Free Republic

Republican gubernatorial hopeful Charlie Baker has picked state Sen. Richard R. Tisei as his running mate, according to his campaign Web site and Facebook page. An announcement is scheduled for 11 a.m. today at the American Civic Center in Tisei’s hometown of Wakefield, State House News is reporting. Baker’s campaign manager could not be immediately reached for comment. “Richard has years of experience fighting for the taxpayer on Beacon Hill and I’m thrilled to have him on the team,” Baker said in a statement posted on his campaign Web site. The Web page contained on CharlieBaker2010.com included a photo of...

It’s that most wonderful time of the year. The malls are filled with snowflakes, the oldies radio stations are Christmas music 24/7 and in Chelmsford they’re preparing for the annual arrival of everyone’s favorite holiday Aryan: Swasti-Claus! Byam Elementary School in Chelmsford is one of several area schools that raises money by setting up holiday gift shops. Parents donate trinkets and tchotchkes, which are then put on sale for a few days in December so the little kiddies can buy gifts for mom, dad and the sibs. According to organizers in the Byam PTO, it’s one of their biggest fundraisers....

Jack Spillane column: A cup of joe with a guy named Steve (Pagliuca, that is)By Jack Spillane November 08, 2009 12:00 AM He's actually better in person than his ads. I'm talking about Steve Pagliuca, the venture capitalist and Celtics co-owner who's running for Ted Kennedy's Senate seat. In the wake of my initial column about Pagliuca, I had the opportunity to sit down with him for a short interview this week. He had toured a New Bedford scallop company — which must have been in between his cutting TV ads. (I don't need to tell you, of course, that...

Almost 20% of West Virginians eligible to vote are either dead or have moved. Five States with the Most Dead People Eligible to Vote: Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming. FUN TIME IN ACORN TOWN: DEAD PEOPLE RULE! Are you lonely when you go to the polling place? Want some company? Perhaps, you'd like to take along a dead "friend" to vote with you. That's a scenario that's becoming more possible across the United States. A combination of old voter registration lists that still contain the names of dead voters and voters who have moved, new "Motor Voter" legislation,...

On Nov. 9 Wade Rathke will be speaking at Springfield college,Marsh Hall in Springfield Mass at 7:0PM and at UMASS on Nov. 10, Gordon Hall at 4:00PM. We will be arriving a half hour early to both. When I say we, I mean the western Mass 912 project. Our signs will be aimed specifically at ACORN's and Rathke's legal problems; they will also be aimed at student age people. Apparently we have a troll on our site, they have discovered our plans and plan to counter us. I am asking for help from anyone that can make it. The following...

Gays demand tolerance and inclusion. See how long that lasts once should they continue to get people fired because they dare not agree with their brand of "marriage"....

Facts are a stubborn thing. And despite the false claims of ideologues, academics and politicians, the facts tell the story of Massachusetts' remarkably successful health-reform law. The lengths that critics have gone to in their various attempts to disprove the obvious—that our state's landmark 2006 law and its implementation amount to a truly historic achievement—would be amusing if the subject were not so serious.

Where is Tina Fey now that we need her? Martha Coakley is the front-runner for the Dem nomination for Ted Kennedy's old Senate seat. In a recent debate, asked about her lack of foreign policy experience, the first credential Coakley offered in response was that "I have a sister who lives overseas, and she's been in England and now lives in the Middle East." Will the MSM savage Coakley the same way it went after Sarah Palin for observing that Russia can be seen from parts of Alaska? Not holding breath.

Where is Tina Fey now that we need her? Martha Coakley is the front-runner for the Dem nomination for US Senate for Ted Kennedy's old seat. In a recent debate, asked about her lack of foreign policy experience, the first credential Coakley offered in response was that "I have a sister who lives overseas, and she's been in England and now lives in the Middle East." View video here.

