Posted on 03/06/2010 9:21:13 PM PST by raccoonradio
Howie thread starting off with his Sunday Herald column
Sunday column ping
St. Delahunt wings away on our dime
By Howie Carr | Sunday, March 7, 2010 | http://www.bostonherald.com | Columnists
Do the double-dippers of the hackerama have a patron saint?
Well, they do now, or will soon enough. He is St. Bill of Marina Bay, although you may know him as “Delahunt.”
Forty years in politics, and his most noteworthy achievement, if you can call it that, is that now district attorneys and their first assistants are blessedly included in the state pension system’s Group 4 - public safety. In other words, for retirement purposes a handful of elected politicians and their top coatholders are treated as cops. They max out not at 65, but at 55.
Which means that Bill Delahunt, a career pol, got to start collecting his kiss in the mail at age 55 as . . . a cop. It’s a miracle! Can somebody shout “Amen!”
Then-Norfolk DA Delahunt guided this pension payoff through the Legislature in 1996, immediately after he was elected to Congress. Another miracle! OK, it took a lot of chads, and some of that great Massachusetts justice, but praise the Lord, Landslide Bill prevailed over Phil Johnston. Why should he have to wait to start collecting that kiss in the mail? Which felon was the speaker back then . . . Flaherty or Finneran?
Bill Delahunt “retired” on Jan. 7, 1997. He has been collecting $4,861.98 a month from the state, which works out to $58,343.76 a year, on top of his congressional salary of $174,000 a year. Over 13-plus very lucrative years in Congress, St. Bill has simultaneously relieved the state Treasury of $700,000 or so.
What a man, what a grab. I think he’s got to be in contention for the Profiles in Courage Award, although competition this year is stiff among the stiffs - Rangel, Edwards, Paterson, Blagojevich, Marzilli, Galluccio and now U.S. Rep. Eric Massa, the Democrats’ own Mark Foley.
So now another Democrat congressional seat goes into play for the Republicans, thanks to Ted Kennedy. First Teddy (twice) changes the law on Senate succession in Massachusetts - so instead of some dreadful hack like Paul Kirk in the seat, we end up with Scott Brown.
And now Delahunt says he wanted to quit in 2008 - a Democratic year - but Ted talked him out of it. So we have an open seat in a Republican year, and the Kennedy who was being groomed for the seat, Carrot Top, is wisely taking a pass.
Even pre-Scott Brown, it was clear that Delahunt wanted out. You don’t “hire” your Russian-born son-in-law as your alleged campaign manager for $47,000 a year, or your ex-wife for $48,000, if you’re planning on sticking around. Only a state rep does something that stupid if he expects to face the voters again.
Now Delahunt’s successor as DA, Bill Keating, will be running to succeed him in Congress, too. Hey Bill, don’t fret too much about that Seth Bishop inquest. It would be poor form indeed for Keating to go after the guy who’s set him up so that, win or lose, he’ll be able to start collecting 80 percent of his current $148,843 DA’s salary next year, at age 58.
As for St. Bill himself, his patron saint is Frank Bellotti, who last won an election in 1982 and yet is still working at age 86.
Soon St. Bill will be looking for a job in the Dreaded Private Sector. And you know what? Someone will hire him. There’s your third miracle.
Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/columnists//view.bg?articleid=1237816
Wed column ping
Don’t let us down, Christy Mihos, hang tough
By Howie Carr | Wednesday, March 10, 2010 | http://www.bostonherald.com
Go, Christy, go.
So what if your finances appear to resemble John Kerry’s when he’s between wives. Forget that Greg Hyatt-like buzz about your campaign. I believe you - Dick Morris will be back next month.
Christy, you need to stay in this race for governor. You must get 15 percent of the delegates at the GOP state convention next month in Worcester, and then you have to stay in the fight all the way until primary day.
Charlie Baker needs a good punching bag through the summer.
I phoned Christy Mihos yesterday because I wanted to tell him I would be writing this column urging him to stay strong. He called back about an hour later.
