Long-term Congressman Ed Markey's announcement that he'll run in a special election to fill Senator John Kerry's Senate seat (once Kerry is confirmed for Secretary of State) starts the new campaign season (did the old one ever stop?) with a splash. The dean of the Massachusetts delegation is highly accomplished, and he is said to …
NRA achieves its purpose
The NRA's Friday press conference revealed the powerful organization to be utterly tone deaf when it comes to how to reduce violence and protect children. Do we need any more evidence of that than NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre's comment that "The only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is with a good …
Fiscal cliff debate looking more like Thelma and Louise
When it comes to the fiscal cliff, President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner are looking more and more like Thelma and Louise. And John Boehner seems incapable of stopping the plunge. President Obama has shown he is capable of compromise. Buoyed by his election results, he had said that an increase in the tax …
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Scott Brown v. Bill Weld not even close
A WBUR poll this morning about who might run to fill John Kerry's Senate seat if/when Kerry becomes Secretary of State showed an overwhelming preference for Scott Brown over former Governor Bill Weld for the GOP nomination. A valedictory op ed by Senator Scott Brown in a recent Boston Globe shows why the decision shouldn't …
Will Newtown be any different?
How many times after a tragic shooting have we heard politicians say, in the guise of respect for the victims. "this isn't the time" to talk about gun control. White House spokesman Jay Carney used the same language on Friday. “There is, I’m sure, will be, rather, discussion of the usual Washington policy debates, but I …
Note to Cahill prosecutors: give it up
After 40 hours over 7 days of deliberation, the news is finally in: the jury in the criminal trial of former state treasurer Tim Cahill couldn't reach a unianimous decision about whether he misappropriated public funds for campaign purposes and committed procurement fraud. The judge has declared a mistrial. This outcome raises serious questions about the new 2009 ethics law, …
Kerry’s the man, at least for State
I don't doubt it. Senator John Kerry could be a close to perfect Secretary of State. All aspects of his life have prepared him for the job, save for running a large bureaucracy. UN Ambassador Susan Rice has been touted as the President's first choice. They have been close allies since she started advising him on foreign policy …
T has your life in its hands
Riding the T the other day from Newton to Kenmore, I found myself paying extra close attention to the driver. She was efficient, friendly and seemed very alert. I resisted the temptation to ask her if she felt well, if she had had a good night's sleep and if she was holding down two (or, …
Menino future should be new chapter
Under normal circumstances, Boston Mayor Tom Menino would be making his annual speech this morning to the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. But these are not normal times for Boston's longest serving mayor, and the Chamber merely notes on its website that the breakfast has been postponed. In fact, much of life has been postponed …
McGovern urges return to politics of people skills
The wall of failed 1972 liberal Democratic presidential nominee George McGovern's Washington office bore a photo of failed 1964 conservative Republican nominee Barry Goldwater with the inscription, "If you're going to lose, lose big." Both lost in landslides, disagreed on any number of issues, but they were friends, joined by humor and good will. Worcester Congressman …
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Marjorie Arons-Barron 