Courage, Heroism, Arrogance, Cowardice and Truth

As the year draws to a close and our historical custom of reflection surrounds us, the most striking presence has been COURAGE and HEROISM.

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Ordinary, anonymous citizens came together to oppose something they knew was just plain wrong. They sacrificed their anonymity and endured venomous attacks, criticisms, catcalls.

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More than a thousand signed recall petitions to replace a tyrannical board.

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One truly heroic Middleboro Mom stood before a crowd of orange-t-shirted, out-of-town goons and was booed for her public tears.

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One cowardly Middleboro elected official gavelled truth and opposition to silence while allowing cheers, disruptions, signs, supportive out-of-towners like Bob Saquet to ramble endlessly and the ever-present photographer climbing over furniture.

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Five arrogant elected officials decided they knew best the future path of Middleboro and followed like mindless Bobble Heads a scheme that appears hatched by the former Town Manager and Wayne Perkins to avert the fiscal train wreck they created.

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One frail tribal elder heroically questioned tribal finances, a question the state and feds noticed. She was shunned, isolated and expelled for her heroism.

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Amelia Bingham's courage should stand as a lesson to us all about our personal values about 'doing what is right.'

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Ordinary anonymous citizens have crossed Middleboro's borders to offer support, speak out in protest and join the fight to circulate the facts of this flawed endeavor.

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The Regional Task Force has courageously shunned Middleboro's participation.

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Rep. Tom Calter courageously spoke to the facts of a casino presence on surrounding communities and the flawed Middleboro Agreement.

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Middleboro's other reps and state senator instead chose the cowardly path of campaign support.

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An arrogant Middleboro official foolishly challenged Middleboro's Reps. to pledge support, even as his career and image are imploding. (Some may remember that he defended a convicted rapist by saying 'everyone has skeletons in their closet' and criticized the League of Women Voters for their impartial analysis of casino gambling.)

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Middleboro Superintendent and School Committee lacked the courage to gather the facts and make an informed decision, as did the Police Union and others. The Casino Study Committee defined itself, as did its chairman.

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Ordinary anonymous citizens around the state are speaking out, participating and recognizing flawed public policy.

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Organizations have stepped forward to analyze and publicize the flawed figures.

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The greatest cowardice were those too intellectually lazy to examine the facts, review the flaws in the Agreement, reflect on the future or step away from the cheering crowd.

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The greatest heroism arose from those willing to speak Truth to Power and endure the daggers of criticisms because they're winning.

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Let's make the New Year filled with COURAGE AND HEROISM of those willing to speak against well-funded international investors and campaign contributors. Let's fill the year with TRUTH.

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Best wishes for an enlightening holiday season.

you are responsible for the company you choose to keep.

you are responsible for the company you choose to keep

(emphasis mine)

6/28/07 Middleboro Gazette:
Casino opponents' message becoming one of rudeness, racism

Dear Editor:
I am disappointed and disheartened by the recent behavior of the casino opponents at town meetings. I applaud anyone who is interested and passionate enough to get involved in the town politics. (However, it is discouraging that it takes a mega casino to motivate you. Where were you on the Eagles Club issue -a real and physical threat sitting on the edge of the Peirce Playground literally endangering the children of our community?) There is a point where your passion can get away from you and I feel that I must address your emboldened behavior of late.
It is inappropriate to cat-call, shout-down and be generally rude to your fellow citizens. I am truly distressed to hear that one citizen who asked you all to quiet down in the hallway after exiting this past Monday's meeting (why stay to hear all of the town business, after all, you're only concerned with your own backyards), was reportedly called an "Indian Lover." This is pathetic, and, as far as I am concerned, the entire group of you should be ashamed of yourselves.
I noticed, while looking at your site this evening that you carry the following disclaimer:
"We can not control the content or take responsibilities for pages maintained by external providers/organizations that can be accessed through our site."
I know that it is difficult to control the flow of information and harder still to ensure that the people jumping on your bandwagon share your values and beliefs.
Here is the problem: you are responsible for the company you choose to keep. So, if you're shrill, rude and now, apparently racist behavior continues, it will reflect on you. It will become part and parcel of your message. And you will be heard.
It is outrageous that the folks in this town who are in favor of a casino are being bullied by an overly loud minority that have put forward not one single solution to our current fiscal crisis.

