A New Year and New Beginnings

Good news! The earth’s wobbling has, once again, brought us to the start of another year and for those who mark its beginning, it provides a moment to reflect on years gone by. Well-worn memories of dear friends and good times flicker past like old newsreels shaking loose more memories still; some mellow, some sweet and maybe just a few tinged with bittersweet.

After a salute to Auld Lang Syne comes the chance to look ahead and identify a few areas where we might initiate changes. Lists of resolutions have become a corny cliché, but it never hurts to revisit long-held ambitions that have yet to pan out, an old habit to put aside or a new one to set in place. For many of us who are increasingly aware of the finite nature of time, we might prioritize a commitment to nourish old connections that may have languished or, perhaps, attend to some fences in need of mending. There is nothing like the quiet of a bleak mid-winter winter night to engage one’s mind and put some meat on these bones.

So, embrace the New Year. Take it for what it can be, a shiny new opportunity to jump start new efforts. I have heard that quality, not quantity, is the ticket here. And, to all, best wishes for good health and clarity for the New Year and may 2011 be, for you, a year of achievement, prosperity and good fortune.

John

12/31/2010

Be Careful of What You Fear

In the early days of the run up to the 2008 presidential election, we worried endlessly at the impact of a Hillary Clinton presidency, which appeared to be more and more inevitable. That is, until we came to realize, a dollar short and a day late, that a little known, and embarrassingly inexperienced, Illinois senator was in the process of winning the Oval Office. Hillary's candidacy evoked a litany of concerns. For example, she would surely try and re-introduce a big national health care program. But one of the unique concerns regarding her possible election was the return of Bill Clinton to the White house, albeit as first dude. How would that play out?

As the saying goes, the rest is fast becoming history. We didn't get Hillary after all. Instead we got this unknown, ill-prepared cipher who quickly took the country into a massive left turn as he strives to turn the good old U.S. into Sweden. More astute observers were quick to recall that the new president had clearly telegraphed his political orientation. I thought of his conversation with Joe the Plumber where he called for "re-distributing the wealth", and had to admit that the signs had indeed been there. However, as a small part of our futile efforts at finding a silver lining in this cloud, it was noted that at least Bubba wouldn't be back at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue anytime soon.

So imagine my chagrin (don't worry, my family hides the sharp-edged objects)when I happened upon the above photo on Drudge. In case you have been out of touch and need to get a back story for this photo, click HERE to get the gory details. Yes, it is as bad as it looks.

Back to Basics for the RTC

Brad Marston's POSTING over at Red Mass Group is an excellent summary of specific steps that Republican Town Committees must take if the party is to compete more effectively in 2012 and beyond. This posting, and the following comments, are a must read for anyone with a stake in the future of the Republican Party in Massachusetts.

Karl (TLC) Weld's comment is especially notable:

The data is available to identify these folks. We just need to do it. We must make year-round activism the norm instead of getting in motion only during election season. There are plenty of votes taken on the Hill that are a sound basis for year-round lit drops in the form of "fact sheets' and "Did You Know" messages. Let's not save these for the run-up to elections but constantly remind voters of what's going on up there. Maybe we can break through to some folks and get them to realize that the only way to reform state government is to change the players. And then offer them viable players with viable solutions. Waiting until it's time to campaign to do this is like starting from scratch every time. And that's unproductive and an inefficient use of resources.

Let's not wait until the spring of 2012 to get started.

Mornings after can be painful, especially today as we look at the local election results in the cold hard light of day. But even given the one-sided results, there are definitely points of light amid the gloom.

First of all, the GOP fielded a strong slate of candidates, generating tightly- contested races in just about every election. Landslide victories were few and far between. It is easy to forget that only a few years ago, most incumbents ran happily un-opposed. Those days are gone. The GOP is back as a factor to be reckoned with in Massachusetts. Would it have been better to win some of those races? You bet. But don't think for a minute that we won't be back, applying our new-found and well-earned knowledge to future elections.

Also, Don't gloss over the importance of the Republican gains on the national level. We now will have a majority in the House, and a stronger position in the Senate. most political commentators are convinced that this election was a profound repudiation of Obama's socialistic agenda, and we have the antidote. The vision of Nancy Pelosi moving out of the Speaker's chair has to bring a smile to even the most disappointed among us.

Like the Macy's Thanksgiving parade, preparation for next year's event starts the very next morning. Stay the course. Redouble the effort. Stick to your principles. We will be back.

Jeff Perry Hits His Stride

Jeff and Lisa Perry were in town the other evening at what must seem, to them, like an endless series of campaign events as Jeff heads into the gun lap in the race for The Congressional seat representing the Mass. 10th. But they were quick to dismiss any suggestion of fatigue, pointing out that they draw strength and stamina, not only from their personal commitment to Jeff's platform, but also from the tremendous support of their growing legions of supporters.

It's already been a long campaign, but as we head into its final four weeks, the key issues are coming into razor-sharp focus. And to no surprise from many of us, the key issues, those that most concern the majority of voters, are those that form the cornerstones of the Perry campaign. Click on NEW AD, to view the new Perry campaign ad. You are probably going to have to watch it a few times, because Jeff's granddaughter, Faith, steals the show first time around. But the message is crystal clear. We are facing an election that may well become the most pivotal of our generation and Jeff's prescription of cutting spending, reducing debt and lowering taxes points the way to re-claiming the way of life that has made our country great.

Writing in the current week end issue of the Wall Street Journal, Peggy Noonan points to the key issues for the November election:

Whatever stand you take on the social issues, you have to be blind to think they will make a big difference this year. The issue this year is the size, role, weight and demands of government, and the public sense that its members selfishly look to their own needs and not those of the country. A GOP congressman told me this week that he very much disagrees with the characterization of tea party and Republican voters as enraged or livid. They are scared, he said. He has never, in two decades in politics, heard so many people tell him they are "scared," frightened for their own futures and for the future of their country.

Read the whole article HERE

Whether fearful, angry or somewhere in between, this election is, perhaps, our one chance at stemming the tide of the progressive takeover of not only the U.S. Government, but the American way of life. Sending Jeff Perry to Congress may well be the most important choice made this year by the voters of the Mass. 10th.

A Night to Shine for Charlie Baker

Charlie Baker came to Plymouth last night and was well-received by a large crowd of supporters, lead by host, Vinny deMacedo. Also in attendance was Charlie's running mate, Richard Tisei, Congressional candidate, Jeff Perry, incumbent Plymouth County Sherrif, Joe McDonald and a host of elected officials representing local government. It's been a while since we have heard Charlie in person, and we all came away with the recognition that Charlie is hitting his stride as a speaker. he has, of course, always had a well-reasoned platform supporting his candidacy, but now we are hearing the emotion and conviction, which underlines the rhetoric. It was exciting to hear him and he brought the crowd to its feet several times. And while there were no reports of leg tingles, ala Chris Matthews, Baker's message came across loud and clear.

