Sunday Loon Watch: GOP vs. Obama on Iran

Sunday Loon Watch: GOP vs. Obama on Iran

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What The Globe Didn't Tell You

If today's Globe coverage here had you a bit concerned about the Patrick Administration's role in the Cognos-Dimasi scandal, be reassured that the bloggers on Blue Mass Group are on the case. You can read the whole thing here but below is an excerpt from the post written by David Kravitz:

First, here is the full statement from A&F spokesman Joe Landolfi. I have underlined the only parts that made it into the Globe.

The US Attorney's indictment indicates that the initial Cognos matter began in 2004 under a prior administration. Two investigations into this matter have been concluded - by the US Attorney and the Inspector General - and there have been absolutely no allegations by the investigators of misconduct of any kind by any senior Patrick administration official. Patrick administration officials cooperated fully with both investigations. In fact, the Inspector General's report specifically concluded that the decision to award the contract to Cognos was made on the basis of the recommendation of the then-acting Chief Information Officer - an appointee of the prior administration - who withheld information about concerns raised by the procurement team from her superiors. The Patrick administration brought in a new CIO who was made aware of irregularities with the procurement process and the administration referred the matter to an independent investigatory agency, revoked the contract and obtained a full refund of the $13 million paid to Cognos.

We are confident that senior administration officials acted appropriately at all times. In response to inquiries about the role of the Executive Office of Administration and Finance, we believe that the right decisions were made given the information presented at the time. Given that this is an ongoing prosecution, we feel it is most appropriate to not interfere with the judicial process by responding to specific facts in the case until the process comes to a conclusion.

Now, I don't expect the Globe to run the entire statement. But there's some quite useful information in there that I would think readers would like to know about -- specifically, (1) that this began under the Romney administration, and (2) that the decision by A&F Secretary Kirwan to go forward was made based on misinformation relayed by the Romney holdover CIO, Bethann Pepoli. Way down in the bowels of the article, the Globe does report that "administration officials pointed blame for the award at a holdover from the Romney administration, [acting CIO] Pepoli. Pepoli selected the winning bidder and recommended approval to higher-level officials in a bid process that has since been found to be improper." But the Inspector General's report is quite clear that, as Landolfi's statement says, Pepoli gave Kirwan bad information. Whereas the Globe's version suggests that there was some technical flaw in the procurement process, and Pepoli just passed along what the procurement people told her. That's not the case.

Ethics

Here is a WBUR discussion of the allegations against Sal DiMasi:
http://www.wbur.org/2009/06/03/dimasi-analysis

Here is a link to the Governor's Task Force on Public Integrity, which issued a report in January 2009 "outlining comprehensive recommendations to strengthen the state's ethics and lobbying laws."

Task Force members are here. It's an interesting group which includes Charlie Baker, Harvard Pilgrim exec often mentioned as a possible Republican candidate for governor, and Pam Wilmot of Common Cause.

Dear Governor Patrick, Senator Baddour, and Representative Costello:

Please make Ethics Reform a reality! We need it.

Op-Ed Columnist

Who Is to Blame for the Next Attack?

By FRANK RICH

AFTER watching the farce surrounding Dick Cheney’s coming-out party this month, you have to wonder: Which will reach Washington first, change or the terrorists? If change doesn’t arrive soon, terrorists may well rush in where the capital’s fools now tread.

The Beltway antics that greeted the great Cheney-Obama torture debate were an unsettling return to the post-9/11 dynamic that landed America in Iraq. Once again Cheney and his cohort were using lies and fear to try to gain political advantage — this time to rewrite history and escape accountability for the failed Bush presidency rather than to drum up a new war. Once again Democrats in Congress were cowed. And once again too much of the so-called liberal news media parroted the right’s scare tactics, putting America’s real security interests at risk by failing to challenge any Washington politician carrying a big stick.

