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They Democrats are looking for an angle – any angle – in an attempt to dismiss the impending Trump presidency. The latest is “The Russians” which has taken hold as a new code word among the Democrats. What ever happened to old standby “Koch Brother?” If it gives them comfort so be it.
What I have been able to ascertain from the various fake news sites such as the NYT is that there is nothing new surfacing. This is essentially old news since the questionable hacks – no one knows who did it – occurred and we published months ago. That is what apparently amounts to interference.
The hacks consisted of a public expose of the inner workings of the Democratic National Committee and the failed Clinton campaign. I have not seen any credible evidence that the voting procedure was violated unless Boris and Natasha were seen stuffing paper ballots. The simple and operative word is – deflection – a concerted effort by Democrats to focus off the DNC and their exchanges that were – among other things – designed to eliminate Bernie Sanders.
The New York Times – a notorious right wing source (sarcasm meter off) recently had an article detailing the hacks. The DNC/Clinton was forewarned several times and apparently thought they were bullet proof. Was the RNC hacked? Maybe an attempt was made, but the Republicans may have been a bit more cyber cautious.
President Obama has issued orders to investigate and the results will eventually be as startling as the Wisconsin vote recount. That report – probably a 1,000 pages – will say “someone” hacked into emails accounts and provided information to other sources – essentially where the issue sits today.
What the Democrats and especially their more vociferous and least intelligent sector – the extreme left – wish to accomplish is to simply do what those who hacked the emails did – cause mischief. What I note is how the antics of the least intelligent simply mirror what I have seen from the least intelligent on the other side – the far right for eight long years.
Both are loaded up with questionable “questionable” news sites, virulent bloggers, compliant politicians, equally compliant media accomplices and not a shred of ethics. I have been shocked by the actions of the Democrats – I thought nothing could ever be as virulent as the Republicans for the last eight years. I was wrong and several of my wingnut acquaintances have gleefully pointed that out.
When the revolutionary council met in Paris during those tempestuous times they sat at a horseshoe-shaped table. You position of the table was based on your political philosophy with the most moderate sitting in the middle. As you went around the table to your far right when the ultra-conservative monarchist and to your far left were the ultra-radical Jacobins.
Draw that table in your mind and you can easily see the two closest point are directly opposite of one another. The extremist has much in common then as they do today.
I did apologize to all the conservative and far-right loons I know and have routinely insulted for their aberrant behaviors. Just reviewing the plethora of websites makes one question just how balanced they are, but compared to what I have seen in the last month from liberals they most certainly represent a high standard of political decorum.
After the stunning loss of Hillary Clinton, I was shocked by the reaction of some institutions – most notably education – that fed into a collective angst that also included the usual pat phrases extended to Trump and his supporters – racist, homophobic, , misogynist,nativist and various other concoctions that are merely buzz words for the adoring masses to nod agreement.
That, however, is mere sloganeering, but when it translates into stated policy there is a line that has been crossed by institutions that are supposed to be (hopefully) politically neutral. When public schools allow and sponsor antagonistic behaviors designed to disrupt and excuse they have failed miserably. As one writer noted and placed in perspective the antics of the left has inadvertently exposed how thin the veneer of decency and fairness was for a large number of institutions, occupations, and individuals.
Then you have flat out morons who simply are loons to the nth degree such as the idiocy displayed by the attorney general in Massachusetts via setting up a “hot line” to report all the long list of fantasized hate crimes in the state. Frankly – based on the antics of the Clinton campaign to disrupt Trump and Sanders I tend to believe they are self-induced to stir up the sycophants. Enough evidence has surfaced to show that several reports were simply phony. Just think Duke University Lacrosse.
The public mourning borders on a fetish – one that really needs some significant mental health intervention. The liberals have literally lost their lunch over a situation that blindsided their view of what should be and what really is.
Then comes the back door such as a “grassroots” movement to convince electors to forgo their responsibility and voted for the failed Clinton. Grassroots? Sure – that is about as grassroots as the failed Jill Stein attempting to put a damper on the voting process. A surrogate for the Clinton campaign and big money donors from the left attempting any means possible.
I have no trust in any recount efforts since the Obama administration will certainly have various public agencies who have long since violated our trust involved in the process. The Clinton campaign clearly and unequivocally demonstrated the extent they would go to in regards to minimizing any opposition. What is equally shameful is the media cooperation and support of those efforts.
The liberals are not liberals, but Capo’s in active pursuit of undermining an established process simply over being rejected. In normal discipline one would send the errant five-year-olds into a corner for a reflective timeout, but, then again, I would be insulting the intelligence of five-year-olds by comparing them to the inept collection of miscreants populating liberal circles.
While I am on a rant, I harken back to one of the standards the debased liberals raised to an art form – all the nastiness that circulated on the right in regards to Obama. Did it exist? Most certainly, but compared to what I have witnessed in the last months it was a political hiccup compared to the firestorm that the left is fully engaged in.
Also along that very path is the outright threats that have surfaced regarding Trump and by defacto his supporters. The hostility and outright threats have certainly placed any of those Trump inspired “hate crimes” under the microscope of a leftist creation.
I happen to be a classical liberal, so any of the antics on the right and left are open season for me. The recent election has certainly raised more than doubts in my brain pan about the integrity, sanity, ethics, moral compass, patriotism and a dozen other invectives directly targeting the liberals.
We happen to reside in Massachusetts and that taints a view since this is a state that has managed to take someone who appropriated a past she was not entitled to and place her in the Senate. That is a political version of stolen valor. This is the shining star of liberals? Maybe that is why we have such an emotional outpouring on the left attempting to romanticize a thug like Castro?
Now I await the Trump regency and a continuation of the imperial presidency so well established by Obama. The executive orders will flutter in the breeze as Congress will abdicate their responsibilities and Trump will merely continue what has happened the last eight years only with a hard drift to the right.
Trump is putting together “His Team” and just remember “His Team” in the United States Football League – The New Jersey Generals – failed their first season and then performed reasonably well. Good luck with that!
I look forward to Trump providing me with a wealth of negatives outcomes.
The nonsense of the ill-informed voter is staggering, even from my cynical view. Is this the end result of poor parenting? Social dysfunction? Lack of civics in school? Maybe it is just that we have an unusual abundance of idiots and are is desperate need of a zombie apocalypse.
The polls, exit and otherwise showed Hillary Clinton had votes simple over her sex. This is eerily similar to the disaster of Obama over some type of desire for racial amends. Toss into the mix the evangelicals who apparently vote as they assume Jesus would – white males who fervently believe in the scriptures.
That, my friends, is a bleak cross section of why we are in the predicament we have faced for almost two decades. As bad as the morons who vote strict party lines – apparently, they possess one or maybe two functioning brain cells – are those trapped in the strict confines of what I described above. Is the water the issue? Has Flint water been dispersed throughout our fading empire?
The main discourse of the recent election came down essentially to who could tally up being the most boorish idiot presented to the public. Trump certainly had a clear advantage, but the smarmy Hillary was a close second. Both virtually ignore the problems of empire – a stagnant economy, a porous foreign policy, a debt that is nay impossible to control, an infrastructure that makes even the worst of this old house look majestic, party lines that would make FDR and TR relinquish their passports and a supporting cast of characters in Congress that need a super jolt of Embola. And that is only the lesser problems.
The coronation of Donald Trump is a scant few months away and the general opinion is to see just the way this conservative – populist – liberal will bring forward. On the campaign trail what Trump’s words amounted to was gibberish, so just what will eventually surface? But what did we avoid? What would Clinton part Deux be?