You complain that crime will increase with a casino. You attempt to scare people with the thought that suddenly houses will be robbed when the casino opens its doors. Houses are being robbed now, or perhaps you don't read the police blotter. There was a stabbing in downtown Middleboro recently. Drugs are a serious problem in this town right now.
Let's imagine where we will be 5 or 10years from now, without a casino, without an override, and a severely scaled down police force. We will have a town that can not afford to support the services it needs. We will have a park department that can barely afford to offer programs to our youth and a library stripped to the bone, possibly de-certified, relying on its own meager collection of books. Where do you think our children w:ill be then, having received a substandard education with few if any prospects for employment? We won't need to talk about a crime rate then -we'll be living it.

But it probably won't affect you, the rude ones screaming about your backyards, you'll have moved on to someone else's pasture by then. And you'll want the door to that town closed behind you. You'll shun change and growth there too, claiming it as you found it -calling it your own.
By the way,the fellow that you slurred the other night has lived in Middleboro for more than 20 years. I imagine he too calls this place his own. He deserves your respect. I sincerely hope that bit of common decency isn't beyond you.

I, for one, do not have concerns about "the introduction of low-wage casino workers who will bring 20+ languages into the school system..."as you recently posted on your site. It seems to me that a bit of diversity is precisely what this town needs at the moment. Tolerance is a lesson that clearly needs to be learned here.

Victoria Bond

7/27/07 Middleboro Gazette:
No vote doesn't ensure no casino, just no money from casino
TotheEditor:
As a resident of Middleborough, I feel strongly that the people of our community be left alone to make decisions regarding our community. Recently, several neighboring towns have begun to insert themselves in an issue that is uniquely Middleborough's. While I am aware that many people within the South Shore are concerned about what impacts the Wampanoag resort will have within their respective communities, that is an issue to be dealt with on the state level. When the Wampanoag tribe solidifies their plans regarding their resort, they will have to enter into a compact agreement with the state. It will then be up to each concerned community and their town officials to negotiate for mitigation of any perceived impacts with the state. It is wholly inappropriate for anyone to suggest that somehow Middleborough should be responsible for that mitigation and in kind, inappropriate for any neighboring community or its citizens to pressure the individuals within our community regarding their personal vote.
This proposed resort presents a unique opportunity for our town. We are all painfully aware of the financial straits in which we currently find ourselves. This proposal can and will significantly mitigate our current situation.
Our police and fire departments will be substantially improved (three fire houses open in Middleborough?!?), our schools will once again be solvent enough to foot the bill for

JV and freshman sports, our COA willonce again be able to care for the elderly with home visits and meals, and our precious library may, with any luck, escape decertification
If we vote against the resort proposal none of the above will be true. We will continueto bleed from our financial ulcer and our quality of life will definitely suffer -you think the current trash fee is a burden? Think of all of the families who are going to have to come up with additional monies just to provide their children with the extra-curricular activities that were once a part of our quality of life. The folks in Oak Point are going to be waiting longer for a response to their emergencies. Our elderly will no longer be able to turn to the town for help so they will have to rely on family, provided they have any. Crime and drugs, which this year alone jumped 30-40%, will continue to worsen until it finds itself on your very doorstep, that is if it hasn't already.

