Despite setback, Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe pushes ahead with Middleboro casino plan:
... Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Council Chairman Cedric Cromwell said the Bureau of Indian Affairs has given his tribe the “green light” to continue with the process that began with its August 2007 application.
The tribe contends that the court decision ruled it would take an act of Congress to take land into trust for tribes that were recognized after the 1934 Indian Reorganization Act. Cromwell said the tribe was under federal jurisdiction in the 1800s, and therefore not constrained by the decision.“We were under federal jurisdiction as part of the 13 Colonies,” Cromwell said.
Sometimes, I don't even have to blog about something because someone does it for me. Case in point, comment #44 on my previous blog:
The tribe is posturing. The only way to prove they were under federal jurisidction is if they had a treaty with the government.
They didn't.
They were under state jursidiction. Always have been.
The person who posted here and asked if the tribe was a state created tribe is absolutely right. They were citizens of the Town of Mashpee, which was considered an "Indian District". But the point is: they were citizens! Complete with full protection of our laws, and the right to vote.
The history books say so.
The Final Determination of the tribe's historical status (as defined by our FEDERAL government) says so.
They have no right to the benefits of the IRA (as Gladys will prove when she completes her research).
The tribe isn't telling it like it is.
And the media is supporting the lies by reporting them. God forbid a reporter should have to check the facts.
Besides all that......
Middleboro didn't need the SC decision in order to stop this casino. If RI had lost this case, and the tribe was granted full access to the IRA, we STILL wouldn't get a casino. There are no historical ties to the land. And even if they change the regulations, they can't change the fact that the tribe has already historically tied themselves to Mashpee. (See Carver Chicks blog, "The Ties That Bind".)
When will the Middleboro BoS start checking the law for answers, and stop reading the newspapers?
I am so sick of the colossal mistakes of our leadership. Never have I seen so many mistakes made by so few.
Short answer: If it wasn't the Carcieri decision it would have been something else to stop a Middleboro casino. It has always been a fractured fairy tale.
When the casino buzz wears off and the hangover fades what will remain is how truly pathetic Middleboro's leadership has been. But now there is an opportunity to change that. If voters re-elect Steven Spataro or any other individual convinced a casino is coming, they will be settling for another three years of someone who isn't concerned about doing their due dilligence for the town. Just another individual living in a fairy tale. And that's the bottom line.
In the meantime, the Tribe and the Town can turn blue holding their breath for the enchanted casino.
The rest of us can exhale.
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24 comments:
Gee...didn't all of the casino supporters on the bos tell the public that they had really important things to do and now they're meeting secretly with the Tribe that isn't coming? And lying about it?
The sun is shining today, we should send Groundskeeper Duphily out to beautify to Town Hall Lawn, historical restrictions be damned!
The sun is shining and Spatero seems to function better in the dark, as does Marsha. Keep them with the mushrooms in the basement with Roger.
Tankman's blind, so he can go out.
Sunshine and transparency is greatly needed in this town.
Pity Cristello hasn't figured it out!
This may be about the law and SCOTUS on a federal level, but it's about hallucinations on a town level.
How does one say "IT ISN'T COMING" so that they can hear?
Well, this certainly makes sense to me and more believable as I have asked many pro-casino people "why is it comming" they really can't give me any explinations, it's always the same, "the tribe said so" or I read it in the paper", BUT, when I have been told it is not comming by an anti-casino person, they "explain" to me "why" it is not comming and answer every question I have, and with explinations so I will understand the facts. They have also informed me this is all free information straight from the DOI and BIA, all you have to do is take some time to research and know how to read.
You see it's not always about the word "now" sometimes it can be about the word "why" that can make a difference.
For back up on my comment, go ahead and read for yourself ON WHY IT IS NOT COMMING, start with the United States Supreme Court's decision on C.v S. and then read right from the source, DOI/BIA,all procedures are listed. If you can't take enough time to do research, your lucky, you can read THE BLOGG FATHERS, bloggs, they have done it for you!!!!!!!
Other interesting comments from the newspaper article.
"The tribe contends that the court decision ruled it would take an act of Congress to take land into trust for tribes that were recognized after the 1934 Indian Reorganization Act."
Gladys' previous blog "Section 7: The Dead Parrot Clause" explained why land into trust from an Act of Congress wouldn't get the tribe a casino!!!
Also from the article:
“We were under federal jurisdiction as part of the 13 Colonies,” Cromwell said.
Bellicose Bumpkin did a blog entitled "Carcieri Fix". There were many comments there, and one that explained why being part of the original 13 colonies only strengthened the fact that there would be no land into trust here.
