Libertarians, anti-income-taxers, Barney Frank haters, Obama citizenship doubters, objectivists, Reagan lovers, Sarah Palin fans, Oath Keepers and guns owners descended on Christopher Columbus Park this Independence Day to vow to retake America from the the jack-booted heel of socialized medicine and pollution caps, or something in yet another Tea Bagging.

Most of the 300 or 400 protesters were from out of state, but at-large City Council candidates Sean Ryan and Doug Bennett also attended. Bennett, in fact, was the first speaker of the day, moving further away from his Republican roots by complaining about tax-and-spend "Republicrats" who are putting us deeper into a depression. I ran into him before the speechifying; he said that while he might not agree with everything the protesters said, he did agree the income tax was unconstitutional, because the founding fathers didn't include it in the Constitution.

Girly men can't appreciate a pit bull with lipstick:

In a story that ran in today's Boston Herald, Mayor Menino's campaign trashed a non-profit organization whose sole purpose is to provide voters with the resources they need for civic engagement. The organization, MassVote, works to increase voter education and turnout amongst communities of color, youth, the disabled and in ethnic communities where language is a barrier. Since its creation in 1999, MassVote has helped empower thousands of Massachusetts voters.

The Herald reports the Sox offered up to $400,000 to save the Boston Police mounted unit, which often helped keep order around Fenway Park but that "the mayor looked a gift horse in the mouth and said 'neigh.' "

In a statement, Councilor and Would-Be Menino Replacement Yoon said:

Our mounted unit was an important community policing tool and public safety resource for our parks. News of its elimination prompted an outpouring from across the city of people pleading to save the unit. There were dozens of cost-saving reforms the mayor could have implemented to save the unit. But once again, Mayor Menino chose symbolism over substance.

Now we hear reports that the City turned down an offer from the Red Sox to continue funding the mounted unit. At a time when Boston is cutting back on schools, city services, and public safety, it would be shortsighted and foolish to reject an outstretched hand. The administration needs to clarify what happened and be transparent about any offers that were made regarding the mounted unit.

“These are the very public-private partnerships that can make our city great – and can transform education, athletics, and the arts for Boston's children. We need a mayor who can tap into all the generosity and talent that Boston has to offer.

Maybe Tom Menino figures he can keep delaying negotiations over debates until after the election. The Herald reports His Honor continues to play coy on the whole debate issue, while his mouthpiece tut-tuts a group organizing forums as unworthy of the mayor's attention because he finds it "doubtful" the group can actually organize a debate.

Kevin McCrea, who says he'll debate anyone anytime, fulminates:

... What does that mean? You mean they can't invite a bunch of people and put 4 chairs and a microphone on a stage? I would believe that Menino might not be able to handle that on his own, but MassVOTE?

The arrogance and disregard for the people shown by Menino is truly incredible. What is more incredible is how the mainstream media in this town play along with his invisible suit as well. The TV stations and the Globe and the Herald play along with this ruse because they are afraid of his vindictiveness, and they aren't doing the fourth estate's job which is to expose what is going on. ...

Photo taken this morning at the Centre Street firehouse (click on the photo for a larger view).

Jay Fitzgerald has his doubts about the lawsuits filed by police and fire unions over changes in the state pension system.

William Feegbeh of Brighton couldn't get enough signatures to get on the ballot, so he's running a write-in campaign - part of which apparently involves sneaking his signs into the windows of unsuspecting merchants - Michael Pahre reports.

Eeka arrived home today to find four identical Flaherty Good/Better mailings in her mailbox, addressed to the two people who actually live there:

... When I've volunteered for campaigns, they've had me do such exciting tasks as, well, going through their database and taking out obvious duplicate voters, so as not to waste money/trees/energy on mailings, not annoy households with duplicate phonecalls, and most of all, not make prospective voters think that the candidate is wasteful and can't bother to have humans work for him or her. ...

You know the ones (yes, yes, this one and this one, among others). Associated Press reports a federal judge today basically asked federal prosecutors: Was that really necessary? Turner in particular has used the inclusion of the photos in the initial indictments as an argument against an order barring him from publicly discussing evidence in the case against him.

Halliburton is involved, too, according to a message to supporters obtained by the Dorchester Reporter.