protect his reputation as a fiscal manager.
Two years later, Romney is still using 9/11 for personal gain.
On Saturday, the Romney Administration released a ‘Report Card’ on the state’s security preparedness that showed the Commonwealth has made great strides since 2001. (source: Boston Globe, 9/7/2003) However, Romney refused to cite any research defending his ‘findings’.
Romney released the ‘Report’ just days before a legislative panel began a widely anticipated assessment of statewide preparedness.
It appears that Team Reform is simply trying to stake a claim.
More discomforting, however, is the way the administration released its ‘Report’ – on a quiet Saturday, to selected media outlets though a password-coded conference call. (They weren’t simply looking for a big-splash Sunday story, were they?) The few faxes that were sent were blind faxed (no attribution) by aides to Romney’s loathsome $150,000-a-year spokesman. (Ahem.) Sources said.
Why the secrecy? Maybe because Romney’s preparedness claims, if fully vetted, could easily be blown up by pesky legislators with subpoena power. For example, how have Romney’s local aid cuts changed the preparedness of municipalities that are contiguous to natural gas facilities? Don’t ask Romney, he’d rather focus on how Logan Airport is a national model for airport safety.
As they said in LA Confidential, "you heard it here first, off the record, on the QT, and very hush-hush…."
It’s all almost impenetrable. Almost.
Saturday, September 06, 2003
37 (Minus) Unknown = Another Romney Fraud
Remember 'Is it live or is it Memorex'? Well, with Team Reform it's 'is it real or is it Romneyspeak?' Because each time Willard Mitt opens his mouth, his nose seems to grow just a wee bit longer.
Earlier this week, RiaF cast a baleful eye at the Fraud Governor's plan to eliminate the state Office of Affirmative action, and noted that when he was Winter Games Chef, Romney had a dubious record of minority hires. (source: Riaf, 9/4/2003)
Well, the Boston Herald's Howard Manly used a similar platform to reach for (and snag!) this week's brass ring. Manly found that 37.8 percent of the 1,804 people that Romney has hired since the first week in January are designated by Team Reform as minority hires. (source: Boston Herald, 8/29/2003)
Which made us say, Hey! During this, the worst fiscal crisis since the Great Depression, (that was for you, Eric 'the good Eric' Kriss), Romney has added 1,804 people to the state payroll?! Holy Moroni! Good thing he's a fiscal conservative! Unfortunately, it's made us use those damn exclamation marks again!
But Manly showed why he's a *Columnist.* He asked for a list of Romney's designated minority groups. And it turns out that Willard defines 'minority' as anyone who designated their race as 'unknown.' And almost 160 employees claimed to (cough) not know their (cough) racial makeup. (source: Boston Herald, 8/29/2003)
Which means that the reported percentage (37.8) of minority employees hired by Willard Mitt is wrong. It's over-blown. Exaggerated. Contrived. Made up. A charade. Long on smoke, sort on substance.
In short ... Romneyesque.
Remember 'Is it live or is it Memorex'? Well, with Team Reform it's 'is it real or is it Romneyspeak?' Because each time Willard Mitt opens his mouth, his nose seems to grow just a wee bit longer.
Earlier this week, RiaF cast a baleful eye at the Fraud Governor's plan to eliminate the state Office of Affirmative action, and noted that when he was Winter Games Chef, Romney had a dubious record of minority hires. (source: Riaf, 9/4/2003)
Well, the Boston Herald's Howard Manly used a similar platform to reach for (and snag!) this week's brass ring. Manly found that 37.8 percent of the 1,804 people that Romney has hired since the first week in January are designated by Team Reform as minority hires. (source: Boston Herald, 8/29/2003)
Which made us say, Hey! During this, the worst fiscal crisis since the Great Depression, (that was for you, Eric 'the good Eric' Kriss), Romney has added 1,804 people to the state payroll?! Holy Moroni! Good thing he's a fiscal conservative! Unfortunately, it's made us use those damn exclamation marks again!
But Manly showed why he's a *Columnist.* He asked for a list of Romney's designated minority groups. And it turns out that Willard defines 'minority' as anyone who designated their race as 'unknown.' And almost 160 employees claimed to (cough) not know their (cough) racial makeup. (source: Boston Herald, 8/29/2003)
Which means that the reported percentage (37.8) of minority employees hired by Willard Mitt is wrong. It's over-blown. Exaggerated. Contrived. Made up. A charade. Long on smoke, sort on substance.
