Last fall, I despaired for my neighbors in Massachusetts. It looked very much like they were going to elect Deval Patrick their governor. He ran on platitudes and good feelings and charisma, but gave hints of how he would govern -- and it was very far to the left.
Well, he won, and his winning slogan -- "yes we can!" -- appears to have finally found a meaning.
"Can we run this state even farther into the ground? Yes we can!"
First up, Governor Patrick was presented with a chance to participate in a national movement to honor President Ronald Reagan on what would have been his 96th birthday. All told, 33 governors signed proclamations declaring February 6 "Ronald Reagan Day." 17 governors either ignored the request or openly refused -- and Patrick was firmly in the latter camp.
Just to confirm his intentions to fill the stereotypes of liberals, Patrick is also looking to "reform" another state program. The Criminal Offender Record Information program provides potential employers with access to applicants' criminal records, listing convictions. Patrick, saying that he doesn't want all crimes to be "life sentences," is proposing that it be limited to only those crimes "relevant" to the job being sought.
I can just see where this is going. Highly-paid consultants to establish just what sorts of crimes are "relevant" to what sorts of jobs. Lawsuits by disgruntled ex-cons saying that their convictions were not "relevant." And employers getting sued for hiring felons who end up committing crimes.
Even the Boston Globe -- to whom Patrick owes a decent chunk of his election -- has its doubts. Currently, the city of Boston is following the model that Patrick is leaning towards, and that hasn't worked out too well:
In Boston last week, the Globe reported that a public works employee who was suspended after allegedly running down a 64-year-old woman with a city snowplow had a long history of drug violations and driving infractions when the city hired him.The city did not check the record of the worker, Joseph M. MacDonald, because of (Boston's Mayor Thomas) Menino's new employment policy.
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Mass. Insanity
Comments (13)
is proposing that it be ... (Below threshold)1. Posted by mantis | February 12, 2007 11:32 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
is proposing that it be limited to only those crimes "relevant" to the job being sought.
Crazy. What kinds of jobs is murder relevant to? Rape?
1. Posted by mantis | February 12, 2007 11:32 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 12, 2007 11:32
2. Posted by Scrapiron | February 12, 2007 11:55 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Mantis: Consultant or assistant to any Dhimmi politician.
2. Posted by Scrapiron | February 12, 2007 11:55 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 12, 2007 11:55
3. Posted by Jo | February 12, 2007 11:57 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Hey, even murder is not relevant to a job. Ask Massachusetts neighbor Ted Kennedy.
3. Posted by Jo | February 12, 2007 11:57 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 12, 2007 11:57
4. Posted by wavemaker | February 12, 2007 12:04 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Hell, at the MBTA, a criminal record is practically a job requirement!
4. Posted by wavemaker | February 12, 2007 12:04 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 12, 2007 12:04
5. Posted by Gianni | February 12, 2007 12:17 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Just when I thought they couldnt get any more irrelevant/far left.
5. Posted by Gianni | February 12, 2007 12:17 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 12, 2007 12:17
6. Posted by John Irving | February 12, 2007 1:43 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Scrapiron, looking at mantis' comment, I'm pretty sure he was expressing disagreement with the new policy, not supporting it.
Now, I wish he was a consultant or assistant to many Dem politicians, they'd make a hell of a lot more sense.
6. Posted by John Irving | February 12, 2007 1:43 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 12, 2007 13:43
7. Posted by Mark | February 12, 2007 2:40 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
The return of Michael Dukakis-style criminal coddling! Who knows? Maybe Willie Horton could become Governor Patrick's chief of staff...
7. Posted by Mark | February 12, 2007 2:40 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 12, 2007 14:40
8. Posted by mantis | February 12, 2007 5:39 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Now, I wish he was a consultant or assistant to many Dem politicians,
They won't have me, I disagree with their sacred cow positions too often.
Plus I'm a prick (maybe that would help, actually)
8. Posted by mantis | February 12, 2007 5:39 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 12, 2007 17:39
9. Posted by drjohn | February 12, 2007 5:45 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
This is wonderful news for sex offenders who have unfairly prevented from operating children's daycare centers!
9. Posted by drjohn | February 12, 2007 5:45 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 12, 2007 17:45
10. Posted by Harry | February 12, 2007 6:07 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Accurate observation except that "Together We Can" is Deval Patrick's predicate-free campaign slogan.
10. Posted by Harry | February 12, 2007 6:07 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 12, 2007 18:07
11. Posted by slingshot | February 12, 2007 10:28 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
how many of you braying jackasses would expect to see any future republican governors participating in a bill clinton birthday party? what? I don't hear anything. seriously, speak up.
secondly, typical of the shills and their brethren, having little to no information about something doesn;t mean that your knee-jerk reactionsim does not spout forth immediately to shout down legislation that has been only proposed and which you know none of the details of. ti explains everything. did rish sy this was bad idea on his radio program?
ok, bring on your ad hominem attacks. i'm ready.
11. Posted by slingshot | February 12, 2007 10:28 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 12, 2007 22:28
12. Posted by SCSIwuzzy | February 12, 2007 11:02 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Sorry Slingshot, I think you brought enough.
12. Posted by SCSIwuzzy | February 12, 2007 11:02 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 12, 2007 23:02
13. Posted by Bruce | February 13, 2007 8:43 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
One look at the '84 electoral map, and one has to wonder why anyone woudln't want to celebrate the lif of such a uniter as Reagan was.
I thought the Dems were all about unity and bringing the people together so we can all live as one giant happy village of blissmuffins.
Oh wait...that's unity and togetherness of their own kind.
Never mind.
13. Posted by Bruce | February 13, 2007 8:43 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 13, 2007 08:43