The Full Nelson

Sign of the apocalypse

Nelson Benton — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:32:11 +0000

Sports Illustrated has a popular feature it labels “Sign of the Apocalypse.” They might want to include last week’s announcement that Buzz Aldrin, 80, will be part of the next “Dancing with the Stars” cast on ABC.

Buzz Aldrin

This is Buzz Aldrin, the second man — and one of only 12 ever to do so — to walk on the moon. And now he’ll likely be making a fool of himself a la Cloris Leachman and Tom DeLay, trying to keep up with the much younger dancers, B-list actors and athletes who populate the popular talent show.
The saddest part is he’ll likely be much better known for this than his 1969 moon landing. After all, what’s historic achievement in comparison to being a star of reality TV?

Welcome to tax-free Salem

Nelson Benton — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 14:14:39 +0000

New motto for the Witch City, at least for the time being: “Welcome to tax-free (sort of) Salem. And we don’t mean Salem, N.H.”
The Beverly City Council’s vote Friday night to impose a .75-percent tax on restaurant tabs, and the Salem City Council’s refusal to do the same the previous evening, means you can save a little money by crossing the Veterans Memorial Bridge or driving from Peabody to Salem the next time you want to eat out. Peabody approved the local-option meals tax last December.
Of course you still have to pay the state tax (6.25 percent) on meals, but for now Salem is not adding the extra fee the state authorized as part of its “municipal relief” measure. (One wonders how much more such relief taxpayers will tolerate.)
It was Ward 3 representative Jim Latter’s decision to vote in favor of the meals tax that led to the scheduling of the unusual Friday-night session in Beverly at which the levy was approved by a 5-3 vote. But in Salem, Councilor Jerry Ryan had a change of heart in the other direction, surprising many — including the mayor — by voting against implementation of the local-option meals tax.

Baker talks jobs, taxes in Ipswich

Nelson Benton — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:56:31 +0000

GOP gubernatorial candidate Charlie Baker addressed a small group at the Ipswich Inn this morning. The theme: Jobs and taxes.
They’re related, he said. Indeed, he said, “this spending and tax thing makes me doubly worried about jobs.”
Baker claims the state’s failure to make significant cuts in spending, and the constant talk of the need for new taxes, makes for a bad business climate that has driven jobs elsewhere.
Some blame the weather, he quipped, but he’s not buying it “because a lot of them left and went to New Hampshire.” And repeating a line he’s used in the past, Baker spoke about how he bothers him to see all the Red Sox fans at the team’s away games since he fears many of them are Bay State natives who couldn’t afford to live here any longer.
Touting his turnaround record with the Weld administration and Harvard Pilgrim Health, Baker said he’s confident he can achieve the same measure of success as governor, promising “a lean and efficient operation.”
He added: “I’m not running to grow state government, I’m running to shrink it.”

Bay State not so bad

Nelson Benton — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 14:54:14 +0000

Nothing like a trip to Arizona to make the Bay State look sane.
Out west, U.S. Sen. John McCain, one of the more reasonable Republican voices in the Senate, is being challenged by right-wing radio gabber and former congressman J.D. Hayworth. (The latter, like 6th District GOP congressional candidate Bill Hudak, first espoused, then renounced, the claim that President Obama was not a natural-born citizen of the U.S.)
But it’s the Arizona Legislature that makes the denizens of Beacon Hill look downright statesmanlike. The state budget is in crisis, forcing the closure of parks, the abandonment of services to poor children, and the implementation of a new round of local taxes (Phoenix just started adding 2-percent to the cost of groceries to boost its coffers). Yet what’s the big issue of the day? Whether to erect a monument containing the Ten Commandments on the steps of the state capitol.
A couple of other observations:
* That tax on groceries in Phoenix is another reason Massachusetts taxpayers may have reason to regret the new law allowing cities and towns to impose a .75-percent tax on meals. Once the door is opened, there’s no telling how far cash-strapped municipalities will go to bring in new revenue.
* Things are so bad in Phoenix, police and firefighters recently agreed to take a 3.2-percent pay reduction. And there’s no such thing as a road detail here.

Deval visits Baker country to make case for re-election

Nelson Benton — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 14:59:56 +0000

Gov. Deval Patrick spent an hour or so the night before Valentine’s Day addressing more than 50 supporters at the Swampscott home of local attorney Jim Smith.
Patrick said he’s not going anywhere and wants very much to be re-elected this November. But he also acknowledged the voter unrest revealed by Republican Scott Brown’s successful campaign for U.S. Senate last month and said Democrats including himself have every reason to feel “nervous” heading into this fall’s contest.
But the fact is that Patrick’s biggest detractors are on the right (no-tax-no-spenders) and left (the unions), which could enhance his appeal with those in the middle who were largely responsible for Brown’s upset victory.
For example, a man prominent in Salem’s business community, told the governor that while he supported him in 2006, he’d been undecided about this next election — until a police union picket forced Patrick to cancel a recent appearance at a state AFL-CIO gathering in Plymouth.
Patrick’s willingness to take on the police on issues like road details and the Quinn bill, this person said, convinced him that the governor has the resolve to tackle the toughest problems facing the commonwealth. And Patrick was only too happy to recount how in the “Weld/Baker” administration (referring to former Republican governor Bill Weld and his then secretary of administration and finance, Charlie Baker, now seeking the GOP nomination for governor) an effort to limit those costly police details was quickly withdrawn in the face of union opposition.
Another Patrick initiative and one of which he says he is proudest — education reform — has upset some of his former supporters within the teacher ranks.
The governor also says he has gotten better in dealing with the legislative leadership, admitting that while he complained about it at the time, House Speaker Robert DeLeo made the right call in postponing a vote on the ed. reform package until after the holidays. The extra time was needed to garner the necessary votes, and the bill was on Patrick’s desk for his signature by Martin Luther King Day.
Another guest urged Patrick to do more to get the word out about his accomplishments. But he rightly noted that it is hard to get people to focus on anything these days when so many are worried simply about keeping their jobs and homes.
But he said he remains confident that the economy is starting to improve and November will find voters in a more optimistic mood.
Patrick was greeted Saturday by a handful of Baker supporters who’d gathered with their signs on a corner near the Smith home, but they had dispersed by the time he left. Baker is a former Swampscott selectman and still lives in the town.

