A New Path

It’s always nice when someone sees the light…

He was once a key member of Deval Patrick’s team – the communications director in the early months of the 2006 campaign. But now Kahlil Byrd, who also served as Patrick’s appointments secretary once Patrick won office, has broken with the governor. He has become a devotee of Charles D. Baker, the Republican former health care executive looking to unseat the man Byrd once called boss.

“The governor’s a great man in the wrong job,’’ said Byrd, who now works as a senior fellow at a Washington think tank and runs his own strategy firm. “The governor could have led us through tough times by tapping into the spirit of innovation that is much of a part of Massachusetts. He hasn’t succeeded, and unfortunately he’s lost the promise of his 2006 campaign.’’

Byrd is a Republican. He worked for longshot GOP candidate Jeff Beatty in his bid to unseat Senator John F. Kerry in 2008.

Byrd gave the maximum allowable amount, $500, to Baker’s campaign in 2009. He said he was drawn to Baker because he’s been “deeply involved in public policy and government in Massachusetts for a long time’’ and has also been “a successful leader in the private sector. He’s excited about becoming governor when our problems are at their deepest.’’

UPDATE: More from the Globe, State House News Service, Howie Carr and David Kravitz.

SECOND UPDATE: More from the Herald and the AP.

THIRD UPDATE: More from the Globe and Herald.

Your Vote Does Matter Tomorrow (…Well, Some of Them)

Massachusetts is written off by presidential candidates. It’s a sure thing.

But there are a series of state elections that your vote does matter…and can have a huge impact on state politics.

Here is my take on the three questions:

Question 1, to eliminate the income tax. Truthfully, how you vote on this is really about sending a message to Beacon Hill. If the citizens do vote to end the income tax, and I believe they will, the Democratic Legislature will just ignore the will of the people, as they have done many times in the recent past.

Question 2, decriminalizing pot possession of 1 oz. or less. Anyone caught with said amount will have to “give up pot” and pay a $100 civil fine. Does anyone think telling someone they have to give up pot is going to work? It’s already an illegal substance. $100 fine is beans. This question sucks. A vote yes sends the wrong message, and it paves the way for the complete decriminalization of marijuana. I predict it will be close, but will pass, even though it shouldn’t.

Question 3, seeks to ban dog racing and betting. The pro-Question 3 effort is spearheaded by the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. I have not been able to pay attention to the ad campaign to see who make the most compelling argument. That said, I don’t lose any sleep at night if a greyhound gets hurt on a racetrack. Racetrack owners who are leading the opposition argue the animals are well cared for, and that 1,000 jobs would be lost if this question wins. Sorry, but people are more important than animals. Vote no.

Where your votes can make the most difference is Beacon Hill.

Beacon Hill is nearly 90% democrats. This is absurd. The reason why your vote on Question 1 is meaningless is because of the state legislature has shown time and time again your vote is bupkis–totally meaningless. The “party of choice” takes that choice away from you. You vote for change, and they take it away. Party of the people? Not quite. It’s only natural that we disapprove of the whole government body, but like our particular elected official…but people, please, look at the record of your elected officials. If they are not on your side, don’t give them the privilege of your vote. The only way to reign them in is to bring something resembling balance to Beacon Hill, and yes, that means electing some Republicans. Here is a list of candidates running for election and reelection:

State Senate

Jon Rockwood – Bristol and Norfolk
Brion Cangiamila – Fourth Middlesex
Keith McCormic – Hampshire and Franklin
Sandra “Sandi” Martinez – Third Middlesex
Richard Tisei – Middlesex and Essex
Steve Levy – Middlesex and Worcester
Scott Brown – Norfolk, Bristol and Plymouth
Robert Hedlund – Plymouth and Norfolk
John Lebeaux – 2^nd Worcester
Bruce Tarr – 1^st Essex and Middlesex
Mike Knapik – 2^nd Hampden and Hampshire

