Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Monday, April 23, 2007
Rick Klein, the Boston Globe's excellent national political reporter, is leaving to become ABCNews.com's chief political correspondent -- and more importantly, to write the insanely obligatory "The Note" blog. So says Hotline OnCall today. Great gig for Klein; it should quickly catapult him into the elite tier of reporter/pundits with Mark Halperin, who was responsible for The Note until he recently stepped down as ABC News's political director. Bad news for the Globe, which loses another talented byline.
Friday, April 20, 2007
Deval Patrick announced his Anti-Crime Council yesterday,
which he will chair, and which will meet monthly to discuss gun and gang
violence. I'd prefer the name reflect that purpose more accurately -- crime per se is well under control in the
state -- but the idea is solid.
Unfortunately, this looks like one of those committees designed to look
impressive and accomplish little or nothing.
The 28-person group is heavy with governmental voices, primarily representing
cops and prosecutors:
--Patrick’s heads of public safety, health and human services, state police,
parole board, correction, youth services, social services, public health, and
probation; plus Patrick's chief legal counsel.
--Four legislators, who are the house and senate chairs of judiciary and public
safety.
--AG Martha Coakley.
--Heads of the associations representing the state's district attorneys, chiefs
of police, major-cities police chiefs, sheriffs, and city administrators (Mass.
Municipal Ass'c).
That leaves eight draft choices. They are:
--Janet Fine of the Massachusetts Office of Victim Assistance.
--William Leahy of the Committee for Public Counsel Services.
--Lee Gartenberg, chair of the Mass Bar Ass'c's Criminal-Justice Section.
--Georgianna Melendez of Casa Myrna Vazquez in Boston.
--Rev. Howard-John Wesley of Springfield.
--Victor Ascolillo, criminal-justice professor.
--Worcester
police chief Gary Gemme.
--Michael Ricciuti, co-chair of the Boston Bar Ass’c’s
Criminal-Justice Section.
Four of these are essentially more voices from the
cops-and-prosecutors side: Fine’s office is an outreach of the state’s
prosecutors; Gemme is another cop, albeit a good one; Gartenberg has worked for
the Middlesex Sheriff’s office for 25 years; and Ricciuti was an assistant AG
and worked for Justice before that. Three of the others don’t strike me as
experts on the subject: Melendez (who is terrific) specializes in domestic violence; Ascolillo
specializes in homeland security; and Wesley is a raging homophobic who has
blamed teen violence on the breakdown of morals in our society.
Leahy is the sole voice for the criminal defense community. There
is nobody from the schools, courts, community centers, neighborhood
associations, tenants’ associations, immigrant groups, and on and on. There is also
no representative of the federal government, which is baffling -- I criticize
our US Attorney’s office as much as anybody, but they have to be at the table,
along with the local DEA and ATF. Perhaps the Governor will prove me wrong, but color me skeptical on this effort.
The Hillary Clinton campaign just released a list of endorsements from 19 Massachusetts legislators, including an impressive 13 state senators -- out of 34 Democrats in the chamber. Is it a coincidence that this comes the day of Barack Obama's big rally at BU? Methinks not. Her list of senators: --Edward Augustus --Steven Baddour --Harriette Chandler --Robert Creedon --Susan Fargo --Joan Menard --Richard Moore --Robert O'Leary --marc Pacheco --Steven Panagiotakos --Pamela Resor --Karen Spilka --Susan Tucker And representatives: --Ruth Balser --Daniel Bosley --Geraldine Creedon --Lida Harkins --Kay Kahn --Pam Richardson
Thursday, April 19, 2007
In last week's issue I ran a story about Boston's groundwater problem, asking whether the state and city are doing enough to ensure the long-term preservation of the city's homes and architecture. In the article, I quoted from testimony given by Ian Bowles, secretary of energy and environment, but I did not interview him directly on the topic. Bowles sent a letter in response to the article, which the paper was unable to run this week in print; however, we have it up on the web site and I encourage you to give it a read. I've always liked Bowles, and he certainly deserves a chance to defend his office's actions. Of course, the whole discussion is moot if rising ocean levels put Boston's filled tidelands underwater, so kudos to Bowles and the Patrick administration for announcing plans yesterday to reduce state agencies' energy consumption 20 percent, and greenhouse gas emission 25 percent, by 2012. You can check out other stuff they're doing at the EOEEA web site.
