Thursday, September 30, 2004
Neilsen Rating
There's bad news, and then there's Friday news.
Bad news is released anytime so you can later dismiss it with an airy, 'we've addressed that' and try to move on.
Friday news, however, is let loose in the hopes of hitting a Saturday newspaper (which no one reads but blind dogs and drunk cats), and becoming 'yesterday's news' by Sunday.
Bad news is when your Legal Counsel, whom you praised for leaving a job with life tenure to join your administration, prematurely quits your administration to ... seek a job with life tenure.
Friday news is when your replacement Legal Counsel is a failed Congressional candidate ... from out of state.
Which explains why Willard Mitt released the appointment of his new legal counsel, Mark Nielsen, on a Friday. But doesn't explain why Romney's flack who was formerly known as the stout, Reese Witherspoon-wannabe dye-job aide to Romney’s $150,000-a-year Loathsome Spokesman misspelled Nielsen's name in the press release. (Note the release's file name: "govPR.jsp?gov_pr=gov_pr_040924_mark_nielson.xml")
Nielsen ran for Congress on the anti-Clinton platform of character and trust. source: Boston Globe, 10/8/1998)
And lost. (source: Worcester T&G, 11/8/2000)
Looks like the voters didn't trust his character.
Should Willard Mitt?
Nielsen's first day as Romney's $130,000-a-year deputy legal counsel was September 13.
According to the Rat Line Nielsen appeared to not have been a member of the Massachusetts Bar as late as September 22.
Perhaps the paperwork was wending its way through the system. Or the computer files weren't updated.
Perhaps.
So when did Nielsen apply to the Massachusetts Bar?
Was the Fraud Governor's newest Consigliere certified to practice law in Massachusetts when he started to practice law in the State House?
Is Nielsen certified to practice law in Massachusetts now?
Who are Mark Neilsen's friends, and what does he owe them?
And why is Romney out-sourcing his legal counsel from Connecticut? Couldn't Team Reform scrape up any home-grown, locally owned and operated Republican talent?
Dan Winslow bailed on Team Reform after two short years. Will Mark Nielsen last longer than Winslow?
Will Willard Mitt last longer than Mark Nielson?
Operators are standing by.
There's bad news, and then there's Friday news.
Bad news is released anytime so you can later dismiss it with an airy, 'we've addressed that' and try to move on.
Friday news, however, is let loose in the hopes of hitting a Saturday newspaper (which no one reads but blind dogs and drunk cats), and becoming 'yesterday's news' by Sunday.
Bad news is when your Legal Counsel, whom you praised for leaving a job with life tenure to join your administration, prematurely quits your administration to ... seek a job with life tenure.
Friday news is when your replacement Legal Counsel is a failed Congressional candidate ... from out of state.
Which explains why Willard Mitt released the appointment of his new legal counsel, Mark Nielsen, on a Friday. But doesn't explain why Romney's flack who was formerly known as the stout, Reese Witherspoon-wannabe dye-job aide to Romney’s $150,000-a-year Loathsome Spokesman misspelled Nielsen's name in the press release. (Note the release's file name: "govPR.jsp?gov_pr=gov_pr_040924_mark_nielson.xml")
Nielsen ran for Congress on the anti-Clinton platform of character and trust. source: Boston Globe, 10/8/1998)
And lost. (source: Worcester T&G, 11/8/2000)
Looks like the voters didn't trust his character.
Should Willard Mitt?
Nielsen's first day as Romney's $130,000-a-year deputy legal counsel was September 13.
According to the Rat Line Nielsen appeared to not have been a member of the Massachusetts Bar as late as September 22.
Perhaps the paperwork was wending its way through the system. Or the computer files weren't updated.
Perhaps.
So when did Nielsen apply to the Massachusetts Bar?
Was the Fraud Governor's newest Consigliere certified to practice law in Massachusetts when he started to practice law in the State House?
Is Nielsen certified to practice law in Massachusetts now?
Who are Mark Neilsen's friends, and what does he owe them?
And why is Romney out-sourcing his legal counsel from Connecticut? Couldn't Team Reform scrape up any home-grown, locally owned and operated Republican talent?
Dan Winslow bailed on Team Reform after two short years. Will Mark Nielsen last longer than Winslow?
Will Willard Mitt last longer than Mark Nielson?
Operators are standing by.
Tuesday, September 28, 2004
Winslow Home
Where's Boz Skaggs when you need him?
We have a question: how did you like the Daniel Winslow era?
(It's over, it's over now)
Remember when the Fraud Governor announced that he was naming Winslow, who was then a district court judge, his legal counsel? Romney said "it's rare that a sitting judge steps away from a lifetime tenured job to do something in another sphere of public service." (source: Boston Globe, 12/4/2002)
(Yes you heard me clearly now, I said It's over, it's over now)
So much for rarity. Daniel Winslow has had enough.
Winslow has been replaced by the immortal Mark Nielsen, a failed Republican congressional candidate from ... Connecticut.
Wow. Have we really chummed through all of the eligible failed Republican candidates in Massachusetts? Do we really have to start importing other states losers?
Enough about Nielsen. We'll make fun of him later.
Today it's all about you, Dan Winslow.
(cue maudlin music)
Dan Winslow. Your bona fides as a Romney Reformer were impeccible. First, counsel to Willard Mitt's 1994 US Senate Campaign Committee, then counsel to the Republican State Committee, you were a hack's hack. A coat-holder to the stars who became ... a star. Then became the stuff of legend - you gave up your lifetime tenured job in the name of ...public service. (source: Boston Globe, 12/4/2002)
Which you could stomach for only two years.
