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david s. bernstein

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Deval's Green Blues

Long supported by the state's environmental organizations, Governor Patrick has started a war with them over biomass
The document in question contains the final regulations for the state's biomass subsidies, and according to environmentalists, the Patrick administration is planning to reverse its pre-election position — and fly in the face of good science — for the benefit of a handful of developers who stand to make money off of burning trees for energy.

By: DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | August 31, 2011

Boston's last congressman?

Musical chairs dept.
At the moment, neither the Senate president nor the Speaker of the House lives in the city. And in two years, the unthinkable could become reality: Boston might not have a single congressman residing in its borders.

By: DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | August 31, 2011

Mitt's best week ever

Romney's presidential quest is looking better than ever - no thanks to his own campaign
The quadrennial farce known as the Ames Straw Poll has once again made its mark on the race for the Republican presidential nomination — by rewarding the candidate smart enough to avoid it.

By: DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | August 17, 2011

Ayanna Pressley is a rising political superstar — whose career might be over by year's end

Elvis is Queen
Even as she faces the very real possibility of defeat this November, Pressley is receiving support and gushing praise from most of Boston's political figures.

By: DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | August 12, 2011

Whatever happened to Danville's giant mystery monkey?

Unfinished (monkey) business
The giant monkey of Danville was my symbol, back then, of the fin-de-siècle nadir in media fluffery, thankfully obsolesced in one grim morning.

By: DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | August 04, 2011

Warren for Senate?

Washington bigwigs love the idea, but Massachusetts insiders aren’t convinced — at least not yet
As soon as President Barack Obama began waffling about naming Elizabeth Warren director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the Democratic rumor mill began churning about Warren as a potential 2012 challenger to Republican US Senator Scott Brown.

By: DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | July 29, 2011

Showtime for New Boston

With the Urban League conference coming next week, Boston's movers and shakers are scrambling to project a progressive racial image
After years of trying to convince groups with large minority membership that the Hub is now a welcoming, friendly destination for African-Americans, this is the first big organization to test the theory.

By: DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | July 27, 2011

Big conservative funders are making a new push at universities

Right turn on campus
Funders are working through official university channels to underwrite lecture series, conferences and colloquia, and centers geared for the general-interest student, all carrying university imprimatur.

By: DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | July 18, 2011

Review: Page One

Get me rewrite
Watching Carr work those stories reveals little about the media revolution, and nothing about its effects on the Times.

By: DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | June 29, 2011

massachusetts scandal with house of representatives

In the wake of the latest corruption scandal, let's just torch the offending chamber

Burning Down the House
Burning Down the House

By: DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | June 22, 2011

Deval Patrick is on a second-term winning streak, and casinos might be the next payoff

Gaming the system
Last summer, when Deval Patrick's veto killed a gaming bill in the final days of the legislative session, many thought he had badly damaged himself politically. He was, after all, the one who had pushed for casinos in Massachusetts almost from the day he entered office.

By: DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | June 20, 2011

What happens if they hold a city election and nobody notices?

Quiet fight
The past few years, Boston has been almost continuously wrapped up in big, attention-getting elections.

By: DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | June 09, 2011

Sarah Palin joins the GOP presidential race

Palin's magic bus ride just might save Romney -- and run over Obama

Sarah to the rescue?
Democrats are positively giddy over the sudden re-entry of Sarah Palin into Republican presidential politics.

By: DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | June 01, 2011

Anyone but Mitt

Romney vs. the GOP
Political leaders don't always rally around the front-runner for their party's presidential nomination, but they normally at least offer deference and respect. That doesn't, however, seem to be the case with Mitt Romney.

By: DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | May 25, 2011

The Third Annual Phoenix Memorial Day look at the laughable state of Massachusetts politics

Ready, Aim — Roast
Hey, thanks for having me back for the Third Annual Boston Phoenix Memorial Day Political Roast! Good to see so many of you here — the last time I saw this many Beacon Hill insiders in one place was on the prospective witness list for the Sal DiMasi trial!

By: DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | May 31, 2011

God Hates FAQs

Everything you always wanted to know about the Rapture, but were afraid to ask
Editors' note: We selected David S. Bernstein to serve as our resident Rapture expert, on account of his having seen all three Kirk Cameron Left Behind series film adaptations.

By: DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | May 19, 2011

Bliss of Rapture

Farewell, Christians — don't let the gates of paradise hit you on the ass on your way out
Okay, I'm not happy , exactly, that, as a Jew, I am excluded from Saturday's date with Heaven's eternal rewards, and will instead be left to suffer through great tribulations before perishing, with the rest of the Army of the Antichrist, as a dismembered corpse beneath a waste-deep river of blood.