WATERS PART, SUN RISES IN WEST, & THE PLANET MEETS WITH ADAM HINDS!
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY SEPT. 6, 2016) — Mountains don’t move, but Mohammeds do when they realize the summit proffers a destination better than the journey.
Over the weekend, THE PLANET and Democrat state senate candidate Adam Hinds met over coffee (his iced and black, our black as coal and hot as fire). His first question: “Is this the Fortress of Solitude?” The reasonable query prompted this reply: “No, but it’s one of our satellite bases.” Hinds was making small talk, and we both had a laugh. It immediately established that Hinds has a sense of humor. For THE PLANET, that’s common currency and coin-of-the-realm.
During our 90-minute summit, the exchange ping-ponged in equal measure. It left THE PLANET believing Hinds is a serious candidate, one qualified for the legislative position he’s seeking. THE PLANET will not change our endorsement of party rival Andrea Harrington for the party nomination to face Republican Christine Canning, but should Hinds win, he would be up to the task.
You’re thinking: Isn’t this the guy THE PLANET has been all over? Yup.
PLANET‘s Questions Cleared Up
Resume 1— We questioned his education, noting that in referencing Wesleyan and Tufts, he said he “had attended” and “studied at” both schools. We learned long ago that such vague terms must be vetted. Hinds told us he has a bachelor’s degree in government from Wesleyan and a master’s from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts.
Resume 2 — We also questioned claims about his experience at the United Nations as a political officer. Keep in mind that “to question” is not to doubt or discredit. THE PLANET merely wanted to see support for the claims. We did, including this certification from Andrew James Gilmour, UN deputy special representative of the secretary general (at the time, Kofi Annan):
“Hinds’ performance … has gone from strength to strength. He is one of the most reliable and trusted colleagues. He comes second to none in his extraordinary commitment to what the UN is seeking to achieve in Iraq.”
We read other performance-related documents to verify Hinds’ international chops. We can see why The Suits fell in love with him.
Establishment Endorsement — Our wide-ranging discussion of policy, issues, and regional challenges indicated that Adam Hinds is serious about his bid. Perhaps the most important piece of advice THE PLANET could ever give to anyone running for public office is this: Run to win, not to govern. There’s a huge difference. You can’t govern unless you win first, a discordant reality that often forces candidates into becomes, ugh!, “politicians.” Running to win means doing what you have to do to get elected. Make no mistake: Adam Hinds is an intelligent, experienced young man (40 is young to us). He’s dealing with The Suits because he believes it is his best chance of winning. THE PLANET agrees.
“Running to govern” almost always condemns candidate to defeat. In its most extreme form, it results in token candidacies from wildly optimistic, self-deluded hopefuls the electorate instinctively and immediately rejects. Symptoms of this type of candidate includes no money raised, little to no money spent, no lawn signs, no campaign headquarters, and little organization.
‘The Committee’ Did Their Guy No Favors
So what went wrong, initially, between Hinds and THE PLANET? The candidate was done in by his “Committee.” We refer to The Committe to Elect Adam Hinds, with whom we’ve been in correspondence. The “Committee” — we never got a name, a human person, even after we asked for one — kept Hinds away from us. Big mistake. Hinds can put his “big boy” pants on just fine, but his “Commmittee” apparently didn’t trust him enough. You could tell they had listened to the wrong people about THE PLANET. Free advice time— should Adam Hinds win on Thursday Sept. 8 — he needs to tighten up the communication with his people. He needs to know exactly what the “Committee” is doing in his name. When he has to, he needs to chuck their advice and go by his instincts. We sense they are good ones.
On to Hinds v. Harrington, AH v. AH, on Thursday Sept. 8. We see low turnout and a close race. Good luck and godspeed to both. Either will make tough opposition for Canning.
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“Though in the trade of war I have slain men, yet do I hold it the very stuff of conscience to do no contrived murder”— Dan Valenti, on the practice of investigative journalism, and Iago, Act 1, scene II, from Othello, The Moor of Venice, by William Shakespeare.
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
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How is he paying his living expenses while he’s on leave?