Three main points have consistently been the main support for Charlie's strategies: Spending, taxes and jobs, as well a clear recognition that our government has lost sight of the equity due to those who pay the bills, the taxpayers. Another Baker axiom is "time is not our friend", when it comes to solving the state's problems, and a tight focus on each issue in turn is more effective than a sense of universal concern.

What voters are now understanding is that in order for state government to be effective, it must first put its fiscal house in order and create a business climate that will support the growth of jobs and opportunity. To make this happen, we need leaders with a clear sense of priorities as well as the experience and skills to craft a lasting recovery. The incumbent governor, Baker pointed out, has over forty union endorsements. The very thing that has hindered his efforts over the past four years, has been his need to satisfy his debt to these groups, at the expense of developing long range solutions. Let there be no doubt, Charlie baker and his team know how to turn this around.

While it is tempting to crow about a Republican re-emergence, it is more interesting to note that support for these ideas is coming from all across the political spectrum. Republicans, conservatives, Libertarians, Independents and even many Democrats are realizing that the tax and spend strategies are digging us a hole that future generations will have to deal with.

The election is five weeks from today. Get involved, get active and let's make it happen on November 2nd.

Tuesday's Primary Election

The polls, in Plymouth, will be open from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM on Tuesday, 9/14/2010.

As you go to the polls, keep the following in mind:

Un-enrolled voters (those not registered for a particular political party) can request a Republican (or some other party) ballot in order to vote in the primary.
You will have to re-register, after the vote, to go back to un-enrolled status.

Many of the party candidates are running unopposed in the primary. They would still appreciate your vote. Show Charlie Baker (Governor) and Karyn Polito (Treasurer)some love.

Of course there are a few key races that are being hotly contested, including:

Jeff Perry, running for U.S. Congress

Mary Z. Connaughton, running for State Auditor

While there is no Republican candidate on the ballot for Massachusetts Attorney General, two candidates are running write-in campaigns in an effort to get on the November ballot to challenge incumbent Martha Coakley. The two write-in candidates are Jim McKenna - Millbury, and Guy Carbone - Belmont. Remember to write the name AND home town, and to fill in the oval on the ballot.

Vote for Jeff Perry, Tuesday, September 14, 2010

This primary election, especially for voters in the Massachusetts 10th Congressional District may well be one of the most important elections of current times. Hyperbole? Not a bit. anyone with a modicum of sense and who has witnessed the results of one party rule in Washington DC for the past eighteen months should realize that it is crucial that we right the ship of state by bringing balance back to the U.S. Congress. Here in the 10th, our choice is clear. Jeff Perry has laid out his conservative credentials and his plans for stopping our country's slide into a socialistic morass.

In more ordinary times, this battle would be fought in November, but in this election, the primary election may well be the telling event. Jeff Perry is faced with an opponent who is committed to destructive campaign techniques in an attempt to discredit Perry. With the help of the lefty media, He has resurrected decade-old events and accusations that have been thoroughly investigated and resolved years ago and which resulted in Perry being fully cleared of any wrongdoing.

So it comes down to the September 14th primary. Voters will have the choice of voting for Jeff Perry, a true conservative with a public record of accomplishments and fresh new ideas for putting America back on track. Check out Jeff's WEBSITE for more detailed information. Or, his opponent, who seems to have focused most of his efforts on slinging mud at Perry. Perhaps not a bad idea for him. If he can succeed in focusing attention on these questionable charges, then perhaps voters might not notice the opponents total lack of favorable accomplishments or any ideas he might have to solve our country's problems.

Voters of the Mass. 10th. Go to the polls on Tuesday, September 14th and help Jeff Perry take a big first step towards the U.S. Congress.

Is There a Point Here?

This editorial cartoon, published in the August 7th edition of the Old Colony Memorial, prompted the following letter to the Editor on August 9, 2010:

To the Editor:

The editorial cartoon featured on the Opinion page of Saturday’s edition not only missed the one of the most serious problems facing Town Government, but gave the Pinehills community a gratuitous back-hander by casting its residents as boozing golf fanatics. Mr. Dorn might find it enlightening to discover the impact that Pinehills residents are making on Plymouth, not only through its collective tax revenues, but also through their widespread volunteer efforts on behalf of many public and private local organizations.

More importantly, one of the biggest, non-fiscal, problems facing the Plymouth Town Government is not some vague power grab by a few precincts, but rather a widespread lack of participation by many of our fellow town folk. As David Peck notes in his comments, posted just below the cartoon, some precincts have had trouble in recent elections fielding enough candidates to run for vacant Town Meeting seats. As recently as last Sunday, the Boston Globe reported that the Selectmen are actively seeking volunteers for a number of Town boards and committees. Broad representation is clearly a key driver of Town Government, but it takes an interested and engaged public to make it happen.


John F. Malloy
TMM, Precinct 5

The following reply was received the same day:

John: Managing Editor Scott Smith and I have discussed your letter at length and we have no problem with the majority of it, however....Jon Dorn is one of the Jam session participants, just like all the others except that his contribution is in the form of a cartoon rather then a paragraph of words. Editorial cartoons by their very nature are caricatures - to identify me the cartoon might have a really big nose or funny glasses, for instance.

Also, neither of us think that Jon portrayed all Pinehills residents as booze swilling golf fanatics. The Jammers were all directed to the same story, which explained that the town charter requires the Fin Com be comprised of a member from each of the town's precincts with the only duplicate being from the precinct of the chairman, who does not vote unless there is a tie. Yet, Precinct 5 currently has multiple members on the committee, meaning there are none from some other precincts. You make the point, yourself, that it's difficult to find people to serve in town government.

Questioning whether Jon knows how much the residents of The Pinehills contribute to the town has no connection to the question posed.
Other Jammers also questioned allowing multiple Fin Com members from one precinct, yet you did not challenge them.

We'd be happy to print your letter without the statements we feel misinterpret the opinion solicited from Jon as part of his participation in this forum and the very nature of an editorial cartoon.

Tam Burgess, senior editor
GateHouse Media New England

There are a number of issues here, not the least of which is our concern for the portrayal of the Pinehills Community.

The last paragraph of the editor's reply comes perilously close to offering a quid-pro-quo which would offer to publish the original letter on the condition that certain comments be removed. Perhaps the "Letters to the Editor" section of the newspaper might then be re-named "Edited Letters to the Editor". For the record, we stand by our original version.

