Snark-Infested Waters by Mike Bailey

Snark-Infested Waters by Mike Bailey

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The Week In Politics

Friday, October 1st, 2010

Happy October, everyone, and welcome to the special “Who cares?” edition of the column.

First we start out with a bit that was circulating last week, about State Representative (and Congressional candidate) Jeffrey D. “Young Gun” Perry (R – Sandwich) calling Sarah Palin an “entertainer” and stating he would decline any offer of campaign assistance from the former Alaskan governor/former vice-presidential candidate/person whose 15 minutes of fame dried up two hours and 42 minutes ago.

Apparently Rep. Perry caused a bit of a stir by having the audacity to not kiss the feet of the Mighty Palin and state that her version of the Tea Party Movement — a.k.a. the New and Improved Republican Party, now with 15 percent more self-righteous indignation — was not the same as the 10th Congressional District’s version (which has 30 percent less insanity and no high-fructose corn syrup).

While I think the statement was a bit of a calculated move on Rep. Perry’s part, an effort to maintain his Tea Party ties while distancing himself from the national movement’s more radical elements, people are making way too big a deal out of this. So what if he offered, really, a very mild criticism of Sarah Palin? It’s not like he called her the Paris Hilton of national politics.

(I did that. Just now).

***

Next we move on to the race for governor’s council of the first district, which features Oliver P. Cipollini Jr. of Marstons Mills, a Democrat…at least, he is right now, and that is part of the kerfuffle surrounding him.

Apparently, Mr. Cipollini has over the past 14 years or so jumped in and out of the Democratic and Republican parties, sometimes entering and leaving and re-entering the parties within a matter of weeks.

Were he running for a major seat this might be cause to question his motivations, but it’s the governor’s council race — the race no one knows bupkiss about and no one cares about. Bigger fish to fry, people.

The real issue lies with Charles O. Cipollini – Oliver’s brother and the Republican candidate for the post – and his rather lackadaisical attitude toward the race. Charles has made it quite clear he would prefer to see his younger brother win the race: “My brother is more qualified than I am, I must admit…I would still rather see him win.”

Charlie, if you’re not going to work for the job, if you’re not going to make even a token attempt to compare and contrast your positions to those of your brother, spare us all the sham of a non-campaign and go away.

I hate to say that because I think voters should always have a choice, but Charles Cipollini is practically handing the race over to Oliver Cipollini, and that’s just appalling.

***

One more, before I move on to stuff you can give a toss about: Timothy P. Cahill last week lost advisor John Weaver, who left the campaign because he did not believe Mr. Cahill stood a snowball’s chance in the gubernatorial race, and he would rather see voters jump the sinking Cahill ship and get with Team Charlie Baker.

“As much as I like Tim Cahill, I can’t be party to helping elect the most liberal candidate in the race,” Mr. Weaver told the press.

Don’t read into this development too much; campaigns lose people all the time. This isn’t a sign of how badly Mr. Cahill’s campaign is tanking (the poll numbers are doing that), but more a measure of Mr. Weaver’s professionalism; quitting is one thing, kicking dirt on your employer on the way out is another.

***

David T. Vieira, Republican candidate for State Representative of the Third Barnstable District, last weekend opened his Vote Vieira Campaign Headquarters at 699 Teaticket Highway, so drop on in for all your Vieirabilia.

Mr. Vieira has a couple of events coming up. He invites business owners to a “Business Town Meeting” with the candidate on Wednesday from 7:30 to 9 AM. That’s at Landucci on Main Street in Hyannis, and people can register by contacting the campaign via info@votevieira.com or call 508-563-7292.

The general public is invited to attend a “meet the candidate” night with Mr. Vieira at the Pocasset Golf Club on Wednesday, October 13. Dutch and Addie Drolette are hosting the event, which runs from 4 to 6 PM. RSVP by calling 508-540-6727.

***

While this race is not in the Enterprise coverage area, I felt compelled to comment nevertheless. Patrick J. Foran, who is challenging State Representative Cleon H. Turner (D – Dennis), has launched a new radio ad, in which he berates the incumbent for receiving an endorsement from the Democratic Socialists.

You can see where this is going, of course. Yes, Foran is hitting the Socialist Panic Button.

Stay classy, Patrick…stay classy.

So, for the record, what do Democratic Socialists want? This, according to their official website: “Democratic socialists believe that both the economy and society should be run democratically—to meet public needs, not to make profits for a few. To achieve a more just society, many structures of our government and economy must be radically transformed through greater economic and social democracy so that ordinary Americans can participate in the many decisions that affect our lives.”

Ordinary Americans participating in the many decisions that affect our lives? Wait a sec…isn’t that the very same thing the Tea Party movement is promoting?

Take that, fearmongers.

***

Dr. Jill E. Stein got a big boost to her campaign war chest over the past week, passing the $100,000 mark. The drive was sparked in large part by the Boston media’s refusal to allow Dr. Stein to participate in a series of gubernatorial debates due to her (previously) lackluster fundraising efforts.

What she needs to do now is work some similar magic with her exposure level; she’s still trailing in fourth place in every poll out there.

***

Meanwhile, over in the race for Massachusetts Attorney General, the Boston Globe reported that Republican James P. McKenna’s successful attempt to land the GOP nomination via write-in/sticker campaign may not have been strictly legal.

Mr. McKenna formally reported to the state expenses of about $1,600, but has claimed to have spent more than $5,000 in the first leg of his campaign, and has not reported the expense of printing up 100,000 stickers for the primary ballot – an expense he covered on a personal credit card. Nor has he reported the expenses stemming from his campaign website and mailings to voters.

A spokesman for the campaign said Mr. McKenna is fixing the “easily correctable filing error,” but still, this doesn’t reflect well on a guy hoping to be the state’s top legal eagle.

***

This week’s event reminders:

Senate President Therese M. Murray (D – Plymouth) invites the public to a reception this evening, from 6 to 8 PM, at the Pinehills Golf Club in Plymouth. On October 22 the Committee to Elect Therese Murray and Olive and Dave Chase will host a fundraiser at the Sandwich Glass Museum from 6 to 7:30 PM. Suggested donation for both events is $50 per person.

F. Randal Hunt, Republican candidate for State Representative of the Fifth Barnstable District, is holding a golf tourney fundraiser at Holly Ridge on Sunday starting at 8:20 AM, and “Pizza & Politics with Pizzazz” at Two Brothers Pizza & Mexican in Sandwich on Monday, October 11 at 5:30 PM.

And if you want to see a big ol’ truckload of politicians in one contained area, head over to the Sandwich Town Hall rededication ceremony tomorrow at noon. Lots of candidates are going to be there to grab some face time.

Political news and announcements may be sent to Michael Bailey, Region editor and senior political reporter, at bailey@capenews.net

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The Week In Politics

Thursday, September 23rd, 2010

The countdown has begun to the November 2 primaries, but first, a quick look back at the primary races that will shape the ballot.

