Massachusetts
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9:21 a.m.
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What’s going on at Innermost Parts? Why has posting been so light? Here’s the deal. Many of us at Innermost Parts are spending our time getting the Change Agency off the ground. Change Agency is a chartered campus club with the same goals as we have: to grow and strengthen the progressive community at Brandeis. [...]...
Innermost Parts - 8:50 a.m.
[Crossposted from ONE Massachusetts] Massachusetts stands out as the top 2 state in terms of clean energy leadership among states in the US . The federal government recently awarded an important financial award to the state for investments in our education system . But while it is clear that all of this is only possible with our shared support, it often feels uncertain how this support should ...
Blue Mass. Group - 6:43 a.m. - 3 clicks 
Yesterday’s Globe had an article that provides a glimpse into the shadowy world of big money political fund raising. The US Attorney has charged Martin Raffol, a high ranking executive in a big Massachusetts constructions company with illegally funneling $12,000 to the campaigns of Congressmen Barney Frank, Stephen Lynch, Mike Capuano and William Delahunt. [...]...
Richard Howe - 6:09 a.m. - 3 clicks
Who knew political campaigns were a source of tax revenue? Apparently not a growing list of candidates. The Globe tells us two more Democrats -- Lt. Gov. Tim Murray and Auditor hopeful Guy Glodis -- have been snagged for failure to pay state taxes on investment interest generated when campaigns park contributions in bank CDs. And we discovered that Martha Coakley's AG campaign also had some iss...
Massachusetts Liberal - 3:21 a.m. - 3 clicks
NYTimes columnist Timothy Egan today writes about the “summer home” owned by all Americans, by which he means the vast tracts of public land and majestic national parks around the country. Lowell’s national park is about a place held in common by Americans, too, as well as an idea: the development of an industrialized, ethnically [...]...
Richard Howe - 12:29 a.m. - 4 clicks
Front page of today's Cape Cod Times - High Court Green Lights Cape Wind My heartiest condemnation is reserved for the Cape Cod Commission and the Town of Barnstable for bringing this case in the first place, although a skosh less for Barnstable. You see, not long ago the Cape Cod Commission sued the Energy Facilities Siting Board claiming they had jurisdiction, if not intelligence or ex...
Blue Mass. Group - Wed 3:26 p.m. - 3 clicks
In this week's issue of the Boston Phoenix -- in print tomorrow, online now -- I write about the surprising emergence of Worcester as an epicenter of political power in Massachusetts. I can hear you snickering out there. Worcester has never gotten much respect, but it might be time to readjust that thinking. Tim Murray, Jim McGovern, Guy Glodis and others could be wielding power in the st...
Talking Politics - Wed 12:46 p.m. - 4 clicks
Over the course of the year I have occasionally remarked that it's typical of Massachusetts Democrats that, in a year where voters are clearly angry at insider Beacon Hill Democrats, the party is rallying around former party chairman Steve Grossman and former Deval Patrick campaign political director Suzanne Bump, for the open statewide offices of treasurer and auditor. But should Democratic...
Talking Politics - Wed 12:46 p.m. - 4 clicks
It's hard to see Sen. Orrin Hatch's comments regarding the "Ground Zero Mosque" as anything other than a slap right across Mitt Romney's devastatingly handsome face. Senator Orrin Hatch, a Utah Republican, said mosque proponents "have every right" to carry out their plans in New York, just as Mormons had a right to build their temple, despite neighborhood opposition.... "I remember when the Be...
Blue Mass. Group - Tue 8:42 p.m. - 5 clicks
EOHHS has set up a new website to be the central source of official information on the implementation of the Affordable Care Act in Massachusetts: mass.gov/NationalHealthReform. The site includes grant and demonstration opportunities, letters of intent, an implementation timeline and … Continue reading → ...