And which you are leaving so that you can again grab ... a lifetime tenured job.
Because if the wise guys can be believed, Dan Winslow wants to be a judge. (source: Rat Line) Again.
So much for that paeon to Winslow's display of rarity.
There's just one problem. Since Winslow left the bench in 2002, the judicial nominating process has been 'reformed.' Much to Winslow's impending chagrin, Willard Mitt has implemented a 'radical shift' in the way judges are named - replacing (as one described it) "the existing patronage-heavy system with a 'merit-based' selection process." (source: Boston Herald, 12/20/2002)
(Dan, stop screaming. You're bothering the pets.)
In short, the Fraud Governor no longer has the ability to grease a judicial appointment.
Or so he says.
We say, let Winslow be the test case. If Romney's former legal counsel wants to get a judgeship, he can go to the back of the line, joining the other faceless, nameless candidates who have already submitted their names and are patiently waiting for a call from the Judicial Nominating Committee.
But if Winslow suddenly pops to the head of the line, it will be apparent that the process is less nameless or faceless than it has otherwise been described.
Strangley, when Romney's 'reform' was being designed, one local Republican said the then current judicial nominating system raised a "question of public confidence" and that Willard Mitt had to "address the sense of concern that the judiciary is dispirited," to create a process "that is above politics and above back-room deals." (source: Boston Herald, 12/20/2002; Boston Globe, 2/10/2003))
Dan Winslow: this reform's for you.
(It's over, it's over now)
Feeding Frenzy
This may be better suited for what used to be Silly Globe, but last week when a Great White shark was sighted off Woods Hole, media reports first listed the eating machine at 15-feet, 1,700 pounds, then 15-feet, 2,000 pounds, and finally, on Sunday, an incomprehensible 14-feet, 7,000 pounds. (source: Boston Globe, 9/24/2004, 9/26/2004; Cape Cod Times, 9/25/2004)
What the heck are Willard Mitt's Environmental Police feeding that thing! And in exchange for the free food and escort service, is Romney forcing the shark to go to school or hold down a job?
Where's Boz Skaggs when you need him?
We have a question: how did you like the Daniel Winslow era?
(It's over, it's over now)
Remember when the Fraud Governor announced that he was naming Winslow, who was then a district court judge, his legal counsel? Romney said "it's rare that a sitting judge steps away from a lifetime tenured job to do something in another sphere of public service." (source: Boston Globe, 12/4/2002)
(Yes you heard me clearly now, I said It's over, it's over now)
So much for rarity. Daniel Winslow has had enough.
Winslow has been replaced by the immortal Mark Nielsen, a failed Republican congressional candidate from ... Connecticut.
Wow. Have we really chummed through all of the eligible failed Republican candidates in Massachusetts? Do we really have to start importing other states losers?
Enough about Nielsen. We'll make fun of him later.
Today it's all about you, Dan Winslow.
(cue maudlin music)
Dan Winslow. Your bona fides as a Romney Reformer were impeccible. First, counsel to Willard Mitt's 1994 US Senate Campaign Committee, then counsel to the Republican State Committee, you were a hack's hack. A coat-holder to the stars who became ... a star. Then became the stuff of legend - you gave up your lifetime tenured job in the name of ...public service. (source: Boston Globe, 12/4/2002)
Which you could stomach for only two years.
And which you are leaving so that you can again grab ... a lifetime tenured job.
Because if the wise guys can be believed, Dan Winslow wants to be a judge. (source: Rat Line) Again.
So much for that paeon to Winslow's display of rarity.
There's just one problem. Since Winslow left the bench in 2002, the judicial nominating process has been 'reformed.' Much to Winslow's impending chagrin, Willard Mitt has implemented a 'radical shift' in the way judges are named - replacing (as one described it) "the existing patronage-heavy system with a 'merit-based' selection process." (source: Boston Herald, 12/20/2002)
(Dan, stop screaming. You're bothering the pets.)
In short, the Fraud Governor no longer has the ability to grease a judicial appointment.
Or so he says.
We say, let Winslow be the test case. If Romney's former legal counsel wants to get a judgeship, he can go to the back of the line, joining the other faceless, nameless candidates who have already submitted their names and are patiently waiting for a call from the Judicial Nominating Committee.
But if Winslow suddenly pops to the head of the line, it will be apparent that the process is less nameless or faceless than it has otherwise been described.
Strangley, when Romney's 'reform' was being designed, one local Republican said the then current judicial nominating system raised a "question of public confidence" and that Willard Mitt had to "address the sense of concern that the judiciary is dispirited," to create a process "that is above politics and above back-room deals." (source: Boston Herald, 12/20/2002; Boston Globe, 2/10/2003))
Dan Winslow: this reform's for you.
(It's over, it's over now)
Feeding Frenzy
This may be better suited for what used to be Silly Globe, but last week when a Great White shark was sighted off Woods Hole, media reports first listed the eating machine at 15-feet, 1,700 pounds, then 15-feet, 2,000 pounds, and finally, on Sunday, an incomprehensible 14-feet, 7,000 pounds. (source: Boston Globe, 9/24/2004, 9/26/2004; Cape Cod Times, 9/25/2004)
What the heck are Willard Mitt's Environmental Police feeding that thing! And in exchange for the free food and escort service, is Romney forcing the shark to go to school or hold down a job?
