As far as social conservatives are concerned, one of Mitt Romney's big achievements has been keeping gay marriage confined to Massachusetts. So it's no wonder the Mittster--who, lest we forget, is unofficially running for president--is all atwitter about today's court ruling that Rhode Island gays and lesbians can tie the knot here.

In a statement released today, AG Tom Reilly says he doesn't plan to appeal the Superior Court decision. (Kudos, Tom.) But Mitt isn't giving up: in a hand-delivered letter, he urged Reilly to reconsider his decision, and, barring that, to appoint a "special assistant attorney general to handle the appeal." "I would be happy to provide you with several recommendations in that regard and to help in any way possible in the appeal," the governor wrote.

I bet you would, Mitt.

9/29/2006 3:38:15 PM by Adam Reilly | Comments [1] |  

Interesting to note what kind of response the Globe's top-of-B1 story on Deval Patrick's private meeting with House Speaker Sal DiMasi and Senate Prez Robert Travaglini has generated out there in pro-Deval land--namely, nada. Nothing on Blue Mass. Group. Nothing on Mass Revolution. Nothing on the Deval Experience. Nothing on Ryan's Take. Etc.

Maybe that's because, if you're a devoted Patrick partisan, you can't just pan the story as B.S. That Patrick met yesterday with DiMasi and Travaglini (and has solicited help from other legislators) is no surprise; to win in November, he probably needs to have the state's Democratic power brokers helping him out. But as Frank Phillips and Andrea Estes aptly note, it's hard to square Patrick's courtship of Beacon Hill bigwigs with the harsh anti-Beacon Hill rhetoric he's been using on the campaign trail.

As for Patrick adviser Doug Rubin's explanation of this disconnect--"A lot of that [rhetoric] is directed to the current leadership in the executive office"--let's just say it couldn't be less convincing. If Deval wanted to criticize the Romney-Healey Administration, there's an obvious phrase to use: it's "the Romney-Healey Administration." When Deval rips Beacon Hill, people think he's ripping the Legislature. And that's precisely the point.

Healey's going to be all over this in Monday night's debate, so Patrick had better figure out how to spin the issue more effectively than Rubin did. Otherwise, Healey can just dust off Mitt Romney's "Gang of Three" critique from '02. The question is obvious: Deval, how can you rein in the Legislature if you're relying on it to get you elected?

9/29/2006 1:57:44 PM by Adam Reilly | Comments [16] |  

Yes, the pun is lame--and yes, I'm exaggerating a bit. But Grace Ross, the Green-Rainbow candidate for governor, seems to be impressing people from every end of the political spectrum with her smarts and poise. (Her fashion sense is another story.) In this week's Phoenix, I take a look at Ross and what she brings to the race.

9/27/2006 3:48:14 PM by Adam Reilly | Comments [0] |  

Watch this, and be amazed:

This Vernon Robinson spot isn't bad either, even though it lacks the words "prostitutes," "masturbation," "probes" and "genitalia":

9/27/2006 10:30:46 AM by Adam Reilly | Comments [1] |  

Robert David Sullivan is at it again, offering us a sophisticated, stat-filled analysis of how Deval Patrick and Kerry Healey stack up in the gubernatorial general election. You can read it here.

Sullivan's stuff always 1. dazzles me and 2. makes me feel kind of stupid, so I'll be tackling his latest opus when my mind feels good and nimble. Unless someone wants to read it first and give me the idiot's version, that is.

9/26/2006 4:29:37 PM by Adam Reilly | Comments [1] |  

It was bad enough that Shonda Schilling--wife of Curt, who stars for the Red Sox, and gave George W. Bush a very public endorsement in the 2004 presidential race--was presented as an "average voter" in last night's Herald/Fox 25 debate. But get this:

Shonda isn't registered to vote in Massachusetts.

Yup. As Jim Braude and Margery Eagan noted a few minutes ago on WTKK (96.9 on your FM dial), Mrs. Schilling isn't on the voting rolls in Medfield, the town she and Curt call home.

Whose bright idea was it to have Schilling and Jasper White toss softballs to Kerry Healey, exactly?

P.S.--And while we're at it, why did Maria Stephanos call the LG "Kerry" while addressing all the other candidates more formally?

9/26/2006 1:30:19 PM by Adam Reilly | Comments [6] |  

Will the new heads-up-their-asses spot make Christy Mihos competitive in the governor's race? Maybe. But it's worth noting that Mihos has some obliviousness of his own when it comes to the Big Dig.

A few weeks back, during a conversation I had with Mihos about his relationship with ex-Big Dig chief Jim Kerasiotes--to whom Christy once bequeathed his mother's olive recipe--I asked Mihos to assess Kerasiotes's performance in that role.

Christy's response? "Well, when he was head of the project, it was on time and on budget. That was the mantra, and it was a mantra that was fully adhered to by anyone and everyone in the Cellucci administration."

