Romney Reform: NIMBY

No real surprises in store on Tuesday. This is an incumbents' year. Plus this year there is a Democrat (Kerry) pulling up the ticket instead of a Republican (Romney).

State Races
Terry Murray goes back to the Senate. She's the Ways and Means Chairman, the first time in the Cape's history. Let the pork flow freely. She needs Rob O'Leary to cover her left flank on Cape though. (You can't defeat a W&M Chair from the right.) So he gets the nod too.

But let's be honest, Gail Lese ran the most sophomoric campaign ever. It's like she got a no-limit credit card from her dad, but forgot to do her homework. No amount of money can buy an election that's about issues. Christ, Lou Gonzaga ran a better campaign with no money. He had better issues.

Demetrius Atsalis, won re-election on election day 2 years ago. He learned his lesson about not taking an opponent seriously, did the work this time, and wins going away. It doesn't hurt to be running against the same opponent again either.

Matt Patrick survives his own rerun against an opponent who has no issue other than the wind farm to run on, again.

Cleon Turner comes from the right part of his House district. He's got the numbers to get elected.

Shirley Gomes spent her legislative career preparing to run against a challenger from P-Town. She has the liberal credentials to fend off even a gay-rights activist in a gay marriage year.

Jeff Perry gets to go back to the State House, like every first term pol who has a weak opponent. Eric Turkington goes back too, like every verteran pol who has a weak opponent.

The Romney Reform train leaves Cape Cod station without any passengers.

Federal Races

George Bush takes Florida and Ohio and wins an electoral victory. Popular vote doesn't matter, again. The boogie-man (aka OBL) conveniently reappeared the day before Halloween, just in time to scare all the kiddies, and mommies. The soccer moms have morphed into security moms.

Bill Delahunt fends off a decent challenger, for a change. Mike Jones made a credible case for sending at least one Republican from the Massahusettts delegation to Washington. The problem is that we'll just have to wait for Christy Mihos to be that Republican.

If you support Cape Wind, vote for Bush and Delehunt without a guilty conscience.

This may seen counterintuitive, but really, when does a President get to stick it to his opponent and his Senate nemesis, both at the same time. The wind farm sits directly between John Kerry and Ted Kennedy's summer homes. Besides, Kerry would have to kowtow to Kennedy if elected.

Delahunt is powerless if Bush is President. And the Republicans in the House will keep sticking it to him. Jones would have both a voice with the White House and the House leadership.

The Usual Suspects

Caught Red Handed and Red Faced. Now we know who's been taking down the Lambros signs up and down the Cape. Why it is none other than George D. Bryant, the Assembly Delegate from Provincetown.

While we might expect some deviant behaviors from Provincetown natives, kleptomania is not one of the approved of vices of the Cape-tip town or the Democratic party.

Scene of the Crime. Shortly after 7PM, on Tuesday, after attending an O'Leary fundraiser, Lance Lambros, County Commissioner from Sandwich, running for re-election, stopped by the corner of Route 28 and Yarmouth Road in Hyannis, to retrieve a 6' campaign banner that had been bungee-corded to a chain link fence, earlier that evening. But the banner had disappeared!

Crime of Opportunity. Upon arriving at the scene, Lambros encountered a white four door sedan, with the motor running and a 76 year old white male inside. Thinking he would inquire if this elderly gentleman had seen anything, Lambros instead found the missing banner in the back seat of the car. Imagine the shock and amazement upon finding his colleague, Assembly Delegate Bryant, behind the wheel.

Conspiracy? Bryant's delight at having scored such a big prize that evening was alas, short-lived. It's obvious Bryant is not supporting Lambros' candidacy. He is supporting one of the other candidates in the race, the other Democrat, from Chatham. But did Bryant have help in the disappearance of the other Lambros signs? Maybe from other Assembly Delegates from the Lower Cape that support his opponent as well? An awful lot of signs have gone missing in Harwich and Dennis.

More Than Signs Missing. For God sakes man, are you out of your mind? You don't have enough to do representing the residents from P-Town? Maybe the Speaker of the Assembly should appoint you to a County Task Force. Better yet, give you detention after the Assembly meetings, or assign you some extra homework.

By the way George, I'm missing some signs from the same neighborhood. Any idea what happened to them?

