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
The Isabel - Kerry's Small Boat (yes, by standards) Newport - image CBS News
Apparently the brouhaha caused by the local press and the consequent outrage of the common people became too much for the “American Aristocrat” (self-styled) John Kerry over his avoidance of paying taxes to Massachusetts. This after he deemed himself worthy to take a pass on paying excise taxes in the State of Massachusetts on his New Yacht, (conveniently docked in nearby no-tax Newport, RI), (ironically home to pirates and an historical treasure trove) but found berthed in Massachusetts). Local Boston station My Fox Boston, reports that Kerry has promised to pay the Commonwealth after the same station found the Senior Senator to have dodged paying almost “half-a-million dollars” in taxes – apparently the “boat in question” was , indeed berthed in the Bay State.
As pointed out in yesterdays post, certain Democrat officials from Massachusetts feel they are exempt or above the laws they impose on the “rest of us”. (Of course, it’s not only Massachusetts, it’s nationwide) – Rangel, Geithner, et al – must feel that paying taxes is “above their “pay-grade”. The new Do as I Say, not as I do Mantra, appears to be falling on deaf ears.
Favorite Kerry quote this week: When approached by a small horde of local reporters asking if that yacht had, not indeed been found berthed in Massachusetts” – Kerry Responded lamely “It depends on who owns it!" (See video posted yesterday here– Mind boggling that this man was nominated by his party to attempt to gain the presidency.
Fortunately this mid-term, the people of Massachusetts have multiple choices to replace incumbent Democrats who have driven the state of Massachusetts to the brink of penury. For a list state and federal candidates running for office (Primary to be held September), visit: The Commonwealth’s Secretary of State, election Division, lists for Democrat and Republican who are on the ballot for the primary in September. Independents are allowed to vote in the primary of choice, they must declare a party at the time and simply change their designation after the primary at the town or city hall. Regardless of party affiliation, once one is in that voting booth, one may choose the candidate of their choice – the vote is a secret ballot, therefore, Democrats may vote for Republicans and Republicans may vote for Democrats in any general election. (As posted to the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts website: There are approximately 180 Republicans willing to work for the people of the Commonwealth in both state and federal positions – an exceedingly high number considering the State was known as the “Bluest State”. )
Massachusetts’ Senior Senator John Kerry won’t be up for reelection until 2014, and although in the past, those living in the Baystate have been chided for choosing a wide array of newsworthy politicians, recently, the straws have been weighing heavy on the taxpaying camels backs.
Massachusetts politicians, from those sent to Beacon Hill, where felonious behavior is nothing new, to those elected to hold Federal Posts almost, but not quite as brazen – appear to behave as if they are truly above the laws they write, and/or the laws of the land. Back in February, one state representative who had been caught making a run to nearby New Hampshire to avoid a sales tax on alcohol that he had voted on See Boston Herald Booze Run article on Rep. Michael J. Rodriguez) turn around when the kitchen gets a little warm and run for the State Senate (First Bristol and Plymouth District). After all, Representative Rodriguez has the “right experience for the job”. The Democrat Representative faces a primary in September, after which he will face Republican Derek Maksy in the General Election this November. Understanding that the way elections have gone in the past in Massachusetts, one would think that Mr. Rodriguez would be a shoe-in, however, lately, one can’t bet on the old Massachusetts only elects Democrats.
That theory started to break apart in the Summer of 2009, when candidates, including the newly elected Jr. Senator from Massachusetts, Republican Scott Brown, began to make forays into the world of back yard barbeque's across the state. These were men and women who had decided that finally, there has been a shift in the political wind in Massachusetts and the people had had enough. The Republican Convention held in April of 2010, was nothing short of miraculous, from the attendance to air of hope and enthusiasm for a political party that has, for decades been but a minor player in the state. Obviously, Brown's victory was not brought about by the massive Republican voting bloc, nor the sizeable Independent bloc alone, Democrats voted for Brown. The numbers ads up.
Moving forward, those that take the people for granted (sic. Massachusetts Democrats) should understand that perhaps they are not as loyal to the party as they are to their pocketbooks, and that they are capable of having longer memories as of late. Must be all those antioxidants in the Cranberry Juice.
When asked pointed questions by local press regarding where he berths his boat, and thus avoids paying hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxes to Massachusetts, specifically if it were berthed in Massachusetts – the answer from Kerry: “That depends on who owns it”. (Video from my fox Boston below - He seriously said that - one must look to the expressions on these reporters faces - priceless)
The Wall Street Journal has dubbed Senator Kerry “A one Man Benedict Arnold Corporation historically ironic, as Mr. Kerry has chosen to berth his boat in Newport, Rhode Island, where "The" Benedict Arnold was born and raised. The comparison made as Mr. Kerry had thrown the Massachusetts boat builders under the Democrat Bus, in favor of a company overseas, which may or may not have had anything to do with tax evasion.