“This is the Human Pin Cushion,” he said.
I asked him if he was staying in the race, even though he just lost his campaign manager, Joe Manzoli. “Are you kidding?” he said. “Of course I am.”
Check out the Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF) Web site. As of last week, Charlie Baker had $1,809,856.72 on hand for his campaign.
Christy has $4,678.65.
Christy says he’s got Spartan blood. When you see numbers like that, it seems like he’s headed for a political Thermopylae.
Last night I had him on my radio show. He said he’d been wildly successful in business. I asked Christy if he could name one Republican officeholder who’d endorsed him. He said Sen. Bob Hedlund hasn’t endorsed Charlie Baker. “We suffered some hits,” he understated.
I asked Christy about the bounced check to his campaign. “We made a mistake with that check,” he said.
Dick Morris will be back, he said, in April. He was costing well over $20,000 a month, and the people he brought in were costing another $25,000.
I heard one of his campaign people sent an e-mail to Republican activists a week or so ago, saying something like, “We need a primary on Sept. 21.”
The only problem is, the primary is on Sept. 14.
Yesterday afternoon I was listening to a new talk-radio station and the news guy came on at the top of the hour:
“Another setback for Christy Mihos in her campaign for governor with the resignation of her campaign manager.”
Her?
I asked Christy if he’ll be in South Boston on Sunday for the annual breakfast at Halitosis Hall.
“No way,” he said. “There won’t be any Republican delegates in Southie Sunday.”
Good thinking, Christy. Finally, a good decision. Hang in there until Sept. 21 - er, Sept. 14.
Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/columnists/view.bg?articleid=1238598
“The woman goes up to Mary and asks, “So, this Fran Tarkenton...who is she?” :)”
REAL LIFE;
John “Francois” Kerry on his favorite Red Sox player; “Manny Ortiz.”
B. Hussein Obama on favorite ballpark “I love going out to Kaminsky Field.”
Any idea what happened to Howie’s podcasts? They haven’t been updated since 3/3/10.
Ah! Very true.
getting back to gender confusion:
Some men have first names that sound like women’s names (and vice versa; Bonzo Dog Band, British zany group, lead singer was Vivian Stanshall, a man; and I think poet Joyce Kilmer was male... could be wrong). In the late 80s/early 90s,
before we had the internet as we know it and I had to call people up rather than email, I rang up Alligator Records,
the Chicago-based blues label, and asked to speak to their new college radio rep, Kerry Peace. “Kerry is out on lunch break.” I asked when she would be back in.
Kerry was a he.
“Kerry is out on lunch break.” I asked when she would be back in. Kerry was a he.”
You should have asked him to play more Billy Holiday. I loved that guy...
Entercom is happening...I think there were some complaints on Howie’s facebook group. Maybe they have nobody around to
upload them, or there’s a glitch either with WRKO or the company that podcasts them.
Entercom has assigend “J-Pod” (don’t know his real name),
producer of WEEI’s Planet Mikey show (at night) to work with
Charley Manning and with Howie (from 4-7 pm). He may not know
how to do podcasts, etc., or was too busy grabbing sound
(from Glenn Beck’s TV show last night, etc.)
btw a little while back it was noted that WEEI laid off
Pete Sheppard, a major part of their afternoon “Big Show”.
I wonder if WRKO’s Jason Wolfe knew they’d be losing Rush soon and may have to get a local host to take his place.
My guess is to free up salary for this, they laid off
Sheppard. Word has it WRKO/WEEI is strug-a-ling, as
Joe Namath would say, what with an expensive Red Sox
contract. (The Sox are mostly on WEEI these days but on
Sunday afternoon WRKO has them due to the Celts being
on WEEI a couple hr later.)
ha, there’s another one! I was watching a documentary about
Johnny Mercer and at one point they were showing Billie doing one of Johnny’s songs, IIRC. I’m not as familiar with Billie, who I consider to be more on the jazz side, but I know she did “Strange Fruit” and “God Bless the Child” and U2’s
“Angel of Harlem” is about her.
ha, there’s another one! I was watching a documentary about
Johnny Mercer and at one point they were showing Billie doing one of Johnny’s songs, IIRC. I’m not as familiar with Billie, who I consider to be more on the jazz side, but I know she did “Strange Fruit” and “God Bless the Child” and U2’s
“Angel of Harlem” is about her.
oops! I have an answer for you, from Howie’s facebook group (I think Sandy or maybe one of Howie’s helpers updates it)
Matthew TASLITT Damn podcast having problems today? It won’t download on iTunes...
