by D. R. Tucker, July 2nd, 2009 at 06:59am
That sound you hear is Gov. Patrick screaming as Joan Vennochi cuts to the bone. GOVERNOR Deval Patrick hired Barack Obama’s campaign manager to help run his 2010 reelection bid. But Patrick is no Obama, as their mutual strategist, David…
by Aaron Margolis, June 30th, 2009 at 12:09pm
A Rasmussen Report poll released yesterday has some very interesting things to say, to both the Governor seeking reelection, and to the Republican Party that is hoping to gain back the Corner Office.
Oddly enough, Deval Patrick still garners 40% of the vote–which seems like a lot for a guy you could swear is trying to throw his own reelection. More interesting than Governor Patrick’s specific numbers, is the challengers’ numbers.
First up, Christy Mihos, Republican turned Independent, turned back to Republican; the only declared candidate for the Republican Party at this time. In a matchup with the sitting Governor, Christy Mihos snagged 41% of the vote, edging out Patrick by one point. One point!
Not bad considering just three years ago in a three-way race, Mihos won over only 7% of the voters.
Next we have Charlie Baker, oftentimes seen as a rockstar among the Massachusetts Republican Party. Charlie Baker, who still hasn’t made up his mind about his candidacy for governor, holds 36% of the vote compared to Patrick’s 41%.
Of course, there is still a long time before Election Day, but you can’t ignore the messages that can be taken from this poll.
If Deval Patrick is trying keep his job, he’s doing something wrong. Very wrong. I think it is also fair to say that the fact he still holds 40% of the vote is a bit surprising, but then again, these are most likely the same people who continue to blindly support candidates that turn their backs on the will of the people.
This poll should speak volumes to Republicans. For starters, Christy Mihos must be taken seriously as candidate because right now, he’s our best shot at taking back the Corner Office. I know this will be hard for many that are still bitter about 2006, but it’s time to forget about the past and worry about the future. If the Republicans want to place all their chips betting on Charlie Baker, then they need to get Charlie Baker on board immediately. If Charlie Baker wants to have a fighting chance then he had better get a move on. Stop jerking us around and make your decision, or run the risk of joining the race when it’s too late.
The big winner in this poll is Christy Mihos–not only did he best Governor Patrick, but is also favored over Charlie Baker in matchups versus the incumbent. Mihos must be doing something right, but should continue his campaign as if he is behind by ten points.
Oh, and did I mention that this poll was taken before Governor Deval Patrick signed the sales tax increase?
…and don’t expect a Sales Tax Holiday either…
by D. R. Tucker, June 30th, 2009 at 06:59am
My God, it’s like the Duke never left… Governor Deval Patrick signed a budget yesterday that imposes more than $1 billion in additional taxes on Massachusetts residents and visitors, most of it through the first increase in the state…
by Aaron Margolis, June 29th, 2009 at 01:04pm
And off we go down the path of tax hikes and toll hikes and falling short of making the necessary reforms to keep those hikes from happening.
Bay State consumers, already hard-pressed by a slumping economy, will be slapped with a 25 percent sales tax hike and nearly $1 billion in total tax increases Aug. 1, Gov. Deval Patrick said yesterday after signing a massive transportation reform bill.Patrick had vowed to veto the sales tax boost if lawmakers didn’t enact transportation, pension and ethics reforms - but all three measures passed.
“I could not support a sales tax increase and ask people to pay for the status quo,” Patrick said in a statement. “Because of (the reforms), I will approve the new revenues we need to bring our budget into balance, offset the need for even more difficult cuts and expand opportunity throughout the commonwealth.”
The transportation measure also means an unpopular toll hike - scheduled take effect July 1 - will likely be averted. The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority board is meeting Monday.
I am not convinced, not in the slightest, that all possible options were considered to avoid increasing taxes. When times are tight for the rest of us, we have to cut our spending. Why can’t the state? I know too many people that have to endure pay cuts in addition to their own spending cuts and times are still rough. I know too many people that have become unemployed in the last year who will also bear the brunt of tax increases at the worst possible time. If they think the state has it rough, as around, they don’t have it so bad.
If someone can explain to me why perfectly good roads are getting repaved and perfectly good highway signs are getting replaced while taxes are being raised, then perhaps you have a shot of convincing me that the hikes are necessary. But I doubt it.
We’re all tired of the incessant rain that has been falling on the Commonwealth for weeks–but there is always hope in knowing that there is sunshine in our future…at least with regards to the weather forecast. As far as the forecast for the economy of the Commonwealth–I see that dreary days well into our future.
