Tax Cuts For Wealthy?

Greg Mankiw, a professor of economics at Harvard has a post on his blog regarding Bush's tax cuts.

The tax cuts were (and are) helping the middle class.

hat tip GOPblog

Somerville GOP

This morning, 10 people showed up in the snow to meet at a coffee shop in Davis Square to organize the Somerville GOP. We developed a plan and a date for the next meeting. The activists are energized to move forward with a clear plan of action.

The new State Committeeman, Travis Brown, organized this meeting and is looking to work closely with the Somerville GOP and the other committees in the Senate district.

Great job for setting this meeting up Travis. For anyone interested in the Somerville GOP, you can contact Travis at travis.brown5 [at] gmail.com

GOP Convention Needs Your Help

Buckley Cont...

I came across this article by George Nash, author of The Conservative Intellectual Movement in America, (a fantastic book) about William F. Buckley.

Nash had this to say in National Review:

"Consider the statistics. During his nearly 60 years in the public eye, William F. Buckley Jr. published 55 books (both fiction and nonfiction); dozens of book reviews; at least 56 introductions, prefaces, and forewords to other peoples’ books; more than 225 obituary essays; more than 800 editorials, articles, and remarks in National Review; several hundred articles in periodicals other than National Review; and approximately 5,600 newspaper columns. He gave hundreds of lectures around the world, hosted 1,429 separate Firing Line shows, and may well have composed more letters than any American who has ever lived."

Simply amazing. Read more of the Nash article here.

George Bush with Red Sox

The Red Sox were hanging out with George W. Bush this week at the White House celebrating the world series. You can check out more of the pics on our flickr page.

Together We Con

Howie Carr has a recent column:

First look at the poll numbers. According to a new survey this week, Deval’s unfavorability rating is up to 45 percent, compared with 47 percent favorable. Apparently people, especially women, have realized that Together We Can is really Together We Con.

Hillary’s hens are not happy with Deval, of course. But other factors may also be in play. A lot of women pay the family bills. From Deval they were expecting, oh I don’t know, property tax relief maybe. Thirteen months into Deval’s term, unless you’re a hardcore moonbat, it’s the morning after. Which was why he couldn’t deliver Massachusetts to his dear pal, Barack Obama.

Breakfast With Beatty Postponed

Due to the snowstorm tomorrow, the Breakfast with Beatty has been postponed to March 15th.

Greenfield Training

We are out here in Greenfield right now doing a training at the Youth Center and we have a great group of GOP activists here. The Franklin County GOP has a great blog that is starting to turn some heads in western mass. State Committeeman Isaac Mass coordinated this even is recruiting candidates to challenge the Democrat establishment.

I just interviewed Isaac Mass and you can hear the interview on our drop.io page.

Beacon Hill GOP Supports Cities and Towns

Eagle-Tribune
Our view: 'Rainy day' money should go to cities and towns

Massachusetts Democrats, who have overwhelming majorities in both the House and
Senate, are forever talking about how cities and towns need more local aid from
the state.

So now that they have a chance to provide it, why don't they? A proposal by the tiny Republican minority to use $450 million from the state's Rainy Day Fund for local aid is going nowhere, even though that fund is now at a robust $2.3 billion.

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones Jr. says that money was supposed to go to cities and towns in the first place - it was state Lottery money that was earmarked for local aid, but then diverted to the Rainy Day Fund during the last recession.

Coupe Deval

The Weekly Standard Magazine has an article on Deval Patrick:

"Patrick also showed the world that he didn't crave creature comforts only on the road. The Boston Globe reported on his ambitious redesign of the governor's office back in February:

'Governor Deval Patrick spent more than $10,000 on damask drapes for his State House office as part of a $27,387 makeover that also included a new desk, settee, and other furnishings paid for with taxpayer money.'

Don't be fooled by the Globe's vague and contradictory wording. Originally, Patrick didn't spend a cent on damask drapes or the other little touches. The taxpayers footed the bill. Only when the story became public did Patrick once again cut the Commonwealth a check.

As if to underscore the fact that rhetoric matters a lot more on the campaign trail than in the corner office, Patrick capped a year of embarrassments with a 9/11 reminiscence in which he labeled the attacks of that day "mean and nasty" but also "a failure of human beings to understand each other, to learn to love each other."

Read it here.

you want change?

As you can probably notice by now, MassRoots has a new look. Hope you like it. Also, we are now offering McCain stickers (free) for all of you that want to show your support in Massachusetts.

RNC Chairman Coming To Boston

RIP WFB

Sad news today about William F. Buckley passing away.

Here a few quotes from today:

Heritage Foundation:

"Without Bill Buckley there would be no National Review. And without National Review, there would be no conservative movement, no Heritage Foundation, no President Reagan - or an America that's recognizable today."

House Republican Leader John Boehmer:

"America has lost a giant. William F. Buckley was, in large measure, the architect of the modern conservative movement. His intellect, wit, and dedication have inspired generations. In the 1950s, as many in America were moving toward a socialist future of ever-expanding government and ever-decreasing freedom, it took an act of courage and vision to stand athwart history and yell, ‘stop’ as Buckley wrote in the first issue of National Review. As long as America honors the ideals of our Founding Fathers – free speech, freedom of religion, and limited, Constitutional government - his legacy will be cherished."

