USA

By Jack Hoffman

You must admit one thing: This Republican nominating process has got to be the biggest joke of the century. Maybe it’s just the clowns? You know the old saying: Falling into a pile of shit and coming up with roses. It used to be that the Democrats didn’t know their right shoe from their left. And yet they elected the best presidents of the century. But the Dems are back with a leader that in time may be one of the greats. The big joke is the Repugs throwing their not-so-smart politics in the air, completely missing the wall in front of their faces and having it all fall into one big pile of elephant dung.

So the Republicans can’t talk issues and when they fail, they resort to social issues that I thought were settled 30 years ago. Don’t you just love listening to the biggest advocates of downsizing and sending work abroad stand up and with a straight face discuss jobs-jobs-jobs. Especially Mitt Romney talking about the jobs we need after his company, Bain Capital, made extra benefits by sending jobs packing and hiring folks at roughly $8 an hour. Benefits (for Mitt) meaning lots of money for Mitt. I’ll bet the Dems are still adding up all the jobs that Bain sent packing.

In case you missed MSNBC on a not such a big deal Super-Tuesday, filmmaker Michael Moore was being interviewed by TV host Rachel Maddow. “So, Micheal Moore, what about the controversial contraception issue? The black hole that Rush Limbaugh has so conviently put himself and his Republican cohorts into.

Michael Moore: “I just heard that 33 sponsors have just pulled out.” “Pulled out!!!”

If you don’t get the joke, go into another room and read it again.

Several months ago I wrote my reasons for why Mitt couldn’t make it. Two important reasons: He is a Massachusetts blue blood who has country club written all over him. He doesn’t no tidily watt about what’s “on the street.” Real life for real people (hence all those Romney gaffes we keep getting) This may be good for the Worcester Country Club gangs in the South who still are trying to keep not only blacks, but also Jews from their clubs. Second and most important: Romney is a Mormon. And if you spent any time in the South with all those born again wackaroos you know Mitt is not going anywhere. How this guy made it so big in business is beyond me. And let’s not forget he left MA with a 27% favorable rating.

Sure Romney balanced the state budget! It’s in the constitution! He didn’t raise taxes – he just upped the fees for almost anything and everything. Could his business success in the Olympics be attributed to the cool billion $$$ from that nasty government of ours he loves to criticize? The truth is the Mormons used their political might for that money.

And just when you thought Romney was going to win the fickle finger trophy along comes Santorum and his tribe of ____ (don’t make me.) like a 1 1/2 mile closure he is going to keep me laughing. That wasn’t until Santorum – “the messenger of God” – got into the race and started to tell us about the baby—I already told that one. OK, here it is again. Santorum and his wife a neonatal nurse at the t ime had a preemie baby that died within two hours of being delivered. The Mrs. and Mr. took the dead baby home so that the rest of the family could see what ma ma was carrying around.

One last thought: Remember, George W. Bush got to be President of the United States! So don’t take anything for granted. The Repugs already have 40% of the vote!

My computer is failing, so I’ll just quit while I’m ahead … .

By Chris Horton

The American people weren’t born stupid. How could we be? For three centuries the best and brightest made their way here looking for a fresh start, to escape from the tyrannies and rigid class systems of Old Europe (and Old Asia,) from the legacy of the Conquistadores, from wars and dictatorships and the bondage of poverty.

It was said that if you work hard, you can make it here, and the people who came were the ones who were willing. And work hard we did. It’s said we are the hardest-working people on Earth – working longer hours, longer weeks, working faster, with less vacation time and later retirement than anyone.

Our children could always go farther than we did – with the best schools and colleges in the world, with nothing stopping them from moving up in the world and giving their own kids an even better start.

So how could we be stupid? Click to continue »

By John Monfredo, Worcester School Committee

The school year has come to an end, and one of the issues that I have discussed for several years has been an anti-bullying law for Massachusetts. Finally, last year Massachusetts became the 45th state to enact an anti-bullying law. Unfortunately, it took the suicides of 11 year old Carl Walker-Hoover of Springfield and 15 year old Phoebe Prince of South Hadley to convince state lawmakers to enact a state law.

Since being elected to the School Committee, I have been a strong advocate for anti-bullying legislation for as a former principal I saw firsthand what it did to our children. Bullying is unfair and one-sided. It happens when someone keeps hurting, frightening, threatening, or leaving someone out on purpose.

It wasn’t that long ago that bullying was often overlooked by teachers and parents, dismissed as a common if painful, rite of passage along the bumpy road to becoming an adult. This is not so any more as research has stated how devastating this behavior can be to the individual. No longer can we can say to the students, “Work it out” for they need to learn specific strategies to cope with these situations. Click to continue »

Corporal Matthew Boisvert Receives Fellowship to Volunteer with NEADS

LOWELL – After returning from his second tour in Iraq, Marine Corporal Mathew Boisvert was unsure how to continue his life of service here at home. Having lost a leg and the use of his hand in an IED blast, he was forced to give up his military career. Corporal Boisvert struggled to find a civilian equivalent to the sense of respect, trust and integrity he developed in the Marines. Then, he found The Mission Continues.

The Mission Continues Fellowship Program provides post-9/11 wounded and disabled veterans the opportunity to regain purpose in their lives after the military service has ended.  Veterans learn to translate their military experiences into civilian skill sets, while earning a modest living stipend.  A typical fellowship covers 28 weeks, during which the Fellow serves his or her community through a local charitable organization. 

Boisvert received a Mission Continues Fellowship to volunteer with National Education for Assistance Dog Services (NEADS), a non-profit that trains service dogs for veterans and disabled Americans. The project gave him a new purpose by uniting two of his most fundamental passions – the rehabilitation of shelter dogs and service to his fellow veterans.

In the future, Boisvert hopes to pursue a degree in applied animal behavior and open his own animal rescue shelter. His fellowship with NEADS provides the hands-on experience necessary to make that dream a reality. “After going through these life lessons and becoming part of the community again, you look at the world in a different way,” Matthew says, “I want to make things better for people.”

About The Mission Continues
The Mission Continues is a national nonprofit organization with a mission to build an America where every returning veteran can serve again as a citizen leader.  Founded in 2007 when Navy SEAL Eric Greitens returned from Iraq, the organization offers paid service fellowships to wounded and disabled veterans, awarding 156 fellowships in 25 states to date.  In addition, The Mission Continues has mobilized nearly 17,000 civilian and veteran volunteers to complete over 300 service projects across the nation.  For more information about The Mission Continues, please visit www.missioncontinues.org.