Joe_Battenfeld's Blog

Ok, this goes down as one of Gov. Patrick's worst ideas - putting a sales tax on beer and other alcohol you get at the package store.

Beer is already expensive and loaded down with other hidden taxes, and besides, we need it to get through this economic crisis! The governor is also proposing to tax soda (don't drink it) and candy. And this is bad news for kids and for our very special anchor Maria Stephanos, who spends hundreds of dollars of her hard earned money on feeding candy to station employees.

Governor, for the sake of Maria, please leave the candy alone. And let's hope lawmakers stop this horrible beer tax. Because if it happens, I might have to switch to Old Milwaukee.

Are you ok with the six-pack tax or is this just a horrible idea? Let me know your thoughts.

Check out the new video we got of Sal DiMasi making his final exit from the State House (in his massive, campaign-paid SUV of course!)

Seems appropriate he went out smiling and waving goodbye. He was a jovial guy but unfortunately squandered his opportunity by allowing close friends to use their access to influence legislation.

My question is, where do you think the next time we'll see Sal DiMasi will be? In front of a judge? Registering as a lobbyist himself? Or just at a North End restaurant spending all his campaigning cash?

I'm voting for the judge.

It wasn't just the bungled oath that disappointed me about Obama's big inaugural address. He had high expectations to meet, no doubt, but he didn't meet them in my opinion.
I was in the crowd of two million on the Mall, and that was definitely impressive. A sea of humanity like you can't imagine.
But Obama's rhetoric didn't match that - I mean his big line was, the "challenges will be met" - not exactly "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself." This was no FDR or JFK, though Obama certainly gave a good speech.
No the real stars of this inauguration were not the politicians, but the people. Whether you're a Republican or Democrat, you had to be moved by the stories and faces of those who came here from all around the country, many of them bringing their young children along.
So to quote John Lennon, "Power to the People" and let's hope Obama doesn't disappoint them.

It's starting to make me a little unsettled, seeing all these thousands of people here in Washington acting so happy. It's going to give the nation's capital a bad rap. How long before the town returns to normalcy, which is finger-pointing and partisan sniping?
You would not believe how many people around here are smiling and courteous and happy to be here, even though you can barely walk around or find a place to eat.
So how long do you think this honeymoon period will last? I wish I could say Washington will be a changed place, but I doubt it. What do you think?.

You can't get a coffee in Washington this week. You can only get a "Barack" or maybe a "Biden."

That's how crazy things are in D.C. for the inauguration. Even the Starbucks workers are naming coffees after Obama.

And people looking for tickets are everywhere. You could make some decent money selling a ticket if you have one. As soon as we got our press credentials last night, I was besieged by a scalper who asked if I was willing to sell them (No, I didn't.)

Let me hear from you if you're planning to go to DC or you are already here.

And if you're not going, would you sell your ticket to make money?

We'll be filing plenty of more reports on the historic inauguration so stay tuned.

A woeful response to Katrina? His failure to capture Osama Bin Laden?

What do you think have been the biggest mistakes of President Bush's eight years in office?

Or maybe you hink the President didn't make any big mistakes? (in that case I'd check in for some counseling)

Anyway, my choice for Bush's biggest blunder is, weapons of mass destruction. Oh yeah, there were no wmd's in Iraq. Basing a war on a mistake has to be one of the worst mistakes any president can make.

But what do you think? Let me have it if you want.

If so, you might want to get a job as a Massachusetts lawmaker. Then you will get all the hugs you want from House Speaker Sal DiMasi.

It seems our lawmakers have quickly forgotten all the problems and scandal at the State House for the last year, because they overwhelmingly re-elected DiMasi speaker with hardly a whimper of dissent.

Wish you could have seen for  yourself all the backslapping and self congratulation at the Legislature's opening session. You probably would have been a little nauseated, like me.

I guess the message of "change" that Obama's election embraced hasn't reached the State House yet. It's same old, same old.

Want to vent about all this? Please let me know what you feel about just SEVEN Democrats going against DiMasi.

Can't believe 2008 is over and what a year in politics. Can it possibly get any better?

I say, yes it can.

Will another Kennedy join the Senate? (probably not). Will the faltering economy hurt Mayor Menino's chances of reelection? (definitely not). What Massachusetts pols will get indicted in 2009?

Check out my predictions for the New Year (ok some are not exactly serious) and let me know what you might think happen. Can't wait to hear your ideas.

Still looking for a last-minute Christmas gift for the political junkie in your life?

