UPDATE: The poll worker is now an ex-poll worker.
A Roslindale resident went to vote early at the Conley School today. As you might expect, it wasn't at all crowded. She reports she got into the back room (the school has two rooms for voting) just in time to hear one of the poll workers educating the room on his political beliefs:
Older gentlemen cracking wise about Ted Kennedy being a murderer; because that's so funny and appropriate for a polling station!
Before that, he was going on and on about how we should get rid of one-third of our politicians at every level. Just rubbed me the wrong way.
I said something to the cop who checks you out and he asked him to keep it down. And then he apologized for offending me (while I stood there waiting for my husband). But it was really a sorry/notsorry apology. It was surreal and I couldn't believe none of the other volunteers called him out on his BS.
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Comments
Partisan politics at City Hall too
By Wait, I See Som...
Tue, 09/09/2014 - 9:10am
Every time I have to go to the Office of the Parking Clerk I see that someone in the office has a "Miss Me Yet?" George W. Bush calendar. It has always struck me as inappropriate that a government employee is allowed to publicly display something within a government building that disparages the current head of that government. And I would feel the same if it were directed at a Republican.
That just confirms what kind
By anonermus
Tue, 09/09/2014 - 10:18am
That just confirms what kind of terrible people work in the parking enforcement office. They think taxing the rich is class warfare, but nickel-and-diming working people is good government.
This thread is still too
By SomerVillain
Tue, 09/09/2014 - 10:06am
This thread is still too light on positive comments about Edward M. Kennedy. I'll start:
He's celebrating his fifth year of sobriety.
That's Edward Kennedy. Not
By Robin
Tue, 09/09/2014 - 9:44am
That's Edward Kennedy. Not Theodore.
Haha damn, I was trying to
By SomerVillain
Tue, 09/09/2014 - 10:05am
Haha damn, I was trying to remember his middle name and totally flubbed his first.
Ted Kennedy did more for
By Rob Not Verified
Tue, 09/09/2014 - 9:50am
Ted Kennedy did more for Massachusetts in a year than you will do in a lifetime.
Ted Kennedy was a very bad
By Derek S
Tue, 09/09/2014 - 10:02am
Ted Kennedy was a very bad evil man its shocking people still love him after what he did to that poor woman.
I have a document
By Chris Rich
Tue, 09/09/2014 - 10:10am
..in my desk from when he interceded with social security on behalf of my dying grandma who never signed up for it.
It was one of my mother's prized possessions along with the invitation Aunt Blanche got from JFK to the inaugural in appreciation for her work as a pavement pounder during his campaign.
Politicians have been known to have messy lives that don't fit the purity narcissism endemic in the zealot sides of the right and left.
The right is better at mobbing and getting their goons elected. The left is better at sniping and carping and getting the right's goons elected.
Scott Brown, W and Cheney were all very appreciative.
Teahadists finally seem to be past their expiration date. They showed us they could emulate the progressives by blowing an election in Delaware in 2010 and the ensuing years indicated further decline
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christine_O%27Donnell
It's a nice trend actually as perfection is rarely a friend to good in a world that is fairly short on both.
I don't know about that.
By Boston_res
Tue, 09/09/2014 - 3:55pm
Pi is used just about everywhere.
His name was Edward, not
By JeanneM
Tue, 09/09/2014 - 10:04am
His name was Edward, not Theodore. If you're going to insult a dead man at least get his name right.
Jackass kicking down a barn, that's you
By lbb
Tue, 09/09/2014 - 10:36am
"Any jackass can kick down a barn, but it takes a carpenter to build one." - Sam Rayburn
And what barns have you built? Did you ever save a refusenik, or work to get access for people with disabilities, or get battle armor for a soldier? Did you care for your brothers' orphaned children? Did you help those who have less privilege than you? Did you work to secure the rights of others to vote?
Ted Kennedy came from privilege, but unlike so many of the privileged today, he understood its obligations and always worked to fulfill them. His privilege helped him do this -- he had access to resources that you and I won't ever had. That's why he was able to do so much for others. But all the resources in the world are useless when they're bestowed on a jackass who can't do anything but bray and kick down what others build. So, regardless of whether you start from privilege or from nothing, you still have to make that decision, whether you want to be a carpenter or a jackass. Ted Kennedy was not only a carpenter, he was one who kept on building no matter how loud and long the jackasses brayed or how hard they kicked.