A new national CNN poll says that a stunning 54 percent of Americans say they would definitely not vote for Mitt Romney in the general election if he is the Republican nominee. Just 7 percent say they definitely would, and 32 percent say they would consider voting for him. His numbers on that question are the worst of any of the major candidates. A third of Republicans say they would not vote for him. The good news -- if you can call it that -- is that the respondents are basing this on very little familiarity with him. He's got plenty of time to introduce himself to them. And of course people act differently when push comes to shove -- and when they see what the other choices are. Still, that's a very troubling number for the Mittster.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
According to The Hill, Maine congressman Tom Allen will likely announce his Senate candidacy sometime next month, confirming what has been increasingly believed -- and wished for -- by Democrats hoping to gain that seat in 2008. Allen raised a solid $400,000 in the first three months of the year, and figures to be able raise the dough to compete against Republican incumbent Susan Collins. So, money won't be the difference here. My question for you is: will this race be determined primarily by the relative appeal of the two candidates, or more by the prevailing level of national anti-GOP sentiment 18 months from now?
In case anyone thought that abortion and judge appointments might not be a big part of the Presidential campaign cycle this time, guess again. Today the Supreme Court -- with Alito in and O'Connor out -- upheld the 2003 federal ban on late-term abortions.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
With 30 percent of the precincts counted, Linehan holds a slight lead over Flynn, with everybody else way behind; of course, the meaning of that depends entirely upon which precincts have been counted and which haven't. No mention of the results, or anything about it being election day, on Boston.com. Which is right in keeping with the Globe's almost totally ignoring the race all along. Now 48% in, and Flynn edges Linehan -- but the others are still way way behind. Are all the South End precincts still out, or is Passoni a dead duck? Update: 74% in, Linehan back in front, Passoni gaining fast but still far behind. Can the last seven precincts give her one of the two finalist slots? Final update: The answer is a strong yes -- with 100% reporting, the city's unofficial tally is Passoni with 1869 votes (24.1%), Linehan 1832 (23.7%), and Flynn as the odd man out with 1740 (22.4%). O'Shea a distant fourth with just over 10% of the vote. If the results hold up and become official, it's a Linehan-Passoni showdown for the seat.
Friday, April 13, 2007
It's time to make your predictions for Tuesday's Southie/South End City Council preliminary election. Who will get the top two slots, to face each other in the final? The contestants are Mary Cooney, Bob Ferrara, Ed Flynn, Michael Linehan, Bob O'Shea, and Susan Passoni. I think Linehan will survive the backlash of the rumored heavy hand of City Hall behind his campaign, and finish first. I think Passoni will squeak out a second-place finish ahead of Flynn, with O'Shea making a solid showing as well. Your thoughts?
If you don't know who Ben, Craig, Josh, Matt, and Tagg are, well, you just haven't been paying enough attention to your former governor's family portraits. They are, of course, the offspring of Mitt and Ann Romney. They are also now bloggers from the campaign trail, with the cleverly titled "Five Brothers" [corrected!] blog on Dad's campaign web site. It just launched yesterday, with introductions from all five. (My handy tip sheet: Ben is the blonde one, Craig is the young-looking one, Matt is the tall one, Tagg is the politically active one, and Josh is the one you mistake for Tagg.) Today's press release from the campaign calls the blog "a major new feature of MittRomney.com," so there's a lot of pressure on the boys. So if you see Ben around town -- he's studying at Tufts Medical -- wish him good luck!
