THE ROSENBERG FALLOUT: PLANET SOURCES PREDICT LINDA FORREY AS NEW SENATE PRESIDENT … BUT IT MAY TAKE A WHILE
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION, DEC. 8-10, 2017) — The piranhas sense the bull being tossed into the river. The feeding frenzy has begun.
Since Statehouse Democrats in Boston forced chamber president Stan Rosenberg to “temporarily” step down, Beacon Hill has undergone an unprecedented battle for a leadership spot. After Rosenberg got caught in the sexual harassment net that snagged his husband, Bryon Hefner, panicked Senate Dems held a caucus, tossed Rosenberg aside, and named Harriette Chandler as acting, or temporary, Senate president. Rather than act statesmanlike, party factions have been furiously jockeying for position, sensing an opportunity for the chamber presidency. The job, not so coincidentally, has an $80,000 stipend to go along with the usual comps and gratuities, to say nothing of the enormous power the position confers.
That type of inside fisticuffs isn’t unusual. It takes place every time a leadership post opens in either chamber. What’s startling, however, is how the battle for leadership in the Senate has been publicly declared, breaking unwritten House and Senate “rules.” Protocol has been ostracized. Forget the circus. This is even better. There are elephants.
Three people have openly lusted for Rosenberg’s seat. All three, interestingly enough, are women. They seem to be the only ones immune from sexual tarnish or suspicion these days. They are Sen. Linda Forrey of Dorchester, Eileen Donoghue of Lowell, and Karen Spilka of Ashland. Listen to what they declared at various press conferences Wednesday:
Forrey: “I do intend to pursue [the] opportunity.”
Donoghue: “I will run.”
Spilka: “I will seek the Senate presidency.”
Short and sour. And have you noticed how quiet local Democrats have been in Pittsfield?
This outward display has caused a procedural nightmare for acting prez Chandler. She expressed her frustration at having to spend most of her energies trying to separate internal Democrat catfights rather than seeing to the business of We the People, ghostly entities who, long ago in a galaxy far away, once mattered. Chandler is 80 years old, and the stress can’t be a good thing for her or for any citizen of the Commonwealth.
Chandler took the office only as a transitional figure, a bridge between Rosenberg and his successor … or Rosenberg and Rosenberg. Party members in the Senate still speak publicly as if Rosenberg has a realistic chance of coming back. Actually, he doesn’t. Barring an unforeseen development, and nothing should surprise anyone familiar with the political toxicity of official Boston, Rosenberg will not be back. You got that from THE PLANET‘s spies on Beacon Hill.
Don’t tell anyone, but you’re getting this first. Sources say it’s going to play out this way:
(1) Following the investigation into Hefner, and particularly the question of whether he used his marriage to Rosenberg to compromise legislative matters in exchange for sexual favors, Rosenberg will be out at president. Don’t be fooled by talk of bringing him. Such talk is either whistling past the boneyard by Rosenberg’s many supporters or it’s an attempt by everyone else to either pretend that decision hasn’t been made or to convey some measure of stability not at the moment present. Rosenberg will be lucky if he retains his Senate seat, depending on what the Senate Ethics Committee investigators uncover.
(2) Forrey will be the next Senate president. She appears to have wide backing, and, according to sources, is better organized to win what will be a bruising internal battle.
(3) Sources also say that the next president will be a woman. That would leave out Sen. Sal DiDomenico of Everett, who has kept his powder dry on his intentions. Sources close to DiDomenico say he’s intends to run but is carefully biding his time for an announcement.
(4) Sources say the nod will go to Forrey because of one edge she holds over Donoghue and Spilka. Forrey is black. Skin color shouldn’t matter one way of the other, but this is Massachusetts, a league leader in political correctness. If that’s the determiner in an otherwise dead heat, it would not only be unfair to citizens and Beacon Hill but especially to Forrey herself. If she’s capable for a leadership spot, she doesn’t need to artificial boost.