Cape and Islands : FOR SALE

Gail Lese will spend $250,000 more than Rob O'Leary to get elected. The difference being the amount Lese and the Republican Party will pay out of pocket to reclaim this Senate seat. According to the Office of Campaign and Political Finance, as of October 15th,

Lese for State Senate has raised about $291K. Of that total Gail Lese has lent her campaign $150K. The campaign has also received $77K in-kind from the Mass Republican State Committee, and another $14K in-kind from the candidate herself.

Incredible as it may sound Gail Lese has already spent $369K and well spend up to $450K in this campaign. Much of the spending will not be detailed until after the election.

Committee to Elect Robert O'Leary has raised $152K in the same period, and started with $16K in the bank. The candidate has not lent to his campaign. The campaign has not received in-kind contributions from the Mass Democratic State Committee (this will change), or the candidate himself (this will not change).

Not quite as, but still impressive, Rob O'Leary has spent about $100K so far and may well spend up to $200K to get re-elected.

This will be the most expensive race in the Cape & Islands history. But what is ironic, is that absent the $150K that Lese gave her campaign, they have raised about the same amount of money from contributions!

The color of money. But most of Lese's contributions come from off-Cape, while most of O'Leary's are from the Cape & Islands. While Lese has quite a few well heeled and notable contributors, many of whom delivered by the Governor, O'Leary relies on Labor Unions for the bulk of his largesse.

Ritchie Rich

The Provincetown Banner must be selling a lot of advertising these days. According to the Federal Election Commission reports filed by the presidential candidates and the major parties, the single largest contributor who lists their address from Cape Cod is none other Alix Ritchie, Publisher of the Provincetown Banner, by far.

So far in the 2003 - 04 election cycle, she has given to:

Democratic National Committee $10,000
John Kerry $2000
Howard Dean $2000
Democracy for America, $1000 (Howard Dean's PAC)
Kerry-Edwards (Compliance Fund) $2000
Kerry Victory 2004 (DNC/PAC) $25,000
Hillary Clinton, $2000
EMILY's List, $7000
America Coming Together, $1000
Hill PAC $500
Moveon PAC $500

TOTAL $53,000 (as of 8/31/04)

Postscript: Add $5,000 to the MA State Democratic Committee

Blogger's Note: Timing of these things is sometimes pretty tricky. Like a lot of other good Democrats, it seems that Ms. Ritchie first gave to Kerry, then when it appeared that Dean was going to win, pre-Iowa scream, she switched horses. Then she went back to Kerry after the nomination was assured.

But no longer getting credit for being there from the beginning, had to make up for it by contributing to the DNC, big time.

Also looks like she's covering the bet with contributions to Hillary Clinton. The election cycle for 2008 apparently has already started.

In Lone Assembly Race

Mitrokostas Challenges Striebel
http://www2.townonline.com/barnstable/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=110094

The Register, Newspaper of record for Yarmouth.
A map of busy life, its fluctuations and vast concerns.

Lese is More

Let's make this debate quick, the Red Sox are playing. I got a chance to catch the State Senate race up close and personal last night at the Cape Cod Women's Organization dinner meeting. The CCWO is a fantastic networking and mentoring organization for women on Cape Cod.

The candidates staked out their territory early; Rob O'Leary's (D-Barnstable), primer is Education, Gail Lese's (R-Yarmouth), perscription is Healthcare, and Lou Gonzaga's (U-Hyannis), trade in stock is the Economy. O'Leary wants more money for our schools; Lese wants medical insurance for the uninsured; Gonzaga wants better paying jobs for local citizens.

But the best shots took place over needle exchange legislaton that O'Leary sponsored. As a doctor, Lese opposes the plan endorsed by the Mass Medical Association to give needles to heroin addicts. Far from promoting drug abuse, it prevents the spread of AIDS and infectious desease, according to O'Leary.

Lese objected, siting the danger of improper disposal of used needles "washing up on our beaches". For those of us who have grown up on these beaches, the faux pas was instructive. Lese is reading from a script.

Some years ago, needles did wash up on some (non-Cape) shores from the improper disposal of medical waste by hospitals; disposed of in sewer systems with outfall pipes, or trash barges that dumped in the ocean illegally. The problem was addressed. Laws were passed.

Although, I can imagine a few addicts shooting up on the beaches of P-town, the greatest risk for shore walkers is the aftermath of sex on the beach, not drugs on the beach. You would know that if you walked the beaches of the Cape.

But it was Gonzaga's turn to remind the audience that Lese is not from here, holding up a t-shirt with the words "Cape Cod is not for Sale", refering to her spending over $250K to unseat O'Leary.