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Joan Wallace-Benjamin will resign as Deval Patrick's Chief of Staff and return to running the Home for Little Wanderers, according to a press release just sent out by the governor's office. I can't say this is going to come as a shock to many people. Not that she's caused any disasters (to my knowledge), but she just hasn't seemed like the right person for the job, and the job is too important to not have the right person in it. So who gets the next shot at it? Update: Answer: Doug Rubin, according to the State House News Service. The consummate Patrick insider, for good or ill.
Very little media attention has been paid to the fact that wage employees are likely at any moment to go on strike at four of Boston's biggest hotels -- the Copley Westin, Sheraton Boston, Park Plaza, and the new Westin by the Convention Center, all owned by Starwood. The union voted to authorize a strike as of April 1, and the contract still hasn't been reached, which means that the strike could start any day that the union negotiators feel like it. The union is gearing up for it; you've probably noticed the trailers with "Unite Here" banners outside those hotels. The union's leader, Janice Loux, is no dummy, and insiders assure me that two factors will play into the timing of a strike, if there is one: maximum impact, and maximum participation. Maximum impact means causing the most logistical and financial damage to the hotels. Maximum participation means getting the most fellow hotel workers to join the picket lines. (Starwood is negotiating on behalf of other area hotels, which will all adopt the final contract.) It's hard to beat Patriots Day weekend for maximum impact. And as it happens, Presidential candidate and rabid Unite Here advocate John Edwards will be in the vicinity -- he's campaigning in New Hampshire Sunday, and I'm sure he would love to swing through Boston for a picket-line photo-op. But weather is a key consideration for maximum participation. As far as I can gather, there will be no strike this weekend. Would there have been one if the forecast wasn't cold, wet, and gloomy? Only Loux knows.
About two weeks ago I was chatting with someone who is, let's just say, privvy to the inner circle of departing congressman Marty Meehan. When I asked how the race for Meehan's seat might shape up, this person said something to the effect of: "Well, I think it's pretty much been wired for Niki, don't you?" Well, I didn't know that, but gosh it's starting to look like it now, huh? Baddour and Tucker stay out, Mrs. Congressman joins Niki Tsongas's campaign, DiPaolo drops out. It would be a shame if it turns out that way, not because I have anything against Tsongas, but because we should have a good competitive race among some very interesting and qualified candidates. And I don't think it will turn out that way -- I don't believe that Tsongas can put the race in the bag, whether party insiders want to or not. Eileen Donaghue -- who is officially announcing her candidacy today -- has already raised a bunch of money, and I'm told by her campaign that she's got plenty of sources for more, and also that she's got some solid endorsements coming. Barry Feingold doesn't look like he's having trouble raising money, and I think the others, particularly Eldridge, are going to find pockets of support. Tsongas might win in the end, but I think she'll have to work to earn it. At least, I hope so.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
I recently got hold of a list of co-chairs for a Mitt Romney
fundraiser in DC back on February 27, that’s chock-full of top-level lobbyists.
Several are with Dutko, the firm of Massachusetts’s
RNC committeeman and Romney supporter Ron Kaufman. Several are current or
former lobbyists for big Pharma or big tobacco. Several have direct connections
to indicted former speaker Tom DeLay and/or convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
There are also at least two connections to the Bill Clinton
impeachment: Alice M. Starr, wife of special prosecutor Kenneth Starr, and Drew
Maloney, who helped manage the impeachment hearings for Congress, and helped
conduct the Monica Lewinsky interview.
However, what really fascinated me was the presence of quite
a few of the top lobbyists for the energy industry -- including Maloney, who
has lobbied for the American Petroleum Institute, Texas Energy
Center, and Gas
Technology Institute. Other include Kent Burton lobbyist for many of the
biggest gas and petroleum companies; Jack Gerard, former president of the
National Mining Association, a major coal-industry lobby; Rick Shelby, lobbyist
for the American Gas Association; and Vin Weber, lobbyist for Edison Electric
and General Electric.