In Boston, the livin’ is never easy. A new report from Northeastern University finds we’re one of the priciest housing markets in America. Only San Francisco has higher rents, for example. Massachusetts has the highest energy costs in the country. Our roads are very expensive (only New Jersey spends more per state road mile) and are generally crappy - even when they’re not covered with sides of beef. And now Bay Staters face yet another challenge, according to the liberal group ONE Massachusetts: You’re UNDER taxed. In fact, ONE Massachusetts is so certain you want to pay higher taxes, they’re...

Last night in Boston, President Obama faced a half-empty hotel ballroom at a fundraiser for his pal, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, who is unpopular and facing a difficult re-election campaign. Instead of confidence, he actually expressed doubt: "There really should be no doubt that this guy gets a second term. But let's be honest. This is going to be a tough race ... " Jules Crittenden has a hilarious blog post on the dismal portents for Obama and Patrick, titled "Maybe we can't," delving into the event and the press reaction. A sample: Boston Globe helpfully plays down and buries five long graphs...

Plagued by his own plummeting polls and playing to empty seats at a high-roller Hub fund-raiser, President Obama acknowledged yesterday that his close friend and political alter ego Gov. Deval Patrick faces a rough road to re-election. “There really should be no doubt that this guy gets a second term. But let’s be honest. This is going to be a tough race,� Obama told a room barely half-full with 125 deep-pocketed Democrats who ponied up $6,000 for Patrick and the party. “Re-election is not a foregone conclusion because times are tough.� Reflecting those hard times, the swanky Westin Copley Place...

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Massachusetts police say they are searching for two men suspected of robbing a woman of $27,000 after she flashed the cash in a Springfield bar. Sgt. John Delaney said on Friday that the 22-year-old woman was robbed Monday night by two men wearing dark clothing and bandanas, one armed with what appeared to be a semiautomatic handgun...

President Obama blows into the bluest state tomorrow facing a cold shoulder from once true-blue admirers, as gay rights activists, anti-war protesters and vexed environmentalists vow to picket a fund-raiser he’s headlining for Gov. Deval Patrick - a marquee event that hasn’t even sold out. As of last night, liberals who once braved frigid temperatures to behold Obama were shunning tickets to the fund-raiser at the posh Westin Copley Place featuring the president, sources told the Herald. And despite campaign denials, Patrick operatives reportedly were pushing the ducats - between $500 and $6,000 - by e-mail up to the last...

Hundreds of people have been arrested in Texas and around the country what officials say is the largest single strike at a Mexican drug cartel in the U.S WASHINGTON (October 22, 2009)—U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder calls the arrests of more than 300 people in a series of drug raids in Texas and across the country the largest single strike at a Mexican drug cartel operating here. Holder said at a news conference Thursday that the arrests over the past two days were aimed at the U.S. operations of the La Familia cartel. Click here to find out more! Holder...

Scandal-magnet Republican Jack E. Robinson is making a last-minute bid for the U.S. Senate, filing 10,900 signatures with the Duxbury town clerk just before the Tuesday deadline, according to a source close to the campaign. Robinson, who coughed up $100,000 to collect the signatures, will challenge Wrentham state Sen. Scott Brown in the Dec. 8 GOP primary. The winner will move on to the special election in January. “He’s been trying to stay under the radar,” said the campaign source who asked to remain anonymous because Robinson hasn’t officially announced he is running. The state’s Republican party shunned Robinson after...

WORCESTER, Mass.- A Worcester, Mass., man said he will not appeal the city's order to tear down the $12,000 four-story tree house he built on his property . Michael Chapman, 48 -- who built the tree house over the course of three months from more than a ton of pressure-treated lumber, 1,000 feet of rope, about 500 lag screws and 48 feet of rebar -- said the city ordered him to remove the tree house by Nov. 2 and he intends to abide by the order, The Boston Globe reported Tuesday. Officials from Worcester's Department of Inspectional Services said they...

A 27-year-old man from Sudbury has been arrested on charges he planned terrorism attacks inside and outside the United States, according to a spokeswoman for Acting U.S. Attorney Michael K. Loucks. The man was identified as Tarek Mehanna, who was arrested in November of last year for allegedly lying to authorities about a man who trained with al Qaida, federal officials tell the Herald. Loucks and Warren T. Bamford, special-agent-in-charge of the Boston FBI field office, have called a 10 a.m. press conference to discuss the arrest. The announcement will be made at the federal courthouse in South Boston. Developing...

