THE PLANET TAKES ON THE VOTE: OUR RECOMMENDATIONS, OUR PREDICTIONS
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY NOV. 7, 2016) — As a public service to those who have decided for whom and for what to vote, those not sure of their choices, those who don’t know if they will vote, and those who will not vote, THE PLANET presents our election roundup — our choices if we had the magic wand. As they remind you on those illegal betting cards handed out at every barroom in town before the weekend begins, it’s “For Entertainment Purposes Only.”
PRESIDENT — DONALD TRUMP (R) v. HILLARY CLINTON (D)
THE PLANET would rather take a chance on Donald Trump than go with the “sure thing” of Hillary Clinton. That sureness comes from the kind of bad experience this country doesn’t need and of which it had has had much too much.
THE PLANET recommends TRUMP. THE PLANET predicts Trump. He’s gaining and Hilldog is slipping. Trump by 5%.
3rd BERKSHIRE REPRESENTATIVE STATEHOUSE — CHRIS CONNELL (I) v. TRICIA FARLEY-BOUVIER (D)
TFB, the incumbent, has been avoiding Connell like he’s the landlord on rent day. She’s running scared in the worst way possible, from what she perceives is a big lead. TFB has an abominable record representing Pittsfield but a great one representing Special Interests and doing the will of her Masters in the party and House leadership. Connell, on the other hand, has carved out a reputation of action and service as Ward 4 councilor. He answers calls and gets answers. That’s the kind of energy Pittsfield needs in Boston.
THE PLANET recommends CONNELL over a do-nothing incumbent.
STATE SENATE, CHRIS CANNING (R) v. ADAM HINDS (D)
The open seat favors Democrats simply because of the numbers. Hinds has run a smart campaign, running the four-corners offense, trying to run out the clock. Canning brings dynamism and forward thinking to the race, but has she had enough opportunities to make an impact with voters?
THE PLANET recommends CANNING.
THE QUESTIONS
Q1 EXPANDED SLOT-MACHINE GAMBLING
If passed it will generate revenue for state coffers. If people are stupid enough to throw their money away on gambling, at least the taxpayers will benefit a tad. THE PLANET recommends a YES vote.
Q2 CHARTER SCHOOL EXPANSION
Clearly, the most important question you will be asked to decide. A YES vote will allow more charter schools into the Commonwealth, something that will be good for parents, children, taxpayers, citizens, businesses, and higher education. The only ones who don’t want it are the teachers unions, school committees, and others who are up to their eyeballs in the corrupt and broken traditional public education system.
THE PLANET recommends a YES vote. The Educational Establishment fat-cats see their power base threatened. They’re banking on the lies they’ve told this campaign to baffle enough of the electorate. That’s as cynical as it gets.
QUESTION 3, CONDITIONS FOR FARM ANIMALS.
This measure prohibits inhumane treatment of pigs, calves, and hens. It would ban confinement that prevents the animals from lying down, standing up, fully extending their limbs, or turning around freely.
THE PLANET recommends YES. Do you have a heart, a conscience?
QUESTION 4, LEGALIZATION, REGULATION, & TAXATION OF MARIJUANA
Pot is Mother Nature. Folks who want to possess, use, and transfer it are going to anyway. Let’s put an end to the foolish illegality of a plant.
THE PLANET recommends YES.
PITTSFIELD QUESTION: COMMUNITY PRESERVATION ACT.
Vote NO on this no-brainer, unless you want to “voluntarily” raises your city taxes by 1 to 3%. The money would go into a slush fund to be spent by as-yet unknown people for what you can be sure will be political purposes. Voters may be fooled by the name. It should be labeled, as per Terry Kinnas, the Community Pickpocket Act.
THE PLANET recommends and predicts NO.
And remember, vote early, vote often, and vote angry.
————————————————————————————————————-
“In an election, one needs both hope and audacity. — Francois Hollande
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
The views expressed in the comment section or opinions published within the text other than those of PLANET VALENTI are not those of PLANET VALENTI or endorsed in any way by PLANET VALENTI; this website reserves the right to remove any comment that violates its Rules of Conduct, and it is not liable for the consequences of any posted comment as provided in Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and PLANET VALENTI’s terms of service.
No on C P A forget about it. Vote NO! This is almost as bad of a request as giving Covanta five hundred grand, the difference here will be the opportunity to vote. Legalize Pot, excellent comment by the Planet, users will get it anyway, plus we get tax revenue, Casino also, legalize.
I agree with all of your choices except the pot issue. Legalizing it will just make it more prevalent in society. I think it will encourage more pot use by people who never used it before. Society doesn’t need any more substances that alter our senses which pot does.