Here's the problem with this description: in April 2000--about a year and a half into Christy's tenure on the Mass. Pike board--then-Governor Paul Cellucci axed Kerasiotes for concealing $1.4 billion in Big Dig cost overruns from federal officials. An audit by the US Department of Transportation called Kerasiotes's cover-up "one of the most flagrant breaches of the integrity of the federal-state partnership in the history of the nearly 85-year-old federal-aid highway program."

When I pointed this out, Christy had this to say: "I guess 'on time and on budget' was not an operational statement."

Not the most impressive answer.

9/25/2006 3:28:08 PM by Adam Reilly | Comments [0] |  

Looks like the drama in the Second Suffolk isn't over just yet. Here's the press release Sonia Chang-Diaz's campaign just put out.

Something to consider: will the fact that John Bonifaz is on Chang-Diaz's legal team make Bill Galvin--who crushed Bonifaz in Tuesday's Democratic secretary of state's primary--less likely to grant Chang-Diaz's request?

Chang-Diaz Calls for Recount

Cites Wide-Spread Confusion and Vote Counting Irregularities

ROXBURY – State Senate Candidate Sonia Chang-Diaz announced this afternoon that she will be seeking a recount of the vote from last Tuesday's Democratic Primary in the Second Suffolk State Senate race. Citing the lack of a consistent, across the board standard for counting votes in questionable situations, numerous complaints of irregularities raised by poll watchers, and the strong potential for human error in an election night hand-count, Chang-Diaz began taking the necessary steps to request an official recount of the vote.

"It is widely reported by this time that there were a disturbing number of problems with the Election Day count, ranging from serious discrepancies in the standards used to count the ballots at the precinct level to precincts not counted at all.   The Elections Division has made every pro-active and corrective effort to ensure that this process ran smoothly, and I genuinely thank the staff at City Hall and the Secretary of State's Office for their level of professionalism and diligence throughout this election.

"It is clear, however, that there are sufficient remaining questions about the consistency and accuracy of the Election Day count to merit a district wide recount.  Today I am beginning the process of collecting signatures across the district to call for a complete recount of all ballots cast. To do otherwise, I believe, would be to abandon the principles upon which this campaign was based.

"This campaign, from the outset, has been about principles of good government and helping people have confidence in our political system again.   We of course recognize that changing the result of who the Democratic nominee is in this race is unlikely with a margin of 702 votes.  But nothing about this race has ever been usual.   As an all write-in election—and the first in Boston since our switch the new voting and tallying systems—it is open to an extraordinary level of confusion among both voters and poll workers.   Ensuring peoples' faith in our voting systems is something worth fighting for, no matter who the winner is in the end.

"We will make every effort to move quickly and decisively through this process to reach a closure that reflects the standards of accuracy and accountability to which all elections ought to be held, and which the voters of Boston deserve."

9/22/2006 3:07:20 PM by Adam Reilly | Comments [1] |  

As we all know by now, Democratic state rep Gene O'Flaherty--who claims to be a supporter of Deval Patrick, his party's newly minted nominee for governor--is loudly fretting that Patrick may be too liberal to beat Republican Kerry Healey.

Here's a nice ironic twist: a few years back, Geno sponsored House Bill 2292, which would allow illegal immigrants to obtain Massachusetts drivers' licenses.

Now, in fairness to Geno, he didn't specifically mention Patrick's support of such licenses as proof of his raving liberal lunacy. (That was Senator Steve Baddour, another Democrat and disappointed supporter of Tom Reilly, who lost to Patrick in Tuesday's primary.) Still, you can bet that Patrick's stand on licenses will be a favorite topic for Healey et al. this fall.

In case you missed it the first time, here's the warning Flaherty delivered yesterday:

"I support the Democratic nominee but I would also want to make it clear that I think in order for the Democratic nominee to become electable, what has to happen is he has to get rid of the notion that has been percolating around out there that he is a liberal left-leaning individual that will bring Massachusetts back to what some have referred to as the ‘Mike Dukakis era."

Thanks for the advice, Geno. I'm sure the Patrick camp will be calling any minute.

9/22/2006 1:38:59 PM by Adam Reilly | Comments [6] |  

Looks like Eugene O'Flaherty could be heading up the group, with Steve Baddour and Dan Conley doing their part as well.

The following comes to us via State House News Service; emphasis is mine. Be sure to check out the last two bolded grafs, where Flaherty (allegedly a Patrick backer) basically regurgitates a bunch of anti-Patrick talking points.

Also, is it just me, or is there something a little absurd about Travelin' Gene offering political advice to Patrick?

UPDATE: What's more, Baddour--who supported Tom Reilly in the primary--seems to be pulling a Charley Flannery here: he's complaining about Patrick's support of in-state tuition for the kids of illegal immigrants, even though Reilly had THE SAME POSITION on the issue. What is it with this people?!?

O’FLAHERTY SAYS PATRICK NEEDS TO WORK ON CENTRIST APPEAL

By Gintautas Dumcius
and Jim O’Sullivan
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE

STATE HOUSE, BOSTON, SEPT. 21, 2006….“Republicans for Patrick” may have found a counterpart, in the as-yet-unnamed but seemingly in-the-works “Democrats for Healey.”