The Howie Carr Show: “You can get podcasts of the show at http://audio.wrko.com/wrko-howie-carr.htm We’re working on getting things squared away on iTunes, but you can always get the podcasts at that address!
Matthew TASLITT
Thanks. I hope the iTunes thing will be fixed, though because it is so much faster and easier that way.
oops! I have an answer for you, from Howie’s facebook group (I think Sandy or maybe one of Howie’s helpers updates it)
Matthew TASLITT Damn podcast having problems today? It won’t download on iTunes...
The Howie Carr Show: “You can get podcasts of the show at http://audio.wrko.com/wrko-howie-carr.htm We’re working on getting things squared away on iTunes, but you can always get the podcasts at that address!
Matthew TASLITT
Thanks. I hope the iTunes thing will be fixed, though because it is so much faster and easier that way.
(sorry for double double posts posts; when I go back to see if it posted it doesn’t show up so I try again. I guess it does work, but just takes time to show up. This time I pledge to just click it once.)
rumor, Kerry Healer for Congress. From RedMassGroup facebook
page:
>>The rumor mill is spinning pretty crazily right now, but I’m hearing from two very, very reliable sources that former Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey may be about to throw her hat into the 6th Congressional District race. I’m hearing this from two reliable parties from very different sides of the party, and think it’s about as solid as it gets. Healey will jump into the race for Congress joining Bill Hudak in the primary, and eager for a chance against Massachusetts congressional delegation runt of the litter John Tierney.
It should be remembered that Healey actually held a fundraiser in her Beacon Hill apartment for Hudak back this winter, and was supporting him early on. Hudak has gained some serious steam up in the 6th, but is facing some criticisms for giving credence to “birther criticisms” and allegedly posting some questionable pictures of Obama on his property in the 2008 election. Hold on to your hats folks, it’s going to be a wild ride... and guess what, you heard it here first.
Wed show ping
Muffy Healey for Congress? Rumor.
Future Guests...
March 12
Brewer & Shipley
We will be joined by singing/songwriting duo Brewer & Shipley who are probably best known for their Top 10 hit, “One Toke Over The Line” (1971). They will be playing in Framingham this Friday night at the Amazing Things Arts Center. The funny thing about B&S is that while “One Toke...” was being banned on radio stations across the country for its lyrical content (my how times have changed), and Spiro Agnew specifically referred to them as being “subversive to America’s youth,” the song was being performed on the Lawrence Welk Show.
Charles Laquidera
Legendary Boston DJ and personality Charles Laquidera will join us to talk about what life has held since leaving now defunct Rock Radio WBCN.
March 16
Paul O’Neill Trans-Siberian Orchestra
TSO will be in Boston April 1st at the Wang Center for it’s inaugural performance of “Beethoven’s Last Night” in its entirety. They will also be debuting songs that have never been performed live along with selections from their recent top 5 release “Night Castle”.
March 17
Henry E Scott
We will speak with Henry E Scott about his brand new book Shocking True Story: The Rise and Fall of Confidential, “America’s Most Scandalous Scandal Magazine”, a behind-the-scenes look at the original scandal magazine that started it all...
March 25
Colonel Ralph Peters
We will be joined by opinion columnist for the New York Post and FOX military analyist Colonel Ralph Peters to discuss his new book Endless War: Middle-Eastern Islam vs. Western Civilization.