In short ... Romneyesque.
Friday, September 05, 2003
Romney Squeaks Out Support For Prostrate Cancer Prevention
Earlier this week the Fraud Governor hit new heights of, er … fraudulence, when he urged men to be tested for prostrate cancer, just months after vetoing $1 million dollars for Prostrate Cancer Prevention.
(PROSTATE CANCER PREVENTION
4513-1112 Veto $1,000,000
I am vetoing this item because it is not consistent with my House 1 recommendation.)
“This is a disease which kills hundreds of men every year and it doesn’t have to,” Willard Mitt preened at a “photo-opportunity” in his office where he shamelessly used advocates as props to mark prostrate cancer awareness month. (source: State House News, 9/2/2003)
To their credit, none of the advocates asked Romney why he had previously vetoed the prevention funds.
Romney seems intent practicing a “do as I say, not as I do” style of ‘leadership.’ It's almost as though he is trying to carve out a new wing of the Republican Party.
Call it the Bull Mouse Party. Their motto: “speak loudly and carry a small stick.”
Somewhere TR is not laughing.
Earlier this week the Fraud Governor hit new heights of, er … fraudulence, when he urged men to be tested for prostrate cancer, just months after vetoing $1 million dollars for Prostrate Cancer Prevention.
(PROSTATE CANCER PREVENTION
4513-1112 Veto $1,000,000
I am vetoing this item because it is not consistent with my House 1 recommendation.)
“This is a disease which kills hundreds of men every year and it doesn’t have to,” Willard Mitt preened at a “photo-opportunity” in his office where he shamelessly used advocates as props to mark prostrate cancer awareness month. (source: State House News, 9/2/2003)
To their credit, none of the advocates asked Romney why he had previously vetoed the prevention funds.
Romney seems intent practicing a “do as I say, not as I do” style of ‘leadership.’ It's almost as though he is trying to carve out a new wing of the Republican Party.
Call it the Bull Mouse Party. Their motto: “speak loudly and carry a small stick.”
Somewhere TR is not laughing.
Thursday, September 04, 2003
Black, White and Déjà Vu
Fighting back against critics who claimed he had accomplished nothing since taking office, Willard Mitt recently eliminated the state Office of Affirmative Action. (source: Boston Globe, 8/28/2003)
Then, fighting back against critics who claimed Willard had accomplished nothing positive since taking office, an aide to Romney’s loathsome $150,000-a-year spokesman said the elimination of the Office of Affirmative Action would be a plus for minorities across the Commonwealth. “We think we have a better system that will encourage more minorities to apply for jobs in state government, and make state government an entity that will be more diverse and will better reflect the Commonwealth." (source: Boston Globe, 8/28/2003)
We think we’ve heard this one before.
Back when Willard was the Winter Games chef, SLOC – the Salt Lake Organizing Committee – claimed it would be a model hirer (hirer?) of minority employees. Romney was named SLOC’s chef in 1999. SLOC’s stated employment goal was to make its workforce as diverse as the workforce of the state of Utah. (source: Associated Press, 7/6/2001)
So it was with some degree of pride that Chef Romney took to the podium to announce that, as of July 2001, SLOC had hired 1,040 persons, of which 93 were either Hispanic, Asian-American, black or native American. This meant that 8.9 percent of SLOC’s workforce was composed of minority employees! (source: Associated Press, 7/6/2001)
Unfortunately, 14 percent of the Utah workforce was composed of minority employees. (source: Associated Press, 7/6/2001)
Don’t you hate it when critics compare performance to performance-goals?
In Romney’s defense, he did not eliminate the Utah Office of Affirmative Action.
Fighting back against critics who claimed he had accomplished nothing since taking office, Willard Mitt recently eliminated the state Office of Affirmative Action. (source: Boston Globe, 8/28/2003)
Then, fighting back against critics who claimed Willard had accomplished nothing positive since taking office, an aide to Romney’s loathsome $150,000-a-year spokesman said the elimination of the Office of Affirmative Action would be a plus for minorities across the Commonwealth. “We think we have a better system that will encourage more minorities to apply for jobs in state government, and make state government an entity that will be more diverse and will better reflect the Commonwealth." (source: Boston Globe, 8/28/2003)
We think we’ve heard this one before.