It seems that some of the folks who are opposed to this resort have been advising voters that a NO vote will ensure that the resort will not come. That is simply not true. The resort will come. They do not need our permission to build it. The town being opposed to it may make their fight more difficult, but to assert that it will defeat it is, quite simply, a lie. If in the end the tribe is successful (they are tenacious and proud, they just won a 33 year legal battle for recognition) they will build it and people will come. The only difference is that Middleboro will still be bleeding out, have received no financial compensation and have a bad relationship with the tribe.
I know that there are negatives to this proposal, which is why the town is negotiating with the tribe to protect and prepare our community to adequately deal with those negatives. The anti group is ONLY focused on the negatives. If they were going to be honest with themselves and their community they would have to admit that there are also a lot of positives. Here are just a few:
-You will finally have some place, close by, where you can go to see a show, have a five star meal, do some high-end shopping, take the kids to the water park or go to a: museum.
-It will create 16,000 jobs for Middleboro and her surrounding communities.
•It will provide the town with much needed improvement to our gas and electric and water systems which are currently insufficient to access all of the water available to us, which is the real cause for the water bans we have to deal with yearly -it's not because we don't have the water -we don't have adequate pumps to bring the water up. Those pumps, by the way, have already reached their half-life and will have to be replaced within the next 15 years.
-The resort will feed local industry. Think of all the supplies that it will require from toilet paper to sheets and towels on up to food supplies and dishes.
-Bordering towns will have the opportunity, should they so choose, to create industry and
commercial tax revenues within their communities.
-The completion of Route 44 will finally fix the problem at the Middleboro rotary and complete the loop on the South Shore from Boston down 495/95 and 24 across to route 3 making the whole of the South Shore more accessible and easily traveled.
-Keep in mind that Foxwoods Resort and Mohegan Sun, combined, have contributed more than $432 million annually to Connecticut and have deposited more than $ 4 billion into the state treasury. Importantly, the casinos are two of the state's five largest employers with more than 20,000 workers (The New London Day, editorial, June 17, 1 2006).
Everyone seems to be forgetting that the Wampanoag are coming home. This will once again be their home, and they want to be as proud of it as we are. They are not looking to destroy it or desecrate it in any way. They are looking to open a business here and unlike most big business, they will be living amidst that business. Don't you think that gives them added incentive to be thoughtful and cautious in their planning? We have a choice: we can either share this town or fight over it. I don't think change is a bad thing-I think it is a necessary thing. I, for one, will embrace this change by voting yes to the proposed agreement with the Wampanoag tribe on July28.
Victoria Bond (Victoria Bond's husband is Selectman Adam Bond.)

Mr. Limo, where are you?

Let me clarify --- the following was intended to shed sunlight on vermin.

The diplomatic criticisms that have been attempted have failed to provoke an appropriate moderation in the tone of MANY of the comments.

Several posters have labelled others or posted outright lies, then deleted the posts and they are NOW denying that they ever made the comments.

Public discussion forums are PUBLIC. What is posted has been saved and will be saved. Delete as you choose or prevent others from posting, but what you post WILL come back to haunt. There are additional comments that have been posted that I will continue to add.

It is not my intent to create controversy, but rather to calmly explain some of the issues that confront Middleboro because of questionable leadership that has blundered on numerous issues that have caused a fiscal train wreck.

But the tone of the public comments needs to change.

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When Casino Facts posted a commentary regarding an offensive blog that is being maintained by an out of town business owner, that blog immediately went into DENIAL MODE!

NUMEROUS offending responses were deleted. Posters were banished from the site.

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Victoria Bond, wife of Selectman Adam Bond who is seeking to become the Town Manager, wrote a letter to the editor protesting the interference of those OUT OF TOWNERS intruding into the management of the Town. (I will post her letter separately.)

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The primary offensive posters on the inflammatory web site DO NOT LIVE IN MIDDLEBORO, one doesn't live in MASSACHUSETTS, are totally unfamiliar with the Town, but Mr. Bond has provided MUCH mis-information, devoid of facts to one poster.

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One must wonder, why the double standard, Mr. Bond?

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If you protested the exclusion of Middleboro from the Regional Task Force, why aren't you protesting this? And since you chose to grandstand when it suited your purposes about a SINGLE post on the CFO blog, why are you silent now? Mr. Bond, you have posted in this forum and are fully aware of its content.