A reality TV star was arrested in Massachusetts over the weekend. Adam Jasinski, who won CBS' "Big Brother" last year, was charged with dealing oxycodone in North Reading Saturday. According to the Boston Herald, Jasinski allegedly told a DEA agent that he used the $500,000 he won on the show to bankroll a drug-dealing operation on the East Coast. Federal prosecutors say Jasinski spoke to an undercover agent from his home in Delray Beach, Florida and agreed to fly to Boston to sell the agent 2,000 oxycodone pills. Once Jasinski arrived at Logan Airport, the agent drove him to a...

Martha Coakley is a Mean Girl. How else to explain yesterday’s snide “I’m not going to talk to you” comeback after Boston Herald State House Bureau Chief Hillary Chabot asked her about campaign finances? The silent treatment from a U.S. Senate candidate. Like, totally high school, Martha. Meet me in the ladies for a smoke and a chat. Watch the door. This might take a while. Here’s the thing, Martha: If you’re running for Massachusetts U.S. Senate seat and proclaiming to be a progressive candidate who preaches transparency in government, it’s a good idea to answer reporters’ questions. If you...

The most important rule in health care is "first do no harm". Unfortunately Congressional Democrats seem totally oblivious to this rule. Many Democrats are so egotistical that they think anything they do will be an improvement. They seem incapable of understanding that changes can make a situation worse instead of better just like giving a patient the wrong medical treatment can worsen the patient's condition. The wrong medical treatment can kill. Making the wrong changes in the health care system can reduce access to health care and reduce the quality of health care. In one of my favorite episodes of...

These are the days of miracles and wonders, as the Senate Finance Committee approved its version of ObamaCare yesterday on 14 to 9 vote, including Maine Republican Olympia Snowe. Now their health-care marvel—a new entitlement that will supposedly "reduce the costs of health care," as the President put it in his congratulatory message—will move to the Senate floor, and perhaps then to a doctor or hospital near you. Meanwhile, Massachusetts is offering a preview of where all this will end up. The state passed a prototype for ObamaCare in 2006 on the same cost-control theory as Senate Finance, only to...

Both President Obama and the Democratic Congress have ignored the mess that three states have made of their economy and tax burden by attempting to create a public option and/or universal healthcare. Tennessee has its TennCare program, Maine has tried a "public option" program, and Massachusetts has its RomenyCare system that promises healthcare for all. Each of them has been a boondoggle for the taxpayers and has failed to deliver promised savings and enhanced coverage. In fact, each of these states have begun to cut services to people because the costs have skyrocketed despite claims that "savings" would occur and...

Sen. Lindsey Graham working with Sen. John Kerry on climate bill Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina publicly announced his support for climate legislation on Sunday in an op-ed column with Democratic Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts. "Our partnership represents a fresh attempt to find consensus that adheres to our core principles and leads to both a climate change solution and energy independence," the two senators wrote in The New York Times. "It begins now, not months from now — with a road to 60 votes in the Senate." Graham's support is a major win for climate supporters, who...

Controlling Healthcare Costs The American Way: Not Doing It 08 Oct 2009 In the comments to an earlier post, KennyBoy asks: And Megan, no one on your side of the argument seems willing to answer two simple questions. If every other country (don't split hairs, you know what I mean) can cover ALL of their citizens for LESS than the US does, with better outcomes, why can't we do that? This is a favorite question of would-be reformers. There are two answers, one theoretical, and one empirical. We'll start with the theory, which won't be new to regular readers; I've...

BOSTON -- New evidence has surfaced as the case that has rocked the Boston Police department heads back to the courtroom Monday. The focus of the proceedings at Dorchester District Court will center on cell phone calls and text messages that the alleged victim made. A married pregnant Boston police officer has gone to court to ask for an extension of a restraining order against a fellow officer who she has claimed raped her several times while the pair were at a shooting competition in Connecticut this summer. Newscenter 5 has learned the female Boston officer did not report her...