Finally, there is at least one point of confusion running throughout this exchange. The Charter Review Committee which has no restrictions on the number of its members from a particular precinct, and the Advisory and Finance Committee which, under current rules, should be made up of at least one member from each precinct. It is the Charter Review Committee that reportedly includes five members from precinct 5.

If you are still reading at this point, you may be want to read, or re-read, the entire August 7th JAM SESSION article including the opinions of the contributors.

How do you feel about the cartoon? Is it insulting to a whole community, or is it an acceptable response to this opinion poll?

Comments to the View are always welcome. You can also email your comments to the OCM editorial staff at ocm@cnc.com. You may, or may not, have your comments printed in the newspaper

Out of The Blue

There is nothing like a new book, especially one written by someone you know, to pull oneself out of the summer doldrums. Last week, our good friend Virginia Young was at Plymouth's Blue Blinds Bakery and Cafe' to introduce her new book, Out Of The Blue. This pleasant and readable Romance is set right here in America's Home Town and features a full cast of well-drawn characters. We guarantee that the pages will turn quickly and you will soon be drawn into trying to figure out if the attractive and sophisticated Samantha and the handsome and talented Gray will ever find in each other the gentle and loving partner that each seems to be seeking.

The story unfolds within the contours of two families whose warmth and caring come to life under Virginia's precise descriptions which emerge from the page like carefully-drawn etchings. And, of course, contemporary Plymouth, serves as a soothing and pleasing backdrop, where family traditions quietly echo the Town's long and well-chronicled past.

While the author brings the story to a satisfying conclusion, there are enough un-answered questions sprinkled through the text to spawn at least one sequel. We will all look forward to the next installment.

Do yourself a favor and get a copy of this book. Contact RiverhavenBooks for a listing of the local shops carrying the book, or order directly from the publisher.

Summer-the Opening Belle

Plymouth's summer season kicked off last week end, just a few days short of the official opening day on June 21st. Along with a few thousand of our closest friends, we spent some enjoyable Sunday hours on the waterfront as a full complement of tourists (anyone who doesn't live in the 02360 zip code) enjoyed the sights and the fine weather. And lets be clear about tourists. Now that Plymouth apparently won't be morphing into Hollywood East anytime soon, tourism is America's Home Town's primary industry. The term "tourist" is absolutely not a pejorative. Tourists are our friends, ka-ching, ka-ching.

So to mark the new season, here are a few thoughts, observations and recommendations, geared toward making the season more enjoyable for all, or at least those who agree with us.

First, Plymouth should get rid of the Pilgrim Belle. Why anyone who thinks a Mississippi River - style paddle wheeler fits into the historic waterfront, especially when docked alongside the Mayflower II, is beyond us. Send this floating eyesore packing. The Town also needs to replace those parking fee machines like the ones in the lot in front of The Cabby Shack. First it takes your money, then it refuses to print a receipt, then you get an extra souvenir of your visit in the form of a parking ticket. This shouldn't be so hard.

We do not join with those who look down their noses at motorcycles and those that drive them. Most of these bikes are attractive, well-maintained and driven with care. There are a few bad apples, however, that need a whack upside the head; namely those bikers who think mufflers are something you wrap around your neck in winter. Nothing shatters a pleasant afternoon like some yahoo revving up his engine from hell, startling the tar out of all within a half mile radius. And while we are on the subject, someone needs to tell those few riders still looking to recapture the glory days of the Hell's Angels that the tough biker-gang look is at least a half-century out of date.

We will close with a few fashion tips designed to improve the general atmosphere. We understand that the shaved head look is "in", and it certainly implies an ease of care, but this look is not for everyone. Before you venture forth sporting a shiny dome, invest in a good mirror and give yourself a critical look. Remember, you can always wear a hat. Ditto for those into multiple facial piercings. If a mirror isn't in the cards, find a trusted friend with some fashion sense. Also, a sure bet for the most promising career path is that of a certified tattoo removal specialist, when, in just a few years, all these tattoo aficionados start to realize that these things really are permanent.

A more general recommendation to motorists: scrape those fading "Obama for president" stickers off your cars. In spite of the speed with which his presidency is melting down, there might still be time to establish some distance from your support of his election.

So happy summer to all and don't forget the big celebration of Plymouth's 400 year anniversary, in 2020. It's not too early to start making plans now, those T shirts are sure to be collector items.

Bloomsday

When the great lamented Irish man of letters, James Joyce, wrote the novel, ULYSSES, he chronicled the wanderings of one Leopold Bloom as he made his way around Dublin on June 16, 1904.

The annual marking of this day by Joyce aficionados throughout the world provides the perfect opportunity for would-be intellectual types to gain credibility by dropping a casual allusion to the day into conversations. This is almost foolproof, as in spite of the book's historical importance in the field of literature, it remains, we suspect, one of the best known, but most unread books in history.

So if you do decide to slip an allusion to Bloomsday into your daily patter, there is a good chance that others will not have read the book. They might, however, know who James Joyce was and this would give your tender ego a small boost. To be safe, you could actually read the book, or at least the Cliff notes. Then, at least, you might glean a few tidbits, such as our favorite: The word, "yes", as featured in Molly Bloom's Soliloquy.

Have a good Bloomsday!

Jeff Perry Follow Up Interview

Click on the link and hear Jeff perry's response to the flap surrounding the press articles discussed below.

HOWIE CARR INTERVIEW

We think that this exchange goes a long way in putting this issue in perspective.

Jeff Perry, Now More than Ever

This past week, The Boston Globe ran its second FRONT PAGE STORY in five weeks regarding Republican congressional candidate Jeff Perry's involvement, or lack thereof, in a pair of twenty-year old cases involving unlawful strip searches of two girls by the same Wareham policeman.

Let it be said clearly at the outset that this type of behavior should absolutely not be tolerated by any police department or its community. And it should be noted, that Scott Flanagan, the police officer accused in both cases, was fired from the force and later confessed to the acts and went to prison. The Globe articles, as well as several articles appearing in the Cape Cod Times, have attempted to tar Perry who was Flanagan's shift supervisor at the time.

The bottom line is that the guilty party was punished and Perry was exonerated. His only failing was to believe the word of one of his men, but that only lasted until the facts emerged. The incidents gave raise to Flanagan's criminal proceedings as well as two civil suites brought by the girl's families. The Globe and the Cape Cod Times are now sifting through testimony from these events, as well as police records, to find any inconsistencies between those sources and Perry's current recollections. Those with plenty of extra time and access to Google, can revisit the press reports in their dizzying detail. Note to Press: Just because something is maintained in a deposition or trial testimony does not automatically make such statements factual. Trials essentially try to determine which party's perceptions of events most closely resemble reality. These articles are scrambling to connect a collection of shadowy dots to somehow prove, twenty years later, that Perry acted improperly. All this scenario needs is a grassy knoll.