Go Trump!!!
Because I would rather pay twice as much for weed and go out of my way to have the government know what I do, or I can just get it from my homeboy that doesn’t tell anyone and keeps the money.
While I agree with that 100%. The potential of getting a strain you don’t want is too great. Homeboys on Tyler are NOT connoisseurs and tel you whatever name you want to hear. At a legal pot store, you go in individually and speak a a botanist to match exactly what you are looking for.
I personally went looking for pain relief and they steered me away from certain things, and told me to choose this. I didn’t want to get high so they explained the semantics of CBD/THC. I literally stood there for a good hour talking to them and getting information. It’s not like you simply walk in with a cart and shop like at Walmart. It’s safer in the stores and the chances it’s lit with some other psychoactive substance is reduced to zero
Alonzo Harris: Butt-naked. Ill. Sherms. Dust. PCP. Primos. P-Dog. That’s what you had. That’s what you were smoking, you couldn’t taste it?
Training Day, 2001
I think it is good to legalize the pot because any five year old can get it from his classmates anyway. No one in Pittsfield has ever been bummed out because they could not readily get their pot.
And clogging up the courts and jails with pot smokers and pot dealers is bad business. I would like to think the police have more productive things to do as well. Go after the Oxycontin and coke and heroin dealers. Not long ago we were putting kids in jail for two years for having pot near a school. That just seems bizarre.
My negative thought on the measure is that the main reason the state is pushing for it is because of the tax money they will pull in. Mass. has one of the highest tax rates on cigarettes in the country and I would expect them to increase the tax on pot on a regular basis. (just like everything else) Look for the politicians to vote themselves in a new raise once this passes.
Trump will lose, as will Connell and Canning. Trump is a scumbag and an idiot. Hillary is crooked and a liar but Trump is also crooked and also a liar. Connell is a dud and doesn’t stand a chance. Tricia is a nice person and a woman and a liberal and she is overweight. Just like Taxes Tyer that guarantees her victory. Canning is toast; Hinds is the GOBs choice and also campaigned hard, presents well and is another liberal. I wish it would be a 3 C’s victory but aint one of em gonna win. P.S. Trump will have no one to blame but himself though he will blame everyone but himself. He couldn’t manage a McDonald’s!
Always the name-calling from the Dims. Never any substance, just a middle school mindset.
Yah, trump never calls anybody names.
QUESTIONS
How will more schools not cost us more money? If the schools systems we have are not good enough, fix them.
Opium comes from a plant too, why not legalize heroin? Where do we draw the line? Cocaine also comes from a plant. How about we legalize heroin, cocaine and while we are at it prostitution? Pittsfield could save millions and gain all kinds of tax revenue, and then maybe my taxes won’tkeep going up to pay for things we can’t afford and don’t need like a new high school.
Why not a city lottery too? Open to people with jobs only, winner gets what all the Layabouts get now – free housing, free food, free cash, free medical and dental, free heat, free car, free scooter if obese, free meals for kids, and free Thansgiving dinner and free toys for the kids at Christmas. Almost forgot – free diapers too.
Why would anyone vote to have a slush fund for public housing among other things, unless of course you are a progressive fool? Pittsfield being Pittsfield means it could pass.
I agree. Legalizing all of these bad things just because “people are using it anyway” sends a message. The message is that we as a people have fallen so low that why bother to fight it any more. At some point we have to draw the line at trying to keep people reasonably alert so that civilized society functions. We can’t have stoned drivers all over the roads or on the job. As we have seen with just about every substance out there not all people have the discipline to use these substances in a responsible manner.
Also society will just continue to become more and more “seedy” as more and more substances become acceptable. Pot shops on every corner of the city. Disgusting!!!
Marijuana has PROVEN MEDICINAL PROPERTIES and has an overdose rate of ZERO
Comparing opium to marijuana is apples and oranges and nothing but a scare tactic.
The flaw in your argument, and most others, is that people will get marijuana ANYWAYS just like they always have. Opening shops allows people to not only get it (as they would) but to KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE GETTING. If you want something with seizure relief and don’t want to get stoned out of your mind, you get something with a higher level of CBD which has ZERO psychoactive effects. If you want to get high and chill out (such as drinkers are allowed to) you can choose the levels you want.
In Colorado stores have two sections. One recreational, one medicinal. YES the cancer patients are allowed stronger medicine, but you can’t get it without a legal prescription, etc. You can’t even ENTER that part of the store without going through mass levels of security.
Educate yourselves and stop watching reefer madness while downing budweisers or scotch
I don’t drink, smoke, or put any substances in my body for a high or a low. People should treat their bodies with respect and not pollute them with junk.
