Does this mean we’re stuck with him on WRKO?
Felon Finneran’s stubborn bid to regain his ability to practice law has once and for all been snuffed out. The Dem-friendly Supreme Judicial Court didn’t side with one of its own this time, ruling the former House speaker should be permanently disbarred.
From the Boston Herald:
Finneran, who pled guilty in 2007 to obstruction of justice, had sought a lesser punishment of suspension, but the court sided with the Board of Bar Overseers. “(Finneran’s)” misconduct implicates both the integrity of the judicial system and the honesty of a member of the bar,” Justice Margot Botsford wrote for the court.
“We have no reason to disagree with the finding that (Finneran’s) conduct during the voting rights lawsuit represented an aberrant event in his long career of serving his constituency and the public with loyalty and distinction. But the respondent was convicted of a serious crime involving false testimony to a court under oath in a significant case about fundamental rights.”
The decision is retroactive to Jan. 23, 2007, the date when Finneran’s law license was temporarily suspended.
Finneran pled guilty in 2007 to making misleading statements under oath about a redistricting plan that was challenged by advocates for minorities. In arguing for suspension rather than disbarment, Finneran’s attorney said his 26-year career in public service, as well as testimony asserting that Finneran’s crime was “aberrant” from his normal conduct, should mitigate his punishment.
The big question: is he now locked in at WRKO? The program is as boring as ever, it’s astounding he’s still there after three long years. What motivates Entercom in their desire to keep him on their schedule?
The bottom line: it’s a great day to be Howie Carr.
Image: John Wilcox, Boston Herald
Tags: Howie Carr, massachusetts politics, Thomas Finneran, WRKO
January 11th, 2010
With renewed public outrage, the attempt by disgraced former Democratic House Speaker Tom Finneran to win a presidential pardon for his felony perjury conviction has opened up a huge can of worms locally.
During a phone conversation with a local media person Friday afternoon, I asked why The Finne-felon doesn’t simply wait for Obama to take office to mount his campaign. Why would Bush, a Republican, feel compelled to help an entrenched Massachusetts Democrat?
The quite logical answer: given the nature of The Felon’s crime, lying about his racist gerrymandering scheme, a pardon could prove politically sensitive for the Obamist Regime. That’s why the race is on to get this done in the next ten days.
Meanwhile, fellow WRKO talker Howie Carr isn’t waiting for Bush’s response, if any: his latest Boston Herald column, published in Saturday’s editions, offers his strongest language yet. Calling Finneran a “maggot”, Howie’s truly unleashed here:
The Four Stooges said Felon Finneran has been “severely punished.” Really? He’s still making big money for his wretched radio show, which we call “Sweet Sixteen,” because that’s generally about where it finishes in the ratings. The Felon usually runs neck and neck with “The River,” and sometimes he even edges the Manchester N.H. soft-rock station. Sometimes. His show is so compelling it now goes off the air at 9 instead of 10, and they’re trying to prop him up with a co-host.
Finneran should be breakin’ rocks in the hot sun. He fought the law and the law won. Although I still remember the day he was “sentenced,” and how Judge Rick Stearns was almost apologizing for having to ask him the questions every convicted felon has to answer.
Are you on drugs this morning, wiseguy? You do know you can’t own a firearm anymore, maggot. But no, it was all “Mistah Speakah” this and “I know this is a silly question but . . .” I was there in the courtroom hoping to make a victim-impact statement. See, I was at the courthouse the day Felon Finneran told his string of incredible whoppers about his racist gerrymandering scheme in the city of Boston.
I was shocked, shocked, I tell you. I tried not to let it destroy my faith in the integrity of the Massachusetts Legislature. But I can’t get over it. Then last year, the Felon speculated to Gov. Patrick that I should be taken for a one-way ride in the trunk of the governor’s Coupe Deval.
Just out of curiosity, I looked up “maggot” and discovered that Howie’s actually being a bit too kind to the Felon. He might even owe the little guys an apology.
That’s because the worm-like insects actually have an important medical benefit for patients suffering from flesh wounds, particularly for those who no longer benefit from conventional antibiotics, as a result of resistance.
That’s maggots 1, The Felon 0.
What is his benefit to society? He’s spent his entire life taking what he can from us and giving back not a damn thing.
Nonetheless, I think this kind of Bostonian public battle is healthy. After the damage The Felon has done to Massachusetts taxpayers, ethnic minorities and governmental ethics, why shouldn’t it be payback time?
By contrast, in “nice” Seattle, local newspapers would be scolding us all for a lack of “civility” and imploring everyone involved to get back to traditional Scandinavian pursuits, such as making stinky lutefisk. There, political scores are settled through pathetic backstabbing, while in Boston, it’s a good old fashioned fistfight.
Of course, all of that “niceness” has both of their daily papers in even bigger trouble than ours. They have two boring broadsheets, while we are burdened with just one.
Finneran image: Boston Herald
Tags: Beacon Hill, Boston Herald, Brian Maloney, Corruption, Entercom, Howie Carr, massachusetts politics, New England, state income tax, Thomas Finneran, WRKO
January 10th, 2009
No, I’m not making this up, nor is it an early April Fool’s joke. WRKO’s resident morning show felon and former Democrat House Speaker Tom Finneran has actually got the nerve to petition President Bush for a pardon!
Apparently, the fact that Tommy Tune Out was caught red-handed committing perjury is irrelevant, the Bay State’s Hack-In-Chief has enlisted the support of four ex-governators in his appeal to the outgoing president.
From The Globies:
Former House speaker Thomas M. Finneran, seeking to cleanse the stain left by his 2007 conviction for obstruction of justice, is angling for a last-minute pardon from President Bush and has lined up a group of former Massachusetts governors to back his request.
Finneran submitted an application for a presidential pardon last month, and the four governors - Democrat Michael Dukakis and Republicans William F. Weld, Paul Cellucci, and Jane Swift - followed up with a letter to the White House praising his integrity.
Finneran has already been “severely punished,” the governors wrote, citing the loss of his state pension, the suspension of his license to practice law, and his firing from a lucrative private-sector job.
“And he has suffered daily taunts and ridicule of those who believe that every elected official is the equivalent of a common thief,” the governors told the president in their letter, a copy of which was obtained by the Globe. They assured Bush that Finneran has “seen the error of this episode” and is truly sorry.
How could Team Swifty really believe The Felon was punished? Other than ridicule in the local press, he hasn’t suffered a bit. Despite tiny ratings, he makes a fortune as WRKO’s failed morning show host. They had to shut down the entire newsroom in order to pay his bloated salary!
Did he spend time in prison? Who are we kidding here?
Though I’m not surprised Tommy would try to pull this stunt, why were these former governors willing to help? He certainly doesn’t deserve it.
Tags: Boston, crooked politicians, Entercom, Globies, massachusetts politics, New England, Thomas Finneran, Tommy Taxes, WRKO
January 9th, 2009
Entercom (which owns WRKO 680 AM) fired John DePetro for calling a fat lesbian a “fat lesbian.” Yet, they are interested in signing a deal with former House speaker Thomas Finneran, who just pled guilty to obstruction of justice, and give him a morning talk show on WRKO.
Apparently, the folks at Entercom don’t think hiring a convicted felon is a big deal… But, calling a fat lesbian a “fat lesbian” is just unconscionable and grounds for firing.
Tags: Entercom, John DePetro, Thomas Finneran, WRKO
January 6th, 2007
