Still have those "inclinations" to reform killers like Cinelli?

Earnhardt, let me adress this so I don't have to hear this again. My position obn Melissa's law was a process. I started off by taking both sides into consideration (thats why I spoke of inclination). I don't go into an issue assuming one side is right and the other is wrong. Then
I used the patch blog to hear both sides of the issue and then after my fears were resolved, I came out with a position on the issue. It was a process and you and the others were part of that process. If you'e looking for someone who is going to rush to judgement, then don't vote for me.
Earnhardt, if I wanted to, I could go back and find a threead where you said you were going to vote for me. You're obviously not "inclined" to right now...but I could find a contrary statement you made. Just saying, it's a process.

I absolutely admit I was going to vote for you. Until the "inclination" then I also explicitly stated I was not going to vote for you. You said it, you believe it, Are you trying to say you made a mistake? If so, would you make that mistake if you were elected? You said it, you will hear it again after all, you are running for public office, Just saying you do not want to address it does not make it go away,

I don't believe I made a mastake, I said it was part of a process which you and the others were part of. A process is going into a topic with an open mind, hearing both sides then coming out with a position, which is what I did. I can't understand why you, or anyone else would object to that. I would also think that you would be flattered and recognize I was reaching out to the public for their opinions on a very serious matter. I don't see any other elected officials reaching out to their constituents to form a position. If you want to hold that against me, thats fine...whatever. I hope others don't.

I hold it against you. I am afraid of your "Inclinations" who will get murdered next time some one of these Killers get out on parole because the board is "Inclined" to believe they can be reformed? Good Luck!

Thank you Sonny.

Like you Sonny he cannot debate what he admitted saying.

Earnhardt,
According to your logic, since you've said that you would vote for me in another thread, (you can't get away from your own words)... You must vote for me on election day.

Sorry Tom my "Inclinations" are to vote for the opponent. Like I said Good luck!

Sonny, I clicked on your name and it says you're from Watertown. Devaney is also from Watertown, can you tell me anything about her?

Hi Sonny,
Thanks. I do have a couple more questions regarding her past. Do you know the full story behind Marilyn and the beauty salon in Waltham?? Why is their such animosity between her and John Lawn?

Hi Sonny,
I agree with you in that the Waltam incident is really no big deal. What bothered me about the incident was the "Do you know who I am" attitude reflects a person who doesn't deserve to be an elected official. To me, it shows abuse of power, arrogance and thinking she's bigger than she is. How does someone like this get elected? I guess being a democrat and an incumbent goes along way. The public doesn't know about MPD and they don't know about the job, so I guess what the public doesn't know won't hurt them:).
In the next few weeks, I hear MPD is going to be sued in her capacity on the Governor's Council. She led a meeting that broke the state constitution several times. We'll have to wait to see how that pans out:).

let me rephrase: she is being accused of breaking the constitution several times.

Tom,
I have 2 questions.
1) Do you think soliciting negative dirt from anonymous people on your opponent is a good use of this Patch forum?
2) What do you think doing so says about your character and integrity as a candidate?

Gary,
You're right, I'm sorry. I'm also sorry to the Marilyn supporters. It won't happen again.
Sincerely, Tom

I'd be very interested to hear what each of you gentlemen have to say about the fact that one out of every 100 adult Americans is in jail right now, mostly for non-violent drug offenses. Does it sound right to you that in the land of the free we incarcerate a greater percentage of our people than they do in any other country? That we spend more money on prisons than on education?
As far as I'm concerned, only those who have committed violent crimes should be deprived of their freedom. I'd like to suggest that restitution in triplicate, serious community service and big fat fines would work a lot better all around for non-violent crimes.

Hi Isabella,
Thanks for the question. I have to say that I think you're assumptions are a bit oversimplified. I think drug dealers may not be caught in non-violent crimes, but violence does happen around them all the time. The streets are safer without them in it.
But lets talk about the finances. Lets assume you're stats are correct. Whether we agree with that or not, I think we can all agree on that the prison systems is overcrowded, if we go at the rate we are going, I feel it's inevitable that reform will have to happen in the judicial/prison system. During those discussions, I believe you're recommendations will have to be on the table.