Muffy for Congress—untrue. Bill Hudak jumped gun again, misinterpreted what Brown said to him
Fri show ping and column. btw I posted Wed.’s column under a diff thread, IIRC. Guests include Charles Laquidara and Brewer & Shipley
Friday, Mar 12th
1st Hour
2nd Hour
3rd Hour
Call in for THE CHUMPLINE!!!! 617-779-3469 and leave a message for Howie or Sandy about today’s stories or whatever else is bothering you!
It is Police Blotter Fax Friday! You can fax (617-779-3467) or e-mail your funny police/accident/crime stories from your local papers to Sandy. Make sure to include your name address and phone number on your entry and if faxing that it is a copy and not the original! If Sandy picks yours as one of the two big winners you will win a fabulous prize!
We will be joined by singing/songwriting duo Brewer & Shipley who are probably best known for their Top 10 hit, “One Toke Over The Line” (1971). They will be playing in Framingham this Friday night at the Amazing Things Arts Center. The funny thing about B&S is that while “One Toke...” was being banned on radio stations across the country for its lyrical content (my how times have changed), and Spiro Agnew specifically referred to them as being “subversive to America’s youth,” the song was being performed on the Lawrence Welk Show.
4th Hour
Legendary Boston DJ and personality Charles Laquidera will join us to talk about what life has held since leaving now defunct Rock Radio WBCN.
(personal note: “raccoonradio”’s first show as a DJ, on
college radio, was 29 years ago today on 3/12/81...still
on, via a North Shore radio station...91.7 FM...will be on
9-noon this Sunday for local blues, folk, pop)
Finally, Patches and I can agree on something
By Howie Carr | Friday, March 12, 2010 | http://www.bostonherald.com | Columnists
Photo
Photo by Herald file
Patches Kennedy utterly melts down on the House floor and says the national press corps is “despicable?”
Where was his sponsor? And is it perhaps time for the House of Representatives to install Breathalyzers in front of the podium?
But in the aftermath of Rep. Ambien’s spittle-flecked harangue, why isn’t anyone mentioning his utter lack of gratitude? I mean, when it comes to reporting on Patches’ odious clan, the national press corps has indeed been despicable.
Despicable in the way these rumpswabs have covered up almost every one of the Kennedys’ endless scandals. For the past two decades of Ted Kennedy’s life, at all the country’s dying PC broadsheets, it was practically a firing offense to mention the word “Chappaquiddick” in the same sentence with his name.
The Kennedy family couldn’t have survived politically as long as it did if it had ever been up against a watchdog - as opposed to a lapdog - press. All the earlier Kennedy reprobates understood this. Patches’ anti-press outburst Wednesday on the House floor is just more evidence he is indeed the runt of the litter’s runt of the litter.
He demanded to know why the press isn’t bashing the war in Afghanistan the way they did when Bush was president?
Surely even a three-watt bulb like Patches knows the answer to that question. Because Barack Obama is now the president. It’s his war. As far as the mainstream media are concerned, if it belongs to Barack, it’s good. No, it’s wonderful. Comprende, Patches?
Your father had his incoherent, hysterical rants, too, usually after lunch, just like yours. But he always went after Republicans, not bow-tied bumkissers. You don’t bite the hand that covers its eyes whenever one of you kills or cripples or rapes some young woman.
Don’t you know anything about your family’s history? In 1952 your grandfather Joe bought the endorsement of the Boston Post, then the largest newspaper in New England, for $1 million.
“We’re talking about Eric Massa 24/7 on the TV!” Patches was screeching.
Just yesterday, the Washington Post - once edited by a guy who refused to report the fact that your uncle was touching everything but the third rail - reported that the last straw for Massa’s staff was when he arranged a luncheon date with one of Barney Frank’s young male staffers.
Why would that arouse suspicion, Patches?
“It’s despicable, the national press corps right now.”
Always has been, Patches. Especially when it’s been covering (up for) your family.
Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/columnists/view.bg?articleid=1239164
Matt Amorello in running for Illinois post.
Q: How often does corruption happen in Chicago?
A: ...Daley!
(OK, lame)
http://bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1239159
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