By DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, FRIDAY, SEPT. 23, 2011) — Pride does not come before the fall, which we can attest to on this first day of the autumnal equinox. The earth has begun to tilt away from the sun in the Northern Hemisphere. Does that mean the lefty politicians in Pittsfield will be more or less radical or moderate? Tis a question for Bertrand Russell, methinks. If Gerry Lee comes out of his Legion stool stupor, we might even ask him. Years hence, historians will look back and wonder how he could remain as council president for so long.

DEBATE WATCHER CHECKS IN — THE PLANET received this eminently qualified analysis from an observer of the mayoral debate, such as it was. We present for your edification, herewith:

Agree with what you heard on the debate. I caught part of it on web stream. It was clearly Dan Bianchi who was mayoral material. I cast my ballot for him last week. Marchetti looked incredibly uncomfortable where he was and essentially wouldn’t take a strong stand on anything. Nichols looked a little better than I expected. The other two had no business being there. Walto thinks people will think she’s smart by dropping historical dates, but no dice. Fillio? No comment.

I watched part of Ward 4 as well, and I felt Bronson did the best job of the three. I voted for him to push him through to November. He may not make it past next Tuesday because the other two are more popular, but I think he performed very well for a newcomer last night. Connell performed very poorly in my opinion for someone who has been hanging around for a few years. Chuck was Chuck.

MARCHETTI: TWEEDLE DEE AND TWEEDLE DUM

Comments along these lines have  been repeated over and over … from everyone who is not a Marchetti fan, that is. Those who are with Peter, the GOB bunch and the Preservationists of the Status Quo, think he did great. Those who are against Peter or who have no dog in the hunt (that is, they are neutral) say that Peter came off as tenuous and too much tweedle dee and dum.

THE PLANET has waited, in vain, for Marchetti to step out from whatever shadow of fear has him constricted and become his own man. If it doesn’t happen in this campaign, it will never happen. If you look at photos of Marchetti, you can see it in the eyes, the “tortured soul” look. We will not speculate on its origins, but we see it. What might be a watershed moment for the liberation of this man may instead be the confirmation of his worst fears. THE PLANET hopes this is not the case.

In fact, the best thing that could happen to Peter Marchetti now is for him to be the odd man out on Tuesday. That way, he can “retire” to his true career with the Pittsfield Coop Bank. He’s not cut out as a front man in politics. He’s a second banana, a kind of Ed McMahon to the Gerry Lees and Jimmy Rubertos of the political scene. He has done nothing in this campaign to shake the criticisms that he is and will be a stooge for the special interests. There is still time for him to do this, and perhaps “the new Marchetti” will come out fighting in the general election — should he survive the next round.

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THE TOWN OF LEE: ON FIRE WITH OUT-OF-CONTROL SPENDING

One of our southern correspondents, Agent 5546 who monitors the town of Lee, has this interesting tidbit in a report filed a couple days ago:

“Here’s one for you that shows exactly what is wrong with government. The town hall in Lee and the fire station went up for bid for painting. Three painting contractors responded with bids. The lowest bid was $25,000. The town went for a bid, however, that was $45,000. Why didn’t they go for the lowest bid, especially when it was submitted by a local contractor with experienced. The company has even painted a town hall and other commercial jobs around the Berkshires. Government spending is out of control. You can’t tell me that the extra $20,000 couldn’t have gone to better use elsewhere. I think the taxpayers in Lee are getting worked over big time. This is just one example. It’s happening all the time, all over the country.”

This reminds me of something my father —a veteran of the Battle of the Bulge and at 90 years old, still doing gardening, doing his own snow removal, and running his woodworking shop — used to say: “What this country needs is a goddamn good revolution.”

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LOVE THINE ENEMIES, WHO ARE JUST FRIENDS WAITING TO BE MADE

— In our time on the radio, in print, and in the blogosphere, THE PLANET has taken more shots than most any other public figure. We dish then out. We expect to take them.

Our two favorites, from cyberspace critics, are worth noting here for special honors.

Our favorite was from a critic who likened us to the singer Johnny Fontaine, who goes crying to the Godfather because the HOllywood producer has bypassed him for a film job. Brando slaps Fontaine and tells him, “Be a man, Johnny.” We would gladly be Johnny Fontaine as long as the deal stipulated that we could sing like Al Martino. Martino, in THE PLANET’s humble opinion, was better than Sinatra, Dean Martin, Pat Boone, Johnny Mathis, Frankie Lane, or any other male singer you can mention.

— Our second favorite are the aphorisms of the collective entity known as Pittsfield Believer. The Believer has us eating every day at Blantyre or Wheatleigh with the governor or James Taylor. You have to lvoe an imagination that robust.

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MR. MITT SCORES BIG

THE PLANET doesn’t own a TV, but we were on the road last night and from our hotel room and room service, we got to watch the GOP debate on Fox News, cosponsored by Google. Former Massachusetts guv Mitt Romney “won” the contest over a shaky Texas guv Rick Perry. Mister Mitt, who used to do radio shows with THE PLANET, jabbed with effectiveness and landed several heavy rights. THE PLANET taught him everything he knows.

Perry seemed like a TV evangelist who just got outed by his mistress. We gave second place to Jon Huntsman. As for Newt, we have one question: Why? Michelle Bachmann finished each rehearsed answer looking like Lily Tomlin. Ron Paul looked like a crabby old man. The owner of Godfather’s pizza has a clue but not a chance.

Of the long grey line offered by the GOP, Mr. Mitt has the best chance of taking down President Obama in 2012.

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AND NOW, WE DIVE INTO THE NIGHT!!!!

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.