None of this will happen, of course, until the Senate concludes its investigation and presents its findings. That could take some time.
Stay tuned, folks, because this is, as we say in the business, a story with legs.
Have a great weekend, everybody.
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“An early morning walk is a blessing for the whole day” — Henry Thoreau.
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
The Usual Disclaimer.
All of this because Byron Hefner doesn’t know that pocket pool does not involve another’s pocket. He needs to visit the pocket pool monument on Park Square.
Stan Rosenberg has been a political hack on Beacon Hill for 3 decades! He knows that he is in a win-win scenario. If the “ethics” committee is a “show trial” filled with fellow insiders in favor of Stan Rosenberg, he will come out smelling like a rose. However, if the stench of corruption is too much for his fellow Kangaroos, then Stan Rosenberg will retire with a 6-figure state pension. Either way, Stan Rosenberg wins!
So, who loses? The usual suspects named Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, who have to pay for all of this crap that goes on in government!
– Jonathan Melle
Chris Christie is available and looking for a free lunch. He is still trying to latch onto the Trump gravy wagon but he makes Trump nervous because he is an even bigger con artist than Trump is. He is Trump with brains. But he will take that free lunch anywhere he can get it.
No doubt a woman will be the next chamber president. Progressives are now trying to portray themselves as the champions of women, but until the voices of Republican women and Independent women are acknowledged and respected, this whole “we care about all women and their issues” is just a dog and pony show.
Now Trump republicans are trying to dismantle our FBI,the intent of Bannon was to dismantle all institutions in the U.S.Pat and Dan are on board ,blind,or complacent with the overthrow of our country.
Our FBI needs to be monitored just like any other government department to make sure that corruption is kept in check. Too many Clinton and Obama cronies are still in the FBI and they are most definitely NOT looking out for the best interests of the country and seeking fairness when the emails of just one of them who was “caught” shows his strong bias against Trump and love for Hillary.
bad bad FBI bad girl Hillary bad bad progressives so bad so very bad
and not good either
Trump is above the law.
Your president is not above the law, he simply has not committed any crimes and the liberals cannot stand that.
I cannot stand that Trump has not broken any laws. I want a president who has the guts to trample on the constitution. Why won’t Trump do it? Can’t Hannity make him do it? How about Bannon? He listens to Bannon.
If the City Council, mainly Marchetti,wants to throw away a million plus on toters when we have a great system in place,( no extra money.just enforcement)then vote for making the Haulers more money, and making citizens more inconvenience. The numbers don’t fit for the taxpayer, if it doesn’t fit, you must remit.
This City is creating their own nightmare. They are going to be dealing with Garbage problems throughout the wards.
The recycling guru from Marlboro by way of Brookline and now a resident of Pittsdield said he went to Kerwoods office because of the trash in our streets. Sir, the trash in our streets comes from loiterers who walk, and many throw garbage from their vehicles, plastic bottles,banana peels,potato chip bags, beer and nip bottles, and of courses cigarettes and paper. The toters will create more garbage in the streets.People aren’t going to pay for over loads. The inconvenience is the main thing,and the plan, although successful or not, already has flaws. The cost to the taxpayer will reflect on the City Councils ability to downsize especially when we don’t need toters, we have a system, enforce the codes and recycle.
Good points. A question was asked about savings? By Councilor Tully. There is very
Little savings. When Covanta cried about having to replace THEIR BOILER,the city council gave them 500 large and the caveat was that would also save jobs? Layoffs will occur here, and although everyone understands the Injury costs to this kind of work presently,isn’t that the responsibility of the hauler, isn’t that why we pay the hauler? Why should the City have to worry and pay for a new system because the business model at Republic or Covanta doesn’t work? The taxpayers can’t afford it.
Correct, right on,well said Cos.
Is it just me, or does the fact that the board of health is enthusiastically supporting the new trash collection system remove all doubt that the fix is in and it is a very bad idea?