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(Some added emphasis is mine. Spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors are as posted. Not all of the inflammatory posts are included. There are far too many, but I will continue to add unless the tone of the forum changes.)

http://www.casino-friend.com/whoarewe.html
Donations to date:
$300.00 Hal Brown (editor)

$100.00 Kathy Ryan (secretary)

$150.00 Joe Freitas (associate editor)

$ 20.00 Joe Runci

$ 50.00 Jeanne and Tom Morse (6/27/07)

$ 50.00 Janet Parker

$ 50.00 Sondra Scott

$ 50.00 Tom White

$100.00 MSM Executive Limo

$ 75.00 Tony Lawrence

$ 50.00 David Tedesco

$ 30.00 Bonnie and Christopher Stiner

$ 100.00 Wayne Lee

$ 25.00 Eleanor and Dominick DeAngelis

$ 100.00 Mary-Lauren and Thomas Garafalo

$ 20.00 Judith Bigelow-Costa

$ 50. Jim LeRoy

$150 "Splendid Splinters" from Ted Williams Camp

$ 100.00 Dr. "Bud" Martinson and Donna Martinson
Total donated: $1,620.00
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"By the way, one of Bond's main backers, Tony Lawrence, is associated with Casino-friend.com, whose editor and publisher, Hal Brown, has compared casino opponents to the Ku Klux Klan. " (Media Nation)


Hal Brown:

I don't claim to have read everything Val wrote and maybe I should go back and look at whatever is still online. But it would help to have someone give, say, five examples of her worst transgressions.

My view is that the minimum basic of good citizenship doesn't require that one becomes actively involved. It just means that citizens cast informed votes.

Some of us heard anti-indian comments like "send them back to the reservations" and Mike himself had someone use the N-word in a verbal attack against him.

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I do think that some people in the anti-casino movement are more classist than racist. They are totally accepting of lower middle class and above people of any race, but prejudiced against people they view as "lower class".

Who wants to come out in public and say they don't want their children going to school with ragamuffins (to put it more or less politely), urchins and guttersnipes who can't even speak the mother tongue?

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Neither Val nor I have said that CFO was racist.

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I am referring to a certain kind of political persuasion which attempts to communicate by using code-words to people with prejudices, and doesn't have anything whatsoever to do with whether the person using those code-words is prejudiced themselves....CFO is campaigning.

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They want to win. What will they do to win? I don't know, but I am not sure they aren't willing to engage in, dare I say, Rovian politics.

Anti-casino posters repeatedly tried to distort what I wrote.

This has to to with what I suggest is a political tactic being used by at least on CFO board member to scare potential voters who do not want lower income people, some people from ethnic minorities, living near them.

I noted that many bankruptcies don't involve people becoming destitute. I don't know the statistic but the few people I know who declared bankruptcy did so to restructure their debt.

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They kept their house and nice cars and in the instances I know of made out quite well.

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Hal Brown, compassionate therapist:

Lives totally destroyed?

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Quite an assumption there if you mean that otherwise perfectly healthy individuals with no predisposing mental or emotional impairments will have their lives, and hence their families, totally destroyed because of a casino in our midst.

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Not to wear out this subject, but just because an individual has his or her life totally destroyed (whatever that means) doesn't mean the family is totally destroyed.

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It sometimes mean there is a divorce, and the spouse and children are actually better off.

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There are times when a spouse's behavior has to get intollerable before their partner ends a destructive marriage.

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You are dealing with a small number of bankruptcies before the casino, about 2.98 bankruptcies per 1,000 residents which increased to 3.27 bankruptcies per 1,000 according to the study you cite.

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To relate that to Middleboro, rounding off its population to 20,000, that would mean bankruptcies would increase from about 60 to 66.

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VegasVal, anonymous poster, OUT OF STATE RESIDENT:

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a certain radical right wing element has latched on to the allegedly "flawed" agreement

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Perhaps, I'm a psychologist conducting a study on Internet harrassment and cyberstalking?

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It is very interesting to watch the escalation in anti-social behavior patterns with each battle that is lost by the casino opposition

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I, honestly, don't know how some of you can hold your heads up in public

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You must be living in fantasy world if you don't see how DISGUSTED the majority of your neighbors are with your behavior.

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Wow! Now there's a really defamatory little diatribe! I hope everyone has printed out a couple of copies of this!

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Damn straight! Glenn Marshall has a lot more honor than the woman in that video. You can say whatever you like about him. Your opinion doesn't really matter. Only the opinions of his people, who know Glenn's character and his heart, really matter here. Glenn Marshall may be "on hiatus" for a little while, but many of his people stand silently by him and they will stand by him in the future.

