Yankee Tirade

I have changed the format of the site,  not the blog, to more reflect the make up of the Massachusetts Republican style. Many in the country do not consider New England, let alone Massachusetts , as having Republicans. We do, they are very different.

The only similar group I have ever run into, not in ideology, but in its bizzare stance is the Dixicrats of Atlanta. This group does not act like Democrats of the North East or California at all, yet strongly identifies with that group. New England has the same situation with its Republican Party.

Scott Brown is a great example of this and openly admits he would be considered a liberal in some parts of this country.

This is why this election is so unique. It really defies any sort of logic in how this is being run, not in a bad way, just the national media does not for the most part understand the dynamic. That dynamic is the Grateful Dead Republican.

I am not saying Scott Brown is that, but some of his campaign people are of that ilk, that is a good thing. While growing up I dealt with this crowd, and to my suprise when I was out west in the service this was considered odd. That was news to me.

Posted by Christopher J. Swift at 06:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I just found this the other day so I thought I would share it. Scott Brown is a member of the Lions Club in Wrentham. I myself have been a member of the Lions Club as well down in Norcross, Georgia. I had a lot of fun in this organization and it is for helping people with eye problems. They were involved with this project.

Sgt Adam Kennedy was killed in Iraq and he was from Norfolk, Massachusetts. The family set up a scholarship in his honor.

Posted by Christopher J. Swift at 04:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Well, as I have said before this really is the holiday of Yankee Tirade, Thanksgiving that is, so I will enjoy it.

When Abraham Lincon made it an annual holiday in 1863 this nation was in throws of a really bad civil war. The people back home and the troops needed some release and this was a great way to do it. I myself spent one overeas many years ago, and I remember the British Army being there with us.

I always used to get a kick out of the people who moved into New Engalnd telling me what Thanksgiving was about, and I would go have it with people who were only towns away from where they settled in 1620, my family. It is a great tradition and I hope people will consider the less fortunate. I have already donated to the Salvation Army this year, most of the people there have no family left, and that is why many are where they are.

Posted by Christopher J. Swift at 08:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Now I have been mouthing off here for awhile about getting people to run for the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature as it is referred to in the Commonwealth.

David Linsky, the representative for Natick,Sherborn and Millis won that last election for $19,629. Now granted he has spent $46,000 in one year, but lets face it, most of this is not his.  The man has won five elections for under $200,000.

Think about that.

The Republican Party needs to get in gear.

Lida Harkins, who represents Dover, Neeedham and Medfield has spent almost twice as much as that since she came into office.

Posted by Christopher J. Swift at 04:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

When the five Republican Senators in the Massachusetts Legislature were assisted by two Democrats in passing a nonbinding resolution to prevent a convicted terrorist from speaking at UMASS, it sent a message. The people are sick of this kind of behavior.

Ray Luc Lavasseur was part of group that robbed banks and blew up buildings. Twenty Two were wounded one time and another a New Jersey State Trooper was killed. Freedom of speech is one thing but this is another. This has been the adittude that flourished for so long in the Bay State. This is where change must occur.

I understand they can not be told not to do that, but when does it become obvious that it is just for shock value? Is that fair to the victims and their families? This is old news from earlier this month but it needs to be repeated.

Posted by Christopher J. Swift at 03:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Two of the Democratic candidates for the Massachusetts United States Senate seat said the would be willing to meet with the President of Iran directly. Scott Brown has called on them to renounce these statements. All kidding aside, this is a very dangerous trend. We are not just going to convince people like Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to relax their positions. This is where having been in the military helps.

When President Bill Clinton acted this way towards North Korea it allowed them to develop a nuclear bomb. Although the test was not nearly as successful as been hoped, that weapon used against forces near the 38th Parralel would be quite deadly. We are on the same path with Iran.

I do not want a full out military invasion, and neither does the military for the most part. Something must be done, but why United States Senate hopefulls think meeting with that guy would help is beyond anything I can imagine.

Posted by Christopher J. Swift at 11:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Scott Brown and Jack E. Robinson debated last night. This was a good thing it finally happened, the Kennedy Library was just not the right venue for it, so The Boston Chamber of Commerce made much more sense.

Some of the stuff Jack Robinson says is really not that out there, but in reference to what I wrote about earlier the news always sees fit to mention his restraining order and run ins with the law. This guy is essentially harmless and it ties into how I feel the party needs change. Scott will get the nomination, thats great because that is who I support. Robinson and Sholley and the like are not getting the attention they deserve as a result of a couple of different reasons.

The younger people that are staying are not being offered the choice of two parties, this is a disaster. It goes into this weird sense that we have, that somehow the Republican Party only belongs to the elite, this is something that must change.