Lone Gunman,
Are you saying Opium has no medicinal purposes thus the comparison is apples to oranges? Or the overdose rates? I wasn’t clear from your post. As you appear to be educated I am sure that you know that opium has a great deal of use in medicine and is actually a legal drug that is widely abused by many as well. If my chemistry classes from years back serve I believe the German Scientist Serturner first discover the alkaloids in the poppy and has identified about 50 of them. Morphine is the gold standard in pain management and thus the opium derivatives and other alkaloids of the opium poppy began to be used. Codeine is also derived from the opium poppy I believe it is in the top five alkaloids of the plant. I do recall learning something in a history class about the British using opium as a way to enslave the Chinese in the 1800’s another stain on its reputation. And as well all know opium poppies is were heroin comes from and I so believe that heroin was developed to cure morphine addiction I might be incorrect but it is easily checked. And now for the abuse of the opium it as you may be aware is probably one of the most abused drugs legally prescribed in all sorts of forms from morphine, codeine, oxycodone, hydrocodone and fentanyl. Is Pot as addictive? No but it is as likely to be abused as opiates that’s for sure we have history to go on read back into the pharmaceutical journals and the discussions you will see how companies were born by legalizing opium Merck for example.
Now should we legalize pot medicinally? I think probably so but we will need tighter controls than those referred to in the law that is being requested at the ballot. History shows that the people backing it often are doing so for their own gain not for the good of medicine or society as a whole.
just sayin
Excellent response J.P.
Great reply! The best I’ve ever seen on this blog!
My reply was to the lone gunman
Overdose of 0? Try harder….
Let’s keep those package stores open though. Nothing bad ever became of alcohol. Good for the soul.
Booze good! Pot bad!
Your Mom’s basement must be a bleak place, eh Pajama Boy?
Alcohol is the substance that allng with the Texas toothpick won the West. Johnny Appleseed eas not beloved for his wild apple trees.
Glad it’s over and If Trump wins and people here vote for him I will accept his cutting corporate taxes in half…Also will support more tax breaks for the wealthy and as Tip O’Neil said when the people speak it is the responsibility of the opposing party to support the people’s choice by helping to shape legislation that looks like the president presidents position.
I do not support a massive removal of millions of people pulled from their living rooms and put in concentration camps for removal.I don’t really think Trump supporters want this.Indiana law wants to put business owners who hire illegal labor in jail…great idea.Simple answer.
When Pittsfield starts becoming a “sanctuary city,” for illegals, maybe one of them will steal your identity and we can revisit your statement and sentiments at a later date.
Maybe when the refugees arrive you’ll be able to get a date.
A lot of famous republican politicians trashed Trump and gave good reasons why he is not fit to be president. Now many of them have changed their words and think he is the second coming of Christ. I missed the morph where Donald went from an idiot to a genius. Can someone tell me what specific day that all happened?
The day he was selected to represent rich people and Corporations
By the way Dan…did you see Trump on the telly last night absolutely trashing and stomping on the press?
The press deserves to be trashed and stomped on for not reporting the news, but continually trying to influence people with their opinions.
Unless it is Fox news, or Bill O’reilly or Hannity or Rush or, or, or…..one of the right wing outlets because they are honest and unbiased.
Or perhaps even the Planet.
TM
‘Tis true. Trump loves us!
Weak argument for a yes on 4. I say vote no. Many nefarious substances come from plants, as mentioned by others in this column. Marijuana has long been known as a gateway drug and it destroys brain cells. Colorado has seen a 33% increase in DUI (marijuana) traffic incidents since it has legalized pot. Many dispensaries also sell pot-laced baked goods and candies. I would hate to see my grandchildren unknowingly consume these items when with peers. We don’t need more lethargic drug-downed citizens. The penalties for possessing pot should have been increased instead of decreased years ago. Legalizing one drug over others is idiotic.
I will be honest and say that I am troubled at making a decision on Question 5. I have many friends that I respect opinion wise that say it’s for the good of the city. Dan, would you mind giving a bit more perspective and detail as to how it will affect us? I’d appreciate it.
Also, on the farm animal question I’m in a pickle as well. The legalese that was sent out to every household seemed to say that those who buy from farms that violate the law (in state or out) are potentially co-conspirators and can be charged. At least it seemed to look that way. Otherwise, I’d vote YES hands down.
The likely hood of Q 5 money being used by special interests is very high. Plus the city has a very bad habit of investing taxpayer money in private business (usually a friend of a politician) see Stanleys Beacon theater
Many of these food animals are kept in cages so small they cannot even turned around (for the duration of their lives)..I love chicken but the treatment of these birds is beyond cruel..it is demented
Thanks, I’ll return to mom’s basement and put my pajamas back on now.
