Massachusetts
Posted at 2:45pm on Jul. 11, 2008 Rep. Capuano's Newspeak for Censorship
By Erick
As the Obama candidacy gains momentum, we should all become more accustomed to "newspeak." Out is the word "censorship" to be replaced with the phrase "freedom of speech." The former phrase "freedom of speech' will be prohibited except in classical texts until such texts can be reprinted wherein all references to actual free speech will be deleted.
That, of course, seems the natural progression from Rep. Mick Capuano (D-MA), who calls the internet a "necessary evil."
Rep. Capuano is proposing regulations that would prohibit Members of Congress from contributing content to any site that has commercial advertising. Likewise, Rep. Capuano, though he's peddling furiously away from it, has proposed Congressional approval of new technologies that Members of Congress could only embrace after Congress issues a blessing.
The same thing is happening in the Senate, though Senators are being less vocal about Senator Diane Feinstein's similar proposal.
Congressman John Boehner's office has a post up on this subject. His staff points out that under Congressman Capuano's proposal, members of the House of Representatives could be prohibited from having op-eds in newspapers because those op-eds also appear online.
And it's not just Congressman Boehner and his staff. The Sunlight Foundation disagrees with Rep. Capuano's spin, as do other outside groups.
This has very little to do with actually making sure congressmen are not using their office to endorse commercial advertising and everything to do with Democrats being routinely out-gamed by Republicans in floor fights that are highlighted by Republican congressman on blogs and in YouTube mocking the insanity of the Democrats' congressional track record.
America's Mother-in-Law claims Congress has a "responsibility to ensure that Members and the public understand the need to prevent the misuse of public funds, while at the same time ensuring access to emerging online means of communication." Bridges to nowhere are apparently an acceptable use of public funds while connecting with constituents via YouTube has been perverted to be a misuse of public funds.
Get used to newspeak.
Posted in Congress | Franking | Internet Censorship | John Boehner | Massachusetts | Michael Capuano | Nancy Pelosi — Comments (5)/ Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 7:21am on Jun. 30, 2008 Call Your Congressman
By Erick
Posted in Archived | Bill Delahunt | Massachusetts — Comments (3)/ Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 6:26am on Jun. 27, 2008 Damn us all and our party if we let this go
Congressman Delahunt can be reached at 202-225-3111 and by fax at 202-225-5658
By The Directors
It is no secret that public discourse in this country has become very shrill. Blogs on the left regularly feature vulgar diatribes against the right. Some on the right do the same. Keith Olbermann tells the President to "shut the hell up" on his television program. The New York Times publicly reveals the name of a CIA agent who did the dirty work of interrogating captured Al Qaeda operatives. The left says, "So, the right did it to Valerie Plame," treating as morally equivalent the disclosure of the spy no longer spying and the disclosure of one of the men Al Qaeda would love to behead.
While Congress has also descended into a more shrill style, until yesterday it had not crossed one line of civility that never should be crossed on either side.
David Addington is the Vice President's Chief of Staff. Yesterday, he testified before Congress.
During the course of the hearing, Congressman and Obama Superdelegate William Delahunt (MA-10) asked Mr. Addington about water boarding. Mr. Addington responded that he would not go into details because Al Qaeda is probably watching.
Congressman Delahunt's response was, "I'm glad they finally have a chance to see you."
Mr. Delahunt now denies he meant what he said. But what he clearly said was "I'm glad they finally have a chance to see you." Al Qaeda now knows the face of one of the men who relentlessly pursues its henchmen and deals with their interrogations. Mr. Addington volunteered for public service, not a death sentence with Congressional encouragement. Mr. Delahunt is both a vile liar and a cowardly lion willing to roar down at Mr. Addington while encouraging terrorists to do his dirty work in a war he has been ineffective at stopping.
The left, while attacking Charlie Black for stating the obvious -- that a terrorist incident helps the GOP politically because they are seen as more competent in the national security arena -- is defending this degradation of congressional discourse and vile swipe at Mr. Addington.
This discourse — a member of Congress glad Al Qaeda has a face it can pursue — is beneath the dignity of the Congress and beneath the dignity of civil discourse in this country.
If you do not call your Congressman today and demand the House of Representatives, at the very *least*, censure Congressman Delahunt, well damn us all. We have no right to carry on our fight.
The number is 202-224-3121 and Congressman Delahunt's email address is william.delahunt@mail.house.gov.
And some intrepid reporter should ask Mr. Obama what he thinks of this. After all, Mr. Delahunt was one of Mr. Obama's early supporters and is now an Obama superdelegate. Of course, you can ask Barack Obama yourself at (866) 675-2008.
When you call your Congressman, you should make sure he knows an apology from Mr. Delahunt will not suffice. Delahunt clearly is lying about and denying his statement. "I'm sorry" would just be more of the same.
Posted in Bill Delahunt | Congress | David Addington | MA-10 | Massachusetts — Comments (55)/ Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 1:51am on May 24, 2008 Chutzpah
By Pejman Yousefzadeh
Now that it has been confirmed that Senator Edward Kennedy has a brain tumor likely to be fatal, attention has slowly begun to shift from the shock and sadness that diagnosis has elicited from both sides of the partisan divide to the question of who might succeed Kennedy should he resign or pass away in office. And this story informs us that the attitude of Massachusetts Democrats on the issue is "Heads: We win. Tails: Republicans lose":
The leader of the Massachusetts House says he will support giving Gov. Deval Patrick the power to appoint an interim successor to U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy if that becomes necessary.
