RAUCUS BARBALUNGA-BOWLER DEBATE IS NOW UP AND RUNNING! … HEAT IS ON FOR BARBALUNGA AND BOWLER: HIGH STAKES IN PLANET-SPONSORED ‘CONVERSATION’ … FIREWORKS EXPECTED
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
[ED. NOTE: The debate THE PLANET refereed today (8/8/22 from 2-3 p.m.) between sheriff Tom Bowler and challenger Alf Barbalunga is now available on YouTube at https://youtu.be/1rOybip5AIo. If this link isn’t hot, simply type in A PLANET VALENTI DOT COM PRODUCTION: “Showdown for Sheriff: Barbalunga v. Bowler” The link should show up soon after you type in “A PLANET VALENTI …. etc.” Keep typing until the the show appears on your screen.
The 15-round slugfest between these two heavyweights runs for 1:02:43, and when we say “refereed,” that’s just what we mean. THE PLANET is conducting a survey concerning the question “Who won and who lost?” We would welcome your reactions to that question and other observations about this event].
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(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE MONDAY AUG. 8, 2022) — Several people both on this board and off have brought up Alf Barbalunga’s past service in the county probation department. Alf is chief of the Southern Berkshire District Court office. A Boston Globe Enterprise Team report slammed the state probation department in 2010, saying “Over the course of 23 years, Jack O’Brien transformed the Probation Department from a national pioneer into an organization that functions more like a private employment agency for the well connected.”
In its probe, the probe cited Barbalunga. Local accusers, pro-Tom Bowler/anti-Alf Barbalunga types, also have mentioned alleged sexual improprieties with respect to women and also a discipline report when he served in the Northern Berkshire District, a report that to the best of our knowledge was never made public. Is it because it doesn’t exist or because it’s been made to go away?
THE PLANET has no idea, but the scuttlebutt in this campaign, fair or not, has become impossible to ignore. Moreover, if these things are not true, Barbalunga deserves every chance to finally address them once and for all. If they are true, he needs to admit it and apologize. Both would be sufficient.
Here’s THE PLANET‘s questions:
- Are these charges accurate?
- Are the allegations, even if true, still relevant 12 years later?
People have their opinions. The only two people who have the opportunity and responsibility to definitively address this will be sitting with THE PLANET this afternoon from 2-3 p.m. for a one-hour conversation-cum-debate. It will be filmed and, if all goes well, shared on various social media later in the evening. Keep checking THE PLANET for broadcast platforms. and updates. As soon as we have the broadcast ready for viewing, we shall post that information.
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There will be enormous pressure on each candidate to perform well and “win” owing to a couple of factors:
- This events will be unlike any other. There will be no podiums, microphones (in view), ridiculous cop-out of Zoom!, TV lights, ginormous cameras, stiffs in suits, amateurs play-acting as journalists and moderators, and no notes. It will be two guys who bear little love for each other squaring off, each trying to deliver the knock-out blow. In the middle a trained investigative journalist who isn’t afraid to zero in on the tough stuff. You can bet if there’s any “Lloyd Benson-Dan Quayle moment,” it will show up today, and the other side will run it endlessly between tomorrow and Sept. 6.
- They only get the one shot — live, public, and unedited — at their opponent. There will be no other such gauntlet for the B-Men the remainder of the campaign.
To begin the debate and after the necessary introductions, THE PLANET will allow each guy to question the other, with each having the chance to respond. Our loose format will allow multiple opportunities for each man to confront the other. What will Bowler ask? Will the sheriff “go there?” Barbalunga will doubtlessly continue his aggressive barrage against the sheriff, which has been politically effective.
“The Book” says popular incumbent should play it cool and kick the can of nitroglycerin. The underdog challenger, it says, must go for the carotid artery and slash.
Thus far, Bowler and Barbalunga have been playing it that way. Pudge figures this race is his to lose. He’ll deny that, but that’s how his camp feels. He thus hasn’t employed much artillery. Instead, he’s used his defensive shields against Alf’s relentless firing his Star Wars phasers.
Bowler commands the Death Star; Alf is trying to find its vulnerable spot.
Is Bowler a Darth Vader? He seems too popular in the community for that. Is Alf a Luke Skywalker?
Bowler’s in a “PRE-vent defense” trying to hold the lead.
Barbalunga’s on the attack, guns blazing.
It all shakes out today and on the screens tonight. One hour. Definitive.
It’s “can’t miss” viewing.
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“We tell ourselves stories in order to live. We look for the sermon in the suicide” — Joan Didion.
LOVE TO ALL.
Copyright (c) 2022 By Dan Valenti, PLANET VALENTI and EUROPOLIS MANAGEMENT. All rights reserved. The views and opinions expressed in the comment section or in the text other than those of PLANET VALENTI are not necessarily endorsed by the operators of this website. PLANET VALENTI assumes no responsibility for such views and opinions, and it reserves the right to remove or edit any comment, including but not limited to those that violate the website’s Rules of Conduct and its editorial policies. Those who leave comments own all the responsibilities that are or can be attached to those comments, be they rhetorical, semantic, or legal. Such commentators remain solely responsible for what they post and shall be and remain solely accountable for their words. PLANET VALENTI shall not be held responsible for the consequences that may result from any posted comment or outside opinion or commentary as provided in, but not limited to, Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and this website’s terms of service. We serve as a marketplace of ideas, without prejudice, and available to all. All users of this website — including readers, commentators, contributors, or anyone else making use of its information — hereby agree to these conditions by virtue of this notice and their use of/participation in this website. When PLANET VALENTI ends with the words “The Usual Disclaimer,” that phrase shall be understood to refer to the full text of this disclaimer.
I’d actually like to see a civil debate on real issues, and not a grudge match with mud slinging about their personal histories and supposed failings, those guys both have salacious rumors, it just seems like the alf camp is taking the high road, and not posting them, like democrats typically do, while the bowler supporters are slinging dirt, real or not, like republicans often do (trumpers especially), which is odd in a democrat primary. i know for a fact bowler supports are making up lies about alf, and i know some fake rumors are 20-25 years old or more, so while fake, they have history, whether some others are based on bits of truth, i don’t know, but bowler’s rumors are just as troublesome, and i doubt he wants those aired either, so again, rather than turn tomorrow’s debate into a Jerry Springer episode, ranting about who slept with who, what matters tomorrow is the issues, so please stay focused, these guys are both state employees in high regard, and professionals with over 30 years of experience in their respective careers, how are they going to spend $22 million a year over the next term, how will they address crime in our community, rehabilitation of prisoners, complaints by women about being in Chicopee or praise from women about not having to be in Pittsfield’s jail, executive salary raises that are notching close to $200k, and will likely be that high by 2028 if the incumbent stays in office. as a taxpayer, i feel we need change, and accountablity, i don’t know how alf can change things, so i want to hear how he thinks he can, and i want to hear why bowler isn’t changing anything. i don’t care to hear about what they both do in their private time, or what happened 30 years ago. both seem to have supportive wives, so let’s leave that alone and find out if they have the intellect to do a good job over the next term, we generally never pay attention to what state officials do, so we really don’t know how good a job the sheriff has done, or alf for that matter in his department, so i urge the moderator here to keep these guys focused on the issues and not nonsense and not go for cheap laughs at either candidates expense.
I wonder if sexual misconduct allegations, if true, are “nonsense” to the woman involved. Also believe that giving such power as a sheriff position to an alleged sexual predator would be insane. I have no idea if the allegations are true or not but to just ignore them? Why would anyone say that? Do you work for Alfs campaign?
Carm was his idol
Taking a woman’s death from natural causes and turning it into a political forum without knowing any facts is taking the high road? Making false statement after false statement in press releases is taking the high road?
making that a news article was poor taste, but to be fair to alf i think the point was no one knew she died or why she died, none of it was public, alf did not know it was natural causes, how was he supposed to know? it could have been a shiv. he just heard a rumor a woman from berkshire died in the jail in chicopee but no one was talking, and he thought they were hiding it, so he let the media know he heard someone died and it wasn’t being reported. i think that backfired on him, the way it got reported, but hiding deaths in prison happens, and it shouldn’t. now the family is waiting for an autopsy for 2 months according to the eagle to confirm what happened. i think anyone wants to know if their family member gets locked up, they will get the best care and hiding deaths makes people not trust government. i’ve been fact checking alf in his press releases and while the contain spin, they are pretty close to completely accurate. the sheriff sent the women to chicopee, he didn’t use drugs to treat opiate addiction until just recently because he was outspoken against it (that’s in his interviews), he does pay his executives really high salaries, more than people make in the corporate world sometimes, and some other counties (i looked it up), what else was there, now I can’t remember? i’ll go back to his website, but everything he was posting looked pretty accurate and when the sheriff said it was misleading, he didn’t really argue facts, just said it wasn’t a fair portrayal of the facts, taken out of context and such, like paying people close to $200,000 isn’t his fault, he was one of the first of the last to use drugs to treat opiates. i think its clear alf doesn’t trust the current sheriff for some reason. maybe that’s a good question for the debate, why alf don’t you trust the sheriff? and i’d like to hear from the sheriff how alf is wrong about the things he is saying from his own mouth, and not filtered through the excellent writings of his campaign manager, sister, and eagle writer Donna. actually, if you don’t mind, please print the false statements here if i missed them so all of us can find out what they are, determine if they are false, and then form an informed opinion about who to support, because i don’t trust the words from either camp until verified.
Dan should set up a debate for you campaign managers too.
You seem to know an awful lot about Alf yet you say you aren’t him nor in his campaign. How do you go about looking up bloated salaries, especially in the schools? I think Alf could have been transparent with that when he was running the school committee. Also why did he and Sherm pass the new city charter in the middle of the summer when everyone was on vacation. Being transparent I guess
SHIRL
Just to be clear, to whom does “Sherm” refer? Thanks.
Alf’s buddy Kevin Sherman who pushed the “new” charter through, though it looks very similar to the one Northampton did around the same time
SHIRL
It was Kevin’s low moment. He’s too wishy-washy to initiate let alone push some the bad “new” charter. He simply followed orders and didn’t have the courage to say no to a lousy idea. As such, he was an accessory to a legal political “crime.”
this is the last one Valenti talks about, that alf released, i don’t know if the numbers are accurate, but i don’t know them to be wrong either, it all sounds plausible
click here
Please use punctuation.
What are the salaries being cut to under an Alf administration?
Very funny and wrong, very Orwellian of you. Dems make the lies and innuendos. Haven’t you paid attention to the fake Russia collusion and spying on American citizens illegally? But I digress. If you want an executive at the jail, that keeps the jail running quietly without issues always percolating to the press, why not keep the person in charge who has been running it since taking over for the last person who disgraced the Sheriff position? It makes no sense to me why a change is needed. For the record I am in neither camp.
I agree Shirley. The last person who disgraced the position, do you mean Barbalunga’s cousin? J Stoutman maybe if you knew about the sheriffs office (or the great job Sheriff Bowler has done) prior to campaigning for Alfie you wouldn’t have so many questions. But that’s okay because Alf doesn’t know what the job is either. It’s about the person as much as the role. Tom Bowler is as good as they come-honest, trustworthy, caring- I could go on and on. Alf has been handed every job he ever had and never worked a day in life. He openly campaigned for Andrea Harrington. Let’s think about how thats turned out. But you will probably campaign for her too.
you can be a caring person and be too generous with salaries. we need something tough to cut back on the wasted monies. if alf gets elected and can’t do it, we will replace him too. i don’t support harrington, i don’t know anyone who does. i don’t even think she supports herself, i don’t think i’ve seen one lawn sign for her.
JS
True enough. Tell you what: the man or woman who wins public office, any public office, and can stop or at least slow down the gravy train, shall be honored with a statue in Park Square. THE PLANET has $5 reserved to start such a find for such a person.
$5 isn’t enough, you need $200,000 at least to hire a consultant to find someone
JS
Yeah, but that’s why we’re doing something unheard of in “official” Pittsfield. We are doing it without a consultant. Same thing got Giordano Bruno burned at the stake in Rome, ca. 1600. If that happens to me, I prefer my steaks well done AND rare at the same time.
BEEN
Great line! “It’s about the person as much as the role.” Never said better.
“keeps the jail running quietly without issues always percolating to the press” That’s the problem…the jail IS being run quietly, but that doesn’t mean there are no problems. Nobody is reporting the problems for fear of retribution (legally known as employment retaliation). Just because nobody is reporting the lawsuits against the current Sheriff doesn’t mean they aren’t happening. I like Alf’s promise of transparency. Bowler’s ’empire’ at a public institution needs to stop. The public deserves to know what’s happening with the tax money that supports his empire.
Work ethic matters! Past performance in jobs matter! Bring on the facts!
Alf is the one slinging mud! Buddy you are off base!
Bowler has already provided a list of accomplishments. What has Alf accomplished while riding on his daddy’s coattails? I remember attending a School Committee meeting years ago when Alf served – and after seeing his school bus-stickered laptop, thinking “man-child.” His infantile lawn signs confirmed my diagnosis.
Is Alf responsible for a budget and if so, how much? Ask him how much it would cost to bring the 14 incarcerated females up from Springfield to the BC jail – he hasn’t a clue. His proposal to do such would cost a small fortune in order to duplicate the services they are provided in Springfield. Dumb idea!
Berkshire County voters – vote for a Sheriff with the integrity as well as the know-how, problem solving and accountability skills to do the job well! Vote Tom Bowler for Sheriff!
So because they have supportive wives sex crimes don’t come Into play????? Seriously??????
I would like to know exactly what was in the report that made a judge say Alf should be fired! That’s not a rumor, it’s a fact.
I’d like to know why he was promoted and not fired!
For the same reason Pittsfield is Pittsfield. Zero accountability. A Mockery of Democracy, should be the Pittsfield motto.
The people in charge do not care about you and no help is coming. Get out if you can. Get out for your children. They deserve better.
Formula for disaster, PP: 3c x 5m squared + zA = MC. Translation: Cash times 3 5 money squared + zero accountability = massive corruption.
And that judge who complained was run out of Pittsfield, sent to the outer reaches of the region for years.
If my memory serves me, I believe that judge also rejected a 6-month CWOF for the north county woman who embezzled over $30,000, that DA Wrong Way approved.
Nope. Different judge.
Ok-thanks
Which politically connected Pittsfield Democrat will win the Berkshire County Sheriff’s election in 2022 so that they can do nothing over the next 6 years (2023 – 2028) and collect over $200,000 per year in public pay plus perks and get to play Pittsfield politics with the Lovely Linda Tyer, Trippy Country Buffet, Paul Marxism, and company? Will it be Chief Probation Officer Alf Barbalunga or Berkshire County Sheriff Tom Bowler? Who will do better being the ultimate public payroll patriot?
If the Generalissimo runs on a write in ticket I may vote for him. I like the uniform and the cigar, two things every sheriff should have. It suggests sincerity and a deep knowledge of law enforcement.
Even Andy Griffith smoked a cigar and the crime rate in his town was minimal. Also, never saw a woman in his jail. Just sayin.
Name one person who was not connected and got a courthouse position
Water shortage in the Pitt. Complete with fines for watering your garden
Nothing about it on City of Pittsfield website. Maybe Flat Tyer could get someone to provide information rather than learning about on broadcast news or Left Winged Parrot.
I’m curious if they will have the splash pads and whatever else on during the timeframe mentioned ,you know, for the kids?It is going to be a hot few days ahead.
There was a 411 discussion about the splash pad water being recycled. Not sure but is it the same dirty sweaty water that just rolled off the big fat kid who was peeing his pants?
That was Pete, not a kid.
Funny all the businesses are running sprinklers at night.
How about car washes?
How about the water bottler on outter West Housatonic that sells bottled pittsfield water?
Was your E car when it’s plugged in.
You can even get fined for watering your garden with your own piss if you don’t put it in a watering can first.
High in nitrogen.
Lovely.
How does one post pictures here?
yes, quite, how you post pictures?
Let’s be real here. I’d guess about 90% of eligible voters in this county didn’t even know who the Sheriff was or that it was an elected position.
Why is it even an elected position? Who cares who manages the local jail and house of correction? I suppose inmates do. And their families. I guess the staff cares who their boss is.
But unlike every other elected position in this county, the average person has no skin in the game.
The Sheriff isn’t law enforcement.
Campaigning and slinging mud and making it personal is pointless. Who can run the jail, manage the money, and supervise their subordinates properly?
What a waste of time.
A Sheriff is generally (but not always) the highest, usually elected, law-enforcement officer of a county.
I tend to agree, the best person for Sheriff should be picked as the result of an interview process and should be subject to firing by their boss, be it the DOC or Governor, not be elected and forgotten for 6 years while they spend $22 million on whatever they want. We shouldn’t be electing the head of a jail and boss of 911 calls. Most people believe the Sheriff won’t effect their lives, but they could still effect their friends or family members, and the way the Sheriff effects the community is by making sure the inmates deal with their drug issues and learn some job skills so when they get out they are less likely to commit crimes or OD. If you get repeat offenders to stop offending, our crime rate goes down here. That’s simple common sense. So, maybe ask both candidates something about that. What is the rate of re-incarceration here in the Berkshires, the success of drug treatment for criminals, and what will you do to improve things so our crime rate goes down?
You want the job of sheriff to be a political appointment? NOT!
Alf’s already in a politically appointed job!
You are veering into the asinine now buddy.
Remember Carm and the damage he did, before you blow off the job of Sheriff!
What did Carm do?
They were taking his name off the door when I went into BCHC. I couldn’t access the newspaper because it was withheld because of the Reena Bucknell investigation where police misconductwas discovered on my case but i was jailed any wfay.
Another interesting question, Moon asked Harrington for a NDA payout which was allegedly not paid. Why if she wanted to be paid to keep something so important quiet is she not talking during this election cycle? Or was she eventually paid?
Was there ever an investigation into the ethics of that? And what’s the story with the OUI? Was that buried?
Pretty obvious Helen got paid to zip it on the ‘rape piece’. The victim had not yet reached the age of consent & the accused was an adult married with child, now he is a mass.gov official.
I have no idea, no one’s shed any light on it!
Sounds like play right out of the Mazzeo playbook.
Moon got paid via a “consulting” gig from campaign funds but via a third party. Harrington had Al buy and bury that story.
Funny. Handgun, not a journalist and with no exeperience moderating debates, gets paid as a consultant on an affair that took 10 people to set up. THE PLANET, alone, with an assist from a couple of good people (volunteers, no $$) managed to organize, set-up, and negotiate with the two sheriff’s camps what shall be the most interesting hour in the entire campaign. THE PLANET has done this as a public service. No $$$ changing hands. Who loves the community more?
You, Dan. But why are journalists not chasing down the GB Oui? Too lazy??
They chase what they are allowed to chase and I imagine that story is taboo times ten.
Why? Wouldn’t it be national news that a progressive pol who refuses to enforce selected laws tries to get away with not following such an important public safety law?
It is baffling.
Can’t say that they are or are not. Can’t speak for anyone else. At this point, we won’t speak for ourselves.
OK. THE PLANET has been “on it.” From my sources, who are as good as they get: The GB police chief had no OUI arrests at that time, only a domestic (that did not involve the D.A., by the way). A check with the MA State Police also showed no OUI arrests in the GB. Again, it was a very reliable source. Conclusion: Don’t believe it. It’s an ugly rumor and I am glad to clear it up. Neither Andrea nor anyone else deserves that type of jazz.
They had no record. That means nothing.
TEEDOFF aka YUSELESS
Try sending this with as many fake name with the same computer as you wish. See my answer that I sent to you c/o YUSE.
How do you know it took place?
No one said she was arrested. Come on. She was specifically not arrested. Really just like that you let it go?
YUSE
Both the GB police chief and the MA state police said there were no OUIs in GB that night. So what do you want me to do other than checking with two credible sources and triangulating with a third source who would know with 99% certainty. My investigation shows that the insinuation that Andrea was involved has no merit whatsoever. Now if you have other information, factual info I should add, you’re free to send it my way. Both in this campaign and in the sheriff’s race, there have been charges thrown around left and right, well above what you would expect even for a rancorous campaign. I try to allow as much free speech, unfettered, as I can. On the first amendment, I’m just shy of an absolutest. I will not, however, bring go with anonymous tips, ESPECIALLY after I have vetted to the best of both my ability and my satisfaction, which I have done here. As I said, if you have something, contact me, with your real name and contact info, and I will listen. One last thing. Passions are running extremely high in both races. One has to expect emotions and therefore judgment to become clouded. So you see, I didn’t “just … let it go.” Thanks for reading this board.
If there was a coverup it will leak out.
(1) COPS LIE!
and
(2) COPS LIE!
That goes for (3),(4),(5),(6),(7) and on and on……and on.
The suggestion was that a connected drunkard was stopped for drunk driving. But rather the follow the law and arrest the drunk driver on criminal charges of OWI, OUI, or DUI drunk driving, law enforcement covertly contacted the family of the drunk driver to come and collect their drunk law breaker. Perhaps the drunk law breaker is a police courtesy card carrying criminal. You know, those little “get out of jail free cards” those ‘let’s forget this ever happened’ cards that are doled out to drunkard and/or speeding reckless driving cops and their drunkard and/or speeding reckless family and friends.
Apparently they honor one thing, NDA’s. (She was under pressure to zhuzh her upcoming wedding, so it’s legit)
What is in the spending bill the liberals are all giddy about passing?
“Tax increase for people making <$400K
Funnels money to liberal slush funds
Hires 87,000 more IRS agents
Fuels more inflation
Adds taxes to US energy producers and manufacturers”
To Berkshire Tax Payers , We should be thrilled that someone (Alfred Barbalunga) is taking the leap of faith to run for Sheriff. The hate , lies , and down right ignorance of many shock me ..Do we want no one to run so that current sheriff goes on with his own corrupt ways . No over sight ? By having a contested election , we the tax payers are beneficiaries, because we get to have questions , and in sight to where 22 million dollars a year is going . Its healthy , but Monopoly s , Dictatorships , Mob bosses never enjoy being contested . Why ? Because corruption exists when people do not have to answer .. So since people are slinging mud , i thought id join the forum .. Sheriff Bowler wastes hundreds of thousands of dollars per year on unnecessary expenditures .. Horses being one of then .. Why ? Because he allegedly has been having extramarital affair with the keeper of horses.. Sound fair ? Waste tax payer money for personal gain? .. Sheriff is also allegedly involved in a corrupt campaign finance scheme run by local restaurant … More to come .. Be glad someone is running against Corruption , if it goes without oversight it get s worse .. Be glad the election is going to benefit tax payer at the end of the day .. Much more to come …
Are you Alf’s granny?
Is Soldoto still the horse whisperer
Glad we’re not slinging mud. If Alf wins it benefits Alf and only Alf. That’s all he cares about. Much like Harrington. I would say ask someone from the Great Barrington District but they want him gone so they won’t tell what it’s really been like with him there. They want Cliff Flynn to stay in charge, which he should be. He’s been doing the job since Alf was appointed anyway.
Thus, leaving the question who is to blame. Barb or Flyn ?
The Chief position beholds accountability to uphold policy. It’s best not to apply for Chief. Be that second in charge guy who actually makes all decisions on the QT.
If you looked up corruption in the dictionary, there’d be a picture of Alf, his dad, Cliff and Meriden Nilan.
I have known the keeper of the horses for 40 years, the keeper of the horses is 100% NOT SHAGGING the Sheriff. You’re dumb.
Alf has zero chance of being elected
Farmers are also being targeted. They want to pay them not to work and give their fields a very long rest which farmers have always rested their fields, but the far left wants to rest many of them permanently which could mean mass starvation in this country. Europe is 5 years ahead of us in doing this insanity and the people are protesting these Communist tactics which are leading to severe food shortages.
I hear that Biden is not allowing water from Lake Meade and the Colorado river to go to the San Joaquin Valley, where most of the countries vegetables are grown. His plan is for all Americans to get scurvy and need special medical treatment which his cronies will provide at elevated costs. He has been video taped damming up a section of the river using an old lawn mower with a plow blade on it to push mud into the river. I am personally going to write a nasty letter to him chastising this outlandish behavior. And Pat, I hope you will as well. We need to let him know that lettuce is a very important staple in the American diet and also that you cannot make a legitimate BLT without it. MAGA
Biden is a vegetable
Burnt and fried
Biden’s Chinese friend are buying up US farmland.
One farm was close to a US mislle base in North Dakota. Presumably to spy on the base.
“America LAST”
MT: every ICBM silo is properly marked from the road. They are sightseeing novelties for tourists. So what? Once a couple pounds of plutonium is launched everyone knows. In the Dakotas, it would be impossible to purchase a ranch that didn’t border at least one silo.
The CCP has other objectives probably worse.
They are snooping on communications and flying drones near the sites.
Good. I’d give them useful information. like, brand new bomb ready to roll. NO stopping it and plenty more where they came from and things like that.
Cheapest deterrent is (mis)information when backed up by a good measure of plausibility. Spying is as much a risk to the intruder as to the spied.
All foriegn owned farmland amounts to less than 2%
But who owns the domestic owners?
Russia and Hungary
Doubt Hungary.
How much is 2%
I love Don Trump
Biden’s sneaky agenda with this massive bill is to make the prices of everything so high and the taxation so high that people will be forced to severely decrease their spending. What is inflation but too much money chasing too few goods so taking money from we the people will lower our standard of living and bring down the inflation that his administration created in the first place.
Biden and fellow thieves are laundering huge amount of cash in Ukraine.
CBS just whitewashed a story that only 30% of the millions are making it to the military.
Instead of 76,000 IRS agents they should have hired oil pipeline workers and drillers
I figured this would happen. They are funneling millions into their own accounts or into climate change agendas to offset what they didn’t get from Build Back Better (so-called Inflation Reduction bill) which by the way is a slap in the face to working Americans because the way they want to reduce the inflation is by making sure working Americans can’t afford to buy as much. School personnel are totally in bed with the far left so are “being taken care of” by magic money found in the school department to pay off mortgages and finance tropical vacations in exchange for their complete voter loyalty to the far left.
https://summit.news/2022/08/08/cbs-news-censors-its-own-documentary-exposing-how-70-of-us-funding-of-ukraine-is-wasted/
“CBS News has sensationally censored its own documentary after the film exposed how only 30% of weapons funding provided by the US makes it to the front lines.
A tweeted posted by CBS on Friday promoted its new film ‘Arming Ukraine’ by explaining that the documentary “explores why much of the billions of dollars of military aid that the U.S. is sending to Ukraine doesn’t make it to the front lines: “Like 30% of it reaches its final destination.”
In the documentary, experts told CBS they had no idea where most of the weaponry was going.”
Would CBS know the locations of classified info such as equipment on a battlefield? Would you believe them if they said they did?
This would be a great time for you and Pat to migrate to Russia. And if y’all need any help packing up you stuff let me know.
Your the champion of socialism and communism. Why don’t you move to China so You can be with Traitor Joe’s good friends.
Some of us are seeing that Russia and China has come here.
Stay on topic
Trump cut the IRS and they can barely process middle class working man tax returns
Cite your source
Hard to tell if it has any clothes on?
TSC to the rescue.
Are you going to save democracy? Or, are you going to help Pittsfield’s vigilante, Barry Tyer, clean up crime?
You must recognize fascism to save democracy but saving one planet member would be quite an accomplishment…..you guys are pure Trump mushybrain
Was there a bank robbery in Pittsfield this morning?
Yes, GFCU on Kelogg
Let’s go into today’s debate acknowledging that, while Alf has been unemployed during this campaign, Bowler has still had a job to do. He has handled, with grace, all of the nastiness being catapulted his way, all while fulfilling his daily duties. Please consider too, that there are SO many allegations coming from SO many directions regarding Alf. These have to be taken seriously. If there are victims out there, even if their voices have been silenced, they should still be advocated for at all costs.
Additionally, if you still haven’t made your list of questions for the debate, I have a few for you to ask Alf:
-What happened to the original design on his lawn signs? Why was the Massachusetts probation seal changed to blue and red scribbles in the later batches?
-Is it true that he’s paying people to host lawn signs, or are people lying about that? Also, why have so many been placed on vacant lots?
-Why is Alf saying he hasn’t promised anyone a position at the jail, if elected, yet several of his team members state they’ve been told otherwise?
-I attended his campaign kick-off. I wanted to see what he was all about. His wife walked in late with their 2 small children in an awful storm. He publicly shamed her, on the mic, for arriving late. It was then that I made up my mind, but for the record, was this just a nervous thing, or does he always treat her that way?
-Is he aware of the “credentials” of the people heavily endorsing him? How the one claiming racial profiling at the jail actually has several assault and battery felonies pending against him? How his campaign manager has had about 8 jobs in the last 10 years and has no consistent experience anywhere, retired at 34? We won’t even get into the blonde and her track record of poor work performance, DA office drama, playing victim and lawsuits galore. The gorgeous Latina is a nice touch though…
I think that’s a start. Please don’t go in with a bias. The community really deserves to know the truth, good or bad.
Nice photo of Alfie and the “Gorgeous Latina” on Facebook taken at the Albany Times Union Center Friday night. It was posted on her Instagram account but then it was deleted. Someone must of took a screen shot and posted it on Facebook.
Stop seeing sexual conspiracies everywhere, it’s obsessive projection.
If you’re campaigning on family values and what a wonderful father and husband you are it’s definitely not a good look to be hanging out with the realtor who likes showing more then just houses.
This one? I found a bunch online I saved…
http://www.iberkshires.com/UserFiles/Image/Coakley%20endorsement.jpg
Alf want name recognition for when Bowler retires.Alf has zero chance to beat him.This is just a commercial for him in 6 years.He won’t win then either.
Trans Barry on his Cumby patrol last night.
You’d have to pack that trunk with a whole lot of junk, e.g. Ding Dongs, Ho Ho’s and blubbery whoopie pies for that to be barry, the 3 a.m. night crawler.
This post should be deleted.
Agreed
It’s just a human body
I get what you’re saying. We considered that, but we decided to include it for two reasons: (a) protected free speech and (b) shows what happens when these scooters are introduced to cities that can’t provide proper implementation of the program.
Drunk girl 2 AM just off North Street. She was drunk as fuck all and the cops just drove on by.
Boob-Scootin’-Booty
Should delete face. Looks like a minor maybe
Is this going to be broadcast on PCTV?
Schumer, Pelosi and Obama are celebrating the passage of this huge far left bill in the Senate this weekend. It promotes their big government socialist machine to impoverish the middle class and create a two tier society of rich and everybody else who is dependent on big government. Just don’t question them and they won’t unleash their IRS agents on you and don’t complain about your standard of living because you are so “lucky” to be dependent on big government. Obama and Michelle will celebrate by buying another tropical paradise and Schumer and Pelosi will be dancing in the streets from all the money pouring into their bank accounts from their investments in electric cars, windmills, and solar energy.
I am happy for them. Three great Americans who are not working for Putin and the Russian machine.
This is why we are going to lose our country. People have no clue as to what is happening. Being happy for people who want to lord it over you and reduce your earning potential? Please. Americans can think better than this. I know they can.
you obviously haven’t been following the truth. Hunter in bed with Russia, comes home and directly goes to daddy, why? Why would an adult go right to see papa after coming back from his foreign visits? Come on Man!! Fizzie even you and TSC can connect those dots
and Mara Largo was raided yesterday. The FBI was probably just throwing a surprise birthday party for the Donald. (or trying to get back government records he stole) FOX news is having hysterics.
Another corrupt government intervention, Where do former Presidents get their homes raided for an empty safe? Can you say “banana republic”? Every FBI/DOJ official involved in this decision should be fired and tried. I can still remember the First Lady Hilary being found with over 100 FBI files and nothing happened? Why would the first lady have FBI files on her opposition? Why wasn’t Hilary charged with having Top Secret information on her private server that just happened to get hacked? The swamp is upset and scared if they are raiding Trumps place, he has been out of office for 18 months let’s move on
The FBI opened Trump’s safe.
It was full of pictures of Hunter and Russian/Chinese hookers smoking crack, along with a copy of Hunter’s laptop from hell.
FBI has had a copy of of that laptop for >2 years now. When are they raiding the Biden’s?
What are Alf’s connections to Cavalier Management, Berkshire Dream Homes and the vacant lots on Tyler Street? Doesn’t his family own enough of the properties on and off of Williams Street, East Street and Elm Street that they don’t need to pull favors from other property managers? I mean, I get that his dad has a lot of hookups, but where is the ethics committee here? Is a sign really a sign if the people that live and work there don’t agree with it???
uh, no oversight?
http://justicedenied.org/issue/issue_24/berkshire_county.htm
Hmmm… so only about 1 in 5 Pittsfield citizens will ever vote? This is all just silly babble, to amuse and distract from the ENSLAVEMENT OF YOU ALL BY THE CCP / WEF / DEMONRATS.
You are in a deep deep pit and you are spending all your time just rearranging the furniture at the very bottom. Never ever will look up and GET OUT OF THE PIT.
What will you do when you see the military marching down your streets?
What will you do when all media is shut down and only the Emergency Broadcast System is in operation?
What will you do when all digital connections and access to your $$$ is cut off?
What will you do when there is no food delivery?
It is coming soon.
Just keep up the silly babble. That will take care of everything,
I agree. The people in this area are asleep or they know what is coming and think they are safe because they are in on it.
Go where exactly?
Biden loots the US treasury again to give his friends, aka crooks, in Ukraine US taxpayer dollars. Another 4.5 Billion.
This is after it was revealed that 70% of the aid already given, cannot be accounted for.
“America LAST” should be FJB’s motto.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2022/08/america-last-us-approves-4-5-billion-package-ukraine/
The Ukraine has been a country noted for its farm production and its political corruption. How much has Zelensky and friends pocketed, if anything?
They can’t account for 70% of what they have already been given.
I’m sure lots of it has made it back to the DC Swamp Creatures.
Don’t forget, “10% for the big guy”
$60 BILLION so far.
Countries not known for political corruption make up a short list. It appears to be a human thing that the powerful will take all they can from the lesser haves. Pittsfield is exhibit A.
Radical Republicans are always planting seeds for the paranoid
Moonbat democrats grew the seeds
From MassLive ” It has been two weeks since Bird e-scooters flew into downtown West Springfield, and they have already stirred up controversy.
Users parking the powered scooters in the middle of the sidewalk has led to complaints on the West Springfield Community Forum on Facebook.
Trumps home being raided now. 650pm. Monday
When will they raid the white house for the big guy?
Why ever are they raiding Mara Lago? Did he steal toilet paper?
don’t they already spy on them
This is Biden going after his political enemies. Biden needs to be stopped. He is probably now going to plant evidence in those boxes and blame it on Trump. Anything to prevent him from running in 2024 and Trump stopping the march toward Fascism in this country. These far leftist globalists are out of control.
Biden is even spying on patriotic law abiding citizens like me. Just last night while I was out illegally watering my garden I saw a low flying drone with a camera aimed right into my yard. At first I thought it was Tyers water police but then I noticed it had both the Presidential Seal AND Bidens name on it. This should make us all nervous Pat. I myself am having recurring anxiety attacks worrying about whether he is going to raid my complex.
No, you’re one of them. He wouldn’t go after your taxes. Unquestioning loyalty to the far left agenda is all that’s required to escape their wrath until they take their power even further.
If you think this is a sign that the traditionally conservative FBI has gone “radical leftist commie” and not that Trump is the criminal conman that he actually is, you are a deluded fool who has long abandoned reason.
When you start seeing hard right politicians like W Bush and Mitt Romney and the Cheneys as radical leftists, maybe you should reflect on the possibility that it is you who is a radical rightwinger pushing further extreme right.
uh huh….
Who’s looking forward to the:
https://businesspittsfield.com/eforall-berkshire-county/berkshire-business-resource-expo/
A collaboration of many local organizations all together in one space to promote business and economic growth in the Berkshires.
How strange it is to notice one name missing from the list of exhibitors: the infamous Berkshire Black Economic Council.
I believe this organization is probably the highest municipally funded group in town. With $500,000 in ARPA money lining their pockets, what are they actually contributing to the business community?
Is Warren too busy cooking cheesesteaks in Adams?
Is Shirley still resting from her (other-ARPA-funded) Ropes trip to Africa?
I know the embroidery folks have an actual business to run, so they get a pass. But Dews is unemployed and Shirls is on summer break. Why is the BBEC not exhibiting at this who’s who in the business community event?
Believe it or not, they actually got more than a half a million dollars in ARPA money. They got $700,000. What’s $200k amongst Flat Tyler’s friends, co-workers, or both?
The BBEC did use some of their money to hold a junket in South County. Nothing about building businesses either. Nope, it was a forum about needing everything black. Business, entertainment, anything under the sun, black.
The best part of that function, Warren and Shirley sit on a separate board, that “consulted” for the BBEC about needing this black forum. I’m sure they didn’t collect a “consulting fee” either….
Pittsfield is rewriting the definition of “consulting fee,” to mean: money laundering, bribes, and/or kickbacks.
MARK
Yeah. Don’t you love the new meaning of “consulted” and “consultant.” Nudge nudge, wink wink!
The Warren-Shirley Show appears to have all the earmarks of a con and sham, a “consham.” Appears. Could very well all be as innocent as the woman who posed for the Ivory Soap ads in the 1950s.
And the mayor and city council president seem to be knee deep in it because nobody gets that money without their approval. Thanks for looking out for us Pete. Oh, by the way, somebody found your dignity washed up in the foam at the sewer treatment plant. They are holding it for you.
Could very well be 99.99/100 impure African coal tar soap. That’s not washing off with pure YT Ivory Soap.
The child found unresponsive in Onota Lake, who recently died – was she with her parents at the lake or being supervised by someone else? Camp group, perhaps?
Wondering why no details have been forthcoming? Tragic event.
A miserable story. Please respect the parents and don’t dabble in this
From the July 28, 2022, Berkshire Eagle, “It was unclear whether any of the girl’s family members were on the beach.” I find it hard to believe that an 8-year-old child was alone at the beach. But I don’t believe there’s anything unclear about whether any of the child’s family members were on the beach when strangers pulled the child from the water and attempted CPR. I think everyone on the beach that day would have known if the child’s family was at the scene of this very sad tragedy.
Headline: It Was Over Before It Even Started
?resize=400%2C264
This is a Trump level weird assed hand shake. WTF
Not a handshake. This was the ballroom dancing segment.
alpha.
Here’s the deal with the now-famous handshake. It came literally the moment we signed off. At the start, Tom came in first followed by Alf. The two didn’t acknowledge each other at the beginning. I think the looks in the fellows’ eyes says it all, as well as when I ducked out of the way. Shucks, I didn’t think to bring a hardhat.
Looks like Bowler is attempting to break Barbal’s wrist and Barbal is counter striking. This is not handshake. Excellent work, Dan. Debates as they happened in the 19th century. The real deal guns, duels, broken pates all.
I view the challenger having the wrist twist and the overall leverage. One wrist is plum, flush & level. One is…
Dan, the first rule of product endorsement is to turn the can label facing the camera.
And why is Alfs name sign bigger than Toms? Did he bring his own?
Yeah! Is this a Spring Water promoted debate?
Bigger because his name wouldn’t fit on one line in that readable typeface. I won a bet with this remark. The wager was that someone would mention the bigger name sign. Proof THE PLANET was “in cahoots” (as someone charged) with Alf.
You win every time when you twist your opponents wrist.
You beat me.
https://youtu.be/1rOybip5AIo
Dan, you did a great job, especially for someone who did this all on your own, no sponsor, no payment. Who does that in this day and age? Thank you for always educating your public. You are more appreciated than you know.
Is there a link for the forum?
https://youtu.be/1rOybip5AIo
I found it
Alf “I’ll bring the chicks back the day I’m hired. Won’t cost a thing. Well, maybe there’s a bit of process, may take a bit. But won’t cost a thing. Then I’ll support them by hiring counselors, drug counselors, professional women supporters. Won’t cost a thing.
But hey, more chicks in Berkshire County Amirite??!!”
Excellent catch! And don’t all bad ideas start free.
Barbalunga landed some punches but Bowler held his own. Debate was a draw. Barbalunga came across as a pompous ass and was throwing the race and gender card around. He wants to hire more women to take advantage of. He is also related to Carm. Enuf Said. I would like to know how his retired trooper campain manager is getting a pension so young, and now barbalunga wants to hire him if elected, but he is already collection a pension. Something fishy there. Dan, you did a great job.
Barbalunga is a pompous dink and spoiled brat
Wish I could hit the like 100 times on this one.
Mauer had to retire from MSP due to an injury. He was a good investigator. I don’t know how he can retire from the state and then work for Berkshire County at a full salary. Not that he’ll have the opportunity.
Thank you. He is limited to a certain amount of income then from another state government job, unless he just gives up his pension somehow. Barbalunga is probably using him because he has a white mother and a black father.
Why is Alf sitting so far away? Looks kinda strange.
Tough call on the debate, probably a draw, the Sheriff seemed more mature, reasoned, and well informed on the female inmate issue, but stubbornly resisted that he could, like Franklin County, spend several hundred K and run a nice program for women in Pittsfield, Alf missed his opportunity to point that out, it was in the Eagle article. Not too much nonsense, the Sheriff quietly admitted he got rid of the horses, but Alf never really got into the expense of that. I think the Sheriff held his ground well, and Alf exposed a little weakness and appeared confident, but didn’t expound enough to sink him. Seemed like he had more to say at points, but the conversation moved on to another topic. Pudgy the ghost was a funny moment. If employees feel like the Sheriff isn’t around, and he claims to be in the office, he has a visibility problem. Alf says he has perfect attendance awards for twenty some years, so apparently people spread rumors that aren’t true. Someone put the sheriff’s sign on alf’s dad’s land and alf took the sign off, funny. I want to see another debate between these two where they get into the answers more. the sheriff didn’t really answer why he doesn’t have a person of color on his executive team after 12 years. promoting one guy after years to a captain or some other lower position isn’t enough to demonstrate equality. not enough talk about the budget to understand why the sheriff is paying people close to $200k. Alf seemed younger and less mature, but more open to new ideas and doing the work to realize goals, the Sheriff was caught off guard at times, especially on the shower issue, but overall, it seemed like if they weren’t opponents, they could have an intelligent conversation over a few beers and get along and maybe create a better product together than either would individually. I was surprised. sounds like the sheriff is getting a raise, definitely incentive to win this election, Alf is already in the hole for this race, so whatever raise he gets, it will take years to recoup. Not the best move financially, a big risk, but at least we got to see them debate, that was fun. Thanks for doing this Dan, hopefully more to come.
JS
Excellent review. Many thanks!
tough crowd here Dan, I can’t see any rule to it, what gets up votes gets down votes and visa versa. would love to get a group of people together from missouri who have no clue about either of these guys and have them review the facts, not innuendo, and decide who should be sheriff, because this here is a tainted jury pool. i haven’t found enough alf supporters to figure them out yet, i think they are simply motivated by issues, not loyalty, but it’s an elected position, it’s not a “dynasty”, as bowler claimed last night. pudge gets the pass on everything, and alf can’t be photographed with his sister without being accused of sexual improprieties. people are missing the facts between the lines and the eagle article on your debate, which was historic, was seriously flawed. iberkshires was more reasonable aside from lack of proofreading. is it too hard for people to believe that bowler was completely honest when he said he wasn’t building an empire, he was building a dynasty? and why did he get rid of the horses? i’m starting to see that as much as alf clowns around, he is like the court jester of old, he is telling the truth, along with jokes and whatnot it’s an imperfect performance, but he’s laying it out there, ripping the veil off, and people don’t like it, but don’t realize it’s more of an affront to their belief system than reality.
JS
Tough crowd is right. Tougher than when I did stand-up in a mob-run nightclub on Lark Street in Albany. You have the most interesting perspectives.
The plumber walked into a shower while a woman was occupying it 2013.
There’s attendance and attendance.
If he has those awards, show them.
But I think we all agree attendance, all though part of it, isn’t the biggest problem. It’s Alf forcing probationers girlfriends and wives to have sex with him for a no show probation report.
Alf should be pressed to release his discipline reports, as should bowler if there are any on him.
I marketed way back a coffee cup for workers who had visibility problems. It always steamed and you leave it on your desk when you want to be somewhere else other than at work. That way, you could step out, run errands, play, whatever and coworkers figured you are grabbing a coffee from breakroom
You an aho
Dan, you did a fine job yesterday allowing each sheriff candidate enough rope to gang themselves. Any undecided voter should watch the show. Barbalubga showed his true colors, hit below the belt by bringing up Bowlers wife, and declared the sheriff “Pudgy The Ghost”. Wow. Then he said Jack Quinn told him Bowler was done after his second term. Barbalunga is pissed the job wasn’t handed to him, and instead Bowler is running again, and Alffie Boy is playing dirty pool to try and get it, while pretending he is above that. A classic smarmy move. The absolute icing on the cake, which was allowed to go unchallenged, is his complete lie that he has managed a 102 person staff.
He couldn’t manange a McDonald’s. His102 line comes from him being the head of a probation assocation with that many members. Totally different than a real management job. And get this, they create an award in his name, and give it to him this year, so he can brag about it. What a freaking coincidence. Bowler should have knocked him into next month over that claim. Bowler better stop playing nice and hit back, hard and fast. Barablunga no doubt has more dirty tricks in his bag.
Yeah. Why Pudge didn’t respond I don’t know.
Well he seems kinda laid back.
I thought it wasn’t staff, I thought it was colleagues in an association, I think he only manages a few people he said, but he did chair the School Committee, I remember that, and remember, Bowler was a cop, he hadn’t managed anything before being Sheriff. We don’t even know his math scores from high school. I keep seeing double standards, and it’s getting so old. I’m so tired of politicians being elected with no experience and then being supported for already having held office. That’s total BS. One of the biggest problems with government is people holding office too long because brighter people can’t supplant the political machine created by incumbency.
The FBI after a ridiculous amount of time begging the traitor Trump to return our Top Secret files has had to go look for them in the traitors elite resort.They gave the Secret Service 2 hours warning in advance of showing up at the resort to retrieve our files.Who gets a 2 hour warning that you will be served with a search warrent…..what a sham of an search
TDS. If he kept something do you honestly think he would leave it laying around. I hope he did keep stuff.
Article I read said the government guys showed up awhile back and he had a room full of documents marked classified so they told staff to lock it up and they would be back, and then they went back. NO surprise there. Trump is a moron for stealing classified documents, he literally thinks laws don’t exist or matter except that without a good lawyer they may cause him problems, but they are just problems for him, there’s no respect for the rest of the world whatsoever.
TDS loves PMSNBC
I see you had time to get off your Bird scooter and comment.
Did you save democracy TSC?
As an NPR commentator (Dan. Schorr?) said after Putin gassed the hostages and Chechens that seized a theatre:
“The nice thing about a police state is that it is well policed.”
Didn’t matter to him that hundreds of hostages perished with 5 hostage-takers. I think the FBI is not so different.
check the toilets
https://youtu.be/wiut15edYrM
Alf running a woman’s unit at a jail
Two things from two different Forums stand out. One was stating if he had his druthers he would run for sheriff I assume that means he didn’t want to be sheriff to begin with. And the one yesterday with Dan he said he’s not going say who is voting for DA but the grass his wife bought it for Herrington. Clearly bowler had the better answer on that one saying he’s for Shugrue. But will work with either candidate excellent answer. With that being said I have to give the debate edge to Alf but it’s not enough I don’t think to beat Mr. Bowler.
Making accusations of infidelity lichens entrapment. That’s like assault to a family unit which should not even be used. Unless you are a person who does not value your family above all else.
I felt empathy, that was stealth bomber to women, in general. Casually alleging an affair in front of someone’s spouse on live ? Why?
Job security by creating family disturbances ?
Absolutely repugnant behavior. Agree.
Especially since Alf is definitely having an affair with his new blonde that follows him around everywhere
Fantasy projection. Prove it.
Hello Nunya, unlike you I’ll use my real name. I am who we would all assume you refer to as “his new blonde”. Im sure you are aware my name is Melissa. I’m not any man’s property, and your choice of wording on that accusation is disturbing but fitting for the Bolwer Dynasty mentality.
The false accusations you have thrown out that Alf and I are having an affair because I am a female and working on his campaign are wildly inappropriate and say a lot about you as a person.
I’ll continue to accompany Alf and the other committee members to events and ignore your sexual in nature bullying. To say I “follow him around everywhere” is another bold statement; do you think all women are like dogs? Would you characterize his male campaign staff the same way?
I welcome you to join me for a coffee or tea. We could have a conversation on the topic of sexualization and exploitation of women. Maybe you just don’t know better.
Melissa
It should not have been discussed at all. Agreed
Ah, yes. That smug handshake at the end that said everything he was thinking in this moment:
“I’m not worried about a thing. All my records are sealed, and Fran has doctored my attendance to perfection. Try me!”
“I deserve a prize for this performance. Let me make up an award and declare myself the winner again. Good idea, self.”
“If anyone has anything to say about this, I’ll shut them up with my threats, just like the others.”
“No one will ever think I’m lying about my own infidelities, now that I’ve aimlessly accused ‘Pudge the Ghost’ (my own, internally made-up nickname for him) of cheating on his wife of nearly 40 years!”
“Nope. I’m definitely not cheating on my wife, but just in case it’s too obvious, I’m glad I told my (girl) friend to delete the photos of us over in Albany on Friday night….”
“If this is a family competition, I have more kids than him. If it’s not, cool, I have nothing to do with my oldest children anyway…”
“Can’t wait to get OUR women back to Berkshire County!”
“That ought to shut his nieces up. I can’t stand dealing with educated, articulate women who have valid talking points.”
“I think I’ll issue another press release about this, even though I’m not the press.”
“They definitely believed my excuse that the sign logos have changed due to a poor print job and not because I wrongfully used a Massachusetts state seal on a political sign.”
“I think they even bought that my OWN people are stealing my OWN lawn signs to place them on vacant lots in high traffic areas, unbeknownst to me!”
“Hope my flared nostrils didn’t give anything away…”
“My followers are too oblivious to realize that I just stated I put aside over 100k to cover my cost of living for the next three months. 100k, for three months! Most of them don’t even make that money in three years. Ha! (Takes another sip from my $5 bottle of Smart Water…)”
“Maybe I’ll go to another community event, aggressively push my agenda on people to the point of disgust, and then write a Facebook post about how much I’m giving back to the people! Brilliant!”
“Seriously, how could this go wrong? Look at my campaign team: My puffy-chested, right-hand-man has never held a job for more than two consecutive years, and the blonde looks so cool in all my photos with her duck-billed, pouty faces!”
“I absolutely didn’t promise anyone a job….and if I did, why would they want it after working with me for the last two months? That sounded legit, I think.”
“I definitely made a valid point about that officer in the doorway, whose entire history I insinuated I knew but whose name I couldn’t even pronounce.”
“Hmmm, I wonder which people took my $20 to host my lawn sign and then ratted me out?”
“I feel like this deserves a billboard. I’m so billboard worthy.”
“I just lied for an entire hour straight and didn’t stutter once! I’m getting good at this.”
“I think I really proved my point about nepotism under Sheriff Bowler….”
“If this didn’t work, Daddy is always here to help.”
Good post. Well said.
I think in all that sarcasm, one big thing forgotten is nepotism. Alf wants to talk about the sheriff being responsible for nepotism hires and promotions but can Alf point to one adult job or promotion he got that was not a direct result of nepotism.
Also, very scary his admiration for Jack O’Brien, even if found not guilty in a court of law there were plenty of judges calling him out and stating that his hiring and promotional process was corrupt and benefitted multiple people close to him. They also painted a pretty clear line between political donations and hiring.
I agree that extramarital affairs have nothing to do with one’s ability to be sheriff. However, I do believe allegations of sexual misconduct at one’s professional place of employment are a very different story.
Can Alf explain why he thought he was celebrity enough that he needed to hire Sheriffs security details for his wedding.
Lastly, I never gave thought to the sheriffs point of a lack of candidates out there to fill clinical positions. A prime example would be PPD. It was how long ago they budgeted to hire their own and they’re still relying on an outside organization.
After Alf’s quick dodge and cover of who he supports for DA he states that it was his wife who supported Andrea not him. I’d love to hear Andreas take on that.
Not true. Alf openly supported her, during campaign, in the courthouse, in the DAs office, at debates. He made no secret of it.
Just happened to think, once Alf took a shot at Bowler for who he’s supported in the past – then he should man up and say who he supports. We all know it’s Harrington but he knows he’ll lose votes by saying it.
No one knows who Alf supports, he probably doesn’t even know yet.
Meanwhile I’m more less significant things your water bill‘s been in the mail last couple days check it out thank you Mayor Tyer and city council,and Fritz to you didn’t seem to mind rates going up all the time G-man was trying to knock it down
True. G-MAn made a relentless, heroic effort to get inside the water works and offer his views with the intention of providing alternative to the rising rates. Even if there was a small chance his consultations could save the city millions, city officials should have at least let him take a look. That would be necessary, I think, for G to devise a specific plan.
Why would anyone let that crazy kook in any building? He clearly has lost his marbles. Would you let a beggar in if they had some idea? Yeah, I know, he was involved 40 years ago. But that was 40 years ago. Watch him at council meetings. He is rude, obnoxious and just plain annoying. Maybe he could bring his crazy Russian friend in with him and the two of them can install a new system for $50.
Yes g man thanks!!!
Is that what happened, I thought I had a water leak.
I smell a narcissist.
So I’ve been checking signs since this, many still have the MA seal.
Yes, none of the originals had to be changed. Once he was warned, all of the new ones did…if you’re seeing the seal, it’s an original. Alf was smart enough to bring one of these yesterday.
Hmmm….Alf and smart in the same sentence?
Who said he was warned? Sheriff has his seal? What’s the big deal?
The sheriff currently holds the office. Alf is currently on a leave of absence and thus not a state employee or an elected official. Comparing apples and oranges.
Speaking of sign’s, traveling through parts of both Cheshire and Adams today I noticed more signs supporting Pudge and Tim. I know signs don’t vote but hopefully they do show intent to do so.
I saw some too today, on vacant land, supporters, paid, or placed hoping no one will notice?
This is incredible. Thank you.
Dan Valenti is a joke and the worst moderator ever
My heart broke for them, Donna, when I listened to this. This was nothing but hateful, hurtful slander. As a moderator, shame on Mr. Valenti; he has lost any credibility he may have had. He should not have allowed bullying and personal attacks to take place in a civil conversation. Shame on the Berkshire Eagle, as well, for printing unsubstantiated gossip. This will not cost Pudge one vote, but I have lost complete faith in any “reporting” Dan Valenti or the Eagle provides, and I know that bullying has no place in the Sheriff’s office. #VoteTomBowler
Dan runs a slander blog
Whaaaaa !!
FUV
Thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated.
Of course, moderating debates is as thankless a task as one would want, short of being the equipment manager for Kamikaze pilots. You’re literally the lad or lass in the middle, and feedback like this, especially in these volatile times, is expected. Happens on all levels: national, state, and international. If that moderator is a Big Boy, he accepts the slings and arrows at face value and moves on from there. Simple as that. That said, your comment is classic “shoot the messenger.” If you can take your emotions out of this, which is probably unrealistic if not impossible, you would see that I only “allowed” what the candidates themselves were willing to bring up in the debate.
