Slap on the Back:
"People sometimes rant about government waste. There certainly is some of that. But real waste is a father and his
young son - freshly ratcheted into handcuffs and ankle shackles - being led out of a courtroom to serve five years, each for
a stupid crime of emotion, that almost certainly would not have occurred but for the manipulation and exploitation that is
the stock in trade of the modern casino." - Brian T. Watson of Swampscott is a regular Viewpoint columnist for
the Salem News.
http://www.salemnews.com/puopinion/local_story_331094229?keyword=secondarystory+page=1
Truism
"Not since old Dr. Frankenstein got to stitching in his lab has there been a creature harder to kill than the idea
that casino gambling belongs in Ohio." - Aaron Marshall, Plain Dealer Reporter on ballot initiative
in Ohio to legalize casino gambling.
Boy, does this sound familar. Here in Mass. this stuff comes up all the time as well. The
Kool-Aid is everywhere. State Sen. "But-for" Pacheco and State Rep. "Chicken Little" Flynn must have relatives out there
too.
"Once states become dependent on these (casino) revenues, it's almost impossible to wean them off of it."
- R. Shep Melnick, a public policy professor at Boston College
http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071125/NEWS/711250337
And...
Slap on the Back to:
"From the onset of this debate we contemplated whether or not gambling on the SouthCoast is the answer to our troubles,
but after some due diligence we discovered that being in the frying pan is safer than sitting in the fire itself. We
should invest in ourselves instead of sucking up promises made by casino developers.. Our position is that we shouldn't
gamble with our future." - Editorial Staff of SoCo Magazine, November Issue
Outrageous Quote:
“We need the money. I think that if you build your economy based around casinos, no good will come of it. But if you
make it a small piece and do it right and control it and make sure that it’s complementary to your economy, it makes all the
sense in the world.”- New Bedford Mayor, Scott Lang
Since when have casinos ever been done right, been controlled by anything or anyone except the owners.
Instead, they control the economy, jobs, and the politics of the area and only bring ill to all they consume. You
know, I "need the money" too, but I'm not going to take it from my neighbor through a dishonest transaction, which is what
gambling is.
Slap on the Back Quote:
"I think Lang is dreaming in thinking a New Bedford casino would bolster local businesses. A casino resort would suck
people in and offer a range of options to keep them on the premises." - M. Charles Bakst is The Journal’s political
columnist
http://www.projo.com/news/politics/content/BAKST_COLUMN_22_11-22-07_OV7F471_v17.2623103.ht
ml
Outrageous Quote of the Day
“This is an economic engine for the region and it will bring other things that are more positive,” -
Middleborough Selectman, Wayne Perkins
http://enterprise.southofboston.com/articles/2007/11/21/news/news/news18.txt
Sorry Wayne, resort casinos are like black holes sucking the life blood from people who enter
along with eliminating competition of surrounding businesses. Resort casinos have not brought economic prosperity to
the communities surrounding Foxwoods, Mohegan Sun, Twin Rivers or anywhere else.
Super Outrageous Quote:
"Gambling and other forms of entertainment associated with resort casinos can also provide social benefits associated
with increased social stimulation and reduction of isolation," Mass. Health and Human Services Secretary Judy
Anne Bigby
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/11/01/officials_say_they_cant_predict_gambl
ings_social_costs/
Don't make me laugh. Although laughter is the best source of medicine.
Here is great commentary from "Squaring the Globe".
http://squaringtheglobe.blogspot.com/search/label/casinos
"I just could not stop myself. When I took the money the first time, nobody noticed. It seemed so easy. ... It
was like a drug. I was addicted. I had to go to the casino." - Charlene Darby, sentenced to one year
in prison by Manchester Superior Court Judge Elliot Prescott for pocketing deposits from a East Hartfort Dunkin' Donuts.
