BREAKING: SJC RULES AGAINST FELON FINNERAN

Does this mean we’re stuck with him on WRKO?

Felon Finneran’s stubborn bid to regain his ability to practice law has once and for all been snuffed out. The Dem-friendly Supreme Judicial Court didn’t side with one of its own this time, ruling the former House speaker should be permanently disbarred.

From the Boston Herald:

Finneran, who pled guilty in 2007 to obstruction of justice, had sought a lesser punishment of suspension, but the court sided with the Board of Bar Overseers. “(Finneran’s)” misconduct implicates both the integrity of the judicial system and the honesty of a member of the bar,” Justice Margot Botsford wrote for the court.

“We have no reason to disagree with the finding that (Finneran’s) conduct during the voting rights lawsuit represented an aberrant event in his long career of serving his constituency and the public with loyalty and distinction. But the respondent was convicted of a serious crime involving false testimony to a court under oath in a significant case about fundamental rights.”

The decision is retroactive to Jan. 23, 2007, the date when Finneran’s law license was temporarily suspended.

Finneran pled guilty in 2007 to making misleading statements under oath about a redistricting plan that was challenged by advocates for minorities. In arguing for suspension rather than disbarment, Finneran’s attorney said his 26-year career in public service, as well as testimony asserting that Finneran’s crime was “aberrant” from his normal conduct, should mitigate his punishment.

The big question: is he now locked in at WRKO? The program is as boring as ever, it’s astounding he’s still there after three long years. What motivates Entercom in their desire to keep him on their schedule?

The bottom line: it’s a great day to be Howie Carr.

Image: John Wilcox, Boston Herald

Peter Smyth’s ‘Tell’

Whether Peter Smyth is a decent poker player is unknown, but in the game of broadcasting, he’s just given away his hand. The Greater Media CEO is quoted in today’s Boston Herald as saying he won’t take another stab at bringing Howie Carr to long-suffering WTKK.

That’s a classic “tell”: making it clear he’s not going to invest the time and energy it takes to finally bring success to the struggling FM talker. Peter’s clearly given up.

Smyth’s stubbornness has held back the station for a decade as his own personal programming preferences trump what’s best for the station. When his friends (Mike Barnicle, Don Imus, etc) are bumped from the lineup, it’s usually because a (suddenly endangered) lower-level manager put up a fight and won.

There’s little doubt he despises Carr’s conservative stances, but was temporarily convinced Howie was needed to save the station from ruin.

From his political contributions (and love for Barnicle, etc), one can see that Smyth is a firm believer in our state’s corrupt ruling political establishment. Until he’s out of the picture (most likely never), WTKK probably doesn’t stand a chance.

There are other Peter Smyths in broadcasting, executives who try and fail at force-feeding unpopular talk programming to an unwilling listenership, but he’s a great deal more secure in his position than the others, who often eventually fade from the scene.

Even Margery Gets It: It’s Time To Revolt

Clearly, Massachusetts Corruptocrats have learned nothing from California’s overwhelming rejection of tax-and-spend initiatives Tuesday. The attempt by Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Democratic-controlled legislature to shove this bloated excess down their throats failed uniformly across the state.

As the Golden State’s results and impact is felt across the country, this tidbit from the San Francisco Chronicle’s analysis stands out:

Focus groups run by the “yes” campaigns were so uniformly negative that consultants thought there was a problem with the groups.

“We moved to different cities and tried different questions, but we got to the same place with every group,” said Gale Kaufman, a consultant for education groups supporting the ballot measures. “People sent a very simple message: ‘It’s not our job.’ ”

Even before the election, focus groups were sending a clear message to Sacramento: after a wild spending spree, you created this mess. Now that it has become unmanageable, you want us to fix it?

In the Bay State, the key difference is that politicians aren’t inclined to place anything on the ballot when they can simply sneak in big tax hikes during a late-night session.