The issue is simply one of listening to that most renowned expert on all things dysfunctional – Dr. Phil. As Dr, Phil would say – and I paraphrase – “The Past and present behaviors are indicative of future behaviors.” Based in that expect a Nixonian approach to government operation. An administrated whose foundation is one that is untrustworthy, unethical, deceitful, manipulative, and that is willing to use any means possible for whatever they consider the end game.
Expect Trump to be consistent and quite possibly unfairly treated by a media whose admiration for Hillary Clinton often amounted to an extended arm of her campaign. Congress is more interested in their next campaign, so any affairs of state that need be attended to will probably rely on that favorite of all legislative tactics employed by Obama – executive orders.
Trump could certainly be a centrist since he has been all over the political philosophical map. Playing both sides against the middle is a grand legislative tool and an astute businessman could certainly employ it.
The real feelings among the electorate will be displayed in 2018 and that will be either an increase Republican representation in Congress or a Democratic sweep. Obama was handed a blank slate in 2008 with the legislative control in the hand – and firmly – of the Democrats. Just how did that work out?
The Democrats have lost thirteen senate seats, 69 house seats, 12 governorships and over 900 seats in legislatures nationwide. The topping on the Obama legacy is the dismissing of Hillary Clinton and that is a final ending that I am positive the Democrats did not see coming.
A poor loser is best exemplified more some of the more moronic elements that infest the left. Most notable is the less than peaceful demonstrations that have erupted – usually in bastions of liberal orthodoxy such as big cities. The remnants of the Occupy crowds? Quite possibly.
One target of their collective nonsense is the electoral college. Since HRC won the popular vote that – in their very limited intellectual capacity – anoints her as “president.” Dear clueless ones – can’t you figure out just why the 18th-century rich white guys developed such a system? It is exquisite. A wonder of what the protestors lack – rational thought.
Are you religious? If so I am about to infuriate you so proceed with the utmost caution. First is the connotation of religious which I associate with a formal structure such as a church, synagog or mosque. There is also a second that is spiritual which has a board brush that excludes membership in the various cults – which is exactly what I consider churches, et al to me.
Mohammed, Jesus, John the Baptist, Moses and all the other various religious luminaries up to the present were in my atheist view religious hustlers. They were the Benny Hinn’s of their day. Using a nice patter to build a base of support – today they would be televangelists. In some instances their teachings caught fire and you have would you have today with large and highly structured corporate religion.
People need an anchor and religion certainly provides that especially in a time of emotional need. An atheist does not have that fallback so they must deal with – to me – a more rational approach. One that excludes “higher Authority” or “God’s Will.” An atheist, therefore, has to exist in a type of emotional vacuum with no secure anchor. In that way, many an atheist can have a tinge of jealousy towards those who believe.
Many an atheist has manners that leave me puzzled. They become almost a nonreligious version of the Westboro Baptist Church. What they fail to recognize is the value of religion since many of the fables, lessons and so forth provide valuable insight and are quite relevant to positive human behavior.
The downside is that many of out most vicious confrontations are steeped in religious issues. Christianity has made considerable strides in the few centuries in purging itself of some of its excesses. Maybe Islam will have a reformation?
I have an inherent distrust of Muslims, which is probably considered hate speech in today’s sensitive environment. As an atheist, I question just how long I would survive in a Muslim country? I can clearly see a radicalism that puts others – particularly me – at risk. The last thing I wish to confront is the destructive nature of a present day inquisition.
Ghosts. What is the attraction? Is this a return to childhood and Casper the Friendly ghost? Folks – this may shock you – there is no proof of ghosts. None. Do the ghost hunters really believe the movie “Ghost Busters” was a documentary? Shock treatments are no longer used, but maybe they should be reinstituted?
A subsection of ghosts is paranormal investigations. I have occasionally watched on television shows that center around that term. I will limit this to extra sensory perception, Isn’t there, folks, since no valid scientific evidence has been presented.
Another subsection is the absurdity of fortune telling. This- like astrology (and psychology) – can be fun to do, but don’t take it seriously.
Aliens do not exist, nor is there intelligent life on other planets. The earth has not been visited, we have had no abductions and there is no one out there. How can that be? The estimates are there are now potentially trillions of galaxies and each with billions of stars. Just the mathematical probability of intelligent life is astounding.
The fact is there is no proof. No signals from beyond either electronic or smoke. No sightings of Dyson Spheres or of massive alien constructs anywhere. We are absolutely alone. At this point a blip – an anomaly.
Superheroes do not exist and that is somewhat of a shock to an isolated few who actually believe that they exist. I have encountered a few such in the last few years that – no doubt – have spent an excessive amount of what should have been productive studying instead of going to Comic Con.
Who is left to offend? How about hunters!
The cold hard fact is I am anti-gun, but not anti-gun as most suspect since I am hardcore anti-gun. Just think Lynyrd Skynyrd and Saturday Night Special – toss them “to the bottom of the sea.” I would ban all guns. That, of course, is totally unrealistic, but how about hunters?
I watch what the bring to hunt with and am numbed raw by the firepower with both gun power and bow power. They should use neither. Our ancestors cleared the continent of all sorts of unruly varmints without such weapons. Time to go “old school” and do the same. Gets those spears sharpened, wooden bows ready and drummers to beat the animals off a cliff.
Hannaford’s has now joined Bryers, Friendly’s, Hood and a few others in tossing in Frozen Dairy Dessert into the ice cream mix. It is not ice cream! It is a chemical concoction that does not meet the standards of ice cream. Faux ice cream. Yet they place it in the ice section hoping that consumers are too stupid to know the difference.
Time for me to ramble on with some disjointed and some, not disjointed comments on the current election cycle, especially regarding the less than presidential candidates.
Should anyone be surprised by the actions of Donald Trump? I certainly am not since the rich and powerful males often consider any woman fair game with no restrictions. Men know what is right and what is wrong since it is a mere action on ethics. Using your power to intimidate a woman is simply wrong. What I find equally depressing is the reaction or non-reaction by Democrats on the extensive list of similar ventures by their own icons.
The term is quite appropriate – hypocrisy. There is absolutely no way to ethically defend the behaviors of Bill Clinton or Ted Kennedy, yet political expediency is the appropriate term. Bob represented the worst in predatory actions towards women and now Trump can join their club.
The – of course – is representative of the morass that has become our two party system where the ultimate goal is simply winning – winning at all cost. Hillary Clinton is just an awful candidate – untrustworthy, an enabler, a serial liar – and those are her good points. Compared to Trump, Clinton is Mother Theresa.
The fault is quite obvious are it goes to the core of the dumbing down of America. As a lot, we have become incredibly stupid in the information age where influence is generated by sound bits. You must have a stage presence to be successful\l which explains the quick demise of Jim Webb.
Rare was a party that lost, losing simply because they attempted to place in nomination the bottom of the political barrel. Adlai Stevenson was a remarkably gifted politician who lost twice. Recently the Republicans offered up John McCain and Bob Dole both with years of political experience. Al Gore and John Kerry had the extensive resumes one would also expect.
The election of Obama was – to me – centered on White Liberal Guilt. Clinton – for all her warts – was obviously the more seasoned candidate, but that was in the past. Obama has demonstrated that a Black man can be as incompetent as and White man. Now Clinton can prove the same for women.
The recent email revelations that Clinton had two sets of “books” in operation regarding positions is just appalling. One is for public consumption and one for private and that is called lying. This is a pattern that Clinton has continually displayed – lies, duplicity, meanderings and just a boat load of indiscretions. That will most certainly continue.