Democratic lawmakers at a press conference Thursday to celebrate the signing of tougher laws against sex criminals pointed to Healey as a leading force in skippering the bill through an occasionally tortured process. Healey, whose superior Gov. Mitt Romney usually handles bill-signing duties, was on hand to exercise the pen, two days after accepting the GOP nomination to succeed Romney.

Thursday’s press conference quickly turned into a contest over which urban Democrat could lavish Healey with more praise. And one lawmaker laid out a challenge for Democratic nominee Deval Patrick to disabuse centrist members of his party of the notion that he stands too close to the leftist fringe.

Stressing his support as a Democratic state lawmaker for Patrick, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee, Rep. Eugene O’Flaherty told reporters Patrick must address the fears of some that he will “bring back the Dukakis era,” a task the Chelsea Democrat labeled an “extreme challenge.”

The cross-aisle acclaim for Healey comes a day after Patrick won support from Gloria Larson, a longtime power player in the state’s GOP circles and former secretary of economic affairs under Gov. Bill Weld. The convention center chairwoman was once rumored to be on Romney’s short list for running mates; the nod went to Healey, who was every Democrat’s favorite Republican Thursday.

Enthused Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel Conley, a former Boston city councilor, “As [has become] the norm, whenever a good idea for public safety and victims arises, everyone in law enforcement and the victim rights community knew that we could count on Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey to do what she does best and for which she gets so little recognition, and that’s work behind the scenes, reaching out across the lines of both party and government to move things forward.”

“But for her leadership, but for her standing up and continuing to push and to aggressively pursue this bill, today would not be happening. She deserves a great deal of admiration and respect and gratitude for making this bill a reality today,” said Sen. Steven Baddour, a Methuen Democrat who pushed hard for Attorney General Thomas Reilly in the Democratic primary.

No big-name Democrats have backed Healey publicly; her campaign points to Gloucester Mayor John Bell as a prominent endorsement from the other party. And none of the legislators on-stage Thursday bit on a reporter’s offer to announce their support for the lieutenant governor, who has at times skewered the Legislature on issues about which she feels strongly.

Baddour said the legislation’s topic transcended politics.

Both Attorney General Thomas Reilly and venture capitalist Christopher Gabrieli tried during the Democratic primary to convince voters they were more appealing to the independent voters who comprise half the Bay State electorate, and have historically swung gubernatorial elections.

That argument failed, as Patrick secured 50 percent of the vote.

Baddour, who said he opposes Patrick on immigration issues like granting driver’s licenses and in-state tuition rates to unauthorized immigrants, said Patrick has to entice “a whole new universe of voters” for the November election.

“He’s got to help us help him,” Baddour said in a phone interview.

The Patrick campaign did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

Standing on the stage after the press conference, O’Flaherty, the House Judiciary Committee chair who supported Attorney General Thomas Reilly’s campaign, told reporters, “I support the Democratic nominee but I would also want to make it clear that I think in order for the Democratic nominee to become electable, what has to happen is he has to get rid of the notion that has been percolating around out there that he is a liberal left-leaning individual that will bring Massachusetts back to what some have referred to as the ‘Mike Dukakis era..’ ”

O’Flaherty added: “He needs to make that case over the next several weeks to Democrats like myself who have been increasingly frustrated over the last 16 years over the ability of Republicans to divide Democrats” and cause some to leave the party. In order for conservative Democrats to be comfortable with Patrick, “we need to know a little bit more about him. “It has to be a little bit more than ‘Together, We Can’,” O’Flaherty said, referring to Patrick’s campaign slogan.

O’Flaherty encouraged Patrick to pay “extra-special effort” to bring those centrists and conservative Democrats to him. O’Flaherty said conservative-leaning Democrats he grew up with, including union laborers, have come up to him in the past and said they are not voting for the Democratic nominee.

“Deval needs to win those people to win in November,” he said.

While he agrees with the nominee’s opposition to the income tax rollback, O’Flaherty said Patrick appeased the teachers unions a "little too much" on charter schools and vouchers prior to the Democratic primary earlier this week.

"I believe it's the greatest civil rights issue of our era," he said. "I was hoping he would at least recognize that there is a growing, growing sentiment in urban communities around support for vouchers, but more importantly, for what now exists, which is charter schools."

The comments came after the effusive praise O’Flaherty offered Healey during the press conference, on her work on the sex crimes bill and others, including an interstate compact to track sex criminals.

Other Democrats said Patrick will prove capable of responding to those who see him as too liberal.

“I think it’ll be very easy for Deval Patrick to dispel that notion,” said Rep. Marty Walz (D-Beacon Hill), a Patrick backer. “As voters get to know him more, they’ll be increasingly comfortable with him.”