How about an Obama action figure? Or a Joe the Plumber tree ornament? Or a complete book of Obama's campaign speeches? (yawn)

Once again, we've come up with a collection of the hottest selling political gifts for this holiday season, and there are a lot to choose from. Even the Hillary nutcracker is still available.

My favorite has to be Palin t-shirt with a word I don't think I can repat here, but it's sure to be a hit at your in-laws. Worst political gift? The Obama commemorative coin. Give that one to your obnoxious uncle.

Let me know your favorites - maybe there's one out there I missed!

So, is anyone else out there disturbed there will be no criminal charges resulting from the deadly Big Dig tunnel collapse?

As our Adam Pellerin reports, AG Martha Coakley has agreed to settle for millions rather than pursue charges against the glue company whose product partly resulted in the I-90 collapse.

The tunnel failure did terrible damage, not just to one family, but to the psyche of an entire state. Yes, the family agreed to settle, but shouldn't we at least be trying to put someone in jail for this horrible crime - yes crime - of spending billions on a tunnel that couldn't even hold for a few years?

So what if the state lost the case, this is something Coakley should have done on principle alone. Very disappointing, almost as disappointing as Gov. Deval Patrick's move to try and appoint the architect of the disastrous Big Dig financing plan to be the state's transportation chief.

Oh well, I guess we shouldn't expect more from our political leaders. Some things never really "change," right Governor?

Let me know if you are also appalled by these latest Big Dig blunders

 

Watch My Report Here

We had a fun time recently checking out all the things that politicians spend YOUR campaign donations on - and gas is one of the biggest - no surprise.

State law allows pols to siphon their campaign accounts to pay for "campaign related" gas or anything else that "enhances their political future." And guess, what, most lawmakers never even have to campaign because they have no opponent.

So, how about $16,000 in gas for two years - that's what one lawmaker paid. Or about 100,000 miles. Or how about $6 million in meals alone! Yikes, that's a lot of shrimp.

If you get a chance take a look at our investigation on campaign spending - it definitely shows we need to toughen our laws right now to keep these pols from "enhancing" their lifestyle - not their campaigns. And you can do it yourself by just checking out the state campaign finance office website.

Let me know what you think of our gas-guzzling pols and whether the laws need changing.

Watch My Report Here

OK, here is a question for all you Red Sox Fans.

If Caroline Kennedy is the next U.S. senator from New York, would you still sing "Sweet Caroline" at Fenway when the Sox play the Yankees?

Wouldn't you feel funny honoring a NEW YORK pol (don't forget Neil Diamond wrote it for Caroline Kennedy) while rooting against the hated Yankees?

Please let me know how we should handle this important political dilemma. I propose we dump Sweet Caroline anyway. I never sang it while growing up at Fenway (yes I am that old) and it's getting a little tired anyway.

I mean, shouldn't those tone deaf New York fans be forced to sing Neil Diamond? And what should our new Red Sox song be?

Well, I would have to say Sarah Palin would be first on my list. No, get your mind out of the gutter, I'm talking about her contribution to the political debate. Seriously.
Anyway, this was an especially bountiful year for politics so I am very, very thankful. And it's not even over yet! Maybe Chuck Turner will hold another press conference.
Anyway, I'd like to hear your reasons to be thankful this Thanksgiving - who makes your list?

That's the burning question at the State House and City Hall now that yet another pol has been disgraced by this unfolding bribery scandal.

Will someone even bigger be the next to be dragged into court and do the perp walk? Well, so far there's no evidence that will happen. US Attorney Michael Sullivan pretty much exonerated Mayor Menino and others in the Legislature.

But you still got to think there are a lot more shoes to drop in this one. There' s no way that all this alleged bribe taking and deal making was going on in a vacuum. The best word to sum it up - disgusting.

What do you think? Will there be bigger shoes to fall in this - maybe ones worn by other elected officials?

Well, at least Dianne Wilkerson is going out in style. Check out the video of her leaving her Senate office for the last time while her "supporters" try to rough up reporters and photogs on the way out. Very classy.

We waited for her for about six hours before she finally came out after submitting her resignation letter. Not that the letter was hand written - guess she doesnt have a computer anymore.

I asked her whether she'd be offering an apology to her constituents and fellow pols, but she didn't answer. I wouldn't wait up for that one.

What a disgraceful end to a truly disgraceful chapter of Massachusetts politics. Think Dianne will end up pleading guilty or just go out in denial? Let me know