Of the relatively few primary contests from last week, there were only two surprises to my mind, the first of which was Eric R. Steinhilber’s loss to James H. Crocker Jr. in the Republican primary for State Senator of the Cape and Islands District.

Mr. Steinhilber was an active candidate, he had a decent platform, he presented himself very well in interviews and debates, and had the support of several well-known Cape Republicans…so what happened?

Simply put, I think name recognition played into this race. Mr. Crocker has been around for a while and, especially in Barnstable, is very well-known, whereas Mr. Steinhilber is a relative newcomer.

That factor I think is a non-issue now, since Mr. Crocker’s Democratic opponent is Daniel A. Wolf, who is well-known in his own right. Their race will come down to which candidate’s platforms better resonate with Cape voters, now that what each candidate will stand in clearer contrast to the other.

Surprise the second was State Representative Jeffrey D. Perry’s (R – Sandwich) win over Joseph D. Malone in the Congressional race – which is to say, his victory was not a surprise, but how badly he crushed Malone was. I was never especially impressed by Malone, as regular readers well know, but I thought the contest would be a LOT closer than it was.

The results are not just a result of Rep. Perry’s aggressive campaigning, they are not just the result of a guy who has been in the game for the past eight years running against a guy who has been out of the game for the past 11; I firmly believe that Malone’s negative campaigning backfired in a big way.

I’m not here to slog through the merits of any of the accusations that have been tossed at Rep. Perry by Malone, the media, or a handful of bloggers with an anti-Perry bug up their collective butts. I’m only pointing out that there’s a standing theory of Massachusetts politics that Malone ignored to his peril, and indeed in his loss provided further supporting evidence: negative campaigning doesn’t work.

I wonder if William R. Keating, the Democratic candidate, will embrace that message? I somehow suspect he will not; in his victory speech he alluded to Rep. Perry’s past controversies, stating, “You stood five steps away as your partner sexually assaulted a young girl. If you couldn’t see something so despicable right under your nose, how can we depend on you in Washington?”

If Keating cannot stick to the issues and keep the mudslinging to a minimum, if not avoid it altogether, you can put good money down right now that we will in seven weeks be saying “Congressman-elect Jeff Perry.”

***

A surprise of a different sort from last week: James P. McKenna’s write-in campaign was a success, and he is now the official Republican candidate for Massachusetts Attorney General. I’m curious to see whether he can mount a successful formal campaign against Martha Coakley, who has a very solid record in that office – and he January special US Senate election loss is far enough in the background that it is unlikely to haunt her (not that the GOP won’t try, mind you).

***

Back to Mr. Keating for a moment. His campaign announced this week the candidate had been named to the “Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s (DCCC) highly competitive Red to Blue program by surpassing demanding fund raising goals and skillfully demonstrating to voters that he will work to create jobs and stand up for the middle class.”

This appears to be the Democrats’ answer to the GOP’s “Young Guns” initiative, to which Rep. Perry has been named.

***

Obviously the Democrats in Massachusetts, who are currently running the show, want to stay in power, and are now trying to rally supporters to keep any kind of Republican takeover from occurring — not likely, considering not enough Republicans are running for the Legislature to take away the Dem’s majority stake, but they’re still a-tryin’.

Governor Deval L. Patrick sent a strong message to his party colleagues last week, telling the Democratic Party to “grow a backbone” and take a stand against the GOP.

Now, while I’m not a fan of any one party holding all the cards and would love to see true balance in the State House, kudos to Gov. Patrick for telling the Dems to stop acting like such wimps.

***

Speaking of the governor’s race, Gov. Patrick continues to hold a slim margin over Republican Charles D. Baker Jr. in the latest Rasmussen poll: 45 percent to 42 percent. Timothy P. Cahill continues to fade into the distance, earning only five percent support from those surveyed. Another five percent supported “some other candidate” (wow, Dr. Jill E. Stein still doesn’t even merit a mention by name), and two percent were undecided.

***

Event reminders for this week:

F. Randal Hunt, Republican candidate for State Representative of the Fifth Barnstable District, is holding a pasta supper fundraiser at the American Legion Hall in Sandwich on Saturday, September 25 starting at 6 PM; a golf tourney fundraiser at Holly Ridge on Sunday, October 3 starting at 8:20 AM; and “Pizza & Politics with Pizzazz” at Two Brothers Pizza & Mexican in Sandwich on Monday, October 11 at 5:30 PM.

Thomas F. Keyes, Republican candidate for State Senator of the Plymouth and Barnstable District, is the guest of honor at a reception at the Beachmoor Inn in Bourne Wednesday starting at 6 PM.

David T. Vieira, Republican candidate for State Representative of the Third Barnstable District, invites the public to a “meet the candidate” night at the Pocasset Golf Club on Wednesday, October 13. Dutch and Addie Drolette are hosting the event, which runs from 4 to 6 PM. RSVP by calling 508-540-6727.

Political news and announcements may be sent to Michael Bailey, Region editor and senior political reporter, at bailey@capenews.net

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The Week In Politics

Friday, September 17th, 2010

One election down, one to go!

Check www.capenews.net for the lowdown on who won what (I put this thing together on Tuesdays, hence the lack of results here), but this week marks the beginning of the election season in earnest, because all those candidates who had no primary opponents have to now wake up and start campaigning.

A precious few get to kick back and relax as they have no opponents whatsoever – Barnstable County Sheriff James M. Cummings, Cape & Islands DA Michael D. O’Keefe, and State Representative Timothy R. Madden (D – Nantucket) – but everyone else has to do at least a little legwork.

There are some solid local races here, but also a few that I’m expecting to be rather uninspiring affairs. I look first to State Representative Susan D. Williams Gifford (R – Wareham), whose Democratic challenger David A. Smith of Wareham is thus far striking me as another in a long line of lackluster opponents for Rep. Gifford.

Turning my gaze northeastward, I see an uphill battle for Thomas F. Keyes, who is challenging Senate President Therese M. Murray (D – Plymouth). Sen. Murray holds a major power position in the Legislature, has crazy cash in her campaign war chest, and – perhaps most importantly – has successfully spearheaded health care and economic development reforms in the past two years, so one cannot accuse her of having a do-nothing term in her rearview mirror.

***

Governor Deval L. Patrick’s firing up his re-election campaign and has opened several “regional coordinated campaign offices” across the state, including four on Cape Cod. If you’re looking for information on The Guv, check out the local offices at 359 Main Street in Falmouth and 4 Merchants Square in Sandwich.

The governor, by the way, received an endorsement last week from Boston Mayor Thomas Menino. Mayor Menino called Gov. Patrick “whuh rhl leddeh en Mussashuztz” (translated for those who don’t speak Mumble: “a real leader in Massachusetts”).

***

Dr. Jill E. Stein is hopping mad that she’s being overlooked by the Boston media.