The Democratic-controlled Legislature stripped Republican Gov. Mitt Romney of that authority in 2004 because of fears he would name a Republican to replace U.S. Sen. John Kerry if he had been elected president.
Instead, state law now requires a special election for the seat no sooner than 145 days and no later than 160 days after the vacancy occurs.
But House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi said yesterday if Kennedy should step aside or have to be replaced because of his brain tumor diagnosis, he'd be in favor of a gubernatorial appointment.
"That was a good political reason (then)," DiMasi said of taking the power away from Romney. "It's a good political reason to change it back."
Must . . . try . . . to . . . comment. But . . . cannot . . . rendered . . . speechless . . . by . . . . DiMasi's . . . appalling . . . nerve.
Must . . . turn . . . over . . . microphone . . . . to . . . a . . . Massachusetts . . . Republican:
House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones Jr. of North Reading said it was "distasteful" for DiMasi to respond to questions about changing the way the state handles vacant Senate seats. But, he criticized Democrats for their 2004 move against Romney.
"They said at the time they took this away for important public policy reasons," Jones said. "It would make them all out to be liars."
(Via James Taranto.)
Posted in Edward Kennedy | Hypocrisy | Massachusetts | State Politics — Comments (16)/ Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 5:51pm on Mar. 10, 2008 It's Been a Bad Couple Weeks for the Reality-Based Community
By Jeff Emanuel
Nothing like that "Culture of Corruption" Bit Coming Back to Bite You, Is There?
Posted in Democratic Governors | Democrats | Illinois | Kansas | Massachusetts | Michigan | New York — Comments (29) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 9:10pm on Dec. 25, 2007 If you live in Mass. and don't have health insurance by Tuesday, Mitt Romney will begin taking your money
By Jeff Emanuel
No, not personally. However, under the state insurance mandate that he signed into law in 2006 -- which legally requires every single Mass resident to carry health insurance -- those who are not carrying current health insurance by Jan 1, 2008 will begin having to pay monthly fines to the government.
"Those penalties may be up to half of the monthly premiums for the least expensive health care plan available," according to a Boston Herald article. As if that weren't enough, Mass's government will also revoke "the $219 personal tax exemption for anyone not insured by the end of December."
Posted at 9:13pm on Nov. 26, 2007 Mitt Romney: Flipping In The Right Direction.
By Martin A. Knight
I've seen quite a few folks on the Right attack Romney for moving from Left to Right (I do believe his 2002 campaign was more conservative than the one he ran eight years earlier) at suspiciously all-too-convenient times but ... strangely enough, I'm yet to see anyone show me anywhere where he moved from Right to Left.
Consistent movement from Left to Right is a good thing, I would think. At least, being a conservative, I tend to like it when I see someone coming over from the other side. Like I've said before, Romney is not a "flip-flopper," he's a "flipper" ... and as far as I can see, he only flips one way.
Posted in 1994 | 2002 | 2008 | Archived | democratic nomination | flip-flop | Massachusetts | Mitt | Romney — Comments (34) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 4:29pm on Oct. 14, 2007 MA-05: Tsongas says Illegal Immigrants are American Citizens and Deserve Drivers Licenses
By EaBo-Clipper
How did I miss this one? During the NECN debate last week, Niki Tsongas called illegal immigrants Amercian Citizens already. Nevermind a pathway to citizenship, in Niki's heart she believes they already are citizens. Talk about your Freudian slips.
And hey since they are already citizens we should probably give them drivers licenses right Niki?
Read on . . .
Posted in 2007 | Massachusetts — Comments (4) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 11:01am on Sep. 25, 2007 MA-05: Ogonowski Contribution Deadline Tomorrow 9/26/07
By EaBo-Clipper
Because this is a special election Jim Ogonowski's next filing deadline is tomorrow, Wednesday, September 26, 2007 at midnight. In light of that Patrick Ruffini, I and other bloggers are making a final push to double the amount so far donated through Right Roots. To date $4,308 from 76 donors has been collected in less than a week. We want to reach $10,000 and 150 donors. $5 or $10 helps us get to that goal if you can spare it. You know what to do.
Human Events has come out with an article about this race.
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=22538
U.S. CONGRESS (MA-5)
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28-year veteran of the Air Force and Air National Guard
Posted in 2007 | Massachusetts — Comments (2) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 10:49am on Sep. 20, 2007 Jim Ogonowski for Congress (MA-05): A Connection To 9/11
By The Directors
This year at RedState, as we begin vetting candidates, we intend to take a special interest in Congressional candidates who are veterans. At one time, the bulk of Republicans in Congress were veterans, but that's not the case any more. However, as men and women return from Iraq and Afghanistan, interested in politics, we want to pay special attention to them.
Today, however, there is a race where you might be able to have an impact. It's going to be difficult and the odds are against us, but in a year where there isn't much going on, we would encourage you to support Lt. Col. Jim Ogonowski (Ret.), who is running in MA-05.
Jim's brother, John Ogonowski, was the pilot of American Airlines Flight 11 on September 11th. Jim is a 28 year veteran of the Air Force and Air National Guard. Jim knows what we're up against.
Jim Ogonowski is within striking distance of victory and with our help, he just might do it.
Your contribution could help. Please consider supporting Jim Ogonowski.
U.S. CONGRESS (MA-5)
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Posted in 2007 | Massachusetts — Comments (8)/ Email this page » / Read More »