Clinton represents the continued path to the government expansion and that to my classic liberal sensibilities is an abomination. With each new law or regulation comes further erosion. You can actually place this back into the incubator of the real progressives of the late 19th and into the 20th century. That, however, is another story.
The ultimate gift was placed on government expansion doorstep with 9/11. That opened up the “Bloody Shirt” gates to the Patriot Act and that gift and its bastard twin – the Freedom Act – has allowed domestic spying under the guise of terrorism. Obama went along for the ride and Snowden at least outed the administration. The current administration has continued two needless wars – shameful.
The current administration also has used the DOJ and IRS as political tools – Joe McCarthy and J. Edgar would be so proud. Do I blame Obama? Of course – just as I blame each administration for pulling the political wool over our eyes. Just think Fast and Furious, Pentagon Papers, Iran-Contra, Gulf of Tonkin and several more. Each one brings further incursions into our own privacy. Think Yahoo was NOT scanning emails? Right.
What is upsetting is the marginalization by the left by attempting to control debate with simple innuendo. The opposition is sexist, racist, homophobic, nativist and so on. You simply state that all opposition has no coherent points by labeling them. If all else fails they are merely “far right extremist.”
That was not the Democratic Party I grew up with. That is – to go back to tail gunner Joe - what one saw in the 1950s, when opposition – especially Democrats – were labeled “Pinko’s.” “Reds,” “Fellow travelers,” and a long list that could be added. The liberals of today have adopted that playbook and they should be ashamed.
What will happen with President Clinton?
The real issue is the ongoing legacy of debt that both parties choose to ignore. The tab is staggering and has quite possibly reached a point of no return. Continued promises will do nothing to elevate debt, but will expand it. An underclass has been created – mostly minority – dependent upon the handouts offered up by liberals. If anything the tender underbelly is expanding.
Just what type of adventurism will a new administration subscribe to? Our failures in the Middle East are well documented as our relationship with Russia and China. The administration is on the defensive in the geopolitical circle and that is obvious to even the most ardent of supporters. Clinton will certainly be tested and it will come quickly with the big question being aggressiveness or entrenchment?
An aggressive foreign policy is great for business. Russia, China, the United States and their client states certainly prosper in that environment by creating villains – real or imagined. Out two needless wars – placed on the front page by the incapable Bush – has drained blood and treasure. I see not change to that.
Race relations will continue to deteriorate as Obama has created the most racially divisive period since the riots of the 1960s. When an open door policy to race hustlers like Al Sharpton exists you know exactly where the president stands. A racial division is politically profitable for both parties as they prey on insecurities.
The United States has somehow survived a string of “Dough Faces” in the oval office and that will continue. Clinton will most certainly be a one term president hamstrung by a Republican Congress and some serious adversaries within her own party. On the Democrat horizon, there is little to show hope.
The Republicans will cleanse the hive. Trump’s candidacy will be reminiscent of Goldwater’s in 1964. By 1968 they had regained the White House. That happens in politics and you saw in with McGovern in 1972 on the other side.
The Republicans will have to have someone worthy step forward and not the scrum that allowed a blowhard like Trump to crawl out of the slime and take control. Good luck with that!
I am amazed – maybe not – of the lack of conscious and ethical compass that the Democrats have. How can they reasonably support such a flawed and despicable candidate? Is it genetics? Is it just the convoluted logic of the left? The dishonesty question is a slam dunk as a pattern has been well established by the Clintons.
The Clintons do manage to walk a very thin line – one that borders legal issues. The recent FBI investigation sums that up with the scathing report on Clinton’s questionable actions. Prosecute? That was a DOJ call and they obviously felt “reasonable doubt” could make it unwinnable – certainly worth the effort.
The Republicans faced with the same dilemma actually displayed some backbone by distancing themselves from Trump. A candidate whose persona is so vile even Mother Theresa would wish him to hell. Charlie Baker avoided Trump as have many others and some are not even in the election cycle.
The Democrats do have a history of looking the other way when the prize is in view. Gerry Studds should have been sent to the cornfield back in the early 1980s, yet was embraced and supported by the party. That is just one local example and you could make it two with Barney Frank, so there exists a historical precedent for accepting and supporting Clinton.
The other fallback for the left is simply to say – as Lady Macbeth has repeatedly stated - “ Right Wing Conspiracy!.” If the lemmings on the left wish to adopt that mantra then fools they be. A tiring refrain for a politician that continues to navigate an ethics tightrope which more and more evidence surfaces about what can best be termed errors in judgement. I will let the wingnuts use lies – although it appears appropriate.
Again – for those who are totally appalled by both the options do exist. Jill Stein, Gary Johnson and the ever popular “neither” are viable alternatives. That – of course – would require a bit of ethics and that seems to be quite vacant in both parties and especially the Democrats.
I recently went through two communities in Massachusetts – Palmer and Belchertown – and witnessed a strange sight. What I noticed has not been seen for decades in Massachusetts and that is in both communities extensive road work was taking place and flaggers were being used.
I counted a total of eight on two extensive construction sites and none was spending time on cell phones, looking in a hole, consulting with their coffee cup and were in reasonable physical shape. No $50 or so an hour with minimum hours required. No glossy contract incentives tossed in by brain dead Selectmen during contract negotiations.
In Middleboro school is about to open and route 28 is in a state of continued construction. What gives? Why was such a project started at such a late summer date? My assumption is this is a state issue since I believe that portion of the roadway is in their jurisdiction. Bad planning – no surprise.
The vaunted South East rail extension is in the multibillion-dollar range and to cut costs the latest proposal is to have an exchange in Middleboro to simply the process. Why? This is more billions wasted away on a project that has no appreciable gains. In fact, no gains.
The Obama administration certainly has some clueless folks operating the tiller. Hostages return home and a boatload of curacy is conveniently placed on a private jet and brought to Iran. Iran – the same nation that has been given a virtual green light by a feckless administration to continue nuclear weapons development. I am staggered by the coincidence of hostages-money-nukes.
The Democrats playbook on Trump is quite logical as they just mine an almost endless bounty of questionable comments that seem to waffle continuously. The playbook says mention Trump as often as possible since that will certainly deflect the reams of mischief from Clinton. In a battle of one upsmanship the candidates apparent switch daily on who represents the absolute bottom of the political barrell.
The ballot question I find most illuminating is charter schools. The evidence regarding performance is rather mixed, but one thing is absolutely certain – parents want them. The public school setting is enough to cash in bottles and cans in hopes of funding a private school placement. The issue is the teachers unions and their influence with a predominantly Democratic legislature.
However, a positive is there is substantial reluctance on the part of many within the party to follow the lockstep decree of their union masters – some quite obviously pay attention to public demands. The addition of 12 new schools is just a small drop in the student bucket, but even that is treated as the end of days by a union – I was a member for years – whose most singular goal is enrichment of the membership.
Speaking of schools as in new Middleboro high school – I most certainly expect a pricey new school to be the final outcome of deliberations. A spiffy new building will certainly vault Middleboro into the upper echelon of achievement. OK – sarcasm switch is now turned off. I have wandered enough.
Nothing ruins another enjoyable retirement day like a Red Sox loss, the donut shop not having coffee rolls and agreeing with Bumpkin. Now the Bumpkin happens to be my sometimes running partner and despite his excessive girth the Bumpkin can stay with me – his svelte and far more energetic partner.
One pleasure on our scenic jaunts as mine and mine alone and that is to get a conversation started by disagreeing with anything Bumpkin says even when I agree. Mary Ann to him I most certainly say “Ginger.” Childish? You met! Immature? You win! But on Dan Murray and the healing garden, I am firmly in the supportive camp of Bumpkin.