Lese uses the word "exponentiates" alot. She is "profoundly grateful", has the "highest honor", and the "priviledge", to pursue this "noble" profession. In all she had a pretty good night in front of friendly audience.

Memorable lines from the debate:

Lese to O'Leary: "You have to live by the votes you take."

O'Leary to Lese: "You can't spend the same money twice."

Gonzaga to voters: "A vote for Lou is a vote for you."

(U) may stand for Underdog, but then again the Red Sox are in the World Series.

The Real World

John Kerry: "Boy, to listen to that, the president, I don't think, is living in a world of reality with respect to the environment. Now, if you're a Red Sox fan, that's OK. But if you're a president, it's not."

And this is not the first time he's insulted Red Sox Nation. But you wanna bet he'll be in the front row at Fenway next week. Beleive!

W is for Ketchup

W Ketchup™ is made in America, from ingredients grown in the USA. The leading competitor not only has 57 varieties, but has 57 foreign factories as well. W Ketchup comes in one flavor: American. www.wketchup.com

A portion of every W Ketchup sale is donated to the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund which provides scholarships for the children of active duty service members killed in the line of duty.

Choose Heinz and you're supporting Teresa Heinz and her liberal causes, such as Kerry for President. Choose W Ketchup and you support our brave heroes who have fallen in battle.

Who's Your Daddy?

Are we on the verge of greatest comback in, a. political, b. baseball history ? As our local heros stuggle with the likes of dynasties, the Bushes and the Yankees, I was struck by the similarity in their respective seasons. Both Kerry and the Red Sox surged early only to fade in the end.

But one coincidence really stands out. Bush had his convention in New York and Kerry had his in Boston. And as conventions go, it was no contest. The Democrats, they are no Red Sox.

Did I hear Kerry say, while in Arizona last week, that if he had to choose between the Presidency and the World Series this year, he would choose the former ? In that statement lies everything you need to know about John Kerry. Who's your daddy, John?

Log Cabin Democrats

Sounds like the Kerry-Edwards campaign is getting a little desperate in the final days. You can always tell, when as a last ditch effort they go after the other guy's base.

In the last two debates, first Edwards and then Kerry "outed" Lynn Cheney as first being gay, by Edwards, and when it didn't get enough play, or indignation, then as a "lesbian", by Kerry.

Far from being a "compliment" as Kerry offered afterwards, it was designed to get Bush's evangelical base to stay home, not vote on election day. Or if that doesn't ultimately work, give him a little momentum in the polls leading up Nov. 2.

Kerry campaign manager, Marybeth Cahill, covered for Kerry's mistake, by saying that Lynn Cheney, was "fair game". But then Mrs. Edwards weighed in, by saying that Mrs. Cheney must be ashamed of her daughter for not recognizing her more often in public, making sure that the evangelicals understood what they were supposed to be thinking.

Mrs. Edwards' piling on had the effect of tipping the media over on the issue, exposing the intent from the beginning was to embarass the Vice President, and here we are 5 days later talking about Kerry's utterance of the "L" word as if it were Howard Dean's scream.

By the way, not one to cast aspersions, but have you noticed that the Edwards' never stand together in public. Looks a little familiar doesn't it, like Charles and Diana. Can Camilla be far behind?

Who's Fighting For Who?

"If you liked Sen. Rauschenbach, You'll love Gail Lese." says a recent mailing to registered voters in the Cape & Islands Senate District, by the Mass GOP on behalf of Gail Lese, the Republican challenger to Senator Rob O'Leary. The piece accuses O'Leary of choosing special interests over the voters.

The problem is, Henri Rauschenbach is a registered lobbyist and represents those special interests on Beacon Hill that O'Leary is accused of listening to. Or maybe O'Leary isn't, which is why Rauschenbach is lending his name to Lese.

Very clever piece though. It doesn't actually say that Rauschenbach is backing Lese. With Lou Gonzaga also in the race, he may be keeping his options open.

The Times Nostrum

None of the Above is not on the ballot this November. There is however a choice on the ballot for the Assembly Delegate from Yarmouth. It's not a traditional partisan race with a choice between a Democrat and a Republican, but it does allow the voters to choose between an incumbent and a challenger.

In a not so visable position, the Assembly Delegate (AD) serves in the legislative branch of county government, the appropriating body of Barnstable County. Each one of Barnstable County's 15 towns sends a representative, but each delegate gets a vote proportional to their town's population.

