RANDOM WINGNUT POST-ELECTION WHINING

From Wonkette

Do you people have any idea how hard it is to sift through all the insane rightwing mutterings about the reelection of Barack Obama so that we can bring you the very best? Neither do we! It all starts looking the same after about five minutes! And so, this collection of freakouts will, of necessity, be something of a sampler plate from the great smorgasbord that is the Great 2012 Wingnut Butthurtosphere.

Southbridge: Last Democratic Bastion In Southern Worcester County

Ken O’Brien

From President to State Representative, Southbridge stood virtually alone in its support of Democratic candidates in election 2012 in southern Worcester County.

While President Obama did carry a few towns within this geographic Gulag, Southbridge stood alone, a blue oasis in a desert of red, in its support for Senator-elect Elizabeth Warren and Democratic candidate for State Representative Kathleen Walker. 

Durant Received Significant Money From Outside Special Interests

Ken O’Brien

State representative Peter Durant is among a number of freshman House Republicans who have been the beneficiaries of an informal network of political donors that have helped keep the conservative lawmakers competitive as they try to retain the seats they won just two years ago, according to a report by Matt Murphy of the State House News Service

The freshman lawmaker is facing a challenge from Democrat Kathleen Walker of Charlton. 

Could Hurricane Sandy Delay the Election?

From Slate Magazine

 landfall of Hurricane Sandy in Atlantic City

             Photo by STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images.

As Hurricane Sandy begins battering the East Coast, many people in the storm’s path are preparing for days of power outages. Meanwhile, pundits are asking how the storm could affect the outcome of the presidential election. If there are still widespread power outages on the East Coast come Nov. 6, could the election be postponed?

Durant’s Crocodile Tears

Ken O’Brien

The third in the series of debates between candidates for state representative in the Sixth Worcester District took place last night in Southbridge. The first was held in Charlton and the second in Dudley.

The opponents, incumbent Peter Durant and challenger Kathleen Walker squared off in the McKinnon Council Chambers in Southbridge Town Hall. The debate was sponsored jointly by the Southbridge Democratic and Republican Town Committees. 

Durant’s “Nixon Moment” In Sixth Worcester District Rep’s Race? (Video)

Kenneth O’Brien

State Rep Peter Durant

Students of history, as well as those of us of “a certain age”, will remember the famous case of the missing 18 minutes from tapes of conversations in the Nixon White House related to the Watergate matter.

It now appears that a similar issue may be brewing as regards the videotape of last week’s debate between candidates for state representative in the sixth Worcester district.

A number of those present at the debate commented upon the apparent disorganization of incumbent state representative Peter Durant when it came time for the participants to make their closing statements.

Meet Kathleen Walker – Candidate For State Representative 6th Worcester District (Videos)

Ken O’Brien

Kathleen Walker (D – Charlton) is running for State Representative in the Sixth Worcester District against 1 ½ term incumbent Peter Durant.

Kathleen Walker is currently serving her 10th year on the Board of Selectmen in Charlton, Massachusetts.

She has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the MASS Municipal Association, Local Government Advisory Commission and an Officer of the MASS Selectman’s Association.

She is running as the Democratic candidate for State Representative of the 6th Worcester District, which includes the towns of Southbridge and Dudley, precincts 1, 2, and 3 in Charlton, and precinct 4 in Spencer.

The following two videos will introduce you to her and explain to you her positions on a variety of issues.

Brown Leads Warren By 5 Points In Latest Poll

Ken O’Brien

Democratic Senatorial candidate Elizabeth Warren is losing ground in her race against Republican incumbent Scott Brown.

This is the verdict of the latest poll from Public Policy Polling released yesterday. PPP is generally regarded as leaning Democratic in its results.

The release from PPP about the results of their poll follows: 

Walker Invites You To Kickoff for State Rep. Campaign

Ken O’Brien

Kathleen Walker

Kathleen Walker is holding an event to mark the launch of her campaign for State Representative for the 6^th Worcester District. Walker, a Democrat, has spent over ten years as a Charlton selectman as well as serving on numerous town committees.  

The event will be held tomorrow, June 14, at Fins and Tales Restaurant, 858 Main Street in Southbridge from 5 pm until 8 pm. Hors d’oeuvres will be served.

To confirm plans to attend contact Heather Clements at eclements1@charter.net.

Her campaign website is http://www.electkathleenwalker.com/.