A Boston police officer has filed a restraining order against another officer in the department, alleging that he sexually assaulted her - possibly impregnating her - and then stalked her, according to court records. The accusation has roiled the department, which is investigating the allegations, according to several law enforcement officials with knowledge of the case. Both officers have been temporarily stripped of their guns and have been asked to stay away from the department during the investigation, but no one has been disciplined, according to the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they are not authorized...

The day began with a shooting competition in Connecticut. By afternoon, the Boston police officers were drinking beer and margaritas in a nearby parking lot. By the end of the night, they had stopped at two bars, where they downed tequila shots and more beer. Soon afterward, the three officers, two men and a young woman only a couple of years out of the academy, went back to a hotel near Farmington, where they all agreed to share a room. As the woman collapsed into bed, she said she felt someone crawl in next to her. It was one of...

It was a Massachusetts moment last Friday, when Vice President Joe Biden swore in Kennedy-family servitor Paul Kirk to fill Ted’s oversized Senate seat until a special election in January. In 2004, when our other Senator, John Forbes Kerry, was the Democratic nominee for president, Massachusetts’ one-party state legislature (88% Democratic) passed legislation denying Republican Governor Mitt Romney the power to make an interim appointment should Kerry’s seat become vacant. But now we have a Democratic governor, and Obama forbid the Party of Plunder should be without its 60th vote in the Senate until the special election scheduled for January...

The name recognition surely can’t hurt, but Joe Kennedy, a high-tech whiz kid who plans to become the next junior U.S. senator from Massachusetts, hopes to win voters over on his own. Joseph L. Kennedy, 37, of Dedham, a member of the National Libertarian Party collecting signatures to run as an independent, has established a Web site: JoeKennedyforSenate.com. He is not to be confused with Joseph P. Kennedy II, 57, whose decision not to run for his late uncle Edward M. Kennedy’s Senate seat left the famous family’s faithful wistful. “I wouldn’t say I’m ‘politically active,’ but you can’t sit...

Teddymandering is the practice of changing a law to benefit your political party, then reversing the change when your political party will benefit from the original rules to which you objected. Named for former Massachusetts Senator Edward M. "Teddy" Kennedy. Senator Kennedy influenced the Massachusetts state legislature to change the Senatorial succession law during the 2004 election. His reasons were strictly because Senator John Kerry, if elected President, would be replaced by an appointee of (then) Governor Mitt Romney, a Republican. At the time, Kennedy was against any interim appointment until a special election could be held. In 2009, as...

THIS IS A STORY ABOUT LIBERAL GRASSROOTS FUNDRAISING. THE CONSERVATIVE RESPONSE FOLLOWS. September 30 is the end of the fundraising quarter for federal candidates and, of course, everyone wants to report healthy numbers. To this end campaigns often cite the filing deadline in an attempt to motivate supporters to give one more time or give for the first time. This time they aren't alone. Artur Davis is also using the Sept. 30 deadline to encourage contributions even though he's running for Governor in 2010, not Congress. It's a smart move that reminds supporters time is passing and takes advantage of...

Forget the People’s Republic of Massachusetts. We are now the Banana Republic of Massachusetts. That’s not original, but it’s truer than ever. Laws? We don’t need no stinkin’ laws. “First we shred the rules,” said Rep. Brad Jones, the House Republican leader. “Now we shred the Constitution.” Here’s how it’s supposed to work. If the Legislature wants a bill to become law immediately, they have to attach what’s called an “emergency preamble.” It takes a two-thirds vote to pass such a preamble. Otherwise, the bill becomes law in 90 days. So Wednesday, the Legislature approved Ted Kennedy’s deathbed wish to...

A Suffolk Superior Court judge today denied a motion by state Republicans to delay Gov. Deval Patrick’s appointment of an interim senator by 90 days. Judge Thomas Connolly this afternoon cleared the way for Paul G. Kirk Jr. to be sworn in as an interim U.S. senator today at 3:15 p.m. in Washington, D.C. Developing ...