Ramesh Ponnuru - National Review:

"I believe that he really was indispensable in creating modern conservatism — something that answered that name may have existed without him, and perhaps been just as strong as a political movement, but it would not have taken the form it did. (In particular, it might not have been oriented toward the free market and limited government.) Bill's kindness and generosity of spirit really were remarkable. He was as interested in listening to the college senior to his left as to the former secretary of state to his right. I knew him in his old age, when his answer to the question, "How are you doing?" was likely to be, "Decomposing." Even when his body was weary, though, his eyes retained a preternatural youthfulness. A treatise could probably be written about the role those eyes played in the making of modern America, but I don't have the heart to do it. R.I.P."

Jonah Goldberg - National Review:

"I'm stunned. He will be greatly missed. But we should also remember this was not a life cut tragically short (no matter how much we wish he were still with us). His accomplishments were almost incalculable. As George Will once said, "before there was Ronald Reagan there was Barry Goldwater, before there was Goldwater there was National Review, and before there was National Review there was William F. Buckley." As conservatives — and as Americans — we are all standing on his shoulders. Moreover, William F. Buckley's life was marked by enormous joy. He had a lust for life as well as for letters and debate. He raised a wonderful and accomplished son, loved and was loved by a formidable and beautiful wife, had more friends than he could count — or, in a sense, even know — and will be remembered for generations to come. Sadness is to be expected at times like this, and I certainly feel it. But let's leave room for, if not a celebration, then at least grateful appreciation, of a singularly remarkable life."

Buckley's last book "Cancel Your Own Goddam Subscription" can be found here.

UPDATE:

John McCain

"I am very profoundly saddened to hear of the passing of William F. Buckley Jr. and offer my deepest condolences to the Buckley family. Bill had many friends, including my parents, who he even took time to visit when they were stationed at the U.S. Pacific Command in Hawaii. My father and mother very much admired him and so did their son. With Bill’s passing, freedom has lost one of its greatest defenders. Bill was a great American who helped change the course of history. When conservatism was a lonely cause, he bravely raised the standard of liberty and led the charge to renew the principles and values that are the foundation of our great country. A man of tremendous vision and big ideas, he founded the National Review in 1955 and through its pages and his other endeavors, as a lecturer, commentator, debater and author of dozens of books, inspired many and advanced an intellectual rigor that transformed American politics. Bill was an American giant who shall be missed."

Winchester GOP

This morning we had a great breakfast with the Winchester Republican Town Committee and presented them with the demographics of Winchester and a plan to build the committee.

Tired Of Beacon Hill Democrats?

The Boston Globe reports the MassGOP request for a special ethics investigation on Speaker Sal DiMasi.

"As House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi yesterday defended and even lauded his own actions, a state Republican Party official asked the Massachusetts Ethics Commission to investigate him for playing golf with a Suffolk Downs executive at the same time the track's owners are vying for a license to operate a casino in East Boston.

Joseph O'Donnell acknowledged playing golf with DiMasi on two recent occasions at a pair of exclusive South Florida clubs. He initially said DiMasi did not pay when he accompanied him to the Floridian Yacht & Golf Club in Palm City, but later told the Globe he would send DiMasi a bill.

"According to your website . . . elected officials may not accept anything worth $50 or more from anyone with whom you have official dealings," Robert Willington, executive director of the Massachusetts Republican Party, wrote to the ethics panel.

"It is well known that Speaker DiMasi has opposed legalized gambling, and Joe O'Donnell has publicly confirmed that he has lobbied in favor of legalized gambling while golfing with Speaker DiMasi," the letter continued.

"The mission of the Massachusetts Ethics Commission is to foster integrity in government and promote public trust," the letter continued. "It is for those reasons . . . that I request an immediate investigation into Speaker Sal DiMasi's activities."

New Account

We have moved our photos over to flickr. Click the image to check out our pics.

So this is change?

From the Boston Herald:

"Much like Sen. Barack Obama, Gov. Deval Patrick campaigned as an agent of change.

But one look at Patrick’s recent gubernatorial appointments and it’s easy to see that the more things change . . .

In the past couple of weeks, Patrick has unabashedly filled positions with cronies, campaign supporters and consummate Beacon Hill insiders."

Deval and Barack

Steven Levy Announces for State Senate!

Steven Levy has just announced for the open state senate seat in the Middlesex and Worcester District! Steven is a well regarded City Councilor. The district includes the following communities:

Middlesex County

Acton
Ayer
Boxborough
Hudson
Littleton
MARLBOROUGH
Maynard
Shirley
Stow
Sudbury - Pcts. 2, 3, 5

Worcester County

Harvard
Northborough - Pct. 3
Southborough
Westborough

Read more about Steve here: http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x2029511619
To learn more, volunteer, and donate to Steve, go to: http://www.stevenlevy.org/

Finance School This Saturday

The MassGOP will be having a finance school this Saturday in Lexington. All candidates, campaign mangers, activists, volunteers, and GOP committee members are not only welcome, but encouraged to attend.

Summary:		Once you have completed Campaign 101 (Course or equivalent experience) you as a candidate or fundraiser may want to take this more detailed course on campaign fundraising. We will start with the campaign finance plan, and explore the basic means of raising money. The cost is $10 per person and please RSVP to info@massgop.com One Cranberry Hill (at the top of the hill) please walk through the glass doors and proceed straight. Walk down the stairs and the auditorium is on your right. This is not just for candidates, Republican Town Committees need to learn how to raise money as well!
When:		Saturday, February 23, 2008 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Where:		One Cranberry Hill Lexington, MA
Who:		Brett Kasper - bkasper@massgop.com 617-523-5005