Honors in the Alternative Universe

Porcupine enjoys a good celebration, and this one was special. Porcupine attended the First Annual Lincoln Reagan Dinner, of the Massachusetts Republican Party, at the Westin Hotel.


As you can see, the crowd was big – well over 600 people, all turning out to honor a favorite son – Gov. Mitt Romney. The evening began in fine patriotic form with Gov. Romney’s granddaughter leading the crowd in a salute to the flag, but even before that, Gov. Romney made his way to the various tables thanking those who came – when he reached Porcupine, he laughed and said, “YOU again!” Porcupine is unsure if that is a compliment, or if Romney regards Porcupine as a sort of political town drunk. Porcupine has decided to hope for the best.

Before dinner, comedian Lenny Clarke performed briefly – he is instantly recognizable, and is best known for his role as Uncle Ted on the television show, ‘Rescue Me!’ He proceeded to tell some highly incorrect and borderline regrettable jokes. The mildest was a suggestion that we station border agents at the Mexican border and hand illegal immigrants packs of cigarettes because “there ain’t no sanctuary cities for smokers!” After Mr. Clark, Chair Torkildson recognized the various dignitaries in attendance and dinner was served.

After dinner, Republican National Committee Man Ron Kaufman took the stage. Kaufman was a campaign companion on Gov. Romney’s trek for office, and has grown almost as close to him as he is to another Presidential candidate he one worked for – George Herbert Walker Bush. Kaufman introduced a homemade videotape, shot by ‘41’ with the help of his granddaughter Gigi, in his home in Maine congratulating Romney on a fine campaign and wishing him a bright future. It isn’t often that you get to see amateur home movies shot by former Presidents. Next, Kaufman introduced a video tribute from one of Romney’s opponents – nominee John McCain. McCain called Romney a leader in the Republican Party, and a fierce and honorable competitor and adversary. “You may have noticed that we turn to Mitt for help in getting out our message on talk shows and in speeches – it’s hard enough defining your own point of view, but Gov. Romney is someone I can rely on and depend on.” After that, there was a 15 minute montage of the entire campaign – announcement, victory, ‘the speech’ about faith, election returns, and his withdrawal in favor of Sen. McCain – all brilliantly condensed by Michael Kolowich.

Next was Big Red – the Honorable William Weld himself. “It’s always a privilege to be with somebody who will eventually be President of the United States….and no, I DON’T mean Ron Kaufman!” Weld outlined some the Governor’s accomplishments, and praised his hard work and integrity. Weld and chqairman Torkildson presented Romney with the first Lincoln-Reagan Award.

Romney took the stage. Mitt thanked us all for coming and for working so hard for our Party. He then said, “You’ve all probably heard me tell this story (Porcupine had not), but this happened to me back in 1994. I was at a Boy Scout Court of Honor in a small VFW, and the Scoutmaster spoke about the troop’s colors. He explained that they had bought their flag, and had sent it to Washington, asking that it be flown over the Capitol. That was done, and later, when a space shuttle mission was going up, they asked if the flag could also go into space. After some persuasion, NASA agreed, and the entire troop gathered together to watch their flag take off, and they were bursting with pride – until the shuttle exploded as they watched. Later, the Scoutmaster tried to find out of there was anything left of the flag in the debris – he called over and over, but there was nothing. At last, he read about a flag washing up as part of the wreckage, and asked NASA if it was theirs, and NASA conformed that it was. The flag was unharmed. And right now, he said, that flag is right next to Mr. Romney. I held up one end of the flag, which had been embroidered across the edge with the word ‘Challenger’, and touching it, it was like electricity shooting up my arm, the thought of the courage and patriotism behind that flag.”

An emotional Romney continued, “That is why we will remain the greatest nation on earth – because of that deep, wide river of patriotism that runs through our people and our lives.” He humbly thanked his family, the assembled guests, and the Massachusetts Republican Party for the honor they did him.

Bill Weld is right once again – eventually, Mitt Romney will be President of the United States, and it was a pleasure to take part in a night which honors the man and his contributions to Massachusetts and the nation.

