Clinton die-hards have created a new-girls’ network bent on remedying decades of sexism by putting women in elected office
At next week’s Democratic National Convention in Denver, Hillary Clinton’s delegates will get just about everything they’ve wanted — aside from the nomination of their candidate, of course.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | August 20, 2008

Will race enter the race?

Dianne Wilkerson and Sonia Chang-Díaz don’t talk about the racial split in their Senate showdown, but it’s likely to make its mark
Two years ago, when Dianne Wilkerson inexplicably failed to submit the necessary signatures to get her name on the Democratic primary ballot for re-election as state senator, a 28-year-old upstart seized the opportunity.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | July 30, 2008

Voting right

Why Beacon Hill should adopt same-day voting and join the national popular-vote movement. Plus, that Obama cover.
The Massachusetts Legislature is expected to vote in the next several days on two proposals that would make democracy, well, more democratic.
By EDITORIAL | July 16, 2008

Senate shuffle

Massachusetts hasn’t had a Senate-seat vacancy in nearly 25 years. Now we may have two. Let the speculation begin.
Don’t count Ted Kennedy out just yet, but the prognosis immediately set minds thinking about the inevitable departure of Kennedy from the US Senate, where he has served since 1962.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | August 27, 2008

Trouble 'round the bend?

MBTA workers have been without a contract for two years. Arbitration will settle the matter soon, but could stir an angry hornets’ nest for 2010.
Perhaps because it hasn’t exploded into a public shutdown of services (as happened a few years ago in New York), arguably the most important fact about the MBTA has escaped public notice: most of its workers have been without a contract for nearly two years.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | April 30, 2008

Whither the GOP?

With Democrats in total control of state government, the Massachusetts GOP should be a rising voice of dissent. Instead, it seems more impotent than ever.
Ask people to name the leading voice of opposition on Beacon Hill these days, and you’re likely to be told House Speaker Sal DiMasi.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | March 19, 2008

Read the runes

Letters to the Boston editor, March 7, 2008
As a user of the special collections at the Boston Public Library, I have been appalled at the light coverage of key service desks necessitated by staff cuts over the past several years.
By BOSTON PHOENIX LETTERS | March 05, 2008

IG Report on State Senate Prez takes a convenient dive

Fails to deal with tourism controversy
After a full year investigating a Boston Phoenix article about State Senate President Therese Murray, the state’s Inspector General released a report today finding “no evidence of impropriety” in the legislature’s awarding of $11 million worth of contracts for international-tourism marketing.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | February 15, 2008

Our championship season

Brilliant us
This year’s New England Press Association annual awards dinner forsook the Park Plaza’s rubber chicken for the upper-scale poultry fare at the Marriott Copley Place. And the food’s not the only reason we’re glad we went.
By CLIF GARBODEN | February 13, 2008

Cash carousel

Many things changed this year on Beacon Hill, but not the power of the almighty dollar
Even though the dollar has taken an international whupping of late, there remains at least one place where the love of the greenback remains strong: Beacon Hill.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | January 30, 2008

Madam Mayor Maureen?

While everyone was distracted by the New Hampshire primary, did City Council President Maureen Feeney step into the race for mayor?
This past week, with Bostonians’ attention focused on the presidential-primary drama north of the Massachusetts border, an opening salvo in the 2009 mayoral race may have been delivered.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | January 16, 2008

Taking the Fifth

The race for Marty Meehan’s congressionalseat is running below the radar, but it could hold the answers to a couple of burning political questions
The September 4 Democratic primary has compelling interest beyond the borders of the Fifth Congressional District.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | August 22, 2007

Wagering, or wavering?

When will Deval Patrick play his casino cards?
With the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe quickly moving forward on its plans for a casino in Middleborough, how long can power players continue to hold their cards close to the vest?
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | August 15, 2007

Fender bender

Last year, opponents thought they had killed auto-insurance reform for good. Its resurrection could be a headache for Deval Patrick.
Recent signs on Beacon Hill indicate to some that Deval Patrick is not quite the progressive, populist lefty that many of his supporters — and detractors — think he is.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | July 26, 2007

Ménage-à-trashed?

Deval Patrick has been lounging in bed cozily with Therese Murray and Sal DiMasi but with budget questions looming, the party’s probably over
In the hothouse of this past month’s same-sex-marriage battle, the State House’s top three leaders emerged as surprisingly cozy bedfellows.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | July 11, 2007

Power hungry?

The most powerful people on Beacon Hill want to stop the gay-marriage ban, but don’t have the votes
It’s remarkable how dramatically the state’s political leadership has changed since the most recent Constitutional Convention.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | June 07, 2007

Sweeping up

Deval Patrick’s late appointments show a surer hand at the wheel
Whether by design or dumb luck, Governor Deval Patrick has managed to depoliticize the news coming from Beacon Hill.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | May 30, 2007

Martha’s quick start

In her first four months as attorney general, Martha Coakley has shown political deftness — and a desire to play a major role in state policy
Martha Coakley told opponents of same-sex marriage this past week she would use the full force of her new office to fight their efforts.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | May 16, 2007

Beacon Hill flux

Travaglini exits, Murray ascends, Patrick innovates
“Style,” according to Alfred North Whitehead, “is the ultimate morality of the mind.”
By EDITORIAL | March 28, 2007

Black-and-white blues

Letters to the Boston editor: February 23, 2007

By BOSTON PHOENIX LETTERS | February 21, 2007

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