Barnstable County resident voters are probably more familiar with the County Commissioners who are elected to 4 year terms and represent everyone. Each AD comes up for election every 2 years, and this year there is only one AD race, in the town of Yarmouth.

Running for the post is the incumbent, Charlotte Striebel, former Selectwoman from Yarmouth The challenger is yours truly, Spyro Mitrokostas, former Executive Director of the Cape Cod Technology Council. Both candidates bring various qualities and experience to the task at hand, but that is not the subject of this article.

What is, is the recent editorial in the Cape Cod Times, not recommending either candidate to the electorate. So disparaging was their criticism, that they went so far as to recommend leaving the ballot blank to send a message.

Everyone I have spoken to (who has read the editorial) is stunned. The suggestion left many agog at the obstinacy, to say the least. It's hard to know where to begin to respond; defend the candidates, the institution, or the electorate, from the newspaper's own subversion.

The editorial's description of the candidates' positions was substantially correct. The editors, however, seem to be confusing a difference of opinion with holding no opinion of value.

There is no litmus test for this office. You don't have to beleive in regionalism to serve in the Assembly, just as one does not have to espouse Federalism to serve in Congress. You can be an advocate for state's rights. Same holds true for the County Assembly. You can be a town first candidate.

The ADs are elected by the towns' resident voters to advocate their towns' interest. The County Commissioners, on the other hand, have to be advocates for the region's needs. And the budget process is where the tension between the two branches plays out.

The Times should take their own advice and read the report of the Blue Ribbon Committee on Wastewater. I beleive my position, of locally based solutions aided by County resources, is much closer to the Commitee's position than the Times'.

We may disagree on the usefulness of the Cape Cod Commission, but the Times is so blinded by their fealty to the Commission, it fails to see that almost every elected official (and candidate), has dismissed the idea of a county wide wastewater treatment agency with revenue raising authority. Sorry, read the report.

But I digress. The real point is that the Times missed the point about the race for AD intentionally. Where there actually is a competitive race for an Assembly, they advocate the voter not vote. Where is the editorial outrage that there aren't any races in Barnstable, Dennis, Falmouth, Bourne, Sandwich, Mashpee, Harwich, Brewster, Orleans, Eastham, Chatham, Truro, Wellfleet, P-Town? Those resident voters have no choice. But it's OK to tell Yarmouth voters not to vote?

By the way, for the record, I grew up in Yarmouth and graduated from DY. I went to college, graduate school, worked in Boston for a number of years, and came back to the Cape 14 years ago. I've lived and served in public office in Mashpee and Brewster before I moved back to my hometown of Yarmouth, to raise my kids, start a local business, and care for parents who still live in the old neighborhood.

I think I know what Yarmouth voters want from their County government. Far from not knowing what Yarmouth' needs are, Yarmouth doesn't need to find better candidates, it needs to know that it has a choice in candidates, as it does in newspapers.

Maybe we should make the election ballot a referendum this year. Why stop at the Assembly Delegate's race? If you don't like the choice of candidates in any given race, send a message, blank it. Let's make a blank vote on November 2nd, a vote for the Cape Cod Times.

Editorial Available at www.capecodonline.com/cctimes/edits

nos·trum (nstrm)n.
A medicine whose effectiveness is unproved and whose ingredients are usually secret; a quack remedy.
Source: The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary

Spyro Mitrokostas for Yarmouth

Mitrokostas Announces Run for Assembly of Delegates

Yarmouth resident and native, Spyro Mitrokostas, announced his candidacy for Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates today. The Assembly of Delegates is the legislative body of Cape’s regional government. It is responsible for deliberating, and approving the appropriations of Barnstable County.

“Having grown up on Cape Cod, working in my family’s restaurants, I really see the problems with a seasonal economy based in low wage industries.” According to Mitrokostas, “What we need is to move our local economy to year round wages and salaries, so we can afford to compete for housing and keep our young people from leaving to find better jobs or cheaper housing.”

As the Executive Director of the Cape Cod Technology Council, which works to foster the growth of the technology industry on Cape Cod, Mitrokostas has been advocating moving our local economy into year round employment at better paying jobs.

“The County is uniquely situated as a public entity to promote regional economic development initiatives, as well as develop regional solutions to the Cape’s health and environmental challenges, and also provide for various human services Cape-wide”, said Mitrokostas.