Remind me again, why do I bother to stay in Massachusetts?
by D. R. Tucker, June 27th, 2009 at 09:54am
Governor Patrick, get your hand out of my pocket! Governor Deval Patrick said yesterday that he will sign more than $1 billion in tax increases, ending a months-long standoff with the Legislature and ensuring Massachusetts residents will pay more…
by Matt Margolis, June 25th, 2009 at 02:36pm
A new study from The Beacon Hill Institute (BHI) at Suffolk University finds that recent studies claiming economic benefits to government imposed “green jobs” were flawed, and that such a program will actually hurt the economy, not help it.
Recent studies forecasting the potential economic benefits of government green job programs are critically flawed and erroneously promote these jobs as a benefit, according to a report released today by The Beacon Hill Institute (BHI) at Suffolk University.
The economic analysis reviewed the primary claims of three of the most influential green jobs studies and found serious economic flaws in each.
“Contrary to the claims made in these studies, we found that the green job initiatives reviewed in each actually causes greater harm than good to the American economy and will cause growth to slow,” reported Paul Bachman, Director of Research at the Beacon Hill Institute, one of the report’s authors.
Similar “green jobs” programs in other countries also support claims that these programs result in more harm than good.
You can read the full text of the study here (PDF).
by Aaron Margolis, June 25th, 2009 at 12:10pm
Senator John Kerry has stooped to a new low, making a joke in exceptionally poor taste.
U.S. Sen. John Kerry must have been channeling his inner Letterman yesterday.
The Bay State senator was telling a group of business and civic leaders in town at his invitation about the “bizarre’’ tale of how South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford had “disappeared for four days’’ and claimed to be hiking along the Appalachian Trail, but no one was really certain of his whereabouts.
“Too bad,” Kerry said, “if a governor had to go missing it couldn’t have been the governor of Alaska. You know, Sarah Palin.”
Excuse me, Senator…since when is person going missing a joking matter? Political rival or not, that kind of joke is inexcusable, and shameful to come from the mouth of a United States Senator. Would you still be joking if the story of Governor Sanford turned out worse?
I’m sure Senator Kerry wouldn’t be laughing if someone joked “too bad it couldn’t have been the other Senator from Massachusetts with the brain tumor,” so perhaps he ought think twice about joking about such serious matters.
I hope we get something resembling an apology from Senator Kerry. Until such time, I hope Governor Sarah Palin knows that the rest of us in the Commonwealth, at least, those of us with some class, apologize for the behavior of our junior Senator.
by D. R. Tucker, June 24th, 2009 at 08:22pm
Here’s a chilling thought: Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick being re-elected to a second term in November 2010. It’s a rather vicious vision, one that Republicans, independents and centrist Democrats in Massachusetts should strive to prevent from becoming reality. Patrick has…
by Matt Margolis, June 24th, 2009 at 12:46pm
It has been reported that Massachusetts taxpayers are footing a $2 million monthly bill to house the homeless in motels.
A record number of families are being put up in motels in Massachusetts. High unemployment and the rising number of home foreclosures is the reason the state is taking this action.
Housing Massachusetts’ homeless is costing tax payers around $2 million per month. It costs an average of $85 per night to have families, including nearly 1000 children, stay in motels.
The Interagency Council on Housing and Homelessness admits that the use of motels for the homeless is not ideal, but is the best that can be done at this time.
Homeless advocates are worried that families are not getting the support of shelters with living rooms, kitchens, and play areas.
Does that come with a guarantee that we won’t get accosted on the streets of the city by these people? Certainly they must be getting free meals in addition to taxpayer subsidized room and board? Are these people even required to perform some services in exchange for this benefit? Perhaps picking up litter in the streets? Or is the state just flushing this money down the toilet without doing anything to make these people either earn what they getting, or helping them get jobs to pay for it? I know the economy isn’t in great shape (thanks goes to the federal stimulus for doing such a great job turning things around) but there is clearly a source of cheap labor here that ought to be taken advantage of. There’s enough trash in the city for all these people to clean up. They don’t need a free ride on our dollar.
by D. R. Tucker, June 23rd, 2009 at 06:58am
Gov. Patrick vs. the state legislature. Local legislators said Monday they will give final approval to an ethics reform bill this week and accused Gov. Deval Patrick of grandstanding on the issue. The lawmakers said the governor should know…
Deval Patrick Watch