Recently former (thankfully) Town Manager – Jack Healey – took Bumpkin to task over his repeated editorial page harassment of Murray. That in my own convoluted mind is quite appropriate since apparently most decisions are rendered from a dictionary that was purchased at the 4-H book tent in 1978.
Healey brought out the “Big Guns” in that a state official – I will avoid “hack” - concluded that Pratt Farm is unsuitable for a healing garden. The appropriate laws were cited and placed in the context of the original agreement and that became the basis for rejecting the garden. What we really need is what now happens in sports and that is an “official’s review.” Looking at the law with my own non-dictionary perspective it is an Oracle of Delphi opinion. For those unaccustomed to the famed Oracle, she would give a futurist view that could be interpreted many ways.
The law is just that. I contacted a lawyer friend who said as much with the key being the mysterious “Passive Recreation.” His thought was similar to mine: Do the plants run laps? The ornamental benches go fishing? Will the rocks play Frisbee? In a simple phrase: Stupid on a town level is reinforced by stupid on a state level.
Bumpkin also provided some crucial documentation that showed just how Pratt Farm was visualized to be once various options were examined.
Pratt Farm has a shed that was built and how does that impact the land? Was any plant life removed? Recently a new trail was cut – ditto. When have reenactors staged events is that passive? Was the setup of stands in the same field for commercial use considered passive?
Pratt Farm was also the dumping ground for an "historic" carriage house that was placed on the property. Unfortunately the carriage house collapsed.
My assumption is the field in question would be perfectly suitable for a community garden but not a healing garden. That is the interpretation I can synthesize out of the mess. My assumption is that Pratt Farm was one a farm and farms do have gardens. No?
When I checked the purpose of a healing garden the terms that are associated are serenity, meditation, reflection, peace, and various similar terms. The noted landscape architect – Frederick Law Olmsted – is undoubtedly having thoughts about who should be allowed to pass the Pearly Gates.
The garden in question is not some operation where a group comes in and scrapes the land clean. Landscape architects would be involved and the plant selection process was presented to the Conservation Commission who approved it 5-0. Now for profiles in courage moment.
Someone actually had the audacity to question the placement of such a garden and the Con Com decided what is best was to contact our version of Billy Fallon – The Great Mouthpiece. Con Com then folded their cards instead of saying “Enough lunacy.”
The original rejection of the garden was at the hands of our local Historical or is it Hysterical Commission. Oliver Mills was supposed to be the garden spot, but in another staggering decision, it was rejected over the potential disruption of Indian artifacts. Using that logic or lack of not a stone would be turned over in Middleboro. I also assume the Hysterical Commission has their own set of dictionaries for reference.
Middleboro has become the central point for stupid in Massachusetts with silly string, swearing amendments and garbage like this. Many years ago Robert Townsend – who wrote for the Enterprise – said as much in an article that raised the hackles of the locals. Somewhere there must be someone who will finally draw a line and maybe the BOS will now do the right thing and find a TC who uses a law book.
As a child growing up – if I ever did grow up – I was fascinated by two characters that were embedded in my Saturday morning children’s television menagerie. The first character was from the Andy Devine Show, also known as “Andy’s Gang.” That character was Froggy the Gremlin.
Froggy was loud, disrespectful, obnoxious, petulant, abrasive, abusive and a nuisance of the highest order. Froggy enjoyed nothing better that to make any and all authority figures – especially those viewed as a pompous – foil to his infantile madness. This certainly resonated with any mean streak that children possessed.
Phineas T. Bluster was a character on the Howdy Doody Show and needless to say that just the last name should give some insight into the character. I do remember Bluster as being just that or a blowhard. A character that would certainly try the patience of Ms. Manners.
Donald Trump has managed to incorporate into his patter the features of both characters and managed to even bring it to another level. The personality flaws are acceptable if they was any content to the brazen shooting from the hip approach that has now defined Trump politics – if can even be classified as politics.
Trump does resonate with some just as Froggy did with me and my friends when we were children, but children do grow up and became a bit more perceptive or in tune to the world around them. Within politics that may actually mean having to put forth cognizant proposals that are based in some level of either broad based philosophical or factual information. I have seen neither.
The old “Where’s the beef?” television commercial surfaces – there is no beef. This is a campaign that is strictly a Howard Beale from the movie “Network” approach of “I’m as mad as hell and I am not going to take this anymore.” If it is anger that motivates then Trump is certainly your candidate of choice.
I examine the two candidates the political parties have presented and simple say “This is the best they can offer America?” The Republicans to their credit have in some instances attempted to deep six Trump – maybe some of it is philosophical and maybe the motivation is an attempt to present an alternative to a very flawed Democrat?
The campaign itself will certainly degenerate into the ultimate mudslinging that represented American politics for much of the 19th century. Count on it as neither candidate has a history of shying away from that aspect. Both sides certainly have an ample supply of ammunition and if TMZ type politics is your game then break out the popcorn.
Trump has nothing to offer. I could certainly buy into his wall scenario, but not to keep Mexicans out, but to keep Chihuahua’s out – I dislike those little beasts almost as much as I despise cats. Otherwise the Trump policies are a wee bit short on details.
Trump was for me easy to dislike and it goes back to sports and his New Jersey General’s football team – another Trump failure. I find Trump as obnoxious as Froggy was now that I am capable of reflection of his entire life is that of a narcissistic self-promoter who simply considers everyone within or outside his sphere as disposable.
Examining the significant issues such as foreign policy apparently Trump’s is in building resorts in exotic locations and for Clinton it is managing to make her tenure as Secretary of State make that of the inept John Kerry appear as vintage John Foster Dulles.
Education you have the formidable Trump University that is to education as the jail bird evangelist Peter Popper is to religion. For Clinton it is the mastery of creating a cottage industry out of the Clinton Foundation that is some type of personal slush fund. Remember, kids, a well-educated society could put the damper on a rerun of these two down the road.
Women’s issue will be a key ingredient and Trump certainly collects his share of eye candy as being a billionaire does have certain advantages. Trump has already spoken numerous times on just how he views females and as for Clinton? Excusing a husband that is a sexual predator shows her contempt for her gender.
The economy will be a focal point with a stagnant middle class, laughable trade agreements, a ferocious debt, a convoluted tax system and a job market that now has a glut of positions a trained seal could do. Trump has started many a business with some notable successes and notable failures. An ability to simply walk away from failure and let bankruptcy court sort things out.
Hillary Clinton claimed she and her spouse were broke despite living in a palatial home in New York. As bill would say it is all how you define the word broke.
I could go on and rattle about a multitude of other issues, but the general conclusion for anyone that is slightly above flat line is we are in a whole4 world of trouble and Teddy Roosevelt isn’t walking through that door.
Trump as president would be a disaster and the real issue for me is that a Clinton one would be the same – a political rock and hard place for the voter. Do you hold your nose and vote for one? Or do you simply leave the ballot blank since both candidates are worthless? Or do you go outside the box and look for an alternative? I will probably go for door number three and select alternatives.
For my local audience the latest misadventure in Middleboro is a flap over a healing garden at Pratt Farm. For those not familiar with Pratt Farm it will never be confused with the Arnold Arboretum or even D.W Fields Park in Brockton. As usual a curmudgeon has surfaced that question if the garden is appropriate according to the purpose described in the purchase.
Now the issue is back with the Conservation Commission based on a complaint from an idiot. Yes – an idiot of the highest order. The CC had already approved! The scope of the utter stupidity even leaves me – who certainly is a purveyor of stupidity – stunned. This is a garden about the same size as two rooms in a house! It will have a granite bench and Pratt already has those. There will be planting of trees and shrubs – this is a park! That’s it! Someone needs to step up and tell this dope to go back to some serious issues.