Dr. Stein, the Green-Rainbow Party candidate, was not invited to participate in a radio debate in Boston this week, and she initially was not invited to participate in a televised debate scheduled for Tuesday – in the latter case, because her campaign war chest was about $31,000 short of meeting a minimum $100,000 threshold.

She is now going to participate in next week’s televised debate, but still got shafted from this week’s radio debate on WBZ.

The Boston Herald’s Margery Eagan opined this week that Dr. Stein should not be so catered to, and in fact should not be in the race, citing her inability to raise money on the same level as her rivals and her history of failed campaigns (governor in 2002, state representative in 2004, secretary of the Commonwealth in 2006).

Eagan rationalized that she has a snowball’s chance of winning the election, so why should the media waste time on her when that time could go to Gov. Patrick, Charles D. Baker Jr., and Timothy P. Cahill.

This arrogant attitude – “I don’t think this person can win, so I think he/she should just drop out now” – is part of what’s wrong with contemporary politics. The media adopt their darlings early on, the candidates they determine to be “viable,” and leave all others out in the cold, in the process do the voting public a grave disservice by burying the “weak” candidates under a ton of coverage for the “strong” contenders.

In the gubernatorial race it’s Dr. Stein. In the Congressional race Republicans Raymond Kasperowicz, the first guy to declare his candidacy, and Robert E. Hayden III were largely ignored in favor of State Representative Jeffrey D. Perry (R – Sandwich) and Joseph D. Malone. In 2008 Jeffrey K. Beatty’s challenge to US Senator John F. Kerry (D) was barely acknowledged, even after the media’s chosen sweetheart Jim Ogonowski tanked hard by failing to collect enough signatures to earn a spot on the primary ballot.

The decision whether to run for any elected seat – and whether to continue running when “they” say it’s futile – belongs first and foremost to the candidates themselves, and then to the voters, not the media. Ever.

***

State Representative Matthew C. Patrick (D – Falmouth) has added Virginia Ryan to his re-election campaign team. Ms. Ryan recently left her post of several years as the Housing Assistance Corporation’s assistant to the CEO/director of special projects.

***

Upcoming campaign events:

Rep. Gifford is hosting a fundraiser for Rep. Perry on Monday. That’ll be held at the Mezza Luna restaurant in Bourne from 5:30 PM to 7 PM.

Sen. Murray is the guest of honor at a September 26 fundraiser in East Sandwich. Betsy and Bill Lehrer will host that event at their home from 4 to 6 PM. For more information, e-mail Bet6453@aol.com or call 508-888-2016.

Political news and announcements may be sent to Michael Bailey, Region editor and senior political reporter, at bailey@capenews.net

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The Week In Politics

Friday, September 10th, 2010

Here we are, the final column before Primary Election Day!

As is often the case, the turnout for the primaries will probably be on the light side, but if you’re reading this then you better bloody well get off your cans and go out to vote on Tuesday.

There are four Republicans and two Democrats vying for their respective party nomination for US Representative of the 10th Congressional District, perhaps the Cape’s most crucial race of the season. Congressman William D. Delahunt (D) was a strong voice for the Cape for many years, and the region can’t afford to be without a staunch advocate in Washington.

Although this paper is not going to offer any endorsements for the primaries, I’ll exercise some editorial privilege and urge voters to support State Senator Robert A. O’Leary (D – Barnstable) and State Representative Jeffrey D. Perry (R – Sandwich) for the very reason I just cited. As Cape residents themselves, either man would immediately be a superior spokesman for the region’s needs in federal government.

You might think their general credentials pale when compared to those of, respectively, William R. Keating and Joseph D. Malone, and I’d argue that point, but there’s a greater concern here: considering the state of the economy, Cape voters need to be more than a little self-serving and stick with the hometown boys.

PS: If you don’t go out to vote and the guy you wanted to win doesn’t, you waive your right to gripe about it later.

***

By the way, Gatehouse Media’s poll on the Congressional race augers good news for Rep. Perry, bad news for everyone else. As of Tuesday Rep. Perry was winning with 48 percent of 652 voters supporting him, 36 percent backing Malone, eight percent for Republican Raymond Kasperowicz, and Sen. O’Leary and Mr. Keating each receiving two percent support.

***

Regular readers know that, while I list noteworthy endorsements in this column, I find them generally useless. They’re more reflective of a candidate’s political allegiances than a true measure of his or her value to the masses as an elected official.

And yet, sometimes endorsements are very telling. I look to Mr. Malone, whose endorsements have been largely from people like him: guys who used to big kind of big wheels in politics and haven’t done anything worthwhile in that arena for years. That always said to me this was a guy set in old and perhaps outdated ways of thinking.

Last week Mr. Malone got an endorsement from Christy P. Mihos, former (and spectacularly failed) gubernatorial candidate. In his endorsement, Mr. Mihos harkens back to a golden time when state government was flawless and effective and everyone was a establishment-defying reformer, and applauded Malone for being part of a glorious time that I’m sure was not at all quite that spiffy in reality.

Let’s be honest: as the saying goes, the past was never as perfect as we remember, just as the future is not always as bleak as we dread. Sometimes old ways fade into the mists of history for a good reason, and in an election cycle when – according to the national media narrative, at least – voters are crying out for fresh ideas, why should voters turn to someone whose heyday was 20 years ago?

***

Remember what I said about endorsements being about political allegiances? Well then, make of these what you will: State Representative Susan D. William Gifford (R – Wareham) is endorsing Rep. Perry’s Congressional campaign, and State Representative Demetrius J. Atsalis (D – Barnstable) is endorsing Daniel A. Wolf for State Senator of the Cape & Islands District.

And yet more: Sen. O’Leary and Mr. Malone got the nod from the Boston Globe last week.

Sheila R. Lyons, Democratic candidate for State Senator of the Cape & Islands District, received the endorsement of the National Association of Social Workers Massachusetts Chapter – Political Action for Candidate Election.

Patricia L. Mosca, Democratic candidate for governor’s councilor of the first district, received the formal endorsement of Carole A. Fiola, the current and departing councilor.

Rep. Perry got the endorsement of the National Rifle Association’s Political Victory Fund.

James M. Cummings, Barnstable County sheriff, has endorsed Democrat – yes, a Republican has endorsed a Democrat! – Walter Moniz in the race for governor’s councilor of the first district.

***

Now that we have all the praise out of the way, let’s move on to the obligatory last-minute controversies.

Last week the Boston Globe discovered that Timothy P. Cahill, Guy W. Glodis, and Timothy P. Murray – candidates for governor, state auditor, and lieutenant governor, respectively – all had some tax issues in their backgrounds.

The campaign committee for Mr. Cahill, the sitting state treasurer, had failed to pay about $15,000 in state taxes over the past decade. Mr. Glodis, Worcester County sheriff, had neglected to pay $2,568 in taxes on interest collected by his campaign committee between 2007 and 2009. Lt. Gov. Murray’s campaign committee failed to make tax payments on campaign fund interest in 2007 and 2008.

