Massachusetts Democratic Party

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Mickey Mouse Multiculturalism

Governor Patrick's problematic Mosque visit. Plus, Bush — and the GOP — vote yes for torture
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 the Islamic Society of Boston.
By EDITORIAL | June 14, 2010

The Curse of the Big Dig

Tthe mere mention of the Central Artery Project can derail one's hopes for higher office. Charlie Baker is finding that out now.
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.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | March 17, 2010

How Brown won

While Massachusetts Democrats assess blame for who lost the Senate seat, the truth is that Scott Brown won it
As the Massachusetts US Senate election unfolded yesterday, all that the pols and pundits wanted to talk about was how Martha Coakley managed to lose the race. And there is plenty there to dissect. But there is another part of the story, and that is how Scott Brown managed to win it.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | January 22, 2010

Tea-bagger Brown triumphs

Obama must rally independents
Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley may be a good person and a dedicated public servant, but thanks to her gut-wrenching loss to tea-bagging Republican Scott Brown in the race for the US Senate seat held by the late Ted Kennedy, Coakley is now — quite rightly — a figure of local scorn and national derision.
By EDITORIAL | January 20, 2010

Chaos Theory

2010 might be the year Massachusetts politics undergoes an unprecedented reshuffling.
In less than two weeks, when Massachusetts voters elect Martha Coakley to the US Senate — let's not pretend that Republican state senator Scott Brown has any chance of pulling off the monumental upset — they will trigger a massive domino effect that has the state's political class buzzing with anticipation.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | January 08, 2010

Khazei, Like a Fox?

Insiders don’t think Alan Khazei has a chance in the US Senate race. But progressive activists could make him an underdog with bite.
If there is to be a candidate in the Massachusetts US Senate race who inspires the sort of grassroots, progressive following that propelled Governor Deval Patrick into office three years ago — an insurgent candidacy, if you will — it figures to be idealistic public-service advocate Alan Khazei, co-founder of City Year and founder of Be the Change, Inc.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | October 16, 2009

Tone deaf

Can Gov. Deval hear the thunder of jeers?
March has not been kind to Deval Patrick.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | March 25, 2009

Forward thinking

Letters to the Boston editor, November 14, 2008
Letters to the Boston editor, November 14, 2008
By BOSTON PHOENIX LETTERS | November 12, 2008

Women on the verge

Clinton die-hards have created a new-girls’ network bent on remedying decades of sexism by putting women in elected office
At next week’s Democratic National Convention in Denver, Hillary Clinton’s delegates will get just about everything they’ve wanted — aside from the nomination of their candidate, of course.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | August 20, 2008

Communication breakdown

How did Deval Patrick's greatest strength become a dangerous weakness?
You campaign in poetry, Mario Cuomo famously claimed, but you govern in prose. Don’t buy the dichotomy.
By ADAM REILLY | April 24, 2008

The Left, left out?

Deval Patrick’s famed grassroots progressives are losing steam and influence
In the wake of the recent local elections, more and more observers are concluding that the energy that put Patrick in the Corner Office has come and gone.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | October 03, 2007

Politico and its discontents

Meet the Left’s newest ‘nonpartisan’ media bogeyman
In less than four months, Politico has already achieved what few post-FDR presidents could in the same amount of time: it’s become a force in national politics.
By ADAM REILLY | May 18, 2007

Flashbacks: November 10, 2006

The Boston Phoenix has been covering the trends and events that shape our times since 1966.
The Boston Phoenix has been covering the trends and events that shape our times since 1966.
By FLASHBACKS | November 08, 2006

We love you, Dems!

Power = money
Everybody loves you when you’re about to wield absolute, unfettered power.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | November 01, 2006

Republican dirty tricks

What’s up Karl Rove’s sleeve?
Late last month, readers of the conservative web site NewsMax discovered this juicy tidbit in a column by Ronald Kessler: “In the past week, Karl Rove has been promising Republican insiders an ‘October surprise’ to help win the November congressional elections.”
By ADAM REILLY | October 05, 2006

Kicking and screaming

How much Democratic bad blood is too much?
Every four years, right around Labor Day, the interests of the Massachusetts Democratic Party and the Democratic candidates for governor become almost totally divergent.
By ADAM REILLY | September 15, 2006

Battle of the second bananas

Three Democrats want to be Lieutenant Governor. Who’s the party’s best bet?
Being Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts has its headaches.
By ADAM REILLY | August 28, 2006

Healey’s pork problem

With his budget vetoes, Romney may have handed his potential heir an army of small-town enemies
Along with cuts to big, statewide programs, the governor pulled funding for smaller, local projects earmarked for towns from Cape Cod to the Berkshires.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | July 19, 2006

Shadow of a doubt

Who will be the Democratic nominee for governor? It depends on the answers to these five burning questions.
Every Democrat running for governor can claim victory after last weekend’s party convention in Worcester.
By ADAM REILLY | June 07, 2006

The Dems are coming

Can any of these guys take back the Governor’s office?
Here are three admittedly subjective, shoot-from-the-hip snapshots of the three Democratic candidates for governor.
By ADAM REILLY AND DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | June 02, 2006

Survivor: Worcester

Who’s at risk in the Democratic race for governor?
It’s the question of the moment in state politics: when the Massachusetts Democratic Party wraps up its 2006 convention on June 3, will all three Democratic candidates for governor still be standing?
By ADAM REILLY | May 30, 2006

Tying one on with the Mass Dems

Drinking games in Worcester
Are you ready for the 2006 Massachusetts Democratic Party convention?
By ADAM REILLY | May 25, 2006

Slow ride

The Massachusetts legislature’s unfinished business
When the members of the Massachusetts Legislature run for re-election this fall, they’ll brag about the landmark health-care-reform legislation they passed earlier this month. What they won’t mention — if they’re smart — is all the other important business they neglected while health care dominated Beacon Hill.
By ADAM REILLY | April 26, 2006

Bad sports

Letters to the Boston editor: April 14, 2006
I agree with Mark Jurkowitz (“ Muckrakers in the Outfield ,” April 7) that there are mostly yes men reporting sports, but I’d focus my analysis differently.
By EDITORIAL | April 12, 2006

Enter the wonk

Chris Gabrieli joins the governor’s race
Chris Gabrieli’s decision to jump into the race for governor — which he’ll do this week, if all goes according to plan — has an almost Shakespearean quality.
By ADAM REILLY | April 05, 2006

Christy’s choice

Mihos could be a contender — but only if he loses his Republican baggage
The conventional wisdom is already fixed: if Christy Mihos — the convenience-store magnate and Big-Dig whistle blower who has pledged to run for governor — campaigns as an independent, he’ll be doing the Massachusetts Democratic Party a huge favor.
By ADAM REILLY | February 22, 2006

As nasty as they wanna be

Galvin versus Bonifaz could set the standard for electoral acrimony
Anyone who thinks Massachusetts politics has gone soft should take note of the race to become Democratic nominee for secretary of the Commonwealth.
By ADAM REILLY | January 26, 2006