But the public anger is the same: anyone assuming Massachusetts taxpayers are going to roll over and play dead (like they usually do) may be proven wrong this time.

In today’s Herald, even WTKK’s Margery Eagan gets it, to the point where she’s quoting Howie Carr in her column. An excerpt:

The Tax Stealers – aka, our legislators – just did again what they do best: Tell us taxpayers to drop dead.

And we taxpayers just did what we do best: play dead.

Reform before revenue! That’s been Senate President Terry Murray’s mantra.

Guess that’s gone by the boards.

Several dutiful taxpayers told me yesterday they’re doing all they can to fight back: e-mailing and calling to harass The Stealers.

Either The Stealers ask for lots of personal information before responding, or they don’t respond. Or they send a form letter answering nothing. Or they do call back, and lie.

But there are signs that taxpayers are ready for all-out revolt. From Hillary Chabot in today’s Herald:

Outraged small businesses and tax watchdogs promised yesterday they’ll be heard on the hikes, be it at a rally planned for the State House steps today or at the voting booth in November.

“It’s completely out of control,” said Barbara Anderson, executive director of Citizens for Limited Taxation. “The only thing they care about is not getting re-elected. We have to throw them out.”

Corie Whalen, who organized the conservative anti-tax Tea Party in Boston last month, invited anti-tax citizens to gather at the State House starting at 11 a.m. today.

“They’re misleading people when they act like necessary cuts have to be made when they haven’t worked to clear up real waste,” Whalen said.

Jeff Golden, a buyer at Downtown Wine & Spirits in Somerville, said the vote to remove the sales tax exemption from liquor at package stores means many smaller shops would close their doors.

“It’s frustrating for a smaller place. We’re operating on the margins already,” said Golden. “We’re going to have a hard time convincing people to come here when they can get it for less in New Hampshire.”

In the end, it’s not enough to simply write columns about unfair tax increases. How about using that microphone? It’s right there in front of you.

First task: removing Therese Murray from office.

Time to raise some hell.

Arnold image: KCBS

Voters Want More Corruption, Dems Happy To Oblige

Given our current, sorry circumstances, why is anyone surprised to see Beacon Hill Corruptocrats getting away with stuffing bras full of ca$h and groping random women on the street?

Think about it:

— Unhinged Senate President Therese Murray (D-Smashmouth) knows she can cover for Prius Perv Jim Marzilli (D-Fondlington) and Dianne Wilkerson (D-Bribebury) until they disappear into political oblivion.

Under Obama, the feds are not likely to push embarrassing investigations into the conduct of other Democrats, so this means waiting just a few short months for it all to go away.

— Crooked Dem senators who enjoy full protection may be a lot less likely to rat out the other criminals in the chamber, especially Murray herself, who seems awfully nervous regarding the FBI’s investigation. Just to get out of Boston, she’s actually willing to do public events in her district these days.

— Instead of punishing Beacon Hill Democrats for creating a disgusting atmosphere of corruption, voters rewarded them with even more seats. All it took was shifting the blame to Bush and it was the few remaining Republicans who took the hit, not the perps themselves.

— The sorry state of local talk radio means one of the primary checks on their power has been neutered. WRKO, for example, is down to just Howie Carr and The Felon, who actually SUPPORTS corruption on Beacon Hill.

And WTKK isn’t much better, with syndication in the morning, sandwich/burrito talk from noon-3pm and Pinstripes in the late evenings. Jay Severin can’t be bothered to spend much time on local issues, so the listener’s only hope is Michael Graham or the night gal who suddenly seems to have returned to the Herald.

With the Obama-Patrick tag-team now in full control, we’re going to see a lot more of this kind of behavior, not less.

And unless Murray can be nailed for whatever role she might have in the bribery scandal before Bush leaves office, she’s got nothing to worry about. In her own district, Republicans aren’t even organized enough to give her an opponent, despite a still quite respectable GOP voting base in the area.