Speaking of dopes that goes to the Mayor of Philadelphia who has instituted a tax on sweetened products in an attempt to control obesity. Now that is just beautiful. This is a tax and a very expensive one that will sharply increase the price of the thousands of items it impacts. I am sure Mayor Kenny has a BMI that meets acceptable standards.
Whenever I read the mutterings of Elizabeth Warren and her Greek Chorus of supporters it seals the deal for me regarding any sanity from the “Progressive” front. Bluntly put her followers are suffering from amnesia – the very worst kind – that which excuses a history – well documented – that would drive a “Progressive” completely off the rails if it was a conservative or any other evil incarnation of a (gasp) Republican.
What is her crime?
One can put on the collective blinders as the left has or engage in a modicum of research and easily discover a long pattern of pointing the figure at those who have profited from exactly what Warren has done in the past, but that is nothing – just the typical do as I say and not as I do – what frosts my thumbs as I key is the check the box that placed this unscrupulous fraud in the national limelight.
Warren was merely another lawyer looking to move up in the world and discovered a simple method – become a Native American! Check the box and became a minority and with it all the diversity thugs – especially in academia – will suddenly find you marketable. How can you claim to be a Native American when you are certainly not?
You build a family history, but despite your academic ability you are actually incapable of diligent researching of your family tree? Others have researched her claims – you know, the evil ones not smitten with her convoluted populous views – and the credibility does not exist.
Warren could erase all doubts with a simple test. I’ve taken them and discovered I happen to me 100% European despite a family verbal legacy of a Native American connection. That research showed a divergence over 170 years ago and my part of the family was excluded while others were not. Blame it on multiple marriages. Warren will not take the test. Wonder why?
Of course, the response is what one would expect from her ilk and that is to simply shift the argument and accuse the accuser of “defaming” her character and family history. Huh? No – Warren is a liar and they are no other tame word to describe it. The foundation for Warren’s advancement in law, education and politics is built on a lie and firmly supported by her followers.
I find this similar to Manny Alexander a fringe major league baseball player who put in ten years on several teams. Alexander was tainted by PED’s. This was an era before sophisticated testing and stringent controls, but still a tactic that baseball wished to eliminate. Was it enough to give Alexander that advantage when it came down to the last roster spot? I believe so. The baseball stars would be stars with or without PED’s, but the Alexander’s? Nope.
Warren is exactly the same. Checking that box fraudulently opened up access Warren did not deserve. Somewhere another individual who did not play the race card lost out since Warren was now an entitled minority. Despicable.
Political parties have long noted for accepting abhorrent behavior within their ranks and yet pummeling the same behavior within the ranks of the opposition. “Progressives” pretend to claim they are somehow morally more attuned to the needs of all and claim – and wrongfully so – that their policies reflect that. But Warren clearly – very clearly – demonstrates the only morality the “Progressives” display has the word bankrupt following it.
Rocky Gutter Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is a wonderful place to visit – as long as you have a GPS and the proper attire since it is clearly part of the mandate by Fish & Game (DFG) to “Go natural.”
The area consists of almost 2,000 acres and has a road – Rocky Gutter Street – that cuts through the middle. Rocky Gutter Street is under the control of the town, is about two miles long, and one would now need an armored all-purpose military vehicle to go the length of the road provided the gates were open.
The real issue is DFG which has a policy of not maintaining WMA’s unless the roadways are absolutely necessary and that means several smaller roads and trails are now fully overgrown of in that process of returning to nature – thus eliminating miles of trails that could be used by the public and hunters. This I found out is their policy.
DFG is also in the process of bringing “Snake Island” to the folks in the Quabbin Reservoir area, but that is now on hold after word leaked out and a public outcry ensued. No matter how they dance and sing the DFG cannot possibly put any legitimate narrative to that little fiasco. But, hey, I don’t need to list the upper echelon of DFG except to say that the “Ex” appears before their names and that ex is associated with being former members of our legislative branch. No doubt all have the usual pristine credentials for such positions.
For those who have resided in Middleboro long enough Rocky Gutter WMA was once – note once – an exceptional place for trail biking, hiking, trail running, hunting and wildlife observation. So just bring it back. Make a policy change. If the DFG can manufacture an island for an “endangered species” how about engineering Rocky Gutter for human use.
Each day a new revelation comes forward that clearly demonstrates the autocratic methods and arrogance of the failed Obama administration. The latest is the insidious methods used to manipulate the narrative surrounding the Iranian nuclear deal and thus put at risk not only the United States but potentially the planet. This administration would make Herr Goebbels proud
Locally a he said and she said is currently in full flight over the compost station – if it is that – that is on River Street. Various government entities are pursuing the matter and one Selectman – Allin Frawley – already made a few too many public statements that could now backfire on the BOS. The compost legal team has latched onto that opportunity to cause some deflection off the core issue and that can only muddle the waters a bit more.
The nationwide uprising over Common Core continues and even former supporters such as Jeb Bush – scion of a failed political family – has done a political U-turn as has Hillary Clinton. This is not exactly a right-wing revolt but one that crosses the line politically on a national scale. Education has traditionally been local even with the federal government exerting more influence and in Massachusetts with the incredible success of MCAS it is even more apparent.
The base argument is one of national standards and that brings up Massachusetts. Why should we do it? We already have success that matches our little province up with the notorious test manipulators in the Far East. Maybe just adopt MCAS nationwide?
Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump represent a liars marathon for all to view. The email scandal, Benghazi, siphoning of foreign monies to her charitable fund, questionable speeches before financial groups, idiotic accusations to protect her roving spouse and on and on. This is presidential material? And the items I mentioned are just the favorable ones!
Then comes Trump.
What can one say? Where to begin? I have no idea what motivates Mr. Bluster? The only thing I have dredged up I could possibly agree on Trump with is his refusal to release his tax returns. That foolishness has long been a “stunt” that offers no value and maybe Trump will break that cycle of knee-jerk stupidity.
Bernie Sanders will carry his war to the convention and I wish him well. Bernie is real and he is honest – at least in my view. Of course, his presidency could potentially be a fiscal negative for me since Sanders is a well-known advocate for income distribution in the classic “Progressive” tradition. For a translation that simply means you punish success and reward failure – the liberal mantra of the last 30 years. John Stuart Mill would certainly not recognize what has happened to the concept of traditional liberalism.
Progressives are loaded with bad ideas and all one has to do is find “taxes.” The supposed saints of the poor and middle class have traditionally supported the most punitive of tax structures for those two groups – sales taxes, sin taxes, and gas taxes. Of course, the logic is the funds will always get directed to specific needs such as education and infrastructure, but the reality is they simply end up in general funds to feed the machine.
The latest bright bulb to come out is a millionaire’s tax to target those who have actually been on the upper tiers of financial and business success. And – naturally – the additional taxes has all the catch words to make it seem palatable to the Hoi Polloi in that it will be directed to education – sure it will. Once that level of confiscation takes place I will gladly wager any money I have left that the threshold will be lowered incrementally until a back door raid on our flat tax system has been completed.
Why do we need the extra taxes? Is there some level of structural incompetence within our government that ignores fiscal reality and continues to value cronyism, questionable hiring’s, poor or non-existent accountability and just plain mega waste? Why – of course not! This is Massachusetts, where we have the best government money can buy.
