Notes From D.R. | Random Thoughts on the Passing Scene

http://nytimes.com/2005/03/31/national/31cnd-schiavo.html?ei=5094&en=9a3735df723459c0&hp=&ex=1112331600&partner=homepage&pagewanted=print&position=

Hate to say it, but thank goodness. So sick and tired of this goddamn story…

http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-cochran30mar30,0,2606876,print.story?coll=la-home-headlines

1995: "If the glove doesn’t fit, you must acquit."

2005: "Before I went to bed, the dude was dead!"

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/23/opinion/23fried.html?pagewanted=print&position=

I remember ten years ago, when liberals protested Charles Fried, then the newest member of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, because they thought he was too conservative. Now, as a result of this column, I wouldn’t be surprised if people on the right now say he’s not conservative enough…

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/23/opinion/23fried.html?pagewanted=print&position=

I remember ten years ago, when liberals protested Charles Fried, then the newest member of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, because they thought he was too conservative. Now, as a result of this column, I wouldn’t be surprised if people on the right now say he’s not conservative enough…

http://movie-reviews.colossus.net/movies/g/guess_who.html

If there’s one old-school movie I absolutely love, it’s Stanley Kramer’s 1967 comedy/drama/satire GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER with Sidney Poitier, Katharine Hepburn, and Spencer Tracy. Eight years ago, I wrote an appreciation of this classic for BU’s student newspaper:

http://www.collegepublisher.com/media/paper87/DFPArchive/opinion/1027973.html

So, as you can imagine, it pains me to no end to see that Hollywood, never leaving well enough alone, has decided to remake the film with–Ashton Kutcher and Bernie Mac? Nothing against either man–well, maybe something against Ashton, who stunk up the joint in JUST MARRIED a couple of years back–but really, now. What’s next–a remake of KINDERGARTEN COP with Vin Diesel? Uh, actually…

http://movie-reviews.colossus.net/movies/g/guess_who.html

If there’s one old-school movie I absolutely love, it’s Stanley Kramer’s 1967 comedy/drama/satire GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER with Sidney Poitier, Katharine Hepburn, and Spencer Tracy. Eight years ago, I wrote an appreciation of this classic for BU’s student newspaper:

http://www.collegepublisher.com/media/paper87/DFPArchive/opinion/1027973.html

So, as you can imagine, it pains me to no end to see that Hollywood, never leaving well enough alone, has decided to remake the film with–Ashton Kutcher and Bernie Mac? Nothing against either man–well, maybe something against Ashton, who stunk up the joint in JUST MARRIED a couple of years back–but really, now. What’s next–a remake of KINDERGARTEN COP with Vin Diesel? Uh, actually…

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2005/03/21/both_sides_in_schiavo_case_await_ruling?mode=PF

As Boston radio talk-show host Howie Carr pointed out today, the judge is a Clinton appointee, which means he’ll probably uphold the various rulings of the Florida courts, which have repeatedly asserted that Michael Schiavo has the right to pull the tube.

Look, I think Mikey Boy’s a somewhat dubious figure, but unfortunately, he’s a dubious figure with the legal right to say "when"–and it’s bizarre and sickening to see Congressional Republicans attempting to interfere with the rule of law in this manner. It’s amazing–seven years ago, these same Republicans asserted (rightly and justifably) that the rule of law dictated that Bubba had to be punished for his perjury and obstruction of justice in the Paula Jones/Monica Lewinsky matter. Now they say the rule of law doesn’t matter because "maintaining the culture of life" is more important. Where I come from, that’s called the ends justifying the means. Clinton molesting the rule of law seven years ago was disgusting. The GOP molesting the rule of law now is almost as bad.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/PrintStory.pl?document_id=2002213728&zsection_id=2002107549&slug=memo20&date=20050320

Sad. On the other hand, wouldn’t it be funny if Terri Schiavo emerged from her current incapacitated state–and then, in her first interview, proclaimed herself a liberal Democrat who’s ticked off that she missed the Clinton years?

http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=74201

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/03/20/corrections_officer_among_3_slain_in_boston?mode=PF

http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=74083

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/03/19/youth_shot_to_death_on_bus_teen_charged?mode=PF

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/03/20/anguished_mother_says_sons_killing_was_personal?mode=PF

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/03/19/boston_police_investigating_string_of_murders/

Looks like the folks are getting frisky in Beantown once again. Of course, it’s only a matter of time before Mayor Menino comes out to do a press conference where he claims that the gun control laws aren’t stringent enough. Look, I’m no 2nd Amendment fanatic, but after 12 years in office, shouldn’t Menino realize by now that, even with the Bay State’s already heavily-restrictive gun laws, criminals and gangbangers still find a way to get the guns illegally? I don’t know what’s worse–the guys on the far right who think that banning abortion will stop people from getting an abortion, or the guys on the far left who think that banning guns will stop people from shooting each other…

http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=73951

http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=73731&format=text

http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=74088&format=text

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/03/19/for_second_year_boston_swears_in_all_white_firefighter_class?mode=PF

Surprising that this news hasn’t generated more of a racial controversy in Boston. Of course, the main problem with the various attempts over the years to have more racial and ethnic diversity in big-city fire (and police) departments is that members of different groups are not equally interested in civil service jobs. How many black and Hispanic children grow up aspiring to be firefighters or policemen? For whatever cultural reason, these jobs aren’t generally seen as fascinating, interesting, or lucrative in communities of color. If young black and Hispanic kids were as equally desirous of being on the force or in the firehouse as young white kids tend to be, these discrepancies probably wouldn’t exist. However, the "equality of result" that pro-affirmative action activists hope for will not and cannot happen if there is not an equality of interest in the firefighting and crimefighting fields. 