There are going to be some awesome youtube videos of elderly Pittsfield residents trying to drag those totes to the curb. Especially when it is icy. Maybe we could show some at council meetings for shits and giggles. The mayor likes a good laugh does she not?
Thanx Fritz!
“mi” is right. Slobs will be slobs. Having an expensive toter system will not change that. Go after those who throw anything and everything out and fine them. And leave the rest of us law abiding taxpayers alone.
People, taxpayers,do not want to be told about the electric switch and, 90 percent of the people don’t want the toters,because we dont need it and it COSTS to much. Educate us on recycling and implement a plan on that!
Another reason we don t need, the cost should be it, but what happens if there are days backed up because of snow
storms, breakdowns?
If I put a bungee cord on my Toter will the driver release it?
Kill the recycling before it grows,kroll,cacamo,white…sounds like we have a problem with apartment buildings do focus on those.I will jump up and down on the tote so that in einter the gsrbage wont freely empty.I am not aware of 1 person complain about trash ever except a few old guys get mad ehen they tods the cans
Funny! Good exercise also, sc.
I don’t get the jump up and down thing???
School, can you rephrase that thought? But use English this time.
So if you’re not confident single stream will reduce recyclables then where do you think recyclables are going to go in an overflow scenerio?
Turocy told us how great the toters worked in Newton, and everything was successful, yet he couldn’t do line painting here in Pittsfield, on time. Personally to me, it doesn’t matter on the toters other than the cost and reason for? To make the Hauler more money and less responsibility at the cost to the taxpayer, of the workers being laid off,and the overall purchase price,sad.This Educate nonsense is way overblown. How do you educate an elderly person to push a small car through the snow and ice! or In General, motorize it? I don’t want Tully or Amuso voting on this either. When the City brings the sample toters to the Senior Center. Make sure they’re full.
Great comment H
Thanks for the spa!
Fox news is brainwashing their viewers right now straight out making shit up for the Day Trump has a trial for impeachment.72 % disapproval of Trimp…..Trump propaganda is now 24 7 to the gun toting revolutionaries waiting for Trump to take over the goverment
Council Votes prediction for Totes Marchetti,White,Cavcamo,Amuso,Tully,River Krol. Hey that’s Seven.
Trump has turned his sheep into kooks right before our eyes.Talking points work,everything Fox news states Pat repeats
And our public schools have been indoctrinating a few generations to accept big government socialism by hiring liberal teachers.
That is why there is such the outrage over President Trump. It is a wake up call to how far we have gone down the path to destruction through previous policies and corruption in the US.
The last election has given us a small reprieve. The push back by both parties against him should make you realize how corrupt the system is currently. So get off your Prozac and start to see reality, get out of the matrix, and just like the movie…the reality is not pretty. Or are you like the guy who begged to go back and made his deal with the evil men in black.
Welfare for the rich is un-american.We havent had public schools in almst 25 years.Conservatives only fund the military.
Very well said Ed Check. Everything you say is true. People need to open their eyes to what is happening.
Poor California – look at the mess that liberal Dem Jerry Moonbeam Brown has created. Record debt, bazillions of illegal immigrants, record homelessness, raging fires, failing dams….it’s a hellhole out there. I believe the last major wildfire was set by an illegal. So whenever a liberal Dem like Rosenberg has to step down – it’s a step in the right direction. If only Maxine Waters would retire – she’s a real nut job!
Forgot to include earthquakes – 46 in the last 24 hours.
Latest…Rep TFB supporting the bill in the Mass House (H.3269) to make Massachusetts a sanctuary state.
She just doubled down on stupid, checking to see how stupid her constituents really are here in the Berkshire belt.
We’ll follow your lead, start the petition.
Very stupit and everyone knows the people here are a mess.
stupit?
I suggest that everyone who received that large post card call the number on the card and protest TFB supporting the sanctuary state bill. I know I will.
