Now Playing in Massachusetts, by Jeff Beatty

Jeff Beatty

Posted 08/13/2008 ET

The thought of Sen. John Kerry and a president named Barack Obama loose on the streets of Washington, D.C. sounds like an idea for a horror movie. But it would just be a sequel to a disaster movie that the people in Massachusetts have already seen -- one which stars Kerry and Gov. Deval Patrick.

Here in the Commonwealth, where I am the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, we are fighting to keep this “remake movie” from reaching national screens by prevailing in my election to the U.S. Senate over John Kerry and by giving the Bay State’s 12 electoral votes to John McCain. We have paid the price to see this disaster film once in Massachusetts and will not pay to see it spread across America.

From our view, the only thing sadder than a Barack Obama imperial presidency is the vision of John Kerry bopping from country to country as Obama’s “special envoy." Recently, their big budget screen test went international -- Barack with his long apology about American power before 200,000 at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate, and Kerry simultaneously chatting away on cable here at home. Kerry’s shilling for Barack cannot mask what we here already know: The combination of Gov. Deval Patrick and Sen. John Kerry has been devastating for the citizens of Massachusetts. Under Kerry and Patrick, Massachusetts now has one of the nation’s highest property tax burdens, is among the highest in per capita debt, and is one of the few states in the country to be losing population. Now, Governor Patrick is flirting with raising income taxes to wipe away the sins of his Democratic buddies. In short, the Patrick/Kerry movie boils down to a series of broken promises and failed leadership.

Patrick’s problems began only a couple of months after John Kerry endorsed him in the ’06 general gubernatorial election. Patrick ushered in his administration with a Barack-level celebrity million dollar inaugural spanning several days and touching every region of the state. Deval showed off more of his expensive tastes by ordering up the finest drapery to adorn his office, installing his campaign chair on the state’s payroll as “chief of staff” to his wife, and by upgrading the gubernatorial chariot from a Ford to a Cadillac. The press corps dubbed the flailing governor ‘Coupe Deval’, and watched as things only got worse.

Where Republican governors Bill Weld and Mitt Romney turned around dire financial situations by clamping down a Democratic legislature prone to run amuck, Patrick has shown a complete inability to check the power of special interests in the state legislature and in Congress. For months the relationship between the governor and legislature was positively toxic. Things quickly thawed when they agreed to a new “Life Sciences” bill, a transportation package, and other bills with enough pork to please any legislator. These packages are part of an authorized $16 billion in new bonding ushered up by Patrick, who has all but abandoned his core campaign promise -- bringing property tax relief to struggling homeowners in Massachusetts.

The only one voters dislike more than ‘Coupe Deval’, now polling at a dismal 41 percent approval rating, is John “Live Shot” Kerry -- alternatively known as a consummate camera hog and a do-nothing senator.

The nation knows John Forbes Kerry as the long-faced wind-surfer who blew the 2004 presidential election. In Massachusetts, Kerry is notorious for politically-calculated, self-promoting decisions. Here JFK means ‘Just for Kerry’. This is the John Kerry who voted for the war in Iraq, not for reasons of conscience, but because his political advisors in 2002 said it would make him look more presidential. He fashions himself an idea man on national security but before 9/11 missed 80% of his meetings on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and constantly voted to cut the budgets of both the intelligence agencies and the Department of Defense.

Kerry promised people here that the Feds would pick up most of the tab for the Commonwealth’s mammoth infrastructure project called the Big Dig. Instead this project is almost $20 billion and rising over-budget, and mass tax payers are now footing almost the whole bill. Kerry is a staunch opponent of efforts to the repeal the death tax, fails the taxpayer by taking more PAC money than any almost other senator, and has failed to pass a single piece of his sponsored legislation in the past 9 years.