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Geesh! Not this again! Didn't Adam come on this very forum and quote (for you) the exact section of the agreement in which Middleboro DOES get a backend percentage of NOT ONLY the slots, but all other gaming profits? I seem to recall that he did.

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(NOTE: There is no percentage of gaming profits included in the Agreement.)

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It should be noted that the statistics CFOfacts was using regarding comp rooms were apparently for Atlantic City and are among the highest in the country.

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No, I sincerely believe a formal investigation IS in order. There have just been too many problems created for town employees by a certain individual who clearly is out of control . I sincerely hope that some sort of investigation is launched.

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Looks to me like they may deliberately be misrepresenting the value of the contract so they can call it a "lousy" deal.

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So, are you saying that ethnic diversity is too expensive for Middleboro? What about African Americans? Most of them speak English. Would it be "too expensive" to incorporate them into the fiber of the community?

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I have stated that CFOFACTS' blog (attributed to their Directors) expressed what I perceive to be a racist agenda. As a person of Native American heritage, I stand by my perception quite firmly.

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Why, indeed? From my perspective that blog is ALL about racism. As I see it, it's not an attack on a casino - it's an attack on an INDIAN casino.

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When their supporters cite the influx of "non english speaking" and "special ed" children into Middleboro's school system as a negative impact - one must ask WHOSE children are they talking about??? Are these people SO stupid themselves that they believe Native Americans in this country are incapable of speaking Engilsh?

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I described your POSTING saying: "Ignorance and RACISM raise their ugly heads for all to see!"

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Here we have it, folks! Ignorance and RACISM raise their ugly heads for all to see!

Yes, ThePM, YOUR children might have to go to school with those poor, dirty, dark skinned, stupid little NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING children.

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Thanks for letting us all see your true colors. Next time you're at church, why don't you share this little love letter with your pastor. I'm sure he could tell you a thing or two about bigotry.

Better move! Quick! You're daughter might end up marrying an Indian!

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You are dangerously close to the edge with your insinuations of potential wrong doing on anyone's part. I would caution you against making potentially libellous statements about people, based upon your unsubstantiated personal suspicions.

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Yes, there clearly are some anti-casino supporters who have PUBLICLY made statements that would lead any reasonable person to believe that they harbor racist sentiments.

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Does anyone REALLY believe that a coallition of groups from across the state invited Rich Young to lead this group? Please! I would suggest you do what I have done, research the "individual people" who make up their group.

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What you will find is that they all seem to have individual "axes" to grind that often have nothing what-so-ever to do with the arguments their group sets forth in the media. Likewise, the people who rail about drunk drivers are well know to local liquor store staffs.

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How hypocritical.in my opinion, many of these people strike me as uneducated, ill spoken, unpolished and unattractive - yet there they are smiling for the cameras..

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IMO, none of these people have any business being on television - yet there they are scrambling to grab their fifteen minutes of fame and they don't seem to care who they have to step on and hurt to get that moment in the spotlight.

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They pay lip service to irradicating libel and slander from the various blogs they promote and support.

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Without the negative innuendo and libellous personal attacks I doubt they'd have an audience.

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It is also apparent from a number of public comments that have been made, including ones made on this forum, that some of their supporters are simply racists who take issue with minority children infultrating the school system.

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How can anyone take such people seriously? I wouldn't worry about compromising with or working in conjunction with Casinofacts. I strongly suspect that organization will be disbanding in the near future.

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Now, hush, I wouldn't give those evil witches and wizards a second thought. Maybe we're not lying.... maybe we're right!!

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No, maybe you are lying and maybe the developer is lying, too!

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Honestly, I seem to recall there being something in the agreement regarding the casino's design.

I can't imagine that ANY business would be so imprudent as to affiliate themselves with CFOfacts.

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I continue to be STUNNED at the fact that people are apparently naive enough to assume the legal liability connected with serving on their Board.

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I find it so offensive that these folks involve their children in "picket lines" during school hours.

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Honestly, I think that sort of behavior should be reported to child protective services. It strikes me as abusive.