More Sore Winners

Unhinged Obama cultists still unable to find a reason to be happy are still lashing out against those who dare to challenge or question their Dear Leader.

From today’s Herald, here are two fresh examples:

Carr a spoilsport

By Babs Beaulieu

Friday, November 7, 2008

It’s a shame that Howie Carr had to write such a negative column after such an historic day (“It’s a moonbat nation Рbut I’m no citizen,” Nov. 5). It is not just “moonbats” who voted for Barack Obama Рit was 52 percent of the population, which includes all genders, races, economic status, education levels and political affiliations. Obama will be everyone’s president including yours, Howie.

Even Elizabeth Hasselbeck had to admit she will support Obama because America has spoken.

Babs Beaulieu, Lynnfield

If only this were true, Babs: Obama’s made it clear his administration will be about serving his thug friends from Chicago, with Raum Emmanuel overseeing this process. You were tricked.

Here’s the other guy, he’s using WTKK to call for censorship of talk radio:

What a turnoff

By Alan Vervaeke

Friday, November 7, 2008 –

Is the radio as a medium no longer fit for the listening of children to political commentary (Nov. 6)? My daughters are far better off listening to Don Imus than to either Michael Graham or Jay Severin.

Maybe the very reason that some in Congress speak of curtailing talk radio has to do with the venomous rants of others like these two and the clear and present harm they continue to inflict on America as an institution. Normally I would lash out at anyone who expressed an interest in limiting public discourse, but in the case of these two “gentlemen” I might just make an exception.

Alan Vervaeke, Fitchburg

This is more than just being unhappy about the election, these people are pushing to crush dissenting voices before they have a chance to effectively cast doubt upon Obama’s thugocracy.

Sore Winner Attacks Carr

Since yesterday, I’ve been tracking the sore winners out there, Obama supporters who still can’t find reasons to be happy despite their victory.

Here’s another example of an unhinged Obama fan who would rather lash out at Howie Carr than celebrate:

Exile for Carr

Yesterday morning, Howie Carr was just another tired, cranky, bitter old man (“It’s moonbat nation Рbut I’m no citizen,” Nov. 5). Oh wait, that was John McCain. Howie is living in his usual delusional place if he continues to blame just the Democrats for the economy tanking. McCain and all his fellow Republicans were gleefully shuffling up to the trough throughout the whole process. I understand Howie is upset because his grandfather lost, but let’s be real.

By the way, has Howie Carr, in his delusional state, ever met Sarah Palin, who lives in her delusional state (Russia/foreign policy)?

– Bruce McPhee, Yarmouth

Rush Limbaugh had a great point yesterday, that Obama’s “progressive” left will be forced to find new outlets for their eternal rage and anger. With Bush gone, what will they do?

Clearly, as Bruce McPhee indicates, attacking those who dare to criticize their cult leader / messiah will provide one avenue for rage release.

Memo To Howie: They Were Wrong In 2004

Is there a bigger downer on the air today than Howie Carr?

Perhaps he’s right about the outcome, but jeez, Howie, those exit polls were dead wrong four years ago.

Why do you believe them now?

BTW: I wrote in Carr’s name to prevent having to vote for tyrant-coddling scumbag Bill Delahunt. Luckily, I didn’t run into Hugo Chavez’s buddy at the polling place.

Peabody Cops Boost Question One

With their brazen, yet successful move to create a 9-11 holiday for themselves, Peabody cops have just given Question One proponents a serious shot in the arm.

(For pinstripe-loving, carpetbagger talk hosts, that’s pee-buh-dee and Question One is a measure to repeal our state income tax.)

On today’s show, Howie Carr was having a field day pounding on Peabody’s stupid move, while a Herald poll currently shows 91% of participants against their bogus “holiday”.

If not for the endless excesses of public employee unions and their corrupt friends on Beacon Hill, Question One wouldn’t have a chance. Now, however, it’s become the ultimate protest vote opportunity.