To make matters worse, in word and deed, John Kerry has expressed anti-American sentiment throughout his public life -- beginning with his testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 1971. Early last year in Davos, Switzerland, Kerry ingratiated himself with Europeans by again making public comments that revealed his true nature and shocked many people here at home. Speaking at the World Economic Forum, he openly ridiculed the United States to the delight of many in the audience. "The problem with Americans is they have an unfortunate habit of seeing the world through an American lens," Kerry said. He also referred to the United States as an "international pariah." This is the John Kerry who could have written Barack Obama’s America-bashing speech in Berlin.

Evidence is piling up that Massachusetts voters are angry enough to shut this movie down for good. Despite the support of Patrick, Kerry and much of the Massachusetts Democratic leadership, Obama was soundly defeated in the primary by Hillary Clinton by 15 points or almost 200,000 votes. This fall, voters have placed on the ballot a measure to eliminate the state income tax -- possibly joining New Hampshire, Texas, and Florida.

A recent poll showed that in just two months, and without any advertising, John McCain has closed the gap with Barack Obama from 23 to just 9 points. I see similar gains in my race for Senate, as a growing grass-roots network of Republicans, Independents and Democrats begins to believe that we can beat John Kerry this fall. I wish we could take all the credit for these numbers, but the reality is that dissatisfaction with the Democratic leadership in the state, led by John Kerry and Deval Patrick, is powering much of this progress.

People in the media mistake the climate of anger that they think engulfs American voters. The media believe that the desire for change is directed only at Republicans. In Massachusetts, they might want to take another look at voters who just want to replace failed old machine pols with people who have new ideas and the strength of character to carry them through.

Jeff Beatty is the Republican nominee for United States Senate in Massachusetts

New taxes on the horizon

From the Boston Herald's Lone Republican;

August 11th, 2008
New taxes on the horizon
Posted by Holly Robichaud at 9:15 am

Today’s paper says that Governor Patrick is not ruling out higher taxes. Oh what a surprise from the guy who lied to Massachusetts voters about reducing our property taxes.

Let me make this simple for the Governor. As my good friend Jim Rappaport has said many times, “Massachusetts does not have a revenue problem. We have a spending problem.”

Before raising our taxes maybe Governor Patrick should read today’s Herald about the usage of state cars. Oh no we cannot cut spending. That is not the Democratic way. In fact, we must look for ways to spend more and more. Just look at the $1 billion passed to help the bio-tech industry. However, in less than one month’s time the legislature sends a bill to the Governor’s desk that will limit the life sciences industry by discouraging clinical trials. It is a plan not a smart one.

I would also suggest the Governor visit the Herald’s site on state pensions. This system must be reformed. It is out of control.

If the Governor wants to avoid reforms and threaten us with higher taxes like Mike Dukakis, then I strongly believe that Massachusetts voters are going to hand him a huge surprise in November. At this point I predict that the income tax repeal will pass with 54% of the vote.

Medford Green Line update

2,000 line up for new T station
Route 16 stop backed for extended Green Line
By Russell Contreras, Globe Staff

August 10, 2008

A group of Medford residents presented transportation officials last week with a petition indicating "broad support" for extending the Green Line all the way to Route 16.

At a Green Line Project Advisory Board meeting, the Medford Green Line Neighborhood Alliance handed over a petition with 2,022 signatures to state officials who are expected to make a decision next month on whether the Green Line should be extended to Route 16 or College Avenue, closer to the Somerville line. The group also presented demographic data that showed around 9,000 residents would live within a half-mile walk from a Route 16 stop.

Alliance member Ken Krause said the data and the petition made a strong case that Route 16 would be the best option because the stop would be more centrally located for Medford, Somerville, and Arlington residents.

"Our petition shows that this had broad support from the community," Krause said at a press conference unveiling the details of the petition. "A terminus at College Ave. would attract more cars and would introduce more traffic to an already highly dense area."

But Robert Kangas, a longtime resident of Orchard Street, which is between the two proposed stops, said the neighbors he knows don't want the T station at Route 16. "It's the worst intersection in the city," the 75-year-old resident said. "The homeowners don't want it there. The renters do. I prefer it going to College Ave."