Recognizing the financial resources that the County has to address regional problems, Mitrokostas offers, “Given the recent surpluses that the County has been seeing, it is also incumbent on the County to help Yarmouth by returning that surplus to the towns so they can meet the demand for local services as well.”

Mitrokostas serves many community organizations including the Workforce Investment Board, The Governor’s Regional Competitiveness Council, and the Cape Cod Community College Foundation. He has also served in various town appointed positions, including the Yarmouth Economic Revitalization Committee.

Shortly after graduating from college, the D-Y graduate joined the Dukakis Adminstration serving in several economic development positions. He also worked on Mike Dukakis’s gubernatorial and presidential campaigns.

Although Mitrokostas is a registered Republican, he has helped candidates and worked to elect office holders from both parties. “I always look to see which candidates could best serve their town, the Cape, or the state.”

Non-profit organizations on Cape Cod make up a large part of the civic and cultural life on Cape Cod. “It’s important to serve your community at every level, said Mitrokostas. Aside from his commitment to the Community College, he also serves on the Cape Cod Cultural Center Advisory Board, and is a Director of Clean Power Now.

Mitrokostas lives in West Yarmouth, with his wife Krista and their 3 children.

O'Leary in League with Gun Owners

Who Would Have Thought
State Senator Robert O'Leary (D) Barnstable would have scored an A grade from the Gun Owner's Action League. According to their Candidates' Rating for 2004, O'Leary "has consistently voted to support gun owners rights in the State Legislature".

This will certianly come in handy in his contest for relection against his Republican challenger, Gail Lese, of Yarmouth, no matter how embarassing it is to the history professor.

No doubt envious at how an ultra-liberal scores with the Gun Lobby, Senator Therese Murray (D) Plymouth, scored a D grade from GOAL for "... rarely voted to support gun owners rights...".

"I don't know how he does it," said Lou Gonzaga (U), Hyannis, who is also in the race for O'Leary's seat. "It must have something to do with his shooting himself in the foot all the time."

The Good Doctor

Time for another Pop-Quiz: Complete the following sentences.

A pediatrician can be pro-choice by also being ...
A. a liberal
B. a Democrat
C. Dr. Gail Lese
D. all of the Above

An MD can manage a mutual fund of alcohol and tobacco stocks by also being ...
A. a conservative
B. a Republican
C. Dr. Gail Lese
D. all of the above

Correct answers can be found at www.leseforsenate.com, the offical website of LA Doctor- Boston Fund Manger Gail Bronwyn Lese, the liberal-conservative, Democrat-Republican running for State Senate from Nahant-Yarmouth.

The Rich and Powerful

They Are Among Us
How did Senator John Warner (R) of Virginia come to throw the bigggest hurdle in front of the Cape Wind farm in Nantucket Sound? Family connections, and a coincidence of Senatorial Committee assignments that makes the Perfect Storm look like an afternoon thunder shower.

Mellon, remember that name, because you're going to hear alot about it in the next few months. Senator John Warner, married money, both times. It was very instrumental in advancing his political career. (Sound familiar?)

His first wife was Catherine Mellon, daughter of Paul Mellon, of the famed Pittsburg Mellons. But by the time Paul got the money, they had moved to the Virginia side of Washington, DC. John Warner and Catherine Mellon, and had 3 children, Virginia, John and Mary. Turns out Mary and Virgina have homes in Osterville, Oyster Harbors, and are preoccupied with philanthropic and environmental causes (you'll see the irony) here.

Senator John Warner has a vested interest in not seeing, in this case, the wind farm built within sight of the family homes in Osterville. Virginia and Mary would be very put out if it were to be built, not least because they had the means to kill the project, and the gaggle at the Wianno Club would be mortified if they didn't use their clout.

But wait, there is an even more important family connection at play here. Turns out the family patriarch's (Paul) 2nd wife is non other than the famed, and much beloved Bunny Mellon (formerly Rachel Lloyd Lambert) which would make her Catherine's step-mother and Virginia's and Mary's step-grandmother. Mrs. Mellon owns ALOT of real estate in Osterville.

Still with me? There is more.

There are a few Conover's living in the neighborhood too. Paul Mellon's first wife and Catherine's mother was Mary Conover. Senator John Warner's first wife, Catherine Mellon, now Catherine Conover (very generous to local environmental causes) is also living in Osterville. And as anyone who has ever been divorced will understand, " Now what's a Senator to do?"

