Dan Valenti
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"Imperial politics"
By Dan Valenti, Op-Ed, The Berkshire Eagle
Monday, July 20, 2009
STOCKBRIDGE, Massachusetts
Years of studying Latin paid off in recent conversation when the term quid pro quo surfaced. It means "something for something," though the Park Place translation is: "You scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours." On Baltic Avenue they say "the fix is in."
The words came up again with the Eagle's July 15 page 1 story informing us that (1) Andrea Nuciforo Jr., former Berkshire state senator, will run for Congress in 2012 and (2) he will support incumbent John W. Olver in the 2010 race.
The story by Tony Dobrowolski quoted Nuciforo, who admitted talking with Olver "regarding the Congressman's future plans after next year's election, but he [Nuciforo] declined to comment on what was discussed." Nuciforo characterized the conversation as "friendly and cordial," adding, "I am not at liberty to discuss the details of the conversation with you."
The peculiar phrasing draws attention: "not at liberty" to talk? Did someone suspend free speech? Or have the two men have been deal making in the proverbial smoke-filled back room? A credible source close to the situation -- Deep Bottom -- speaking on condition of anonymity, says yes. The source said the two men have reached "an understanding" on the 2010 and 2012 races.
"It's no secret that Andy's had his eye on this seat," Deep Bottom said, "but he's too much of a team player to take on a sitting Democratic congressman." Deep Bottom said that in return for not running in 2010, Nuciforo would have the septuagenarian's blessing two years later when Olver quits Congress.
Could Olver lose in 2010? "Not a chance," Deep Bottom said. "No credible Democrat [in the district] would dare run. No one would want [to make] those waves. Basically, it's [Olver's] seat until 2012, when it would be Andy's turn."
"Andy's turn" -- as if we have Divine Right of Kings in this country.
Both camps failed to return inquiries asking for comment on the veracity of Deep Bottom's claims. If they were not true, they had the opportunity to say so. In this writer's experience, that strongly suggests the information is accurate.
Nuciforo has filed papers with the federal elections commission giving him the green light to raise money. He also has launched a campaign Web site. On July 16, he conducted a fund-raiser at a Pittsfield restaurant. Dig these names on the host committee: Carmen Massimiano, David Capeless, Jimmy Ruberto, Smitty Pignatelli, Denis Guyer, Chris Speranzo, and Ben Downing. Gee, do you think Nuciforo will have a ghost of a chance in 2012?
The Olver-Nuciforo trade-off, according to Deep Bottom, includes the congressman's support for the former state senator in 2012. If what Deep Bottom says is true, Nuciforo was the model of veracity when he labeled his chat with Olver "friendly." He might have also said that this sort of ermine-lined, back-room fix is why people think imperial politics stinks and that the system is out to screw them. It does. It is.
When Dobrowolski contacted an Olver aide about his story, the aide turned the question over to the congressman's campaign staff, which, naturally, did not return the reporter's phone calls. The run-around is typical of the local political philosophy of press relations: the media is there to kiss their rings. Anything else is "negative."
The Olver-Nuciforo story has no moral save except that the "system" is rigged against the Little Guy, accountability doesn't exist, and rule by fiat is the norm.
This isn't cynicism. It's local politics as usual.
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Dan Valenti can be reached at danvalenti@verizon.net.
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www.topix.net/forum/source/berkshire-eagle/T7RKB385FR990UVME
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(related):
http://planetvalenti.com/2010/12/leave-wikileaks-alone-plus-downtown-monday-and-nuciforo-vs-olver-let-andy-breathe-will-ya/#comments
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7/20/2009
Re: Where does John W Olver stand on Luciforo?
My friend said Dan Valenti speculated about Congressman John W Olver's conversation with "Luciforo". He told me that Olver runs 2 years at a time and if he is healthy in 2012, he may very well run for re-election at that time. Dan Valenti did NOT hear Olver's response to "Luciforo's" political ambitions!
Nonetheless, I liked what Dan Valenti had to say about Luciforo and his top-down, insider, corrupt and dirty politics!
Luciforo is a shill for the Insurance industry!
www.luciforo.blogspot.com/2009/07/luciforos-double-dipping-illegal.html
www.jonathanmelleonpolitics.blogspot.com/2008/01/nuciforos-corruption.html
Luciforo wants John W Olver's seat in US Congress in 2012 because he wants to raise millions of dollars in campaign donations from the big banks & insurance companies he is in bed with for a decade now.
What do people think about Nuciforo's political family, Dan? His father was a State Senator and then a Pittsfield Probate Court Judge. His Aunt is a former Pittsfield Mayor. His Uncle is a former Massachusetts State Representative representing Pittsfield. Luciforo was a State Senator like his Dad, and now he is Middle Berkshire Registrar of Deeds in Pittsfield.
While Luciforo has the edge in Pittsfield Politics, he may be at a loss in other areas of Congressman Olver's huge legislative district.
- Jonathan A. Melle
www.jonathanmelleonpolitics.blogspot.com
www.luciforo.blogspot.com
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August 27, 2022
Hello blogger Dan Valenti,
The Dirty Bird (Berkshire Eagle) published an unfavorable letter to the editor calling your writings harmful due to your use of alleged hateful, racist and misogynistic words. The letter writers repudiated your blog to defend the reputation of Berkshire County District Attorney Andrea Harrington, who refused to participate in your debate forum(s).
My view of your blog is that we should all take the good with the bad in our lives, but we should do so by respecting women and minorities who are equal to white men, especially white men in positions of power. That does not mean that we cannot criticize people who are women and/or minorities, especially when they criticize white men in positions of power.
To illustrate, I have been called out on blogs for criticizing white men of Italian ancestry, despite that my last name - Melle - is derived from a small commune in Melle, Piedmont, Italy. I grew up in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, where my father, Bob Melle, was a political activist and an elected official many years ago now.
Andrea Francesco Nuciforo Junior - aka Luciforo - persecuted my father and me for years, even after my family and I relocated to Amherst, New Hampshire a little less than 18 years ago now. The Good Old Boys and Wanna-Be's in Pittsfield politics and beyond took great joy in bullying me for the past over 26 years now. They were attacking me, but when I counter-attacked them, they used their Italian American last names to write that I am against them. I wrote back on the blogs that they cannot hide behind their Italian American last names to say I write against their corrupt and mean-spirited politics. I have a right to defend myself when my family and/or I am attacked, despite the use of calling me a racist and/or the like.
I believe that your blog has upset a lot of people in Pittsfield politics and beyond. I am on Andrea Harrington's side that you went too far in attacking her. I believe that Andrea Harrington is a good person, and her professional accomplishments are praiseworthy. Andrea Harrington is not part of Godfather Jimmy Ruberto, Mayor Linda Tyer, and so on provincial political group of insiders because they all refused to endorse her in her 2022 reelection campaign. I would have thought that you of all people would have praised her for not kissing the dirty behinds of Pittsfield politics failed leadership that charges taxpayers record high municipal taxes for Level 5 public schools, unsafe streets with daily shootings by all of the local gang members, violent crime, and so on.
I believe that your blog serves a good purpose. I am proud to post my daily writings on your blog that covers Pittsfield politics and beyond. From my perch in Amherst, NH, I see a lot worse actors in Pittsfield politics and beyond than your controversial words on your politically incorrect blog.
Best wishes,
Jonathan A. Melle
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