Back when Willard was the Winter Games chef, SLOC – the Salt Lake Organizing Committee – claimed it would be a model hirer (hirer?) of minority employees. Romney was named SLOC’s chef in 1999. SLOC’s stated employment goal was to make its workforce as diverse as the workforce of the state of Utah. (source: Associated Press, 7/6/2001)
So it was with some degree of pride that Chef Romney took to the podium to announce that, as of July 2001, SLOC had hired 1,040 persons, of which 93 were either Hispanic, Asian-American, black or native American. This meant that 8.9 percent of SLOC’s workforce was composed of minority employees! (source: Associated Press, 7/6/2001)
Unfortunately, 14 percent of the Utah workforce was composed of minority employees. (source: Associated Press, 7/6/2001)
Don’t you hate it when critics compare performance to performance-goals?
In Romney’s defense, he did not eliminate the Utah Office of Affirmative Action.
Wednesday, September 03, 2003
Romney Tough-Guy Sheen Loses Shine
Remember when Willard Mitt was so tough on crime that he said he supported the death penalty? He said that anyone who disagreed with his position was ‘out of step’ with the voters. (source: Boston Globe, 10/29/2002)
Well, the Commonwealth’s Fraud Tough Guy now claims that if the legislature does not pony up $11 million in additional spending, the Department of Youth Services will eliminate 85 beds, and ‘early release’ juvie offenders into the general population. (source: Boston Globe, 9/3/2003) Romney sounds less like Buford Pusser and more like Sheriff Bart in Blazing Saddles. “Nobody moves or the public gets it!”
So much for being tough on crime.
Romney's 'spend more or pay' policy is coming just weeks after he told the Legislature that they were spending too much money. No wonder the Mass. Taxpayers Foundation is calling Romney 'confused', saying the Fraud Governor is sending "a mixed message (by) urging additional spending (while) arguing that the budget is out of balance." (source: Boston Globe, 9/3/2003)
So much for being tough on spending.
Remember when Willard Mitt was so tough on Bill Bulger having a mobbed-up brother that he told Bulger to resign his position in state government? He said that Bulger’s “leadership has not been the nature of leadership I would expect from a university president." (source: Boston Herald, 6/7/2003)
Well it appears that Romney's appointment to head the Civil Service Commision, Bill "Run-Mitt-Run" Monahan, is an (allegedly) mobbed up businessman. (source: Boston Globe, 8/29/2003) Wonder who conducted the background check on Run-Mitt Monahan?
So much for being tough on the mob.
Not exactly the nature of leadership we expect from the Governor's office.
Remember when Willard Mitt was so tough on crime that he said he supported the death penalty? He said that anyone who disagreed with his position was ‘out of step’ with the voters. (source: Boston Globe, 10/29/2002)
Well, the Commonwealth’s Fraud Tough Guy now claims that if the legislature does not pony up $11 million in additional spending, the Department of Youth Services will eliminate 85 beds, and ‘early release’ juvie offenders into the general population. (source: Boston Globe, 9/3/2003) Romney sounds less like Buford Pusser and more like Sheriff Bart in Blazing Saddles. “Nobody moves or the public gets it!”
So much for being tough on crime.
Romney's 'spend more or pay' policy is coming just weeks after he told the Legislature that they were spending too much money. No wonder the Mass. Taxpayers Foundation is calling Romney 'confused', saying the Fraud Governor is sending "a mixed message (by) urging additional spending (while) arguing that the budget is out of balance." (source: Boston Globe, 9/3/2003)
So much for being tough on spending.
Remember when Willard Mitt was so tough on Bill Bulger having a mobbed-up brother that he told Bulger to resign his position in state government? He said that Bulger’s “leadership has not been the nature of leadership I would expect from a university president." (source: Boston Herald, 6/7/2003)
Well it appears that Romney's appointment to head the Civil Service Commision, Bill "Run-Mitt-Run" Monahan, is an (allegedly) mobbed up businessman. (source: Boston Globe, 8/29/2003) Wonder who conducted the background check on Run-Mitt Monahan?
So much for being tough on the mob.
Not exactly the nature of leadership we expect from the Governor's office.
