The Obama Health Care Speech

Posted on September 10, 2009 by billmanzi

The President makes the case for health care reform before the Congress. The President’s speech was interrupted by Republican Rep. Joe Wilson, who shouted “you lie” when the President was speaking to the issue of coverage of illegal immigrants. It was a stunning breach of protocol, and even members of the Republican Party condemned the outburst. Wilson himself later issued an apology. From the New York Times:

His office later issued an apology, saying: “This evening I let my emotions get the best of me when listening to the president’s remarks regarding the coverage of illegal immigrants in the health care bill. While I disagree with the president’s statement, my comments were inappropriate and regrettable. I extend sincere apologies to the president for this lack of civility.”

The President took on his critics directly, attempting to dispel some of the myths surrounding his proposal. Did the President make his case effectively?

Posted in National News | Tagged | 18 Comments

The Presidents Talk to the Ninth Grade

Posted on September 10, 2009 by billmanzi

Some pretty severe indoctrination here, eh?

Posted in National News | Tagged | 1 Comment

Cahill Makes it Official

Posted on September 10, 2009 by billmanzi

State Treasurer Tim Cahill officially announced what has been known for a long time- he is running for Governor as an independent. The Treasurer called for lowering taxes, including a lowering of the recently hiked sales tax, and indicated that he would be willing to cut programs that have strong political support. The Treasurer’s attempt to win the Governor’s job as an independent has never been done before in Massachusetts, but he starts with poll numbers that make him competitive. He did manage to get his announcement stepped on by the President’s health care address, but maybe that was unavoidable. Can Tim Cahill win as an independent?

http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/16977198001?isVid=1&publisherID=245991542

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September Artist of the Month

Posted on September 8, 2009 by billmanzi

MAYOR MANZI NAMES ANTHONY J. ROSS AS SEPTEMBER’S ARTIST OF THE MONTH
Life-Long Resident’s Work on Display in the Mayor’s Office

Mayor William M. Manzi has named Anthony J. Ross as September’s Artist of the Month. Tony is a life-long resident of Methuen and graduated from Methuen High in 1963. He is married to Carol Connolly Ross. Together they have 5 children and 15 grandchildren.

Tony credits the beginning of his career to Mr. Melia, his high school art teacher, and Mr. Winn his drafting teacher. In Tony’s last semester of his senior year at Methuen High, Mr. Winn and Mr. Melia sent him to a Massachusetts extension college course held at MIT in Cambridge. There he took a 3-credit course in Technical Illustration. Tony was the only high school student in class. Upon completion of the course the professor, Dorothy Ladd, took and interest in him and offered him a temporary position working at MIT for the summer after his graduation. He worked at MIT for four years after that summer. He continued his education and graduated with a certificate in Design & Illustration from FAS of Westport Conn.

After leaving MIT, Tony took a position as Chief of Graphic Design with Tufts New England Medical Center. During his stay at Tufts, he obtained a part time commission to design a logo for the then new “Salem Witch Museum” in Salem Massachusetts. The logo is still in use today.

Tony went into the computer industry as the manager of Graphic Design and Technical Illustration Dept. for NEC Information Systems and also worked for Polaroid Corp. He retired from the computer industry in 2002. He continues to be an avid painter and is a member of the Methuen-based Arts Institute Group of the Merrimack Valley.

Mayor Manzi stated, “Tony is one of the many talented artists working in our community. It is an honor to display the fine artwork of this life-long Methuen resident. I encourage people to come to my office and view his work.”

The Methuen Artist of the Month Program was created by Mayor Manzi three 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.

September Artist of the Month

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Joe Kennedy Declines to Run

Posted on September 7, 2009 by billmanzi

Joseph Kennedy today announced that he will not seek the Senate seat held by his uncle Ted Kennedy. Kennedy made the announcement on the website of Citizens Energy. The announcement should pave the way for a pretty full week of candidate announcements from other Democrats who had been waiting on word from Kennedy. It has been assumed that Vickie Kennedy will not run, but I have not as of yet seen that announced formally. Locally there will be a real focus on Chancellor Martin Meehan of Lowell, who has the money and the political skills to push himself to the top tier immediately. Martha Coakley is already moving briskly, so time for the other potentials is a real factor. Here is the Joe Kennedy statement:

I want to thank the millions of Americans who have expressed their love and admiration for Senator Kennedy over the last few weeks. It was very moving to see so many people come out to pay their respects to a man who fought so hard to make this world a better place, especially for those struggling for life’s basic needs – a decent home, a living wage, a safe neighborhood, their daily bread, a good education, and access to health care.
Given all that my uncle accomplished, it was only natural to consider getting back involved in public office, and I appreciate all the calls of support and friendship that have poured in.