Rinaldo rulz! Planet Valenti did not mention the best candidate in the race for Berkshire State Senator: Rinaldo Del Gallo, III! Rinaldo is for the working families who are losing out in Pittsfield politics to the wealthy and the welfare people. Vote for Rinaldo on Thursday!
Lynda Tyer aligned herself with the special interests just like Adam Hinds. People thought she could be trusted but her dance with Mr Stanley, among other things, proved beyond the shadow of a doubt that she was not the friend of the average Joe. Hinds keeps the same company and so by association I do not trust him. Is he suggesting that he is “using” the special interest crowd to get elected and then he is going to turn on them? Not going to happen.
Andrea Harrington gets my vote.
I’m with Dusty on this one.
Is Downing in line to replace his uncle as the Soldier on CEO making around $200,000 per year?
And who pays that salary?
I think a lot of people are curious if he’s going to not only stay in the area he “helped”, but what kind of high paying non-profit job he’ll land. We all know how far the Downing families tentacles reach
As a Vet myself Soldier on does not impress me.
1. Look at all the people who suck money out of it.
2. Look into who is really benefiting there.
Why would the uncle leave a 200k do nothing job when your schedule is a retired man’s schedule.Who in God’s name earns 5 k a week.The money these people pay themselves is ridiculous. Imagine.How much of that money could go to veteran’s.
Sounds like the Colonial Theater is looking for another handout. Is Adam Hinds in favor of using Pittsfield taxpayer money to prop them up again? Keep in mind that even though it cannot even support itself, it is an “economic engine” for the rest of the city.
And to top it off most people that pay for it (Pittsfield taxpayers) can’t even afford to go there.
It is really not expensive, especially on Tuesdays.
Right on Dusty
Rinaldo is almost as crazy as you Jonathon
Thanks, I guess. I admire Rinaldo’s voice in Pittsfield politics!
Birds of a feather…
Bloomberg for Mayor…Please…some people are smart enough to learn the issues some are not…..Mayor Bloomberg will have a 5 year plan and a vision.He will not suffer laziness.
Dusty’s the man.just saigon.
Saigon?
Jim’s House of shoes? On that alone I’m going with Bloomberg. He may not be the billionaires son, but i’m voting on his name from Jim’s, that gentleman serviced my family since the sixties. I like Mikes ideas and believe he Will tap into resources, not an empty Rolodex, and projects that never advance jobs. In case no one has heard, you can’t pay taxes if you don’t work.
I’m surprised Dan never got us any answers about the promotion of his fund raiser on the city website or why he put signs on city property.
Bit of a fluff piece if you ask me.
Have to agree, Paul. Does anyone remember? “lots of boozing” on the roof – I have a number of questions about it.
— Who from the campaign authorized the posting?
— Who from the city posted it?
— Whose idea was it to post it there, yours or the city’s?
— When was the listing for on the calendar.
— On whose authority was it taken down?
— Do you agree with critics who say that such a posting was legal? Were any of these answered and not shared here.
These quotes
“1. Sniff the Machine Bosses
2. Agree not to have a will of your own
3. Check self-respect at the door”
” … AMATEUR HOUR AT E-BOX & THE ‘FAIR-HAIRED’ BALD BOY”
“WHEN THE EVIDENCE Is WEIGHED, ANDREA HARRINGTON IS THE ONLY INTELLIGENT CHOICE FOR DEM STATE SENATE ON SEPT. 8”
Does this still mean that if we don’t vote for her that we’re not making an intelligent choice?
We spent three weeks dwelling on this and in one fell swoop all these allegations are gone in one secret meeting.
TM
My investigation turned up these facts, which I decided to share only after talking to Hinds yesterday.
(1) Because the event was held on a rooftop, it required a city permit.
(2) Events with city permits routinely go on the calendar.
(3) BIG EXCEPTION! Political fundraisers.