The reason I was so struck is because of another name on
that same list of Romney fundraisers: Andrew Lundquist. Lundquist was executive
director of the National Energy Policy Development Group -- you know, the
advisors who developed the administration’s national energy policy, and whose
members Cheney has steadfastly refused to make public. Lundquist went on to be
Cheney’s energy policy director, implementing the group’s recommendations. Then
he left the administration to become -- you’ll never guess -- a top lobbyist
for energy companies, including British Petroleum and Mettiki Coal.
Was the Romney fundraiser a partial reunion of Lundquist’s
secret Cheney energy policy group? And have they found a new friend in Mitt
Romney?
Friday, April 06, 2007
The State House News Service says that its new poll shows "Patrick Damaged but Not Badly." Blogger Granby01033 says it shows "People Haven't Given Up On Patrick." At Blue Mass Group, David thinks it's "Pretty Good News For Patrick." Me, I think it says "State Mightily Disappointed In Patrick." 40% say Patrick has done less than they expected so far (compared with 2% saying 'more than'); 45% rate his performance below average or poor (30% above average/excellent); 49% think the state is on the wrong track (39% right track). And that's without, I don't know, raising taxes or losing a budget battle or slicing off a baby's head or anything. The supposed 'good news' in the poll is that most state residents have not completely given up on the Governor after the first 1/16 of his first term. My guess is that all this bad news can be reversed pretty quickly if Patrick scores some successes -- I think the mood is disappointment rather than something deeper. But until he does turn it around, he's going to have a harder time winning those victories. He can't tell legislators that he's more popular in their district than they are anymore.
Regarding my article in this week's issue, Felix Arroyo's office informs me that the councilor's trip to Venezuela was less than six weeks, and did not extend into January; also, that he is not living with his fiance. It also turns out that I was overly optimistic when I wrote that Arroyo's campaign fund is "barely in the black." His end-of-March finances, reported today, shows a negative cash-on-hand of -$70.06.
Thursday, April 05, 2007
During Rudy Giuliani's first campaign trip to Iowa, a member of his staff made the mistake yesterday of stating the obvious: that the legendary Ames Republican Presidential straw poll, to be held this year on August 11, is a circus. To which Romney commented, later in the day, "If there is a circus, we are going to be the ring leader," according to news reports.
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
A week ago, George W. withdrew the nomination of Republican funder extraordinaire Sam Fox as ambassador to Belgium, when it became clear that Senate Democrats were going to use his Swift Boat funding past to reject him. I posted at the time that this could allow Fox to start fundraising for Mitt Romney. Alas for Romney, it is not to be. With the Senate on spring break, Bush today used his "recess appointment" power to give Fox the post without Senate review, "temporarily" -- meaning until the end of the next congressional session, which happens to coincide with the end of W.'s Presidency. Bush also recess-appointed Andrew Biggs, a vocal proponent of Social Security privatization at the Cato Institute, to be Deputy Commissioner of the Social Security Administration; and Susan Dudley, an anti-regulation advocate at the Mercatur Center, to be Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the Office
of Management and Budget.
A couple of weeks ago I posted the Club for Growth ratings of the
Massachusetts congressional delegation. Well, now the American
Conservative Union's ratings are out. ACU uses a wider range of votes,
including building a border fence, stem-cell research, gay marriage,
and of course taxes and business regulation. Capuano had the highest (most conservative) rating from Club for Growth, which cares only about tax and business regulation. Not surprisingly, with the social issues added, ACU has Lynch on top. As with Club for Growth, the scale is 0 to 100, where 100 earns an ACU "Best and Brightest" rating, and 0 is, well, Ted Kennedy. Lynch 20 Delahunt 12 Frank 12 Kerry 12 Capuano 8 Tierney 8 Markey 4 McGovern 4 Neal 4 Olver 4 Kennedy 0 Meehan 0
New Hampshire Senator John Sununu and Maine Senator Susan Collins -- both Republicans, both up for re-election in 2008 -- are under attack from a liberal organization, which has launched TV ads criticizing their positions on the Iraq War. You can see the ads at the Americans United for Change (AUC) web site. This is just the beginning of an onslaught against both Senators, coming from both the left and the right, we can expect to see from now through November '08.