But the goal of these articles is not necessarily to "prove" anything. What they have been successful in doing is generating headlines that link Perry's name with provocative words such as "strip search". Those of us who know Jeff Perry will dig for the truth in the quasi-allegations. Unfortunately, many others will remember only the headlines.

Jeff perry is guilty, but not of the shadowy charges surrounding these articles. Jeff is "guilty" of offering voters in the Massachusetts 10th congressional district the choice of a candidate with strong conservative Republican principles, who would bring a voice of sanity and balance to the funny farm currently masquerading as the U.S. Congress. Now, more than ever, we need to send Jeff Perry to Congress.

Newsbusters with Jack Coleman

The View is always on the lookout for interesting websites, especially those dealing with national current events. We are, then, pleased to recommend Jack Coleman's blog which is published under the Newsbusters.org umbrella. Click HERE for a look at this well-written and informative site.

A tip of the Hat to Plymouth's own Jack Coleman

Golfing in America's Home Town

To say that golfing venues abound in Plymouth is an understatement as it is home to a staggering ten golf courses, which offer a broad range of difficulty and amenities. These range from casual par 3 atmosphere of The Village Links to the challenging formality of the two Pine Hills eighteens. It also includes the View's favorite course, Atlantic Country Club. All told, the Town hosts over 200 holes of golf. This might not raise many eyebrows in Myrtle Beach, but its quite notable in frosty New England. Accessibility is excellent with seven of the courses open to the public, but two of the private courses, Plymouth CC and White Cliffs, seem to be actively recruiting members. Only the new ultra-private, and ironically-named, Old Sandwich course shields its 163 members, each of whom shelled out a reported $200K initiation fee, with a guarded entrance that prohibits un-invited visitors. What was it that Groucho Marks said about private clubs? But we digress.

We were over at Waverly Oaks last Saturday, playing the nine-hole Executive course with friends as part of an impromptu Nine & Dine. The well-maintained nine-hole is an interesting course that can provide just enough of a challenge to make it an interesting golf experience while still being kind to golfers preferring shorter courses. As an aside, the adjacent eighteen-hole course is not only one of the most attractive golf courses in Plymouth, but perhaps in New England.

The significance of last Saturday's outing was that had the movie studio development plan had gone forward as planned, The Executive would have been under excavation in preparation of multiple sound stages. For several years now, Plymouth Rock Studios has been trumpeting plans for a $500 million project that would transform Waverly Oaks into Hollywood East. Golfers and others shuddered to think of bulldozers destroying this beautiful golf property.

Initially, the project garnered Town-wide support, as would any development that promised jobs and tax revenue and an environmentally-friendly business. Add in the excitement of having Hollywood actors cruising Court Street and the package was hard to resist. Seemingly, the most important among the few that refused to buy-in to the project were the lenders that were expected to provide what amounted to all of the development money. Granted, banks and other lenders have been under the gun due to the the sub-prime mortgage saga, but an early indication came when the Commonwealth passed on the $50 million I-cubed bond issue which would have paid for the infrastructure that would make the development site accessible. In spite of the fact that the project seemed to fit the I-cubed program to a tee, the state couldn't bring itself to fund the project. Many reasons were offered for the turn down, but at the bottom of the pile seemed to be a lack of confidence in the studios business plan. Then came the Globe's Spotlight on the principals of PRS. Suffice it to say, with the exception of certain Plymouth Selectmen, the confidence level for the management team went south real fast. As of late there have been a few minor bleats as PRS goes through its death throes. If Las Vegas were giving odds on the studio ever getting out of the ground, there would be very few takers. With deference to the "never-say-never" school of thought, Plymouth's version of Hollywood East just isn't in the cards anymore, if it ever was.

As we finished our round on Saturday, we all agreed that we were glad that the course was still in place for all to enjoy. This view is also shared by many local golfers who love the facility. We stopped in the clubhouse for the "dine" part of the outing and marvelled once again at the building's magnificence. How this facility could be virtually empty on a Saturday evening make one wonder as to the management skills of the current owners. Now that a buy-out seems unlikely, perhaps they will bring in a management team that could take advantages of the attractive physical plant and allow the course to achieve its potential.

Recognizing the benefits of the tourism industry, Plymouth makes a concerted effort to attract visitors to its historic sites. Given that the golf courses are already in place, the Town could easily promote its golf courses as part of the effort, and at little additional promotional cost. Suggested New motto: "See the Rock and golf like a pilgrim".





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A Day for Remembrance

On this day for remembering, we recall a favorite quote of Winston Churchill:

'Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few'

While Churchill was, at the time, speaking about British pilots during the Battle of Britain in 1940, the words are easily applied to other times and other places. He liked his whiskey and his cigars, but the man brought an eloquence to the English language that is fast going the way of the Dodo in our contemporary world of texts and tweets. And maybe it's his American mother that gives many of us a special link to his greatness.

Today, we rightly honor those who have served to protect our way of life, especially those who have fallen in the line of duty. But we also take this special day to remember those of our own families and communities that have gone before us and in many ways, large and small, helped pave our way into the future. It is important to celebrate those memories thereby perpetuating their influence beyond mortal constraints.

The View's Favorite Sports Bar

It all started at a Red Sox spring training game in Ft. Meyers this March. We were checking the scoreboard when up came an ad for Johnny Malloy's Sports Pub in nearby Bonita Springs. We never did stop in for the two-for-one chicken wings, or whatever they were offering to Sox fans, but we eventually did do a little research and learned that this restaurant is actually a franchise with nine additional locations.

But when you click on the LINK, the plot thickens as it turns out that the eponymous Johnny Malloy was a mounted policeman. The music, alone, is worth the click

In our family, we have our own mountie, cousin, Jamesie Leahy. So if we were to bring one of these franchises to Massachusetts, we would have to re-craft the name to somehow include our mountie while still taking advantage of the franchise. Any thoughts? And while you are thinking, try to come up with someone with deep pockets that also knows how to run a sports bar.

Plymouth Town Election, May 8th

Just in case you have been out of town for the past few months, the election that has precipitated the proliferation of lawn signs around Town will be held next Saturday, May 8th at all the regular polling places. To View a sample ballot, click HERE, then select your precinct. Aside from the election of 3 Town Meeting Representatives from each precinct, the main event, and only town-wide contest, is the election of two members to the Board of Selectmen from among three candidates: incumbent, BUTCH MACHADO, Vice Chair of the Finance and Administrative Advisory Board (Fin Com) MATT MURATORE, and former Fin Com member SERGIO HARNAIS The candidates have been busy over the past few months attending a number of debates, some of which have been televised. For those seeking more information about the candidates' backgrounds, experience, education, other community involvements, we suggest visiting the candidates web sites by clicking on the highlighted names above.