(4) An underling in the city clerk’s office, whose job is to enter listings to the calendar, inadvertently posted the fundraiser. We were told she routinely posts one after the other without engaging brain, since it is strictly a clerical function. As we learned, it is NOT strictly “secretarial work,” especially during a campaign season. Admittedly, not many political fundraisers are held on roofs. This is the first in THE PLANET’s memory, so we can understand this slipping through. Thus, it appears that the event got posted because of (a) a lack of communication between the granting office and the clerk and (b) a lack of diligence on the part of the clerk’s employee. The process has all the markings of an innocent mistake and not part of some grand, illegal plot.
(5) We are not clear on how long it was up before one of THE PLANET’s correspondents first spotted it.
(6) Immediately after we ran a story — the ONLY media outlet in the area that exposed this — the city clerk’s office, on the clerk’s order, took it down.
(7) The incident resulted in a training session to see that this doesn’t happen again. Whether it does or not, of course, will be the proof.
(8) At our meeting, Hinds said he still didn’t know how it got there or who took it down. This confirms what we said in the column on our “secret” meeting. His “Committee,” which said it would investigate and report back to us, apparently couldn’t, or wouldn’t, see it through. We had to do the work for “The Committee.” When we told Hinds what we found, it came as a surprise to him.
(9) We aren’t sure to which “critics” you prefer, but there’s no disputing: Innocent or not, the listing was illegal.
As for my quotes from an earlier column on the glitch, which you so thoughtfully included, i.e.,
“1. Sniff the Machine Bosses
2. Agree not to have a will of your own
3. Check self-respect at the door”
” … AMATEUR HOUR AT E-BOX & THE ‘FAIR-HAIRED’ BALD BOY”
“WHEN THE EVIDENCE Is WEIGHED, ANDREA HARRINGTON IS THE ONLY INTELLIGENT CHOICE FOR DEM STATE SENATE ON SEPT. 8″
You need to read more carefully, our good friend. That 1-2-3 formula is still what a candidate must do if he or she (Tricia FB, for instance) accepts backing of The Suits and “special interests.” My column reinforces that today when we write about “running to win” versus “running to govern.” We wrote that Hinds calculated his bests chance would be to play ball with the “Bosses,” and that we agreed. 1-2-&-3 do not matter whatsoever. What matters is the performance of the person once they get into office. The best way to play it would be to kiss up to the Bosses, win the office, and then represent Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski above all other intersts. Now you’re talking greatness, because if an office holder did that, he or she would be re-elected on that strength. CAll it The PAP — The Peter Arlos Principle. Pete pissed off all the special interests, and he won election after election. Will Hinds play it that way? We don’t know. We do know that TFB played it the conventional way. She did 1-2-3 to win the first time and since then she has doubled down. If she wins on Thursday, then in November, it will mean a tripling down. Not good for We The People.
Hope this helps.
No longer to belabor it, you called them bastards, him chrome dome and bald fair haired boy and several names along the way. Question one – do all these names still stick?
Q 2 – Is Andrea Harrington still the ONLY intelligent choice?
Are we to ignore all that you posted about him just 3 days ago? His time in Pittsfield where he’s held but “A Plethora of Political Suck-Up Positions”, Is that no longer true or is he really just a suck up? I’ve been on this planet a long long time, twice plus a few more years than Adam (Hinds). All I know about him is what he has sent me in the mail, and what you have posted. Guess I’ll have to turn to Jonathan (M) for guidance.
TM
We love your persistence. In another era, we might even offer you a job as “gumshoe reporter.” On to your queries:
Q1: Do the names stick? Of course they do. Hinds and THE PLANET in fact laughed about them. As we reported, he has a self-deprecating sense of humor, something that is HUGE at this address. We shall skip the Psychology 102 lesson that explains why, although we wrote one of our dissertations on the role of humor, comedy, and satire in communication, especially in their commentaries on the human condition. Boiling it down for you, a laughing-to-keep-from-crying.
Q2: That is for you to decide.
Q3: “Are we to ignore all that you posted about him just three days ago?” Again, that is for you to decide. We will say, however, that like the great American bard (there can only be one), we are vast and contain multitudes. Contradiction only seems baffling to lesser minds. You are not one, and we appreciate that you understand this difference. We can only conclude that you ask not to trap us but to enlighten your less intelligent brethren.