In May, state transportation officials announced plans for the Green Line extension that included a route through the Medford Hillside section. However, transportation officials have been weighing the pros and cons of where the stop should finally rest so most residents in the area could benefit. State officials have been holding sessions for public and neighborhood feedback.

The proposed Green Line stop is aimed at serving residents in Medford, Somerville, and Arlington, and Tufts University.

Stephen M. Woelfel, the state transportation office's lead official for the project, said no final decision has been made. Woelfel said he also was aware of the citizens' petition. "We'll continue to evaluate the proposals and we take all public comments into consideration," he said.

Doug Carr, an alliance member who lives 500 feet from the proposed Route 16 stop, said the petition was collected over a seven-week period and is "the best vehicle to show public support" for opening a Route 16 station. "It will be walking-friendly and biking-friendly," he said. "The buses are major feeders to the area so riders can get to it easily."

Krause said the Route 16 terminus would have no parking available so as not to attract too many cars. "This will not be a park-and-ride station," said Krause. "Riders can go to Alewife for that."

Krause acknowledged that some motorists will inevitably be attracted to the Route 16 stop and be tempted to park in the residential area to ride into work. He said Medford would probably have to step up parking enforcement to make sure outsiders don't park cars on neighborhood streets.

Medford resident Nicole Patterson said she was "conflicted" between the two proposals. She and her husband own a condominium on Orchard Street and live between the two proposed stations. "I still have a lot of unanswered questions," said Patterson. If the Green Line route went through the neighborhood, she asked, "Will our condo lose property value and will our homes become unsellable?"

Patterson said she's also worried that the concerns of working-class residents are not being heard because they can't come to some of the scheduled public meetings.

And if the stop ends up at College Ave.?

"I'd be thrilled," Patterson said.

Russell Contreras can be reached at rcontreras@globe.com.

A Republican Party Pep Rally - Aug 23

To SUPPORT our Delegates as they head for the National GOP Convention on September 1, 2008

To SHARE THE VISION and call our dedicated Volunteers to action
*****
What to Expect: Inspirational Leadership Words
“Proud to be an American” from VIP Guests, Delegates and Candidates
*****
GOP campaign bumper stickers, yard signs, music and refreshments!
*****
When: Saturday, August 23, 10:00 to 11:00 AM
Where: Indian Meadows Golf Course,
275 Turnpike Road, Westborough, MA
Republican Renaissance! $10 donation
RSVP: 617-519-4342 or info@jeffbeatty.com
Hosted by U.S. Senate Nominee Jeff Beatty and 12 Massachusetts State GOP Leaders

Beatty Campaign Blitzes Blogosphere

From JeffBeatty.com;

Lays out path to victory in November and talks energy, jobs and immigration Boston – Using new media to reach a wider national and local audience, Republican candidate for Senate Jeff Beatty spoke to bloggers from across the country about the path the victory in November and the issues on the minds of Massachusetts voters. In wide ranging interviews over the weekend Beatty spoke with American Spectator, Hub Politics, Blogs for Victory, Down the Ticket, Part Time Pundit, Next Right, Weapons of Mass Discussion and Pajamas Media. Thousands of people have already visited, volunteered and donated through JeffBeatty.com; this recent round of interviews is part of an ongoing effort to extend the campaign’s reach during the march to victory this November.

“Everywhere we go people are saying we need a senator focused on protecting our families, protecting our jobs and protecting our country. I’ve got a lifetime of experience that makes me uniquely qualified for the difficult times we face,” said Beatty during this series of ten back-to-back interviews. “John Kerry left Washington for a Nantucket vacation rather than vote on a comprehensive energy bill. Instead of ducking the hard votes people want real leadership in Washington – leadership I will bring to the senate on behalf of voters who are feeling the crunch on energy and the economy.”