Trisha spends most of her time looking for ways to help the illegals. First it was proposing drivers licenses for them. Now she’s proposing Ma become a sanctuary state. What has she done for legal citizens other than taxing us to death with her proposed travel tax plan last year, and her pay raises (yes, 2 of them) this year?
Trish, move to the sanctuary state of California, enjoy life with the other nut jobs out there, and don’t forget to pack your fire extinguisher.
I will call her too and make it know how STUPID her idea really is since it actually encourages dangerous people to move here.
Just like I never called Trump’s travel ban a Muslim ban like the STUPID media and Progressives, I called it a potentially dangerous people ban.
you won’t be telling her anything she doesn’t know, progressives want a “bad deal” for America because they want destroy it and intelligent life in general
From Breitbart News – “Moore Accuser Admits Forging Yearbook.”
Read all about it.
thanks, i look forward to it
Dustin, that was a lucid,calm, well thought out. You win the Ookie.
I saw the article. As expected this woman is a lying you know what.
Former Commish,Mr. Forestal, spelled it out to Councilors, you
Will take a Bath on this Toter system. What doesn’t any Councilor not understand about that comment?
Let’s have the biggest gallon size toter,anyway, after all,we want to literally break the backs of the taxpayer.
I like how the article sums up with it was completely normal for a man in his 30’s in Alabama to court women that were half their age and in high school. The age of consent was 16 so nothing to see here, move along.
Clearly you are jealous. He is going to win. Deal with it.
He wins in the backwards ignorant state of Alabama,Trump is from New York and even he would mot meet a 14 year old around the corner from moms house…..or would he
So he wins and then senate cans him. so what. There will be a replacement named (republican) and another special election which a republican will win.
Angello would.
Each special election costs millions of taxpayer dollars.
Irrelevant.
Jealous of what? The inbred immoral hicks Alabama? I have nothing to do with them.
Non Essere Uno Stronzo
FYI he’s your President. Get over it. Haw haw
Wow, another brilliant lucid statement with zero evidence of taciturn, at all. And this is a weekend free for all.
If you read Shakes’ posts you’d think he’s a real buffoon, but don’t let that fool you….he really is a buffoon.
Welcome back Tahitti Takeout. Somtimes the little things in life are worth living.
Tahiti was the Planets sponsor back in the day?
Trump lemmings will go to jail for this fat knucklehead who cant tell the truth.
You’re afraid he might get you a job in the private sector.
We will make you comply. We have our ways.
So if the mall owner still owes Petricca nearly a quarter million dollars for snow plowing from LAST year will Petricca still plow the snow this year? And if not who would do it knowing that the mall may not pay them?
dun tad dun tahhhhhh
and should I buy a gift card for the Regal theater which is being very selective in the movies they are showing now? Seems like only kids movies….are they prepping for a closing?
Will the city be putting out any sand for residents? and can they make it available in more areas? Now is the time
I was saddened to read this AM of the passing of Chuck Trzinka’s father at 96. My condolences to his family and RIP. Sounds like he had a really great run.
I, too, am saddened over this news. I have known Chuck for 52 years. Great guy from a great family. On behalf of all on THE PLANET, we extend out condolences and deepest sympathies.
Well, Waterstone has pulled its application to do anything at all at the Stanley Business Park. Back to square one according to the liberally biased Berkshire Eagle. Walmart was ready to pay a huge amount of money to develop the site into a Super Walmart, but was driven away by Melissa Mazzeo and her merry band of Progressives. Now, as usual, Pittsfield is left with a lump of coal at a time when we need retail here more than ever with the Berkshire Mall in trouble. There are NO intelligent politicians here in Pittsfield.
That PEDA site needs solar panels. Or windmills…or squirrels on treadmills. The land belongs to the people and it is good for almost nothing else. Turn it into an energy resource owned by the taxpayers and use it to reduce or eliminate electric bills for residents I SAID …RESIDENTS…not business s or city owned stuff. give the taxpayers one freaking break for all their suffering living in Pittsfield. If you have to start a green energy business and let Pittsfield residents buy the stock.