Q4: He left the UN, came back, put his sights on public office, and outlined and implemented a plan. As we said, to court The Bosses, one invariably has to suck up. That’s a given. What truly matters is once he wins, if he does, what kind of representative will be be?
Our Right Honorable Good Friend, and that he is, Jonathan Melle, awaits your supplications.
We appreciate the jousts, THOM.
TM
Maybe we should also add we took a different tone only after accepting a plain, unmarked envelope stuffed with $100 bills. We did this after having previously met with Charlie Baker at Blantyre and just before our duck-and-goose soire'[alternate spelling] with Elizabeth Warren at Wheatleigh. THE PLANET actually heard both scenarios. As we replied, it must have been right after the space aliens landed in Park Square, demanding to be taken to “a leader … or any reasonable facsimile thereof.”
Every City employee has to take a State mandated test on this stuff every year. Only an obdurate simpleton would let this one get on the calendar.
PAUL
See my answer to THOMAS MORE.
Thanks Dan
Interesting Paul..A Senior moment?
Just kidding Dan, don’t want to be freaking banned, but Pauly brings up a good point.
I hope I see the day when a Fortune Five comes to Pittsfield. Never say never. Evertone wants a Lenco Vehicle, why aren’t they expanding and Mass Producing???? Move onto the PEDA site and get this baby rolling. You heard it on the Planet First!
Maybe one of these candidates can put some enforcement into the wild drivers on our streets, last night a car in front of me passed a car on a double line in front of the ice cream joint on Tyler street, believe there is a crosswalk as well. Quite frankly, I’m sick of avoiding accidents because of careless speeding and driving.
There seems to be little or no traffic enforcement in the city. I think they just respond when some chucklehead runs a red light and hits someone. Usually, or when it benefits the right people, they would call it a safety issue and deal with it pronto. But for whatever reason in Pittsfield, Ma. you can blow through red lights and stop signs at will. You can talk and text and have your dog on your lap as you drive merrily through the city. You can park in fire lanes and handicap spaces.
Kind of sums up the way the city works. Nobody is really in charge and nobody cares if anybody is in charge.
Wasn’t traffic enforcement supposed to increase under Tyer?
Really?
Yes, it is. The problem is that until her first budget passed there wasn’t any money to hire more officers. Once an officer is hired it takes a year before they hit the streets. Expect the problem to last until next July. Then she will have her additional officers and we will see if the promise is kept.
Until then, you can’t blame her.
Has anyone ever driven the length of Tyler street and looked at each telephone pole? There are about 8 leaners and a couple closer to Dalton ave look like they are ready to fall over. Looks kind of trailer parky.
Any word on a middle school teacher/high school coach fired?
I don’t know, I see a lot of nothing as far as foot traffic on Tyler and North, just the same old same old. I
22 years for murder robbery In ny,I say fry the bastard.
I want to commend Mayor Tyer for the astute way she handled the Fred Conyers appointment. Everyone Does deserve a second chance, and she took it right up front and center. Good for her, and Best Wishes to him.
Really?
Spa girl, I agree. I’m really starting to like this Mayor.
I’m not a fan of most politicians, like her boyfriend. But I like her.
How about asking someone what they think of the 150 dollar payoff back to get to plunk their head quarters in Boston the states most important city.
Or we could ask what they think of the electricity scandle of rates being up 50 percent….Walmart on PEDA property…
..home values down taxes up….Herion need huge money to police …..charter school and choice ….white flight from pittsfield..is it racism….I believe TRISHA practiced white flight…..ask her why
Leaving Pittsfield is just common sense.
Congrats to Mr. Conyers for persevering,you should become Chief in nine years.
Our post on the “closed” press conference regarding Mr. Conyers is up and running. Bottom line: We agree with his appointment.
Someone needs to put their big boy pants on and in this instance it’s not Hinds.
CHRIS
You’re not suggesting THE PLANET? Naw, couldn’t be! Our big-boy pants long ago had to be let out, and it wasn’t because we were often “glad to see” anyone, if you get the drift.
interview seemed more like a Chris Mathews moment
So. Uh for Union Strength.