Beatty also pointed to jobs and immigration as the top issues on voters’ minds, and of the enthusiasm throughout Massachusetts about his candidacy. Bloggers were eager to dissect a recent Suffolk University poll - the only organization to correctly call the New Hampshire Primary – saying that 51 percent of Commonwealth voters are ready for new leadership in the United States Senate.

Links to the interviews can be found here at jeffbeatty.com.

The Wall Street Journal profiles Tim Pawlenty

COMMENTARY: THE WEEKEND INTERVIEW
Tim PawlentyMinnesota's Vice Presidential Contender

By JOHN FUND

August 9, 2008; Page A9

"I'm the son of a truck driver and a housewife from a meatpacking town," he introduced himself, "who wants to provide a better quality of life for ordinary folks without growing government." His audience stirred: This was clearly a different sales pitch than they were used to. "We must be the party of Sam's Club Republicans, not just country club Republicans," he continued.

In 2002, Mr. Pawlenty invented the term "Sam's Club Republicans" to describe the voters he fears the party is losing. They most likely didn't graduate from college, often hold socially conservative views, struggle to make ends meet, and want a government that delivers real value for their tax dollars and programs that make their lives a little easier without "getting in their face." These swing voters are key to reviving the GOP, which lost independents by 18 points in 2006.

While Mr. Pawlenty tiptoes around the Bush political legacy, he allows that the party's years in power left it with a "name brand a little damaged and out of fresh ideas." Merely retreating to Reagan nostalgia won't do. "I love Ronald Reagan," says Mr. Pawlenty, who at age 47 came of age during the Reagan years. "But we have to recognize that to voters younger than me he is an historical figure."

Boston Tax Party

The Wall Street Journal

August 5, 2008; Page A18

Massachusetts is about the last place one would expect a tax revolt, but that's what's brewing in Beantown. The state board of elections recently certified that citizen activists have gathered the 125,000 signatures required to qualify an initiative for the November ballot to eliminate the state income tax.

The Small Government Act would repeal the 5.3% income and wage tax, as well as the state capital gains tax, which reaches as high as 12%. The ballot initiative would replace the $12.5 billion in taxes with . . . nothing. "One of the points here," explains Carla Howell of the Committee for Small Government that is driving the referendum, "is to force the state legislators to start cutting the bloated state budget." The political shock of having no income tax would force the pols on Beacon Hill to make the difficult spending choices they now refuse to make.

The referendum may seem the longest of long shots in a state represented by some of Congress's biggest spenders. But the same initiative was on the ballot in 2002, and though the political establishment roared with laughter through Election Day, the measure got 45% of the vote. This time pro-tax forces such as the Massachusetts Teachers Association are planning to spend millions of dollars warning of Armageddon.

They have cause to be worried. A Fabrizio poll for Citizens for Limited Taxation discovered that the average Massachusetts voter believes that 41 cents of every state tax dollar are wasted. Coincidentally, that's the share of the state budget funded by the income tax. One big drain is a pension program that doles out billions each year to double-dipping pensioners and state workers retiring at taxpayer expense in their late 40s or 50s.

Nine U.S. states have no income tax, including such economic climbers as Florida, Nevada, Tennessee and Texas. These states are doing fine funding schools, hospitals and police without the income levy. Over the past decade 330,000 Massachusetts residents have packed U-Haul trailers and left -- more than have even fled Michigan -- and many have gone to no-income-tax New Hampshire.

"The idea here is to stop being on the defensive in fighting against big government and to start taking the political offensive," says Ms. Howell. She says the tax repeal would give every Massachusetts worker a 5% after-tax pay raise, or about $3,000 extra income per family. That's attractive when Census data show that, after inflation, state budgets nationwide are up 18% since 2005 while paychecks have remained flat.

The forces of the tax-and-spend status quo will descend on this initiative like British troops after the original Boston tea party, but somebody has to make an effort to stop the relentless growth of government.

See all of today's editorials and op-eds, plus video commentary, on Opinion Journal.