The entire piece http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/31/opinion/31rich.html

Governor Patrick to Visit Newburyport

May 25, 2009 - For immediate release:

Governor Patrick Announces Summer Town Hall Meeting Tour

Governor will hold 15 town hall meetings across the Commonwealth

BOSTON– Monday, May 25, 2009 – Keeping to his commitment to encourage civic engagement and to be Governor of the whole Commonwealth, Governor Deval Patrick announced today he will embark on a summer town hall meeting tour across Massachusetts, starting on Tuesday, May 26th.

“As we work to overcome the challenges of today, it is important that the citizens of the Commonwealth are involved in the process,” said Governor Patrick. “I look forward to this opportunity to learn how state government can better serve its people.”

The meetings are part of Governor Patrick’s efforts to make state government accessible for all people in the Commonwealth. The Governor will host 15 town hall meetings this summer and he encourages all to come and share in the discussion. Last year, the Governor held town hall meetings in Salem, Hull, Amesbury, Holyoke, Milton, Webster, Rehoboth, Athol, Great Barrington, and Hyannis.

The town hall-style meetings are open to the public, giving residents a chance to talk directly to Governor Patrick about issues they care about most, including the economy, the state’s budget challenges, and the Governor’s efforts to push for reforms on Beacon Hill.For more information, visit www.mass.gov/governor/townhall.

Town Hall Meeting Schedule:

Additional Venues TBA

• Tuesday, May 26^th, 6:30 p.m. Dennis, Village Green (1006 Old Bass River Road)
• Sunday, June 7^th, 5:30 p.m. Randolph, Robert C. Williams Gazebo (corner of North and Pleasant Streets)
• Tuesday, June 16^th, 6:30 p.m. Needham, Town Hall Green (1471 Highland Avenue)
• Monday, June 22^nd, 7:00 p.m. Arlington, Robbin Farm Park (51 Eastern Avenue)
• Monday, June 29^th, 6:30 p.m. Lynn
• Wednesday, July 8^th, 6:30 p.m. Shrewsbury
• Tuesday, July 14^th, 6:30 p.m. Adams
• Thursday, July 16^th, 6:30 p.m. Pembroke
• Tuesday, July 21^st, 6:30 p.m. Newburyport
• Thursday, July 23^rd, 6:30 p.m. Grove Hall
• Wednesday, July 29^th, 6:30 p.m. Wareham
• Tuesday, August 4^th, 6:30 p.m. Groton
• Thursday, August 6^th, 6:30 p.m. Chicopee
• Tuesday, August 11^th, 6:30 p.m. Pittsfield
• Thursday, August 13^th, 6:30 p.m. Sharon

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Democratic infighting escalates as Patrick digs in - The Boston Globe

Democratic infighting escalates as Patrick digs in - The Boston Globe

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Senator Baddour Hosts Round Table Discussion

Contact: Jeevan Ramapriya

(617) 722-1604

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Senator Baddour Hosts Round Table Discussion with Budget Experts

for Local Leaders and Interested Citizens

May 5, 2009, Boston, MA - State Senator Steven A. Baddour (D-Methuen) today announced that he is hosting an open forum on the "State of the Economy and the Massachusetts Budget". This event will be held on Tuesday, May 12th, at Northern Essex Community College's Technology Center in Room 103A from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in Haverhill. The discussion will be a lively, crossfire-type debate among some of the State's foremost budget authorities including:

State Treasurer Timothy Cahill	Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Prof. Alan Clayton-Matthews	University of Massachusetts at Boston
Michael Widmer, President	Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation

Understanding the Commonwealth is in a fiscal crisis due to global recession, Senator Baddour has committed not to increase the state budget through additional local earmarks. "We're in a fiscal crisis, and we must to act appropriately. Tough times call for tough decisions," Baddour said. "Since everyone will be affected in some way by the budget crisis, it is important that local leaders and concerned citizens learn as much as possible about the difficult decisions that we as a community are facing right now," said Senator Baddour. "I hope that this forum will provide the public an opportunity to learn more about our options and ask some tough questions."

The event is open to the public. Anyone with questions can call Senator Baddour's office at 617-722-1604.