Mr. Cahill and Lt. Gov. Murray acted on the delinquencies right away and offered the perfunctory “This was just a simple mistake” explanations.

Sheriff Glodis, however, is being a bit more obstinate and is insisting that his campaign does not also owe federal tax payments on his accrued interest, which runs contrary to federal tax code. Not a wise position to take in light of recent revelations that he once received a questionable loan from a hedge fund manager now doing hard time in federal prison for bilking investors.

***

The gap between Governor Deval L. Patrick and Charles D. Baker Jr. continues to shrink. That latest Rasmussen poll showed that 44 percent of voters surveyed currently support Gov. Patrick, and 42 percent support Mr. Baker. Mr. Cahill trails waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay behind at 8 percent (Green-Rainbow Party Dr. Jill E. Stein was not named in the poll).

***

It’s not too late to plan to hit the Daily Brew in Cataumet this evening, for a fundraiser for State Representative Matthew C. Patrick (D – Falmouth). He’ll be there starting at 5:30 PM for a casual meet-and-greet with voters. His special guest is Cape Cod RTA director Thomas S. Cahir, who previously held the Third Barnstable District state rep seat.

Call 508-540-6308 to RSVP.

***

This week’s event reminders:

William Zammer is hosting at his Flying Bridge restaurant a fundraiser for David T. Vieira, Republican candidate for State Representative of the Third Barnstable District. That is scheduled for Sunday from 4 to 6 PM. Donations will be accepted at the door.

James F. Munafo Jr., Republican candidate for State Representative of the Second Barnstable District, invites supporters to a “FUNdraiser” in support of his campaign. Join Mr. Munafo at Sandwich Mini-Golf on Route 6A in Sandwich for the “Vote Munafo Mini-Golf Tournament” on Sunday. The tourney runs from 4 to 7 PM. E-mail votemunafo@integrity.com to reserve a spot in the tournament. Cost is $10.

F. Randal Hunt, Republican candidate for State Representative of the Fifth Barnstable District, is holding a pasta supper fundraiser at the American Legion Hall in Sandwich on Saturday, September 25 starting at 6 PM; a golf tourney fundraiser at Holly Ridge on Sunday, October 3 starting at 8:20 AM; and “Pizza & Politics with Pizzazz” at Two Brothers Pizza & Mexican in Sandwich on Monday, October 11 at 5:30 PM.

***

Finally, a quick correction of sorts. In the ongoing verbal girly slap-fight between Sen. O’Leary and Mr. Keating, the former recently chided the latter for collecting a pension from his State House days while also serving as Norfolk County DA and running for Congress.

According to an official statement from the Keating campaign, “Bill Keating is not colleting [sic] a pension at this time. If he is elected to the serve in the Congress, he will donate the state pension he has contributed to for 33 years to the Norfolk Advocates for Children. Bill founded the Norfolk Advocates for victims of sexual abuse with money obtained in drug seizures.”

So there.

Political news and announcements may be sent to Michael Bailey, Region editor and senior political reporter, at bailey@capenews.net

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The Week In Politics

Friday, September 3rd, 2010

You kids get off my damn lawn!

By “lawn” I mean the hill near the Bourne rotary, and by “you kids” I mean off-Cape candidates for office sticking their campaign signs in among those for local candidates. Take a look sometime and you’ll see names for people running for office in and around the Norfolk County area…you know, races that Cape Cod residents know nothing about and can’t vote in. (more…)

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The Week In Politics

Friday, August 27th, 2010

As mad as it sounds, the wheels have begun to turn for one potential 2012 campaign.

A movement is underway to recruit Victoria R. Kennedy, widow of the late US Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D), to run for her husband’s former post herself in the next election to “take back” the seat from US Senator Scott P. Brown (R).

“We must reclaim the Kennedy Seat for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts not because she is a Kennedy but because we need a strong Democrat in Washington to represent the people from Massachusetts,” reads the message on the movement’s official Facebook page.

I was not a fan of Sen. Brown during the special election, and he has yet to win me over in any big way, but I will nevertheless invoke one of his catchphrases from the campaign: it’s not the Kennedys’ seat, it’s not the Democrats’ seat, it’s the people’s seat. It belongs to whoever the voters say it does.

This idea that a seat has to be “reclaimed” smacks of pointless entitlement on the Democrats’ part; just because a Democrat – Sen. Kennedy – occupied that office for 47 years and the last Republican to hold the post was Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. (1947 to 1953) doesn’t mean it’s “theirs.” By their own logic, the seat belongs more to the GOP, since they held it from 1851 to 1926 (75 years vs. the Democrats’ 56).

***

For some time now, the Republican Governors Association has been funding some harsh and rather negative-in-tone ads targeting Governor Deval L. Patrick and gubernatorial hopeful Timothy P. Cahill.

The Massachusetts Democratic Party is turning the tables a bit with its somewhat tongue-in-cheek new website “Charlie’s World” (http://charliebakersworld.com/), “a special place where Charlie Baker can use ‘facts’ that aren’t true; a place where, when things don’t go well, it isn’t his fault or he wasn’t involved; a place where anything might happen.”

I have to wonder if Green-Rainbow Party candidate Dr. Jill E. Stein sees all this stuff going on and, on occasion, finds herself oddly grateful that no one is paying attention to her.

***

Joseph D. Malone, Republican candidate for US Representative of the 10th Congressional District, recently won a straw poll conducted by radio host Jeff Katz on his eponymous talk show on Rush Radio 1200 AM (their motto: “Harkening back to the Golden Days of Radio, when reception was terrible and static was king.”)

Mr. Malone walked away with 80 percent support, and rival State Representative Jeffrey D. Perry (R – Sandwich) received 15 percent support. Five percent supported Mr. Katz, because they mistakenly thought it would be humorous to kiss up to the host.

***

Raymond Kasperowicz, the third of four GOP candidates for Congress, just gave his campaign website a snazzy new look. Hie thee hither to http://rkasperowicz.com/congress/ and scope it out. It’s all red, white, and blue and patriotic and stuff.

***

James F. Munafo Jr., Republican candidate for State Representative of the Second Barnstable District, invites supporters to a “FUNdraiser” in support of his campaign. Join Mr. Munafo at Sandwich Mini-Golf on Route 6A in Sandwich for the “Vote Munafo Mini-Golf Tournament” on Sunday, September 12. The tourney runs from 4 to 7 PM.

The “suggested greens fee” (a.k.a. campaign donation) is $10 per person. Prizes will be awarded for best scores in the child and adult categories, as well as for the youngest golfer, the older golfer, and for the best golfing outfit.

Shoot an e-mail to votemunafo@integrity.com to reserve a spot in the tournament.

***

William Zammer is hosting at his Flying Bridge restaurant (which, I report sadly, neither flies nor has a bridge) a fundraiser for David T. Vieira, Republican candidate for State Representative of the Third Barnstable District. That is scheduled for Sunday, September 12 from 4 to 6 PM. Donations will be accepted at the door.