Also, we have an exceptional blog by Carl ("For the Public Record") which contains his letter to the BIA during the public comment period. His letter lists the deficiencies of the application, among which he provides historical evidence to refute the tribe's claims to the land in Middleboro.
Last but not least, Carver Chick's blog "Wag the Dog" explains the regulations and how the application would fail to prove the mandatory requirements in order for the tribe to build a casino.
My point being that maybe Mr Cromwell should be researching his facts on theblogfathers.net. If nothing else, it would at least help him produce a better fictional account of why the Mashpee will build a casino in Middleboro.
After all, it doesn't give the blogfathers much to do when the claims the tribe is making now have long been disproved by these glorious bloggers.
I'm sure a challenge would be most refreshing for them.
After all, it doesn't give the blogfathers much to do when the claims the tribe is making now have long been disproved by these glorious bloggers
OK Gladys, Carl, CC, MR - fess up - which one of you wrote that .....
The "green light" won't come from the BIA.
It will come from the Solicitor General's Office.
Until then, the application cannot move forward.
Gladys is the only one that got Abomb right from day one. The queens of drama or drama queens Vegas Val and Internet Avenger were his. Some very stupidly believed. Time to rethink it all. The illusion is over and the feds are on their way. No local indictments? Who believes that?
This isn't only about the stupidity of some to believe a fantasy. It's also about what one individual did. If the moving van isn't here, it should be. Bye Bye!
You got it right about the reading glasses!
Last night, Tankman had reading glasses. They look like ones you sent.
Confess!
Nope, Bellicose Bumpkin none of the above. Surprised you don't know. Read it again.
You do know this person but they are not a blogger.
Don't you love mystery!
Now where is Smoking Owl's comments???
Did I talk to you downtown yesterday?
BB -
Yes. 12:48 pm is me. The anon 3:56 pm isn't.
And I meant what I said. Theblogfathers has always been the best and most reliable source of information.
You paid me a great compliment yesterday and I was flattered. But foolish me, I missed my opportunity to tell you that I believe the efforts of the bloggers have exceeded anything I might have done.
Thank you all.
The 4 casino cheerleaders currently sitting on the bos keep saying that they have important things to do every time a question is asked that they don't want to answer.
Minni May looked like a deer in headlights. Spaturo went convulsive. Marsha is just plan sick and tired, which means she received gifts but didn't want to publicly acknowledge them. Tankman talked about people of a "certain caliber" which must mean those who date to ask questions. Save that video. He's up for re-election next year.
After reading some of the casino KoolAid, I downloaded the IGA and began re-reading it. It is recommended reading for any night you have insomnia! Even were this nightmare possible setting all of the legal hurdles aside there are some staggering costs included that the Tribe has to pick up. This doesn't seem to be economically viable any longer.
The Tribe has to pay back all of the money once the agreement expires. If wonder if any reporter has asked Cromwell what their deadline is?
Unbelievable......
OK, the SCOTUS just defined the word "NOW" in their recent ruling.
For the benefit of Cedric Cromwell, it looks like its time to start yet another letter writing campaign to ask SCOTUS to define the word "FEDERAL".
If Mr. Cromwell believes the Tribe was under Federal jurisdiction in the 1800's, why is Glenn Marshall going to prison for illegal activities surrounding his efforts to buy, oops, EARN federal recognition for the Tribe in 2007?
The Mashpee Wampanoags can try to rewrite their own history but the history of the U.S. is another story.
Exactly where was the "Federal" seat of government for the 13 Colonies?
Mr. Cromwell.....anyone, anyone?
They were "colonies" Mr. Cromwell. There was NO federal government. They had a King. He lived in England. Does any of this sound familiar?
At the time the Pilgrims landed, Mashpee was a village of the Nauset Tribe of Cape Cod. The Nausets were not friendly to the English because of mistreatment they suffered at the hands of early English explorers. That historical fact makes it highly unlikely that any Indians from Mashpee made the trek to Plymouth to "welcome" the new English settlers.
When some Indians adopted English customs and converted to Christianity, they began living in communities of "Praying Indians". Natick was one such community. Mashpee was another.
A prominent English minister of the time, late 1600's, made a request of the Sachem of the Nausets. He asked the Sachem to deed land in Mashpee to the "Praying Indians" in that community.
Now I ask, if the Mashpee Wampanoags had lived on that land for generations, as they claim, why in the world would they require land deeded from the Sachem of the Tribe who had jurisdiction of the area?
When Mr. Cromwell says the BIA gave them the green light to continue their efforts, how was that green light given? Did the BIA say, yes, by all means move forward and this will get done? OR did the BIA say, yeah yeah, whatever, knock yourself out?