Filing deadlines set

Nelson Benton — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:46:26 +0000

House Speaker Robert DeLeo is worried, advising House Democrats to spend more time with their constituents and less at the Statehouse.
Indeed, it’s expected Sen. Scott Brown’s surprise victory last month has more than a few Republicans thinking about running for office in 2010.
Secretary of State Bill Galvin announced today the state primaries will be held Sept. 14, and the general election on Nov. 2, which starts the clock ticking for those seeking a place on the ballot.
Those planning to run for Congress or the Legislature have until May 4 to submit their nomination papers to city and town clerks, and until June 1 to have those signatures certified and on file with the state Election Division.

On Brown, gang that couldn’t shoot straight

Nelson Benton — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 19:12:36 +0000

Random thoughts from the weekend:
1. Barbara Walters discovered Massachusetts Sen.-elect Scott Brown is no Sarah Palin clone.
The veteran TV journalist was in Saugus Saturday for a Brown rally at the Kowloon restaurant on Rt. 1 and an interview that was broadcast the following day. Brown more than held his own in the give-and-take.
2. Massachusetts Republicans are going to have to do a better job timing the events held by those at the top of the ticket.
Gubernatorial candidate Charlie Baker’s Saturday kick-off in Boston was slightly overshadowed by the Brown events held that same day.
3. And as for the gang that couldn’t shoot straight, that would be the members of the Essex Regional Retirement Board.
If there’s one thing chairman Tim Bassett needed to get right it was making sure he got re-elected last year. But he mishandled that and as a result, according to Chris Cassidy’s report in Saturday’s Salem News, the state Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission is now seeking a replacement.
4. But then Bassett was smart enough to get himself a contract tying his salary to that of the region’s higest-paid town managers rather than his system’s investment performance. In case you’ve forgotten, the ERRB ranked worst in the state last year.

So much for the Scott Brown effect

Nelson Benton — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:45:25 +0000

This just in from The Associated Press:

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Democratic-controlled Senate has muscled through a plan to allow the government to go a whopping $1.9 trillion deeper in debt.
The party-line 60-40 vote was successful only because Republican Sen.-elect Scott Brown has yet to be seated. Sixty votes were required to approve the increase. The measure would lift the debt ceiling to $14.3 trillion. That’s about $45,000 for every American.
Democrats had to scramble to approve the plan, which means they won’t have to vote on another increase until after the midterm elections this fall. To win the votes of moderate Democrats, President Barack Obama promised to appoint a special task force to come up with a plan to reduce the deficit. The House must still vote on the measure before it’s sent to Obama for his signature.

First impressions of Obama State of Union speech

Nelson Benton — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 03:21:03 +0000

Starts by acknowledging that “the worst of the storm has passed, but the devastation remains.”
Touts tax cuts, stimulus bill and new tax on banks to recover money from Wall St. bailout he called as distasteful “as a root canal.”
“After two years of recession, the economy is growing again.”
But jobs will be no. 1 focus in 2010 which is “why I’m calling for a new jobs bill tonight.”
Says Congress must help small businesses grow again. Proposes tax incentives for new investment.
Says this time money will be spent on infrastructure. But said that last time, too.
Says country needs “serious financial reform,” can’t allow banks “to take risks that threaten the whole economy.”
Says America must take lead in clean energy so it can continue to lead global economy.
Promises aid for middle-class families, including “health insurance reform.”
Says reform may not be “good politics,” but essential for helping American families. But admits it’s a complex issue not easily or quickly corrected. If GOP has a better plan, wants to see it. No reference to “doing it for Ted Kennedy,” however.
“Let’s get it done!” he urges.
Admits country is in “massive fiscal hole.” Says federal government must tighten its belt, proposes freezing most government spending for three years.
President seems relaxed, injecting some humor into speech, nudging Republicans, chides Supreme Court seated right in front of him for last week’s decision allowing unlimited corporate spending on political campaigns. (Latter comment has Alito shaking his head, “No.”)
On was, says “there will be difficult days ahead,” but remains confident “we will succeed.” Predicts all combat troops out of Iraq by end of August.
Says “democracy can be noisy and messy.” But urges Congress that instead of playing it safe for next year, it help implement change people wanted when they elected him in 2008.
“We don’t quit. I don’t quit!”

Beverly rep. race heating up

Nelson Benton — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 18:33:18 +0000

Lawyer Scott Houseman made it known today he is “considering” a bid for state Rep. Mary Grant’s House seat this November. Grant has announced she will not seek re-election.
A longtime community activist and former chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals, Houseman would be a formidable candidate. More significantly, it would seriously hurt the efforts of some within the local party establishment to clear the field for Jerry Parisella, who’s already announced his candidacy, to go one-on-one against former Ward 3 councilor and mayoral candidate John Burke in the Democratic primary should the latter enter the race — as many expect he will.
Meanwhile, Republican Brett Schetzsle continues to raise money for his bid. He reports receiving some $7,000 from 100 different donors in 2009.