Food for thought for the Massachusetts GOP - Holly Robichaud

Food for thought for the Massachusetts GOP

Here a few ideas for Massachusetts Republicans to consider for moving forward:

1. Offer a clear and concise message of government accountability and economic opportunity. Since losing the Corner Office over two years ago Massachusetts Republicans have been rudderless. Our Party and legislative leaders have failed to vocalize the differences between the two parties and why the Commonwealth would have been better off if we had elected a Republican Governor in 2006.

Republicans should rally around a message of fiscal discipline that would include a Taxpayer Bill of Rights, ethics reform, rolling back the income tax to 5% as promised, pension reform, school choice, full disclosure campaign finance plan and tough on crime proposals such as reinstating the death penalty, arresting illegal immigrants, and securing our ports.

Just as important in outlining a positive message, the GOP needs to aggressively illustrate how Governor Patrick has failed in so many ways. While the state accumulated a $2 billion deficit, he has increased his office budget by 80%, opened new offices in DC and western Massachusetts, added 2000 new state employees to the payroll, created a paid-volunteer program and offered $1 billion in corporate welfare to the bio-tech industry. Moreover, Patrick has completely dropped the ball on his two top campaign promises of cutting property taxes and putting 1000 new police officers on the street.

2. Create a farm team—For 16 years we were the Party with just one goal of winning the Governor’s office. It may not be sexy, but we must elect selectmen, school committee members, aldermen, etc. to municipal office. Moreover, you cannot beat someone with no one.

3. Combine technology and old fashion boots on the ground campaigning—It is not enough to recruit candidates, the Party must be prepared to help them with quality advice. Unfortunately for years, candidates have been mentored by staff members and consultants who have never won a race. It was like having the blind lead the blind. If candidates are properly trained on how to use new technology and build a grassroots team, they have a 75% better chance in winning on Election Day.

Mass. GOP choses Nassour as chair

Associated Press - January 27, 2009 10:34 PM ET

BOSTON (AP) - The Massachusetts Republican committee has chosen Jennifer Nassour of Boston as the party's new leader to succeed Peter Torkildsen.

She said after Tuesday night's 3-1 vote the party is "really looking to re-energize from the base up" rather than top down, with more frequent and smaller-dollar fundraising events that can involve more people.

Nassour said recent ethics investigations involving Democrats in the Legislature, including just-departed House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi, have left "a cloud of controversy and suspicion" over the Statehouse. That's an issue Republicans can use, she said, as they nurture new candidates to expand their numbers on Beacon Hill. There are just five Republicans in the Senate and 16 in the House.

Nassour worked in the administration of former Republican acting Gov. Jane Swift and served as finance director for Daniel Grabauskas during his campaign for treasurer.

LINCOLN-REAGAN DAY / REPUBLICAN UNITY BREAKFAST(Malden GOP)

LINCOLN-REAGAN DAY / REPUBLICAN UNITY BREAKFAST
* ABRAHAM LINCOLN BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION *
HOSTED BY THE MALDEN REPUBLICAN CITY COMMITTEE

PLEASE JOIN US AS WE CELEBRATE THE BICENTENNIAL OF
THE BIRTH OF OUR NATION'S FIRST REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT

DATE: PRESIDENTS DAY
MONDAY FEBRUARY 16, 2009

TIME: DOORS OPEN 9:30 AM
PLACE: LOYAL ORDER OF MOOSE LODGE #1910
562 BROADWAY (RTE. 99), MALDEN

MENU: BUFFET STYLE HAM * SCRAMBLED EGGS * HOME FRIES
BREAKFAST SAUSAGES * BREAKFAST ROLLS * COFFEE/DECAF COFFEE
TEA * DANISH PASTRY * CONDIMENTS

COST: $20.00 per person
$15.00 for college students

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: HOLLY ROBICHAUD
JOURNALIST AND POLITICAL CONSULTANT
"THE LONE REPUBLICAN", THE BOSTON HERALD

FEATURED SPEAKERS: CHARLIE BAKER
PRESIDENT & C.E.O., HARVARD PILGRIM HEALTH CARE
"A TRIBUTE TO ABRAHAM LINCOLN"