The Mashpee Wampanoags aren't making history, they're just rewriting it for their own purposes.
Great history lesson, Smoking Owl!
And you are correct, the tribe is attempting to rewrite history.
I find it facinating that the tribe's application for land into trust doesn't make any of the claims that are now quoted in the papers.
In fact, they claim historical ties to the land by actually saying, "we have historical ties to the land" and then referring to 2 documents to back up thier claims.
Neither document says that they met the pilgrims.
So they can lie all they want now. The SOI (unlike the Middleboro BoS) doesn't read the newspapers to get his facts (thank goodness!).
Ah... nothing like a little history first thing in the morning.
BTW, Carverchick and I cleared up that whole "we met the Pilgrims" concoction back in November - just in time for Thanksgiving!
But today I'm trying to imagine Mr. Cromwell's discussion with "the BIA".
Cromwell calls: "Hello, this is Cedric Cromwell, chairman of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe of Mashpee... er... I mean Middleboro Massachusetts, and I was just wondering, you know, since the whole Supreme Court thing, um... how our casino... er our land in trust application is going."
Some Government Bureaucrat replies: "Mr. Cromwell, the SOI is currently looking into the Carcieri ruling and, soon, we expect there will be a Congressional hearing on the matter - so there's no sense withdrawing your application right now since it's not going anywhere anyway."
What Cromwell actually hears: "What ruling? We don't need no stinkin' ruling. We have lawyers and billionaire investors on our side. We created inevitability. Besides, why should you worry about some Supreme Court ruling - you met the Pilgrims, baby! Laws of the land don't apply to you. In fact, why not start picking out carpet swatches for the Red Bellied Cooter wing of your casino. And remember, it's not a done deal - unless we say it's not."
Gladys, I think you have it wrong. The conversation went like this.
"Hello this is Cedric Crowmell from the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe."
BIA operator: Yes Mr Cromwell please hold on while I transfer your call.
( a short pause )
"Hello Federal Bureau of Investigation - Fraud division"
Click
NO CASINO
LOL - too funny!
You guys are getting too giddy from proving over and over and over why it isn't coming. It's just too too easy!
Time to play red light green light with Cedric.
Ok, just one more...
What the Government Bureaucrat is actually thinking:
Listen pal, you're not the only one who's worried. What with Abramoff, Blagojevich, Bill Richardson, AGI and that whole unpleasantness last year with the Minerals Management Division, everyone in government has been living under a microscope. So even though I know there's not a snowball's chance in Mojave that you're going to open up that casino of yours, right now we here at the DOI are just gonna keep our noses clean, our "i's" dotted and hope like hell that no one opens up the IRA to closer inspection because that would be a freaking nightmare. Besides, it's Tribes like yours that are ruining it for everybody. Want to open a casino? Go to Vegas.
This is getting way to fun, all these commenters should be in a book. Think of all the fun you could have w/the title.
I don't know you guys, but I would love for all of you commenters to get together in one place and have a "comedy night" it would be one hell of a party!!! Problem is, who are you people?
Let's not forget -- SCOTUS squashed Indian Casinos, but we have Cahill and DeLeo to .... enlighten on a state level.
Slot parlors, racinos, casinos and any other predatory clones they conjur up are not acceptable.
7:04, write a check to support the casino opposition and maybe this good folks who have sacrificed their lives will tell you. Maybe they'll be a REAL comedy hour after the Beacon Hill clowns figure this out.
BTW, after you write that check, write a few letters to Beacon Hill. They tell me that they're just waitin' to hear from you.
They tell me they haven't heard from you in a long, long time and you owe them a letter.
Gladys,
We appreciate that you're always there with the information and facts.
I know you don't get to see the bos meetings or candidates' night, but watching the casino cheerleaders was really sad.
Steve Spataro, poor man, commented that the positives outweigh the negatives.
Since the town has never quantified the negatives, there are no impact studies (other than the Matrix report that proved that an ambulance service made no sense financially) after 2 years of talking about the project, it's puzzling.
Well educated people keep waving the casino signs regardless of all facts to the contrary.
People made up their minds with no information.
It's understandable that people with rental property support the project that they believe will benefit them, like Bill Marzelli, Mimi Duphily and Steve Spataro. It's understandable that certain business people who will benefit support it, like Neil Rosenthal and Lincoln Andrews.
Union members mostly followed what they were told.
That so many others blindly follow without a factual analysis must define how gullible most are and how poorly educated they are.
The last 2 years have certainly been enlightening about mob psychology.
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