by Bob Parks — published on October 30th, 2008
Caught stuffing cash in her bra, Massachusetts State Senator Dianne Wilkerson may try and save her own ass by taking down others.
Hit with howitzer-powered allegations of corruption and greed, state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson is at the center of a maze of malfeasance and an ever-widening public corruption investigation - and former feds agree she could be the rat who leads prosecutors to an even bigger cheese.
With Mayor Thomas M. Menino, Senate President Therese Murray, City Council President Maureen Feeney and others touched by the tentacles of an 18-month probe into Wilkerson’s alleged abuse of power, it’s “a very distinct possibility” U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan may try and flip her to name alleged co-conspirators with a plea deal as bait.
Obviously public officials accepting bribes is against the law, but offering them is against the law as well. It’s sad to think that Wilkerson could be just the tip of the iceberg, but seeing how lawmakers also rule their districts by fear and intimidation, paying to get them off your back could be illegal, but understandable.
by Bob Parks — published on October 27th, 2008
This is just one reason why people are skeptical of unions and their desire and ability and to squeeze more money from strapped taxpayers.
Residents in Framingham are talking about a new cost to the town courtesy of the local police union, which says officers need to be paid more because they use computers.
“The police department asked us to fund laptops for the cruisers and now that we provided them they’re suing us because we’re making them use them?” asked Rebecca Connolly, a Town Meeting member.
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by Bob Parks — published on October 24th, 2008
As many of you know, I debated Democrat incumbent Christopher Donelan last night for the Massachusetts 2nd Franklin District house seat. Now while being biased, I think I did okay as did others who approached me afterward and emailed later…
Bob ~ You landed powerful punches in tonight’s debate, and, overall, captured imaginations in the electorate, I think. And, afterward, you were the one to whom audience members flocked. Seems you just won yourself a number of the incumbent’s votes!
However, some of the local media didn’t see it that way.
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by Bob Parks — published on September 9th, 2008
As many of you know, a few weeks ago I attended the 1st annual Black Republican Forum meeting in Manhattan, which was also rebroadcast on C-SPAN. It was quite well received… almost.
The following email was sent and posted on the NBRA comment page.
Hey, where were you guy at the RNC?….
Cleaning toilets? Parking cars?
Or in the Kitchen
Oh if only I could be white……sigh.
The gentleman who sent the email is a Mr. Kenneth Jones (Kenneth.Jones@state.ma.us), who works in District 4 of the Massachusetts Highway Department in Arlington.
Nice use of taxpayer time and equipment.
by Bob Parks — published on August 29th, 2008
On Friday August 29th, I was a guest on the Reese Hopkins radio program on WRKO 680AM, Boston.
Here’s what went down.
Segment 1 - 8:50
Segment 2 - 18:46
Segment 3 - 11:42
Segment 4 - 7:30
by Bob Parks — published on July 28th, 2008
Next Monday, get your popcorn ready as I’m honored to be a guest on
NewsNight with Jim Braude
New England’s only locally produced nightly in-depth news analysis program. Jim Braude explores all angles of the news that affects New Englanders. Also covered are topics relating to culture, business, education and technology. No other local program provides this type of edgy, insightful and in-depth news coverage.
Tuesday, August 5th at 8pm EST. The program is also posted afterward online.
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by Bob Parks — published on July 24th, 2008
by Bob Parks — published on July 18th, 2008
It’s The Economy
And Bob Parks is running on an answer
by Chris Collins, 7/18/08
Bob Dylan once wrote that you don’t have to be a weatherman to know which way the wind is blowing. And for Republican Bob Parks, it was pretty obvious that things weren’t going to blow his way in the 2006 race to represent the Second Franklin District.
“The one thing I heard most from people was that they liked my economic development ideas, but because of what was going on, they were never going to vote for a Republican,” Parks said.
“People clearly wanted to send a message to George Bush regarding the war,” Parks said. “But my question, two years later, is, ‘did that message you sent put one more meal on your dinner table or help you make one mortgage payment?’ I don’t think so.”
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by Bob Parks — published on July 9th, 2008
According to the Greenfield Recorder,
“A $3 million grant from the state is expected to lead to 250 new jobs for people living in the North Quabbin and Franklin County areas.
The North Quabbin Mixed-Use Development Project has been awarded a $3 million Massachusetts Opportunity Relocation and Expansion Jobs grant to make multiple infrastructure improvements to develop 495,000 square feet on 300 acres between Route 2 and Route 2A.”
Our state representative Christopher Donelan has seemingly showed renewed interest in economic development. Funny how election years bring out the best in incumbents.
“Rep. Christopher Donelan, D-Orange, said he filed legislation two years ago so the town could create an economic development industrial corporation. He said that now allows the town to pursue grants and other funding from the state and federal governments.”
While I’ll not dispute the word of the state representative, I find it unfortunate that even with a super-majority Democrat legislature to work with on Beacon Hill, it took him two years to get a bill passed so a grant could go through.
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by Bob Parks — published on July 3rd, 2008
With yet another probable rape/murder of a young girl in Vermont, I hope the liberal members of the Supreme Court who voted to spare child rapists of the death penalty slept well last night.
I’m sorry, but should I win my state legislative race this fall, I plan on testing that decision again by introducing a “one strike, your dead” bill that would put rapist/murderers away for life the first time they victimize a child.
“Mandatory minimum ten-year prison” terms here are nice, but when a rapist can still get paroled, the public is again at risk. There should be no reason to EVER let these people get out again.
The time for compassion and mercy is over.
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