A Healthy Blog - Tue 1:07 p.m. - 9 clicks
Update This really is getting crazy: http://www.boston.com/news/loc... The police report claims rolling papers were found and says Jon admitted smoking half a joint, the statement submitted on his behalf in court says that he took a hit from a communal joint, and now he claims no toking. Jon Golnik, who many have been saying was the strongest candidate against Niki Tsongas, has admitted an ...
Blue Mass. Group - Tue 11:29 a.m. - 3 clicks
A note in today’s Globe about a vintage postcard exhibit at the Boston Public Library, reminded me of the value of post cards as historical and cultural documents. While this exhibit focuses on early 2oth century Boston, the millions of cards in the hands of private collectors and in local historical societies and libraries have [...]...
Richard Howe - Tue 8:08 a.m. - 8 clicks
The noble, highly useful busybodies at JP Progressives have been flogging their legislative forum series ...and with good reason. I had noticed highlights of the 2 nd Suffolk Senate District and finally dug into the 19 questions, plus 12 yes-or-no lightning round ones. The geographically sprawling and diverse district includes the Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Chinatown, Dorchester , Jamaica Plain, ...
Marry in Massachusetts - Tue 8:08 a.m. - 8 clicks
From the UMass Lowell Office of Public Affairs: “First-year students are officially welcomed to the university community at Convocation on Tuesday, Aug. 31 at 10 a.m. at the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell. The keynote speaker is Bill Strickland, winner of a MacArthur Foundation ‘genius grant’ and more than 10 honorary degrees for his work to [...]...
Richard Howe - Tue 5:47 a.m. - 7 clicks
We all read the story in last week's Boston Globe about how some legislative candidates are tacking to the right. Just wanted to bring another example to light: state Rep. Steve Tobin of Quincy, who is running to replace Mike Morrissey in the state senate. Rep. Tobin in a column in the Braintree Forum this week took a page out of the GOP playbook saying he opposes expanding the Bottle Bill to ...
Blue Mass. Group - Mon 10:25 a.m. - 8 clicks
Odious, irrational and hostile well describe the recent Tea Party rally at Castle Island. Anyone unaware of what the anti-gay/anti-marriage equality types are thinking can get a fill at MassResistance's video recap . Surely the most ear-worthy vid is of the dissenting judge on the MA Supreme Judicial Court when it ordered Wacko Hurley's crew to let LGBT folk march in Southie's St. Patrick's ...
Marry in Massachusetts - Mon 9:08 a.m. - 49 clicks
Last Friday, Congressman Lynch and I went toe-to-toe at a mini-debate moderated by Jon Keller. The 15 minute debate aired on WBZ this morning and is available online. It was a spirited, substantive debate on the issues -- something we need a lot more of in politics, frankly. I'm sorry it only lasted 15 minutes -- and that, thus far at least, it's the only scheduled debate of this campaign. First...
Blue Mass. Group - Sun 4:47 p.m. - 12 clicks
Welcome to the Change Agency, the new progressive activist group on campus! After a lot of hard work from a lot of talented people, the Change Agency is finally ready to go public and bring activism at Brandeis to new heights. And each and every one of us can bring our talents together and play [...]...
Innermost Parts - Sun 3:27 p.m. - 7 clicks
Everyone should read that New Yorker article on the "ideological campaign funded by the fossil fuel industry", specifically the Koch Brothers. And then everyone should read "eaarth" to get the other side of the story, about what the Libertarians have done to the planet. Bill McKibben is interviewed in the Lexington Minuteman in advance of him speaking Sunday night (7:30 at Cary Hall on Mass ...
Blue Mass. Group - Sun 2:44 p.m. - 11 clicks
Last Sunday’s Boston Globe lead editorial echoes many of the concerns of consumers across the Commonwealth who are questioning the proposed sale of the Caritas Christi hospital chain to the Wall Street private equity firm Cerberus. While acknowledging that the … Continue reading → ...