Amazing amount of buck passing by the Town Manager in attempting to pass off a veterans issue as a union issue. The propaganda that came forward was “I held the line on the budget.” TM has no problem funding an assistant and can’t – along with our lethargic BOS – figure out a way to make it happen? Hey – even Jack Healey and his creative accounting could get it done.
Do any of them realize – TM and BOS – just how foolish they look? Yes – especially Steve McKinnon. What Steve should have said rather than an absurd comment about the 82nd Airborne (A cheap shots similarity vis a vis Steve Spataro) was to simply say: “How can we as a BOS and a TM get this done?” If you can pontificate for the new police station via being a point person for the PAC – you can do this. I’ve heard you say on many occasions to support our police with this new shed. So 9.5 Million is OK' but dragging up a few bones for vets is not? Please – no more silly this and that regarding Town Meeting approval.
Back to the 82nd Airborne comment. Was it intended to be the large crowd of vets and their supporters that showed up? What is wrong with that? Can Paul or anyone else bring in folks that wish to show support or have a say? “Costs must be contained” – what a crock! Want to contain them? Build a station for 7.5 Million.
This was and is a classic “Bloody Shirt” issue that should transcend any of the attempts to deflect with hazy attempts to link it to Town Meeting or to point the finger at the union. What they really need is someone full-time, but if 20 hours will suffice, then you go forward without generating as much negativity as possible.
Adam Bond said it as well as anyone could and he and Paul have certainly have their issues, but the common goal was always the same although the path may not have been.
Bond was in rare form – no doubt the result of his scintillating victory for the Planning Board. So along those lines, he cut to the bone on the utter stupidity over $121 and some chump change on an issue that leaves me just ready to ask my doctor if he supports euthanasia.
The roots of this mess seem to hover around some BOS nastiness that is now a he said, she said, and makes the whole litter box that they meet in have a sudden need for some new Fresh Step Litter. McKinnon made the quite appropriate comment that – and I paraphrase – we can pass a 72.6 Million budget in a blink and debate this endlessly.
President Obama has now joined former President Bush in protecting our "allies" in the House of Saud from any possible law suits resulting in their possible knowledge of 9/11. The decision is quite clear - the administration(s) value the Saudi's more than American citizens. Withholding such information is morally bankrupt.
Parents need a choice and actually demand it which is why charter schools are necessary.
Based on Middleboro’s tepid MCAS scores the waiting list would be substantial.
There is no evidence to support claims that casino’s decrease lottery dollars.
Bibi warned Congress a year ago about terrorist getting nukes. Now Obama has awaken from his stupor to state the same.
“The Donald” would be a voting disaster for Republicans.
Middleboro’s budget is 72.6M and the Red Sox Rusney Castillo has a six year 72.5M contract for sitting on the bench.
Much personal animosity on our BOS – maybe Trump can move here?
The latest pronouncement by town counsel Dan Murray on the Weston Town Forest issue represents a morass of virtually incomprehensible linguistic babble. The only nugget I was able to glean from it is that Mr. Murray has access to a dictionary or two and uses that as a basis for his legal decisions. What it in actuality it amounts to is a rather thinly constructed attempt to somehow justify his original opinion that was a remarkable few paragraphs devoid of any common sense.
To sum it up for the research limited Murray many a town forest has a disc golf course and other forms of non-passive activities. If for some reason Mr. Murray actually has a working TRS-80 a cruise on the internet will show that and a dictionary will not. But the real issue is if disc golf is non-passive? To some it is and to others, it is not and that is generally the entire passive argument – the eye of the beholder – with the one solid connection being non-motorized.
I spoke with an attorney who said that at Weston some could interpret hiking as passive, but if I choose to run it would be non-passive. A finite definition, but one to show how convoluted such defining attempts can be. In many instances, horseback riding is considered non-passive and environmentaly destructive. To further the potential idiocy of the argument my legal source said that you could have a nature area accessible only by a boardwalk and that boardwalk could be deemed to have more of a minimal environmental impact and thus the entire area becomes off-limits.
Now I am beginning to sound like attorney Murray.
Enough has been stated regarding the two decisions from the TC. Personally, it appears the original was tailored to suit an argument against disc golf for whatever reason I do not know, but local conspiracy theories abound.
The Weston Committee – of which I am a member – is stagnant and without any authority. My own personal pet project is a boardwalk that would make an area known as Cedar Point accessible year round. Originally part of an Eagle Scout project that has been redefined the boardwalk still remains a priority and other options are being examined.
The first was to have a professionally installed boardwalk done by the Audubon and that would be priced at about $70 per foot. A second option is now in the developmental stages with a request into AmeriCorps for their building of one – about 50 feet. That, of course, is dependent upon massive paperwork and approval of a relatively small scale project. The sloppy method cannot be dismissed as thirty feet of a bog bridge and a few well-placed pallets would accomplish the task. Certainly no award winning architectural designs with that approach.
The importance of such a minor project is really rather major. The area to be accessed once had a bench – little remains – that was used my Mr. Weston to simply sit and enjoy nature. The idea was once the boardwalk was established a marble bench could replace the remains and be dedicated to the benefactor – providing, of course, no serious public uprisings sprout up over such a project.
That is just one idea that is being examined and there are others to utilize the two properties. In the past, even a scout camp was discussed along with a soccer field. Those are distant memories and thankfully never happened. Now the focus can be on a playground, trail expansion, picnic areas and possible easier access to the pond.
Now for more rant directed at some collective ineptness.
The real issue is money and the reluctance for the BOS to actually start funding a few projects by opening up the purse strings that Weston so generously left. As it now stands Attorney Murray has interpreted the Weston Will in such a manner that the committee is one without any influence. We can advise and that is essentially it. How ludicrous is this mess? Our clerk has not been paid since September of 2014.
A small stipend that the Town Manager, BOS and Mr. Murray cannot figure out how to appropriate without a method that would make the Founding Fathers pack up and leave Philadelphia in 1776. This is inexcusable. Maybe we have to start a PAC?
Middleboro has bragging rights that are now memorized: “The second largest land area in Massachusetts.” How about adding on the most neglected, underutilized, underfunded, and poorly maintained land area in the region. That is a FACT!
The latest discovery that I found out about is the gated portion of Rocky Gutter Street that runs through the middle of the WMA (Wildlife Management Area) is under town control. However, the DFW (Fish & Wildlife) is adamant about leaving the entire area untouched. No trail reconstruction or maintenance. This is their policy.
According to a representative of DFW any trails and they use it in quotes are old logging roads or illegally cut trails by ATV’s. In actuality, the majority of the roadways/trails was the result of bog operations with only a minimal of roads being the result of logging. What the DFW ignores is the necessity that some or all be maintained as fire roads.
The CPC is now a subsidiary of the Oliver House Committee and clearly demonstrates everything that I envisioned could possibly go wrong with CPA. It is now a mere fiscal conduit for the militant preservations who are the core of the Oliver House Committee. If I only knew then what I know now.
The Brookside Estate residents have displayed far more patience than I would after the perfect storm of a bankrupt developer, a Planning Board and Department that have failed miserably and the various other avoidance techniques that seem so embedded in Middleboro. The BOS – Diane Stewart in particular – seemed more concerned about the potential legal actions against the town that the residents implied rather than addressing the issue.
The issue would have been ignored at least for one meeting since it was not on the agenda. This was the result of what a normal person(s) would consider a communication error and be done with it. But instead, we were subjected to a brouhaha among Chairman Allin Frawley and Selectwoman Dalpe. No doubt there has been some simmering discourse on the BOS and this minor matter just brought the ire to the surface of one of the most entertaining evenings with a Trump-like performance by both verbal combatants.