Thursday, September 23, 2004
The Portrait of Dorian Ned
Willard Mitt has a dream. He believes that the rebirth of the state GOP will vault him to the vanguard of the national GOP, despite the fact that "Governor Gay" ushered single-sex marriage into Massachusetts, a stance that is anathema to the Hanoverians who control right-wing Washington. (see RiaF, 5/17/2004)
So how does Romney plan on reinvigorating the GOP? By having Alex Dunn, his jack-booted political gauleiter, recruit fresh faces, like Ned Kirby, of Whitman, to run for the lower chamber, where Republicans are currently outnumbered 137-23. (source: Boston Phoenix, 3/4/2004)
Screeeech.
Wait a minute. Romney is looking to reivigorate the GOP by running "reformers" like Ned Kirby?
Before waking up and discovering that he was a reformer in need of an office, Kirby was yesterday's news. He was first elected to the Massachusetts House in 1960 (source: Patriot Ledger, 1/25/1997), and creaked along in the Massachusetts legislature until the voters threw him out on his ear in 1991.
Perhaps Kirby's most notorious moment came in his last year in office when he was overheard telling the sister of an AIDS-infected hemopheliac that she (the sister) had brought the disease upon herself. (source: Rat Line.) The incident was related to then-Patriot Ledger reporter Jeremy Crockford, whose piece on the matter was later picked up by other area papers. (source: Boston Globe, 5/29/1991)
Kirby's defense? "There's no question I said it - `They brought it on themselves." (source: Boston Herald, 12/16/2003)
Cool. So Ned Kirby is a gay-basher. Tell us something new. It's 2004. Everyone's a gay-basher. Even gays.
This can't be the only reason that he was hand-picked to run as a Romney Reformer.
In fact it's not. You see, Ned Kirby is also apparently ethically challenged. Seems he was at least once ordered to reimburse the state for $7,500 for improperly using campaign funds and per-diem payments. (source: Patriot Ledger, 10/6/2000)
And he's one of the few old-time Republican tax and spenders. Back in 1990 (when $1.6 billion dollars was still seen as a lot of money, Kirby voted in favor of a controversial $1.6 billion tax package that not only raised revenues for the Commonwealth, but also shifted a portion of the sales tax from goods to services. (source: Boston Globe, 5/20/1990)
But now Kirby is claiming to be against new taxes? Sure sure. Tell it to someone without a memory.
Oh yeah, and (we almost forget), after Kirby was thrown out of the Senate, then-Gov. Weld appointed him to as a $70,000-a-year "judge" in the Department of Industrial Accidents. (source: Boston Globe, 12/16/1993) This was during a time when the Department's workload dropped 42 percent yet its budget jumped 43 percent, it's payroll "replete with a bevy of GOP pols and a battalion of well-paid consultants." (source: Boston Globe, 10/20/1996)
Kirby's salary hike was actually a fairly naked pension grab that increased his three-year salary average (upon which his state pension is calculated) by a cool $30 or so thousand dollars.)
Ah-HA. So that's why Ned Kirby is running as a Romney Reformer. He's a long-time legislator who was appointed to a hack position and has a history of ethical lapses. In short, he's a fraud.
Which makes him perfect for Team Reform.
Alex Dunn, you done good.
Next?
Willard Mitt has a dream. He believes that the rebirth of the state GOP will vault him to the vanguard of the national GOP, despite the fact that "Governor Gay" ushered single-sex marriage into Massachusetts, a stance that is anathema to the Hanoverians who control right-wing Washington. (see RiaF, 5/17/2004)
So how does Romney plan on reinvigorating the GOP? By having Alex Dunn, his jack-booted political gauleiter, recruit fresh faces, like Ned Kirby, of Whitman, to run for the lower chamber, where Republicans are currently outnumbered 137-23. (source: Boston Phoenix, 3/4/2004)
Screeeech.
Wait a minute. Romney is looking to reivigorate the GOP by running "reformers" like Ned Kirby?
Before waking up and discovering that he was a reformer in need of an office, Kirby was yesterday's news. He was first elected to the Massachusetts House in 1960 (source: Patriot Ledger, 1/25/1997), and creaked along in the Massachusetts legislature until the voters threw him out on his ear in 1991.
Perhaps Kirby's most notorious moment came in his last year in office when he was overheard telling the sister of an AIDS-infected hemopheliac that she (the sister) had brought the disease upon herself. (source: Rat Line.) The incident was related to then-Patriot Ledger reporter Jeremy Crockford, whose piece on the matter was later picked up by other area papers. (source: Boston Globe, 5/29/1991)
Kirby's defense? "There's no question I said it - `They brought it on themselves." (source: Boston Herald, 12/16/2003)
Cool. So Ned Kirby is a gay-basher. Tell us something new. It's 2004. Everyone's a gay-basher. Even gays.
This can't be the only reason that he was hand-picked to run as a Romney Reformer.
In fact it's not. You see, Ned Kirby is also apparently ethically challenged. Seems he was at least once ordered to reimburse the state for $7,500 for improperly using campaign funds and per-diem payments. (source: Patriot Ledger, 10/6/2000)
And he's one of the few old-time Republican tax and spenders. Back in 1990 (when $1.6 billion dollars was still seen as a lot of money, Kirby voted in favor of a controversial $1.6 billion tax package that not only raised revenues for the Commonwealth, but also shifted a portion of the sales tax from goods to services. (source: Boston Globe, 5/20/1990)
But now Kirby is claiming to be against new taxes? Sure sure. Tell it to someone without a memory.
