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Brown's Mark Blyth on austerity, virtue, and why the Democrats are like your mom

On the heels of this fall's Tea Party tempest, austerity is all the rage in Washington. Witness President Obama's call for a five-year freeze in domestic spending in his the State of the Union speech this week and the GOP's push, in response, for a far
Cutting back
By DAVID SCHARFENBERG | January 28, 2011

The circus came to town

In the days leading up to November 2, voters here and across the country heard a lot about the Tea Party — what various wins and losses would mean for the staying power of this relatively new political phenomenon, which candidates represented real Tea
Tea Party
By DEIRDRE FULTON | November 05, 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

Two sides to Guy

I’m a delegate at the state Democratic convention and I didn’t vote for Guy Glodis for auditor.
Boston Phoenix letters, June 25, 2010
By BOSTON PHOENIX LETTERS | June 25, 2010

Setting the stage for November

It's been more than a week since the June 8 primary election, which saw Republican PAUL LEPAGE (Waterville mayor and Marden's exec) beat a large field of better-financed competitors, and LIBBY MITCHELL (state senate president) pull out ahead of the D
Post-primary musings
By DEIRDRE FULTON | June 18, 2010

Plan B(1)

With the end of the long primary campaign, Mainers are facing an ugly reality.
Post-primary predictions
By AL DIAMON | June 11, 2010

Mickey Mouse Multiculturalism

Massachusetts treasurer and independent candidate for governor Tim Cahill was off base when he accused incumbent governor Deval Patrick of "playing politics with terrorism" in the wake of Patrick's visit to the controversial Roxbury mosque maintained by
Governor Patrick's problematic Mosque visit. Plus, Bush — and the GOP — vote yes for torture
By EDITORIAL | June 11, 2010

Secret desires

Everywhere I go, people keep asking me, “Who’s going to win the election?” Often, my answer depends on my mood (which ranges from bad to horrendous).
Who's going to win the election?
By AL DIAMON | June 04, 2010

Heck of a Guy

Scott Brown’s stunning victory in January’s special US Senate election continues to reverberate through Massachusetts politics.
Despite a history of illiberal views and a boorish reputation, Guy Glodis enters the Democratic state convention unscathed
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | May 28, 2010

Foolish dreams

There’s nothing in the Maine Democratic Party’s platform about free beer.
Maine Democratic Party offers a lot of freebies, beer is not one of them
By AL DIAMON | May 28, 2010

Can the Netroots triumph in Rhode island?

Stories of State Representative David Segal’s nascent, underdog run for Congress invariably make a nod to the Progressive Change Campaign Committee. And rightly so.
On the Hustings
By DAVID SCHARFENBERG | May 21, 2010

Wrote a song for everyone

Political experts know the most important factor in a successful race for governor is the campaign song.
Name that tune
By AL DIAMON | May 07, 2010

Library woes

In an attempt to save four Boston Public Library branches that are slated to close due to budget shortfalls, some state legislators from Boston have threatened to block all state funding the library receives if it shutters any of its 26 branches.
Plus, Arizona declares war on immigrants
By EDITORIAL | April 30, 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

Brown-nosing and flip-flopping

Two months ago, when Senator Scott Brown crossed party lines to help pass a jobs bill, the Phoenix noted the political convenience of that supposed show of independence — since other Republican senators were also voting with Democrats, Brown’s vote was
Scott Brown heeds his boss’s orders; Charlie Baker sides with homophobic party base
By EDITORIAL | April 23, 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

Fed up and low down

Just kidding. Of course they’ll lose.
For once, the beleaguered taxpayers of Maine can’t lose
By AL DIAMON | April 23, 2010

The first Latino mayor?

Until recently, to talk about Angel Taveras was to talk about the future.
Angel Taveras’s moment suddenly arrives
By DAVID SCHARFENBERG | April 16, 2010

Gonna change directions

That’s not intended as a negative reflection on the Son of God, who can’t be held responsible for the deficiencies in Beardsley’s early campaign style.
Jesus didn’t help Bill Beardsley.
By AL DIAMON | April 16, 2010

Joe Paolino weighs a different kind of mayoral run

It had been rumored for some time.
The Independent
By DAVID SCHARFENBERG | April 16, 2010

'Tea' is for terrorism

A year ago, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) produced a memo outlining the growing threat posed to this country from right-wing extremists. It compared the situation to that of the early 1990s — which culminated in the 1995 bombing of the Alfred
When even the most ‘legitimate’ voices of the right validate dangerously unhinged anti-government rhetoric — DUCK!
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | April 09, 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

What the health-care bill really means

On Tuesday, President Barack Obama signed the new health-care bill into law.
Reforming the System
By DEIRDRE FULTON | March 26, 2010

Boston Turkish Film Festival 2010

In a scene in Çagan Irmak's IN DARKNESS (2009; April 3 at 3 pm), one of several provocative films in this year's Boston Turkish Film Festival at the Museum of Fine Arts, a woman explains to a TV interviewer that her political party is neither for Shari'
Divine madness rules the ninth annual Turkish Film Festival
By PETER KEOUGH | 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

Down ballot drama

The race for governor and the scramble to replace retiring Representative Patrick J. Kennedy have obsessed Rhode Island's chattering class. But all the talk has obscured an intriguing set of "down ballot" races for lieutenant governor, attorney general,
Important races to watch in '10
By DAVID SCHARFENBERG | March 12, 2010

Filibustered Fluffernutters?

The GOP's wrath, extra-crunchy
Idiot Box
By MATT BORS | March 05, 2010

Workin' man blues

Election years are always times of high anxiety for politicians. That may explain why they say and do so many stupid things.
Blue-collar luxury resorts, and other GOP oxymorons
By AL DIAMON | March 05, 2010

Brown, baby, Brown

Senator Scott Brown is getting a lot of praise from the left and abuse from the right for crossing party lines to help pass a jobs bill earlier this week.
The Senator masters the art of playing it safe. Plus, Deval vs. the Legislature.
By EDITORIAL | February 26, 2010

The crying game

If you are wondering why Democrats in Washington can't get anything done, even though they control both houses of Congress, take a look at the glacial pace we often see closer to home on Beacon Hill.
House Speaker Robert DeLeo tolerates dissent. Then why do some call him a bully?
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | February 26, 2010

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