Just stop shitting the bed at city hall.
What a sham Pittsfield has been getting for all these years. This is undevelopable and they damn well know it.
Pat,everyone on the council was for Walmart and the Mayor was for Walmart.Walmart did not back out because these nitwits wanted it.Walmart is changing how they do business.
So you are saying it’s just Pittsfield’s misfortune that Walmart decided out of the blue to change their way of doing business just when Pittsfield was about to get a Super Walmart? I don’t buy it. Also the fact that Waterstone said they would get other retail in there if not a Super Walmart, but all of a sudden decided they couldn’t get anybody to move in there. It just all seems too convenient that there wasn’t anybody behind the scenes pulling the strings so that nobody will move into that site.
Matt Kinnaman wrote an article in the BB (amazing that it was allowed) about how bad the Berkshires have become. How we are falling far behind while the rest of the country is moving forward. Poverty is increasing and there are too many restrictions on businesses to make them want to move here. He said we need fewer sit-ins and more common sense business ideas.
Young people continue to leave in droves because there are not enough good paying jobs. Mayor Tyer isn’t interested in job creation. She thinks young people will stay here for the scenery, but it’s just NOT TRUE.
I wish Matt Kinnaman would run for office again. He’d make an outstanding mayor or state rep. Or senator. Or governor. The guy’s brilliant.
Dusty, I like the “squirrels on treadmills” idea. I have enough squirrels in my neighborhood to power the whole city. You should work on making it happen.
Agree Fritz, seems like he bowed out to quickly after his defeat. And why is Trump being critized around HERE, for supporting a man who’s thirty year old rumor is now a big deal? Heck,look at Pittsfield and the people in charge from past years with questionable reputations, and some right now.
Matt has high moral standards & impeccable character. If I remember correctly, he ran against Ben Downing for state senate. Unfortunately the majority voted for Ben. The puppetmasters would never allow someone like Matt in a position of power – someone they couldn’t control. Someone who doesn’t share their priorities.
Dusty – just call it RodentWorks. Hang up some squirrel-proof birdfeeders and they will come!
Can you also solve the city’s trashtoter dilemma?
Watch Trish run for Governor.
She can’t run, just waddle.
So, the Board of Health has no problems with the toters? How’s that?how come?they figure it works elswwhere so it’ll work here, I guess. Today it is very slippery, maybe the enforcement people can help with pulling it through the snow and ice to the curb. Wait till the plows come by, especially the useless megaton plow, good luck granny and everyone. One other tidbit. Other commu Ity demographics are very different and many different reasons for this system, plus this City can’t afford it.
I imagine this whole thing was discussed back stage before it was rolled out to the public. And everyone with any real push or pull was told how to think and speak of the toters. And so it was to be that they formed an unbroken line and spoke in unison that they would back the sacred toters.
And so they will all get to keep their jobs and their good standing with the good old boys.
blessed be thou art
Cos,
I agree, we the city can’t afford it. I don’t want our “free cash” …
our tax dollars to be used to purchase trash cans & benefit a private company. Leave the current trash system alone.
Right on Fritz. Problem is,they might already have the votes for this bad and costly idea.
The roads are pretty slick don’t see the road crews out yet, be careful?
past and present Bad City Proposals: Trash Cans on Tyler :(.
Covanta 500 plus G for Capital Improvements 🙁
Shot Spotter 🙁
Toter Proposal 1.3 Mil 🙁
Stipend for School Committee 🙁
Kiosks 🙁
Preservation Act 🙁
PEDA should be a huge hotel and Casino,Done.
How about Faraway Farley pushes to leaglize prostitution along with the illegals and when Hotel on North goes belly up we can piss away some more of the GE settlement money for The Hotel Hooker -an economic engine for downtown. Seems to be quite a demand. Could put the needle exchange in the lobby while we’re at it.