Sunday Photo-‘Toons 1.8

Ken O’Brien

Frequent O’Zone contributor I.M.Townie was apparently on an inspired high recently. The result is a six frame series that takes on his/her favorite subjects.

As a result this week’s offering takes on a heavy school committee focus. 

What Happened To Republican Gas Attacks?

Ken O’Brien

Remember a couple of months ago when Republicans were blaming President Obama for high gas prices?

Remember when Newt Gingrich tried to revive his Presidential campaign with unfounded promises of $2.50 gasoline?

When was the last time gas prices were dropping before, during and after the Memorial Day weekend?

More Right Wing Filth

Ken O’Brien

Elizabeth Warren

I take pride in my Irish heritage. Many of my friends and acquaintances similarly take pride in their ethnic backgrounds, be it French-Canadian, Italian, Albanian, Hispanic etc.

Apparently, however, the right wing specialists in the politics of personal destruction find this offensive in some cases. Those cases apply when one’s heritage falls in a category officially recognized as a “minority”.

Barack Obama is castigated by many of these delusional haters as an obvious beneficiary of affirmative action whose current status is little more than the result of “reverse discrimination”. 

Now these fabulists have skulked out from under their mossy rocks to use the same tactics against Massachusetts Senatorial candidate Elizabeth Warren.

Business Executives Don’t Make Good Presidents

Ken O’Brien

Alex: Let’s play Jeopardy!

Willard: Presidents for $400 Alex.

Alex: He was the only President with an MBA.

Willard: Who was George W. Bush?

Alex; Correct!

Willard: Presidents for $500, Alex.

Alex: He was the President who campaigned on his business success with the slogan, “A chicken in every pot, a car in every garage”. 

Colbert "Super Pac" Ad Promotes Romney with Hispanics

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You Can’t Fight Southbridge Town Hall: They Have Your Tax Dollars For Ammunition

Ken O’Brien

William Gladstone famously observed that, “Justice delayed, is justice denied.”

Back in February The O’Zone carried an article titled, “If You Can’t Beat’em, Bleed’em”.

At that time I was addressing the tactics being employed by attorneys for the town of Southbridge to delay a decision in a case mounted by citizens of this community to challenge the obviously absurd position that a town bylaw can take precedence over the town’s Home Rule Charter.

Put Up Or Shut Up!

Ken O’Brien

Okay, the results are in.

O’Zone readers had the chance to nominate those people that they would like to see run for Southbridge town council.

Then you had 56 hours to cast your vote for those you would most like to see run.

The results were decisively in favor of three candidates, Dennis Martinek, Gary Fontaine and Shaun Moriarty.

But democracy is not a spectator sport.  As the great Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw said, “Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve.”

Now that you’ve expressed your desire to see these people run for town council it is up to you to help make it happen.

Why Southbridge Needs Change!

Ken O’Brien

The absolute first priority of any community is the welfare of its citizens.

The ruling majority on the Southbridge town council is answerable to a higher authority – and you can rest assured that it is not the same authority featured in the famous advertisement for Kosher hot dogs.

That higher authority is the economic interest of those who would plunder our town by making it the largest garbage dump in the state, an inflated town bureaucracy that serves to re-elect councilors that take care of their interests, and a council majority attempting to insulate their coopted town manager from removal by changing the charter instituted mandate that a majority of those elected by the people have a voice.

Poll Results Are In

Martinek, Fontaine and Moriarty Favored

Ken O’Brien

131 of you participated in our preference poll for candidates for Southbridge Town Council. That’s about 10% of the turnout in the last town election. While not a representative sample of the overall Southbridge electorate, it nevertheless is indicative of a strong base of support for the candidates who finished among the top three by a wide margin over the remaining nine prospects suggested by O’Zone readers.

Dennis Martinek gained the most votes with 66, followed closely by Gary Fontaine with 62 and Shaun Moriarty with 59.

Nominations Are Closed – It’s Time To Vote

Ken O’Brien

activerain.com

I am both pleased and surprised by the number of you who took the time to suggest names of those you would like to run for Southbridge town council.

I know, however, that the number of you who submitted suggestions is only a small fraction of those who read the article and the comments.

From those comments I have compiled a list of 12 names that were suggested. They are (in alphabetical order by last name):

The American Worker Has Become Obsolete

Ken O'Brien

Jobs!

When you get right down to it, this is the most important issue on the minds of people as we approach another Presidential election.

The reality is that there is very little any presidential candidate can do about it.