Opinion and Commentary on state, regional and national news articles from a conservative feminist point of view expressed and written by conservative moderate: Tina Hemond
Red Massachusetts? Sean Bielat running against Barney Frank in the 4th District - photo Massachsuetts election blog
A recent op-ed by Washington Examiner columnist, William Krystol asks: “Red Massachusetts?” Krystol got a tip from a friend of his that the political climate in Massachusetts has changed over the past year, beginning with Scott Brown’s election, and most recently the election of Richard Ross to Brown’s vacated State Senate Seat. Ross, as a Republican, garnered 62% of the vote in this heavily Democrat State district. He goes further to speak about Congressional Districts that are in play: the Massachusetts 5th, the Massachusetts 10th and the Massachusetts 4th. He did not mention, the Hamden 2nd, where incumbent Democrat Richard Neal is facing Dr. Jay Fleitman, of Northampton, who is quite capable of taking Neal’s seat come November. Fleitman made his candidacy official on May 11th, turning in over 3700 signatures (2,000 required) to the Statehouse.
Earl Sholley running for 4th District - Photo by Steve Azzara, PR Web
Over in the 4th District, Sean Bielat, (www.seanbielat.com) who made his campaign official on May 11th, according to the Boston Globe. Bielat will face a primary challenge from Earl Sholley (www.sholleyforcongress.us)for the opportunity to unseat Barney Frank of Freddie and Fannie fame. Sholley’s Campaign Manager, Lisa Camp, recently announced her resignation, along with Deputy Campaign Manager, Joseph Lydon in a press release dated May 12th. Camp, one of the who’s who of the Mike Huckabee 2008 Presidential Campaign, noted differences in campaign management style as reason for her departure. Camp, who had worked on the Sholley campaign since May of 2009 noted: "Both Joe and I wish Mr. Sholley well in the balance of his campaign," said Ms. Camp, "and we believe that either Mr. Sholley or his opponent, Sean Bielat, is better suited to hold the Congressional Seat currently held by incumbent, Barney Frank." There has been no comment from the Sholley Campaign. Lisa Camp, Resigns as Sholley Campaign Manager - image Facebook
Of interest however, is that both Camp and Lydon are both noted grass-roots activist on the South Coast, where Bielat may be lacking some support. The announcement came on the heels of Bielat's Press Conference announcing his candidacy.
Politico has an article with video (below) on a press conference with New Jersey Governor, Chris Christie, in which the Governor expounds on the differences between himself and the press. It is, without a doubt, one of the most refreshing lectures from a Conservative to a “politically correct” press, one has heard or seen in eons. Christie lays it out in terms that leave no doubt as to who is he and how he plans to govern, and lets the press know, in no uncertain terms, that they will be faced with his particular brand of humor and straight-forward, shoot-from-the-hip style that should be bottled and exported nationwide. One can often hear the lament: “Why can’t our governor be more like Chris Christie”, and no wonder. For decades, from the President to the local dog catcher, conservatives have treated the press with kid gloves, understanding that the press was not friendly in the least, even using avoidance (See George W. Bush) when it was necessary to be confrontational. That ship has sailed, so to speak, with Chris Christie outlining the “way it is”. It can only be hoped that, when challenged for something ridiculous, any conservative, will kick it up a notch and stand up for themselves when faced with a hostile press.
As more and more average American’s turn to other sources for their news, it is not the economy, nor the Internet, nor a poor performance on the part of a news anchor, be it national or local, that is driving down subscribers and viewers, it is the transparent and obvious partisanship displayed both on screen and in print that has created a backlash.
There are more GOP and Tea Party candidates running in 2010 races (local, state and national), than at any other time in recent memory, yet one cannot find much coverage, unless on resorts to blogs, which may or may not have the whole story or be written from a specific point of view (see this blog, for example). As these candidates pick up little press (or more to the point, national negative press based on innuendo (See Boston Globe article on GOP Candidate, Jeff Perry who is running for the 10th Congressional District in MA, being vacated by Democrat Bill Delahunt. Although Perry must face a primary, the Globe decided to run a story that covers a 1990’s police incidence, (Perry was a police officer) where Perry was nearby another officer who was obviously out of line. The story is herefor review. Connecting a political candidate to a “scandal” no matter how thin a stretch, is part and parcel of the type of “journalism” that is driving readers over to the dark side (i.e. blogs and alternate news sources and the GOP or Tea Party (or neither - as an independent). There may be hundreds, thousands of Chris Christie’s in the waiting, only November will tell. If this hunch is correct, then watching the local news (and/or YouTube videos of the news which, may leave out a detail or three), will become extremely entertaining.