http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-ctehddarby1120.artnov20,0,1471889.story
Slap on the Back:
"Mr. Frank has the audacity to justify his position by saying that it is not the job of government to tell people what
to do with their money! He cannot be serious. By his line of reasoning, I should be able to spend my money any way I
wish, laws be damned! Murder for hire? Prostitution? Mr. Frank would have no problem with any of these? I guess we can
add Barney Frank to the list of those who wish to sell Massachusetts to the casino interests." - JAMES WISHART, North
Attleboro
http://www.projo.com/opinion/letters/content/LT_wishart_RDY_11-11-07_9O7JBJL_v6.35995f4.ht
ml
"At a casino, gambling $1 at a time, your odds of winning $1,000 before losing $1,000 are 1 in 2 trillion." -
Travis Jarvis, mathematics department chairman at Brigham Young University, who has researched casino odds.
http://www.projo.com/business/content/BZ_serra11_11-11-07_797OANL_v7.2f93dbe.html
Slap on the Back Quote
“The more time you put in and the more questions you ask, the more skeptical you become, the burden of proof is on
the proponents to prove that Massachusetts should go down this road.” - State Senator Mark Montigny, New Bedford
Outrageous Quote
“I think New Bedford will get a tremendous benefit from legalized gambling in Massachusetts." - New Bedford
Mayor, Scott Lang
Yeah, just like Atlantic City has.
http://www.projo.com/business/content/BZ_NEWBEDFORD_CASINO_11-18-07_FK7RQJS_v103.2471367.h
tml
http://blogs.southcoasttoday.com/n/blogs/blog.aspx?webtag=nb-casino&entry=30
"Historically, it has been financially self-serving, rife with corruption and inextricably bound to special interest
groups concerned exclusively with dollars lining their pockets rather than the coffers of the city or town in which a casino
is located. That being said, the burden is on the governor and casino proponents to prove my skepticism is misplaced.
In reviewing any casino proposal, the best interest of New Bedford and the surrounding communities is and will be my
foremost priority. I will never sacrifice the economic health and well-being of the city for the financial gain of casino
developers." - Sen. Mark Montigny, Democrat, representing Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Mattapoisett and New
Bedford
Outrageous Quote of the Day
"Massachusetts should benefit from Massachusetts gambling dollars – not Connecticut or any other state for that matter."
- Sen. Joan Menard, Democrat, representing Fall River, Freetown, Lakeville, Rochester, Somerset, Swansea and
Westport
Let's see... and those benefits are higher taxes, higher crime, budget deficits, embezzlement's, personal
bankruptcy's, small business closures, traffic, traffic and more traffic, OUI, etc. What more benefits could we
ask for?
“Why would anybody destroy the quality of life by building a casino?" - Dan Kennedy
Yes, Dan, a gaming house would bring crime, traffic, over-development and corruption and “turn
the town into a city,”
Anti-casino group boasts of winning hand
By Alice C. Elwell, Enterprise Correspondent
MIDDLEBORO— Casino foes declared Thursday they are holding the winning hand in the attempt to bring casino gambling to
the state.
“From where I'm sitting, you're winning this battle,” said keynote speaker Dan Kennedy, a media critic and
Boston university professor, at Thursday's meeting of the anti-casino group CasinoFacts.org at the Fireside grille in Middleboro.
“There's been no casino, and we'll continue to make sure there's no casino,”
said CasinoFacts President Richard Young.
Kennedy, a former Middleboro resident, recounted memories of growing up in
the town and said his opposition to a casino there came from his gut.
“Why would anybody destroy the quality of life
by building a casino?” he said.
A gaming house would bring crime, traffic, over-development and corruption and “turn
the town into a city,” he said.
Kennedy told Thursday's crowd of more than 100 people that Gov. Deval L. Patrick's
plan to bring three casinos to the state does not stand a chance in the House of Representatives, where its speaker, Salvatore
F. Dimasi, D-North End, and his “lieutenant,” Rep. Daniel E. Bosley, D-North Adams, are both staunch opponents of expanded
gambling.
Kennedy also suggested an old-fashioned tactic.