Added another former Reilly supporter, Rep. Peter Koutoujian (D-Waltham): "I believe there has been a characterization of Deval Patrick as a lot more liberal than he truly is." Koutoujian said: "I think it's pretty clear if you start to see the issues."

9/21/2006 7:51:46 PM by Adam Reilly | Comments [3] |  

Added twist to the already freaky situation in the Second Suffolk election: recently failed secretary of state candidate John Bonifaz is on Sonia Chang-Diaz's legal team. Which at least raises the prospect of Bonifaz and Bill Galvin having some kind of awkward interaction sometime in the next day or two...

9/21/2006 11:07:51 AM by Adam Reilly | Comments [3] |  

Maybe that's too harsh--Charlie Flannery of Taunton is probably a great guy with a fine brain for business. But Flannery's explanation of why he'll vote for Republican Kerry Healey in the general after supporting Tom Reilly in the Democratic primary is fuckin' stupid. From today's Taunton Gazette:

"I voted for Reilly, but now I am going with Healey, because I have heard that Patrick supports the idea of giving in-state tuition rates to children of illegal immigrants," said Charlie Flannery, owner of Flannery Real Estate in Taunton. "I think having a republican governor will help maintain a balance of power in a predominantly Democrat-run state - and she is a babe."

First off: Chuck, Tom Reilly supported that idea too.

Second... Aw, screw it.

9/21/2006 10:59:00 AM by Adam Reilly | Comments [2] |  

The festivities commence at 2 p.m. in Room 801 of Boston City Hall. And the public is free to watch!

Should be an interesting scene, to say the least.

NOTE: I'd initially labeled this a "recount," but it isn't; the big problem is that votes in eight precincts were never counted to begin with. My apologies.

9/21/2006 9:26:55 AM by Adam Reilly | Comments [2] |  

I take the pulse of Christy Mihos's campaign and offer my theory on what draws people to Deval Patrick.

As always, feel free to tell me I forgot something, totally missed the point, etc.

9/20/2006 4:56:25 PM by Adam Reilly | Comments [1] |  

The City of Boston just sent out the following press release on the Wilkerson-Chang-Diaz contest:

The City of Boston Election Department has asked the Secretary of the Commonwealth, William F. Galvin, to bring an appropriate lawsuit to insure that a complete vote count can be established in the Second Suffolk Senatorial District.

An Election Department examination of election materials indicated that tallies of write-in votes were inadvertently omitted in 8 precincts within the district, specifically, Ward 4, Precinct 9, Ward 10, Precinct 9, Ward 12, Precincts 1 and 2, Ward 14, Precincts 3, 8 and 9, and Ward 19, Precinct 3. [emphasis added]

Under state law, ballots are sealed after an election and may not be opened without a court order.  The purpose of the lawsuit is to obtain an order that will permit the City to complete the count in the effected precincts.

"Inadvertently omitted"? It's like our very own Bush v. Gore!

9/20/2006 3:37:11 PM by Adam Reilly | Comments [1] |  

If you're like me, you can only read so many firsthand reports from polling places before you get a bit bored. So let's try something different, shall we?

Obviously, two of the three Democratic candidates for governor are done after today. Now, here in America we love to create video montages--slo-mo highlights of some just-concluded experience, set to some kind of sad/inspirational music.

Here's my question: for each of the three candidates, which tune would go best with their I'm-a-loser montage? And which highlights would you include?

For Tom Reilly, I'll propose "My Way," sung by Frank Sinatra. Images should include him scolding Gabrieli in the penultimate debate, but also a highlight or two from the final debate, which he pretty much won. Also, we'd need him standing in front of the Watertown apartment.

Other thoughts?

9/19/2006 1:24:22 PM by Adam Reilly | Comments [4] |  

The former Mass. governor was 82.

Here's the Globe obit.

9/18/2006 1:04:16 PM by Adam Reilly | Comments [1] |  

Here are the big numbers from the yet-to-be-released Channel 7/Suffolk U. Poll:

Patrick 37 percent
Gabrieli 29 percent
Reilly 21 percent
Undecided 13 percent
Margin of error: 4 percent

Quite a difference between those findings and what the Globe had to say this weekend.

9/18/2006 11:06:41 AM by Adam Reilly | Comments [5] |  

Something about the most recent Tom Reilly press release made me laugh out loud--not at Reilly, or at Chris Gabrieli, but just at the prevailing wacky mood heading into the last weekend before the Democratic governor's primary.

Aw, who am I kidding--of course I was laughing at Reilly!

Anyway, the best/worst part of the release follows. (If you want to hear Reilly's beefs with Gabriel on taxes, outsourcing, in-state tuition, etc., let me know and I'll send you the whole shebang; meanwhile, you can find Gabrieli's "Detroit" gaffe and the rest of his Globe ed board meeting here.) But first, let me note one very important thing: Gabrieli actually wasn't mocking Springfield Mitt Romney-style. He was saying that the city--which, in case you missed it, is in pretty crappy shape these days--is dying slowly as residents abandon it for nearby suburbs. Not a laugh line, exactly.

