Martha Coakley

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Coakley's true grit

Three recent developments suggest that the worm is turning and that the criminal behavior of the nation's huge money-center banks might finally suffer something approaching real justice.
In a move that sparked national applause, the Attorney General goes after five financial giants for subprime fraud
By EDITORIAL | December 09, 2011

A libertarian's view of the Barstool/Brady child-porn fiasco

Sophisticated First Amendment scholars, lawyers, and media commentators, all of whom are strongly free-speech/free-press supporters, were critical of Coakley for allegedly engaging in a legal bluff — the veiled threat of possible prosecution under the st
Freedom Watch
By HARVEY SILVERGLATE | August 26, 2011

Republicans continue to wage war on women

The Republican Party's unrelenting war on women is now being waged with such frenzied fury that sane people might well wonder if there is a GOP-wide obsession with punishing an entire gender.
Plus, Beacon Hill follies, youth violence
By EDITORIAL | May 13, 2011

Romney rides again

Mitt Romney has been running for president more or less nonstop for the past seven years — and still hasn't figured out how to do it.
To win the GOP nomination, Mitt will need to do things differently this time. Here's how.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | April 15, 2011

Legal questions remain after Obama disses DOMA

Gay-marriage advocates got good news last month, when the Obama administration admitted that it was incapable of defending the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the federal law that defines marriage as between one man and one woman.
Dismantling discrimation
By DEIRDRE FULTON | March 04, 2011

My Year In Tweets

It turns out, you can be pretty snarky in 140 characters. I've been on Twitter for a couple of years now (follow me at twitter.com/dbernstein),...
By David S. Bernstein | December 28, 2010

Boston Phoenix 2010 Endorsements: Steve Grossman, Martha Coakley, and Barney Frank

Far too often, politics is the act of trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. This election, voters have the unique chance of choosing a candidate who is a perfect fit for the office he seeks. That is why we endorse Democrat STEVE GROSSMAN for tre
Plus, more endorsements and the ballot questions
By EDITORIAL | October 29, 2010

Notes & Thoughts, Mass. Politics

Some things on my mind with a mere 10 days to the election.... --Bill Keating's campaign, and supporters, need to be careful not to overplay...
By David S. Bernstein | October 23, 2010

Q&A #4 -- Galvin And More Galvin

Two questions about Bill Galvin in a single Ask Me Anything Day! "Kevin L." asks: Do you think Galvin will ever sit down and discuss the...
By David S. Bernstein | October 15, 2010

Innocence lost, but not forgotten

In film, the demands of art and of history are often in conflict. The aptly-titled Conviction , opening this Friday in theaters, is the rare feature film that satisfies both demands.
Freedom watch
By HARVEY SILVERGLATE AND KYLE SMEALLIE | October 15, 2010

Can't We Fight About The Policy?

As you know, I love everybody. And I usually don't like to complain about anything that causes a good political scuffle. But for cripes sakes,...
By David S. Bernstein | July 20, 2010

Leo Tolstoy: Howie Carr's Ghostwriter?

Amanda Palmer = Stephen King?Behold the Internet's latest triumph of cultural appropriation: I Write Like. The website, founded by a 27-year-old Russian software programmer named...
By Steve Miller | July 20, 2010

Scott Brown, Scofflaw Scalper?

Senator Scott Brown, who I recently criticized for using July 4, patriotism, and the Red Sox for fundraising purposes, has launched another baseball-related fundraising effort -- and...
By David S. Bernstein | June 25, 2010

Same Old Faces

If you're wondering who the geniuses are behind the political campaigns in Massachusetts this year — the strategists, media firms, ad teams, and fundraisers — well, it's a lot of the same folks who have been behind Massachusetts campaigns for a long time
It's an outsider's year for candidates, but the consultants are old Beacon Hill mainstays. Plus, who spent what at the conventions, and Baker goes on TV first.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | June 25, 2010

Weenie Roast!