DANGER (to Open Government) WILL ROBINSON!

Point of Information - the Republican Members chose not to submit amendments this years, both as a protest to the system, and as a recognition of current fiscal crisis.

The True Meaning of Bi-Partisan Cooperation

The man of principle is known as such, and even in the fury of faction is respected.
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)

An interesting appointment has been made by the Bush White House. U.S. William Delahunt, D-Mass., has been named as a Congressional representative to the 62nd session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, which begins next week. Delahunt will participate in sessions of the General Assembly as well as working-level meetings at the UN Secretariat.

Another appointment by the Bush White House is still waiting confirmation in the United States Senate - held hostage by Rep. Delahunt’s colleagues in the Massachusetts Congressional delegation - that of Reed Hillman, eminently qualified former Colonel of the State Police, a legislator who expanded Amber Alert laws and drunk driving statues. Kennedy has publicly expressed concern about Mr. Hillman's qualifications, for even though he has held and commanded all the other portions called for by the Marshal post, he never worked as a Court Bailiff. Who does Reed think he is, Guy Glodis?

The way the UN appointment works is that it includes one member of each party, and membership rotates between the Senate and the House. Therefore, the nomination of Delahunt was made by Nancy Pelosi on March 28, 2007. Also nominated and appointed as a delegate was U.S. Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas.

U.S. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., said Delahunt's background makes him a natural for the appointment. "Bill has made a real mark on foreign policy with his hands-on approach and his willingness to dig into the issues and put himself on the line," Kerry said."

Um, yes. Boosting a brutal dictator like Hugo Chavez, who recently declared himself President for Life, while calling George Bush 'Satan' at a speech at the UN General Assembly would certainly indicate a real 'hands-on approach and willingness'. Whether or not his views represent in any way the diplomatic stance of the American Government or the American People is a question for quite another day.

Yet, when Speaker Pelosi nominated this loon to represent us, as is her prerogative, the White House did not refuse to confirm her choice, or throw roadblocks regarding his fitness to serve in the path of that confirmation.

Meanwhile, Ted Kennedy and John Kerry, apparently ardent admirers of Delahunt's far-left foreign policy stances, are still holding hostage Reed Hillman's nomination as a Federal Marshal after three years.

So- March to October for Democrats from the 'obstructionist' Bush White House, and three years to the 12th of Never for the 'bi-partisan' Democrat Senate. All for one, and One for Themselves. Now that the Democrat definition of Bi-Partisanship has been made so manifest, it helps us all to realize how hollow and hypocritical it is, and we should value such calls accordingly.

Epoxy Redux

A few weeks ago, on the anniversary of the Big Dig tragedy, Porcupine wrote a post featuring a dishevelled (!) Mitt Romney, titled, "It Was The Epoxy, In the Boardroom, With the Candlestick..". Recent announcements indicate that Atty. General Martha Coakley concurs with Porcupine's assessment.

AG Coakley has announced indictments against Powers Fasteners, Inc., the manufacturer of the epoxy used to hold the heavy cement panels in place. It would be interesting to know if Powers was the contractor in the Salt Lake City Olympics disaster that Romney was involved with, and even more interesting to know if former Chairman Amorello withheld this information from the Governor (or if anyone connected with the company ever donated to Amorello's senate or congressional campaigns).

Either way, kudos and good luck to Martha Coakley, who seems to have delivered an indictment against the right parties.

Middleboro Rolls the Dice!

There are two great pleasures in gambling: that of winning and that of losing.
ATTRIBUTION: French proverb.

It has occurred to Porcupine that he has been doing some of his most spirited writing on the sites of others. That is certainly true as Porcupine participates in the fray over the Wampanoag casino which may be in Middleboro. Porcupine has followed this story since Federal recognition was finally granted, as Porcupine blogged HERE in March of 2006.