So Tom, all nonsense aside, Where would you Isabella raises some good points. Where would you draw the line? Would the low volume dealer who sells to someone who ultimately overdoses get off early?. Would only violent offenders do the full time? How would the early release offenders be monitored? wouldn't that be expensive? Would it be more expensive than serving out the sentence imposed? How soon after election (assuming you get in) would you put it on the table? As I said, all nonsense aside, Let's hear your ideas.

Relax Earnhardt, I was at an event, not hovering over a computer. As time gets closer to the election I will have less time to blog and bicker with you.
I don't profess to be an expert in this field. I can, however, identify problem areas. I think we can all agree that our prisons are getting too crowded, family court and parole system also need reform.
If I were in charge what I would do is to create a committee of people that would have different skill sets. I would not go into the situation with any preconceived notions. (For all I know this committee may comeback with a recommendation for building more prisons as a form of reform). The first question that would be asked is if we do indeed need reform. If no, the committee disperses. If yes, continue why reform? whats our goals? etc. Similar questions/statements that you, sonny and isabella posed. After figuring that out, create a gameplan and who would be involved in the gameplan. Then implementation. I hope we can go into an issue relevant to the position now.

Also, due to depleting finances in the city level, our parks and open space (atleast in Newton) have been neglected. Money is spent in more important areas, ie education. What non-violent offenders could do is the yard work for schools and parks on off-hours.
They can pick up trash along the highways as well.

Why Tom, I am quite relaxed, I was however beginning ti think your views were being expressed through a free mouth piece. It was a simple question, you gave a decent answer, That's what counts. I was more interested on where you would draw the line. But thanks for answering. As I said when i first asked, all nonsense aside. obviously it didn't work that way.

Also Tom. you may want to reconsider the mouthpiece choice. :)

Earnhardt,
Sonny does fine by me. So do you. No matter what you say or do I'll still like you (and everyone else). Take care and Good night.

So, do you often try to get dirt on your opponents/peers in open public forums or is the patch just special?

You're right "....can you tell me anything about her?" and "Thanks. I do have a couple more questions regarding her past. Do you know the fill story behind Marilyn and the beauty salon in Waltham?" and then airing rumors that someone is going to be sued in a public forum is in no way being involved in a public solicitation for dirt and rumors. How did I ever mix that up?

FYI, "freedom of expression" is not the same as tossing out rumors as "facts".

Oh HOT DAMN ya got me! OF COURSE by pointing out the lack in logic of a candidate asking on a public forum for dirt on another candidate (that I've never heard of and will probably never know) I obviously want her past buried.

Sure, "facts" can be pesky things...it seems however that your understanding of what "facts" are is very minimal. Let us work through a few examples:

Fact: The Earth is round. this has been confirmed by science many times over.

Not fact: "I heard so and so acted this way in a beauty salon." you did not witness this incident and probably heard from someone else who did not witness it. This is not fact, this is rumor.

Fact: Water covers roughly 70% of the earth. Again, verified by science time and time again.

Not fact: implying that I have a desire to bury a candidate's sordid past.

Santo,
I have already apologized and rfecognized my mistake. If you need me to apologize again I will. I'm sorry, I'm sorry I'm sorry.
But, the incidents that have been talked about Ms Devaney are all part of public record. Just because the Governor's Council never out reaches to the constituents to communicate so you don't know you're incumbent, doesn't mean these incidents didn't happen. They were in the Boston Globe and had the incidents not occurred, Marilyn would have been the firs to sue for libel. She didn't because the truth is defense to libel. Santo, it's up to you who you vote for, but it's also up to you to do your own research. All comments on a blog should be taken as gossip unless proven otherwise. Google Ms Devaney.
Sonny, thanks.
Jay K the assumption I was reffering to that was oversimplified was the fact that Isabella assumes that drug dealers are non-violent offenders. Then I explained why..."I think drug dealers may not be caught in non-violent crimes, but violence does happen around them all the time. The streets are safer without them in it. "

Tom, really very bad form going negative against your opponent (especially in this forum). Patch allows candidates a great means for the community to learn more about their candidates for public office. Instead of highlighting the skill set you would bring to The State House, you hit up an anonymous heckler for supposed additional negative feedback on your opponent. I find this pretty disgusting behavior and a poor use of this forum.

Sonny Beaches & all: Patch allows a free forum for expression, yes. But we do not choose to become a platform for personal attacks or other hostility. Watch your tone and watch your facts, and we will be fine.