Here we are, honeybunch, in the Dog Days of Summer, as they’re called, and whilst the usual yahoos are screeching about the hottest summer o’ the year, those of us who remember a bit farther back than last week can tell yew the summers of late are nothing compared to a few decades ago. But since when does the truth get in the way of a good narrative.
Here in the Asylum by the Sea much has happened since last we writ. But before I git to that, lemme put out an apology to Paige Weinstein. Sometimes the fingers work faster than the brain and Cobina accidentally – and it was accidentally, typed “Goldstein.” Of course, the usual suspecks were attempting to come up with any kind of nefarious reason why this might happen. It has to be nefarious, after all. What else could it be? Yew can bet some of the “suggestions” that were floated about, except the right one. Well enuff o’ that, let’s git to the nitty gritty of what we hafta discuss.
Both parties made their candidate selections, and little was surprising…make that nothing was surprising. The only thing that might be surprising is how long any or all of the candidates stayed at the Savin Rock Festival last weekend. It usually is a beehive of activity and attracts political personae like honey to a bee.
As expected with the announcement of Dorinda Borer as a seeker of the nomination for the Dems, she was able to secure the nod with nary a problem. And, as expected, Ed O’Brien dropped outta the race toot sweet. Sammy Bluejay has thoughts, and they are perty convincing. We shall see effen they come about.
His take is that O’Brien is lookin’ to secure the nomination for the vacancy that Borer will leave if and when she is elected to the Actors Colony’s third-floor office. She can’t hold both posts, and there would hafta be a special election to fill the spot. The Demmies would post their candidate, the GOPers theirs. There won’t be any primary as this is a special election.
O’Brien gits the nod, and, given the way these things seem to favor Dems, the seat, and he’s set for as long as he wants the post. There are indications that’s what is contemplated. We shall see.
Meawhile, Sammy did mention that whilst perusing the majority party’s slate, he noticed that many names that were once a part of the political scene are back. Remember, the Dems, like all Gaul are divided into three parts. With the ascendance of Borer, the names associated with that “province” of the party will be reappearing.
Mrs. Rossi had been the titular head of what was once known as the “Picard” faction of the party. With her ascendance came the re-emergence of people who were in power when Jon Picard was holding forthin City Hall. They were ousted when O’Brien took over in 2012, and a mix of the Borer faction people and the Morrissey faction people were the movers and shakers during that administration.
It ain’t any different than three or four decades ago when it was the Johnson, Allen and Roper factions that fought for control of the party’s fortunes. That revolving door was in place then and it’s in place now. Things haven’t changed much, only the names of them who’re in control of the three clans. As they say,the more things change, etc. As we said, nothing surprising. The rest of the reshaping will happen next year when the town committee has its election of delegates. We’re sure to see some movement come then.
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On the GOP side, Paige Weinstein got the nod as expected. There was no surprises here cuz this is what the GOP leadership had planned all along, and everyone knew it. The question now is who will win the primary. As we said, no surprises. Barry Lee Cohen was in City Hall almost at the stroke of 9 a.m. to get his petition for primary filed and Steve Mullins did the same a couple hours later.
Nelly Nuthatch was perched nearby and sez that everything went quite according to plan at the town committee confab, candidates were nominated and seconded, including Mullins, and then voted upon and endorsed. Mrs. Weinstein in her remarks talked about unity, and being an outsider to the city’s political confraternity. In that regard she might have a leg up on the others in the eyes of a certain segment of voters. We shall see.
What she has to do over the next little while is become more familiar to John and Jane Q. Nelly noted that billboards have gone up over the last few weeks touting the business and showing the Weinstein couple celebrating 40 years in business. There are no coincidences in politics. It is a clever attempt to get her face out there, no question.
Mullins has been running his campaign perty much expecting he will primary, and observers have noted that he is running a smart campaign thus far. Mullins has no problem with name or face recognition. The litany of groups, clubs, societies and pinochle groups he belongs to are as long as one’s right arm. But the fack that he hasn’t waited until the nominations to begin campaigning is a positive for him. It’ll be interesting to see how this all pans out.
Cohen, meanwhile, eschewed the nomination process. It was perty clear whom was going to be nominated and he wasn’t gonna go through a useless ritual. As stated he was in City Hall getting papers as the doors opened or thereabouts.
He needs no intro to voters as he was the GOP’s candidate last time, and lost by less than 3 dozen votes in what was a very irregular election, and in this town that’s saying something. We won’t rehearse the isshews therein again, but suffice it to say there were some doozies brought out in court.
Tennyrate, the question to be determined here is whether he can sustain the voters who voted for him the last time – should he get by the primary.
Three-way primaries can be toss-ups when it comes to trying to figger ‘em out. It is a primary, so registered Republicans will be the pool of voters. Who the rank-and-file wants to see as the standard-bearer is gonna be the big question. After that it’s gonna be a matter of whether the party goes true to form, or breaks the mold.
Usually when the nominee is chosen, those who are disappointed in the outcome stay home – unlike the Deemmies. So, the call for “unity” by Mrs. Weinstein might be something people will have to go back to after the September ballot is finished. We shall see.
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Iva Lootey came by and noted – as yew will see in this isshew – that the new carpet at Ken Strong Stadium is actually being put down as we speak. Why is this being mentioned here? Cuz, Felicia, things done in a timely fashion in this berg are as rare as hens’ teeth. Days after the approvals were given, the work started, and the boys and girls at the high school are gonna have a new field ready for the fall, while other improvements are made.
Again, the only reason Cobina thinks this is amazing is cuz it hasn’t taken forever to get the process started. The last two times the carpet had to be taken up and replaced – this is the fourth one since 1989 methinks – delays were the rule, not the exception.
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Over on Beach Street things seem to be moving as well. Jest an aside, Dorinda Borer mentioned in her announcement that the allocation of funds for the projeck was made in 2020. I dunno effen it was because that is the Covid year, but it didn’t seem like it was delayed for that long…but it was looonnnngggg!
Tennyrate, it seems the roadbed and sidewalks have been taken up, and work will begin on raising the elevation of the road to forestall flooding.
Madame Olga noted that she was amazed traffic on Beach Street has not been the difficulty she thought it would be. She was traversing out and jest wanted to see what was going on. She noted that vehicular traffic on the road is perty light, and the use of the detour, whilst heavy at times, is not what was thought it was gonna be.
We remember when they did the first part o’ Beach Street near the sewage treatment plant, the residents on Second Avenue were dealing with all kinds of traffic at all times of the day. People must’ve taken note and made other routes part of their routine. Who’d o’ thunk it?
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Best wishes go out to columnist Eleanore Turkington, who had a bout with a nawsty infection. Word came to the office that she’s doing better and feeling better. But, she is gonna take a summer respite as she always did and return in September. She still wants her readers to send in their gripes so there is plenty of grist for her mill when she returns.
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With that bit o’ chatter, I’ll close this time till next, mitt luff und kizzez,