Fetherston Suspends Campaign and Endorses Sullivan

Next Gomez? (0.00 / 0)

I would hope that the thought has entered his head or even better yet that someone has approached him.  I think a primary is great, but I'm unsure of what Gomez brings into the mix.  

Sullivan vs Winslow will be fun to watch.

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"That it ceased to exist, I'll grant you, but whether or not it failed cannot be definitively said." - Metropolitan (1990)

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by: Patrick @ Sat Feb 16, 2013 at 01:23:14 AM UTC

No Chance (0.00 / 0)

This nut actually thought he had a chance? Ha.  Ashland should throw up a corpse to replace him on the select board.

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by: MiddlesexMan @ Sat Feb 16, 2013 at 11:59:26 AM UTC

Hey Middlesexman... I mean Brian Burke... Do you hear what they are saying about your.... (0.00 / 1)

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by: TomKinison @ Sat Feb 16, 2013 at 18:17:03 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

MiddlesexMan Is Not Brian Burke (0.00 / 0)

 MiddlesexMan is not even in Middlesex. He's from that big red blob in Massachusetts, Southern Worcester County.
I like Brian Burke. He is a fine Statecommitteeman who reached out to me to assist him in forming an RTC in his district.
It is great to see people trying to grow our party. Best wishes Brian!

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by: billxi @ Mon Feb 18, 2013 at 01:46:26 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Could someone educate me...? (0.00 / 1)

Who is Jon Fetherston and why does he think he was qualified to run for the US Senate?

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by: Simple J. Malarkey @ Sat Feb 16, 2013 at 21:02:24 PM UTC

He was elected Selectman, (5.00 / 4)

That puts him ahead of Gomez.

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"That it ceased to exist, I'll grant you, but whether or not it failed cannot be definitively said." - Metropolitan (1990)

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by: Patrick @ Sun Feb 17, 2013 at 03:35:49 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Gomez (0.00 / 0)

I know the Gomez candidacy better than probably anyone who is going to comment here.  And to be clear, despite that he didn't bother to reach out to me and I am in no official position to speak on his behalf.  But from the perspective of a Republican who has earned his stripes over nearly 30 years of thankless work, I believe Gomez both has a legitimate shot, and deserves it.  

I could post a list of allegations against Sullivan, which I won't, but if you've been involved in primary battles you no doubt already know of.  I first met him as a spokesman for the Phil Gramm effort in '96 -- granted Gramm wasn't the establishment's candidate but it provided insight on Sullivan.  History repeated itself for the next (nearly) 20 years.  

In parallel, I had mixed results with Gomez, but he was much more likely to go out of his way to help GOP candidates than any others in the field.  Certainly I would support whoever is on the GOP ticket, but there is no question to me that Gomez would be the strongest contender.  I wish Sullivan was a consistent Republican and a stronger candidate, but he is not.  In contrast, Gomez can bring real excitement to the race.

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by: Cohasset02025 @ Mon Feb 18, 2013 at 03:42:50 AM UTC

I don't know Gomez at all. (0.00 / 0)

My feeling is that a lot of people also do not know Gomez. Since he won't be talking to the media for a while more, perhaps you can answer some questions people have?

You mention that he would be much more likely to go out of his way to help GOP candidates.  What is this based on? When has he done this in the past?  As others have noted, he has an odd history of political donations that is in need of an explanation. Can you shed any light on that?

I'm also curious to learn more about these allegations against Sullivan. I really dislike when people dangle things such as you have done.  You could post a list, but won't...

I'd rather you do post something so that I, and others, know what you are talking about.

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"That it ceased to exist, I'll grant you, but whether or not it failed cannot be definitively said." - Metropolitan (1990)

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by: Patrick @ Mon Feb 18, 2013 at 04:59:05 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Look I'll tell you what Gomez has done... he endorsed and donated to Barack Obama over War Veteran and Republican John McCain in 2008... (0.00 / 1)

...And Gomez gave $1000 to Democrat Alan Khazei instead of Republican Scott Brown for U.S. Senate. Gomez has never helped a Republican only Democrats. And he finished deadlast in his defeat for Cohasset Selectman.

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by: TomKinison @ Mon Feb 18, 2013 at 17:44:39 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Translation (5.00 / 2)

Cohasset02025 is still mad about things that happened in 1998.

Post your list or keep quiet.

