Chris Christie Rides In to Massachusetts

Posted on October 23, 2010 by billmanzi

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie rides into Massachusetts Sunday to campaign for Charlie Baker. Christie has been touring the country campaigning for Republicans, creating some political chits for the future. And his future seems to be very bright, with all sorts of national media attention being paid to him. He has become a semi-regular on Morning Joe, and has attracted vast attention for his decision to scuttle the New Jersey-New York harbor tunnel. Governor Christie has battled the Teachers Unions in New Jersey in a vocal way, and has been unafraid to do so vocally. Yes he is a Republican and I am a Democrat, but he has been primarily correct on the stances he has taken on the budget.

His decision to scuttle the New Jersey to New York Harbor tunnel has sparked some fierce criticism, including a throwdown by Paul Krugman, and a response to Krugman by David Brooks. Krugman is right about the need for the project, but he is wrong to say that the finances need not be in order before the decision to authorize the project moves forward. Brooks response was devastating, pointing out that spending on gold plated benefits for public sector unions is crowding out all other spending, and that hard choices need to be made. We are not good at making hard choices!

Here is the Krugman op-ed on the Tunnel cancellation.

Read the David Brooks column defending the Christie decision here.

Posted in National News | Tagged | 1 Comment

Aqua Buddha?

Posted on October 21, 2010 by billmanzi

In Kentucky Democratic Attorney General and candidate for U.S. Senate Jack Conway has unleashed an ad attacking Republican Rand Paul for an event that allegedly happened in college and that hits at Paul’s religious beliefs. It has turned a nasty race into the gutter, and is one of the most bizarre attacks I have ever seen. It has outraged Paul, who refused to shake Conway’s hand after their last debate. Mentioning Paul’s alleged “worshipping” of an idol named Aqua Buddha would be comical were it not so patently offensive. Rand Paul is the type of Republican candidate that will allow for a real debate, and at least lays his positions out for all to see. Conway trails by five in the most recent polling and the ad appears to reflect some level of desperation. I have to say as a Democrat that I find the ad to be stupid and offensive, and I agree with Paul that a campaign for U.S. Senate should be about the critical issues of the day, and not about gutter level attacks.

Just when you thought you had seen it all in this political season!

Posted in National News | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Governor Patrick at the Tribune Ed Board

Posted on October 21, 2010 by billmanzi

Governor Deval Patrick visited the Eagle Tribune editorial board, where he talked about the potential impacts of a reduction of the sales tax, immigration, jobs, the property tax, the fiscal condition of Lawrence, and so much more.

Read the Tribune story on the Ed Board visit here.

Posted in State News | Tagged | 1 Comment

Patrick Holds the Lead

Posted on October 19, 2010 by billmanzi

Governor Deval Patrick continued his hold on the lead in the latest Rasmussen survey, holding a 47% to 42% lead over Charlie Baker, with Tim Cahill at 6%. The results include “leaners”, which Rasmussen includes in their later polling. Cahill issued a statement criticizing Rasmussen for including “leaners” in Massachusetts, but not in Maine. The statement is below. Cahill sees a Republican conspiracy in Rasmussens inclusion of leaners. But without leaners Cahill comes in at 14%, which is better than 6% but nothing to be excited about with two weeks to go. Not sure I would be pumping my chest out about either number at this point.

Charlie Baker has not been able to get over that small margin the Governor has had on him since his announcement. Time is slipping away for Baker, and I am not sure that the small ball of advocating for term limits is going to turn this thing around for him. He will have to do better. He did pick up the Herald endorsement today, which is as shocking as the impending Globe endorsement of Deval Patrick.

Cahill’s new ad is below. Don’t mean to pick on the guy but it seems more like a start the campaign ad than a closer. Introductions usually come first.

The statement from the Cahill campaign.