***

Who’s a good boy? Who’s a good boy!? Daniel A. Wolf is! Yes he is! Yes he is!

Mr. Wolf, Democratic candidate for State Senator of the Cape and Islands District, has picked up a new endorsement from the Massachusetts chapter of the Humane Society.

He’s also received an endorsement from the Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts League of Environmental Voters, for which I do not have dumb jokes.

But wait, there’s more! Mr. Wolf has also official earned nods from several notable figures on the Cape, including Margo L. Fenn, director of the Cape Cod Commission; Susan L. Nickerson, former executive director of the Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound; and former state representative Eric T. Turkington.

***

State Senator Robert A. O’Leary (D – Barnstable) probably didn’t need this little tidbit coming out right now as he runs for Congress. This week’s Beacon Hill Roll Call Report listed Sen. O’Leary as tied for having the fourth-worst attendance record in 2010 (he missed 22 out of 227 roll call votes, a 90.3 percent attendance record).

Granted, that’s only 10 percent of the votes taken this year, and lord knows other lawmakers have been far less diligent, but one can only imagine how this might come back to haunt him (courtesy of his many rivals for the hotly contested seat).

***

This week’s event reminders:

Lance W. Lambros, Democratic candidate for State Representative of the Fifth Barnstable District, will hold a meet-and-greet tomorrow from 4 to 7 PM at Merchants Square, at the Sandwich Democratic Headquarters annual barbecue; and on Monday, August 30 he’ll attend from 3 to 5 PM a senior citizens forum at the Barnstable Senior Center.

William R. Keating, Democratic candidate for US Representative of the 10th Congressional District, will also be at tomorrow’s barbecue in Sandwich.

Mr. Wolf is the guest of honor at a house party fundraiser in Hyannis on Sunday. Check out his official website at www.danwolfforsenate.com for more information about that, and his upcoming “Howl for Dan Wolf” (seriously, dude?) at the Cotuit Art Center on Sunday, September 5. That event, featuring comedian  Jimmy Tingle, runs from 8 to 10 PM.

This Sunday is also the end-of-summer lobster and clam bake in support of Rep. Perry’s Congressional campaign. That’s at the Sandwich American Legion Hall that runs from 1 to 3 PM. Go to www.jeffperryforcongress.com for more info and to make any necessary reservations.

Stephen J. Murphy, Democratic candidate for state treasurer, will be in Hyannis on Tuesday, August 31 from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM. Mr. Keating is also scheduled to be at that event at the Hyannis Anglers Club House on Ocean Street.

Sheila R. Lyons, Democratic candidate for State Senator of the Cape and Islands District, is holding a fundraiser at the Anchor Inn in Hyannis on Tuesday starting at 7 PM. Go to http://sheilalyons2010.com for more info.

Steve Grossman, Democratic candidate for state treasurer, has a visit to Cape Cod planned for September as part of his “Ice Cream Tour.” He’ll be at Four Seas in Centerville from 5 to 6 PM on Friday, September 3.

F. Randal Hunt, Republican candidate for State Representative of the Fifth Barnstable District, is holding a pasta supper fundraiser at the American Legion Hall in Sandwich on Saturday, September 25 starting at 6 PM; a golf tourney fundraiser at Holly Ridge on Sunday, October 3 starting at 8:20 AM; and “Pizza & Politics with Pizzazz” at Two Brothers Pizza & Mexican in Sandwich on Monday, October 11 at 5:30 PM.

Political news and announcements may be sent to Michael Bailey, Region editor and senior political reporter, at bailey@capenews.net

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The Week In Politics

Friday, August 20th, 2010

I lead off this week with a message to voters in the Second Barnstable District: Calm the hell down.

If you read the Beacon Hill Roll Call Report the last couple of weeks, you might have noticed that State Representative Demetrius J. Atsalis (D – Barnstable) was listed as “did not vote” on the many pieces of legislation that sped through the State House in the final week of its formal session.

The Enterprise received some reader letters expressing anger over this, assuming Rep. Atsalis just blew the votes off. Not so; he was in Sweden with his family for his father-in-law’s funeral. He didn’t get back stateside until August 3.

Bet you people feel sheepish now, huh?

***

Ah, the fun just never ends. With the whole “Flanagangate” starting to lose its steam (meaning it utterly failed to derail State Representative Jeffrey D. Perry’s (R – Sandwich) Congressional campaign, as his detractors had hoped), the blogosphere snipers are on the hunt for fresh muck to rake.

Last week Those Who Vent Their Impotent Rage From the Shadows pointed out that during his 2002 campaign, then-citizen Perry noted he had a degree from “Columbia State University,” a now-defunct “diploma mill” that awarded degrees of a suspect pedigree to its enrollees (the guy who ran the non-existent school, a former stage hypnotist, was later convicted in federal court for the scam).

In an e-mail statement to the media, a campaign mouthpiece said Rep. Perry was just one of many people duped by the faux educational institution and has long since removed the credential from his résumé.

Campaign staff for rival Joseph D. Malone, never one to squander an opportunity to score some cheap points, passed around a link to a Quincy Patriot Ledger story on the latest brouhaha. They’re calling for Rep. Perry to drop out, which is laughable, and to me indicates just how scared the Malone campaign is.

Credit where it’s due: Mr. Malone has been extremely active and visible, but he is nevertheless failing to collect campaign donations on the same level as his chief rival, he’s not topping the straw polls, and he’s not getting the big endorsements – all indicators that he has a lot of ground to cover before be can overcome Perry at the polls.

Nevertheless, this latest revelation is not doing Rep. Perry any favors. There is a little over three weeks until the primaries so it’s not at all too late for his momentum to crumble, especially if anything else embarrassing pops up.

***

A quick note on the Democratic side of things, William R. Keating has picked up an endorsement from the Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts, a statewide union representing more than 12,000 firefighters from 200 fire departments throughout the Commonwealth.

***

Can you believe it? There’s yet another person running for US Representative of the 10th Congressional District.

Joseph van Nes of West Tisbury announced last week he planned to run as an unenrolled candidate on a primarily “bring the troops home” platform. That bring the current field of contenders to a total of eight – two Democrats, four Republicans, and one other unenrolled.

No, wait: make that nine. Marianne Lewis of Dedham is also in the race as an unenrolled candidate. Earlier in the season she’d been a rumored candidate but after months of dead silence and inactivity, it looks like she is indeed officially in. Her website is up at www.maryannelewiscongress.com.

Having a variety of candidates is great, having non-party choices is great, but come on, people…you can’t enter the race so late in the game and expect any kind of decent outcome. You’re barely even spoilers at this late date.

***

The Congressional race is not the only one enjoying a surge of johhny-come-latelys. Last week I reported that Republican James P. McKenna has entered the race for Massachusetts Attorney General as a write-in candidate. It seems that there’s a second Republican doing the same thing: Guy A. Carbone of Belmont.

