Politics

Latest Articles

The breakout star of our pets-and-politicians blog

One zebra, two bear cubs, a trout, four horses, several cows, a falcon, many dogs, no cats: that was the inventory, around press time, of Phoenix staff writer David S. Bernstein's latest Internet sensation, MAPOLIWITHANIMALS.TUMBLR.COM — yes, a Tumblr d
What’s up, dog?
By PHOENIX STAFF | May 18, 2012

Who passed voter ID?

Two months ago Hans von Spakovsky of the conservative Heritage Foundation, de facto apologist for a new wave of conservative-inspired voter ID laws, appeared on PBS NewsHour to defend the cause.

By DAVID SCHARFENBERG | May 18, 2012

Never mind the bollocks

In the wake of its chaotic state convention, the Maine Republican Party has cleverly positioned itself to appeal to a whole new segment of the public: Anarchists.
Politics + Other Mistakes
By AL DIAMON | May 18, 2012

Brown bags it

Republican Senator Scott Brown's vote to allow the interest on college loans to double illustrates perfectly why Brown is a clever politician, but a rotten senator.
How the Senator screwed college students. Plus, Obama and gay marriage.
By EDITORIAL | May 11, 2012

Mitt & the GOP Boys’ Club

Last week, Barack Obama's re-election campaign launched a Web slide show, "The Life of Julia," depicting a woman helped throughout her years by Obama policies, and warning that — if elected — Mitt Romney would undo all of them.
Romney needs to reach out to women voters, but his party has few who can help him do it
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | May 11, 2012

The future -- for some

I think Amanda Palmer missed the reason she has such a broad, wide, and fervent fan base is because she was on Roadrunner in the first place.
Letters to the Boston Phoenix editors, May 11, 2012
By BOSTON PHOENIX LETTERS | May 11, 2012

Could the Bay State’s Ron Paul-loving delegates ruin Romney’s coronation?

Saturday was an embarrassment of epic proportions for Mitt Romney and the Massachusetts Republican Party — an organization that, as I've chronicled in recent months, is essentially an extension of the Romney machine.
Mitt’s Massachusetts Massacre
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | May 04, 2012

On politics, the media, and Providence’s ‘hidden gem’

It was quite the week in local news and here at Chez Phoenix .
Week In Review
By DAVID SCHARFENBERG | May 04, 2012

The price you pay

Debt is a fundamental part of American life. Car payments. Mortgages. Partially unpaid bills from irate Colombian hookers.
Politics + Other Mistakes
By AL DIAMON | May 04, 2012

Prescription Pothole

It seems strange to say that politicians lack the courage to pass a bill that's favored by the vast majority of their constituents. But that's where Massachusetts stands on its long, strange trip to legalize distribution of medically prescribed marijuana
For the sick in need of medical marijuana, it looks like the people will have to provide the relief that their representatives won’t
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | April 27, 2012

Edwards and Cahill

Former US senator and Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards is on trial for violating campaign finance laws. If convicted, Edwards could spend the next 30 years in a federal prison.
Plus, arts funding on Beacon Hill
By EDITORIAL | April 27, 2012

We voted!; the old ball game; hear them roar

Like all good Vo Dilunduhs, Phillipe and Jorge used our unaffiliated voter status to become "Republicans for a day," cast our ballots in the GOP primary, and then switch back to being independents immediately afterward.
Poll dances
By PHILLIPE AND JORGE | April 27, 2012

Matt Jerzyk goes to City Hall

Not long after helping David Cicilline win election as mayor of Providence nearly a decade ago, Matt Jerzyk, then a ponytailed activist and budding political operative, made a decision that has come to define his place in the rough-and-tumble world of l
From activist to insider
By DANIEL MCGOWAN | April 20, 2012

Romney has capitulated utterly to the gun fetishists — as the body count keeps rising

Mitt Romney, in what his own staff called the first major speech of the general election, received a standing ovation last week at the National Rifle Association (NRA) annual convention in St. Louis.
Ready, aim
By EDITORIAL | April 20, 2012