On a more qualitative basis, we offer the following thoughts:

Incumbent, Plymouth native, Butch Machado has served as Selectman for the past three years. He deserves full credit for enduring the gruelling nights of long meetings. Moreover he comes across as being a straight shooter who means what he says. One concern, however, stems from his full-time employment with the Town of Plymouth DPW. To his credit, this means he cannot accept the stipends and benefits provided to other elected officials, but it also means that he must recuse himself from many key budget discussions, especially those involving crucial negotiations and budgeting concerns relative to Town employees and their benefits. As the Town continues to face severe revenue shortfalls, these discussions and decisions will become more important than ever.

As Vice Chair of the Fin Com, Mat Muratore also knows the grind of lengthy weekly night meetings. The other side of this coin, however, is the in-depth knowledge of Town finance that this service has provided him. As a business executive, he also knows first-hand about the challenges of running a large private organization in the demanding health care field.

Serge Harnais also brings Fin Com experience to the table. In addition, he has twenty years experience in Information Technology with the Federal Reserve bank of Boston.

The View sees Muratore as the strongest candidate. Butch Machado is a good man, but is handicapped by his position with the DPW. In better times, this may not have been as important as it is today. Due to anticipated revenue shortfalls, the Town will be forced to consider major cuts in these areas as they constitute a major portion of the Town budget.

Serge Hernais brings enthusiasm and talent to the task. While lighter on experience than the other two candidates, he may well have the ability to quickly climb the municipal learning curve.

Thoughts from the Plymouth Town Meeting

It took a long Saturday and one additional evening session, but the Town Meeting managed to deal with all 57 Articles before it. What follows is a brief summary of some of the key issues that were decided.

One of the most important tasks for the Annual Town Meeting is the approval of the operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year. This is essentially the amount of money that the Town estimates that it will need to keep the lights on for the year ending June 30, 2011 and is a key variable when it comes time to set the tax rate. The final approved amount came in at $149.6 million, and by all measures, it was a fairly conservative tally. There was not a lot of fat in this number. And while this would ordinarily give rise to some optimism for next year's property tax bills, the introductory remarks delivered by state and local officials indicated some potential rain on that parade

In case there is any confusion, the recession is still with us and Town officials put up slides showing a persistent decline in income from fees as well as income generated by Excise tax receipts, two income items that help to offset property taxes. The really bad news came from State Senate President Theresa Murray who noted the continued decline in the state's revenue stream. The rainy day fund seems to be down to the bottom of the barrel and the federal stimulus money that closed many a budget gap, has come and gone. And this was before the Governor started talking about a major shortfall for the state's health care program. The bottom line, for those willing to see it, is that state aid to cities and towns is going to be hard to come by in fiscal 2011. And unless there is a miraculous economic boom, fiscal 2012 could be tougher still.

There has been a great deal of debate and at least one law suit (between the Plymouth Planning Board and the Plymouth Zoning Board of Appeals) over whether a Honda dealership might be built on the now vacant lot on long Pond Road near the southbound off ramp from Exit 5. It is good to finally have this dispute settled. As it finally played out, the Dealership will be allowed, but under a Special Building Permit, which will allow the Town to get intimately involved in the projects design. While some residents are afraid that this might be the start of an "Auto Mile" on Long Pond Road, most others welcome the addition to Plymouth's economic base, especially those planning on buying a Honda.

Graffiti is an eyesore, especially in Plymouth's historic center. While the Town has been proactive in its efforts to eradicate this blight, it has been stymied by a few absentee landlords who ignore repeated requests to clean up their properties. The new anti-graffiti law adopted by Town Meeting will provide the Town with the power to effect the needed clean ups on these properties.

You may, or may not know what happens to our trash, aka solid waste, after it has been deposited in the Town's transfer station. Turns out, that it is trucked to a facility run by SEMASS of Wareham where it is used as fuel to generate electricity. Plymouth currently pays SEMASS $22.53 a ton for accepting our trash under a contract that continues until January 1, 2015. Since the current "market rate" being charged by SEMASS to others is substantially higher than this amount, it is generally agreed that the tipping rate paid by Plymouth after 2015 will see a big increase. In order to smooth out that increase, it was proposed that a new contract be signed that would step up the rate each year, but provide for an ongoing rate that would be below the expected market rates. Got it? Well, I hope you do because then there are a number of questions as to the total tonnage that Plymouth will provide annually, the availability, or lack thereof, of viable alternatives to the SEMASS plant and a whole host of possibilities that might be triggered by technical changes, and/or, regulatory changes. Looking out to the future is always tricky. In this case, there are way too many variables which is essentially why the Town Meeting turned down the proposal. The Solid waste Committee and other Town officials worked hard on this contract, and it may well turn out to be a good deal for the Town. The Town Meeting was willing to take that risk and let the existing contract stay in place, at least for a while.

In case you missed it, look at the property tax bill that you received last week. The item marker CPA, that equals 1.5% of the Real Estate Tax amount is not to pay for public accounting services. This is a surcharge payable under the Community Preservation Act, which raises funds (i.e. additional taxes) with which the Town buys opens land, historical properties and helps fund low and moderate income housing. The proponents of the CPA tax were vocal in their defense against a pair of TM Articles that would have reduced or eliminated the tax. Supporters noted that these funds, which are matched by the state and often used to garner grant money, have produced almost three times the amount of the original tax. These funds have been used to buy and retire some 840 acres of open land under the premise that developed housing tends to attract families which leads to an increased need for schools and other Town services. Other land has been purchased to protect environmentally-sensitive tracts. CPA funds contributed to the Town's purchase
of the 1820 Courthouse and have been used in the development of affordable housing.
while these efforts have been defended as a win-win no-brainer for the taxpayers, there are some questions to be asked. The state has reduced its matching percentage, which is not expected to increase any time soon. Moreover, more light needs to be shed on the exact nature of some of the CPA funded acquisitions and just what the costs are to the Town. In the meantime, both articles were handily defeated so the CPA tax continues.

Of interest to many Precinct 5 residents was the Article put forth by Pinehills LLC seeking changes to the zoning rules for Pinehills. Suffice it to say, the Article that was approved by TM was the product of endless negotiation with Town Officials, resulting in a slight increase in building heights within the commercial district, some minor changes in the setback requirements from Beaver Dam Road and an increase in the number of drive-through windows from one to two for non-financial tenants.
The issue regarding the parcel of land located on the east side of Great Island Pond was withdrawn. During the past several months, John Judge has been ubiquitous in his campaign to get these changes made. While rumors abound as to what tenants might be in the wings, Judge has stated that there are none that are teed up and ready to go and that these changes are merely a part of long-term planning.

