Money talks

Of course, much of the time what it says is bullshit. The Globe story is useful to remind people that what they hear on commercial media can often be bought. But, really, did anyone ever expect wingnut radio to be fair? To be even-handed? To provide a level playing field?

Peter Blute and others like him (Rush, Bill O., to name just two) must indeed be entertainers. It's entertaining even to me that they pose as journalists when they're on the air, while claiming only the non-responsible role of entertainer any time larger responsibilities come up (say, just to name one, responsibility to truth).

When we gave up the Fairness Doctrine, we gave ownership of our commonweal's airwaves to people like these. It ain't coming back; better keep our bullshit detectors working.

Too good to be true

Sal DiMasi has worn out his welcome with the stink of insider dealing. Is it possible that reelection to the Speakership could have been his swan song? Here's hoping, but I'm not expecting that hope to come true.

Click photo for CCA ShareAlike 3.0 license.

Update (1/25): It appears that my pessimism was unwarranted. Man, I just can't get used to politics giving me what I want.

At this point, I'm sure there are many legislators who are kicking themselves for reelecting this guy Speaker three short weeks ago, but over time, betting on long shots like this sudden resignation would statistically not be good service to your constituents. So, to my friends who are freshly in the legislature, look forward, and don't worry about voting as you did on Jan. 7.

Expressed remorse? Really?

Tom Finneran's only continuing his appeals because...?

It's a rare occasion when I side with Mitt Romney, but "no comment" is about the furthest I could imagine going toward yes if asked to support a pardon for Finneran. Actually, I'm not even going that far.

Of course, the special bonus for me is that Eric Fehrnstrom had to restrain his usual outrageous invidious knife-twisting rhetoric.

Mitt Romney's Massachusetts GOP

Oops. Ogonowski misses the mark.