It is the disparity that dares not speak its name: Income inequality. The focus of the Occupy movement and an increasing number of studies and reports, the gap between rich […]
Elections
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Going to Carolina
Now that New Hampshire is one for the history books, it’s time to see how that Nikki Haley endorsement pays off for Mitt Romney. On paper, Haley is just the […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Camelot comeback?
There’s nothing like the Kennedy name to change the dynamics of a political contest in Massachusetts, especially at a time when the name is missing from congressional roll calls for […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Mitt’s milddling moment
One of two things will happen tonight in Iowa. Mitt Romney might slide backwards into a win in a state he’d initially written off as a nonstarter, thus confirming his […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
The Romney roller coaster
Two weeks ago, this very space noted the odd timing of a New York Times Magazine story that marveled at Mitt Romney’s remarkable staying power, given the fact that, between […]
Posted inEconomy, Politics, The Download
Populist fury may not yield electoral edge
When President Obama traveled to Kansas recently and delivered speech full of populist fury at the great concentration of wealth among the country’s richest elite, a great sigh of relief […]
Posted inEconomy, Politics, The Download
Unemployment down; political intrigue up
The economy, bit by bit and with all sorts of caveats, appears to be improving, which could reshape the political landscape next year. The national unemployment rate fell to 8.6 […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Mitt’s $10,000 pyramid
Poor Mitt Romney. Probably a poor choice of words. Which is exactly the problem for the once — and perhaps future — front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination. No matter […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
State House computergate
It’s not the crime, it’s the cover-up. No one has accused Mitt Romney of wrongdoing. It’s been established that Romney aides operated within the bounds of Massachusetts law when 11 […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
The perhaps at this moment not so inevitable Mitt Romney
The Republican presidential primary campaign can be a frustrating exercise for voters interested in substantive discussion of the great issues, what with Michele Bachmann’s talk of the HPV vaccine causing […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Frank frenzy
Barney Frank totally could have won reelection to his new district. It’s just that he didn’t want to. So, he told reporters at Newton City Hall yesterday, he won’t be […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Lisa Wong answers the wake-up call
Fitchburg Mayor Lisa Wong received a Martha Coakley-style shock to the system when City Councilor Joseph Solomito trounced her in the September preliminary election, 60 percent to 37 percent. But […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Menino’s power plays
It’s election day in Boston, which means all eyes are on Tom Menino. Political watchers are wondering whether he can tamp down an insurrection in South Boston, whether his political […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
The Bain of Romney’s business resume
Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign is built on his business acumen and turnaround skills. But what exactly does that mean? This week, New York magazine submits its answer. The magazine credits […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service, The Download
A Warren buffet
The national punditocracy continues to salivate over a presumed Elizabeth Warren-Scott Brown match-up. The Washington Post’s E.J. Dionne rushes to Warren’s defense after George Will’s full-throated broadside against her as […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Grossman’s binge fundraising
The sequence was almost as predictable as a September swoon for the Red Sox (how helpful to be able to dust that line off and get it back in circulation!). […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Voting not to participate
What if they held an election and nobody came? It darn near happened in Brockton this week when only 4.7 percent of voters turned out for the city’s preliminary election. […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
The other Warren moves to the head of the pack
It’s official: Scott Brown can start worrying.Elizabeth Warren is in. Prior to Warren’s announcement, smart money was on Brown to skate to re-election. After all, Brown is the most popular […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Warren off and running for Senate
Harvard professor and former presidential advisor Elizabeth Warren will announce Wednesday she is officially in the race to unseat US Sen. Scott Brown. Aides say she will greet commuters in […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service, The Download
Scott Brown’s secret
Two stories tucked inside the metro section of The Boston Globe this morning help explain why US Sen. Scott Brown is going to be hard to beat. The first story […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
How do you solve a problem like Uncle Omar?
Jimmy Carter had brother Billy. Barack Obama has Uncle Omar. Carter’s headline-grabbing younger brother produced countless headaches for the White House as his elder brother fought for reelection in 1980. […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Feudin’ Republicans
The weeks leading up to Labor Day are slow ones on the presidential campaign trail. Real news is scarce, with candidates spending most of their time cozying up to well-heeled […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Hurricane reading list
Stuck inside this weekend? Here’s some reading to get you through the hurricane and up to speed on Massachusetts policy and politics. CASINOS Beacon Hill leaders have written legislation that […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
CrazyKhazei like a fox?
CrazyKhazei has been outed and he’s none other than Eric Fehrnstrom, one of the architects of Sen. Scott Brown’s stunning victory last year and a key adviser to Mitt Romney’s […]