So what are you? Jackass or carpenter?
Barnburner
By SomerVillain
Tue, 09/09/2014 - 10:49am
Some men just want to watch the barn burn.
I miss Ted Kennedy very much.
By Patricia
Tue, 09/09/2014 - 10:52am
I miss Ted Kennedy very much. We were lucky to have a very productive Senator represent us and his constituency services are sorely missed. But you can't gloss over the fact someone is dead, mostly because of him. Look, I'm from Boston Irish that adore the Kennedy's. In fact, relatives from Ireland come to look at a picture of my father and JFK (both PT boat vets), they hang pictures of JFK next to the Pope - to this day! But you cannot deny the Kennedy men have issues, especially with women and alcohol. They are forgiven maybe more than they should be and I think the younger generations of today are not as forgiving, nor should they be.
Simplistic thinking
By lbb
Tue, 09/09/2014 - 1:25pm
You are suffering from the same kind of simplistic thinking that wants everything to be completely one way or the other. People like you use the word "but" often in places where it just doesn't make any sense, as you did above. You'd better hope you never make a mistake in this life, and that if you do, other people don't use such simple-minded "logic" to judge you.
But you cannot deny the
By Scratchie
Tue, 09/09/2014 - 1:53pm
Yes, and they are the only politicians in the history of the U.S. who have ever had such issues. Thus, it is crucially important that they be mentioned at every possible opportunity.
The Kennedy clan can't be
By Patricia
Tue, 09/09/2014 - 2:51pm
The Kennedy clan can't be compared to any other politicans I know of. The power that family held, the adoration of people who thrust them into office because of their family relations and connections and most importantly - their name. I've never seen another political family like it. Roosevelts come to mind but there aren't as many of them.
The Kennedys remind me...
By Michael Kerpan
Tue, 09/09/2014 - 3:06pm
..of the Gracchi -- of ancient Rome -- but there were only two of them.
There are families like the Kennedys
By Waquiot
Tue, 09/09/2014 - 3:07pm
The Bushes (2 Presidents, 2 Governors, 1 Vice President, 1 Senator, and yes that is 4 people, but 3 generations and the possibility of a third President)
The Clintons (only 2, but that is a single family with a lot of Democratic Party power going back to 1988)
The Udalls (someone from the area can straighten me out, but they are all over the southwest. Perhaps the Mormon Kennedys, with a much longer time with power and influence)
I would argue that were JFK to last until his second term, his luster would have faded. I suppose that the number of descendants of Joseph P. that had at least fair careers in politics would put them higher up the list. Like the first 2 families I listed, there was and is a sizable population that just don't like them.
How about the Bushes, 2
By anon
Tue, 09/09/2014 - 3:39pm
How about the Bushes, 2 presidents, a senator, and another Bush governor who is mulling a run for president. You think Bush Jr got elected Governor and president (or even got into Harvard) for any reason other than his name? You have a lot of anger towards the Kennedys, but how that clouds your perspective on the power of the Bush name is crazy.
No one glosses over
By Rob Not Verified
Tue, 09/09/2014 - 3:23pm
No one glosses over Chappaquiddick, it comes up every time Ted Kennedy is mentioned in any context. Similar to how when discussing George W Bush one cannot gloss over the fact that many people died needlessly, mostly because of him.
It's not just Ted! The
By Patricia
Tue, 09/09/2014 - 3:31pm
It's not just Ted! The Kennedy men have a horrible record with women, starting with papa Joe.
But yes, it's just like the invasion of Iraq, or something.
But yes, it's just like the
By Scratchie
Tue, 09/09/2014 - 3:37pm
Only with about 0.001% as many meaningless deaths.
Wow, way to respect veterans
By gotdatwmd
Tue, 09/09/2014 - 3:38pm
Wow, way to respect veterans who gave their lives.
Um, what?
By Scratchie
Tue, 09/09/2014 - 3:41pm
Um, what?
1) If they gave their lives, they aren't veterans.
2) It wasn't only members of the US military who died in Iraq.
These little distinctions often escape
By Chris Rich
Tue, 09/09/2014 - 4:05pm
..those in a rush to run their rosary.
And it's useless to suggest that lots of inhabitants of the afflicted war zone might have had acceptable druthers.