Oh yeah, and (we almost forget), after Kirby was thrown out of the Senate, then-Gov. Weld appointed him to as a $70,000-a-year "judge" in the Department of Industrial Accidents. (source: Boston Globe, 12/16/1993) This was during a time when the Department's workload dropped 42 percent yet its budget jumped 43 percent, it's payroll "replete with a bevy of GOP pols and a battalion of well-paid consultants." (source: Boston Globe, 10/20/1996)
Kirby's salary hike was actually a fairly naked pension grab that increased his three-year salary average (upon which his state pension is calculated) by a cool $30 or so thousand dollars.)
Ah-HA. So that's why Ned Kirby is running as a Romney Reformer. He's a long-time legislator who was appointed to a hack position and has a history of ethical lapses. In short, he's a fraud.
Which makes him perfect for Team Reform.
Alex Dunn, you done good.
Next?
Wednesday, September 22, 2004
Capital Idea
What a difference a strongarm makes.
Back when he was a Fraud Candidate, Willard Mitt claimed to support campaign finance reform. His minions even claimed that he had "proposed an innovative financing plan that would shift the burden off taxpayers and onto candidates." (source: Worcester T&G, 10/17/2002)
Welcome to the Wonderful World of Burden Sharing.
Now that Willard Mitt has the power of taxation behind him, he's dropped his 'innovative financing plan' and seemingly moved to shift the burden off candidates, and onto corporations.
It seems that local corporations are flooding state GOP accounts with hundreds of thousands of dollars in new contributions. (source: Boston Globe, 9/21/2004)
Shortly after taking office, the Fraud Governor threatened to legalise expanded gambling in Massachusetts unless "gambling operators" in neighboring states forked over $20 million each. (source: UPI, 2/12/2003)
Romney's "plan" was immediately labelled for what it was: extortion.
So what did Romney promise the executives who lined the GOP accounts?
Or are they all 'reformers', too?
What a difference a strongarm makes.
Back when he was a Fraud Candidate, Willard Mitt claimed to support campaign finance reform. His minions even claimed that he had "proposed an innovative financing plan that would shift the burden off taxpayers and onto candidates." (source: Worcester T&G, 10/17/2002)
Welcome to the Wonderful World of Burden Sharing.
Now that Willard Mitt has the power of taxation behind him, he's dropped his 'innovative financing plan' and seemingly moved to shift the burden off candidates, and onto corporations.
It seems that local corporations are flooding state GOP accounts with hundreds of thousands of dollars in new contributions. (source: Boston Globe, 9/21/2004)
Shortly after taking office, the Fraud Governor threatened to legalise expanded gambling in Massachusetts unless "gambling operators" in neighboring states forked over $20 million each. (source: UPI, 2/12/2003)
Romney's "plan" was immediately labelled for what it was: extortion.
So what did Romney promise the executives who lined the GOP accounts?
Or are they all 'reformers', too?
Monday, September 20, 2004
Profligate Willard Mitt
Just hours after renewing his fraudulent call for lower taxes, Willard Mitt Friday broke a contract for UMASS employees, then signed a $439 million supplemental spending bill earmarking millions of dollars for non-essential projects across the Commonwealth. (source: Boston Globe, 9/18/2004)
Romney justified the spending by calling it "a surplus made possible by an improving economy, a rebound in state tax receipts and strong fiscal management." (source: office of (fraud) gov, 'Romney signs $439M supplemental budget bill', 9/17/2004)
However, Romney's latest largess comes just three months after he signed one of the most expensive spending plans in the 224-year old history of the (modern) Commonwealth. (source: office of (fraud) gov, 'Romney delivers first dividend on reform,' 6/3/2004 'Romney signs $22.402B fiscal year 2005 budget,' 6/25/2004).
His latest splurge includes over $63 million in new spending by the hack-infested Department of (MDC Job) Conservation and Recreation, whose bloated payroll is filled with MDC cast-offs and failed politicans. (source: House No. 5076; Riaf, 7/15/2003)
It is unclear whether the increased funding was Team Reform's first step in preparing a glide-path for failed Republican candidates in the 2004 General Election. However, Romney signed the (MDC Job) Conservation and Recreation build-up just hours after Alex Dunn, Team Reform's jack-booted political gauleiter, pronounced the overwhelming majority of GOP candidates 'losers,' implying that 109 newly-created positions may be required come November 3.
As such, RiaF is pleased to announced that we are standing for election to the state Senate as the Commonwealth's first at-large delegate to the upper chamber.
Yes, we are running as a write-in Republican, and on a pro-job platform: to whit, when we lose, we want William McKinney's (R – Lost to Sprague in Primary, appointed by Romney to run the MDC then appointed Deputy Commissioner for Budget & Finance in the Department of Agricultural Resources because he's so vital to the Commonwealth, not to mention the fact that he's also a delegate to the GOP national convention).
We love reform.
Just hours after renewing his fraudulent call for lower taxes, Willard Mitt Friday broke a contract for UMASS employees, then signed a $439 million supplemental spending bill earmarking millions of dollars for non-essential projects across the Commonwealth. (source: Boston Globe, 9/18/2004)
Romney justified the spending by calling it "a surplus made possible by an improving economy, a rebound in state tax receipts and strong fiscal management." (source: office of (fraud) gov, 'Romney signs $439M supplemental budget bill', 9/17/2004)
However, Romney's latest largess comes just three months after he signed one of the most expensive spending plans in the 224-year old history of the (modern) Commonwealth. (source: office of (fraud) gov, 'Romney delivers first dividend on reform,' 6/3/2004 'Romney signs $22.402B fiscal year 2005 budget,' 6/25/2004).