The Massachusetts Republican Party has filed an injunction in a Boston court seeking to block former Democratic Party chairman Paul Kirk from becoming the interim replacement for the late Sen. Edward Kennedy. Lawmakers this week passed legislation giving Gov. Deval Patrick the power to appoint an interim replacement, but laws approved in Massachusetts usually take 90 days to go into effect. Patrick signed an emergency letter that he says allows the law to become effective immediately. Republicans allege in their court filing that Patrick did not have the constitutional authority to do that. But State Secretary William Galvin said today...

Massachusetts Democrats changed the law to prevent then Republican Governor Mitt Romney from naming a Senate successor in the event John Kerry was elected President. Now, the hypocrites have granted Ted Kennedy his dying dishonorable wish to change the law back so the now Democratic Governor can name a Democrat to replace him. Ted Kennedy showed a complete lack of honor when he ,reportedly, left Mary Jo Kopechne to die at the bottom of channel off of a small bridge on Chappaquiddick island on July 18, 1969 and failed to report the accident for 8 hours. Faced with this kind...

Litigation: The Founding Fathers envisioned the states as laboratories for ideas and choices. If the administration needs a demonstration project for successful tort reform, it need look no further than Mississippi. When President Obama said during his health care speech to Congress that he would "look into" malpractice reform and support "demonstration projects" at the state level, Gov. Haley Barbour of Mississippi, a Republican, responded: "If they want a demonstration project, come down to Mississippi. I'll show you a demonstration project." Mississippi enacted tort reform in 2004, including caps on medical malpractice awards. As a result, the number of medical...

There might not be a temporary replacement for Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) in the coming days after all. Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (D) was expected to have the power to appoint a 60th Democratic senator this week, but the bill to give him that power hit a snag Wednesday, according to The Associated Press, and the situation could be headed for court. Though the state Senate on Tuesday joined the state House in signing off on the appointment powers, the timing the of the appointment is at issue. Without an emergency declaration, Patrick could not make the appointment for 90...

No big surprise here, Democrats enjoying their one party rule domination in my state have pulled off one of the most hypocritical and transparent moves in history. Today 24 Democrats beat out 11 Democrats and 5 Republicans and plan to deliver the bill Deval Patrick so much wants to sign at the behest of his puppet master in DC. We can put the blame entirely on Patrick who caved under the pressure like a flimsy deck of cards. (check out my handy work on Deval, putting photoshop skills to work)

Former Massachusetts Attorney General Scott Harshbarger has been hired by ACORN to conduct an inquiry into the organization on the heels of a video that appears to show employees advising a couple posing as a prostitute and pimp to lie about the source of their income to get housing assistance. Harshbarger, an attorney at Proskauer Rose LLP, is also the former president and chief executive of Common Cause, the good government organization. “I have been asked by the leadership of ACORN to conduct an independent and comprehensive inquiry and review of the management of its service delivery to communities,” Harshbarger...

From: Blum, Joanne S. Sent: Friday, September 11, 2009 5:00 PM Subject: HELP NEEDED - To Protect State Revenues A Threat to Our Communities A small group of individuals are threatening to jeopardize Massachusetts working families by seeking to qualify a number of initiative petitions. One these would reduce the sales tax which would cut state revenues by approximately $2.5 billion. This would result in cuts in our communities to education, health care, public safety and other programs that we all depend on every day. If you see or have seen any petitioners carrying this or other petitions in your...

On this morning's news: MassCare has added 488,000 people to the healthcare rolls. Result: MA now has a serious shortage of OB/GYNs, Urologists, Internal Medicine specialists, Dermatologists, surgeons, and others. Doctors are fleeing MA's insane politics and taxes. Criminal aliens are choking the system (signs in MA hospitals now have to be in NINE languages, and every illegal gets assigned a tax-paid translator at the hospital). Just a small taste of ObamaCare, I assert.