The latest Rasmussen poll shows Tim Cahill gaining support as the governor’s race enters the final two weeks of the campaign. Without leaners, Cahill is at 14% — up from 11% in the last Rasmussen poll. Rasmussen includes leaners in the Massachusetts polling, but not in the Maine gubernatorial race to apparently benefit the Republican candidates in both states.

“We call on Rasmussen Reports to release the full results of its polls in Massachusetts, rather than mislead voters by releasing selective information. This poll clearly shows that Tim Cahill is gaining ground in the critical stretch before Election Day, not fading as Scott Rasmussen predicted,” said Cahill Campaign Manager Scott Campbell.

Rasmussen describes, “Leaners are those who initially indicate no preference for either of the candidates but answer a follow-up question and say they are leaning towards a particular candidate. The approach anticipates that support for third party candidates typically declines as Election Day nears and voters begin to gravitate toward one of the major party nominees. Rasmussen Reports now considers results with leaners the primary indicator of the race.”

“Our numbers are not fading; Tim Cahill is gaining ground in the polls in the final days, as some opponents lose points. We are in this race to win it.” said Campbell.

Posted in State News | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

The Mystery of the First Amendment

Posted on October 19, 2010 by billmanzi

Tea Party Favorite, and candidate for U.S. Senate Christine O’Donnell, was stumped at her recent debate with Democrat Chris Coons about the First Amendment’s religion clause.

From Politico:

The comment came during a debate on WDEL radio with Democratic opponent Chris Coons, who argued that local schools should teach science rather than religion, at which point O’Donnell jumped in. “Where in the Constitution is the separation of church and state?” she asked. The audience at Widener Law School was taken aback, with shouts of “whoa” and laughter coming from the crowd. Coons then pointed to the First Amendment, which states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

“You’re telling me the First Amendment does?” O’Donnell interrupted to ask.

Whoa is right!

Rasmussen has a Chris Coons lead of 11 points, and that is the smallest lead recorded in any of the major surveys. The Real Clear Politics average of all major surveys has Coons up by over 17%. Chalk this one up for the Democrats. The United States Senate will have some new and strange members in the next session, but a witch will not be amongst them.

http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Heather Burkett is the October Artist of the Month

Posted on October 18, 2010 by billmanzi

Mayor William M. Manzi has named Heather Burkett as October’s Artist of the Month. Heather Burkett is a new resident of Methuen and an amateur photographer. She enjoys designing and creating in the visual arts with a variety of mediums. She is very excited to be showcasing for the first time. Heather earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Keene State College and a Masters Degree in Elementary Education from Cambridge College and holds certification in two states. She is a third grade teacher in New Hampshire.

Mayor Manzi stated, “I’d like to personally welcome Heather and her family to Methuen. She is now one of the many talented photographers and artists living in our community. It is an honor to display her photos. I encourage people to come to my office and view her work.”

Heather Burkett is the October Artist of Month

The Methuen Artist of the Month Program was created by Mayor Manzi four years ago in order to give members of the Methuen Arts Community a forum to display their work and to encourage participation in Methuen’s growing creative economy. Methuen artists interested in being considered for Artist of the Month should contact the Mayor’s Office.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Boxer and Fiorina Battle in CA

Posted on October 17, 2010 by billmanzi

Senator Barbara Boxer continues to hold a very slight lead over former HP CEO Carly Fiorina in California. These two women have gone at each other pretty hard, and the polling gap is within the margin of error. Rasmussen has Boxer up by three points, which has been reflected pretty much all along. Fiorina has actually stayed closer to Boxer than Meg Whitman has stayed to Jerry Brown. The debate featured Boxer really homing in on Fiorina’s record as CEO of HP, where she laid off thousands of workers, and shipped jobs overseas. She also made quite a bundle of money doing so. Fiorina has whacked Boxer around on the arrogance issue, as well as on taxes, regulation, and extreme environmental views. From the LA Times.

“She is for more taxes, she is for more spending, she is for more regulation, she is also for big government and elite extreme environmental groups,” said Fiorina, who said her rival had accomplished little in the Senate because she is “one of the most bitterly partisan members.”