One additional note concerns a recasting of the precincts within Plymouth. According to Town Clerk, Larry Pizer, a new set of precincts will be established subsequent to the 2011 Town election but prior to the 2012 Town elections. It is expected that two additional precincts will be added bringing the total to 16 and that most, if not all of the existing precinct boundaries will probably be re-drawn. It is expected that all 9 Town Meeting seats in each new precinct will be up for election.

While there are Critics of the Town Meeting System of government, we think that the efforts of all concerned deserve a well-done for its attention to performing the Town's business in a very open and transparent process.

Homeward Bound

Our Revels now are ended - Prospero

Prospero may be one of the few characters that hasn't been spotted on Naples Fifth Avenue, but his quote captures the sentiments of the many who will soon be heading north on I-95, back to the struggles of spring as it strives to throw off the shackles of a New England winter. The tents of the View's winter quarters are being folded as we type.

There is a lot to get back to. Town Meeting starts next Saturday, with the Town elections coming up in May. And if the the November elections are even half as contentious as advertised, it should be quite a year for campaigns as the healthcare "victors" go back and face the music in their home districts.

As Willie Nelson would say, we are "On the Road Again", but heading for home.

The Mittster Comes to Town

Mitt Romney took advantage of a recent visit to Naples to meet with the View at its Winter Quarters, in an obvious effort to garner whatever sage political advice he might find in anticipation of a presidential run in 2012. Well, maybe we are guilty of a little exaggeration here, but Mitt did come to town and we did have the chance for a chat, albeit briefly, with the man who may well be our next pres.

Mitt was actually in town to promote his new book, "No Apology". The View caught up with him at the local Barnes & Nobles where he gave a brief talk before signing copies. We will have plenty of time to draw comparisons over the next two years, but we couldn't help but draw the distinction between this attractive and accomplished former governor with the putative wunderkind presently occupying the Oval Office where he, unencumbered by any private sector experience(and frankly, his public sector experience is a little on the thin side) is flogging everyone in sight to buy into his efforts at converting The United States to a socialist waste land. We would like to believe that Americans are too smart for this blarney.

When our turn came and Mitt was signing our copies, we told him that we came from the Bay State and he asked what part. When we told him that we lived in Plymouth, I thought I caught a glint of calculation in his eye. No doubt, Mitt was already thinking ahead to all those cabinet positions that he will have to fill, once elected. Okay. okay, perhaps we are reading a little bit more into this brief exchange, but we will definitely enjoy the book and look forward to 2012.

Cruella goes to Jail? (You wish)

Between Scott Brown's great victory and the stampede of congressional democrats heading for the exits, it's understandable that many conservatives are being lulled into complacency in anticipation of the big shootout in November. Don't let down the guard, there is still a lot at stake in the short term, Most importantly the infamous Health Care Bill which keeps rising from the crypt.

On Friday, none other than Madame Speaker, Nancy Pelosi was in Boston for a fundraiser. Super thanks to Iron Mike and his small cadre that showed up at the ironically-named Liberty Hotel (The Olde Charles Street Jail, sans cells) to show the flag and let Nancy know we are still on the job. Read Mike's report of the event HERE. Predictably, the Globe was quick to minimize the significance of the protest, labelling it as a Tea Party event. This, of course, comes right out of the Alinsky playbook which calls for isolating and ridiculing the opposition. As if it was just a few Tea Baggers that elected Scott Brown. And yes, we do know the too-clever-by-far double entendre for tea bagger.


But don't miss the importance of Ms. Pelosi. There is a lot of talk about the Reconciliation process but what it boils down to is if the House can muster the votes to pass the Senate Health Care Bill, the 2,000 page, plus bill that no one seems to have read fully, it will go to the President's desk in a heartbeat. Yes it's a long shot as the Democrats do not seem to have the House votes, but don't think for a minute they aren't pulling out all the stops to make it happen. This is the big enchilada for the Left. Let's not take our collective eyes off the ball.

Hold the Tomatoes

During the winter months, Florida tomato growers provide the bulk of the fresh tomatoes consumed in the U.S. Most of it coming from the middle of south Florida, just east of the View's current location. Due to prevailing low temperatures, production is well below normal. To wit:

A shortage of tomatoes from weather-battered Florida is forcing restaurants and supermarkets to ration supplies amid soaring prices for America's most popular fresh vegetable.

As reported by a recent ARTICLE in the WSJ.

As part of the View's continuing commitment to public service, we are pleased to provide an "on the ground" report confirming the reported weather conditions. It's cold here in paradise. The beaches are windswept and empty, pools lie unused and even the golf courses are suffering. All is not lost, however, as the polar bears at the Naples zoo are feeling right at home.

So, faithful readers, be sure to pass this information on to your favorite promoter of Global Warming. I am sure they are trying to convince everyone that the "no tomatoes" signs at your local Wendy's are part of a capitalist plot. Does Al Gore need a giant wedgie or what?

A New Point of VIEW

Sorry for the lack of new postings, faithful Readers, all three of you, but the afterbuzz of the election that sent Scott Brown to the U.S. Senate carried on to flow into the preparations for our annual Florida migration. Busy times, indeed. But while our geographical orientation has shifted, know that our commitment to truth, justice and the American way endures.

Amid the jubilation at Brown's victory was a bit of jealousy perhaps as the MSM took our own candidate and thrust him onto the national stage. But we were proud of our lad from Wrentham. There were even a few feeble attempts to minimize the event by downplaying Scott and the significance of his win. Patrick Kennedy's comments come to mind. But this event was bigger than Kennedy's eloquence, even as the chattering class tried to understand it. The following two vignettes now, in 20-20 hindsight, turned out to be key indicators of the Brown vote surge:

On the Saturday prior to the election, the Brown Campaign bus made a stop at at the Plymouth campaign office. The candidate, shaking hands and posing for pictures waded through the large and enthusiastic crowd that included more than a few union representatives. But it was one one large hand-made sign that was a real eye opener. Written in white letters on a blue background the sign proclaimed: "Local 103 IBEW for Brown." I'm not sure anyone outside of greater Boston understands the significance of such a statement but if the Democrats had lost the support of Local 103, all bets were off. We will probably be discussing for years who was dumber: The guy who advised Obama to go after the unions' "Cadillac" health plans in his quest for socialized medicine, or Martha Coakley who went down the line for Obama's health care fiasco.

