Should a murderer in prison for life be entitled to an elective surgical procedure at taxpayers' expense? Fifty state legislators have asked the state Department of Corrections to appeal Judge Mark Wolf's decision that the Commonwealth should have to pay for incarcerated murderer Michelle (formerly Robert) Kosilek's sex change operation. $50,000 or more for a procedure that no …
Continue reading Tax dollars for murderer’s sex change operation!
They say a candidate campaigns with poetry but, if elected, governs with prose. Last night's speech by Barack Obama, despite some soaring moments, reflected the gravitas he has developed in nearly four years in office. The idea that our path "may be harder, but it leads to a better place" is a sober reminder that, …
Continue reading Will Obama’s different world view win him another term?
When Elizabeth Warren walked out on the convention stage last night, smiling and waving, ebullient, she seemed to radiate personality and warmth. That sparkle dissipated when she got into her stump speech, slightly expanded for the occasion. Except for some references to small business owners in Malden, Franklin and Worcester, it was nevertheless a perfect …
Governor Deval Patrick has always been a great campaigner. (Remember how he dramatically he came to life to run successfully for a second term against popular and accomplished Republican candidate Charlie Baker?) Last night's speech to the Democratic National Convention showed Patrick in his very best campaign mode. His role was to remind Americans that …
Mitt Romney's vision of America is right out of Norman Rockwell and the 1950's. It's out of step with the complexity of today's world. His best line last night was, "You know there's something wrong with the kind of job he's done as president when the best feeling you had was the day you voted for …
Mitt Romney quoted Popeye Sunday on Fox News, saying, "I am what I am, and that's all what I am." (As hinted at by Scott Lehigh in today's Globe, we don't know if that's Mitt 1.0, 2.0 or 5.0.) Ann Romney's job at the convention was to make of him something more than what the public now …
Continue reading Ann Romney pitch to women: polished and poll-driven
A gaffe has been defined as when a politician accidentally tells the truth. Not that the content of Rep. Todd Akin's statement about rape is the truth, but that what he said is what he really thinks. It's obvious. And he's not about to get out of the all-important race against Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri just …
News Corp chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg came to Boston Tuesday to hail immigrants' contributions to our economic vitality. Touting the findings of a report by the Partnership for a New American Economy, the two cited the shortage of skilled workers in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields, …
Continue reading Murdoch, Bloomberg call for GOP to have courage on immigration
Last week I was surveyed by the Gallup organization, confirming two things: first, that the venerable public opinion survey actually talks to real people, and second, that the results of questions they ask can't possibly be a reliable reflection of, er, public opinion. One problem is that the questions are designed to force choices, elicit simple …
Continue reading Public opinion polls: take with grain of salt
Hang onto your Medicare. It - and our whole relationship to government - could change radically under a Romney/Ryan administration. We could be in for an interesting ride. Strategically, Mitt Romney scored high in selecting Paul Ryan for his running mate. As Romney's position was eroding in national polls, and the number of so-called undecideds …
Marjorie Arons-Barron 