A Healthy Blog - Sun 2:21 p.m. - 11 clicks
Unlike certain deluded Democrats , Jim McGovern has figured out a basic truth about politics: if you stand up for who you are and what you believe, voters will respect you. The worst thing a politician can do, IMHO, is constantly adapt his or her positions to what seem to be the prevailing political winds. McGovern doesn't plan to change his beliefs or stance on the issues in the wake o...
Blue Mass. Group - Sat 7:47 a.m. - 14 clicks
By George I think I've got it! A plan to deal with both an ugly hole in the ground in Downtown Crossing and raise much needed cash for Boston. It's simple: move the Boston Public Health Commission's new chicken farm from Long island to the Filene's hole . Then market the eggs produced there as a substitute for those recalled by the FDA for salmonella contamination. OK, there are some pro...
Massachusetts Liberal - Sat 6:06 a.m. - 15 clicks
The Massachusetts Democratic Party unveiled a short web video attacking Charlie Baker's tenure as the CEO of Harvard Pilgrim, highlighting the rate increases for customers and the pay increases for himself that occurred during his time there. While Deval Patrick holds his powder his surrogates are doing a very effective ......
Bill Manzi - Sat 6:06 a.m. - 12 clicks
Bill Hudak supporter getting ready for a rally in Boxford: (Credit: The Most Ridiculous Tea Party Protest Signs ) The group "one in five Americans" believes our commander in chief is a Muslim, accepts alien abductions as fact, can't find the U.S. on a map, and thinks George W. Bush was a great president. HuffPo spotlights the group and its core beliefs. Onion: Texas Vows To Reclai...
Blue Mass. Group - Fri 11:05 p.m. - 12 clicks
In this day when most of the elected play Sydney Lassick roles to their corporate masters, one Congressman is being congressional. Congressman Markey, largely ignored in the main stream media is the hero of the citizen involved media. He's doing what a Congressman should be doing: Investigating what response the government should be making. He even got a response to th...
Blue Mass. Group - Fri 11:05 p.m. - 17 clicks
Governor Sarah Palin, in remarks broadcast on Fox News, correctly points out that while Senators like Scott Brown may be tolerated in Massachusetts, he would never be accepted up there in Alaska, where the pioneering spirit is dominant. And lets face it folks she has a valid point. I know ......
Bill Manzi - Fri 11:27 a.m. - 13 clicks
My racism antennae are twitching again about the 2nd Suffolk Senate race. Two years ago, Sonia Chang-Díaz wrested the seat from indicted, now convicted Dianne Wilkerson. We heard such nastiness in that campaign. It appears to be steaming up again. Back then when the ever ditzy Wilkerson ended up having to run a sticker campaign after not even bothering to collect enough sigs to get on the ballot,...
Marry in Massachusetts - Fri 8:05 a.m. - 97 clicks
In a past life as an alleged state policy maker, I had to fill out the dreaded Statement of Financial Interest, laying bare (within ranges) my somewhat meager income and assets. It wasn't pleasant, but it was a fair price to pay for working in the public sector. Back then Massachusetts also had a somewhat progressive law -- even if the filer was told who, if anyone, requested the document. But...
Massachusetts Liberal - Fri 5:44 a.m. - 10 clicks
It's hard to tell some times which Alice in Wonderland character best describes Sarah Palin. Is she the Queen of Hearts, vanquishing Alaska foe Lisa Murkowski and demanding the removal of Scott Brown's head ? Or is she the Mad Hatter, the well-paid titular head of the Tea Party, dragging the Republican Party even farther to the right, perhaps even enabling Democrats to survive a November trou...
Massachusetts Liberal - Fri 5:20 a.m. - 18 clicks
Former Governor Sarah Palin had some choice words for Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown on Fox News yesterday, saying that in places like Alaska folks wouldn't put up with the "antics" of Scott Brown. Also seemed to agree that Brown has been supportive of the "Reid-Pelosi" (or was it Pelosi-Reid?)agenda! Palin ......