My father called politics an honorable profession, and I have profound respect for those who choose to advance the causes of social and economic justice in elective office. After much consideration, I have decided that the best way for me to contribute to those causes is by continuing my work at Citizens Energy Corporation.

Our efforts cover a broad array of the challenges facing this country – to heat the homes of the poor, install energy-savings technologies to cut costs for homeowners and businesses, build wind farms throughout the United States and Canada to lessen our dependence on foreign oil, and construct transmission lines to carry new sources of renewable energy.

Over 30 years after starting the company, there is much yet to be accomplished at Citizens Energy, and I continue to be committed to our mission of making life’s basic needs more affordable.

Posted in State News, U.S. Senate Race | Tagged | 1 Comment

The Obama Labor Day Message

Posted on September 5, 2009 by billmanzi

With job losses continuing the nation’s unemployment rate rose to 9.7%, as August showed a net job loss of 216,000. While it is clear that job losses are slowing,the unemployment rate is at its highest level in over twenty years, with a budding economic recovery not translating into any job creation. The job loss number for August was the lowest we have experienced in over a year, which on the job front now constitutes “positive” news. Against that backdrop President Obama gave his weekly address, focusing on Labor Day and jobs.

Posted in National News | Tagged | 6 Comments

Methuen School Building Project Kicks Off

Posted on September 4, 2009 by billmanzi

Yesterday Methuen’s Building Committee hosted the Massachusetts School Building Authority for the “kickoff’ to the Methuen High School Building Project. We introduced Jim Alexander and his firm, Finegold Alexander & Associates as the Project Architect, and John Jumpe, Methuen’s project representative from the MSBA, gave an overview of rates of reimbursement and project timelines. My thanks to Building Committee chair Suzanne Lamoureux, who has devoted untold hours to keeping this project moving at a brisk pace.

Read the Eagle Tribune piece here.

Mayor Manzi at Methuen High Construction Kickoff

Building Committee Chair Suzanne Lamoureux

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The Martha Coakley Announcement

Posted on September 3, 2009 by billmanzi

Attorney General Martha Coakley is off and running for U.S. Senate, putting up her campaign website and making her announcement video available. I have posted it here. She is not waiting for anyone.

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The Feast of the Three Saints

Posted on September 3, 2009 by billmanzi

This Labor Day brings the celebration of the Feast of the Three Saints to Lawrence, and the 86th Feast promises to be bigger and better than ever. Friday’s free concert will feature Carissa Scudieri and headliner Aaron Caruso on the Campagnone Common. This years Feast will have some new attractions, and will have some brand new food vendors that will bring some mouth watering delicacies for our enjoyment. I will be there to march along with Mayor Michael Sullivan at the opening, his last Feast as Mayor of Lawrence. I have just recorded the Mayor’s Corner, with fellow St Alfio’s members Ray Difiore and my grammar school and high school classmate Tony Palmisano, who is Feast Chairman this year. I have attached those clips along with the Feast Poster, which will give you a good idea of all of the great events happening this weekend. Hope to see you at the Feast of the Three Saints.

event_poster09

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Order of Battle

Posted on September 2, 2009 by billmanzi

The Senate race to succeed Ted Kennedy will be a feast for political junkies everywhere, and it already is producing a few sparks. Some of it a little old, but lets look at the recap.

1) The Governor has set the primary date of December 8th, with the general election date of January 19th. (Two more elections the locals have to pay for that are unbudgeted, but I digress).

2) Attorney General Martha Coakley takes out papers. The AG comes out of the gate quickly, and shows she is not waiting on decisions from others.

3) Scott Lehigh of the Globe puts a good body hit on Joe Kennedy. Lehigh mocks Kennedy in the piece, inviting him to run to create the negative headlines Lehigh believes his candidacy will bring.

We need you in this race.

Today I speak not as a citizen or a voter, but as the self-appointed president of Pundits Relishing A Newsworthy Knucklehead. We here at PRANK are fairly salivating in anticipation of another season of Joseph P. Kennedy II follies.

Joe has got to know it will get a little nasty if he enters, as the Lehigh hit piece shows. With Kennedy crowding the plate Lehigh just brushed him back. Expect some more upon entry. Read the Lehigh piece here.

4) Marty Meehan up in Lowell has given the usual disclaimers about loving his job and wanting to finish what he started as Chancellor, but will perform “due diligence” just in case. When Meehan starts doing “due diligence” others usually start losing body parts. Read the posting over at Richard Howe’s blog urging Marty to run.

Curt Schilling is talking about running as a Republican, potentially bringing some Red Sox star power to the Republican field. As that field takes shape we will do a posting on it as well. Very early, but the political action has begun.

Posted in National News, State News, U.S. Senate Race | Tagged | 9 Comments