“Her record is long on talk and very short on achievement,” Fiorina said.

One of the key races in the country, and one of the closest. If Boxer gets beat here then you know it is going to be a real big night for Republicans.

Fiorina appeared on Fox Sunday with Chris Wallace, and like Republican Kirk on Meet the Press, just refused to answer on how she planned to balance the federal budget. Wallace was as frustrated with her non-answers as David Gregory was with candidate Kirk in Illinois. For a Party talking up deficit reduction in a big way you would think they would have a better answer than hummuna hummuna hummuna when asked what programs specifically they will cut to achieve balance. They just won’t answer.

Debate story from the LA Times.

http://video.foxnews.com/v/embed.js?id=4376339&w=466&h=263Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com

Posted in National News | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Governor Makes the Case

Posted on October 17, 2010 by billmanzi

The Governor had a big turnout in Boston yesterday to welcome President Barack Obama, who was here to campaign for him. The Governor laid out his case for re-election, and the President gave a spirited talk in support of the Governor’s re-election bid. The President said, “when Deval speaks, I listen.”

Posted in State News | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

The President on Tax Breaks for Offshoring

Posted on October 17, 2010 by billmanzi

The President spent his weekly address talking about the tax code and business tax breaks he is pushing for. He also talked about Republican opposition to his attempt to stop tax breaks for companies moving jobs out of America. The Administration has taken cautious baby steps in its political promotion of economic nationalism, including the tiniest of steps with regards to Chinese currency manipulation that is hurting our jobs picture. As the Republicans are showing the President it is difficult to sell incremental change and intellectual analysis when the economic situation is so bleak. They are throwing out red meat that attacks things that people understand and intrinsically don’t like. Up to this point that approach has been more effective. And this country still has no industrial policy. Without strong policies designed to create jobs (even at the expense of free trade) we will continue the free fall we are in. Our market is still the one that pulls the world economy, providing demand for the great exporting nations while we borrow money to provide for their military needs. That paradigm is bankrupting us. And tiny incremental steps will not change that. Neither will a Republican majority.

Posted in National News | Tagged | 1 Comment

Hicks in West VA

Posted on October 16, 2010 by billmanzi

In West VA popular Democratic Governor Joe Manchin is locked in a tight battle with Republican John Raese. The latest Rasmussen survey has Raese up by three, but Rasmussen has moved the race from “lean Republican” to “tossup”. This race has fun the gamut, with Manchin considered a shoo-in for victory at the start, but with Raese coming on and taking a solid lead in the middle. Manchin has done nothing differently, and continues to have high approval ratings as Governor. But he is sagging under the weight of the Democratic label. Raese has run statewide and lost three times, and is frankly not an impressive candidate.

Manchin has now moved to separate himself from Washington Democrats in a very spirited way. He has been endorsed by the NRA, and a recent campaign ad had him shooting holes in the cap and trade bill with a rifle. He has also been aided by a Republican gaffe, where an ad for actors in a Raese ad called for “hickey” looking actors. Raese’s family living in Florida has also been seized upon by Manchin, who is painting Raese as an outsider making fun of West Virginians. If you are going to run for U.S. Senate it is generally advisable to have your wife living and voting in the State you are running in. Despite all of that Raese is still competitive, hanging the “rubber stamp for Obama” charge on Manchin. The Washington Post notes Manchin’s effort to separate from Obama:

Manchin has responded by trying to show voters just how unlike a Democrat he can be. He brags about his endorsement from the National Rifle Association. He has sued the Obama administration over environmental policy and in a campaign commercial fires a rifle at a copy of the “cap and trade” legislation that congressional Democrats have advocated. He promises, if elected, to “take on Washington and this administration.”

If Joe Manchin can’t win against a John Raese then for now it might be safe to say that no national election can be won by Democrats in West Virginia. Read the Washington Post story here.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment