BY DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE WEDNESDAY SEPT.  23, 2025) — Last week, THE PLANET had the pleasure of delivering an author talk in the guise of alter-ego, writer Dan Valenti. We changed in a nearby phone booth, spoke for an hour, took questions, then sold and signed books. We’ve been doing this since late spring in various cities and locations.

The audience included a former city office holder who happens to be on the November ballot. In the meet-and-greet, this person, X, thanked us for the talk. X looked familiar but we couldn’t place it.

X then said, “You’ve written about me.” It clicked.

X then expressed a most welcome thought: “You are much different than I thought or expected.” In so many words, “You’re not the monster some people say.” In other words, X had discovered the actual person, that kind, considerate, articulate fellow–well met and gentle.

X took the trouble to get to know the chap rather than ignorantly stumble around believing the wild tales and myths about who we are, how we are connected, and how we love kicking canes from under old ladies crossing North Street by Newberry’s.

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This happens all the time for public figures. Too many people confuse what they see and hear for the reality. They mistake “persona” for “the person.” This think the performances are the predictors of the actual person.

Does that mean THE PLANET isn’t sincere in our opinions and commentaries? Not at all.  Truth in commentary subsists independently of the vehicle of delivery. We offer this blog as a public service to (a) inform (b) get people to think and (c) stimulate public debate.

This experiment in median comes with the luxury of unilateral control, no councils or committees hindering us with the tarpit of bureaucracy. The words we write and speak stand on their own. We will have it no other way. When confronted by a hothead, we often shock by (get ready for this) ACTUALLY LISTENING TO WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY. They expect a waylay, but they get a hearing.

THE PLANET is a provocateur and a polemicist. We can argue both sides of any argument that has a reasonable “both sides.” For example, we would not want to make the case for tiny TV sets being planted in asphalt to secretly monitor citizens, but if you took a contentious issue such as the death penalty or abortion, we could take–AND WIN–both sides.

We did this once in debate. At Union College, on successive weeks we argued the yeah and neah sides of the same issue against students from Colgate and Cornell on “Resolved: Students should be allowed to skip class without penalty and shut down a school building in peaceful protest [against the Vietnam War].” We won both times case.  Oh yeah, and we shook hands after and went to the Rathskeller for pitchers of golden lager. We didn’t cancel anyone. No one screamed or shouted anyone down. No one got violent. We were young adults back then, and we knew how to c-o-n-v-e-r-s-e.

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In Massachusetts, citizens labor under a government that’s 90% radical left-loon Democrat. Predictably, this form of totalitarian rule has imposed a wanton ideology upon its overtaxed, underserved middle class. Poisonous identity politics have replaced merit and worth when it comes to filling positions and making policy. The results speak for themselves both at the state and city levels, or do you think something monstrous like the dreadful Two-Pete Government would EVER stand a chance at winning an election in anything other than a rigged game?

If, however, the Bay State had a 90% hard right government, we would be presenting the other side, all to fight against the imposed rule of one-party, unimaginative, bureaucratic apparatchiks.

Fact is, you will never know what lies within our heart … unless you ask, privately, in a place and at a time where we can conduct intimate dialogue. The only weapon you’ll need is your intellect.

Such a thing can still be done. You only need two willing parties closed to the ignorance of cancel culture and open to the free exchange of ideas.

THE PLANET always remains willing.

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One time’s a fluke. Two is a trend. Three times is a pattern” — Sir Donald Turpentine, Knight of the Bath.

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

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