And now, it's time for Tom to kick some millionaire tail!

Reilly Demands That Gabrieli Publicly Apologize To The People of Springfield For Comparing City to Detroit

In eye-popping Globe interview, also changes position on immigration and praises benefits of outsourcing jobs to India

SPRINGFIELD – Attorney General and Springfield native Tom Reilly today demanded that Chris Gabrieli apologize to the people of Springfield for mocking the city – Mitt Romney style – and comparing Springfield to Detroit.

"Just because Springfield is more economically diverse than Louisburg Square doesn’t mean it’s a bad city or something to mock," Reilly said. “I’m proud of my home city, I believe in its future and what it needs is a Governor who cares about Springfield, not another out of touch Governor who mocks it."

"Mitt Romney infamously called Lawrence ‘Kennedy Country.’ Well I’m proud to call Springfield ‘Reilly Country.’ This is an insult to Springfield and Chris ought to publicly apologize to the people of Springfield."

The Boston Globe published the odd remark today on its website, excerpted from Gabrieli’s editorial board interview with the newspaper. In it, Gabrieli notes that the towns around Springfield are "doing fine" but says "Springfield is Detroit."

Reilly, campaigning in his home city today, called for the apology and said Gabrieli ought to spend more time off Beacon Hill and his summer home in posh Beverly before he makes such rash generalizations.
 
This kind of comment is nothing new from the out of touch Gabrieli, who spent yesterday arguing with fellow millionaire Kerry Healey about stock options and million-dollar investments....

Way to go, Tommy Boy. That'll learn 'em.

9/15/2006 3:38:52 PM by Adam Reilly | Comments [3] |  

Breaking news: a meta-Mitt Romney for President web site is in the works!!!

Also, this visual (which accompanied the story in question, but sans credit) suggests a possible catch-phrase for Romney supporters. Not sure how I feel about it. Anybody else?

9/15/2006 2:02:25 PM by Adam Reilly | Comments [0] |  

Let's think through the possible consequences of this new anti-Gabrieli attack ad, shall we?

Scenario 1: Democrats uncritically accept the picture of Gabrieli painted by Republican Kerry Healey, decide he's just out to make a quick buck, and decide not to vote for him on September 19.

Scenario 2: Democrats generally ignore Healey's ad when they vote next week.

Scenario 3: Democrats conclude that Gabrieli is the Democrat Healey fears most, and undecideds/weak Patrick backers/weak Reilly backers subsequently vote for him on the 19th.

Scenario 1 strikes me as unlikely. Scenario 2 is a possibility. But Scenario 3 seems downright probable. Which makes me wonder: what if Healey's actual goal is making Gabrieli's nomination more likely, not less?

Call me zany. But I think that's a real possibility.

9/14/2006 11:19:14 AM by Adam Reilly | Comments [10] |  

The LG's campaign has a new TV spot intimating that Chris Gabrieli supports stem-cell research because it'll make him a whole bunch of cash. (Thanks to WRKO's John DePetro for running audio of the ad on his show this morning.)

This certainly suggests that Healey sees Gabrieli as the biggest threat in the general, and is trying to ensure that either Deval Patrick or Tom Reilly wins Tuesday's primary. I can't see Gabrieli supporters changing their minds as a result, but it could keep some waffling Tom Reilly backers from jumping ship to Gabs at the last minute--and if things get really tight, that could help tilt the balance in Patrick's favor.

Healey's camp said they couldn't get me an audio or video clip of the spot, and that that they wouldn't be putting it up on their web site. (If I remember correctly, Healey's never mentioned.) If any readers see it, please let the rest of us know what you think.

NOTE: Gabs is holding a press conference on the State House steps at 2 p.m. today to respond to Healey's ad. The drama!

UPDATE: Here's the text of Healey's advertisement. Apologies for any formatting issues.

AD TEXT

VIDEO

(MVO) Chris Gabrieli the politician wants taxpayers to borrow a billion dollars to invest in stem cells and high tech health.     (FVO) But Gabrieli the tycoon isn’t telling us that he was a director and owns a stock fortune in a company which could profit from his stem cell plan.         (FVO) It’s just one of Gabrieli’s companies that could boom with a billion dollars of our money.   (MVO) If you support stem cell research   (FVO) But oppose Beacon Hill inside deals   (MVO) Say no to Chris Gabrieli.

Text: CHRIS GABRIELI Politician   Boston Globe Banner: “Gabrieli to offer $1 billion stem cell plan.” 5/11/06   Text: CHRIS GABRIELI Tycoon   Boston Globe Banner: “Investments in healthcare and biotechnology startups had made … Gabrieli wealthy beyond his dreams.” 9/12/06   Boston Herald Banner: “Gabrieli portfolio stocked with scandal.” 9/10/06   Text: Support Stem Cell Research   Oppose Beacon Hill Inside Deals   Say No to Chris Gabrieli Committee   Paid for by the Healey for Governor Committee with Healey mug shot.