Sigh…where were you guys earlier in the year? You know, when voters would have flocked to you to sign your nomination papers so you could more properly challenge Martha Coakley, who was widely regarded as very vulnerable after her loss in the US Senate special election?

***

Daniel A. Wolf, Democratic candidate for State Senator of the Cape and Islands District, last week received an endorsement from MassEquality for his longstanding support of same-sex couples. According to a press release, Mr. Wolf’s company Cape Air in 1996 became the first airline in the nation to offer same-sex health care benefits to its workers.

He’s also received an endorsement from the American Federation of Teachers – Massachusetts.

***

State Senator Robert A. O’Leary (D – Barnstable), candidate for Congress, last week received what you might call a composite endorsement from four former state environmental secretaries, based on Sen. O’Leary’s record on environmental issues: James Hoyte, John Devillars, Robert Durand, and John Bewick. He also got the nod from a former assistant secretary, Richard Delaney.

***

Steve Grossman, Democratic candidate for state treasurer, has a visit to Cape Cod planned for September as part of his “Ice Cream Tour.” Mr. Grossman has made a point to hit a local ice cream shop at each of his campaign stops, and on September 3 he’ll be at Four Seas in Centerville from 5 to 6 PM.

***

Mr. Grossman’s primary rival, Stephen J. Murphy, will be in Hyannis on Tuesday, August 31 from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM. Mr. Keating is also scheduled to be at that event at the Hyannis Anglers Club House on Ocean Street.

***

This week’s event reminders:

Mr. Wolf has a meet-and-greet in Mashpee this Sunday, August 22, from 4 to 6 PM at Starfish Restaurant at South Cape Village in Mashpee. He’ll also be at house party fundraisers in Marstons Mills on Thursday, August 26; in Osterville on Friday, August 27; and in Hyannis on Sunday, August 29. Check out his official website at www.danwolfforsenate.com for more information.

Rep. Perry’s will be held at the Aqua Grille in Sandwich on Sunday, August 22 from 4 to 6 PM, for a fundraiser hosted by Eileen DiBuono and Patricia Markoff. Sunday, August 29 is an end-of-summer lobster and clam bake at the Sandwich American Legion Hall that runs from 1 to 3 PM. Go to www.jeffperryforcongress.com for more info and to make any necessary reservations.

State Representative Susan D. William Gifford (R – Wareham) will hold her annual clambake fundraiser on Thursday, August 26 beginning at 6 PM. It’ll be held at Zecco Marine in Wareham. Go to www.susangifford.com for details.

Lance W. Lambros, Democratic candidate for State Representative of the Fifth Barnstable District, will hold a meet-and-greet on Saturday, August 28 from 4 to 7 PM at Merchants Square, at the Sandwich Democratic Headquarters annual barbecue; and on Monday, August 30 he’ll attend from 3 to 5 PM a senior citizens forum at the Barnstable Senior Center.

Sheila R. Lyons, Democratic candidate for State Senator of the Cape and Islands District, is holding a fundraiser at the Anchor Inn in Hyannis on Tuesday, August 31 starting at 7 PM. Go to http://sheilalyons2010.com for more info.

F. Randal Hunt, Republican candidate for State Representative of the Fifth Barnstable District, is holding a golf tourney fundraiser at Holly Ridge on Sunday, October 3 starting at 8:20 AM; a pasta supper fundraiser at the American Legion Hall in Sandwich on Saturday, September 25 starting at 6 PM; and “Pizza & Politics with Pizzazz” at Two Brothers Pizza & Mexican in Sandwich on Monday, October 11 at 5:30 PM.

***

Finally, from the Kick Him While He’s Down and Out (of the Race) File: Christy P. Mihos, whose second attempt at the corner office ended this year when he was shot down at the Massachusetts Republican State Convention, last week was hit with the largest fine ever handed down in Massachusetts history for campaign finance violations.

Smilin’ Christy M. agreed to pay a whopping $70,000 fine for using more than $112,000 in personal money – meaning out of his own pocket and his corporate coffers – for his ill-fated campaign, much of which was never properly reported. He’s paid half the fine already and will pay the second half in November.

Political news and announcements may be sent to Michael Bailey, Region editor and senior political reporter, at bailey@capenews.net

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The Perry Controversy – My Take

Monday, August 16th, 2010

In the virtual holding cell of this blog there is a draft of a ridiculously long analysis of the Flanagan controversy haunting State Representative Jeffrey D. Perry (R – Sandwich). I’ve poked away at it over the past couple of weekends, intending it to be my exhaustive response to the news and faux news (read: blog) coverage of this story.

I look at it now and realize I rather wasted my time. I can sum that epic up much more succinctly, so I shall.

There are people out there, on both sides, who are trying to tell voters what is the truth. One side, led by a pair of anonymous bloggers, would have the public believe Rep. Perry’s culpability in the Scott Flanagan case is absolute and unquestionable. The other, Perry’s supporters, insist that Perry knew of nothing wrong and himself did nothing wrong in his capacity as Flanagan’s supervisor.

As is often the case, the truth is somewhere in-between these two extremes. In 2002, when I first read the court documents detailing the sordid Flanagan case, I came to the conclusion that there was no compelling proof one way or the other. There were dots that did not connect cleanly, but there was nothing that painted an incontestable picture of guilt on Perry’s part.

The Enterprise did not champion a position for or against Perry. We instead presented the evidence as best as we could — in a thorough and even-handed manner — so that the voters could make up their own minds. They did, and Rep. Perry won his 2002 legislative bid.

That is what voters need to do again as Rep. Perry runs for Congress: do the reading, weigh the facts, and make up their own minds, and not let agenda-driven bloggers presenting themselves as crusading journalists or self-interested politicians and their assorted hangers-on make it for them.

I’ve since re-read the court documents, as well as several other media accounts, and my position from 2002 is unchanged; I see nothing 100 percent exonerating or damning. If any reporter or blogger or campaign rep or Perry supporter or opponent tells you they know the “real truth” behind the story, they do not; they have established their own version of the truth and are trying to sell you on it. Don’t get suckered into that trap.

The bloggers have been for some time calling for Rep. Perry to drop out of the race over the Flanagan flap. Perry’s chief rival Joe Malone, who by all measures is trailing behind Perry in the race, is now calling for Perry to get out.

I say: stay in the race, Rep. Perry, and let the voters once again make the decision for themselves — and all parties should be prepared to live with the outcome, whatever that proves to be.

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The Week In Politics

Friday, August 13th, 2010

We lead off this week with a quick public service announcement. For the benefit of voters, the Enterprise Newspapers has established an online archive of this year’s political profiles. New profiles will be posted as they appear in the print editions of the paper.

You can access the archives through the menu on the left of this page.

***

Has Governor Deval L. Patrick slit his own throat – politically speaking – over the casino bill?