His latest splurge includes over $63 million in new spending by the hack-infested Department of (MDC Job) Conservation and Recreation, whose bloated payroll is filled with MDC cast-offs and failed politicans. (source: House No. 5076; Riaf, 7/15/2003)
It is unclear whether the increased funding was Team Reform's first step in preparing a glide-path for failed Republican candidates in the 2004 General Election. However, Romney signed the (MDC Job) Conservation and Recreation build-up just hours after Alex Dunn, Team Reform's jack-booted political gauleiter, pronounced the overwhelming majority of GOP candidates 'losers,' implying that 109 newly-created positions may be required come November 3.
As such, RiaF is pleased to announced that we are standing for election to the state Senate as the Commonwealth's first at-large delegate to the upper chamber.
Yes, we are running as a write-in Republican, and on a pro-job platform: to whit, when we lose, we want William McKinney's (R – Lost to Sprague in Primary, appointed by Romney to run the MDC then appointed Deputy Commissioner for Budget & Finance in the Department of Agricultural Resources because he's so vital to the Commonwealth, not to mention the fact that he's also a delegate to the GOP national convention).
We love reform.
Friday, September 17, 2004
Dunn Deal
The Revolution appears to be over.
Last April, Willard Mitt's hand-picked, jack-booted political gauleiter Alex Dunn stood with the Fraud Governor and introduced 133 Republicans who were said to be running in 130 districts in the November elections.
Dunn claimed that the candidates were recruited "in a very methodical, grassroots manner." (source: Boston Globe, April 30, 2004)
Perhaps he should have used a different methodology. Because Dunn today all but called the Class of 2004 a pack of losers, estimating that only 24 - 30 of the 'reformers' would win their races. (source: Boston Globe, 9/17/2004)
Yikes. Dunn recruited 133 Republican candidates, yet thinks only 24 - 30 will win?
That means that Dunn is admitting to methodically recruiting up to 109 losers. That's an 80 percent failure rate.
That's not even close enough for government work.
So, we're curious: who are the sainted 24? More importantly, who are the 109 stumble-bums who were used by Willard Mitt as press conference fodder?
And when will they get their next work assignment?
The Revolution appears to be over.
Last April, Willard Mitt's hand-picked, jack-booted political gauleiter Alex Dunn stood with the Fraud Governor and introduced 133 Republicans who were said to be running in 130 districts in the November elections.
Dunn claimed that the candidates were recruited "in a very methodical, grassroots manner." (source: Boston Globe, April 30, 2004)
Perhaps he should have used a different methodology. Because Dunn today all but called the Class of 2004 a pack of losers, estimating that only 24 - 30 of the 'reformers' would win their races. (source: Boston Globe, 9/17/2004)
Yikes. Dunn recruited 133 Republican candidates, yet thinks only 24 - 30 will win?
That means that Dunn is admitting to methodically recruiting up to 109 losers. That's an 80 percent failure rate.
That's not even close enough for government work.
So, we're curious: who are the sainted 24? More importantly, who are the 109 stumble-bums who were used by Willard Mitt as press conference fodder?
And when will they get their next work assignment?
Wednesday, September 15, 2004
Mission Not Accomplished
All Willard Mitt needs is a jump suit and an aircraft carrier, and he too could hold a 'feel-good about bad news' conference, this about the state of job creation in Massachusetts.
Because as the following (which was suggested by a Friend of Ben (a Freb)) shows, when it came to the business of job creation, the Fraud Governor never showed up for work.
-- -- -- -- --
Romney on Jobs - A Record of Accomplishment
When (Willard )Mitt Romney promised to be known as the “Jobs Governor” during his campaign we naturally assumed that he meant he would bring new jobs to Massachusetts. Ouch!
Accomplishment #1 - Since Mitt Romney took the oath of office one out of every 77 jobs in Massachusetts has gone away. Some moved to other states, some moved to other countries and some just evaporated. (source: US Dept. of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, January 2003-June 2004, net loss of 44,000 jobs from a base workforce of 3,453,300 January 2003)
Accomplishment #2 - Massachusetts’ record on jobs under (Willard) Mitt Romney’s 'leadership' is among the worst in the nation according to the US Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. More than 44,000 of the jobs that existed in Massachusetts when he took office 18 months ago are now gone. Massachusetts is one of only three states that have had a net loss of jobs during the past year. (source: US Dept. of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, June 2004, Chart 1; US Dept. of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, January 2003 through June 2004, Massachusetts civilian non-farm employment, Table 3; US Dept. Of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, June 2004, Chart 2)
Accomplishment #3 - Some governors lose jobs because they don’t act aggressively enough, some lose jobs for reasons beyond their control but (Willard) Mitt Romney is one of the only Governors in the nation whose administration has actually used taxpayer’s money to pay to send jobs not only out of state, but out of the country as well. Although the Romney administration has refused to disclose the information, analysts estimate that the state is spending as much as $10 million dollars to pay companies in India and Pakistan to process Medicaid claims and to provide a variety of information technology services for state government. (source: various Boston media outlets including the Boston Globe and local NBC affiliate Channel 7 (and Riaf!))
Accomplishment #4 -All the while, there are thousands of Massachusetts residents with backgrounds in information technology who could do this work. Some are collecting unemployment compensation. For others, unemployment benefits (and their health insurance) have run out.
Accomplishment #5 - When the State Legislature passed a bill to end the practice, Romney vetoed the measure claiming that workers in India and Pakistan were willing to work for less money than Americans. He said that Massachusetts taxpayers (those who hadn’t lost their jobs already because of his policies) would save money by taking advantage of cheaper overseas workers. (source: (fraud) Governor’s veto message)
All Willard Mitt needs is a jump suit and an aircraft carrier, and he too could hold a 'feel-good about bad news' conference, this about the state of job creation in Massachusetts.
