The Boston Globe’s Adrian Walker recently made a good case that Governor Charlie Baker should leave the Republican Party. My colleague Professor Ubertaccio responded with some solid reasons for the governor to stay home. They’re both right. Charlie Baker is trapped. His escape hatch may be a new party, but what kind of party? Walker’s…
Category: Charlie Baker
Be Grateful: In Massachusetts politics we can still have nice things
I’m on all the mailing lists, electronic and otherwise. The communications from the MassGOP have never been particularly impressive, but under its current leadership the MassGOP has become a laughingstock. The MassGOP, perennially ineffectual, has understandably employed snark and disingenuousness as a regular feature of its rhetorical portfolio for a long time, but the strategic…
Charlie Baker, Independent?
Adrian Walker gave Republicans of the Charlie Baker vein something to consider this week by suggesting the Governor leave the party of Donald Trump.
Mass Politics After the 2018 Elections: Still “Safe Harbor for Old School Pols & Politics”
Last spring I wrote a piece called “MASSPOLI#: Safe Harbor for Old School Pols & Politics” that began as follows: “American politics in 2018 is a hot mess. The Age of Trump will almost certainly be understood as a chaotic and terribly destructive time in American politics when our institutions were strained to the limit…
Misinfo-tainment: The Sarno “Snub” that Wasn’t
I have known Mayor Sarno for more than 30 years. I voted for him when he ran for City Council and were I a Springfield resident at the time I would have voted for him for Mayor. I don’t always agree with him, but I do think he is a good politician and a good…
Proposing a New Pollster for Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance: Me!
The Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance is out with a new poll and as usual it’s gazing up helplessly at worthless but I have a great idea – Mass Fiscal should hire me as its pollster! I’m definitely qualified. At the end of every semester at UMass Boston the students get a chance to fill out forms…
MassFiscal Injects Voter Suppression into the Race for GOP Chair
“Never let a disgraceful idea die a quiet death” must be on the masthead over at the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance because it is ramping up its shameful voter suppression campaign. It poses this question for candidates for chair of the Massachusetts Republican Party: will they bow to MassFiscal’s campaign to intimidate minorities or stand tall…
Baker’s Re-Election is Business-as-Usual in MA Politics.
The coverage of the Bay State’s gubernatorial election this year is both business as usual and just a bit surreal. A Globe headline in today’s paper illustrates my point. It reads “Charlie Baker says he’s been tough on Trump when it matters. Is that enough for Mass. voters?” Average Massachusetts voters have taken no great…
Charlie Baker: Governor of Dark and Grey Money
Last week Channel 5 WCVB reporter Karen Andersen did a very good report on “grey money” and Governor Baker’s campaign. (Trigger warning: I’m interviewed in the piece). Between dark money and grey money, figuring out who gives to sustain Governor Baker and his pet causes may be the most difficult job in politics. “Grey money”…