After apparently reaching a compromise on the issue of whether to allow slot machines in Massachusetts as part of the state’s expanded gaming bill, Gov. Patrick backpedaled last week and vetoed that provision – over the very vocal protestations of House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo (D – Winthrop) and Senate President Therese M. Murray (D – Plymouth).

The governor explained his turnaround on the fact that slot machine contracts would be issued on a no-bid basis, and wagged a finger at the Legislature for being unwilling to compromise and for dragging its collective feet on putting a bill together in the first place.

Gov. Patrick’s supporters are portraying this as political courage, but it’s more like political folly. In one fell swoop Gov. Patrick has cheesed off two of his most powerful allies, and many other lawmakers who worked on the bill in good faith. He needs a united front and now he’s created a State House divided.

I should remind you, readers, that Gov. Patrick two years ago had a chance to plead his case before the House as it was considering an earlier iteration of the bill, but instead nipped off to New York City to negotiate a book deal.

Then there’s one of the strongest lobbies in the state, the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, which is staunchly pro-casino. It often endorses the Democratic candidate in gubernatorial races, but will Gov. Patrick’s deathblow to the casino bill cause the AFL-CIO to withhold its stamp of approval?

***

Elsewhere in the governor’s race, Dr. Jill E. Stein announced last week that her campaign had successfully collected enough signatures to secure a spot on the November ballot (as a member of the Green-Rainbow Party, which is considered a “political designation” in Massachusetts, she had a longer time period in which to collect signatures).

So we officially have a four-way race for the corner office, but the question now is whether the media will give Dr. Stein any attention, or will continue to treat her as a non-entity.

***

A reader contacted me last week to ask me what was going on with the race for State Representative of the Third Barnstable District – by which I mean she had no idea that State Representative Matthew C. Patrick (D – Falmouth) had an opponent.

That’s a bad sign for Republican David T. Vieira of Falmouth, who is challenging Rep. Patrick. Granted, neither gent has a primary race and are likely saving the good stuff for the November general election, but Mr. Vieira has been a little too quite for his own good, it would seem.

But wait! He does in fact have something cooking, so to speak. Frank and Andrea Keohane of East Falmouth are hosting a barbecue fundraiser for Mr. Vieira. That’s next week, August 19 from 5 to 7 PM at the Keohane house. Go to www.votevieira.com for details.

***

Democrat Lance W. Lambros has also been on the quiet side in his campaign for State Representative of the Fifth Barnstable District, but this week he announced a number of upcoming campaign events.

On Monday, August 16 he’ll hold a meet-and-greet starting at 7:30 AM at Liberty Hall in Marstons Mills; on Saturday, August 28 he’ll meet with voters from 4 to 7 PM at Merchants Square, at the Sandwich Democratic Headquarters annual barbecue; and on Monday, August 30 he’ll attend  from 3 to 5 PM a senior citizens forum at the Barnstable Senior Center.

Mr. Lambros will also apparently start up a local public access cable segment to discuss the pressing issues of the day, so more on that once I get the details.

***

State Representative Susan D. William Gifford (R – Wareham) has scheduled her annual clambake fundraiser. It’s happening Thursday, August 26 beginning at 6 PM. It’ll be held at Zecco Marine in Wareham. Go to www.susangifford.com for details.

***

Daniel A. Wolf, Democratic candidate for State Senator of the Cape and Islands District, has rescheduled a planned meet-and-greet in Mashpee. That’s now set for Sunday, August 22, from 4 to 6 PM at Starfish Restaurant at South Cape Village in Mashpee.

***

Mr. Wolf’s rival in the primary race, Sheila R. Lyons, is holding a fundraiser at the Anchor Inn in Hyannis on Tuesday, August 31 starting at 7 PM. Go to http://sheilalyons2010.com for more info.

***

Thomas F. Keyes, Republican candidate for State Senator of the Plymouth and Barnstable District, is holding a pasta dinner fundraiser at the Pocasset Community Club on Wednesday, August 18 starting at 6 PM. Go to www.votekeyes.com for details.

***

State Senator Robert A. O’Leary (D – Barnstable) has picked up a big endorsement in his quest for Congress, from the Massachusetts Teachers Association last week gave Sen. O’Leary the nod.

“Massachusetts has the best schools in America, and Rob O’Leary’s leadership has made him a great partner for our members and for parents and students in making that success happen,” MTA President Paul Toner said in a press release. “We’re excited to endorse Rob O’Leary because, as a teacher himself for 34 years and a long-time leader on education issues, he’ll make education a priority in Congress.”

Now, interestingly, Sen. O’Leary’s rival in the primaries, William R. Keating, earlier in the campaign picked up an endorsement from the American Federation of Teachers – Massachusetts chapter. I guess these organizations don’t compare notes at all…

Also, Sen. O’Leary has launched what is, at least on the Democratic side, the first TV ad of the campaign. Check it out online at www.olearyforcongress.com/getout.

***

State Representative Jeffrey D. Perry (R – Sandwich) has picked up another big local endorsement, this one from Michael D. O’Keefe, the Cape and Islands’ district attorney.

DA O’Keefe gave Rep. Perry the official thumb’s up last week at a fundraiser for the latter hosted by the former. Rep. Perry also picked up what seems to be his biennial endorsement from the Gun Owners’ Action League (GOAL).

Rep. Perry’s next local fundraiser will be held at the Aqua Grille in Sandwich on Sunday, August 22. That runs from 4 to 6 PM and is hosted by Eileen DiBuono and Patricia Markoff. After that, on Sunday, August 29 is an end-of-summer lobster and clam bake at the Sandwich American Legion Hall. That runs from 1 to 3 PM.

Go to www.jeffperryforcongress.com for more info and to make any necessary reservations.

***

This week’s event reminders:

Joseph D. Malone, Republican Congressional candidate, will be at the Courtyard Restaurant and Pub in Cataumet on Sunday, August 15 from 4 to 6 PM.

Mr. Wolf will be at house party fundraisers in Mashpee on Monday, August 16; in Marstons Mills on Thursday, August 26; in Osterville on Friday, August 27; and in Hyannis on Sunday, August 29. Check out his official website at www.danwolfforsenate.com for more information.

F. Randal Hunt, Republican candidate for State Representative of the Fifth Barnstable District, is holding a meet-and-greet at Lakewood Hills on Tuesday, August 17 at 5 PM; a golf tourney fundraiser at Holly Ridge on Sunday, October 3 starting at 8:20 AM; a pasta supper fundraiser at the American Legion Hall in Sandwich on Saturday, September 25 starting at 6 PM; and “Pizza & Politics with Pizzazz” at Two Brothers Pizza & Mexican in Sandwich on Monday, October 11 at 5:30 PM.

The Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce and the Cape Cod Young Professionals are co-hosting a pre-primary candidates’ night on Friday, September 10 at the Cape Codder Resort in Hyannis. WXTK-FM’s news director Matt Pitta moderates the forum involving candidates in the US Representative of the 10th Congressional District and the State Senator of the Cape and Islands District races.