Gov Christie calls S-L columnist thin-skinned for inquiring about his 'confrontational tone'
FromThe Springfield Republican: 32 homeless families housed at a Quality Inn in West Springfield, MA were given a reminder not to cook in hotel rooms after a fire broke out the night before. Massachusetts routinely houses homeless families in hotel rooms, racking up two million dollars a month in taxpayer funded hotel bills. Surely, with $24 million dollars a year, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts could purchase and renovate buildings suitable for short and long-term stays of families, include resources for education and hire those that are housed (and able to work), and even save a few bucks. There should be sane measures in place to lift up, not house those who, through illness, and or lack of education are forced to literally live in the streets. From a “but for the Grace of God” perspective, anyone can experience the loss of income and the subsequent loss of a home; therefore, the concept of housing homeless families in hotel and motel rooms throughout the state should have been a temporary measure, until the State could, again, use existing vacant buildings, and or existing homeless shelters, expand those for family units, and re-educate or educate those that are able, and give dignity to families who are now crammed like cattle into mid-priced hotel rooms across the Bay State.
Several State Legislators have tried to solve the problem; apparently, they were not taken seriously by the powers that be on Beacon Hill. A 10 point plan submitted by State Sen. Stephen J. Buoniconti, D-West Springfield, and state Rep. James T. Welch, D-West Springfield is outlined below: (From the Republican Webite:
10-point plan to address the placement of homeless families in hotels and motels, as outlined by state Sen. Stephen J. Buoniconti and state Rep. James T. Welch, both D-West Springfield. 1. Require the Department of Housing and Community Development to submit a report to the Legislature within 30 days that will detail a plan to eliminate the policy of housing homeless families in hotels and motels within one year. This will eliminate an ineffective policy that costs taxpayers nearly $36 million per year. 2. Develop specific residency requirements for families seeking shelter. Require the person seeking shelter to provide a minimum of one piece of documentation that clearly shows that their last known address is inside Massachusetts. For example: utility bill, bank statement, driver’s license. 3. Change current language that states that a woman automatically qualifies for emergency family shelter once she becomes pregnant to once the woman gives birth. A pregnant woman would still be eligible for standard homeless shelters up to that point (a shelter provides better structure and resources for a pregnant woman as she is preparing for birth). 4. Remove language that states the DHCS does not have have authority to make regulatory changes to their policies regarding homelessness unless the account is running at a deficit. 5. Waive the 20-mile rule that states a family must be placed within 20 miles of their last known address. 6. Families will receive only one option. If the option is refused, they must wait one year before reapplying for shelter. 7. If DHCD places a family in a hotel, DHCD will be responsible for notifying the community’s Health Department, Police Department and School Department (if school-aged children) within 24 hours of placement. 8. DHCD must conduct a search of all open shelter space that is currently idle in Massachusetts. If a shelter is available, but not being utilized and is up to code, DHCD must ask for a request for proposals. 9. If DHCD places a family with a child under the age of 3 in a hotel or motel, it must notify the state Department of Children and Family Services. The Department of Children and Family Services must then contact the hotel to ensure that the room that is being provided is equipped with a crib that meets all safety codes. The Department of Children and Family Services must then inspect the room with 24 hours of placement. If the hotel has failed to provide a crib that meets standards, it will be subject to a $10,000 fine. 10. The Department of Housing and Community Development will be required to reimburse communities for each pupil that is bused out of district while placed in a hotel. Each School Department must keep a list of students that are being bused from a hotel to a neighboring community and submit a request for payment on a quarterly basis.
There are several problems with the current system included in the outline above, which just leap off the page – specifically, the fact that no documentation of residency is required, and that pregnant women are warehoused in hotels, again, when a suitable alternative could be built for less. For example a listing for a 72 room motel in Springfield, close to a community college, is listed for $1.5 million. Hotels from Hyannis to Pittsfield are on the block with price tags that would require an initial investment, yet in the long term, save the Commonwealth a chunk of change in the long-run. All things considered, specifically the reception Rep’s. Walsh and Buoniconti received from the State, surely the DHCD could come up with something more cost effective and safe could be done to ensure that more homeless families could be served with dignity and hope of a future.