Tomorrow, Middleboro will hold an extraordinary Town Meeting – and Porcupine adores town meeting as the ultimate expression of participatory democracy. The very thought of a meeting expected to be so large – perhaps 10,000 interested registered voters – that it must be held out of doors on an athletic field to accommodate the throngs is his idea of hog heaven. As Porcupine is not a Middleboro voter, he cannot participate, but has been content to argue the pros and cons, especially on the blog of Dan Kennedy called Media Nation.

Mr. Kennedy is a journalism professor at Northeastern University, public television pundit and fellow Blogger. He is also a former Middleboro resident, and decries the advent of a casino in these terms.

“Think about it. The Lottery is going to take a terrible hit if casino gambling comes to Massachusetts (which is why Cahill wants the state to grab a piece of the action). Traffic will become a nightmare throughout the region, but the Wampanoags propose only to upgrade roads in Middleborough. And, of course, the low-paid casino workers who would move to the area will put a strain on school systems throughout the region, not just in Middleborough.This is a disaster in the making. As Sabutai writes at Blue Mass Group: "I'm not sure if I'm naive to hope that the state government would not greenlight a massive project within a town where the residents offered a resounding 'no', but I'd hope that a 'no' on Saturday will end the debate in this town at least. New Bedford and Boston would looooove a casino. Wouldn't you rather work with people who want you?".

Kennedy is not alone in his lamenting. Treasurer Tim Cahill recently announced that in his august opinion, the $11 per year that Middleboro would get from the tribe as remediation money wasn’t NEARLY enough, and HE should be helping to make sure these rubes aren’t taken in by gambling slicksters. Boston Mayor Menino thinks the casino should be in Boston, as everything else connected with money is – Porcupine is of the opinion that the Mayor merely wants to unload a slightly used Hynes Convention Center on the tribe as a PERFECT casino venue – no, really it is!

And of course, His Excellency Deval Patrick has announced somewhat archly that the Town shouldn’t get ahead of itself, as the ultimate decision will be HIS, and he hasn’t read all his ‘briefing papers’ yet. Of course, he is wrong, as the tribe could operate bingo parlors tomorrow with or without the Governor’s permission. No, Patrick sees his responsibility as ensuring that a maximum cut be taken by the State, nor some mere Podunk town.

As Porcupine replied to Mr. Kennedy on his blog, “I've been listening to the anti-Middleboro casino forces, and I'm underwhelmed. Cape Cod is a virtual Foxwoods adjunct, with bus coaches leaving daily from the various senior ceters to CT. Somehow, this has become an entertainment of choice for the Greatest Generation, and we are exporting funds by the wheelbarrow load to out of state.

In listening to (WRKO "Business" reporter from the Boston Glob) Steve Bailey and Tom Menino wail (to say nothing of former New Bedford Rep. George Rogers!), what is KILLING them is that this is a rural deal that the corridors of power cannot completely control in their back rooms. REAL people! On a FOOTBALL field! In broad DAYLIGHT! HOW declasse!

You said it yourself, Dan - Cahill has no moral objection to gambling (as we might, as fellow former Scout leaders) - no, his concern is that BOSTON doesn't get a big enough share!Why not New Beige or Boston? Because the casino would be established under the Federal Indian Gaming Law, which requires such a facility be within 50 miles of tribal lands. That's WHY Middleboro was chosen for land purchase - conincidently, the purchase of that land by the tribe was what settled all the lawsuits against the Town of Mashpee by the tribe for encroachment, which allowed for the development of New Seabury (wanna give THAT back?).

Which brings me to a final point - the PURPOSE of the Indian Gaming Act is RECOMPENSE for all the broken treaties and money which the US owes the Native Americans. THAT is why, as Bailey puts it, a 'mere 1,400 people' who belong to the tribe get this lucrative benefit. It's to pay them back for stealing Boston from them in the first place. ”

All the hand wringing over timeliness, all the assurances of superior expertise – really, what the Bacon Hill denizens are really worried about is that the tribe and the town may come to a mutually beneficial and amicable agreement without their intercession. And what kind of precedent would THAT be?