***

Finally, from the Better Late Than Never File: two previously uncontested races now have contests…sort of.

Keith Davis of Holyoke is running a write-in campaign for lieutenant governor. What party? He apparently doesn’t care. According to his website (www.writeinkeithdavis.com) you can throw his name in wherever you’d like (though he thinks a write-in campaign would be “most effective” on the Republican ballot).

And then there’s Republican James P. McKenna, who for whatever reason didn’t go the normal route of getting a formal position on the ballot and is also running a write-in campaign for Massachusetts Attorney General. His website is at http://jimforag.com.

Political news and announcements may be sent to Michael Bailey, Region editor and senior political reporter, at bailey@capenews.net

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The Week In Politics

Friday, August 6th, 2010

So, who won last week’s Congressional candidates’ debate in Plymouth?

Apparently, everyone did.

The participants in the forum sponsored by the Plymouth League of Women Voters spent the following days sending out press releases crowing about how they crushed their rivals and impressed the audience. So it looks like this debate was in fact the political equivalent of youth soccer.

Yet what I found all the more laughable was how the high muckety-muck of one local media outlet (let’s call it “New Media”) chided another media outlet (which we’ll call “Old Media”) for “burying the lead” on its story on the debate. William R. Keating voiced his support for the Cape Wind project that evening, the only candidate to do so, and nether fact was mentioned until the end of Old Media’s story.

New Media maintains this should have been the lead. Why? Because the subject still fires people up? Because New Media loves the wind farm and thinks everyone else should too?

Cape Wind’s value as a legitimate issue in the 2010 election season is negligible. The wind farm is now in the same ballpark as abortion, gun rights, and the death penalty: it’s a handy hot button people can press to elicit a visceral reaction from voters and stir up some easy support (what’s known in pro wrestling circles as a “cheap pop”).

The one exception: people running for elected office can actually do something to affect laws on abortion, gun rights, and the death penalty. If Cape Wind fails at this point in the process, it’s not going to be because of anything any of the Congressional hopefuls do.

And yet, Cape Wind was the catalyst for the latest bit of tension in the race, between Mr. Keating and his primary opponent, State Senator Robert A. O’Leary (D – Barnstable). In an open letter to his rival, Sen. O’Leary accused Keating of flip-flopping (yes, that term is back) on the matter, stating Keating said he opposed the project during an earlier candidates’ forum in Harwich.

Sen. O’Leary – who, by a six point margin, recently bested Mr. Keating in a poll conducted by Gerstein/Agne Strategic Communications – ended that taste of J’accuse! With this zinger: “It seems that, having spent 32 of your 57 years in politics, you’ve mastered the most common of political skills. Congratulations, sir.”

Ohhhhh, snap!

***

If you missed that clashing of the titans, then mark Friday, September 10 on your calendar.

The Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce and the Cape Cod Young Professionals are co-hosting a pre-primary candidates’ night at the Cape Codder Resort in Hyannis. WXTK-FM’s news director Matt Pitta will wrangle Mr. Keating, Sen. O’Leary, and Republicans Robert E. Hayden III, Raymond Kasperowicz, and State Representative Jeffrey D. Perry (R – Sandwich).

The event will also welcome all four candidates for State Senator of the Cape and Islands District.

This kicks off at 8 AM, and it’s open to the public.

***

Rep. Perry announced last week he’d been bumped up to “contender” status in the National Republican Congressional Committee’s “Young Guns” program.

“Contender” is the middle rank in the initiative, which assists GOP candidates running for open seats or against incumbents with their campaigns. “Young Gun” is the final level. He’s so far the only Massachusetts candidate to reach Contender status, and only one of three in the program at all (the other, notably, is rival Joseph D. Malone, who is “On the Rader”).

***

Speaking of Mr. Malone, he’ll be in Falmouth on August 15 for a reception at The Courtyard. That runs from 4 to 6 PM, and if you’d like to attend, shoot an e-mail over to karen@joemalonecongress.com.

***

Another unenrolled candidate in the Congressional race has ended his run before anyone could care. Thomas A. Lawler posted on his campaign website that he was withdrawing from the race because “there are at least two other independents who will be on the ballot. That eliminates the need for me to run.”

Actually, only one; unenrolled candidate Peter A. White withdrew from the race earlier this summer. That leaves only James Sheets of Quincy as the standard bearer for third-party/unenrolled voter interests.

***

Charles D. Baker Jr. continues to slowly but surely gain ground on Governor Deval L. Patrick, even as he paradoxically loses support overall.

Last week, Rasmussen Reports released the results of its monthly poll, and Gov. Patrick maintained the lead with 38 percent of those surveyed voicing their support for the incumbent and 32 percent supporting Mr. Baker. The month before, the split was 41 percent and 34 percent.

Timothy P. Cahill inched up a bit, receiving support from 17 percent of those surveyed (up from 16 percent). Meanwhile, 12 percent were undecided in the June poll – though whether this is because Green-Rainbow Party candidate Dr. Jill E. Stein was not a choice in the poll or because her standing is truly that non-existent is in question.

***

By the way, here are your totally non-surprising endorsements of the week: pro-life group Citizens for Life is endorsing Rep. Perry in his race, and NARAL Pro-Choice is endorsing Governor Deval L. Patrick in his.

The governor and his running mate, Lieutenant Governor Timothy P. Murray, also received the thumb’s up from Massachusetts Clean Water Action, the Massachusetts League of Environmental Voters, and the Massachusetts Chapter of the Sierra Club.

***

Want to prank a co-worker? Tell him to turn his computer volume up real loud and send him here.

Once there he will be treated to the dulcet tones of F. Randal Hunt’s “Campaign-O-Cycle” horn. The bicycle is emblazoned with campaign signs and, according to the official press release, has a zero carbon footprint and should help the candidate drop 10 pounds by September as he pedals around the district.

You may not agree with his politics, but you have to appreciate the sense of humor Randy “The Situation” Hunt brings to the election.

***

This week’s event reminders:

Mr. Hunt a meet-and-greet at Lakewood Hills on Tuesday, August 17 at 5 PM; a golf tourney fundraiser at Holly Ridge on Sunday, October 3 starting at 8:20 AM; a pasta supper fundraiser at the American Legion Hall in Sandwich on Saturday, September 25 starting at 6 PM; and “Pizza & Politics with Pizzazz” at Two Brothers Pizza & Mexican in Sandwich on Monday, October 11 at 5:30 PM.

Daniel A. Wolf, Democratic candidate for State Senate of the Cape and Islands District, will be in Mashpee on Monday, August 16 for a house party fundraiser. He’s also the guest of honor at house parties in Marstons Mills on Thursday, August 26, and in Osterville on Friday, August 27. Check out his official website at www.danwolfforsenate.com for more information.

Political news and announcements may be sent to Michael Bailey, Region editor and senior political reporter, at bailey@capenews.net

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