LONE
It’s all there in THE PLANET’s column from Sept. 15. Go to THE PLANET home page. On the black tool bar, rest the mouse over BLOG. You will see the word “Archive” in the yellow tool bar. Click on that to bring you a list of all our columns, by date.
Thanks!
Zimmerman today ,and Lowthrow Tommorow, will be using PcTV teens channel as thier political platform, with King Krol moderating. So, if you’re keen to know what to vote against, listen to these two retreads and vote opposite, then you’ve got it right.
In Gt Barrington a developer applied for $200,000 from their CPA to build a affordable housing project.
This says it all about the CPA to me!
VOTE NO
Like an affordable housing project for seniors? Yes, No on CPA, yes on Obamacare Death Boards.
SHH, funny! Right it’s for seniors. I don’t think so, everyone knows what affordable housing is code for.
And CPA proponents do a really shitty job of explaining the proposition.
How much affordable housing do we need? The save St. Mary’s crybabies will be first in line to hog the CPA money. These are the same Morningside busy bodies that didn’t raise an eyebrow when the Methodist church at the corner of Woodlawn Ave. was demolished. That building was ten times as historic as St. Mary’s.
We need ZERO more affordable housing units — not on the terms under which they are presently financed, built, and run.
True, we don’t have a lack of affordable housing here but many eastern MA cities do. That’s why it’s one of the allowable uses of CPA.
In Pittsfield it’s more likely to be spent in our parks such as building new ball fields or a long overdue dog park. Sure, we don’t know who the committee volunteers will be at this point but I’m willing to take a chance with my $15/year contribution towards the experiment. Judging by other places — such as the nice upgrades to the Stockbridge library — it will end up going to good uses even if they are not my first choice. Vote YES on 5.
Mike, if you have a dog go build yourself a park and leave me out of it.
The CPA is nothing more than a slush fund for the politically connected, plain and simple!
I really don’t trust them. I am afraid that the “Affordable housing” includes “Section 8 Housing” and Pittsfield has more than enough of that!
Mike why do you bother replying to these clowns? whish you were still on the council.
Thanks, Tim.
Good one Tim, you just invented a new word.
Pleased to say just attended two rallies in two days:
Mike Pence at George Mason University in Fairfax County on Saturday evening — 700-1000 in attendance.
Donald Trump at Loudoun Fairgrounds in Leesburg, VA on Sunday.
Trump was scheduled to speak at 9:30pm but arrived nearly three hours late after a long string of appearances across the country. Called this speech his “midnight special”.
Thousands of people walked MILES to attend. 2200-2400 of us fit inside the main barn while 5000-6000 (or more?) listened outside in 48 degree night air.
Romney garnered large crowds at the end of the campaign, too. Look what happened to him.
We need affordable banking and affordable tax cuts and affordable jobs…insurance electric …..Trump my ass…corp.shill…lets guess rebuild the military cut Corp taxes…..
Trump Rally: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZ9tbCoS0Hw
Pence Rally: http://www.wdbj7.com/content/news/Mike-Pence-to-hold-a-rally-Saturday-evening-in-Fairfax-400078861.html
Trump is simply campaigning to his own supporters; these rallies are little more than preaching to the choir.
To win, Trump needs to reach out to persuadable voters. Holding the same rally in state after state does nothing to improve his numbers.
But the rallies do get on the local news…
All manner of stories get on the local news. Arguing that crowd size means a candidate is going to win is folly.
I see more yard signs for Ben Carson, he’s going to win right?
Of course it occurs to none of these Trump supporters that because Clinton has NY, MA, CT, and VT locked up, her campaign isn’t going to ship signs to those states.
That’s because it’s logical.
I’ll bet Shakes sees a lot when he drives home from Lach’s Lounge.
Lach’s is too classy for me.
Below are Henry’s Predictions and why:
Prez = Porn Star First Lady
State Rep= Dumptruck we are going to have a tough winter and we need more
State Sen = Skinney Jeans we need more Gays in office
Q1= Yes we need something to do during the day
Q2= No We need to keep thowing money at the teachers union to fix the problems
Q3=Yes We need a hug a pig day
Q4= Yes So great idea’s can continue on this blog
Q5= Yes because we trust our local goverment to spend our money wisely
Thomas More
March 1, 2016 at 11:47 am #
Donald Trump will NEVER be president of the U.S.!
I posted thisprediction on the above date – I’ll stick with it today.
Thanks for the heads up T M
….
guess I don’t have to vote now.