“It comes down to the most fundamental of all freedoms. If government can force potentially dangerous substances into our bodies what, then, can’t government do to us?” asked Constitution Party National Committee Chairman Jim Clymer. “Whether mandated by the federal government, the individual states such as Massachusetts or international organizations like the World Health Organization WHO) or the United Nations U.N.) forcing potentially dangerous chemicals on a free people is tyranny”, Clymer added.

Richmond, Mass. (AP) - Gov. Deval Patrick said Friday that President Barack Obama had personally talked to him about changing the Senate succession law in Massachusetts, and White House aides were pushing for him to gain the power to temporarily replace the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy amid the administration's health care push. A month after a White House spokesman labeled the issue a state matter, Patrick said he and Obama spoke about changing the law as they both attended Kennedy's funeral in Boston last month. He also said White House aides have been in contact frequently ever since and...

Orchid Nightclub is crying racism but ready to comply with a selectman’s apparent demand that they stop playing hip-hop music. The flareup comes in the wake of a triple shooting early yesterday in the Saugus nightclub’s parking lot. “It’s absolutely a racial statement. It makes me think the same thing you’re thinking,” said the club’s consultant, Anthony Cagliano, a former Saugus selectman. “I know the town has made it clear they’re not a fan of hip-hop music and the audience that hip-hop brings,” he said. “So we will get away from the hip-hop scene, which is unfair to the clientele.”...

Says he ‘closely mirrors’ Ted Kennedy With U.S. Rep. Barney Frank as his attack dog sidekick, U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano came out swinging at his opponents in the race for the late U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy’s vacant seat, accusing Attorney General Martha Coakley of being timid and blasting businessman Stephen Pagliuca for supporting Republicans. “There will be a very difficult, very steep hill to climb for someone who supported George Bush for president,” Capuano (D-Somerville) said of the wealthy Boston Celtics co-owner. “This is a Democratic primary. I might have missed something, but last I knew, George Bush did...

Mass. Senate Delays Debate on Kennedy Interim BillSTEVE LeBLANC | Associated Press Writer Monday, September 21, 2009 BOSTON (AP) - Massachusetts Republicans temporarily blocked Senate debate Friday on a bill allowing Gov. Deval Patrick to name an interim appointment to the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the death of Edward Kennedy. Republicans, who hold just five of 40 seats in the state Senate, objected to the bill being taken up Friday, without formal notice. Under Senate rules, the objection means the bill can't be debated until the next formal session. The Massachusetts Senate will next meet in a formal...

Two high-profile entrenched New England Democrats -- Senator Christopher Dodd of Connecticut and Representative Barney Frank of Massachusetts -- have new challengers. Republican Peter Schiff, a broker, financial pundit, and supporter for Ron Paul, is in an increasingly crowded Republican primary for Dodd's seat. "He inherited the seat," Schiff said of Dodd today on Fox Business Network. It's like he's living in the House of Lords." (snip) Meanwhile, Republican Keith Messina, a mechanical engineer, announced today he's running against Frank in the Fourth Congressional District of Massachusetts. In a statement, Messina promised a "fresh perspective," pledged to focus on jobs,...

Bay State Republicans yesterday all but dared Gov. Deval Patrick to name former Gov. Michael Dukakis as an interim senator - saying the move would yoke the plummeting incumbent to the disastrous Democratic regime of the bad old Taxachusetts era. “Go ahead - make my day,” said Christy Mihos, a GOP businessman challenging Patrick for the Corner Office. “Politically I hope they do this. It will give us another arrow in our quiver to show them for what they are.” Beacon Hill lawmakers are expected to pass a measure allowing Patrick to choose a temporary replacement for the late U.S....

Hello, I’m writing to update you on the vote that the House of Representatives took last night to allow the Governor to make an interim appointment until a special election can be held to fill a vacant U.S. Senate seat. I want to first thank you for calling or emailing me with your opinion on this important issue. I received feedback from more than 190 constituents, and I assure you that I carefully considered each person’s comments. I understand the strong feelings on both sides of this issue. I spent many hours evaluating the arguments for and against an interim...