Enter Opportunity
US Senator John Warner, is Chairman of the Armed Service Committee, and also chairman of the subcomittee that oversees the Army Corps of Engineers (the permitting agency of the Cape Wind project).

While the Cape Wind Environmental Review is being held hostage at the Pentagon, Senator Warner proposed an amendment to a military appropriations bill pending in the Senate, to kill the Cape Wind project. I'll leave it up the the professional scribes to expose the inner workings of the Senate and the Pentagon from here on, but let's not forget, Senator John Warner once served as Secretary of the Navy.

There's nothing like having a third Senator from the Cape to get the job done, (stopping CapeWind) when the other two can't or won't get their hands dirty. Especially when there's a really good family tree to do so. Turns out it was Mellon's, not Kennedy's or Heinz's.

Show Me the Money

and I'll show you an Editorial. In case you missed it, the Cape Cod Times endorsed Demetrius Atsalis (D) Hyannis, today.

The Cape Cod Times, not known for their won-loss record in endorsing candidates, (they're batting about .500), came around to seeing the advantage of a local representative working together with leadership in the Statehouse to benefit the district (read, get our fair share of pork).

Blinded by their dislike for Tom Finneran, the Times took Atsalis to task 2 years ago for siding with the Speaker of the House in the Clean Elections debate. Never mind voters in his district had misgivings about the referendum, his allegience to the Speaker doomed Atsalis in the minds of the Times.

Now that the Speaker has departed from the pulpit, er, podium, the Times can focus on the real work being done in the legislature by Atsalis; $3.9 million for rehabing Main Street, Hyannis, $3.7 million for Hyannis Youth Center, among other funding. That's what they're supposed to be doing in the legislature.

Ironically, the Times contributed to Atsalis' effectiveness in these last two legislative sessions. Standing with the Speaker, while withstanding the Times onslaught 2 years ago, empowered Atsalis with the Leadership. He became Vice-chairman of the Commerce and Labor Committee and got the appropriations for his district.

This time around, Atsalis is fending off the Governor. Who knows, with Mitt Romney targeting him for defeat, maybe Chairman Atsalis can rewrite the education funding formula if he wins.

Recent Cape Cod Times Editorials at http://www.capecodonline.com/cctimes/edits

Loyal Flush

On being true to one's colors.
If you are a candidate running for partisan political office, shouldn't you have at least voted for that party's standard bearer in the previous election?

I mean wouldn't it be at least intellectually honest to have voted for Mitt Romney for Governor in 2002 if you're going to run for office as a Republican in 2004? I mean if you were a Democrat in 2002, you would have voted for Shannon O'Brien, right?

It stands to reason, if you were a Republican, you would have voted for Romney. Then, what are the chances you would have voted for Romney if you were a Democrat in 2002? Are you following this?

Guess who was a Democrat in 2002, voted for the Democrat running for Governor in 2002, switched teams to run for office as a Republican in 2004 at the behest of the Republican who was elected in 2002? First one to guess right gets a prize.

66-6

Did you get a Permission Slip for that War ?

My take on the Presidential Debate last night; it was a football game. Kerry played mostly offense, while Bush was mostly on defense. You need the ball to score. Kerry threw incomplete passes and a couple of interceptions but Bush didn't score with them. The President drove to the goal line several times, but only kicked feild goals.

Democrats thought that Kerry won because he didn't get slaughtered. Plus he looked good in his uniform. Republicans thought Bush won because he did what he had to do. But it wasn't pretty. Everyone else should think that they played to a tie, the way the NFL used to 20 years ago. So we have to wait until the next time they meet to settle the score.

The couple of interceptions Kerry threw were his pronouncements that the US (1) pass a global test to go to war, and (2) has had the historic right to preemptive strike especially during the Cold War. Say what? The President should have run these statements back for touchdowns, but like alot of verteran defensive backs who see the end zone before they catch the ball; they never quite get there.

Bill Cosby used to do a comedy routine about the Hosftra University football team. They would routinely lose 66-0. One game they lost 66-6. The Hofstra fans went crazy. They thought they had won.

Is There a Doctor in the State House ?

POP QUIZ: If all three candidates for State Senate from the Cape & Islands district were in State House last week for a meeting with the Governor, and he suddenly took ill, God forbid, which one could legally minister to his ailment? ANSWER: None of them have a license to practice medicine in Massachusetts.