Because as the following (which was suggested by a Friend of Ben (a Freb)) shows, when it came to the business of job creation, the Fraud Governor never showed up for work.
When (Willard )Mitt Romney promised to be known as the “Jobs Governor” during his campaign we naturally assumed that he meant he would bring new jobs to Massachusetts. Ouch!
Accomplishment #1 - Since Mitt Romney took the oath of office one out of every 77 jobs in Massachusetts has gone away. Some moved to other states, some moved to other countries and some just evaporated. (source: US Dept. of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, January 2003-June 2004, net loss of 44,000 jobs from a base workforce of 3,453,300 January 2003)
Accomplishment #2 - Massachusetts’ record on jobs under (Willard) Mitt Romney’s 'leadership' is among the worst in the nation according to the US Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. More than 44,000 of the jobs that existed in Massachusetts when he took office 18 months ago are now gone. Massachusetts is one of only three states that have had a net loss of jobs during the past year. (source: US Dept. of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, June 2004, Chart 1; US Dept. of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, January 2003 through June 2004, Massachusetts civilian non-farm employment, Table 3; US Dept. Of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, June 2004, Chart 2)
Accomplishment #3 - Some governors lose jobs because they don’t act aggressively enough, some lose jobs for reasons beyond their control but (Willard) Mitt Romney is one of the only Governors in the nation whose administration has actually used taxpayer’s money to pay to send jobs not only out of state, but out of the country as well. Although the Romney administration has refused to disclose the information, analysts estimate that the state is spending as much as $10 million dollars to pay companies in India and Pakistan to process Medicaid claims and to provide a variety of information technology services for state government. (source: various Boston media outlets including the Boston Globe and local NBC affiliate Channel 7 (and Riaf!))
Accomplishment #4 -All the while, there are thousands of Massachusetts residents with backgrounds in information technology who could do this work. Some are collecting unemployment compensation. For others, unemployment benefits (and their health insurance) have run out.
Accomplishment #5 - When the State Legislature passed a bill to end the practice, Romney vetoed the measure claiming that workers in India and Pakistan were willing to work for less money than Americans. He said that Massachusetts taxpayers (those who hadn’t lost their jobs already because of his policies) would save money by taking advantage of cheaper overseas workers. (source: (fraud) Governor’s veto message)
Tuesday, September 07, 2004
Indian Giver
Willard Mitt worked only 7 of 22 possible days in August. (source: Boston Globe, 8/21/2004) Who cares? If we had our way, Romney would spend every working day away from Massachusetts.
However, the Fraud Governor's absences do matter if they mean that the business of the Commonwealth is not getting done. And if the Marshfield Fair is any indication of the state of the State, things may be spiraling out of control.
According to someone who was there, the Massachusetts State Lottery had a tent at the Marshfield Field from which they sold lottery products.
According to the General Laws, the Lottery can only sell wagers through tickets. However, at the Marshfield Fair, the Lottery purportedly sold wagers through electronic pull-tab machines.
Electronic wagering machines are illegal in Massachusetts, at both mobbed up fraternal organizations and mobbed up state agencies.
State fairs, like the Marshfield Hoe-Down, are regulated by Willard Mitt's Department of Agricultural Resources.
According to the Department, illegal gaming is not allowed at state regulated fairs.
And while the legal sale of lottery products would not fall under the category of illegal gaming, the state Lottery is not empowered to conduct illegal gaming. And electronic gaming is illegal in Massachusetts (source: MGL, C. 271)
Under the federal Indian Gaming statutes, the Massachusetts-based Wampanoag Indians can operate any gaming enterprise that is legal in Massachusetts. Indian gaming law is convoluted. However, in a nutshell, Indian gaming may be conducted if the state permits similar games (and if the tribe and state enter into a compact to establish a method of regulation.) (source: National Indian Gaming Commission)
The Wampanoag Indians can currently operate pari-mutual racing, keno and Vegas-Night style gambling. However, as electronic Class III gaming is not currently legal in Massachusetts, the tribe may not operate slot machines and, as such, have yet to open an IGRA-sanctioned casino.
Hmmm. Wonder if they've been to the Marshfield Fair?
So what does this have to do with Willard Mitt?
Everything.
Remember how the Fraud Governor first tried to extort money from regional gambling interests, then backed away from supporting casino gaming in Massachusetts? (source: Boston Herald, 9/24/2003)
Well, if the Marshfield Fair plays out the way it could, Team Reform may have opened the door for Massachusetts casinos.
Question: did Willard Mitt sign special legislation allowing electronic wagering at Massachusetts state fairs? If so, he may have opened the door to Indian gaming.
You see, "pull-tabs are preprinted tickets dispensed from a machine which is loaded with a set number of tickets that give a predetermined number of winners and amount of winnings. This is very similar to bingo where the players 'race' to win first. Because of similarity to bingo, traditional pull-tabs are considered class II games. However, while IGRA does allow technical "aids" to bingo to allow greater numbers of people to play, electronic 'facsimiles' of class II games are class III. Using this 'aid' versus 'facsimile' distinction, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals found in Sycuan Band v. Roache (54 F3d 535 (Ninth Cir., 1994) that video pull-tabs are facsimiles and hence class III games." (Insert ominous "oh-oh" music here!)
And if Willard Mitt did not sign special legislation, the machines were illegal (Class III) gaming devices.
Question: did Willard Mitt's Department of Agriculture sanction the state Lottery's use of electronic Class III gaming devices at the Marshfield Fair? If so, why? If not, why were the illegal machines allowed to remain on site, and active?
