Timing

 

 

 

It looks like the Biden presidency is on a downward spiral, in part because of classified documents found under mysterious circumstances in several locations.

Yet, while the harsh criticism of Biden's behavior regarding the documents is well-deserved, there is one complaint being made about the scandal that is probably not justified. This is the insinuation that the release of the information about the documents (which were discovered six days before the midterms) was purposely delayed in order to prevent any possible damage it might have done to Democrat Party candidates. That is probably true, but is actually besides the point, and an old controversy in Springfield helps to explain why.  

In 2001 there was an intense and at times bitter electoral battle between incumbent Mike Albano and his challenger former State Representative Paul Caron for the office of Mayor of Springfield. Albano ultimately beat Caron, but only two days later the FBI raided City Hall in what would eventually  prove to become a wide ranging corruption probe into the Albano Administration. 

Caron's supporters were outraged about the timing of the FBI raid, angrily complaining that the election might have come out differently had the raid taken place before the election rather than a couple of days later. However, these critics were advised by the Feds that such a pre-election raid would have been against FBI policy, which they claimed forbids them taking any action too close to an election lest it influence the outcome. 

That of course is actually what Albano's critics wished had happened, but you can see by flipping the scenario why the FBI policy was a sound one. Suppose the FBI had something on Caron (they did not), but if they did, would the Albano critics still have wanted the FBI to raid before election day? Of course not. The same principle applies as to why they should not have unveiled the Biden document scandal before the 2022 midterms. 

Ironically, today it is uncertain if such a policy still applies universally.  The Twitter Files reveal that the FBI and other federal agencies were up to their eyeballs in manipulating social media and otherwise interfering in the national 2020 and 2022 elections (possibly including the 2018 midterms as well). That's a whole other can of worms, but if the Feds ever decide to return to consistently enforcing their election no-interference policy, they can turn to the Springfield mayoral election of 2001 for a reminder of why they should do so. 

 

My neighbor has an intriguing portrait on his porch. 

 

 

Cars enroute to work in downtown Hamp at dawn. 

MLK on Main. 

 

 

 Work continues on transforming the old Silverscape building into a branch of J.P. Morgan/Chase Bank. 

 

I peeked in the front door, and they appear to be putting in all new insulation. 

 

 How dare those brazen Smithies stamp their name in the snow in front of the UMass Hotel.

 

 

Few eggs available at any price at Stop & Shop in East Longmeadow.

 

photo by p. sygnatore

 

I saw this concert in 1976. It is a reflection of how big the Starship was in the 70's that Fleetwood Mac was their opening act. The concert cost only $7.50 tax included, that's $3.75 per band.