BOB PARKS
CONSERVATIVE JOURNALIST & BLOGGER "BLACK & RIGHT"
"HIJACKING OUR HISTORY"

ERIC ESTEVEZ, PH.D.
POLITICAL SCIENCE DEPT., NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY
"RONALD REAGAN AND THE 1964 GOLDWATER PRESIDENTIAL
CAMPAIGN"

ALLAN GILLIS
PAST PRESIDENT, MASS. REPULICAN ASSEMBLY (2003-09)
"THE CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN ASSSEMBLY AND RONALD
REAGAN'S ELECTION AS GOVERNOR IN 1966"


*LIVE ENTERTAINMENT *
* REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL TRIVIA CONTEST *
* SIGNED BOOK SALE *

FOR RESERVATIONS PLEASE MAKE CHECKS
PAYABLE BEFORE FEBRUARY 9, 2009 TO:


MALDEN REPUBLICAN CITY COMMITTEE
23 GRAPE ST. #2
MALDEN, MA. 02148-5710


FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT CHAIRMAN
BARRY GREENSPAN AT BGREENSPAN02148@YAHOO.COM
OR (781)322-0004,
Malden GOP blog;
http://maldengop.blogspot.com

MegaVote: Medford MA, 1/21/2009

MegaVote for Massachusetts' 7th Congressional District:

Recent Senate Votes
Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 - Vote Passed (73-21, 4 Not Voting)The Senate passed this bill, which is a package of over 160 bills related to public lands, national parks, and water development legislation.

Sen. Edward Kennedy voted Not Voting......send e-mail or see bio

Sen. John Kerry voted YES......send e-mail or see bio

Cloture Motion; Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 - Vote Agreed to (72-23, 3 Not Voting)On Thursday, the Senate garnered the necessary 60 votes to start debate on this employee pay discrimination bill.

Sen. Edward Kennedy voted Not Voting.

Sen. John Kerry voted YES.

Recent House Votes
Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 - Vote Passed (289-139, 6 Not Voting)The House passed this bill to expand the Children’s Health Insurance Program to cover an estimated total of 11 million children.

Rep. Edward Markey voted YES......send e-mail or see bio

Upcoming Votes
Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 - S.181The Senate is expected to vote on passage of this pay discrimination bill.

TARP Reform and Accountability Act - H.R.384The House is scheduled to complete consideration of this bill that would modify the Troubled Assets Relief Program.

MegaVote is powered by Capitol Advantage © 2009.

111th Congress gets to work

Nationalized health care, new hate crimes, regulating college football, and reparations for African Americans, all in the first batch of bills introduced by the new congress;

From Congress.org;

H.R. 15 creates a nationalized system of free health care.

H.R. 414, the Camera Phone Predator Alert Act, requires cameras in cell phones to make an audible sound to alert others (such as in locker rooms) when a picture is taken.

H.R. 346 repeals the automatic payraises Congress receives.

H.R. 390 addresses "college football playoff games" while H.R. 187 says let Cubans play American baseball.

H.R. 227 states that human life begins at fertilization.

H.R. 254 moves voting to the weekend.

H.R. 113 requires anything funded by an earmark to be audited. Perhaps things like

H.R. 202, which creates a "Museum of Ideas."

H.R. 116 ends political "robocalls" if you are on the "Do Not Call" Registry, while Senate bill S. 30 wants there to be caller ID honesty.

H.R. 126 would limit citizenship at birth only to those who have at least one parent who is a citizen or legal resident.

H.R. 160 would limit Social Security benefits to only legal citizens or residents.

H.R. 155 would ban taxes on unemployment benefits for two years, while

H.R. 162 bans taxes on Social Security benefits.

H.R. 87 says "Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is," and invites those who like to pay taxes to voluntarily pay extra taxes. Or how about just a "Fair Tax" as called for in H.R. 25.

H.R. 70 would make it a hate crime to display a noose with the intent to intimidate. And H.R. 40 explores paying reparations to African-Americans.

S. 213 would create an Airline Passenger Bill of Rights.And Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is back in the swing of things. He's introduced S. 151, a bill to protect Indian arts and crafts.

