Sun Chronicle article on Mansfield budget

While I might have led the story with a different angle, what's your take?

http://www.thesunchronicle.com/articles/2011/02/26/mansfield/8896002.txt

Next MRTC meeting is Thursday March 3rd, 7:30 p.m. at the Asia Grill. Hope you can join us!

Jack Kemp - R.I.P.

I am sad to note the passing of former Congressman Jack Kemp over the week-end. There is no doubt that he stood for what is best about this country and about the GOP. He recognized that there were problems in this country, but with some hard work and serious thought, we could reduce or eliminate those problems. He looked at a failing educational system and proposed vouchers to help parents remove their kids from bad schools. He saw crumbling public housing projects and worked on plans to turn these projects over to the residents that truly wanted a home, not the drug infested rat-holes they were forced to live in. He saw undeveloped areas with high unemployment and proposed empowerment zones to bring in private investment. He looked for ways to leverage the size and power of the government in order to help the private sector make this an even better country. Jack understood that it is the private sector that creates wealth and allows people the opportunity to reach for a higher station in live. In essence, he was what America (and the American Dream) is all about.

I laughed when I saw some commentary about Jack being for outreach to different "non-Republican" groups. I know the commentary was meant in a negative way (as if to say that the GOP must change to attracts different people, etc). Jack truly believed in reaching out to different non-traditional GOP voters and let them know that we believe in what they believe in- stronger families and communities, better opportunity for everyone that seeks it and more personal freedom. If telling people in the poorer neighborhoods that we believe in you and that you can better yourself is outreach, well then I guess I'm for outreach too.

Jack, may God bless you and your family.

State Rep Debate?

I don't want to be accused of being one of those vicious right-wing bloggers, but I couldn't help but chuckle watching the debate between Jay Barrows and his opponent (the name has been withheld until the next of kin can be notified). I would like to commend Jay for being civil to his opponent and not bursting out laughing during the debate. Here is a man of substance and accomplishment - a true example of what a state rep should be. He knows how to get things done and has done a remarkable amount in such a short time in office. While some would prefer that we run our buses on french fry oil and slap windmills on the top of our schools, Jay has been busy doing the job of a great state rep!

Tough times call for someone who knows how to make decisions and anybody that sees that debate knows that there is only one serious candidate in the race. Even that gasbag Bill Gouviea was biting his lip trying not to chuckle! Jay, I think you struck the right tone (even if you had to break the news to your opponent that the sewage treatment facility is on the Mansfield/Norton line, not Foxboro). Keep up the good work and keep fighting the good fight!

Good Bye Manny Ortez

Now that the dust is settling on the trade, I wanted to say that I will miss Manny Ortez. Sure, he had his "Manny Being Manny" moments, but at least you could say that there were never rumors or proof that he was cheating like Sammy Soser or Mike Maguire.........

With that said, I still like the trade. Go Sox!

MRTC meeting Thursday night

Our next Mansfield Republican Town Committee meeting will be held Thursday evening, March 13, 2008, at 7:00 p.m. at Barrows Insurance, 215 North Main Street, Mansfield. We'll be welcoming new members, voting on officers and telling you about a number of great events we have in the works. Hope to see you there!

Ghana?

A recent Los Angeles Times editorial (re-printed in the Sun Chronicle Saturday) began as follows: "In Ghana, construction will soon begin on a six-lane highway, funded by the United States, that will bear a distinctive moniker: The George Bush Motorway. For a president with few foreign policy achievements to boast about, this will be one of the more positive legacies of his tenure."

I wonder how this is playing in Minnesota. You know, the AMERICAN state where a portion of interstate spontaneously collapsed not too long ago.