Bill Manzi - Fri 5:20 a.m. - 16 clicks
Last January, Massachusetts’, and the world’s, attention was drawn to South Hadley when tragic events made the issue of bullying a front page story. The legislature acted quickly, passing and enacting new legislation designed to address the issue. Earlier this … Continue reading → ...
A Healthy Blog - Thu 2:01 p.m. - 14 clicks
Governor Patrick's education announcement. Methuen will receive $1.8 million in education funding from this federal grant. NEW BEDFORD - Wednesday, August 25, 2010 - Governor Deval Patrick today allocated $204 million from the federal Education Jobs Fund to school districts across the Commonwealth, bringing state support for public schools to ......
Bill Manzi - Aug 26 - 11 clicks
Electrons are cheap, even with paid web/social media developers. Our attorney general, Martha Coakley , did a so-so job with new media in her run for Ted Kennedy's Senate seat, but she's full tilt now that she's settled back into her office. Amusingly enough though, and likely befitting the chief MA cop, her approach is tight, very tight. Get a sense of that from her official Web Communicati...
Marry in Massachusetts - Aug 24 - 9 clicks
It's obvious why Seamus Romney is getting antsy. The man who threw the dog carrier on the car roof and his principles under the bus for a 2008 presidential run is getting ready to hit the road again ! Yep, like the proverbial seven-year itch, only on a shorter cycle, Willard Mitt Romney is about to embark on a coast-to-coast tour, a 25-state midterm jaunt ostensibly to help the Republican pa...
Massachusetts Liberal - Aug 24
Aha! I think I have the secret formula: one example is a potential oddity. Two examples are more than mere happenstance Three? It's a trend! The Globe gloms onto that formula today with a story about how three Massachusetts Democrats in swing districts are sliding to the center in the House and Senate races. Under the prominent Page One headline, the newspaper of record declares: "For Dem...
Massachusetts Liberal - Aug 23 - 5 clicks
There's a very simple message behind Brian Mooney's story today about the fund-raising and sending habits of the Massachusetts gubernatorial candidates. Charlie Baker, the Republican running on his managerial talents and his promise of making government lean and mean has out-raised incumbent Deval Patrick by a nearly 2-to-1 margin, while more than doubling Patrick's spending. And after a year ...
Massachusetts Liberal - Aug 22 - 6 clicks
You would think that for the four bucks they snag for each to and from Maine that New Hampshire public works officials could fork over a few dollars for directional signs when the muse actually strikes someone to stop in the Land of Booze and Butts Taxes. After experiencing a Saturday backup from Salem to Kittery on the way north, Mrs. OL and I decided to stop off in Portsmouth to break up the tr...
Massachusetts Liberal - Aug 22 - 5 clicks
Like an old lioness, sleepy but beginning to feel hunger and the drive to hunt, the Boston Globe is finally running real campaign stories a month before the primary. Last week, it acknowledged that three are in real competition for a key race , treasurer. Who knows, maybe after the primary, it will belatedly cover the two contenders for Secretary of the Commonwealth Bill Galvin's office. Tod...
Marry in Massachusetts - Aug 22 - 22 clicks
In this week's issue of the Boston Phoenix -- in print and online now -- I have a short take on Monday afternoon's gubernatorial debate. I suggest that Charlie Baker is showing improvement as a candidate, but still has a ways to go to catch up with Deval Patrick and his team. Read it here: Baker's Learning Curve ...
Talking Politics - Aug 19 - 5 clicks
Once upon a time, like back in February when Bill Delahunt announced his retirement, there was a lot of thinking that Republicans could win the race this November for his replacement in the 10th District. After all, it's one of the least-Democratic districts in the state, and in January its voters went gaga over Scotto Brown. The Republicans got two legit candidates -- former Treasurer Joe Ma...
Talking Politics - Aug 17 - 3 clicks