Dan Valenti 4 Prez!
Terry Kinnas 4 Mayor of Pittz!
Jonathan Melle 4 Blogger!
Trump has an uphill battle. He has to get practically all the battleground states, whereas Clinton has is it if she just gets Florida. Last count has her slightly ahead.
Exactly. She’s up in the Rasmussen, Wall Street Journal, ABC News, and Fox News most recent polls. If she wins PA, where she’s favored, it’s over even without Florida.
Wall Street is counting on her winning because big money likes big money mercenaries like the Clintons. The Clintons are all about money for themselves. It’s not about what Hillary can do for the rest of us except to enslave us to big government dependency.
and Trump hates money
Here’s a cool electoral map we can all drive ourselves crazy with…
http://www.270towin.com/
The trump effort is halfhearted. The GOP weakness, other than no cohesive message, is lack of ground game.
It’s true. He’s relied on these rallies which are nothing more than his ego needing some boost. A couple thousand people is piddle.
Hillary and Bill’s egos are off the charts so I wouldn’t make this about ego.
I’m not making it about ego, I’m making it about lack of heart.
Trump says he’ll win Florida, New Hampshire, Michigan, Nevada, Oklahoma Arizona, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. When he wins, he said he is going to drain the swamp.
He also said the emails would be bigger than watergate.
They were, if you actually paid attention to them
If he just gets those states, he still doesn’t have 270.
Pretty soon we will be able to some what hems smoking Cos.
What? You smoking? Maybe yes on 4 isn’t such a good idea after all.
Yes on one or was it no on five?
The Clintons turned the White House into a Bed and Breakfast to make money for political fundraising.last time they were there and made off with lots of stuff when they left. https://archives.nbclearn.com/portal/site/k-12/flatview?cuecard=2967
The School Committee and Shakes His Head walk out of Lach’s….what are you laughing at? It could happen.
I’m glad you have such a man crush on me. It’s pretty hot.
Both Clinton and Trump have super endurance for being 69 and 70. Which ever way it goes, they are an inspiration to their peers.
Trump has more stamina. Clinton spent many days resting.
Clinton? Are you kidding? I’ve seen videos of her leaning on her bodyguards in order to climb up a step! Her campaign schedule included MANY days off to rest. Trump kept up a hectic campaign appearance schedule in addition to running his multiple businesses. Hillary’s got one foot in the grave!
Wasked out of Lacs on many occasions. It already happened.
The emails are bigger than watergate….Trump
Think Nixon was Internet saav?
Michelle Obama is overated as a speaker.
She and President Obama are practicing for when he is out of office. They see how much the Clinton’s make for speeches. They should do quite well.
They’ve already done well, trust me on that one. google it, insane.
Knocking on doors and making phone calls. Hillary the election is hours away, who is going to knock on doors at this time? And stop screaming!!!
Taliking to three people from Colorado, Florida, and North Carolina who are friends of mine, believe Trump can win.
My Prediction. Clinton 49 Trump 47
er just why is it that Mr. Trump never had a chance in his own state of New York? The state he grew up in, and his big generous business is in. The state where he created all those jobs. The state he has so many powerful friends in including but not limited to Rudy Juliani (who saved NY single handedly)
Has not every president in the history of mankind won his home state? Could it be that New Yorkers know him better than anybody?
Trump upsets 52-49″
The are asking people across America before they head into the polls who they are voting for. White middle class Americans are voting Trump. Hispanics voting Clinton. People living on government or working for government voting for Clinton. Many young people voting for Trump.
Pat,
Trump is losing in every major poll. He has to make a triple bank shot to even reach 270 electoral votes.
That is not going to happen.
Trump gets in, then we can deal with the Immigration, Middle- East, North Korea,Isis,jobs, crime in our own country, which is a big problem,veterans problems Amd Obama Care.
Clinton gets in, Obama Care stays, taxes go up. Isis runs amuck.
Well, I voted, now I can only hope that nobody wins.
Lets just have a do over.
Re-do o your comment it doesn’t make sense.
Now that voters have approved Question 5 by an overwhelming majority, those who were swayed by some of the fictions of its opposition may be relieved to know that it does not “increase your city taxes by 1 to 3%” – like so many things that Dan writes and Mr Kinnas says in public, it’s wildly and obscenely innaccurate, and anyone who read the actual ballot language with any degree of care can see that clearly.
In actual fact if your home value is in the $120K range that most Pittsfield homes are, the CPA will cost you less than 5$ a year. Unlike all other local taxes you pay, the state matches your contribution to the tune of about 30 cents on the dollar, and there are signs that is about to go up again.