Below Boston - Recent Comments

I really would limit the canvassing to between 1-3 pm because you get

Susan H — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:59:26 GMT

those who have already attended church and are now home AND by stopping at 3 you limit the 'annoyance' factor of bothering people during the Super Bowl.

I remember getting phone calls during the Super Bowl by a certain candidate's supporters and it was ridiculous...I let every call get screened until about the 5th one - finally took a call and told the person they were doing their candidate more harm then good and who ever had them doing the phone banking was an idiot.

Good idea, Susan . . .

Jan A — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:22:12 GMT

I was out today and it was about 50/50 home/not home today. Maybe I'll go out again next weekend and re-hit the ones that were out.

I agree about the phone banking. Between cell phone only households and call screening, it's pretty hard to get through. People are also wary of strangers on the phone - in person they are usually nicer.

Not out of the realm of possibility because it is all a simple matter of counting delegates

Susan H — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:30:44 GMT

from here on out.

Just when 'the experts' thought Conventions don't matter, this year there is a very strong possibility that they matter a great deal.

I do not want to appear that I am constantly dissing Barack Obama but I cannot help but

Susan H — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:27:24 GMT

be dismayed when I see these sentences from the speech:

Let's remember how we got here. Long before the recession, jobs and manufacturing began leaving our shores. Technology made businesses more efficient, but also made some jobs obsolete. Folks at the top saw their incomes rise like never before, but most hardworking Americans struggled with costs that were growing, paychecks that weren't, and personal debt that kept piling up.
In 2008, the house of cards collapsed. We learned that mortgages had been sold to people who couldn't afford or understand them. Banks had made huge bets and bonuses with other people's money. Regulators had looked the other way, or didn't have the authority to stop the bad behavior.
Read more: http://www.politico.com
newsstories/0112/71920.html#ixzz1kTmrBjzY

Why does this bother me?

Because he fails to correctly identify who and what Party( with SO MUCH help from bluedog Democrats) put forth the idealogy, the actual policies and legislation, that has brought us to this point.

It all didn't happen by accident.

It was DELIBERATE.

His 'narrative' of recent history is halfbaked and designed NOT to assign blame and I feel blame should be assigned because just as past leader such as FDR and LBJ have recognized a full and complete story of a nation is necessary to an informed electorate to make decisions which affect their lives, a Nation's history requires a villain;the villain in this case is the idealogy that says 'everyone is on their own' and 'those with the biggest wallets get to control government for their own purposes which has the effect of distorting democracy itself.

Elizabeth Warren to be on the Daily Show tonight Jan. 24th

Jan A — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:28:16 GMT

On Comedy Central at 11 PM.

Nice photos~ all for a good cause; make that an essential cause n/t

Susan H — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:30:21 GMT

He probably figures this is an 'easy' vote to get those 'creds'...it's not like a jobs bill

Susan H — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:42:04 GMT

or a tax reform bill which actually taxes those that can afford it to pay their FAIR share.

So man up all the other members of the MA delegation:this IS an EASY VOTE.

And here's a hint~

Do not take any phone calls from Chris Dodd......total sellout.

Somewhere his father is weeping....amazing that Dodd wrote a book about his dad's work at Nuremberg called "Letters from Nuremberg My Father's Narrative of a Quest for Justice"

What we would do without facebook :>) ??????

Susan H — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:09:56 GMT

It is sometimes hard to imagine how we lived without it.

But in a real sense this 'new age' of citizen journalism and activism requires going the 'extra mile': liveblogging( really wish public buildings like Hingham's Town hall had wifi( like the library does ), using a digital voice recorder, vlogging ( video blogging like we did in NH in 2008), even skyping after the event to discuss what happened at the meeting with people who use this blog.

Facebook has taken the place of printing up flyers which used to put up around town to notify people about an important meeting or event.

Welcome to the 21st century .....kill SOPA too :>)

Supporters of the Hingham ferry have set up a website and a page on Facebook

Jan A — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:41:09 GMT

If you have a Facebook account, you can keep up with the latest events and media coverage at Save the MBTA Commuter Boat or you can go to the same group's website at Save the Ferry with or without a FB account.

Here is a letter from MBTA General Manager posted by its recipient on the Facebook page:

Dear Joe:
Thank you for your comments on the proposed fare and service changes for the MBTA.
We have reviewed your comments regarding the elimination of the ferry service and commuter boat program. Due to a relatively high cost per passenger trip , each of our proposals for fare and service changes includes the elimination of this service. Even with this service elimination, the Greenbush commuter rail line serves the same communities as the ferry with ample capacity to handle additional ridership.
Your comments will be considered as we determine the final proposal for fare and service changes. We also welcome you to attend one of the more than 20 upcoming public meetings on fare and service changes. For meeting times, locations, and updates on proposed fare and service changes please visit mbta.com/jointhediscussion.
Sincerely,
Jonathan R. Davis
General Manager

Co-sponsors of Repeal Citizen's United event at Moakley Courthouse

Jan A — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 04:26:43 GMT

Cosponsors: Alliance for Democracy, Clean Water Action of Massachusetts, Coffee Party USA, Common Cause Massachusetts, Community Labor United, Corporate Accountability International, Greater Boston Coffee Party, The LEAH Advocacy Group, MassVOTE, Progressive Democrats of America, Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Andover. Occupy Boston stands in solidarity with this event.

For more information,
contact: John Hill
tojhil@hotmail.com

Whoa!! Guess who tweeted he's voting "NO" on SOPA?

Jan A — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 23:24:56 GMT

Plymouth Patch

Yes . . . Our junior senator is turning downright liberal . . . he must be getting vewy, vewy scared about Miss Elizabeth.

We'rrrrrre back!

Jan A — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 03:40:03 GMT

Due to administration problems, Below Boston has been down for over a month. Finally, things seem to be straightened out. Comment if you can see this post.

Excellent!

LiberalAlice — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 11:37:30 GMT

Thanks for posting this, Jan A! Hope it gets lots of hits--it's THE explanation of OWS, IMHO!