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by: Bravehaht @ Mon Feb 18, 2013 at 12:23:41 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Ok Cohasset02025, now you say Mike Sullivan has dirt? (0.00 / 1)

If your going to suggest innuendo that Michael Sullivan is corrupt then you better provide the information for the public, then throw mud.  The Gomez Campaign should not be mudslinging Sullivan!

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by: TomKinison @ Mon Feb 18, 2013 at 17:39:14 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

If the Gomez campaign is going to go around spreading innuendo that Michael Sullivan has dirt, then what is it??? (0.00 / 1)

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by: TomKinison @ Mon Feb 18, 2013 at 17:46:43 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Speaking Of Shit Spreading (0.00 / 0)

   You posted that MiddlesexMan was Statecommitteeman Brian Burke. You are egregiously wrong! I know both men.
  If you wanna toss the shit, you had better step out of the hip-deep puddle you're in.
  Otherwise your credibility is only one step above Simple/Pogo/Festus/Frank.

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by: billxi @ Mon Feb 18, 2013 at 19:27:58 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Ok so billxi/MiddlesexMan/Brian Burke... (0.00 / 0)

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by: TomKinison @ Mon Feb 18, 2013 at 20:47:01 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Just answer the question... why is the Gomez spreading dirt about the 1998 incident involving Michael Sullivan??? (0.00 / 0)

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by: TomKinison @ Mon Feb 18, 2013 at 20:49:19 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Stop... (5.00 / 1)

Billxi is NOT Brian Burke.  He's a well known activist from central mass.

Every person who you get into a fight with on this blog is not Brian Burke under a secret identity.  Not Billxi, not MiddlesexMan, not Me.

Frankly, you're not one to be throwing stone about people using false-flag user-ID's "Tom".

We get it.  You hate Brian Burke.  So here's an idea, write a fact-based post detailing why Brian is a bad SC member.  But  be aware, I'm 99% sure he's not going anywhere for three years.

You're the first person in 6 years I've felt compelled to delete a comment by for it's personal attacks.  Dial it back.  Better yet, just let it go.  Burke's not going anywhere.

Follow me on Twitter?  Sure, why not.  www.twitter.com/paulferro

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by: Paul R. Ferro @ Mon Feb 18, 2013 at 21:26:36 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

So you're telling me billxi = MiddlesexMan = Brian Burke = Paul Ferro ????? (0.00 / 0)

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by: TomKinison @ Mon Feb 18, 2013 at 21:36:30 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

No, I told you the exact opposite, Doug. N/T (0.00 / 0)

Follow me on Twitter?  Sure, why not.  www.twitter.com/paulferro

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by: Paul R. Ferro @ Mon Feb 18, 2013 at 21:47:08 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Words from Paul (0.00 / 0)

PAUL FERRO's Words:

"I've criticized Cavaretta, (who, by the way, my City Committee donated and raised thousands for in 2012, why? Because I support Republicans) under my own name on both this website, and twitter.  I'm not shy about saying Deans a  loser.  I just held my tongue until Dean Critisized Me, on this website!  He can apparently dish it, but when hit back whines like a baby.

People are welcome to have whatever opinion about me they want, Tom Kinsome thinks I'm two-faced for some reason ( which is funny, because I've actually been told I'm "too honest" to people, but, hey, whatever.)

I could have just deleted Deans post attacking me by name because I  wrote a post that was "100% accurate" ( Matt Sisks words, not mine), but I didn't.  I'm a semi-public figure.  It comes with the territory.  If I wanted to continue to beat up on Dean, I don't need a non de plume.

Personally, I doubt MiddlesexMan is Burke, doesn't seem his style.  You think he would abstain from the chairmanship race, and randomly write a post attacking ten random Republicans?  Doubt it.  Also, it's a horribly obvious screen name, but, hey, could be wrong.

BTW, my initials are "PRF".

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by: TomKinison @ Mon Feb 18, 2013 at 22:06:57 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

And? (0.00 / 0)

You accused me of being MiddlesexMan, and I responded that to the contrary, when I Critisized someone, I did so with facts.  In Mr. Cavarretta's case, I did so in detail, with back-up links to OCPF.  When I Critisized Ms Hughes, not one person said what I wrote was factually incorrect, in fact HER campaign supporters, including her campaign manager, told me in front of witnesses everything I wrote re: Ms. Hughes was "100% accurate."

I get it.  You don't like Brian.  I'm not here to defend the guy.  Heck, I ran against him for SC twice!  

