Monday, October 16, 2006
Campaign Contributions in Swampscott
For a few minutes of fun, check out who's donating what and how much to political candidates and Political Action Committees from Swampscott. For example, resident Selectman Charles Baker has donated over 3,000 dollars to the Republican State Committee. He's donated thousands to Mitt Romney and Kerry Healey; he was even a fan of Tom Finneran.
Robyn Clarke's a fan of Frank Cousins, while Janis Cotter really likes Tom Reilly. Nathaniel Dalton really, really, REALLY likes the State Republican Party - he's donated $10,000 since 2005. Yikes. (Hey, Mr. Dalton, my student loans are getting pretty high in case you want to donate to Ryan's PAC E (Paying All College Expenses). Former School Committee Member - and member of the Finance Committee - Arthur Goldberg must really like people with the last name Goldberg, Lt. Governor candidate Deb Goldberg got $200 of his money. However, Mr. Goldberg didn't like Deb as much as James Rudolph - who gave a thousand bucks to Deb.
The Deligiannides have each contributed $500 to Deval Patrick's campaign; I hope they both got a button. Mrs. Demakes, a homemaker, likes Christy Mihos - to the tune of $500 - while self-employed Mr. Demakes likes Christy Mihos and Deval Patrick to the tune of $500 each (so I guess he just really doesn't like Kerry Healey). My old basketball coach's wife, Barbara Klein, tossed $1,000 over to Mitt Romney.
The Eastern Bank PAC had some interesting donations, as well as C&L Package Store. Eastern's PAC kind-of, sort-of liked Speaker DiMasi - to the tune of $250, but they gave $500 to the Speaker's PAC. Isn't it fun when PACs give to PACs who give to PACs? Whoever knew that laundering money could be legal? The packy, on the other hand, had the audacity to donate $1,300 to "Stop Alcohol's Further Extension to Youth (SAFETY)." Somehow, I think if the owners of C&L were all that concerned about the kids, they'd stop selling alcohol altogether. After all, it's not the Supermarkets that are selling to kids in Massachusetts nowadays. (Note to readers: I've purchased a few beverages here - and was never carded. Considering I'm 22, that seems like an issue.)
Finally, for those who are curious, you can find both me and my mother on the list: I gave $10 to Deval Patrick, my mother $35. That's the kind of political contributions that I think are healthy: enough to show you care, but not enough to influence any votes.
Robyn Clarke's a fan of Frank Cousins, while Janis Cotter really likes Tom Reilly. Nathaniel Dalton really, really, REALLY likes the State Republican Party - he's donated $10,000 since 2005. Yikes. (Hey, Mr. Dalton, my student loans are getting pretty high in case you want to donate to Ryan's PAC E (Paying All College Expenses). Former School Committee Member - and member of the Finance Committee - Arthur Goldberg must really like people with the last name Goldberg, Lt. Governor candidate Deb Goldberg got $200 of his money. However, Mr. Goldberg didn't like Deb as much as James Rudolph - who gave a thousand bucks to Deb.
The Deligiannides have each contributed $500 to Deval Patrick's campaign; I hope they both got a button. Mrs. Demakes, a homemaker, likes Christy Mihos - to the tune of $500 - while self-employed Mr. Demakes likes Christy Mihos and Deval Patrick to the tune of $500 each (so I guess he just really doesn't like Kerry Healey). My old basketball coach's wife, Barbara Klein, tossed $1,000 over to Mitt Romney.
The Eastern Bank PAC had some interesting donations, as well as C&L Package Store. Eastern's PAC kind-of, sort-of liked Speaker DiMasi - to the tune of $250, but they gave $500 to the Speaker's PAC. Isn't it fun when PACs give to PACs who give to PACs? Whoever knew that laundering money could be legal? The packy, on the other hand, had the audacity to donate $1,300 to "Stop Alcohol's Further Extension to Youth (SAFETY)." Somehow, I think if the owners of C&L were all that concerned about the kids, they'd stop selling alcohol altogether. After all, it's not the Supermarkets that are selling to kids in Massachusetts nowadays. (Note to readers: I've purchased a few beverages here - and was never carded. Considering I'm 22, that seems like an issue.)
Finally, for those who are curious, you can find both me and my mother on the list: I gave $10 to Deval Patrick, my mother $35. That's the kind of political contributions that I think are healthy: enough to show you care, but not enough to influence any votes.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Charley Baker's Op-Ed
Charley Baker (R), Swampscott resident and Selectman, had a heavy-handed op-ed in today's Globe. He isn't really friendly to any of the candidates, including Republican Kerry Healey, essnetially saying they're all being dishonest about the fiscal situation; it's much worse than it looks, he writes.
The stunning part about the OP-ED is a lot of Republicans were trying to get him to run for Governor earlier in the year - to challenge Kerry Healey to a primary fight. However, her superior resources and status as Lt. Governor scared him off - maybe the idea of facing a tough Democratic opponent after a nasty Republican primary couldn't have helped.
I bet he's kicking himself now... Kerry Healey's candidacy has just been utterly abysmal.
The stunning part about the OP-ED is a lot of Republicans were trying to get him to run for Governor earlier in the year - to challenge Kerry Healey to a primary fight. However, her superior resources and status as Lt. Governor scared him off - maybe the idea of facing a tough Democratic opponent after a nasty Republican primary couldn't have helped.
I bet he's kicking himself now... Kerry Healey's candidacy has just been utterly abysmal.
