Joe_Battenfeld's Blog

I admit the campaign's gotten a little boring but wait, click here to check out the new jibjab campaign video mocking the candidates! And make sure you watch carefully for a surprise appearance by a certain anchor you know and love. It's shocking!

Hope you get a good laugh -- we need it.

If you haven't seen the explosive new cover of the New Yorker, check it out here - Michelle Obama dressed as a terrorist and Barack in full Muslim garb. Oh yeah, there's a flag burning in the fireplace over a picture of Osama Bin Laden.
Predictably, Obama and John McCain are denouncing this cover as tasteless and offensive.
But what it really is, is SATIRE, people. It's meant to mock those clueless people who still circulate emails saying Obama is a Muslim and that fist-bump with Michelle is a terrorist sign.
The lesson here is, I guess you just can't do satire anymore - at least not without upsetting too many people. Do you think this cover is offensive or just a clever attempt at satire? Let us know.

Just when you thought the saga of State Sen. James Marzilli couldn't get any more twisted, it does.

The latest disturbing detail? One of the women he allegedly stalked was a 60 year old grandmother who walks with a cane! She was so frightened she fell down on a bus trying to evade him. Check out other details in my story about his court arraignment.

Once again, why is it he continues to represent thousands of constituents and accepts a $58,000 a year salary? It's because the rest of the Legislature has no ....you know what. They should move to immediately expel him or force him to resign. It's a disgrace he's still a senator, but this is Massachusetts!

How's this for a sequel? Christy II coming to ballot box near you in 2010.
Yes, he only got 7 percent in 2006 but Christy Mihos may be coming back for a rematch against Gov. Deval Patrick. It sounds a little delusional but could 2010 be a better year for a Mihos maverick candidacy? I say yes, especially because Deval Patrick has failed to break the Beacon Hill same-as-usual politics.
Mihos would be much better positioned to feed on people's thirst for change at the State House.
Now, should Christy mortgage his beautiful Cape Cod waterfront home to fund his campaign? Ah, no. It's too nice a house for that. But it would be fun to see Mihos actually mount a serious campaign.
What do you think? Does Christy have a chance or should he keep his day job pumping gas at those Christy's markets on the Cape?

Yes, it's real. There is a new report (the well-respected Politico Web site) saying Mitt Romney is now at the top of John McCain's running mate search.

I still don't believe it will ultimately happen, but it shows you how important money has become. Romney is a fund-raising machine and may be the only one who can help McCain compete against Obama.

On the less serious side, click here to check out my report on the Romney rumors and the Massachusetts company that did its own vice presidential poll. It's based on evolution -- survival of the fittest -- and it's the same method used to test products like soda.

Coming in first on both Democratic and Republican sides was Colin Powell. Other surprises, Caroline Kennedy finished in sixth place (just behind Hillary Clinton) as the people's choice for veep. FOX's Bill O'Reilly finished fourth among the write-in candidates and Oprah Winfrey third among Democrats.

Of course, there is no chance Colin Powell will agree to be a running mate, but what about Caroline Kennedy? How's that for an interesting ticket? Let me know what your dream ticket would be.

Just back from the place called Unity, and while it is a beautiful town, I have to say the Hillary Clinton-Barack Obama reunion didn't live up to the name.

Sure, they talked about how they're now unified, but did you catch that kiss? It looked like one of those kisses you're trying to avoid from your grandma. I'm not even sure if there was real contact.

There was a lot of enthusiasm from the crowd, with a few notable dissenters (check out my story on that). There was a big thunderstorm that came through right after the event, drenching some of those poor people who had to wait in line for buses to take them back. Special thanks to the neighbor who let us park in his yard.

Anyway, I think this event proved there really is not much chemistry between Hillary and Barack, and it's probably a safe bet you won't be seeing these two on the same ticket.

Do you think the Governor, other elected officials and judges deserve big pay raises?

No, that was not a joke question. Believe it or not, a panel created by the Legislature has come to the shocking conclusion that they are really, really underpaid. Especially Speaker Sal DiMasi and Senate President Therese Murray, who would get 70 percent pay hikes under this panel's plan - all the way to 160K a year!

Talk about bad timing. With more and more people losing their homes, and losing their jobs, can you believe that the Legislature and Governor even called for a study on whether they're underpaid? This panel should have shut down when it became clear we were in a recession and budget crisis.

Wisely, the Governor and Speaker are running away from this plan - check out my story on it and let me know what you think. I'm sure there's someone out there who thinks our state officials are underpaid. Someone? Anyone?

Just got back from a long, strange trip trying to find the weirdest places in Massachusetts. Check out the results of our findings here. As you can see, we live in a pretty strange place -- and that's not even counting the politicians in the State House!

I'm sure I missed more than a few strange places and people - so please tell me what's the weirdest sight you've seen in Massachusetts? (Not counting me, that is). My nomination goes to the wall of bones in Lynnfield -- there were actually vultures circling over it when I got there. Creepy, but I'm sure you know somewhere or someone even creepier.

It's all anyone is talking about at the State House - Gov. Deval Patrick's 18 year old daughter says she is a lesbian - with the family's backing.

Now, the first question is, is this even a public matter? Yes, it is, because the governor's office was the one that put the story out - really orchestrated it, in fact.

Patrick and his family gave an exclusive interview to Bay Windows talking about it, saying they wanted to prevent a "gotcha" story coming out.

I agree with the governor. He and his family are public by nature of his position, especially on a big issue like gay rights. Does it have any impact politically? I doubt it. Patrick was for gay marriage before his daughter came out. If anything people will give him and his family credit for talking about it openly.

what's your view? Let me know.

You probably won't see him, but if you do, wave to John McCain, because you may not see him back here very often.

McCain is visiting Massachusetts Thursday evening and Friday morning, but he's not really here to get your vote, he's here for money. Let's face it, he has about as much chance of winning Massachusetts as I do, but he can still take campaign contributions from well-off supporters. And there are plenty of Republicans with money in Massachusetts - just ask Mitt Romney.

Let me know if you think McCain should stay away from Massachusetts - or should he actually try to compete here against Obama?

You actually believe that cell phones can make popcorn.

All you have to do is put a heat source under a table and presto, you get popcorn. It's not that hard.

C'mon people. I know you like to look at youtube all day, but some of those videos are actually faked. I know - it's shocking! I'll give you a few hours to let it sink in.

 

 

It's pretty clear now it's not going to be Hillary Clinton, but there are lots of other good veep candidates out there. Obama girl, Oprah, Mitt  Romney....
Let me know  who you think would be a good running mate for Barack. I am holding out for John Kerry.

All right, I promise this is the last blog I write that buries Hillary Clinton. I actually want her to stay in the race -- it's a much better story!

But the reality is she lost. There, I said it -- not with any gloating or disparagement -- I am just stating a fact. The longer she refuses to admit this, the worse she will look in the eyes of Democrats. Go ahead Clinton supporters, tell me I'm wrong.

All right, it's finally over. Or is it?

After the last primaries on Tuesday, Hillary Clinton will be forced to admit defeat because Barack Obama will have enough delegates (and super delegates) to clinch. That's one theory and the one I think will happen.

There are also those who think Clinton will hang on and fight to the convention. What do you think? Has Hillary's time finally come? And more importantly, what should her swan song be?

I've already chosen "The End" by the Doors. I picked it because it's the same song that played at the end of "Apocalypse Now." What's your choice?

All of the House sessions are supposed to end up on the legislature's website and somehow this episode was left off...until now. Below are the videos of State Rep. Jennifer Callahan on May 2 as she discussed being threatened on the job.