Mitt bulks up

If there's one thing the Mitt Romney team excels at, it's manipulating campaign-finance rules.
Up to Old Tricks Dept.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | April 20, 2012

From the Office of Political Metaphor

Overheard in the figurative trenches.
Hoopleville
By DAVID KISH | April 20, 2012

Five years into Therese Murray’s tenure as president, the State Senate seems to have run out of steam

Therese Murray's fifth anniversary as State Senate president passed by with little fanfare last month.
Sleepy Senate
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | April 06, 2012

Power sticks

In my opinion, the Reverend Wesley J. Mills needs to take his own advice (see " Know Before You Spout ," letter to the editor, March 16).
Letters to the Portland Phoenix editors, April 6, 2012
By PORTLAND PHOENIX LETTERS | April 06, 2012

Romney can live with the ‘Etch A Sketch’ gaffe, but not without the guy who said it

In late November, Mitt Romney sat for a rare interview, with Bret Baier of Fox News.
Fehrnstrom ex machina
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | March 30, 2012

The Massachusetts Republican Party is undergoing massive disruption — or finding the right balance, depending on your view

The stereotype of Massachusetts Republican State Committee members, at the local or state level, is of genteel, moneyed Brahmins discreetly delivering their contribution checks during a pleasant social gathering over wine and brandy.
Chaos theory
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | March 23, 2012

Can Anthony Gemma’s feel-good wonkery and pent-up rage beat David Cicilline this time?

There is a strange duality to businessman Anthony Gemma's all-but-official Congressional campaign.
Jekyll and Hyde
By DAVID SCHARFENBERG | March 23, 2012

Bruce almighty

I'm writing this before it's officially decided whether State Treasurer Bruce Poliquin qualified as a US Senate candidate for the Republican primary in June.
Will Bruce Poliquin make the ballot?
By AL DIAMON | March 23, 2012

Man-Style Guide

How distinguished is your wang, anyway?
Big Fat Whale
By BRIAN MCFADDEN | March 23, 2012

Mitt Romney's Southern Pander-ama

He's rich, y'all!
Big Fat Whale
By BRIAN MCFADDEN | March 16, 2012

Democrats are gleeful over Mitt Romney’s bruising primary path, but Romney is still the fight Barack Obama doesn’t want

Back in mid January, when the presidential primary season began and interest in the Republican candidates spread beyond the tight community of political junkies, Mitt Romney's previously untarnished reputation with the general public took a nasty turn.
Bland ambition
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | March 16, 2012

Education for the future

One of the few developments worth applauding on the sorry American political scene is the renewed focus on education.
Plus, Mitt Romney and his racist, misogynist, know-nothing party
By EDITORIAL | March 16, 2012

Know before you spout

Recent discussions of church and state have revealed how little candidates and pundits know about US history.
Letters to the Portland Phoenix editors, March 16, 2012
By PORTLAND PHOENIX LETTERS | March 16, 2012

The Big Hurt: Kid and Mitt, Ja Rule’s Leap Day, Limp Bizkit and Cash Money, Bieberwatch, and more

At the July 2011 launch party for Kid Rock's Born Free album, the New York Post was already asking the tough questions: who would Kid Rock endorse for president?
Music news in brief
By DAVID THORPE | March 09, 2012

Great Scott

After months without new polling on the high-profile Massachusetts Senate race, four firms took the pulse of the race in February — all finding incumbent Republican Scott Brown ahead of presumed Democratic nominee Elizabeth Warren.
New polls show Scott Brown winning re-election to the Senate. That’s no accident; he’s been out earning it.
By DAVID BERNSTEIN | March 09, 2012

#BoycottRush: How Limbaugh's Sandra Fluke attack set a new standard for public depravity

Radio loudmouth and former prescription-drug addict Rush Limbaugh has been married four times and has no children.
Plus, the Republicans and their discontents
By EDITORIAL | March 09, 2012

See more deals

view all