VOL. 112 - NO. 35 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, SEPTEMBER 5, 2008 $.30 A COPY Back-to-School Jamboree Palin Gets the Call, and the Tide Turns at City Hall Plaza by David Karki Senator John McCain mentalist lobby. changed the entire dynamic She can also credibly of the presidential campaign speak to tax cutting, con- with his selection of Alaska trolling spending and perhaps Governor Sarah Palin as his most importantly, self-suffi- vice-presidential running ciency. To conservatives, mate. For the first time, President Bush’s “compas- there is an excitement about sionate conservative” spiel the Republican ticket. And has only cemented the lib- judging by the most telling eral principle of looking to big barometer — how much government first and only to Democrats hate the choice solve problems, if not to be — he could not have chosen taken care of outright. Palin, better. who along with her husband Tactically, Palin is the per- Todd, fed her family on the fect help for the three con- game they hunted and fished stituencies McCain needed and who fired the staff chef to reach out to the most — Alaska Governor upon becoming governor so women, conservatives and Sarah Palin her kids wouldn’t get used to rural blue-collar men. having meals cooked for Women. Many supporters That makes it doubly painful them, is the epitome of the of Senator Hillary Clinton for him. rugged individualism that are still very unhappy she Conservatives. McCain built and made America. And didn’t wind up on the Demo- had a very hard sell to pull which we need to get back to cratic ticket, and Palin made off with his own base, given in order to keep it, according a direct appeal to these folks how frequently he crossed to many conservatives — in her speech on Saturday, them over the last eight this one included. all but inviting them across years. He mended that Rural blue-collar men. the aisle. Her experience of bridge as much as he possi- Senator Obama already handling the jobs of mayor bly could have and ensured stumbled badly on this one, and governor while raising that both money and turnout with his comments about five children will appeal on the right will be as plen- them being “bitter” and strongly to them. tiful as he could have hoped “clinging to their guns.” As While I’m sure that many for. Palin has impeccable Palin is married to a union liberal women will ultimately credentials on the pro-life steelworker who has also Mayor Menino greets Shawnee Carifio, a 7th Grade put their liberalism ahead of issue, having given birth to worked on a salmon fishing Special Education teacher at the McCormack School, and their gender wishes come her son Trig, who has Down boat and is a snowmobile rac- her daughter Sirona Carifio, a 5th grade student at the Election Day, any money and Syndrome. And she’s an NRA ing champion, and both Eliot School, at the first ever BPS Back-to-School votes that McCain and Palin member. She’s strong on handle firearms well and Jamboree on City Hall Plaza on Saturday, August 30, get from this group will come energy and can effectively 2008. The Event featured live performances, free ice right out of Obama’s hide. take on the radical environ- (Continued on Page 14) cream, health screenings, info on community resources. Mayor’s Column News Briefs by Thomas M. Menino, Mayor, City of Boston by Sal Giarratani Last Friday, Police Commissioner Ed ates at an average fuel economy of 10 Davis and I announced an ambitious miles per gallon (MPG) and travels a CHICAGO COFFEE-LOVING agenda to improve taxi service in the staggering 100,000 plus miles annually. City of Boston. As part of a comprehen- In contrast, a new Ford Escape Hybrid COP GETS SUSPENSION LATTE sive plan to drastically improve quality receives 26 MPG, and a new Toyota A cop was suspended for 15 months and of service, these new regulations will Camry Hybrid operates at an even more ordered to undergo counseling for demanding ultimately benefit both customers and efficient 34 MPG. This increased effi- free coffee and pastries from six different taxi drivers. Building upon my 2006 ciency will save taxi drivers a remark- Starbucks over five years. Boston CleanAir Cabs program, a central able $1,000 a month in fuel costs, which The 14-year veteran of the Chicago Police component of this campaign will re- cannot be overemphasized as drivers Department was suspended by the Police Board quire the taxicab fleet to become fully struggle to keep pace with the current of Chicago after finding her guilty of using hybrid by 2015. Realizing that taxi driv- price of gas. In addition to fuel savings her badge to