Archive for the ‘opinion/news’ Category

The Globe discovers that Massachusetts has shot itself in the foot…AGAIN

Posted: November 12, 2010 by datechguy in congress, economy, elections, opinion/news, politics
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The Boston Globe reports that things are looking grim for Massachusetts:

Massachusetts could lose more than $200 million in funding this year — and quite possibly similar amounts each year for the foreseeable future — as the incoming Republican congressional leadership and President Obama take aim at earmarked spending projects.

At risk are a host of projects across Massachusetts. The Paul Revere House in Boston’s North End could lose $400,000 in funds for a crucial renovation project. The University of Massachusetts Amherst could see $2 million intended for a science building slip away. And a new Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate could lose $10 million — providing an unintended case study in the politics of federal spending.

Hang on a second didn’t we just hear all during the last election how much our delegation was able to “bring home the bacon” so to speak?

Massachusetts Democrats have long boasted of their ability to win hundreds of millions of dollars in earmarked funds for such projects. But speaker-in-waiting John Boehner, the Ohio Republican, has said earmarks must end,

Oh republicans are in charge in the House now where all spending much come from. Well I’m sure the Massachusetts members of the new House Majority will use what pull they have to help protect the state.

What that you say? While practically the entire country joined the big red wave Massachusetts once again elected only democrats? We don’t have any committee chairmen anymore or even a single member in the majority to try to help protect the state? Funny how the globe finds bad news now that the election is over.

Let’s be blunt. For months we have known the democratic majority in the house was doomed and as the president’s popularity continues to drop, 2012 is looking just as dark for Democrats.

Yet Massachusetts voters (perhaps with some help) choose to return Barney (Fannie/Freddie are fine) Frank and John (it was only 7 million my wife helped hide from Taxes) Tierney and the entire Massachusetts delegation. We knew about these things and voted them back in.

In a republic we always get the government we deserve. You wanted a delegation from the left. You’ve got it. As I said the day after the election:

…it will be the shock when you discover that all these democrats that you returned to congress are now in the minority and all of those tax dollars taken from you that they returned in lump sums at .82 cents on the dollar will not be coming back since they don’t have the clout to gain them and the republican house where all spending must originate is unlikely to approve them. If you had sent even a single republican to the house at least in one district there would be clout, but nope, no can do. You will miss that .82 cents on the dollar, but don’t worry the feds will meet you halfway. They will still take that dollar it was part of.

I don’t want to hear a single complaint from anyone on the left in the state over this.

And as for everyone else, you get another chance in two years. Don’t blow it.

Good thing we elected Deval or otherwise layoffs would come, oh wait

Posted: November 12, 2010 by datechguy in economy, employment, opinion/news
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If you looked at Deval Patrick’s ads, they were all about Jobs, however did the message have some help:

U.S. defense contractor Raytheon announced a series of layoffs Tuesday just days after Gov. Deval Patrick denied asking it to delay terminations until after the state elections.

The announcement follows three other rounds of layoffs announced by Massachusetts employers in the immediate aftermath of last week’s elections.

Lab services company Charles River Laboratories and biotechnology firms Biogen Idec and Genzyme have made work force reductions totaling more than 1,000 jobs since Nov. 3, the day after Patrick was re-elected. Raytheon wouldn’t divulge the size of its work force reduction.

Well its not as if the Governor denied stuff like this was coming; oh wait:

“No, no. That’s just a rumor,” the governor said after one of his final campaign rallies in Newburyport.

When he was asked if he requested the company delay any terminations, he bristled and responded: “Come on. They’ve been adding jobs.”

Well I’m sure Raytheon can categorically deny that the governor made such a request can’t they?

On Oct. 29, Raytheon Co. spokesman Jon Kasle refused to answer whether Patrick had requested a delay in layoffs, saying, “I would not comment on rumors or speculation.”

Guess not.

Massachusetts just remember we had an election this week, we did this to ourselves and as always are getting the government we deserve…or are we?

Update: We blew it in congress too. Instalanche, thanks Glenn, and remember DaTechGuy on DaRadio premieres on AM 830 WCRN November 20th at 9 p.m with Robert Stacy McCain and Roxeanne De Luca as our first guests. If you are interested in some ad space the rates are here.

Smitty may God bless you

Posted: November 11, 2010 by datechguy in blogs, personal, special events
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There were a lot of touching Veterans day posts today but the most touching was Smitty’s announcement of his last post for the duration of his deployment.

I’ve been aware of his impending deployment for a while, things being how they are in Afghanistan REMF or no there is not guarantee of safety anywhere in the nation.

I would hope that even those who have disagreed with Smitty over the years will respect the service he will be doing on behalf of all of us. On a personal note. Smitty has hosted me in his house. We have shared our troubles with each other and laughed together.

I look forward to the day that he comes home and we can laugh together again.

The unknown debt

Posted: November 11, 2010 by datechguy in opinion/news
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As the TV droned the Nurses aide
Came to clear the tray
No note of the ancient
Who seemed a world away

Down at the park the gang hung out
Sampling their weed
With no thought to the wizened guy
Whose bench was near the tree

The teller felt her day crawl on
As the customer line grew long
It was a pain that people waited
As the old man counted wrong

On the subway the teen rocked on
His earbuds rang its din
Noting of his ancient fellow
an unripe smell within

The code came through
and DNR was stamped upon the chart
a waste of dough the panel said
to fix his creaky heart

So many times when they go by
Do we avert our gaze
Forgetting what these men accomplished
In their Halcyon days

Noting not the beaches
Dyed a bloody red
That age before through firestorm
The man before them tread

Through sky and bursts
With steady eye upon the bomber sight
Ignoring their fellows fall
Through the terror of the night

At station stood upon his quad
While cruising through the slot
Upon a wet and oily death
The seaman. he dwelt not.

Those old eyes that we ignore
Avenged the dead at Pearl
But for them South Korea
Would be unknown to the world

In cold peacetime
They did confine
The iron curtain reach
And twas by their M1 Garands
The 1000 year Reich ceased

Yet every day we walk away
We have no time you see
What interest does that gray ole mane
Have for the likes of me?

If but a word
was asked them: “Sir
What happened in those days?”
Then first hand we’d know the path
They trod for all our sakes

So give a thought
To that old lot
Not just on Veterans Day
For in their youth
They gave to you
A gift you can’t repay

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