Thursday, September 4, 2008

Desperado

Desperado, why don't you come to your senses?
You been out ridin' fences for so long now
Oh, you're a hard one
I know that you got your reasons
These things that are pleasin' you
Can hurt you somehow


The first thing that came to my mind, upon hearing that Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe came up with the brilliant idea of drafting and hand delivering a letter to the Governor, what that this was an act of desperation.

I mean, I really saw it as more than just the same old, "keepin' the dream alive in the press" sort of thing we're all used to.

Think about it - what with the new regs, and other Tribes giving them the angry eyes, and the downturn in the economy, and Carceiri v. Kempthorne coming up at the Supreme Court, the sensitive wetlands they're trying to build on, the organized grassroots forces opposing them, and shooting themselves in the foot with their obvious lack of historical ties to the land - well, the Tribe has got to see the writing on the wall. Right?

And they probably figured, "what the heck - the Governor likes casinos. He fights for casinos. He's our friend. He meets with us whenever we ask, which is more than he does for the Regional Task Force, so we've got an in - may as well use it. And what with the walls falling down all around this casino of ours, why not."

And in their haste they even forgot to include their BFF, Adam Bond (er... I mean Middleboro.)

Now let's say the Governor did negotiate a compact with the Tribe - it would be like getting a gold star on their application - a stamp of approval - demonstrating for the BIA and DOI that the State is okey dokey with the whole casino gambling concept.

You know, sort of like how the Middleboro Board of Selectman decided it was irrelevant to tell the DOI about article 3 - that Middleboro didn't want a casino.

Fortunately for the State, it seems our little Governor is growing up.

I respect the Tribe and I respect their interests, but until the land in trust is sorted out, there's not a whole lot that's meaningful about that conversation. - Deval Patrick to WBZTV

So was this a desperation move? I think it was. Either that, or a clueless one. Or maybe, they're just in denial.

Maybe, the Tribe really just completely believes that they're actually getting a casino.

Is it possible that they've managed to swallowed their own propaganda? Could Glenn and Sol and Scott and who knows who else have sold them a bill of goods they can't let go of?

Could there even be a sense of entitlement due to decades of IGRA abuse?

And it's not like the media hasn't helped spread the mantra of inevitability. You hear it everywhere you go. Just look how long it took the Governor to get the memo.

So Maybe the Tribe wasn't actually forgetting Adam Bond (er... I mean the town of Middleboro) after all. Maybe they just don't think they need anybody else - you know - until they need them.

Like Middleboro... like Mashpee... like the Governor... Just notches on a belt stretching all the way to casinoland. Don't take it the wrong way, Adam. It's nothing personal. They're just not that into you.

So maybe the Tribe hasn't gotten their own memo, and are in need of a reality check.


But heck, that's why I'm here.

Don't you draw the queen of diamonds, boy
She'll beat you if she's able
You know the queen of hearts is always your best bet
Now it seems to me, some fine things
Have been laid upon your table
But you only want the ones that you can't get

- The Eagles

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Another beaut, Gladys!
You raised some really good points worth remembering, like the agreement with Mashpee when the tribe promised no casino, no land claims to gain tribal recognition, then claimed sovereign rights. It wasn't until they figured out they needed Mashpee cooperation for LIT that they caved. Too bad Bond already gave away the pot.
Great post.

Anonymous said...

Oops we forgot Middleborough in the final draft of our letter. Oh no! we gave the governor the draft hand written by S.H. in crayon of course. Goes to show everybody what the "agreement" is actually worth, not much. Burn it, tear it up, I'll go to that "spiritual gathering".

carverchick said...

Let's not kid ourselves... the Tribe did not "forget" to include Middleboro, nor was that a "draft" letter they circulated to the media. they don't care about Middleboro. They don't care about anything except getting the casino any way they possibly can. Once they get what they need from you, or think they got what they need from you (Middleboro BoS) then they cast you aside like a useless piece of trash. The ONLY reason they back-pedaled so fast yesterday was because of the bad press -- the bad image of ignoring the IGA. They were hoping to let that slip and when it didn't.....voila! It was only a draft -- so sorry -- we will revise it to include Middleboro.

Who actually believes that line of bull?

When will the pro people realize that they are not of any use to the Tribe anymore and therefore can be cast aside while they attempt to woo our Governor into a compact. Oh sure, throw out a few marshmallows here - some feathers and orange shirts there and all is well in casinoland. Jeez...how rosy are those rose colored glasses anyway?

Anonymous said...

I think the Tribe knew exactly what they were doing. A compact with the state could have facilitated BIA/DOI approval for land into trust. No way the Gov was going to bite. He's made it very clear his interest is the commercial casino route.

As for the fantasy partnership with Middleboro, I have a "Bridge to Nowhere" the pros might be interested in buying.

Carl said...

Hey, are you cutting into my turf using quotes? ;)

Another good one as usual. It is amazing how important the "draft" was that Mr. Hendricks wanted the TV cameras there to watch him sign it. Will they now make a movie of him signing the finished letter? "The Chairman Signs Twice"

Anonymous said...

DITTO!! On all "how true" comments. Another great blog Gladys. You keep them comming, AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Judy

carverchick said...

The Casino Chronicles - Chapter 14
"The Chairman Signs Twice"

What started out as a rose colored day for the Tribe quickly turned the foul color of fecal matter...in an attempt to bamboozle the Town of Middleboro and exclude them from a seat at the negotiation table with the State, Tribal leader Sean Hendricks publicly signs and distributes a copy of a letter requesting compact negotiation talks to formally begin with the State to the media....a letter that did not include Middleboro!!

gasp

Long time BFF and number one cheerleader of the casino, swoops in...

"I am Bond...Adam Bond...I am sure this is an oversight, but if it isn't, well, then we can no longer be BFF's.....what? it's only a draft? and your revising it to include Middleboro? Even though you already signed the other letter in front of anyone and everyone who watches WBZ news?....oh...ummm... okay....I knew you were my bestest pal!"

The next day in Governor Patrick's office, a letter from the Tribe arrives. Luckily for the citizens of Massachusetts, the Governor accidentally grabbed his fecal vision glasses instead of his rose colored glasses.

"What!? Start talking? start negotiating? - negotiating what!? No no no...I respect your desires as a Tribe, but you don't have anything to negotiate with...no land do you own...no trust have you earned...we have nothing to discuss..."

Yes, it appears that the fecal vision glasses have made all the difference on this most momentous in Massachusetts.

But what will tomorrow bring?

Gladys Kravitz said...

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!!!

I can't wait for the next chapter!

Oh wait. I can.

Gak.

No Casino.


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