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IMHO, they are propagating racism and bad feeling towards the Indians for having the "audacity" to exercise their legal rights. Afterall, it would be so much more profitable if they didn't!

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Most of the anti-casino people are well meaning and aren't bigots. I really believe that. However as far as I know, their primary spokespersons have not incorporated a clear, unambiguous, anti-racist and anti-bigotry statement into their message.

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"What difference has CasinoFacts.org made - really? What HAS this group and their supporters accomplished? As I see it, this group -1) Tried to convince voters not to support the casino agreement with the Wampanoag - AND FAILED

2) Tried to convince the media and the State Attorney General's office that there had been some sort of vote tampering - AND FAILED

3) Tried to organize a massive rally with hundreds of anti-casino supporters on the State House steps - AND FAILED

4) Tried to sway the Governor's opinion regarding casinos in MA - AND FAILED

5) Tried to recall three members of the Middleboro Board of Selectman - AND FAILED

6) Tried to create a big media splash with a massive showing for the debut of "CasinoFreeMass" - AND FAILED

There are a great many more unsavory things this group's supporters have TRIED to do - behind the scenes - but I won't mention them here.

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So, what is it that Casinofacts is so thankful for? Attention?

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It seems to me they haven't accomplished any of their primary goals. What they have managed to do is create a lot of division, discord, anger and hurt feelings in the community"

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In response to a question about how usage of town vehicles are tracked: Who cares? You people are too busy trying to insinuate yourselves into the nitty gritty details of Town Government.

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It's so lame and so offensive. Why don't you get out of the way and let the professionals - the town employees - do their jobs?

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Am I bitter? Absolutely not! Am I angry? In general, no, not at all. I've won. There WILL be a casino in Middleboro.

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What annoys me is all the unnecessary personal attacks, libel and clear cut defamation of character I have seen on so many blogs and message boards posted by what I see as a desperate, vengeful crew of sore loosers. I have exposed these people for what they truly are. I suspect that is what makes them so angry.

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So, I was watching the Nancy Grace Show the other night. Anyone who has followed my postings might well suspect that I'm a BIG fan of Nancy's! I'm often told, we share a lot of similar mannerisms and personality traits! LOL! Anyway, the panel was discussing Don Imus' recent return to the airwaves, replete with two African American co-hosts. Of course, Sharpton and some other talking heads were strongly objecting to the network's decision to return Imus to the airwaves. Apparently, in their view anyone who uses the "N" word or any other kind of racial slur directed at African Americans should be denied their basic right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Gee, I'm confused.

When did it become illegal in this country to use the "N" word???? (As I understand it, Imus made some offensive remarks of an inflammatory nature, but he didn't actually even use the "N" word.) Being part Native American myself, I'm no fan of racial slurs of any kind - but aren't we over reacting a bit? Should people really be fired from their jobs and never allowed to work in their given industry again, for SAYING something insulting? I'm troubled by this mode of thinking, and I'll tell you why. Although I find racial slurs directed at African Americans disturbing and unacceptable, why is this sector of the population given what seems to be a "special right of vengeance"? So many comedians on the major networks make jokes at the expense of Hispanic, Asian or Southern Americans. How frequently do we hear jokes about Irish "drunks" or stupid "Polacks", or ignorant "rednecks" on television? Aren't these comments JUST as offensive? Yet, we don't see any group of Irish people demanding that people be fired from their jobs for a joke or two about Conan O'Brien. How is the situation for African American people any different? What makes the "N" word unspeakable and the terms Mic, Spic, and Chink somehow a bit more acceptable?I'm interested in hearing others thoughts on this topic......

"Is Jessie Powell out of her mind, or just drunk?"

You may not LIKE my opinions, but I am entitled to them and should not be personally attacked, harassed or stalked for exercising my legal right of free speech. Please, provide ONE example of an instance where I personally attacked another poster.

... implying that I am the type of person who might engage in some sort of violent or criminal activity seems pretty out of bounds to me.

It would be better not to answer that question at all than to just make something up. That is not the reason. You know it isn't. Why say such a thing?

Who cares? You people are too busy trying to insinuate yourselves into the nitty gritty details of Town Government. It's so lame and so offensive.