In tomorrow's issue of the Phoenix, I tell three stories related to the recent focus on the Presidential candidates' fundraising. First, I look at the connections of Romney's fundraisers to various shady scandals -- expanding on a topic I've blogged on here. Then I explain why Hillary Clinton's numbers expose her vulnerability, despite what her campaign claims. Finally, I report that campaign staffers in New Hampshire claim that money won't change the way New Hampshire is won -- but deep down, they don't know if that's true. It's online now: The rats in Romney's corner. Update: Also now online: Could Felix Arroyo be in trouble in this year's at-large City Council race?
All the talk on Beacon Hill has been about the budget, but today some other matters get their day, as three committees hold hearings on new bills. First up is Public Health, at 10:00. Initial steps on regionalization of public health services will be discussed, among other things. At 10:30 Children and Families looks at a slate of proposals, mostly concerning the beleaguered Department of Social Services. And at 1:30, Financial Services hears testimony on insurance-regulation bills, mostly concerning the always-contentious realm of automobile coverage. The list of bills is here, although to read the texts you'll have to enter the bill numbers at the Senate or House search engines. Tomorrow's hearings include Public Service on state employee retiree benefits, and Veterans and Federal Affairs on the Department of Veterans Services.
Monday, April 02, 2007
Mayor Menino is somewhat correct in his reaction to the past few days' media focus on the city's violence. This news cycle seems to kick in about every five months or so, lasts a week or so, and bears little correlation to what's actually happening on the streets. Menino is also correct that nobody pays much attention to the city's black neighborhoods except to bemoan the violence, which we claim is intolerable but then forget about. What's truly remarkable is the overwhelming number of people, especially young men, in those neighborhoods who are basically well-behaved and law-abiding: overall crime continues to drop, even though the number of "at-risk" residents of those tightly-packed neighborhoods has ballooned in the past five years. And there are some promising early signs of scattered law-enforcement success. But Menino is off his rocker to claim, as he always does, that the city's streets are under control. The truth is, that small percentage of thugs are winning -- it's not even a close contest. And those few thousand thugs are a major quality-of-life issue for the 200,000 or so who live in the 13 square miles of Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan. Those thugs are bolder and meaner than ever, and all the shooting they've been doing over the last three years has made them better at it: the fatality rate for shooting victims has leapt from around 14% to 20% this year. So, while shootings are down, homicides are up, especially among teens and young adults. I give you -- and Mayor Menino -- these stats I've thrown together to show you what's going on. Homicide victims by firearm, age 25 and under, Boston. Year -3/31 Total 2007 13 2006 6 38 2005 6 30 2004 4 32 2003 4 14 2002 6 20 2001 1 25 2000 4 14 1999 0 11 1998 3 16
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Following in a long, unsuccessful line that includes Bill Weld, Pete Wilson, and Christie Todd Whitman, Rhode Island's own ex-Senator Lincoln Chafee is trying to reclaim conservatism for the Republican Party's moderates. Good luck.
Linc is launching a new Web site from which to launch this effort, at a url he bought (for an unspecified but quite generous sum, according to a note left by the seller on the site) from an ultra-conservative blogger -- who Chafee sweetly refers to as a "huckster," one of the many like Rush Limbaugh who have "filled your heads with lies about conservatism."
Chafee, you might recall, nearly lost his primary last year because he is too moderate for the GOP, and then lost the general because the GOP is too conservative for Little Rhody.
This weekend, the site suddenly switched over, with the following welcome from the former Senator:
Hello everybody! It's me, former Senator Lincoln Chafee here. After I lost my re-election, I realized that it was because a lot of you people don't really understand what conservatism is all about -- and it's not your fault that you don't get it.
Chafee goes on to say that the site will define and promote true Compassionate Conservatism, with blogging by five of his staffers, and guest commentary from folks like David Brooks, Christopher Shays, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Andrew Sullivan, and Chuck Hagel. Whether anyone will be reading remains to be seen.
Update:Yes, it's an April Fool's joke. And sadly, if you missed it Sunday, it's gone.
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