9/14/2006 10:07:40 AM by Adam Reilly | Comments [3] |  

Most poignant moment of the debate, and maybe even the campaign: "Getting things* done is what I do," ex-frontrunner Tom Reilly says in his closing statement. "This is a time for tested and proven leadership." Subsequently, he twitches nervously, his voice breaks, and his hand shakes.

My quick take on this evening's proceedings: Reilly did well enough to stay in the game, and Gabrieli was good but couldn't knock Patrick down (metaphorically/forensically) despite plenty of attempts. Which leaves Patrick--despite his lame foray into self-pity--as the clear frontrunner heading into Tuesday's primary.

*NOTE: not "this," as I originally wrote.

9/13/2006 8:03:45 PM by Adam Reilly | Comments [2] |  

Deval Patrick really, really, really shouldn't have asked Tom Reilly and Chris Gabrieli to think out loud about how (allegedly) nasty they've been to him over the last few days. He came out of that exchange looking like a delicate prima donna.

Allow me to say something nice about Tom Reilly: the heart of his reply--"What do you think is going to happen when the Republicans have a shot at you? This is tame. We're being really nice"--was devastating.

If Patrick loses on September 19, it'll be because of this colossal blunder.

9/13/2006 7:36:50 PM by Adam Reilly | Comments [6] |  

The South End News has a hefty new interview with John Kelleher, the third challenger to incumbent Dianne Wilkerson in this crazy write-in melee over in the Second Suffolk.
 
Among the more interesting revelations: Kelleher doesn't know what the B.U. Biolab is.

Weird shit.

9/13/2006 2:27:32 PM by Adam Reilly | Comments [1] |  

If you read my treatment of the Chafee-Laffey battle in this week's Phoenix, you probably guessed that I thought Laffey would win. He struck me as a sort of inexorable political force who would simply will his way to victory.

I was wrong, obviously: yesterday, America's most moderate Republican beat his conservative challenger by a surprisingly wide 8-percent margin in Rhode Island's GOP US Senate primary.

Since polls suggest Chafee has a much better chance against Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse in this fall's general than Laffey would have, Democrats will probably be disappointed by the outcome. But I bet Laffey would have given Whitehouse a much tougher fight than most people anticipated. And on a macro level, there's something to be said for keeping a semblance of moderation alive in Washington. Anyway, congrats to Linc.

9/13/2006 10:15:33 AM by Adam Reilly | Comments [1] |  

From the September 13, 1990 Boston Globe--i.e., five days before that year's Democratic gubernatorial primary:

Former Attorney General Francis X. Bellotti leads Boston University president-on-leave John R. Silber 54 percent to 31 percent in the race for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, according to a Boston Globe/WBZ-TV poll conducted last night.

Silber won.

Obviously, there was a very different dynamic to that race: Bellotti was the establishment candidate and Silber the (conservative) outsider-insurgent. But whatever CBS4 and State House News may be saying today, this race isn't over yet.

Thanks to Kyle Robidoux for bringing this to my attention.

9/12/2006 5:58:34 PM by Adam Reilly | Comments [1] |  

So suggests a new CBS4 Boston poll, which puts Patrick at 45 percent among likely Democratic primary voters, Gabrieli at 29, and Reilly dropping sharply to 21. "This is the first time there has been a clear front-runner in Democratic gubernatorial race," says the CBS4 write-up.

You can read all about it here.

9/12/2006 2:01:11 PM by Adam Reilly | Comments [2] |  

Pipin' hot!

No surprise here, since the only people in MA who thought Reilly did well in last week's debate were Herald columnists Howie Carr and Ginny Buckingham. Still, this strikes me as a valuable and desperately needed pick-up for the AG.

As you read, take the stuff about the 9/11/01 Massachusetts election with a big grain of salt--the good people of Blue Mass. Group have noted that Reilly's memory may be a little faulty here.

Experience shows: Reilly for governor
By Herald editorial staff
Monday, September 11, 2006 - Updated: 05:09 PM EST

This year’s race for governor isn’t nearly as much about issues as it is about trust, leadership and experience. And there’s only one man running in the Democratic primary who scores high on all three, and that’s Attorney General Tom Reilly.
 
During his two terms as attorney general and before that eight years as Middlesex County district attorney, Reilly has amassed a long and honorable record of public service - and of accomplishment. Yes, he has been a no-nonsense prosecutor throughout that time, but he has been far more.

On Sept. 11, 2001, there were those in state government who wanted to call off a special election to fill the seat of the late Rep. Joe Moakley. It was Reilly who said no. ‘‘If there was one day that we were going to show the strength of our democracy, it was going to be that day,” Reilly said during last week’s debate.

Someone had to be the grown-up. On that day and on countless other occasions it was Reilly who calmly and resolutely played that role. That’s exactly what he did to save Harvard Pilgrim Health Care from imminent collapse, and preserve health insurance for more than a million people.