Standing outside the Precinct 5 polls with our signs on election day, we watched, and waved, as a steady stream of voters suggested a strong turnout that was officially clocked at 65%. Prominent among the throng was a significant contingent of seniors who, through the seriousness of their expressions, and an occasional jaw jut, telegraphed the concern they were bringing with them. Tip O'Neill knew what he was talking about when he called Social Security the third rail of politics. Someone should have pointed out to Obama and his water carrier that there is a certain linkage between SS and Medicare before he allowed a major cut in Medicare to be a prominent feature of his "reform" of American health care..

In Plymouth we had an extra reason to celebrate on election night. In addition to the senate race, voters had a chance to make a binding vote on a proposed increase to the meals tax. It went down by a four to one margin. Power to the People!

All in all, it was an election night for the ages.

A Tough Month for Writers

Today marks the end of January which brought with it a good dose of the bleak mid-winter with enough snow, wind and cold to make anyone question the notion of global warming. The month also, in a dizzying eight-day period, marked the end of life of four very influential writers. If this starts to sound like a well-reasoned academic analysis of four authors and their works, you will have to look elsewhere. The influence I refer to is the influence that these writers had on me as I made my way to adulthood.

I have always been a voracious reader, driven by a desire, or perhaps a need, to learn more about life as it unfolded before me. For reasons that won't be touched on here, I was largely left to myself to plumb the mysteries and pursue a measure of truth about the world into which I was born as I struggled to understand the opportunities which would allow me to aspire to greater things.

As I entered my teen years in the late fifties, I learned that one of the books that seemed to be on every thinking-person's reading list was the Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger. I read the book several times in an effort to unlock the wisdom that, I reasoned, must clearly be the basis of the book's popularity. I had a sense that I should have been entertained by Holden Caulfield's great adventure in New York City, a place I had never been but seemed to have a bottomless capacity for adult-level evil. But I had a hard time understanding that he would turn his back on what seemed to be a rich comfortable life of learning at his prep school. I wasn't exactly sure what a prep school was, but it sure sounded different than my public junior high school. So the net result was a sense that I had failed to unlock the wisdom of Salinger's book. Perhaps the real lesson to be learned was that there was a lot for me to learn. At this point in my life, I had yet to learn the way to appreciate the author as a separate entity from the book itself. Of course Salinger's reclusiveness was a factor. I wonder how many others on hearing of his passing on January 27th at age 92 didn't privately marvel that he had survived all this time.

When Love Story exploded on the scene in 1970, both as a novel and in film, I was a young husband and father, a year out of college, and in the beginning stages of a business career. This was the tail end of the post-war era. And while there were student demonstrations in places like Cambridge and Boston Common, primarily against the Viet Nam War, observers would also note the beginnings of social changes that would rock our culture to its core. But that was to come a few years later, after Watergate when fashions began to dictate long hair sideburns and wide wide neckties, even on normally buttoned-down business types, as the youthful madness of the sixties spread to engulf a wide swath of the entire culture. But, for a brief moment before that there was Love Story in which Oliver Barrett IV, a Harvard student with all the cultural and economic support he could have, lays it all on the line for the love of Jennifer Cavalleri, a beautiful, brainy Cliffie but who also was a product of gritty Cranston Rhode Island. To add a small dimension of adventure to the manor-born Barrett, author Segal cast him as a varsity hockey player, scrappy enough to take his licks in the Ivy League rinks. I glommed onto the fact that this character and I shared the love of the same game. In fact, my school teams and I had practiced at the Harvard rink. When the movie came out, kids would go down to the theatres and check out the exiting audience to see how many had been crying. Having read the book, I knew what to expect, but watching Ryan O'Neal say good bye to a dying Ali McGraw made sure that I was among those who gave the kids something to laugh at. On January 17th, Eric Segal died at the age of 72 in London. I was never able to forget Love Story but I was able to forgive him for allowing Al Gore to claim a shred of reflected notoriety.

While he wrote some 60 books, both fiction and non-fiction, it was Louis Auchincloss's beautiful descriptive stories of the old New York aristocracy that I found irresistible as it spoke to a way of life that may well be gone for all time. He wrote of wealthy urbane men who peopled the white-shoe law firms. He was a white-shoe lawyer himself spending the latter part of his career caring for the personal trusts and estates of many who resembled the characters in his stories. He was a maestro with the language who could capture just the right mood with his deft choice of words that seldom needed an expletive to make it clear. As New York Society has been subsumed by hedge fund cowboys and corporate raiders, the body of American literature will miss his writing skills which are receding in the face of emails and tweets. Louis Auchincloss died on January 26th at age 92.

If Auchincloss wrote about the cream of society, Robert Parker went to the other extreme and wrote mostly about the dregs. While his prolific output included books about a small town police chief with a drinking problem and even a few westerns, he is probably best known for his hard-boiled crime novels featuring Spencer the private investigator. An ex cop, and ex boxer and all around tough guy, Spenser, with his sidekick Hawk would pursue their quest to solve the mysteries that regularly came their way. Parker tried hard to capture the raw underworld of Boston and in doing so, he created a number of colorful, if a little one-dimensional characters. And while this may not have had the ring of authenticity as does Dennis LaHane, his dialogue was something to behold. Spencer was so good at having the perfect comeback remark, it sometimes consisted of just a thin smile. Academics seemed to have a field day pointing out the shortcomings of his writing, and I often felt that a little too much Cambridge Lefty found its way into the mouth of a guy who could be a perfect Neanderthal, but I read every Parker novel I could get my hands on, usually without putting it down. Robert Parker died on January 19th at age 77.

A grateful reader wishes that all four men rest in Peace as their words, thankfully, live on.

Yes We Did!

The day at Precinct 5 in Plymouth got off to a strong start. From the moment the polls opened, there was a steady flow of voters to the polls. By 11:00, we knew that we had a strong turnout, and based on the numbers of horn honks and thumbs up we began to ratchet up our belief that Scott Brown could carry the day.

The afternoon brought a steady rain, but we stood our ground and waved our Brown signs as the after work crowd began checking in. By the cold and soggy end of the day, we went home, buoyed by the strong turnout and looking forward to the final state-wide results. Seeing those final numbers up on the screen made all the effort worth while.

Congratulations to Senator-elect, Scott Brown, and his family and to all the "believers" who worked so hard to get him elected.

Scott Brown Comes to Town

For at least an hour yesterday morning, we all waited in the cold, brandishing our Scott Brown signs and waving at the cars going by, honking their horns in support and giving us the thumbs-up for Scott. There were so many Brown supporters that the din of honking horns seemed to keep up without hardly a lull. When Scott Brown's Bus finally appeared we all gathered beside the campaign office on Long Pond Road to welcome our candidate who soon appeared, and, in shirtsleeves, worked his way through the crowd, signing autographs and shaking hands with the hundreds of supporters on hand. After visiting with the phone bank volunteers inside, he came out and climbed into the bed of a pickup truck with our own Vinny de Macedo, who welcomed Scott to America's home town.