Even with the snow there was no shortage of idiots on the Pittsfield roadways yesterday. Heading towards the Hubbard ave/Dalton ave intersection in heavy snow some moron in a big white pickup truck blew by me about 45 mph. Of course there was another red light just ahead but I guess he wanted to show he had traction when others might not.
So there is added danger with the acceptability of running red lights and less traction for braking. Good luck out there this winter and make sure you have coverage for being hit by an uninsured driver. Seriously…get that coverage.
Supposedly it’s just Pittsfield’s misfortune that Walmart decides, out of the blue, to change their way of doing business just when Pittsfield was about to get a Super Walmart? I don’t buy it. Also the fact that Waterstone said they would get other retail in there if not a Super Walmart, but all of a sudden decided they couldn’t get anybody to move in there at all. It just all seems too convenient. I can’t believe that there weren’t some people behind the scenes pulling the strings so that nobody will move into that site.
Next summer (2018), PEDA turns 20 years old. It has a batting average of 0. In 2 decades, no private business is stupid enough to build on a toxic waste dump in the middle of nowhere.
Well, Jonathan Walmart was willing to clean up the site. If what you say is true then the city needs to admit it to the public.
Maybe Walmart found out the mall site is going to become available and it has the benefit of NOT BEING A TOXIC WASTE DUMP. and IT IS NOT IN PITTSFIELD where some business owners are held hostage and others skate free
Trisha Bouvier ,Pignitali have overseen a couple of thousand job losses and have not created 1 job.The berkshire are shrinking and North berkshire is dead,Stockbridge is dead to jobs,Great Barrington thanks to 2nd homeowners is hanging on.
Smitty Pignatelli is currently in his 8th 2-year legislative term on Beacon Hill. He is, indeed, a career politician!
Smitty Pignatelli even wrote an op-ed in the Berkshire Eagle about all of the people, companies, and jobs that have been lost in Berkshire County over the years!
What he didn’t address is that he is part of the problem!
Watching the City Assessors present the tax classification gives a business a better tax relief break than the resident, now the Beacon gets a TIF also, why should residents fo along with that?There are thousands who have never even been to the theatre. It’s akin to the elderly with no children paying for a school that we don’t need, or trash programs that they don’t need.
but it was ok for others to pay for your schooling
Agree h, that’s the problem when the (Voters elect) where there is very little opposition,and they dictate policy,absent of a referendum vote.
Way off topic, obviously, but something should be said in a public forum of our fair hamlet.
BMC is incapable of providing an appropriate environment for recovering patients.
Semi-private rooms aren’t really the issue (nothing can be done about that right now. I get it).
But there are no policies in place and/or they are not enforced that ensure consideration and rest (imagine that?) for a patient at BMC–no matter the time of day or night.
Apparently it is OK to have your TV on 24 hours straight (I’m not kidding). Or have your light on whenever you want–10 pm,
2am, 5 am, whenever.
You can have visitors–for apparently as long as you want during visiting hours–and those visitors can talk as much and as loudly as they want for as long as they want, with cell phones going off. And, they can crowd in on your own privacy.
And I guess it is OK if you can’t even hear your doctor standing next to you for the loud talking by the other patient’s visitors and/or medical staff.
Vistor’s guests can help themselves to the furniture on your side of the room–even sit over there when you’re not in the room, or maybe when you are?
A new patient can come in and monopolize the space (apparently with the help of medical and support staff) and encroach upon yours, move the furniture on your side out their way.
This is my second unpleasant experience at BMC this year. I filled the ear of the follow-up interviewer on the phone a few months ago about all the problems. Not sure they have ever attempted to address those problems. But I was happy this time that I didn’t see dust bunnies starting their own families in the patient room.
Can anyone recommend another medical facility to go to?
Bay State? MGH-Boston? UMASS in Worcester?
Top 5% of hospitals in the nation my chaffed arse!