Hub Politics Interviews Joe Manzoli, Candidate for Mass GOP Chair

by The Editors, January 16th, 2007 at 12:06pm

Hub Politics recently had the opportunity to interview Joe Manzoli, who is now running for chairman of the Massachusetts Republican Party. The interview was conducted via email, and is part of Hub Politics’ coverage of the Mass GOP Chairman race.

HUB POLITICS: Why do you want to be chair of the Massachusetts Republican Party?

JOE MANZOLI: With over 30 years experience in helping to elect Republicans, I had a choice, to jump on a life boat and watch the ship sink or take control and stir the party in the right direction. I chose to take the later.


HUB POLITICS: What do you see are the weaknesses of the Massachusetts Republican Party that you will have to address as Chairman?

JOE MANZOLI: We have lost our base. We have no clear message as a party. We have forgotten how to attract, recruit and elect candidates for public office.

I intend to open up our party using the fundamentals of the preamble of our by-laws. I can not say it any better than The Republican Party is the Party of the open door. Ours is the Party of equality of opportunity for all and favoritism for none. It is the intent and purpose of these by-laws to encourage the broadest possible participation of all voters in Republican Party activities at all levels and to assure that the Republican Party is open, accessible to all, and answerable ultimately to the people in the true American tradition.

It is the further purpose of these by-laws to ensure that the Republican Party stands for the principle that we are the Party open to all, we are also the Party of opportunity for all: opportunity for every one of every race, religion, color, national origin, age and sex.

These by-laws provide for full participation with equal opportunity for men and women, for minorities and heritage groups, and for all Americans regardless of age or social or economic status.

These by-laws mandate that the Republican Party shall be a state-wide Party, purposeful and strong in all counties, cities, towns and neighborhoods of the Commonwealth.

Full story

Medford GOP meeting tomorrow, January 20,2009, 7PM

South Medford Fire House

Many awaiting movement on Green Line extension

By Noah Bierman
January 11, 2009

Shocking. A state transportation project is missing a deadline, prompting concerns about delays. Round up the usual suspects.

OK, so maybe it's not too surprising. But the Massachusetts Bay Turnpike Authority's Green Line extension to Somerville and Medford is worthy of attention - one of the state's highest priorities and among its most expensive public transit projects underway in the next few years.

Commuters, residents, and environmentalists are all awaiting key decisions, including how far into Medford the Green Line trolleys eventually will go. The project is such a high priority that Governor Deval Patrick has pledged state money to finish it by the end of 2014, even if the Commonwealth loses its bid to get federal funding for half the estimated $600 million cost.

State planners missed a December deadline to turn in an environmental review and then canceled a key meeting this month with an outside advisory committee. Members of the committee had been told that the meeting was a precursor to completing those environmental documents.

Project planners have promised to address some controversial questions at the meeting, including where they intend to build the line's final station. Residents of Medford are divided over the project, and there has been no official decision about whether to extend the line all the way to Route 16 or to terminate it about a mile sooner, at Tufts University.

Full story

Medford City Council: Jan. 6, 2009 agenda and minutes

Minutes from the January 6, 2009 Medford City Council meeting can be accessed here.

Romney to offer ideas for stimulus

Former GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney is slated to offer House Republicans his policy prescriptions for the ailing economy at a hearing next week to discuss the pending stimulus package.

The former Massachusetts governor is scheduled to appear at a hearing next Thursday organized by party Whip Eric Cantor (Va.), where Republicans will outline their policy proposals for a massive economic stimulus bill that could exceed $800 billion.

Full story

Republicans, one Democrat, refuse pay hike, DiMasi and most Democrats accept

BOSTON (AP) -- Several state legislators say they will not accept a 5.5 percent pay hike they're entitled to receive, while others plan to donate the increase to charity.

Under a state law approved by voters in 1998, lawmakers' pay rises or falls every two years in line with the state's median household income.

The five-and-a-half percent increase would lift the base annual pay for a member from $58,237 to $61,440.

Republicans Karyn Polito of Shrewsbury, Lewis Evangelidis of Holden and Todd Smola of Palmer, and Democrat Garrett Bradley of Hingham all announced today that they were rejecting the raise.