“Write and call your legislators, urging them to keep up the fight,” he said.
Slap on the Back Quote:
"I acknowledge the project may have substantial economic benefits for Middleborough, but that proposal does not recognize
any of the impacts which extend beyond Middleborough. That is the reason I cannot support the project in its current state.
It's irresponsible." - State Rep. Thomas Calter, Kingston
Outrageous Quote #1
"He (Calter) was aware of what was going on in Middleborough, and he didn't make any attempt to contact us and saying
it will harm the region is total fallacy. I think the deal will be an economic engine for the entire state." - Middleborough
Selectman Wayne Perkins
Outrageous Quote #2
"There's plenty of water," - Middleborough Selectman Adam Bond
Oh, and the water bans this summer were just "fallacy". One million gallons a day for the resort
will suck even the water from neighboring wells, let alone the water on some flying monkey's brain.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/11/15/legislator_middleborough_at_odds_over
_casino/?page=1
"Rhode Island got pantsed. They led a charge to put daggers in our referendum and at the same time were feathering
their bed for Massachusetts." - Matthew Thomas, Narragansett tribe's chief sachem referring to Sol Kerzner
and Len Wolman.
http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071114/NEWS/711140308/-1/rss01
Folks, this is what it is. These schisters are only in it for themselves and have a hand in every
pocket. Whether it is the Mashpees, MGM & Suffolk Downs or Twin Rivers in RI. They are playing their cards
and passing out the free drinks (Kool-Aid).
This is my accessment. Kerzner & Wolman are using the Mashpee to get into Massachusetts.
If the tribe gets a casino, they win. The State all of a sudden needs to get on the band wagon, but guess who is at
the reigns? If class III comes to this state, Kerzner & Wolman will in one form or another have a piece of the action,
even if the Mashpees can't the land into trust, the schisters still win. It is win win for them.
STOP CASINOS IN MASS NOW!
Slap on the back:
" 'Together we can' has somehow morphed into 'place your bets here,' as casino gambling now threatens to become Governor
Deval Patrick's signature issue. One can understand why: The lure of hundreds of millions of new state dollars would make
any free-spending pol salivate. Yet the whole thing is an illusion, a combination of wishful thinking and bad economics."
- Tom Keane, a Boston-based freelance writer, contributes regularly to the Globe Magazine and former Boston City
Councilor
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/magazine//articles/2007/11/11/bad_bet/
“I know the state is addicted to the revenues from gambling. You think they’re going to listen to the people
of Lincoln?” - Ronald A. McKenna, Lincoln, RI Town Council member referring to other Rhode
Island elected officials on the overwhelming voter opposition to expanding Twin Rivers to a 24 hr full casino.
http://www.projo.com/news/content/LINCOLN_COLOR_11-11-07_CJ7QQIR_v14.34b8b78.html
After drinking the Kool-Aid, Mass officails are already addicted and we don't even have casinos yet.
Outrageous Quote of the Day
"Why is gambling in a casino OK and gambling on the Internet is not? He's making a big mistake." - U.S.
Rep. Barney Frank, who is sponsoring federal legislation to license and regulate online gambling nationally criticizing
Gov. Patrick's plan to illegalize internet betting, but legalize casinos.
No, he is doing us a favor. As you go on to say Blarney...
"He's giving opponents an argument against him."
Which leads to the Back Slap Quote of the day.
"If you were cynical about it, you'd think that they're trying to set up a monopoly for the casinos," - David
Schwartz, director of the Center for Gaming Research at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Follow the money David, follow the money.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2007/11/10/patrick_pushing_casinos
_wants_to_make_internet_bets_illegal/?rss_id=Boston.com+--+Massachusetts+news
http://blogs.southcoasttoday.com/n/blogs/blog.aspx?webtag=nb-casino&entry=17
http://blogs.southcoasttoday.com/n/blogs/blog.aspx?webtag=nb-casino&entry=26
Notable quotes:
Outrageous-
"My support for any expanded gaming legislation will be contingent on whether these factors are met and the impact,
if any, on communities that derive revenue from existing gaming venues are taken into consideration and the communities
are made whole." - Sen. Marc R. Pacheco, Democrat, representing Wareham, Marion, Middleboro, Carver, Raynham,
Taunton, Berkley, Bridgewater and Dighton emphasis mine.