We shared Reilly’s obvious frustration at not being able to haul high-ranking officials of the Boston archdiocese out in handcuffs, still his report on clergy sexual abuse pointed the way toward reform, toward preventing such crimes in the future, and last week toward legislation aimed at extending the statute of limitations on sexual crimes against children.

And when it became a public embarrassment to have the ethically impaired Bill Bulger remain as president of the University of Massachusetts, it was Reilly who went public, telling him it was time to go.

That kind of courage, that kind of integrity is hard to find in public life these days.

Yes, being governor requires a grasp of a far broader range of issues. But there too Reilly has given every indication he is as solid as he has been for the past eight years as AG. He is a stalwart supporter of MCAS as a graduation requirement, merit pay for teachers and early childhood education.

On taxes, Reilly has heard what voters said in 2000 when they overwhelmingly approved the rollback of the state income tax to 5 percent. ‘‘I feel very strongly about it,” Reilly said. Wow, a leader who believes people mean what they say.

But a governor needs to be about more than policies and position papers. A governor needs to have strength of character. Tom Reilly does, and the Boston Herald is pleased to endorse him in the Sept. 19 Democratic primary.

 

9/11/2006 5:56:56 PM by Adam Reilly | Comments [0] |  

Just in from Sonia Chang-Diaz's state senate campaign: she and incumbent Dianne Wilkerson will hold their second debate tomorrow--Tuesday, Sept. 12--at English High School, 144 McBridge St., Jamaica Plain. ("Meet and Greet" starts at 5:30 p.m., but the debate itself won't get rolling until 8. That's a lot of meeting and greeting.*)

Word is, last week's debate at Roxbury Community College was pretty wild. Tomorrow's event should be a must-see.

Finally, kudos to Boston's Ward 11 and Ward 19 Democratic Committees for making this happen.

*NOTE: Apparently some other candidates will be debating, too. So DW and SC-D probably won't spend a full 2.5 hours shaking hands and doing air kisses.

9/11/2006 11:11:25 AM by Adam Reilly | Comments [2] |  

Here's my question: is there anybody out there who watched Thursday's debate and went from being undecided in the race for the Democratic gov's nomination--or supporting Chris Gabrieli or Deval Patrick--to backing Tom Reilly?

If you're out there, that should be noted. If not, that should be, too.

9/10/2006 6:15:49 PM by Adam Reilly | Comments [3] |  

Fifteen minutes into the big governor's debate, here's the big news:

Tom Reilly is fucking up, big time. No interest in talking about policies or big ideas. Just shrill, twerpy attacks on Chris Gabrieli and Deval Patrick.

Last night on NECN, I predicted that Reilly would eke out a win in the Democratic primary. I hereby change my mind.

9/7/2006 7:16:47 PM by Adam Reilly | Comments [8] |  

Sounds like we're getting a fourth candidate in the big write-in melee over in the Second Suffolk. Interesting that John Kelleher is a Boston police officer, especially since his entry could make Wilkerson's re-election more likely by splitting the anti-Wilkerson vote.

Anyway, here's Johnny!

Enough is Enough: John Kelleher Announces He’ll Run as a Democratic Alternative to State Senator Wilkerson.


Statement of  John Kelleher:

Why would anyone declare their intent to run for State Senate in a write-in campaign against an entrenched incumbent with less than two weeks to the Democratic Primary election?

It is because enough is enough. It is because honor, integrity and respect for the law matter greatly to me and to the hundreds of my frustrated friends and neighbors I have talked to over the past months. I simply could not stand by without  doing something. I was taught by the Jesuits at Boston College that in a crisis if you are not part of the solution then you are a part of the problem

Today, I announce my intention to run to be the next State Senator of the Second Suffolk District. I will make the voters of Boston proud once again by giving them the leadership they deserve.

I will make some true sacrifices to take on this daunting task. I have taken a leave of absence without pay as a Detective on the Boston Police Department in order to run for this office. I will not take a dime in campaign contributions from anyone to undertake this expensive and complex job. I will use my personal funds and if elected will beholden to no one but the voters who have taken the effort to use my sticker or to write in my name. I will likely need to endure some personal attacks as well. I will work harder at the campaign than anyone in these last ten days to share with the voters of Jamaica Plain, Roxbury, Mission Hill, Beacon Hill, Mattapan, Dorchester, Chinatown, the South End, Back Bay and the Fenway my vision for a better Boston and new leadership..

While I hold an idealistic view of  what politics and our leaders should be, I am not naïve about what it takes to get elected and what it takes to be effective. In 1972 it was a time for political activism and I wanted to make a difference, so I got my name on the ballot, pulled together some hard working friends who also felt the need for a change, and took on the old political leadership in Jamaica Plain. The hard work paid off and I was able to win election to the House of Representatives as a Democrat. I was recognized as someone who was able to pull together people many diverse views and backgrounds and get things done. I was given a leadership position in my second term, serving as an Assistant Majority Leader and a member of the Rules and Transportation Committees.