After the children calmed themselves the matter was resolved by letting the Brookside folks speak under “unanticipated.” The residents certainly had their collective facts and figures in order with both a detailed historical overview and informative comments to any BOS inquiries. Maybe the presenters should replace the Planning Board?
One presenter mentioned the systemic issues in Middleboro that have developers approaching our humble community with a certain level of trepidation. Is it true? An anecdotal incident that I experienced would give a certain degree of credence to that mindset. While at Breakfast at Friendly’s over a year ago I had the privilege of sitting behind two individuals who were developers discussing the very topic of Middleboro. The eavesdropping of their exchange certainly “backed up” what the Brookside presenter stated.
Since I am such an adept prognosticator – such as my first place prediction for the Red Sox in 2015 – I will predict that the residents be prepared for a legal struggle as the town will turtle on this entire mess. I will also predict that the town will fail and fail miserably if they choose to eventually end up in court over their own malfeasance and inability to correct a wrong.
Bumpkin apparently leads each of his Gazette articles with a hostage crisis update with the hostage being the Weston Town Forest Committee of which I happen to be a member. The hostage is two-fold with the first being the extended wait for a further clarification from Town Attorney Dan Murray on recreation. The second is the purgatory the committee is currently in as we have to beg for funds from our overseers – the BOS.
Middleboro is a disaster regarding land use. Even Pratt Farm needs some substantial upgrades and other town property has an occasional bog bridge and/or kiosk describing what trails may or may not exist. As a side note, Pratt Farm has, at least, a mile of former trails that no longer exist thanks to the growth and neglect. The rest of the town land inventory is anembarrassment
The sidebar of this blog contains a list of trail links to other towns and they do it right. Well marked trails, maintained, proper bridges and boardwalks and a list of stewards for each property. As an avid trail runner, those are there for a reason – I have run them on numerous occasions. How is this to be corrected?
At one point Middleboro had an Open Space Committee and that was – I imagine – to be their responsibility. Also, it should not and I repeat in loud, boisterous talk – NOT – the responsibility of an overburdened and understaffed Conservation Agent. The committee should act in conjunction with but with a certain level of independence. Funds are available and certainly CPC can figure out some way of tossing a few crumbs to land use since they managed to pump over one-half million dollars into the Oliver House.
Our legislative contingent has been active – especially Keiko Orall – in getting some funding for the restoration of Massasoit State Park. The Department of Conservation and Recreation can certainly provide some resources other than monetary. Wildlands Trust has many properties in town and be approached.
Back to Weston.
The Weston folks are not what one would assume being a group of brie eating tree huggers with Obama or Gore bumper stickers on their cars. They happened to be folks – like myself – with an ardent desire to utilize the land for one and all. Weston could provide a nice template for other town property, providing the BOS manages to actually relinquish some of our funding and to give approval of our projects. A recent project (Disc Golf) failed primarily to our own ineptness at championing the project. So be it and move on.
Weston has an existing trail system on both properties – bonus points if (1). You knew there were two properties and (2). You know where they are. The trails are in generally reasonable shape, but upgrades are necessary, such as marking, mapping, brochures, boardwalks and routine trail improvement. I understand the mapping is an item that is being pursued elsewhere in town and we can simply be part of it.
I had mentioned template and that is what both Weston and Pratt Farm should be. Just reference (again) the sidebar links to see how it is done elsewhere.
What is really necessary is the BOS to be more proactive in land usage in Middleboro including putting some pressure on the Department of Fish and Game to seriously upgrade Rocky Gutter Wildlife Management Area – and that is just one state property that is in neglect. The town property should also be prioritized for exactly what needs to be accomplished. Time to place a higher value on the land that will far exceed any use of the Oliver House.
The national race for president seems to be similar to a battle between Jessie and Jack.
Bernie Sanders had to face off with a crowd that included a liberal (political and numbers) smattering of Black activist that brought up the ultimate “Free Stuff” option – reparations. Reparations had been an item that has occasionally surfaced to address our illustrious past history regarding slavery and post-slavery issues. Just how such a can of worms would be financed is another issue.
Where does the fiscal ball stop on reparations? Most of the country could be handed back to Native Americans. And Japanese internment? Pogroms against the Irish when they can to America? You could create quite a list of those who could stake a fiscal claimed over any aggrievement.
Before the politics comes the recent storm that left me without power. While I was concerned about temperatures getting below sixty down the street the G & E linemen and workers were attempting to restore power in conditions that any normal human or animal would avoid. A job well done under trying conditions.
The Bumpkin (how I hate to agree with him) blasted away at Dan Murray regarding the snail’s pace to reaffirm a decision Murray made regarding just what the scope of recreation is at The Weston Town Forest? Just what does it take to motivate the town counsel? This is not a few weeks, but is now into many months. I will need a calculator to figure out just how long.
Who is Murray answerable to? My assumption is the BOS and if that is accurate, then they need to light a fire under Mr. Murray’s law books to get a move on. Fact is in the real world Murray would have been long gone. Senior management would not tolerate intellectual lethargy for anywhere close to this.
A recent poster made a comment regarding some of my negativity towards our wonderful community. To a townie criticism is certainly a red flag and the typical response was a veiled “Just move to Lakeville (Or anywhere else).” That is an inherent mentality that is quite consistent with the fateful “Cheap Seats” comment of a few years ago. When one takes on the responsibility of a town office or any other board or committee expect blowback, but don’t deflect with the “Love it or leave it” stupidly that was so prevalent in the 1960s.
Is being appointed to a town committee more difficult that undoing The Gordian Knot? Apparently so. The flap over a Tourism Committee has brought a new or eventually a new procedure. I am sure DNA testing and urine samples will be required. Maybe recite the alphabet backwards in thirty seconds? Something that should be simple has now become complex. Is the BOS taking Murray’s “advice” on this?
Has the Planning Board been on snooze control? According to articles in the local papers, the residents of Brookside are in a bind and left out to hang. Forget the developer who has picked up his fiscal marbles and moved on. They need a road rebuilt – forget repair – and it appears the best option is to use a $430,000 surety bond they are holding and have the town do the work. The may not have all the bells and whistles the PB would like, but that can be waived. The real issue is why has the PB let this drift for almost ten years?
Martha Coakley was supposed to be anointed the next president of Suffolk University, but, alas, the pressure by the student body ended that venture. What is that for Coakley? Three losses in a row?
The Tax time is upon us and once again the convoluted mess that passes for our tax system demonstrates just what a mired in mud mess it is. I sift through forms that have little or no relationship to English or any other known language. Is there some type of Rosetta Stone that is used to get a linguistic hold on the methodology?
Through the years, various government appointees and elected officials have dabbled with the code to “enhance revenue” with the no desire as to reform but to confuse. Within confusion there is opportunity – and that opportunity is to feed the machine. I am 100% convinced that no legislator would even remotely attempt significant reform. If by some minor miracle one did he or she would have my vote and a generous campaign contribution.
What ever happened to a downtown police station? Apparently that was a vibe fostered by “Radical Preservationist” as a veiled attempt at saving what is a dump. And most of that committee became the new committee and so, naturally, we are to believe them? Just my suspicious nature on due diligence.
The Brockton Enterprise is virtually a worthless paper and has consistently deteriorated since the Fuller family sold it. The latest joke was an editorial that is currently targeting the next area of the looney left now that “Big Oil” is off the table at $30 a barrel - “Big Pharm.”