If you have reasons, lay them out in a RMG post, backed with facts, and lay it out there.  Heck, I might even front page it!

But accusing everyone of being Brian Burke is weird.

Taking shots at his kids will get your post/comment deleted  the first time.  The second time, it'll get your account deleted, and your IP banned.  This isn't baseball.  You don't get three strikes.

Follow me on Twitter?  Sure, why not.  www.twitter.com/paulferro

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by: Paul R. Ferro @ Mon Feb 18, 2013 at 23:29:57 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Gomez and Sullivan (4.00 / 2)

As I stated at the outset of my previous post, I have nothing to do with the Gomez campaign and I am in no position to speak on his/their behalf.

In no way was my intent to suggest innuendo that Michael Sullivan is corrupt.  @TomKinison - come on, seriously.  Don't be ridiculous.

My point, was and is that while clearly Sullivan has an advantage of name recognition and is the default front-runner, my personal experience with Sullivan was not that of someone eager to go out of his way to help GOP candidates.  

As someone who has given considerable personal time and more money than I could ever really afford to dozens of candidates, I take that seriously.  This is not a grudge from '96 (or '98), simply that in the past 20 years I have been involved numerous campaigns on the South Shore and Plymouth County specifically.

Mike Sullivan has been visible in most of the regions where those races took place (often times the highest ranking Republican in the area) and I can't name one time where I recall him going out of his way to help.  In many cases, candidates or the campaign felt specifically snubbed by Sullivan.  Obviously, that happens.  With some people, it happens more often than not.

Frankly that has little to do with his qualifications for the Senate, but it does affect my personal enthusiasm for him at least in the primary.  

@Patrick, you my a reasonable point. It is a bit lame to say (or write) "I could but I won't..." and that was a poor choice of words on my part.  It would have better written that I am not here to make any specific allegations against Sullivan, but my personal experience over the last 20 years hasn't been that great, and that is in contrast the decade or so I have known Gomez.

At this point it is most likely that Sullivan will win the primary and certainly I will support him if he does.  I also like Windslow, a lot. I am glad he in the race and tend to favor him over anyone else at this point.  But I do think Gomez is a serious wildcard and could have a shot.

At least in the blogosphere, the circular firing squad is emerging.  That is perhaps an inevitability of any primary battle, but it is sad to see good people misrepresented.

I have seen rapidly worsening versions of story on Gomez  
and Obama -- as far as I am aware, he donated in primary and did not support beyond that.  But who cares, really?  No doubt it (and Khazei) will hurt him in the primary, but in reality it was inconsequential vs. what happens in competitive local races.  It was I am fairly certain a function of business alliances, not personal philosophy. Either it is not something that would keep me up at night.

On the Selectman matter, I can to speak to that as I was indeed there.   We had in 3 Republicans in the race -- the incumbent (ironically named Michael Sullivan) and challenger who I was supporting, and then Gabe Gomez.

The incumbent won, it is frankly hard to say whether Gomez made that more or less likely.  He had a lot of support but was very new to town, and Selectmen races are hard to crack by outsiders, especially when there wasn't any widespread dissatisfaction with the incumbent (which there wasn't -- but I know a number of people who voted for Gomez over the incumbent, and wouldn't have otherwise voted for my candidate.)

The next year, my candidate ran again, and Gomez not only visibly and vocally supported him, but GOTV was run out of his (Gomez) house.  

Gomez is not the second coming of Reagan or anyone else. He is an interesting candidate, even if a long shot at this stage.

At this point, I have nothing to do with his candidacy.  I don't post a lot, but from my past posts I think it is pretty obvious I am not some kind of Gomez mole, or troll, or whatever.  

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by: Cohasset02025 @ Tue Feb 19, 2013 at 00:01:29 AM UTC

Your comments and candor are (0.00 / 0)

greatly appreciated.  Hope the attacks settle down so we can all start rowing in the same direction.  In the meantime, it is so difficult to get around the Obama support EXCEPT when I reflect back to hoping for his defeat over Hillary just to knock her out of the game.  Some things you just can't see coming, like, willing to cut off my right arm now to have had Hillary prevail over Obama.  Hindsight.

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by: Term Limits @ Tue Feb 19, 2013 at 01:52:44 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

So you're saying it would be harder for Gomez to run and win Selectman than it is to win U.S. Senate??? (0.00 / 0)

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by: TomKinison @ Wed Feb 20, 2013 at 12:18:29 PM UTC

[ Parent ]