A year ago, with scandals and embarrassments swirling around Massachusetts state politics, the Phoenix tossed some well-deserving pols on the flames in our first annual Memorial Day political roast. I'm pleased that I've been invited back.
The Phoenix 's second annual Memorial Day political roast
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | June 04, 2010

Fighting back

Thanks to a federal law that codifies discrimination against same-sex couples, more than 15,000 legally married couples (and an untold number of children) are being denied basic benefits, such as the right to file their taxes jointly, or Social Security
Two cases in federal court here in Massachusetts could help turn the national tide against DOMA
By DEIRDRE FULTON | June 04, 2010

Tea Party Progressives?

When Democrat Peter Smulowitz celebrated his victory in the special-election primary for State Senate earlier this month in the back room of Masala Art restaurant in Needham, no bigwigs from his party were in attendance.
Outsiders are trying to crash the gates of the state’s Democratic establishment — and are starting to succeed
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | April 30, 2010

GOP’s state convention delivers the bland brand

Massachusetts Republican candidates for office this November might be well-advised to legally change their names and appear on the ballot as “Someone Else,” “Another Option,” or “Available Alternative.”
Dull and Duller Dept.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | April 23, 2010

Lynch’s left flank

US Representative Stephen Lynch has held Massachusetts’s ninth congressional district since 2001 — a fact that has irritated the state’s liberals ever since.
The Southie Congressman may have pushed progressives too far this time.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | April 02, 2010

Taxi turmoil

Taxis are an under-appreciated and often little-considered component in urban mass-transit systems. They fill the gaps left by the MBTA and offer a sort of curb-to-curb, citywide Zipcar service.
Plus, controlling local health costs
By EDITORIAL | March 19, 2010

The Curse of the Big Dig

Call it the Curse of the Big Dig: virtually every politician with statewide significance who has over the years become intertwined with the Central Artery Project (as it is officially known) has seen his or her dreams of higher office dashed.
Tthe mere mention of the Central Artery Project can derail one's hopes for higher office. Charlie Baker is finding that out now.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | March 19, 2010

Q&A #8: Katherine Clark

"Boston Bertie" asks: Have you been following the race for Tisei's open seat in the state senate. Will Katherine Clark's association with Coakley hurt her?...
By David S. Bernstein | February 19, 2010

Right Click

Back in February 2007, a few months after a political neophyte named Deval Patrick cruised to victory in the Massachusetts governor's race with help from a political blog named Blue Mass Group (BMG) — which whipped up pro-Patrick sentiment while aggressi
While conservatives have ruled radio, liberals have dominated the net. But as the rise of Red Mass Group demonstrates, the left's Web supremacy is hardly a sure thing.
By ADAM REILLY | February 19, 2010

Political pig pile

For some time now, we at Casa Diablo have been aware of what is either a heinous conspiracy involving the timing of local news revelations or just another unfair law of nature.
Kennedy sets off a free-for-all; bad news for Loughlin and Dennigan
By PHILLIPE AND JORGE | February 19, 2010

Improv Asylum presents Scott Brown: The Musical

Should US Senator Scott Brown ever find any downtime between crucial votes on the future of this nation and hand-modeling gigs, he may want to flex his melodrama muscles.
Tax Relief? Good Grief!
By MADDY MYERS | February 12, 2010

The next Scott Brown?

Republican Scott Brown's victory last month in the race for the late Ted Kennedy's Senate seat has every two-bit GOP hopeful in the Northeast claiming the mantle of the pick-up truck populist.
John J. Loughlin’s suddenly high-profile campaign to oust Patrick Kennedy
By DAVID SCHARFENBERG | February 12, 2010

Clearing the air

Adam Reilly’s analysis of right-wing talk radio’s support of Scott Brown was nearly perfect.
Letters to the Boston editor, February 12, 2010
By BOSTON PHOENIX LETTERS | February 12, 2010

Poor reception

The right loves to rant against the "liberal-media elite," but there's one key media sector where the conservative id reigns supreme: talk radio.
Talk radio helped energize Scott Brown's Senate campaign. Will it doom the Democrats in 2010?
By ADAM REILLY | February 05, 2010

Wink!

The GOP pulled a Coup D'e Tea Bag on the Massachusetts Senate Seat.
Idiot Box
By MATT BORS | February 05, 2010

New in the Phoenix: After Brown, the Democrats' talk-radio challenge

In which I ask whether liberals can possibly avoid hundreds of Coakley-esque talk-radio drubbings this fall. Please take a look.
By Adam Reilly | February 04, 2010

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