Question: did Willard Mitt's appointees to the state Lottery Commission vote to sanction the state Lottery's use of electronic Class III gaming devices at the Marshfield Fair? If so, why? If not, are they pushing for an investigation to see who broke Massachusetts law?
Question: where did the state Lottery's electronic Class III gaming devices come from? Who brought them into the state? Were any laws against inter-state transportation of illegal gaming devices broken?
Question: where is Beverly Wright, and how many lawyers is she retaining, and will she be videotaping the Lottery tents at the Big E in West Springfield from September 17 through October 3 and at the Topsfield Fair from October 2 through October 11 to obtain evidence in support of the Wampanoag Tribe's casino?
Question: when is Willard Mitt going on vacation next, and what heretofore illegal activity will be sanctioned during his next hiatus from responsibility?
Willard Mitt worked only 7 of 22 possible days in August. (source: Boston Globe, 8/21/2004) Who cares? If we had our way, Romney would spend every working day away from Massachusetts.
However, the Fraud Governor's absences do matter if they mean that the business of the Commonwealth is not getting done. And if the Marshfield Fair is any indication of the state of the State, things may be spiraling out of control.
According to someone who was there, the Massachusetts State Lottery had a tent at the Marshfield Field from which they sold lottery products.
According to the General Laws, the Lottery can only sell wagers through tickets. However, at the Marshfield Fair, the Lottery purportedly sold wagers through electronic pull-tab machines.
Electronic wagering machines are illegal in Massachusetts, at both mobbed up fraternal organizations and mobbed up state agencies.
State fairs, like the Marshfield Hoe-Down, are regulated by Willard Mitt's Department of Agricultural Resources.
According to the Department, illegal gaming is not allowed at state regulated fairs.
And while the legal sale of lottery products would not fall under the category of illegal gaming, the state Lottery is not empowered to conduct illegal gaming. And electronic gaming is illegal in Massachusetts (source: MGL, C. 271)
Under the federal Indian Gaming statutes, the Massachusetts-based Wampanoag Indians can operate any gaming enterprise that is legal in Massachusetts. Indian gaming law is convoluted. However, in a nutshell, Indian gaming may be conducted if the state permits similar games (and if the tribe and state enter into a compact to establish a method of regulation.) (source: National Indian Gaming Commission)
The Wampanoag Indians can currently operate pari-mutual racing, keno and Vegas-Night style gambling. However, as electronic Class III gaming is not currently legal in Massachusetts, the tribe may not operate slot machines and, as such, have yet to open an IGRA-sanctioned casino.
Hmmm. Wonder if they've been to the Marshfield Fair?
So what does this have to do with Willard Mitt?
Everything.
Remember how the Fraud Governor first tried to extort money from regional gambling interests, then backed away from supporting casino gaming in Massachusetts? (source: Boston Herald, 9/24/2003)
Well, if the Marshfield Fair plays out the way it could, Team Reform may have opened the door for Massachusetts casinos.
Question: did Willard Mitt sign special legislation allowing electronic wagering at Massachusetts state fairs? If so, he may have opened the door to Indian gaming.
You see, "pull-tabs are preprinted tickets dispensed from a machine which is loaded with a set number of tickets that give a predetermined number of winners and amount of winnings. This is very similar to bingo where the players 'race' to win first. Because of similarity to bingo, traditional pull-tabs are considered class II games. However, while IGRA does allow technical "aids" to bingo to allow greater numbers of people to play, electronic 'facsimiles' of class II games are class III. Using this 'aid' versus 'facsimile' distinction, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals found in Sycuan Band v. Roache (54 F3d 535 (Ninth Cir., 1994) that video pull-tabs are facsimiles and hence class III games." (Insert ominous "oh-oh" music here!)
And if Willard Mitt did not sign special legislation, the machines were illegal (Class III) gaming devices.
Question: did Willard Mitt's Department of Agriculture sanction the state Lottery's use of electronic Class III gaming devices at the Marshfield Fair? If so, why? If not, why were the illegal machines allowed to remain on site, and active?
Question: did Willard Mitt's appointees to the state Lottery Commission vote to sanction the state Lottery's use of electronic Class III gaming devices at the Marshfield Fair? If so, why? If not, are they pushing for an investigation to see who broke Massachusetts law?
Question: where did the state Lottery's electronic Class III gaming devices come from? Who brought them into the state? Were any laws against inter-state transportation of illegal gaming devices broken?
Question: where is Beverly Wright, and how many lawyers is she retaining, and will she be videotaping the Lottery tents at the Big E in West Springfield from September 17 through October 3 and at the Topsfield Fair from October 2 through October 11 to obtain evidence in support of the Wampanoag Tribe's casino?
Question: when is Willard Mitt going on vacation next, and what heretofore illegal activity will be sanctioned during his next hiatus from responsibility?
Thursday, September 02, 2004
Mitt-steak
Willard Mitt did the Party thing last night and gave his big speech in support of George W. (source: NYTimes.com, 9/1/2004)
Forgive us for laughing. This was the best he could do?
Too bad Willard Mitt blew his ghost-writing money on "his" book. He should have saved some cash and purchased a decent speech.
For the record, Romney began his remarks with a lie:
"I'm proud to be from Massachusetts, where John Kerry will be the junior
senator until 2008."
Romney was born in Michigan. He is not from Massachusetts.
Romney's speech was hyped on something called All American Patriots.com.
Willard Mitt may be many things, but he is not a patriot.
Romney's speech included the following line: "Throughout our history, when our country needed us, Americans have stepped forward, standing up to every challenge."
