What a stupid a**hole: Trump calls outgoing Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker ‘selfish’ for not seeking a third term

I am disappointed that Charlie Baker – who has been an excellent governor by any standard, and the single-most popular governor in the nation during his time, google it - is not seeking re-election. But Trump is a loon and should shut his big mouth. -

BOSTON (CBS) – Former President Donald Trump released a statement after Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker announced he would not be seeking a third term. 

“RINO Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker has announced that, because I didn’t endorse him and he is incapable of getting the Republican nomination, he will not be running for reelection,” Trump said in the statement. 

“He’s been very selfish, and is bad news for the Republican Party—actually, he shouldn’t even be considered a Republican. We wish him well!” 

Governor Baker denied that Trump had anything to do with his decision. (Read more)

Copyright 2021, Sunking278. Stay up-to-date: Twitter – @Sunking278 and Facebook – click here.

Massachusetts: Gov. Charlie Baker says the Commonwealth has been working with other states to create QR code vaccine passport

Meredith Nierman/WGBH News

Privacy and civil liberties advocates and the like are going to hate this, but it would make life easier for those who are vaccinated and would eliminate fraud, as some anti-vaxxers have been forging vaccination cards. Via WGBH -  

"It's a universal standard and we've been working with a bunch of other states, there's probably 15 or 20 of them, to try to create a single QR code that can be used for all sorts of things where people may choose to require a vaccine," Baker said of the passport program. 

Baker showed hosts Margery Eagan and Jim Braude his code while in the GBH’s studios in Brighton. 

"It's my proof that I've been vaccinated," he said. 

Last week, new Boston Mayor Michelle Wu hinted that the city may implement a vaccine mandate for indoor recreation areas. 

Baker defended the availability of COVID booster shots in the state, saying Massachusetts is providing around 55,000 total vaccination shots per day, including boosters, and has administered around 1 million booster shots. Baker compared that figure to the 80,000 doses the state was outputting last spring at the height of the vaccination push with the help of mass vaccination centers. (Read more)

Copyright 2021, Sunking278. Stay up-to-date: Twitter – @Sunking278 and Facebook – click here.

Adam Kinzinger to leave Congress, as realization sets it for the scant few true Republicans that the real GOP is not coming back to life

AP

NPR - GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger, who voted to impeach Trump, won't run for reelection

The scant-few *true* Republican elected officials who remain – Liz Cheney, Mitt Romney, a few governors like Charlie Baker and Larry Hogan, the extremely small handful of House members who voted to impeach Trump in January 2021 - are gradually being forced to jump off this sinking ship. They all want to save the GOP, but the realization sinking in on their part is that there is no saving this rotten party. No matter how much nostalgic they are for the days of Ronald Reagan, or even Eisenhower and Lincoln, the Republican Party is dead in all-but-name. This new Republican Party is a political cult now, and a menace to the soul of our nation. Thank you, Rep. Kinzinger, for your service and your conviction. Perhaps we haven’t heard the last of this man, and he will be a voice going forward in the creation of a new alliance that will fight to return to our traditional values and constitutional governance.

Copyright 2021, Sunking278. Stay up-to-date: Twitter – @Sunking278 and Facebook – click here.

Ferocious nor'easter slams Massachusetts and surrounding states

Fallen tree in New Bedford, MA. Photo: Peter Pereira

A considerable storm among the many I’ve seen in my days. A lot of people on the South Shore may not have power until after the weekend, and some are in shelters tonight. They’ll pull through, but prayers for them. Via WFXT - 

BOSTON — Thousands of Massachusetts residents woke up without power Wednesday morning as a powerful nor’easter thrashes New England with heavy rain and hurricane-force gusts.

Be extra cautious on the roads as driving conditions can be treacherous during these types of storms. Damage is being reported across the state.

The South Shore was crushed leaving many towns with no power at all.

“It’s just howling wind, houses were shaking, my house was shaking,” said Tom Hence of his Cohasset home.

Cohasset Police Chief Bill Quigley said his officers were inundated with calls. “We’ve gotten used to these fizzling out, but this is not the case. I’ve been here for 30 years and this is the worst I’ve seen,” Chief Quigley said.

In Cohassett, police say a Commuter Rail train hit a fallen tree on the Green Bush line. Police cleared the broken tree. The MBTA said they had to clear about 50 trees from several commuter rail lines.

Boats were also a casualty of the nor’easter. The damage was everywhere, making getting around a chore. Even the press building at one of the athletic fields in Cohassett was taken out. (Read more)

Copyright 2021, Sunking278. Stay up-to-date: Twitter – @Sunking278 and Facebook – click here.

Get vaxxed, or get lost: All Mass. state employees must be vaccinated by Sunday

Getty Images

Includes police officers, with Gov. Baker ready to call in the National Guard to fill positions if belligerents continue to defy his order. WHDH -  

BOSTON (WHDH) - State employees who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 have until tomorrow, and then they could face being suspended or fired. 

The state police union fought against Gov. Charlie Baker’s mandate in court but a judge ruled in favor of the governor, who has said he will call in the National Guard to fill positions if needed. 

“Public employees, many of them spend a lot of time with the public and I think it’s important for their safety and for the safety of the people that they deal with every day that they be vaccinated,” Baker said. “The vaccines at this point are clearly effective, they clearly work.”

Copyright 2021, Sunking278. Stay up-to-date: Twitter – @Sunking278 and Facebook – click here.

Dozens of Massachusetts State Troopers set to resign over vaccine mandate

Good riddance. The last thing we need are more right-wing nutjobs wearing a badge and carrying a gun, and if they’re afraid of a shot then they likely lack the common sense to properly perform their duties to begin with. -

BOSTON (CBS) – The State Police Association of Massachusetts (SPAM) said dozens of troopers have submitted their resignation papers as a result of the state’s COVID vaccine mandate. 

The state is requiring all executive department employees to show proof of vaccination by October 17, or risk losing their jobs. 

About 20% of State Police employees are not vaccinated, the union’s attorney said. 

Last week, a judge denied a request from the State Police union to put a hold on Baker’s vaccine mandate for troopers. (Read more)

Copyright 2021, Sunking278. Stay up-to-date: Twitter – @Sunking278 and Facebook – click here.