All the union thug money in the world may not be able to stop this one.

Having lived in two states that don’t have an income tax, I can tell you it won’t be the end of the world. Washington state is more liberal than Massachusetts by far these days, yet it functions well without one. Yes, sales taxes are considerably higher and property taxes hit residents slightly harder.

But repealing the tax might save Massachusetts from financial ruin in the long run if it means keeping the financial services sector from leaving. Right now, the 12% tax on short term capital gains means traders are forced to set up shop elsewhere in order to survive.

Our current system encourages young people and retirees alike to head to Florida and other low tax states. Why not finally make Massachusetts competitive? Perhaps our children will actually have an economic incentive to remain in New England.

No Longer A ‘Popularity Contest’?

Is the National Radio Hall of Fame having second thoughts about allowing fans to vote for their favorite hosts and other air personalities?

In 2008, opening up voting to listeners allowed WRKO’s Howie Carr to be inducted into the museum.

An especially alert reader has noted a little-noticed change in their policy, however, which has been posted on their website:

In prior years, voting on the annual nominations was open to the general public only if individuals were members of the Museum of Broadcast Communications (home of the National Radio Hall of Fame), or became new online members by payment of a $15 fee. A change in the voting process for 2008 enabled the general public to vote for nominees online without joining the Museum.

The very nature of radio often creates large numbers of fans devoted to their favorite personalities, and the number of votes cast in 2008 increased significantly. The change in the voting process was not designed to make membership to the broadcasting shrine a mere popularity contest. The National Radio Hall of Fame will re-evaluate the voting and nominating processes for future elections.

In the reader’s view, “(it) looks like they regret opening the voting to the public and letting WRKO buy and promote Howie Carr’s election.”

Whatever the reason, it appears Howie got lucky: had he been nominated just a year later, induction would have been much less certain.

How-ie About Skipping Jury Duty?

Feel like bagging jury duty? Simply tell them you’re a talk radio fan!

Howie Carr’s recent column on how his name is being used to weed out “biased” jurors in New Hampshire (read: pro-punishment for criminals) had me chuckling.

Here’s an even better way out: have a history of hosting talk shows, an even more heinous crime from the perspective of the Bay State’s wacky court system.

Two weeks ago, yours truly had jury duty in the lovely metropolis of Brockton, absolutely nowhere near where I actually live.

Having not a clue where to go, I reported to the sparkling new mega-courthouse in Brockton’s city center, which looks like a fancy hotel or upscale corporate office building amid the ruins of what was probably once a decent downtown area. Sure enough, I was actually assigned to the Superior Court building down the street, which is a smelly, dirty, crumbling dump.

That’s where I had one of those my-God-what-am-I-doing-in-Massachusetts moments: prospective jurors were compelled to watch an introductory video featuring a sermon by Margaret Marshall, of our rogue Supreme Judicial Court.

With her odd, Barney Frank-meets-the-Kennedys manner of speaking, it was especially difficult to watch a reckless justice lecture us about the “rule of law” in a state where that concept exists only in theory.

Did the other hundred or so prospective jurors understand this as well, or were they indoctrinated into this absurd mindset decades ago? I ask myself that same question whenever I visit the RMV or another government office.

I came within a hair of being seated on a jury considering the fate of a young man who is accused of raping a mentally-retarded girl he met over the Internet. The crime occurred more than three years ago.

But let’s face it, with a background in talk radio, there’s simply no way the defense would have allowed me to be seated. Howie’s right: that’s one of the quickest ways to be sent home.

Could I have been fair and impartial? Of course. I don’t know this guy or the victim and there’s no way I could come to a conclusion about his guilt without prosecutors proving their case.

In fact, I’m inclined to believe talk radio listeners are more capable of being fair than the general population at large. They’re certainly smarter and better informed.

But it will be a cold day in Hell before defense attorneys allow any of us to be seated inside that box.