The Republican Party in Massachusetts is treated like Golf or Equestrianism is. When one is in other parts of the country they realize golf and horse ownership are considered very middle class activities to do and they are made readily available to the public. This is not the case in the Commonwealth with those leisure activities and the GOP.

There are not enough Republicans as a result of this, and this really should be priorty number one of the State GOP.

Posted by Christopher J. Swift at 11:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Come December 8th 2009 the kid gloves come off on the United States Senate Race in Massachusetts.

Scott Brown admitted this when he spoke with Mitt Romney in Needham recently, and knowing he has been a politician and a soldier I am sure he is getting ready for this. He said he knew they were going to attack him personally and try and defame his character. This is not because he has anything to hide, this is how Massachusetts politics works.

There was a reason why I said what I said last post. The level of politics in Massachusetts is probably only rivaled by Chicago and New York, and I have heard New Yorkers tell me they think Massachusetts races are dirtier. Any one who has been a soldier or Marine knows, we are not chums when the hard times hit, we are comrades and that means sometimes politeness must go out the window.

Many ask me if I am hooking my trailer to this, no I am not I am a resident of Maine, not Massachusetts. Doesn't do me much good there, but there are a lot of ex Massachusetts people up there.

Scott is ready, and as Barrack Obama proved you can win an election with massive amounts of small donations throught the internet today. My readers are consistant, but new groups will have to be reached after December 8th.  I look forward to this fight.

Posted by Christopher J. Swift at 05:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I linked to a new format today and know that I will have a different audience filtering in so I am going to give the low down on what Yankee Tirade is. There is essentially 4 main groups that read this that I know of, and around a 100 people or more that I am not so sure of. One thing I figured out when I started this in 2006 was that because of technology outlets, audiences were becoming more specific smaller groups.

Group one is people that grew up around the Natick Framingham area known as the Metrowest Area of Boston. So some of the references I make are kind of specific to that crowd and the way it interacts. I am pretty nasty to this crowd at times, but they can be pretty nasty themselves at times.

I hope one day they realize that people bad mouth them when the leave the room just like they do. This was a disturbing thing I found on active duty in the military is that Boston people have a reputation for bad mouthing others . I decided to research this at the Boston Public Library and found that there were studies done on this in the late 1800s. So it is not a new thing, and is believed to have started with immigrants hanging out at pubs. (No I am not kidding about that.)

Group two really is people that went to Dover Sherborn Regional High School primarily in the mid 1980s and the crowd associated with them. I hung out with a Grateful Dead cover band so that should give you an idea of that scene.

Group three is really aimed at people that were in the Massachusetts and Vermont National Guard with me. This one is really pretty specific, but it is usually more history oriented. This crowd tends to still be in the New England area. I often advocate this crowd get into politics for a variety of reasons. I found a lot of unrecognized talent in this group.

Group four is people that were in the United States Marine Corps with me during the first Persian Gulf War Period of the late 80s and early 90s. This crowd can be good and bad. Veterans are huge priorty with me, but sometimes dealing with them can be difficult. Everyone is convinced they are the only one that really saw hardship or action and this gets annoying really quick.

Too many of them always try to pin me down on what I like better the Army or the Marine Corps, my response is always how much do they give to veterans charities and are they a member of the Marine Corps League to support Toys For Tots. You would be suprised at the answers I get.

So as you can tell I am Republican, and not afraid to speak my mind.

Posted by Christopher J. Swift at 05:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Charlie Baker anounced who his running mate will be for the 2010 Governor's Race, State Senator Richard Tisei. It was announced at Scott Brown's old home town of Wakefield at the Americal Civic Center.

Two points I want to cover, It is called the Americal Center in honor of the Massachusetts National Guardsmen that fought in that division during the Second World War. The 182nd Regiment was detached from Yankee Division and went to the Pacific. Also when the divison was reformed for Vietnam one of its brigades came from Fort Devens.

Second is that people are going to have to step up and run for seats in the legislature now. If we get a Republican team in the State House we still need Republican representation. 

Posted by Christopher J. Swift at 12:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Scott Brown mentioned a fact that needs to be repeated here. Children today are born $38,000 in debt because of the amount of money we owe in this country. He did a great interview here.

If were going to get things in this country back in order we have to try and repair the fiscal damage that has occurred. Scott Brown is aware of this.

Posted by Christopher J. Swift at 06:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A few years back a friend of mine in Natick told me about Earl Henry Sholley, a man that runs against Barney Frank. I have to say I like the fact he does this, and hope at some point he succeeds, because that would be a major part of change in that area.

For a brief bit it looked like Sholley, Beaty and Ogonowski were the GOP in the Commonwealth but that has opened up a bit. The election against Barney Frank is a year away so I will not focus on it at this point, but I always try to give Sholley a mention, he has earned it.

Here he is on the issues.

Posted by Christopher J. Swift at 05:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)