This despite the occurance that during the Vietnam War, when his country needed him, Willard Mitt did not step forward, rather he stepped to the right - way right - and went to France and dodged the draft. (source: Lawrence Eagle Tribune, 3/24/2002)
And what was John Kerry doing while Romney worked his way through his pastry sampler? Kerry was serving two tours in Vietnam.
Which made Romney's Vietnam reference all the more naked.
"I respect (Kerry's) four months under enemy fire," Romney told the Convention. (source: NYT, 9/1/2004)
Sure sure. And we respect Romney's collection of Jacques Brel eight-track tapes.
But perhaps Romney's most pathetic moment came when he decided to invoke the imagery of 9/11 by speaking of the Ground Zero flag that was carried into the Salt Lake City Olympic stadium.
In 1994, when a debating Sen. Ted Kenendy made a veiled reference to the damage guns have had on his family when answering a question on gun control, Willard Mitt said "That's the last resort each time the subject comes up." (source: Boston Herald, 10/28/1994)
To which we can on say that with respect to Romney's revisionist history of the George W's Administration which focussed little beyond on 9/11, 'that's the last resort each time the subject comes up.'
So we were hardly surprised to learn that so many Massachusetts Republicans, like Lawrence Novak - a delegate from Brockton, are lining up to proffer early support to New Yorker Rudy Giuliani for the top GOP spot in 2008. "I have nothing against (Willard) Mitt Romney, but I think Giuliani’s shown leadership," Novak recently told the Associated Press, implying that Romney has not shown leadership. (source: AP, 8/22/2004)
Giuliani's bio indicates that he took the classic Republican path of least resistence during the Vietnam War, and appears to have received education deferments (aka - the Cheney Way.) However, to his marginal credit, Giuliani stayed in the United States during the Vietnam years and did not flee to Canada, Switzerland or France in an effort to preserve his career options.
Ben Franklin went to France during an American war - on behalf of the American people. Willard Mitt went to France to save his career options. Ben Franklin was an American patriot. Willard Mitt is no Ben Franklin.
On Tuesday, unidentified Republicans were hyping Willard Mitt's speech to the Convention, telling Dan Rather to "keep your eyes and ears open for Mitt Romney's convention speech Wednesday night." (source: CBS News.com, 8/30/2004)
After watching Romney sink in his miasma of petulent Party prose, we've figured out who Rather's tipsters may have been: Novak and Giuliani.
They wanted to get Romney out of the way early!
Willard Mitt did the Party thing last night and gave his big speech in support of George W. (source: NYTimes.com, 9/1/2004)
Forgive us for laughing. This was the best he could do?
Too bad Willard Mitt blew his ghost-writing money on "his" book. He should have saved some cash and purchased a decent speech.
For the record, Romney began his remarks with a lie:
"I'm proud to be from Massachusetts, where John Kerry will be the junior
senator until 2008."
Romney was born in Michigan. He is not from Massachusetts.
Romney's speech was hyped on something called All American Patriots.com.
Willard Mitt may be many things, but he is not a patriot.
Romney's speech included the following line: "Throughout our history, when our country needed us, Americans have stepped forward, standing up to every challenge."
This despite the occurance that during the Vietnam War, when his country needed him, Willard Mitt did not step forward, rather he stepped to the right - way right - and went to France and dodged the draft. (source: Lawrence Eagle Tribune, 3/24/2002)
And what was John Kerry doing while Romney worked his way through his pastry sampler? Kerry was serving two tours in Vietnam.
Which made Romney's Vietnam reference all the more naked.
"I respect (Kerry's) four months under enemy fire," Romney told the Convention. (source: NYT, 9/1/2004)
Sure sure. And we respect Romney's collection of Jacques Brel eight-track tapes.
But perhaps Romney's most pathetic moment came when he decided to invoke the imagery of 9/11 by speaking of the Ground Zero flag that was carried into the Salt Lake City Olympic stadium.
In 1994, when a debating Sen. Ted Kenendy made a veiled reference to the damage guns have had on his family when answering a question on gun control, Willard Mitt said "That's the last resort each time the subject comes up." (source: Boston Herald, 10/28/1994)
To which we can on say that with respect to Romney's revisionist history of the George W's Administration which focussed little beyond on 9/11, 'that's the last resort each time the subject comes up.'
So we were hardly surprised to learn that so many Massachusetts Republicans, like Lawrence Novak - a delegate from Brockton, are lining up to proffer early support to New Yorker Rudy Giuliani for the top GOP spot in 2008. "I have nothing against (Willard) Mitt Romney, but I think Giuliani’s shown leadership," Novak recently told the Associated Press, implying that Romney has not shown leadership. (source: AP, 8/22/2004)
Giuliani's bio indicates that he took the classic Republican path of least resistence during the Vietnam War, and appears to have received education deferments (aka - the Cheney Way.) However, to his marginal credit, Giuliani stayed in the United States during the Vietnam years and did not flee to Canada, Switzerland or France in an effort to preserve his career options.
Ben Franklin went to France during an American war - on behalf of the American people. Willard Mitt went to France to save his career options. Ben Franklin was an American patriot. Willard Mitt is no Ben Franklin.
On Tuesday, unidentified Republicans were hyping Willard Mitt's speech to the Convention, telling Dan Rather to "keep your eyes and ears open for Mitt Romney's convention speech Wednesday night." (source: CBS News.com, 8/30/2004)
After watching Romney sink in his miasma of petulent Party prose, we've figured out who Rather's tipsters may have been: Novak and Giuliani.
They wanted to get Romney out of the way early!