The enthusiasm was palpable among the crowd. And while there were certainly some younger campaign workers there, there was also a large contingent of older solid citizen types, many of whom stood quietly and listened carefully as Scott addressed the crowd. There was a sense that there were many people here who, while perhaps not Republican activists, and perhaps not Republicans at all, had been drawn out by Brown's straightforward message of fiscal sanity and thoughtful government. We had the sense that these were representatives of the great American middle, who have become appalled at the excesses of the Obama-Pelosi-Reid axis, and were looking for a return to a moderate balanced government.

Significantly lacking were the low-ball personal attacks that the other side has been firing at the Brown. Brown's only acknowledgement was a call for shame on Martha Coakley, and her minions, for attempted character assassination. When asked what he thought of the president's planned Sunday trip to Boston, Brown said:" I wish him a safe trip to Boston and I can recommend a few good restaurants where he might eat. Then, I wish him a safe trip back to Washington." Besides being an articulate proponent for thoughtful, effective policies, Scott Brown is a classy guy, a good family man and someone we would be proud to have filling "The People's Seat."

Bubba to The Rescue?

With the Mass Senate race in a virtual dead heat, the Dems are resorting to a desparate Hail Mary play. Bill Clinton will be in town today to try to help the Dems maintain the seat formerly held by Ted Kennedy, but more accurately known as "The Peoples Seat." As Reported in HUMAN EVENTS:

Most Americans have seen Bill Clinton on television, mobilizing worldwide humanitarian assistance in the wake of the earthquake that devastated Haiti.

But before he takes up his new portfolio as UN special envoy to Haiti, the 42nd President of the U.S. will try to shore up another potential disaster area closer to home: Massachusetts, where a Suffolk University poll released last night showed Democrat Martha Coakley trailing Republican Scott Brown by four percentage points statewide and only four days before they compete in the race for the late Ted Kennedy’s Senate seat.

Let's all hope that Bubba can do for Martha what he did for his wife during her ill-fated presidential campaign.

It's Show Time!

Yes, there are a few days left before the special election, next Tuesday, but with Monday being a holiday there is a three-day weekend between here and there.

If there is any chance that you might be unable to get to the polls on Tuesday, go to Town Hall today and vote at the Town Clerk's Office. Also, while the rest of Plymouth Town Hall is closed tomorrow (Friday), the Town Clerk's office WILL be open from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, to acccomodate voters.

While the main event is, of course, Scott Brown's crusade to upset the Democratic opponent, there is also a separate Plymouth Town ballot on the question regarding the proposed increase in the Meals Tax. By voting NO on this question, voters can roll back the .75% increase in the meals tax under the local option. Having the chance to cast a binding vote on a tax increase is as rare in Massachusetts as a strong, attractive Republican candidate. What we have here, folks, is a twofer!

So do it today, do it tomorrow or do it on Tuesday, but get to the polls. EVERY VOTE COUNTS!

If you have any doubt that Scott Brown should be our next Senator, click HERE and read the post on the lefty Blue Mass Group, which contains the most half-baked endorsement you have ever seen. I apologize for the language, but here is a direct quote of the Headline:

Yes it Sucks, yes you have to vote Coakley

BMG's motto: Reality-based commentary on Politics and Policy in Massachusetts and around the Nation.

Still on the Fence?

Love him, or hate him, Howie Carr has been one of the most consistent voices, speaking our against the foibles of party hacks for many years. He also is one of the few in the MSM who takes on the entrenched Democratic Party, no mean feat here in the bluest of blue states.

With many voters, especially Independents (or should I say Unenrolled?)wondering if the political pendulum isn't overdue for a swing away from the Liberal apogee and back to, at least, some fiscal sanity, and, at the same time, looking at the upcoming senatorial election and wondering if Scott Brown may not be the breath of fresh air many of us are seeking. If you are perfectly comfortable with the Democratic candidate, there is probably little hope in changing your mind. But if you think we can do better, I urge you to read Howie Carr's COLUMN in today's Herald.

Come to think of it, if you are leaning heavily towards voting for the Democrat, maybe you should read the article, especially if:

You’re in a union, and you’re going to have to pay a 40 percent tax on your “Cadillac” health-care plan if Martha Coakley gets a chance to vote for Obama’s health-care rationing bill.

I bet you didn't know you were a fat cat.

Or:

You’re a veteran, and you wonder why you’re supposed to vote for an ardent supporter of the administration whose Homeland Security secretary refuses to call real terrorists terrorists, but who last spring issued a memo to local cops warning that “the return of military veterans . . . could lead to the potential emergence of terrorist groups.”

By the way, thank you for your service.

And get off that fence.

Scott Brown for U.S. Senator

Two weeks from today, Massachusetts voters will go to the polls to elect one of its two U.S. Senators. Yes, we said elect, which is in stark contrast to how we acquired one of our sitting senators, Paul Kirk. If you were comfortable with the process whereby Kirk was knighted, you may not want to continue reading this post. This also holds true for those of you who are perfectly comfortable with the one-party system that has done such a stellar job, both on Beacon Hill and Capitol Hill. For those true believers, don't worry about the election. Massachusetts always goes with the Democrat, right?

State Senator, Scott Brown (R-Wrentham) is running for U.S. Senator from The Bay State. To those of us who are appalled by the out-of-control spending of the current administration in Washington, not to mention the back-room, one-party juggernaut, lead by Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi, who are ready to ram an earth-shattering Health Care bill down our throats, Scott is more than a breath of fresh air. Click on his WEBSITE and read his common-sense views on current issues. Scott Brown will bring a strong counterpoint to the left's shopworn party line and help bring back the basic concept of open debate to the U.S. Senate.

What can we do?

First of all, be sure to vote. Encourage your friends to do likewise. Remind everyone that every vote is needed. Going to be away? Use an absentee ballot. Worried about the weather? Vote early at Town Hall. They can ignore our emails and letters, but the Pols cannot, and will not, ignore the election results. Electing Scott Brown to the U.S. Senate will send a loud and clear message to those playing fast and loose to advance their socialistic agenda.

If you can send a contribution, no matter how small, do it now! With only fourteen days left before the election, Scott needs the support today.

Massachusetts voters have a chance to, once again, make history by voting Scott Brown in as U.S. Senator. A victory for Brown will be the "shot heard 'round the world" that says NO to the destructive and poorly-crafted Democratic agenda.