As a Boston Police Officer for more than thirty years, I have seen a lot of tragedies in our neighborhoods. I am particularly outraged at the barrage of gunfire yesterday at the Dorchester Court House. I have seen what violence can do to a community. Not all the victims of crime end up in the hospital, as some of the victims are those who are afraid to leave their homes after dark, or are robbed of companionship because friends and family are afraid to visit, or are those who are violated when their apartment has been robbed and trashed. I will be their voice on Beacon Hill. Upon my election I will be the elected official with the most knowledge and experience in fighting urban crime. There will be no learning curve for me as I will fight for more funding for police on the streets, community policing, and fighting for laws that really deter crime and turn around those juveniles before it is too late. I have worked as a patrolman or detective in almost every neighborhood of Boston and I know what will really work to fight crime.  I have also been apart of legislative leadership so I know how to take this knowledge, translated it into more effective laws and get the funding for more public safety officers.

While fighting crime is of great importance and has been my career for more than thirty years, I view improving education as an equally important priority. I fought for education reform and more funding as the Democratic State Representative from Jamaica Plain in the 1970’s. I used my leadership post to help raise standards and teacher salaries. My commitment to education stayed alive, as I went back to school for graduate studies in education and was awarded a Masters Degree in Education by Boston University in 1982. Some of today’s challenges in education are the same; we need more money and the highest standards, but we must also expand after school programs, upgrade technology and facilities, recruit, reward and retain those excellent and inspiring teachers and build on the success of early childhood education. We, as a community have made a contract, of sorts, with parents and children. We will provide the inspiring teachers, the funding and the programs, but you must work hard and take responsibility for your actions. Serious, productive, responsible students with involved parents are answer to our crime problems and lay the foundation for the community’s future.

I present myself to the Democratic voters of the Second Suffolk Senate District because I too have a responsibility to the Community. There are no names on the Democratic ballot this year because Diane Wilkerson failed to comply with the law requiring signatures on Nomination Papers. I ask the voters to vote for me on Tuesday, September 19th, by using my sticker or writing in the name “John Kelleher”. The voters will soon be receiving in the mail information about my priorities and background as well as a sticker and voting instructions. Using the sticker is a little extra work but this will be the most important vote you cast this year if you want to be serious for a change.

John Kelleher  Biography:  the right experiance and Education
·       Boston Police officer for 32 years now serving with the rank of Detective.

·       Boston College, BA Business 1981

·       Boston University Graduate School of Education, Masters Degree, 1983

·       Massachusetts House of Representatives, 1973-1978, Assistant Majority Leader/Rules Committee, Transportation Committee

·       Successful local Businessman.

·       Recorder of the Land Court Division of the Trial Court of the Commonwealth, 1982-1984

·       Huntington YMCA, Board of Directors

·       Crohns and Colitis Foundation of America Member 25 years

·       Life long resident of Jamaica Plain, Residence at 59 Arborway.

9/7/2006 3:49:02 PM by Adam Reilly | Comments [4] |  

Say this for Mitt Romney: he's got a genius for free PR. Come tomorrow, our soon-to-be-departed governor's screed against Iran's ex-president (and accompanying state boycott) is sure to have conservatives everywhere all atwitter. Just you watch. I smell some serious TV time with this one.

Two added pluses: in this case, Romney is lashing out against A) "liberal elites" in general and B) one of Massachusetts' best-known institutions! Couldn't have scripted it any better, Mitt. Very nice.

UPDATE: Did some quick Googling and noticed that Romney isn't the first politician to complain about Khatami's presence in the U.S. Congressman Brad Sherman (D-California) recently wrote Condoleezza Rice to urge that Khatami's request for a visa be denied.

UPDATE II: Either the Globe or Romney may need to cop to a mistake here. According to the Globe's web piece (see above), which was written by correspondent Andrew Ryan, "The governor said that the U.S. State Department listed Khatami as Iran's number one state sponsor of terrorism, saying that he oversaw the torture and murder of dissidents who spoke out for freedom and democracy." But Sherman's letter (also see above) notes that during Khatami's time as Iran's president, the country was identified by the State Dept. as the top state sponsor of terrorism. Pretty big difference.

9/5/2006 6:35:41 PM by Adam Reilly | Comments [0] |  

And don't forget Kerry, either, who headed up the Massachusetts GOP before becoming Romney's running mate in 2002. From State House News Service:

The failure to collect enough signatures for statewide offices has left the Grand Old Party in a more weakened condition than usual this election year.

There are no Republican candidates running for the offices of secretary of state, treasurer and auditor.

According to Brian McNiff, spokesman for Secretary of State William Galvin, there have never in recent years been so many empty spots on the Republican primary ballot for constitutional offices.

"My suspicion is that it has not happened before," said McNiff.

A few weeks back, my ex-Phoenix colleague Dan Kennedy mocked the idea that the Mass. GOP would benefit from losing the Corner Office this year and being forced to rebuild from scratch. Myself, I don't think it's such a crazy proposition.

9/5/2006 4:00:42 PM by Adam Reilly | Comments [3] |