Kerry handily won reelection in 2008 – the year of the Democrat – it was not that the candidate running against him, Republican Jeff Beatty wasn’t worthy of the seat, it was the broad brush that painted all Republicans, so much so that, even clowns with a Democrat in front of their name were elected to the Senate, or so we thought (See Felons for Franken, or those not allowed to vote in the first place electing a U.S. Senator). At least Massachusetts does not have to carry that shame.
It remains to be seen what will come of the 2010 elections, on both a state and national level, as Beltway Pundits have, once again, pushed Massachusetts over to the Blue side of the board, and painting all races with the “Safe Democrat” Brush. Of course, this was the same bunch that was “shocked” that Scott Brown was elected in a special election a few short months ago. What happens, one wonders, should one, two, three or more Congressional Seats go to a Republican, and a few State Races as well?
Here’s a rumor with legs, calling it that as it came from a close associate who had been approached to run for public office (State Representative) – while declining do to so due to a realistically heavy workload, the response was: you need to do nothing but put your name on the ballot – after all – anti-incumbent sentiment is running high in the Bay State.
This leads one to think, that Kerry, who is not always credited with being overly bright, must be thinking that it’s time to build a new boat and get off the proverbial sinking ship – like Bill Delahunt’s abandonment of the 10th Congressional, Kerry must understand that the party that has ruled the Bay State for eons, is slowly but surely falling out of favor with the voters.
Shock and Awe - Reporters dumbfounded by Kerry's answers
FromThe Boston Globe, via the AP: Apparently, the only message left to voters from Barak Obama, besides blaming George Bush, is to blame all Republican’s in general. As the 2010 mid-term elections draw near, Obama has taken to telling voters that the Democrats need more time, and that to vote them out of office now, would be to reverse the path to progress they have embarked upon.
In the AP article, the President states on one news program that American’s don’t have selective memories, so he should be well aware, that American’s understand Congress and the Senate have been controlled by Democrats since 2006 – before he took office. As anyone with a basic understanding of Civics understands, the President alone, cannot make or break a single piece of legislation, he or she needs the Congress and Senate to give the “go-ahead” so to speak, as they control the purse-strings. According to several polls, both on state races and national trends, the people do understand and in addition, are rejecting legislation passed by this president and his simpatico Congress.
It is no wonder that confidence levels tracked by Gallop show that American’s, in general, have lost confidence in the Presidency by 15 points since one year ago – and that Congress, which was already at the bottom of the list of institutions graded, has reached the lowest point (11%) since tracking began in 1973. The media is not faring much better, with newspapers at 25% confidence (no change from last year) and television news at 22% (down 1 % from last year) – with deliberately misleading and or blatantly partisan articles released by major news outlets and then reprinted or broadcast with abandon, is it no wonder?
Democrats who have large “war chests” have not had to campaign in years, most of that cash is rolled over from previous years – the appearance of being on top of the heap, is just that an appearance. Will each district primary winner do as well as Scott Brown in fundraising? Hardly likely as it is a district race, not a state race, and with voter sentiment, especially in Massachusetts, anti-incumbent, the need for parity with the incumbent democrat as to cash on hand, may not be necessary.
Additionally, going back into the FEC database to 1999, Neal continued to hold the advantage in cash on hand, even when he had no opposition here- it’s the Democrat candidates equivalent to rollover minutes.
That is true of every single seat held in the Massachusetts Congressional Caucus made up exclusively of Democrat Incumbents. The big “if” will come into play weeks before the election, where fund-raising levels should peak – districts to watch – all contested Massachusetts races – the 5th, the Hampden 2nd, the 4th all carry national names, some better known as others – with the potential for the Republican candidate left standing after the primary in September, to begin fundraising on a national scale – as most of the money initially going to Brown came from outside of the state in the first million dollar Internet money bomb.
Therefore, Obama appears to be caught between the old rock and a hard place, not only are the American people losing patience with his “progress”, they have completely lost patience with incumbents – giving one the notion that, despite an media in concert with the administration and similar ideology – the people are, as of this writing, prone to replacing the lot of them.
How concerned is Obama at this point? According to Politico He’s sent a “2012” advance team to Florida.
Meanwhile, over in Massachusetts, the field is not only crowded for Federal positions, but the battle for Beacon Hill shows more Republicans in the primary than in past years – the opportunity exists to pick up seats in the State House and Senate, (Mass. Secretary of State)
Therefore, no matter how often it is broadcast, printed, re-printed, the voters are no longer listening – or at least up to 75 of them are now seeking information elsewhere or doing their own research.