Polito said she could not in good conscience accept the raise when so many families in Massachusetts were struggling to make ends meet.

House Speaker Sal DiMasi said through a spokesman that he would accept the raise, while a spokesman for Senate President Therese Murray would not say if she had made a decision.

Deval Patrick pushes to create nation's first internet sales tax in Massachusetts

By Associated Press
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
http://www.bostonherald.com

BOSTON — Gov. Deval Patrick wants to expand the state’s ability to collect taxes on Internet sales to help make up for an estimated $1 billion budget shortfall.

The Boston Globe reports Tuesday that the state could collect up to $15 million more per year under a plan submitted to the Legislature by Revenue Commissioner Navjeet Bal. The administration is asking lawmakers to approve the plan by the end of this year.

Currently, only Internet retailers with in-state locations, including stores and warehouses, collect sales taxes on purchases by Massachusetts residents.

The proposal would expand that to collect taxes from Internet retailers that have agreed to participate in a multistate compact.

Opponents say the plan would unfairly burden Internet retailers.

Candidates for GOP Chairman to Debate

Sunday, January 4, 2009 12:45 PM

By: Ronald Kessler

To help the Republican Party choose its next leader and air the issues, candidates for the position of chairman will begin the new year by debating each other on Monday at 1 p.m. at the National Press Club. Newsmax readers can submit questions and watch the debate at RNCdebate.org. All six candidates for the Republican National Committee job will be participating in the debate, the first of its kind.

They are Saul Anuzis, chairman of the Republican Party of Michigan; Ken Blackwell, former secretary of state of Ohio; Katon Dawson, chairman of the Republican Party of South Carolina; Mike Duncan, chairman of the RNC; Chip Saltsman, former chairman of the Republican Party of Tennessee; and Michael Steele, chairman of GOPAC, which promotes Republican candidates.

Full story

Greater Boston Young Republicans Announcement

On Thursday, January 8, 2009 the MA Federation of Young Republicans (MFYRs) will be hosting a State GOP Chair Candidate's Forum. Please join the MFYRs at The Point on 147 Hanover Street, Boston MA from 6:30-9:30pm to hear from declared candidates for the MA GOP State Committee Chairmanship. Jennifer Nassour is confirmed, and Mike Franco has been invited. New members are welcomed and encouraged to attend, ask questions and get involved. Please see http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/event.php?eid=41027456537&ref=mf to obtain more information.

Thank you and Happy New Years from the Greater Boston Young Republicans (www.GBYR.org).

Romney: Obama called after wife fell ill recently

January 4, 2009

BOSTON (AP) --They were at odds during the presidential campaign, but Gov. Mitt Romney said when his wife Ann fell ill, one of the well-wishers who phoned the family was President-elect Barack Obama.

Romney said Obama told him that he and Michelle had his wife in their prayers. Ann Romney had surgery recently to remove a precancerous lump in one of her breasts.

Romney made the comments during an interview on CNN on Sunday.

The former Massachusetts governor praised some of Obama's cabinet picks and said Israel has the right to defend itself against Hamas rockets.

Romney also said he has no interest in becoming the next head of the Republican National Committee -- but plans to continue raising funds for conservative Republican candidates.

Massachusetts GOP rising star, Scott Brown

Party sees signs of hope in Wrentham's Scott Brown

By Mark Arsenault
Boston Globe Correspondent

In a Democratic election year, in this deeply blue Democratic state, Brown won 59 percent of the vote in the Senate's Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex District, against 41 percent for his Democratic opponent, Needham psychologist Sara Orozco.

That kind of margin is why Brown is billed as a possible up-and-comer for the Massachusetts GOP.

"If Scott chooses to move up, he certainly has a solid base to work from," said the state Republican Party chairman, Peter Torkildsen. "I would encourage him to look at it."

Brown is vague about his aspirations for higher office. "In 2010, it's hard to say. A lot of things could happen. You have Senator Kennedy" battling brain cancer, "and God forbid anything happens to him. There is going to be redistricting, which could create opportunities.

"I'm not closing the door to anything, but I'm not actively looking, either. I enjoy my job. We have a lot of very real challenges."

Full story