As such, this forum was a tremendous public service. It allowed and will allow until Sept. 6 at 8 p.m. the electorate the chance to see more of the “real person” behind the candidates than the typical “suck-up” style forums. They are little more than “video-graphic campaign literature — podiums, pre-screened questions, non-answers, artificial time limits, and an overall stiffness. When I get involved with moderating these affairs, I don’t follow the template. I break the mold and do it in a way that produces better results, which, of course, explains the type of passion eliciting from supporters of candidates. I get that. I respect that. It’s out of my control, however.
As a moderator, I would probably be one of the last people you would ask about who “won” or “lost.” Assuming you’ve never done one of these, that is sit in the middle hot seat, and I have done many, you have no idea what it’s like. Plus, in addition to moderating, I also organized, produced (with the help of Big D,”demon videographer” Dave Brubriski), and SPONSORED the event. It’s kinda like trying to thread a needle in a hurricane. Lots going on that viewers don’t know.
“moderating debates is as thankless a task as one would want, short of being the equipment manager for Kamikaze pilots. “
Excellent!
One of the best local debates that I’ve watched. Other forums are just fluff.
AL
Many thanks!
Alf is what a dumb young Trump was
I’ll bet you have a trump love doll
School Committee, we know you have a love hate relationship with Trump. It’s why you are so obsessed with him.
Does anyone think of Mrs Barbalunga when they make up sexual rumors or just Mrs Bowler, there’s more than one victim here enduring public embarrassment.
Has anyone seen FB lately? Brandon Mauer’s attempt to save face ? Blame it all on YOU, Dan ! Pitiful
Why you even tried to back him and be in cahoots with him is beyond me. Serves you right.
NUN
They can blame it all on me! I’m cool with it. That’s the life of a moderator who’s actually doing the job. Provoking discussions of stuff that’s whispered, in open forum. The marketplace of ideas, babe! Oh, and for the record, I not “in cahoots” with anyone. I’m just lone guy, an H.L. Mencken, out there pitching for y’all, the Little Guys.
Phony Pelosi said today that nobody is above the law referring to the political raid on Trump’s home. Nobody is above the law except Pelosi’s drunken husband and their insider trading, Hillary who was plotting with Russia to take down Trump and keeping government information on her private server using bleach and a hammer to destroy much of it, and Hunter Biden and Joe Biden who were knee deep in corruption in Ukraine. Not to mention all of the liars involved in the Trump/Russia collusion hoax who have NEVER apologized to this country for their lies. All of these corrupt people now want to unleash the IRS on their political enemies to keep their money and power.
Someone should replace her next Botox shot with some truth serum! That would be fun!
Is Martial law next from the far left radicals or a permanent police state to protect these rulers like Pelosi and Biden? They are not just going after Trump. Anyone who questions their right to tell you how to live your life will become a political enemy of these power and money mad people. They are in their 80,s, but want to cling to all of this power. Meanwhile, all of the departments of our government are being taken over by these radical Fascists. The State Department is infested especially, but also the FBI and now the IRS.
Soft run going on now.
Dan,
Finally got to watch the debate you sponsored and moderated between the two candidates for sheriff. Excellent job! Absolutely the way any debate for elected office should be held and moderated.
This pothead at c c full of crap
Planet, did you really expect Alf or Bowler to admit to being guilty of infidelity?
CITY
No. But after the debate went in that direction, I wasn’t about to shut it down. That’s not what free speech is all about. You either believe in it, as I do, or you don’t. All I wanted was for them to respond, however they wished, for the record. What goes on in their private lives doesn’t interest me.
I’m sure you’ve seen both wives Dan. What do you think?
What politically minded men and women do in their private lives does matter. If a man or women with political aspirations funded by the taxpayers is a scoundrel in his private life, the tax paying public deserves to know this. If a man cheats on his wife, the woman he has promised to love, honor and be faithful to, you can just imagine what he’ll do strangers he has under his unquestioned control.
We disagree here. What people do in their private lives CAN matter but it doesn’t necessarily matter, ala Bill Clinton or Donald Trump. Both were effective presidents.
I agree. John F Kennedy apparently said he had to have sex all the time or suffer debilitating headaches. Jackie knew, it’s said, and accepted it; I doubt she wanted to be his Tylenol every 4-6 hours. I think what is important is whether these wives are supporting their husbands, no doubt they hear all the rumors, certainly Alf’s, people on here are posting daily he is having an affair with any young woman he is pictured with, and it’s getting ludicrous, the more posts, the prettier the woman, the less believable it gets, he’s over 50 years old, and does anyone ever stop to consider that young attractive women have brains and values and standards and can get young, attractive, single guys, and not settle for Alf? They know he is married. Every accusation against Alf is an accusation against women here in Berkshire County. It’s pretty offensive. I don’t know whether the story about Carmen was true, but I’m starting to see a pattern here, use sex to take out your opponent. Worked once, might work again. Watch the down votes accrue now.
Now the Democrats are going after other Republicans. This Republican just had his phone confiscated today by the FBI. They are on a major fishing expedition and if they don’t find what they want, they could easily plant evidence. This is as bad as what Putin does to anyone who threatens his power, but this is happening in America. I have never seen such corruption as right now in our country.
A lot of politicians are corrupt, and there’s a certain cadre of Republicans that were clearly complicit in trying to overthrown our government. They should have their phones confiscated, unless you want to lose our Constitution and have a dictatorship like in North Korea.
Donna Mattoon isn’t doing a very good job at being Bowler’s manager, but she IS being a sister. My question to her is “Do you want your brother to win?” Because he did win yesterday, despite the moderator doing his job. He takes information that he heard and he puts the politicians in the hot seat. Bowler did say he wanted Dan to “Bring it”. Dan respectfully prepared him.
This is an election. Dirt comes out and the moderators’ job is to see how they are under pressure, as well as informing the public of the ethics of both parties. My other question to Donna Mattoon “Have you ever been to a debate?” That’s what happens. Tough questions get asked. If you’re offended for your brother, whether you liked the questions or not, don’t embarrass him by making this personal, because it’s not. you’re not managing him by being offended. He’s probably going to win. So relax.
THAT GIRL
Well said.
Donna, as you say, was acting like a protective sister. I understand that part. Admirable. But she forgets she’s also the sheriff’s campaign manager. Those two hats have to be worn separately if she is to do justice to both. Campaign managers can’t be emotional or reactive and do their clients much good.
With respect to the debate, a debate in the general sense, she gave herself and the campaign a bad look with her protests. The sheriff is a big boy and he can defend himself, which he did just fine during the 1:02:43 of the event. The format of the debate, which as campaign manager she knew well in advance during our negotiations, would encourage free-wheelings exchanges.
You ask if she’s been to a debate. My guess is yes, since she was Mayor Bianchi’s #1 admin.assistant. I only know she wasn’t at this one. Also, not a good look for her client.
Bottom line: A tempest on Doppler radar discovered by Ch. 6 weatherman Howard Tupper in a teapot.
Thank you for taking the nude photos down, Dan. My sweet, church going mother reads this, as do my younger nephew and many co workers and BOSS. I’ve always spoken highly of you and defended you many times, and as much as you claim for the pics them to be free speech and poking fun at the ridiculous nature the scooters have become, I am certain no one was thinking of scooters while seeing this naked young girl. It upset a few people, and I felt you were naive for holding them there to make a point. I’ve known you personally over the years and I’m sure you don’t know who I am HERE, but I know you to be a man of good taste and very sweet, especially to animals. Maybe one of the nicest people I’ve ever known. Which was why I was surprised to see those (no…shocked to see them, actually!). So thank you for bringing this topic back on point. Every time I clicked to read updates (this is a good one!) I had to scramble past those, which actually made me furious.
I am one of your forever supporters, and I don’t want to see you in that light. That’s not who you are. Thank you for making that good decision. There are a lot of nasty people who send you things here. Nude photos don’t belong in a blog that’s this important.