Caralis

OpenMass.org

I have launched a new new site called OpenMass.org. I hope OpenMass will help spark civic engagement by providing free, easy access to information on Massachusetts State Government.

Bill Richardson on Walter Reed Army Medical Center

Below is an email I received from the Richardson email list I joined.

What I like about the message is the fact that not only does he call out the Bush administration(like many others have), but he has a plan (not like others) to help.

I really like what I have seen from him.

 

We should be ashamed. When our government sends our military men and women to war, we enter into a covenant to provide care for the injured and protection for those in harm's way. Our soldiers have been sent into a war we cannot win with insufficient equipment; and now, when they return wounded in the line of duty, our government has failed to provide the quality care our service people deserve. Our government has broken the covenant, and shamefully failed our troops.

I am tired of being ashamed of the failings of this Administration. Our veterans need help now. I will not wait for this Administration to do right thing. I will not wait for Congress to hold their hearings and assess blame. I am taking action.

And I am asking you to do the same.

Call on your state's Governor to join me in finding state funding for the care our returning soldiers deserve, but our federal government seems unwilling or unable to provide.

This week I asked the New Mexico Legislature to increase the state funding for services for the 180,000 veterans here in my state. We will:

  * Fund $1.65 million in facility upgrades at state-run veterans' centers.
  * Add $650,000 to the Telehealth program, increasing access to veterans unable to get care at a local center.
  * Pass funding for additional veterans' services officers.
  * Double the budget for training therapists in effective treatments for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
  * Add a new primary care clinic to the new nursing facility being built at Fort Bayard in Silver City.
  * Convene a task force to better coordinate all of these services.

I'm not sure what is more outrageous-the conditions at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center or the anemic response by President Bush. Regardless, our military men and women need proper care immediately. And if we can't count on the federal government to meet its responsibilities to our service people, we must turn to the states. If we can do it in New Mexico, we can do it across the county. It is time to stop waiting and start getting things done.

Contact your Governor now.

Deval's Shell Game?

As someone who whole heartedly supported Deval Patrick (after the primary) I am a bit surprised by Governor Patrick's latest solution to the $1 billion dollar deficit.

 

Patrick also said he wanted to introduce legislation that would let cities and towns implement "local option taxes" on certain goods and services. Those taxes could ease the property tax burden.

"I trust you and your neighbors to determine whether a 1, 2, or 3 percent tax on lunch at the local pub is appropriate," he said.

So we introduce one tax to alleviate another??? This policy sounds familar. The words "Shell Game" comes to mind.

Please tell me I am wrong!

Disraeli Gears

Reading the NY Times today I came across a quote from Leon Panetta on James Baker

“I think he’d like to be remembered as a 21st-century Disraeli,”

Now I've read Disraeli's biography, I watched the Disraeli mini-series and I've listened to Disraeli Gears (there was a Ginger Baker on that album??). James Baker is no Benjiman Disraeli.

One quick side note - also in the Times on Sunday was mention of Edith Hamilton's The Greek Way. By 2pm EST it shot up to the #1 spot on Amazon's movers and shakers.

 

 

Reilly surges ahead in new poll

For the first time since early in the campaign, Tom Reilly has taken the lead in a new poll.

Here is the breakdown:

Reilly 50%
Patrick 25%
Gabrieli 25%

This poll was sponsored by the Caralis family endowment at a cost of 4 ice cream cones and surveyed 4 perspective voters. Two of the perspective voters will be eligible to vote in the governor’s race in 2022, while two others have been eligible for some time now.

Given 50% of the voters surveyed are either just learning or cannot read, web site pictures were used.

The poll consisted of two questions. Who are you going to vote for and why?

My daughter’s response:
Who are you going to vote for?
That guy (pointing towards Reilly)
Why?
He’s eating ice cream; can I have some ice cream?
That’s a microphone. Ask your mother about the ice cream.

My son’s response:
Who are you going to vote for?
ice cream, ice cream, ice cream, ice cream (pointing towards Reilly)
Why?
He does whatever his big sister does.

My wife’s response:
Who are you going to vote for?
Deval Patrick
Why?
I was born in Milton.

At this point the responsibilities for asking the questions were handed over my 4 year old daughter.

My response:
Daddy, who are you going to vote for?
I’m leaning towards Gabrieli.
Why?
Because my heart is with Patrick, but my mind is with Gabrieli.
Why?
The tax rollback
Why?
It’s complicated
Why?
Because it is.
Why?
You want to go get some ice cream….

The 4 Laws of Electability (from a political neophyte)

1. Likeability. This is the toughest, because you either have it or you don’t, but the truth is many times it is THE deciding factor. This quote by John Maxwell speaks to the likeability factor. “People buy in to the leader first, then the vision. If they don’t like the leader but like the vision, they get a new leader. If they don’t like the leader or the vision, they get a new leader. If they don’t like the vision but like the leader, they get a new vision.” Candidate ranking: Patrick, Gabrielli, Reilly 2. Follow the will of the voters OR have a easily defensible position. This is rule as bostonshepard pointed out is one of the Democrat’s biggest sins and illegal immigration is a great example. The tax rollback is also a good example. Candidate ranking: Gabrielli, Reilly, Patrick 3. No flip flopping. No one likes indecision even if the candidate comes around to your point of view. Don’t change positions mid-stream. Candidate ranking: Gabrielli, Patrick, Reilly 4. Money.  Tremendous grassroots effort = no main stream support and extremism in voters eyes. Candidate ranking: Gabrielli, Reilly, Patrick It looks to me like Gabrielli will pull away with Patrick and Reilly holding on to only the most loyal supporters.

Webcam? That's no webcam.

A very large investment in Webcams is being made. This investment will provide coverage on thousands of people. Are you getting excited? Are you thinking college girls and lonely wives with husband's on business trips?

Well that not quite the type of webcam I'm talking about. This webcam network is being put up by the State of Texas to watch for illegal immigrants.

BBC - Web users to 'patrol' US border - found on Slashdot.

Pat Power!

I just got a heads up from a friend on my favorite septuagenarian.

Would you like to leg press 2000 pounds. No? Well if for some reason you did, Pat Robertson has just what you need to do it. No, it is not divine intervention, although he has claimed to be able to summon that up upon demand, it is his special age-defying shake.

So what if the existing record is 665 pounds - this is the Pat Robertson we are talking about.

Check out the video and get shake recipe here!

Here is a link to a CBS Sportsline article on this topic.

Signs of hope

Parking vouchers urged for Sox fans (Boston Globe) is a great idea. Although I have to say, I'm not sure which is worst - charging $100 to park or paying $100 to park? In any event, this is the right way to handle rainout parking.'

One other thing - the parking meters in Davis Square are now 25 cents/ half hour down from 25 cents /15 minutes!

I'm the decider

Alright, enough praising a President I disagree with 90% of the time. Check out this song - a take on "I am the Walrus" staring our beloved (a least to 29%) President.

Saw this on Feld.com via Huffington I believe.