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/03/17/new_face_changing_city?mode=PF

Good profile in the Boston Globe on Linda D. Forry, the woman who won the seat vacated by Massachusetts’ powerful former House Speaker, Thomas Finneran. Lots of talk in the article about the so-called "new Boston" phenomenon–the apparent transformation of the city from a conservative, Irish-Catholic area to a "progressive", more racially diverse region. The idea, of course, is that liberal minority candidates, who didn’t really have a chance to win years ago (remember Mel King’s ill-fated run for Mayor of Boston in 1983?), now have a shot at success.

Because Boston is now a majority-minority city (the population is now 51% non-white), some misguided observers are contending that being an Irish-American candidate is now a liability as opposed to an asset. That’s transparent balderdash: a solid Irish-American contender can still win a City Council or State Representative seat in the Greater Boston area. The only problem is, they will now have to run FAR to the left to get elected, in keeping with the increasing liberalism of the city. Two examples prove this: Eric Donovan, the candidate who I backed for the state rep seat, only garnered twenty-four percent of the vote, finishing second to Forry, who won forty-seven percent. Donovan happens to be pro-life and against gay marriage; Forry is pro-choice and pro-gay marriage. Draw your own conclusions.

The second example is Stacey Monahan, a white liberal Irish Catholic who finished third with twelve percent of the vote. As the Boston Phoenix points out (http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features/other_stories/documents/04538496.asp), Monahan probably would have won had it not been for Forry’s presence in the race. Monahan’s progressive politics–pro-choice, pro-gay-marriage, anti-death-penalty–are simpatico with the "new Boston" sensibilities, and she could easily win a Boston City Council seat or a state rep/state Senate seat in the near future. Monahan is an emerging star; she didn’t shine last Tuesday, but she’ll obviously glow in the years to come.

For those of us who wish that Boston wouldn’t become  so "blue"–that moderate-conservative sensibilities would rise instead of outright liberalism–the trend is not exactly encouraging. The best that we can hope for is that these new progessive politicans don’t become as addicted to corruption and cronyism as some of the Democrats of decades past.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/03/17/new_face_changing_city?mode=PF

Good profile in the Boston Globe on Linda D. Forry, the woman who won the seat vacated by Massachusetts’ powerful former House Speaker, Thomas Finneran. Lots of talk in the article about the so-called "new Boston" phenomenon–the apparent transformation of the city from a conservative, Irish-Catholic area to a "progressive", more racially diverse region. The idea, of course, is that liberal minority candidates, who didn’t really have a chance to win years ago (remember Mel King’s ill-fated run for Mayor of Boston in 1983?), now have a shot at success.

Because Boston is now a majority-minority city (the population is now 51% non-white), some misguided observers are contending that being an Irish-American candidate is now a liability as opposed to an asset. That’s transparent balderdash: a solid Irish-American contender can still win a City Council or State Representative seat in the Greater Boston area. The only problem is, they will now have to run FAR to the left to get elected, in keeping with the increasing liberalism of the city. Two examples prove this: Eric Donovan, the candidate who I backed for the state rep seat, only garnered twenty-four percent of the vote, finishing second to Forry, who won forty-seven percent. Donovan happens to be pro-life and against gay marriage; Forry is pro-choice and pro-gay marriage. Draw your own conclusions.

The second example is Stacey Monahan, a white liberal Irish Catholic who finished third with twelve percent of the vote. As the Boston Phoenix points out (http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features/other_stories/documents/04538496.asp), Monahan probably would have won had it not been for Forry’s presence in the race. Monahan’s progressive politics–pro-choice, pro-gay-marriage, anti-death-penalty–are simpatico with the "new Boston" sensibilities, and she could easily win a Boston City Council seat or a state rep/state Senate seat in the near future. Monahan is an emerging star; she didn’t shine last Tuesday, but she’ll obviously glow in the years to come.

For those of us who wish that Boston wouldn’t become  so "blue"–that moderate-conservative sensibilities would rise instead of outright liberalism–the trend is not exactly encouraging. The best that we can hope for is that these new progessive politicans don’t become as addicted to corruption and cronyism as some of the Democrats of decades past.

http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=73533

Not since Prince changed his name have I seen such a bizarre story…

http://sports.bostonherald.com/college/view.bg?articleid=73430

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/03/15/landlord_doubts_account_of_raid?mode=PF

Like the ads for SUPERMAN (1978) said, you will believe a man can fly…

http://www.telegram.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?Date=20050315&Category=APN&ArtNo=503151336&SectionCat=&Template=printart

Well, my guy (Eric Donovan) didn’t take it, but good luck to Linda Forry.