intimidate Starbucks into giving ers are suffering as a result of rising for drivers, the air quality benefits to her freebies. fuel costs, Commissioner Davis also Boston residents and visitors are equally approved a rate adjustment due to take compelling, given that vehicle exhaust EDWARDS GONE TO THAT effect January 1, 2009. is a major contributor to local air pollu- “OTHER AMERICA” NOW Under the adjusted rates, passengers tion and greenhouse gas emission. Con- Four years ago, John Edwards was the vice will pay $16.20 for a five mile (industry version to a hybrid fleet will reduce car- presidential candidate with our own John “Photo standard) trip rather than the current bon emissions from the taxi fleet by Op” Kerry. That Democratic team lost badly to rate of $13.95. However, adjusted rates 50%.he new standards for hybrid ve- President Bush. This year Edwards tried again are merely one aspect of the compre- hicles will be phased in as current ve- for the White House, but left the race after few hensive plan, and it is important to un- hicles reach their mandatory retire- voters paid attention to him. derstand that new regulations will pro- ment age of six years. Consequently, Now everyone has their eyes on him after vide mutual reinforcement to strengthen owners will be required to replace retir- news that he was fooling around with a younger the current industry. Requiring taxi cabs ing taxis with hybrid vehicles. I am proud woman while his wife battled cancer. to go hybrid is an essential step in not to say that we anticipate that more than On the campaign trail he talked about “The only improving air quality but also im- 50% of the fleet will be hybrids within Other America” suffering in poverty and about proving the quality of our taxi fleet, and two years. By 2015, 100% of the fleet is personal responsibility. in turn the quality of service for all resi- required to be hybrid vehicles. There was talk that Obama might give him dents and our many guests. Although the transition to a hybrid the podium at the convention and a spot in his An analysis of vehicles in Boston’s taxi fleet will be a phased-in process, con- fleet demonstrated that the typical two- (Continued on Page 14) year-old Ford Crown Victoria taxi oper- (Continued on Page 12) Page 2 POST-GAZETTE, SEPTEMBER 5, 2008 Random thoughts on the Democratic Convention of ’08 by Bennett Molinari and Richard Molinari Spectacle is a powerful po- does not depend on props, litical tool and has been visual effects and money but used with great effect on empathy with the people throughout the ages; from and the selfless adherence PROMETHEUS, EPIMETHEUS AND PANDORA the Circus Maximus of an- to personal sacrifice for the Once again we are re- cleverly concealing them journey to perform one of his cient Rome to the modern common good. minded that all references to beneath the stomach. In the celebrated labors, shot and Olympic Games, political The expression goes, “with Zeus or Jupiter, supreme second half he put the bones, killed the eagle and freed purpose has always accom- friends like this, who needs god of the heavens, are used but hid them beneath a Prometheus from his bonds. panied spectacle. Spectacle enemies”; it is an apt way to synonymously in Roman layer of rich fat. Zeus was The next time you visit has been termed a form of describe Senator Joe Biden’s and Greek mythology. asked to choose one of the the City of Philadelphia; emotional engineering, attack on Senator McCain Prometheus and his halves, with the under- don’t miss the masterpiece when employed properly; it that took place on Wednes- brother Epimetheus were standing that the other half by the Flemish artist, can be an effective means of day night at the Democratic sons of the Titan Iapetus would be given to mankind. Peter Paul Rubens, entitled persuasion. Convention. If there was any and they were also brothers Zeus selected the portion “Prometheus Bound”. It’s in The Democratic Conven- doubt as to why Barack to Atlas. Prometheus and displaying the fat, and after that city’s museum of art. tion climaxed with Barack Obama chose Biden over Eipmetheus were charged realizing that he had been Mankind was also pun- Obama’s acceptance speech Hillary Clinton as his run- with the duty to create man tricked, flew into a violent ished for its participation as their standard bearer in ning mate it was dispelled by and to provide him, and all rage. In his resentment he when Zeus created a woman front of eighty thousand Biden’s attack on McCain. It other living things with the resolved to destroy the hu- of great beauty and named people at Invesco Stadium.