And as for trying to sell the importance of not stepping in the despicable shit of a conquest war with no clear aims squandering life and treasure, forget it.
You'll have to pry those pearls loose from their numbed and stupefied hands
Yes, again, well known and
By Rob Not Verified
Tue, 09/09/2014 - 4:28pm
Yes, again, well known and not glossed over by anyone. Yet brought up every chance possible by people to attempt to otherwise discredit the many good public deeds they did for many. As someone earlier said, hardly the first politicians with this issue.
The Situation has been handled
By Geraldine Cuddyer
Tue, 09/09/2014 - 10:15am
There was a reported situation at this polling location today. We have removed this poll worker and are looking into the incident. Poll workers are not allowed to express political opinions while at the polls. If you have any questions or experience any other voting issues please contact Boston Elections or your local town or city election board.
Thank you!
By Massachusetts voter
Tue, 09/09/2014 - 12:01pm
Thank you!
If this had been a citizens connect response:
By gotdatwmd
Tue, 09/09/2014 - 12:31pm
"lol we moved the man it's aight now sotp complayng we got unda cuntrl. ty 4 da report"
More likely response
By Belmont
Tue, 09/09/2014 - 3:06pm
"This case has been closed" with a picture of a space saver moved to one side. :=)
Thank you, Ms. Cuddyer.
By Scratchie
Tue, 09/09/2014 - 1:53pm
Thank you, Ms. Cuddyer.
Poll worker
By Kathode
Tue, 09/09/2014 - 11:41am
is probably remembering the "good old days" of Dapper O'Neill and other asshats like him.
Hero worship
By Dan Farnkoff
Wed, 09/10/2014 - 8:25am
So because he wasn't a Ted fan he must necessarily be a Dapper guy? Is it illegal to question the character of a Kennedy, like insulting royalty or something? I can't even figure out what was so "offensive" about whatthis guy allegedly said. Did he say anything racist? Sexist? Homophobic? What's so offensive about saying we should replace 1/3 of our pols or whatever (essentially arguing for term limits)?
Well
By Waquiot
Wed, 09/10/2014 - 9:19am
He was pontificating about political issues while directing the political process.
I hope partisanship doesn't get tied up with this. What if it was the opposite? What if he was talking about dancing on Dapper's grave or was saying how happy he was that they gave out so few Republican ballots?
I do agree that this was much ado about nothing, though I see why he was removed. And I will once again note that being a poll worker is a lot tougher than people think it is. Sure it's one or 2 days a year, but it is long hours for low pay.
Yeah, I imagine they tell you not to talk about politics
By Dan Farnkoff
Wed, 09/10/2014 - 10:54am
at the poll worker training, so I really don't have an issue with his removal. Of course, the indignant complainer had already gotten some kind of apology and brought a cop-scolding down on the offender. Not sure it was necessary to go to City Hall, as the dude's comments weren't bigoted or anything, just cynical and disagreeable, and perhaps demonstrative of a limited understanding of the definition of murder.
Oh please
By anon
Tue, 09/09/2014 - 12:19pm
Deal with it. Talk about being overly sensitive. And people who are 'offended' are usually the type who themselves hold very obnoxious views on those who don't agree with their politics or ideology.
You want truly offensive? Aggressive and intimidating guys like 'new' black panthers 'patrolling' voting stations, and getting away with it.
And no, I AM NOT A 'NEOCON' or REPUBLITHUG. Just tired of the horseshit that passes for political discourse. The majority shouldn't be held hostage by 'radical' minorities on the left and right with an axe to grind. Tired of the political correctness and feigned outrage that's used to silence true descent.
Was it this guy?
By Mediacrity
Tue, 09/09/2014 - 1:37pm
https://www.facebook.com/SKforLG/posts/28046913880...
I just voted on my lunch
By Patricia
Tue, 09/09/2014 - 3:35pm
I just voted on my lunch break. One of the kind women that work at the polling jokingly told me I couldn't place my ballot in the machine unless I voted for people she liked.
I thought it was perfect timing as I was just reading this blog post.
We laughed then I helped her open her candy bar.
She did eventually let me place my ballot.
Cool story
By Marty
Tue, 09/09/2014 - 4:35pm
Cool story
I fear silly season is afoot!
By anon
Tue, 09/09/2014 - 5:35pm
I fear silly season is afoot!
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