"If any"? 'But for', you have really done your homework...NOT!
Slap on the Back-
"I have stated my adamant opposition to the proposed Middleboro Wampanoag Casino as it stands. The agreement
is ill-conceived with no regard to the negative impact it will have on neighboring towns, specifically of interest to me is
the community of Carver, which I represent in addition to Wareham and three precincts in Bourne. To date, the constituent
contact I have received in regard to this issue has been overwhelmingly in opposition to both casino proposals. I will continue
to look to my constituents for their input as it is my duty to act on their behalf and according to their will."
- Rep. Susan Gifford, Republican, representing Wareham, Carver and parts of Bourne
"Please be assured that I have never been a proponent of any plan to allow for the legalization of slot
machines and other gambling practices. Casino gambling does not create new wealth; rather it redirects existing dollars at
the expense of existing industries. While I concur with the governor’s assessment that our state needs to explore new sources
of potential revenue, I have seen no evidence that casino gambling is a net positive revenue generator. On the contrary, I
fear that allowing casino gambling to occur within our borders would become a severe hindrance to true economic development.
Once we go down the road of casino gambling, we will be left with a myopic vision that diverts interest and investment away
from our greatest potential sources of revenue and job growth which are the life sciences, medical devices, biotechnology,
and other knowledge based industries." Rep. Michael J. Rodrigues, Democrat, representing Westport, parts of Fall
River
Outrageous Quote:
“I'm sick and tired of the pace it's been going. And I don't believe that a casino can get into
Middleboro for at least 10 or 12 years. I want to bridge the gap between the governor's five-year proposal for casinos by
allowing slot machines at the four tracks. Without this, there's going to be nothing for five years. Chapter 70 aid
to education could suffer, irretrievably." - State Rep. David Flynn, D-Bridgewater
On filing legislation
to add 2,500 slot machines in the state's dog & horse tracks.
http://enterprise.southofboston.com/articles/2007/11/07/news/news/news18.txt
The sky is falling, the sky is falling! Children are not going to get educated!
We can save the state's dying racetrack gaming industry, we have the technology. Doctor get me slots now! Save
the racetracks, save the world.
What is the rush Rep. Chicken Flynn? Since when does anything rush through on Beacon
Hill? I think you need to rush to the men's room and relieve yourself of all the Kool-Aid you've been drinking.
Slap on the Back Quote:
"It’s never been the bureau’s policy to refuse to make use of a scholarly source because of its author’s religious
orientation. Indeed, in response to Mr. Barrow’s reported charge that Mr. Grinols’ findings “are tainted by his evangelical
Christian values,” one might wonder whether Mr. Barrow’s own judgments might have been tainted by the support his research
has indirectly received from the casino industry."- ROBERTA R. SCHAEFER, Executive Director The Research Bureau,
Worcester
http://www.telegram.com/article/20071107/NEWS/711070341
On the legitimacy of The Research Bureau's report on casino gambling.
http://www.telegram.com/article/20071027/NEWS/710270371 & http://www.telegram.com/article/20071028/NEWS/710280464
Outrageous Quote:
''We need to get along with each other. We need to help each other because it shouldn't boil down to the haves and
have-nots. Whatever your people need, do not be afraid to ask other tribes, because as we invest in our future we have nothing
if we can't help each other. If we have no unity, we're just another top 500 corporation and that I don't think is our way,''
- Seneca President Maurice ''Mo'' John Jr.
On the formation of the partnership between the Seneca Tribe in NY and the Aquinnah Tribe of Martha's Vineyard to build
a casino in Massachusetts.
http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096416041
"haves and have-nots", please, how sanctimonious.