State Representative

Don Howell – Barnstable 4
Jeff Perry – Barnstable 5
Fred Barrows – Bristol 1
George Ross – Bristol 2
C.J. Ferry – Bristol 7
Elizabeth Poirier – Bristol 14
Brad Hill – Essex 4
John Blaisdell – Essex 8
Lawrence Brennan – Essex 18
Robert Parks – Franklin 2
William Scibelli – Hampden 2
George Vazquez – Hampden 10
Paul Avella – Middlesex 2
Sonny Parente – Middlesex 3
Arthur Vigeant – Middlesex 4
Dan Haley – Middlesex 8
Susan Pope – Middlesex 13
Brad Jones – Middlesex 20
Anthony Lucacio – Middlesex 22
Jeffrey Bilezikian – Middlesex 29
Brian O’Connor – Middlesex 31
Kurt Hayes – Middlesex 37
Bob Thomas – Norfolk 4
Richard Ross – Norfolk 9
Vinny DeMacedo – Plymouth 1
Susan Gifford – Plymouth 2
Dan Webster – Plymouth 6
Lewis Evangelidis – Worcester 1
Stephen Comtois – Worcester 5
Ronald Chernisky – Worcester 6
Paul Frost – Worcester 7
Kevin Kuros – Worcester 8
George Peterson – Worcester 9
Karyn Polito – Worcester 11

Capitol Hill suffers from a similar problem… but our delegation is 100% Democrats.

US Senate
Jeff Beatty

US Congress
Nathan Bech – 1^st District
Earl Sholley – 4^th District
Richard Baker – 6^th District
John Cunningham – 7^th District

Bottom line, electing mostly or all Democrats is failing this state. If you want change, the answer is clear: send the Democrats packing. If you choose to accept the current state of Massachusetts politics as it is, don’t be surprise if at the next national election we’ll have end up sending a few less congressional representatives to sit in the Capitol.

John Kerry Wants Another Economy-Crippling New Deal

Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it… And if John Kerry has his way this country would have another FDR-style New Deal.

The nation’s battered economy needs an old-fashioned “Rooseveltian lift” of regulatory reforms and government spending on the infrastructure, clean energy and other sectors, U.S. Sen. John Kerry said yesterday.

Kerry, facing a re-election challenge from Republican Jeff Beatty, rejected GOP calls for more tax rebates to stimulate the economy, as was done last spring.

“I am for a stimulus package. I am not for a stimulus package that just sends out checks,” said Kerry at a Boston Herald editorial meeting yesterday.

Instead, Kerry said the nation needs to spend more in areas that will both help the economy in the short run and long run – such as on roads and bridges, clean energy initiatives and life sciences.

Calling current financial woes the most “complicated economic time we’ve had since the Great Depression,” Kerry said new approaches are needed to reform the current financial system.

Obviously, John Kerry doesn’t know a thing about history or economics. If he did he would know that FDRs New Deal (which included tax increases, bank consolidations, higher tariffs and forced unionization amongst other things) prolonged The Great Depression rather than got the country out of it.

If that is something Kerry wants to happen again, then how could anyone possibly vote for him?

Beatty Campaign Declares Victory After Debate With Kerry

Jeff Beatty’s campaign has declared victory following tonight’s debate on NECN:

“It’s clear, Jeff Beatty won this debate. But what’s more important, Jeff Beatty proved why the Commonwealth needs an engaged senator who cares more about our interests instead of special interests.

As usual John Kerry ducked, dodged, and refused to explain himself throughout this debate. Yes, Mr. Kerry, you do own AIG stock and did vote “Yes” to boost your stock portfolio. Yes, you did go on vacation instead of working to pass comprehensive energy reform. Yes, you voted for the Iraq war because your political advisors said it would make you look more presidential. And no, you do not deserve another six years if you haven’t done the job for the last 24.

What we need right now are more debates and more straight answers from our leaders. Right now, and in the Senate you will get both from Jeff Beatty.”

Did you watch? What did you think?

Jeff Beatty’s New Ad