...it should be obvious that Mike doesn't share your views so I suggest you stop trying to speak for him.

You can't provide a quote, because I have never said anything of the kind. Moving forward, please, refrain from putting words in my mouth.

.... Well, here we have a place where they have a very limited ability to CENSOR opposing views, but that doesn't seem to stop people like yourself from trying.

There is no question, in my mind, that predjudice runs rampant throughout that organization, whether it be overt racism or discrimination based upon class.

Do you have ANY idea how crazy you sound? Are you a racist? You tell me. I couldn't care less about you. We are discussing CFOfacts anti-casino publicity campaign - not you and your views.

This isn't personal - and I'd appreciate it if you'd refrain from making personal attacks and attempting to goad others into doing the same.

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The views expressed publicly by CFOfacts strike me as inflamatory and potentially appealing to prejudice. Clearly, others share my view. We are entitled to our opinion and if you don't like it - that's just TOUGH!

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Honey, no has said "CFO is racist" - stop trying to put words in people's mouths. We've commented on THEIR public statements and offered our view. Perhaps, the "good folks" at CFOfacts should give a little more thought to how their propaganda campaign might be construed before they use inflamatory phraseology?

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It never ceases to amaze me how frequently people on the anti-casino side of this debate resort to personal attacks and name calling when confronted with actual facts or arguments they can't refute.

In other words, you are are attempting to alarm and frighten people based upon nothing more than speculation and personal opinion. It does sound like the rhetoric of a professional politico. It smells a lot like CERA propaganda to me.

Your post is inappropriate. There is nothing hostile or personally insulting in the post you cite. I take offense at your characterization of me as a "bully". That is a personal attack, which is against the rules on this forum.

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I fail to see the "muck & mire" you attribute to my simple one sentence reply. There is nothing inappropriate in my response above - the same cannot be said for this posting of yours.

CFO's methods haven't exactly been lily white, so they are not in a position to criticize anyone.

The reprinted postings are being taken out of context, editorialized and spun in a misleading manner in some cases.

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My own observation from reading her blog and her postings here is that her thought process has become increasingly disordered, delusional and irratic.

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She seems consumed by a series of personal vendettas, and I am SERIOUSLY concerned that this woman could potentially become dangerous.

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....I do sincerely believe that it is probable that you could end up potentially losing the personal liberty you seem to cherish.

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Village Idiot Alert!

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I appologize for calling you ignorant. I really only referenced your "stupidity" in order to get your attention and it seems to have worked.

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You come off like a stalker, who is harrassing this person, much in the same manner in which you harrassed the firemen.....

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...I think you've really crossed the line into an area where you seem to be pursuing vendettas against innocent bystanders

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We need a FINANCE DEPARTMENT, with a TOWN CONTROLLER at its head....

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This dame's lack of perspective is MIND BOGGLING! What PLANET is she living on? We need a TEAM of qualified CPAs to help us FIX our financial mess.

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I doubt anyone is trying to flush money down the drain by ONLY requiring a 4 day work week.

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With all due respect, I work in the area of Finance and it is very obvious to me that you are speaking (with great authority) of an area you really do not understand.

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I have little doubt that the town has a three or five year plan and years of budget forecasts and projections laid out well in advance.

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I really wish you would stop trying to make trouble, because it's very obvious that you don't know what you are talking about.

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Whether or not you can AFFORD the costs is irrelevant.

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I will GUARANTEE you that there are YEARS of budget projections in the mill.

Sudbury Democratic Town Committee opposes casinos

The Democratic Town Committee

623 Concord Road
Sudbury MA 01776-1418
27 October 2007
978-443-2959
tchollocher@verizon.net

Governor Deval Patrick
Massachusetts State House, Room 360
Boston MA 02133

Dear Governor Patrick,

At our meeting of 24 October 2007, a resolution was approved as follows:

Resolution of the Sudbury Democratic Town Committee
Against Casino Gambling

October 24, 2007

WHEREAS the platform of the Massachusetts Democratic Party
commits the party to tax equity and responsible budgeting,
special support for small businesses and agriculture, sustainable
development practices to foster economic stability for both urban
and rural cities and towns, and the provision of a sustainable
revenue source to finance state government that supports a
healthy economy; and