The specific target was Gilead Sciences and their Hepatitis C drug regimen that costs $84,000. The Enterprise picked up this nugget of a target thanks to our AG. Of course, if you pay the full tab you also pay the MSRP for a vehicle purchase. But the other option is a cheaper version by Abbvie (Disclosure – I hold stock in both companies). Gilead’s success rate is 99%. The cost of a liver transplant in $250,000. Ongoing treatment for liver ailments related to Hep C is staggering. You want cheap? If you want a lower cure rate? Go to Merck or Abbie for around $54,000
I will take our AG seriously when she leaves the State House and wanders across the street to Mass PRIT and demands that they sell all of Gilead, Pfizer, Abbott, Merck and dozens of others. In the meantime, expect Bernie and Hillary to pound away at “Big Pham” and “Big Banks.” Oh…and that AG? The one that defends sex offenders? What a load! At least, a judge had the decency to call out her pathetic office on the Bridgewater University (AKA – College) daycare scandal.
The editorial board at the Enterprise failed to read their own paper – probably a good choice – there was an article that showed “Big Pharm” - a huge player in the BioTech index – certainly was an integral part of the 30% that index has suffered in six months. And Gilead? Down from $117 to $83 in six months. They must have “forgot” about that?
The real grasp at straws was thanks to Martin Shkreli – a hedge fund investor – who raised a drug fiftyfold when he took over KaloBios. Shkreli can share a cell with Bernie Madoff.
On the national scene the Hillary Clinton acolytes continue to blame everyone but Hillary for the latest mess. Hillary usually states it is “others” who are attempting to damage her and that translates to Republicans and select Democratic opposition. With a laundry list of Whitewater, Mount Everest, Travelgate, Vince Foster, and many, many more the pattern is easily discernible – a compulsive liar.
The latest Clinton game plan was directed at Bernie Sanders and it was the SOS (Same Old Story) where Sanders is running a “Smear campaign.” Doesn’t this get old with the fawning masses that support Clinton? The Clinton’s have used this tactic for 30 years.
Eventually, Governor Christie will rise to the top and be the Republican nominee. I guarantee that just as I guaranteed a Red Sox World Series in 2015. What the Democrats eventually do will be a mystery as Bernie Sanders will be McGovern all over again. Hillary may be busy taking the fifth and the rest of the crowd will be nowhere to be found. Jim Webb coming across in the debates like Jackie Gleason’s Lost Soul character cut him loose early and he was my pick.
In Massachusetts, Charlie Baker is attempting to sweep up eight years of dismal leadership and is making some progress. The DCF issue is being addressed, the MBTA battle is taking place, taxes are on hold, and the tip toe through an 85% Democrat legislature is an adventure in nimbleness. But one year does not an administration make. Look for four and out.
Even John, “I’d walk a mile for a camera” Kerry mentioned the fact that some of the 150 Billion dumped into the laps of the mullah’s will end up being funneled to a terrorist. Brilliant, John! How wonderfully insightful. So far the nuclear deal is taking on all the aspects that its critics said would happen. Another Obama legacy.
The Republican front-runner – The Donald – is a belligerent, narcissistic, misogynist blowhard who just may grab the nomination. I cannot imagine a more deceitful male candidate since the female candidate for the Democrats fairly matches up with him. That, folks, may be the best both parties can offer. Even a crypto Communist is starting to look good.
Boston is a city with a shade over 42 square miles and narrow streets that allow parking year round. There are – quite naturally – certain restrictions regarding permit parking for neighborhoods. When a snow storm is anticipated a snow emergency is declared and that means the streets must be cleared of vehicles. You leave it and you will lose it at $50 a day and towing charges.
In Middleboro, we have a ridiculous ban starting November First. The absurdity and pure silliness that gives a solid insight into that antiquated mindset of a town that has some leadership on the food chain that is clueless. Just apply the snow emergency concept and let people park as they normally do. Of course, from the home of “Silly String” one would expect no less.
Under no circumstances will I vote for a new police station and it has nothing to do with need – that is a moot question since the need exists. This is a pure family support since I now have children who have located in Middleboro and simply will not accept the additional taxes. I can certainly fiscally support it, but family first. But a few other issues have grabbed my attention.
With the first attempt a few years back Town Meeting overwhelmingly voted for it only to have reality hit home and watch the station go down in ballot flames. A thinly disguised attempts by radical preservationist failed miserably. Now the latest resurrected proposal has their own PAC! I give this a 50/50 chance. Maybe even a 60/40 to pass?
My questions regarding the latest station is why Lakeville’s proposal for a station is considerably more cost effective than Middleboro? The square foot Lakeville figure is approximately $500 per square foot, according to published reports. Middleboro’s projected cost is significantly higher per square foot. Maybe Middleboro should have hired those in Lakeville to do a study instead of our own committee?
Police station costs for similar communities are lower than what Middleboro is proposing. The research is simple to find online. I imagine the committee that did all the “research” would, no doubt, go into an auto dealership and pay MSRP and probably ADM (Additional Dealer Markup) if that was tacked on.
Middleboro absolutely had to have a new fire truck at a projected cost of about one million dollars. Lakeville purchased our old clunker, refurbished it and now it has been in operation ever since. Amazing how the community with the lowest median income of any town in the county has a prime rib budget while the wealthiest in the county has a 73% beef budget. Again, why Lakeville?
If the latest police station proposal goes south the next most viable option is what I see elsewhere around the nation – modular units. Seen a lot of these and they come in all types of configurations to meet any need from administrative to lock-up.
The real silent message in the last vote was one of resentment. Police make a bundle of money. The Enterprise often highlights public salaries and the police in the towns that they publish dominate the figures. Jealousy or not that exists and I have personally heard it first hand and that includes other town employees. Dump the ultimate public safety gimmie – The Quinn Bill – and you can have a station with no taxpayer cost.
The next item down the taxation road is a potential new high school. I fully expect when all the public input is shifted through and all the various studies are done the decision will be to construct a new school. No doubt the supporters will use the unethical “For the children” approach and maybe even attempt to use the fallacy (I have seen elsewhere) that an improved plant improves test scores. I am sure if we have a new high school the Ivy League schools will be recruiting in town.
Fantasy sports – which I admittedly could care less about participating in – now rakes in billions and – quite naturally – that means the potential of tax dollars. Nationwide the move is afoot to regulate and tax. One of the key elements that has been mentioned is that there was the possibility that a game was “rigged.” How so?
The reasoning is that one clever employee used proprietary information to play on a competing site and won $300,000. The major sites use similar methods and algorithms. Nasty and certainly open to legal and ethical concerns. But, wait! Turns out the lottery has had similar questionable internal scams in various states that have reaped millions. I may not “trust” business, but I trust the government even less.
The dreary eight-year sentence of what the “free stuff” crowd put in office is slowly coming to its disastrous conclusion. An empty suit of epic proportions will rely on left-leaning historians to somehow put a gloss on failure. Even the failures of the incompetent 43 make the current administration appear like the “JV Team.”
Selectman Knowlton is obviously unfamiliar with the restaurant business by his recent request to have the latest resurrection of restaurant failure on route 28 shrink bar size. Thankfully, David Fisher say an adamant and resounding “no” to this suggestion. That is not the trend in casual dining and that would certainly hinder the dynamics of food and beverage (booze) mix that impacts the bottom line.
Fisher is one who has a very positive track record in this business niche and is willing to invest the money to totally revamp “360” or “Shooters” into a viable business that has a respectable reputation and actually where families can go. No doubt his vision of a new concept is to transition back to Richards’s days, but with better ambience.
The Bumpkin was rather mild on town attorney Dan Murray in a recent column. Insert a LOL in there. That a simple decision is now going on three months means it has been either neglected or Mr. Murray has realized his original missive on recreation had no basis in common sense, facts or Weston Will interpretation.