WHEREAS casino gambling would not promote tax equity, responsible
budgeting, sustainable development practices, or a sustainable
revenue source, and likely would damage small businesses and
agriculture in Massachusetts; and

WHEREAS casino gambling would involve our state government in
condoning and encouraging behavior that has led in far too many
cases to personal financial ruin, the breakup of families,
domestic violence, and child neglect; and

WHEREAS the Governor's proposal for casinos in Massachusetts
represents a missed opportunity to advocate for a more equitable
tax system;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

The Sudbury Democratic Town Committee declares itself opposed to
casino gambling in Massachusetts and in favor of raising state
revenues in a more equitable manner.

Sincerely,

Thomas C. Hollocher, Secretary, SDTC.

Amherst Democratic Town Committee Casino Vote

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



Meeting on October 18, 2007 , members of the Amherst Democratic Town Committee (ADTC) voted to support the League of Women Voters Massachusetts and local State Representative Ellen Story in their opposition to casino gambling in Massachusetts .



The ADTC resolution states that Governor Deval Patrick’s casino gambling proposal “would not promote tax equity, responsible budgeting, sustainable development practices, or a sustainable revenue source, and likely would damage small businesses and agriculture in Western Massachusetts .”



The resolution also stated that the Governor’s casino proposal “represents a missed opportunity to advocate for a more equitable tax system” in Massachusetts .



ADTC member Leo Maley brought the resolution to the Committee. Following an hour-long discussion, the resolution passed by a vote of 13 to 2.



“It was a lively and informative discussion. Committee members came to the meeting well-informed on the subject. Most members had read the very informative materials prepared by the League of Women Voters Massachusetts concerning the economic and social effects of casino gambling,” Maley noted. “It is great to see this level of knowledge and passion concerning such an important issue at the grass roots of the Democratic party.”



“Many Committee members expressed their disappointment in Governor Patrick,” Maley noted. “Only one Committee member expressed support for Governor Deval Patrick’s casino proposal. Most Committee members were passionately opposed to the Governor’s plan,” Maley noted.



Maley, a community and political organizer, notes that he strongly supported Deval Patrick in last year’s Democratic primary and general elections and that many ADTC members had campaigned hard for Patrick.



“ Amherst voted 84 percent for Deval Patrick in a three-way Democratic primary and again by 84 percent in the general election,” Maley noted. “ADTC members helped lead the effort for Deval Patrick in Western Massachusetts .”



Maley noted that “The Governor has done many wonderful things since he’s been in office. I continue to support him. However, it is unfortunate to see the Governor so out of step with his core supporters on this very important issue.”



Maley can be reached for comment by phone at 413-262-0630 or by email at leomaley3@hotmail. com



Text of the ADTC casino resolution follows:





Amherst Democratic Town Committee

October 18, 2007

RESOLUTION





WHEREAS the platform of the Massachusetts Democratic Party commits the party to “tax equity and responsible budgeting,” “special support for small businesses and agriculture,” “sustainable development practices to foster economic stability for both urban and rural cities and towns,” and the provision of “a sustainable revenue source to finance state government that support a healthy economy;”



WHEREAS casino gambling would not promote tax equity, responsible budgeting, sustainable development practices, or a sustainable revenue source, and likely would damage small businesses and agriculture in Western Massachusetts ;



WHEREAS the Governor’s proposal for casinos in Massachusetts represents a missed opportunity to advocate for a more equitable tax system; and



WHEREAS the League of Women Voters Massachusetts and Representative Ellen Story have been consistent and forthright in their advocacy for more equitable taxation and their opposition to casino gambling;



NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:



The Amherst Democratic Town Committee supports the League of Women Voters Massachusetts and Representative Story in their opposition to casino gambling in Massachusetts and in their commitment to a more equitable system of taxation for residents of the Commonwealth.





Motion made by Leo Maley.



Motion seconded by Diana Stein.



Motion, as amended, passed by a vote of 13 to 2 with 0 abstentions.