Michael Dukakis

Latest Articles

Same Old Faces

It's an outsider's year for candidates, but the consultants are old Beacon Hill mainstays. Plus, who spent what at the conventions, and Baker goes on TV first.
If you're wondering who the geniuses are behind the political campaigns in Massachusetts this year — the strategists, media firms, ad teams, and fundraisers — well, it's a lot of the same folks who have been behind Massachusetts campaigns for a long time. Candidates may win or lose, but consultants are forever.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | June 24, 2010

Down ballot drama

Important races to watch in '10
The race for governor and the scramble to replace retiring Representative Patrick J. Kennedy have obsessed Rhode Island's chattering class. But all the talk has obscured an intriguing set of "down ballot" races for lieutenant governor, attorney general, treasurer, and secretary of state.
By DAVID SCHARFENBERG | March 10, 2010

Elephant in the Room

Massachusetts Republicans suddenly think this is their year — but if they shoot too high, they might fall hard
Platoons of state Republicans, energized by Scott Brown's stunning victory over Democrat Martha Coakley last week, are setting their sights on November.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | January 27, 2010

Choosing Kennedy’s successor

The state needs to name a replacement — and soon
Massachusetts should have a temporary US senator until voters elect a replacement to serve out the remaining three years of Ted Kennedy’s term.
By EDITORIAL | September 02, 2009

Jimmy C. and Teddy K.

An incumbent's lessons and the politics of personality
When the Camelot Caucus convenes in Faneuil Hall this Wednesday, the American presidency will once again become the trophy of a personality joust. In 1968 and '72, there was at least the issue of Vietnam to veil the overweaning ambitions of competing public men. But even that ambiguous nobility is lacking this year.
By MARCO TRBOVICH | August 26, 2009

Jimmy C. and Teddy K.

Tormenting Teddy

Republicans threaten Kennedy reign
After 32 years in the US Senate, Ted Kennedy remains a force to be reckoned with, both for his legendary family history and his considerable accomplishments.
By BOSTON PHOENIX STAFF | August 26, 2009

The Mouth Behind the Eye

Maybe Norma Nathan is just a nice little Jewish mother from the North Shore. After all, she says she only assaults people who assault her.
Norma Nathan, who looks for all the world like a naïve and guileless suburban homemaker (and knows it), was down on Long Wharf a couple of weeks back, snooping around. She was checking out a rumor that Ed King, his Cabinet, a group of political supporters and a crowd of lobbyists were about to embark on a lavish Harbor cruise.
By DAVE O'BRIAN | August 24, 2009

Bad times for the good earth

How are we going to keep them down on the farm?
You could say that the plight of the Massachusetts farmer began during the Great Ice Age, when the Laurentide Ice Sheet scraped over New England leaving poor soil and, as one farmer put it, "rocks, rocks, rocks."
By D.C. DENISON | August 11, 2009

King, as in mayor

Another page from an optimist's agenda
To begin with, I'd like to set down the political and ideological frame of reference under which I try to live.
By TOM SHEEHAN | July 13, 2009

Weakened watchdogs

If the Globe shrinks, will Beacon Hill run amok?
The ongoing crisis at the Boston Globe shouldn't be troubling just to devotees of the sports pages and "Coupling." Citizens who prize strong coverage of the Massachusetts State House ought to be fretting over the paper's fate, too. With its four-person State House contingent, the Globe has a stronger presence under the Golden Dome than any other major Boston media outlet.
By ADAM REILLY | June 19, 2009

You're Probably in a Drug-Free School Zone Right Now

For all the good it does
Ever seen a crack dealer brandish a chrome tape measure and inch his way out of a "drug-free school zone" before slinging fat rocks to pregnant teenage mothers? No?
By CHRIS FARAONE | February 11, 2009

Meet your Massachusetts Governor's Council

Clown committee
In this perilous economy, Governor Deval Patrick is faced with extraordinary economic challenges.
By CHRIS FARAONE | January 14, 2009

Wacko patrol: America's 25 scariest conservatives

The Phoenix ranks the individuals who will hold the most sway over the right-wing message machine in 2009, and beyond.
Imagine what will happen once the relatively sane folks now running the White House and the Republican National Committee pack up and go home?
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | November 03, 2008

Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story

An excellent and frightening documentary
Barack Obama is darn lucky that Lee Atwater, who died in 1991, isn’t around to lead the Republican dirty-tricks department.
By GERALD PEARY | October 25, 2008

Odium at the podium

This year, with such a close contest, the debates could have an impact like never before. Here’s what to watch for.
In most presidential elections, the importance of the debates is over-rated.
By STEVEN STARK | September 25, 2008

Beating the press

Why McCain’s Machiavellian war on the media could cost him the presidency
If you’re a liberal, you quadrennially reconcile yourself to the fact that the GOP is going to win the White House. Again.
By ADAM REILLY | September 11, 2008

Dawg days

The 2008 campaign is turning out to be our first-ever American Idol election
Despite gains by blogs, podcasts, and social-networking Web sites, television is still our dominant mass medium.
By STEVEN STARK | September 03, 2008

It ain’t over yet

The press has already started inaugurating President Obama, but there are still quite a few hurdles left for the Democrat — including John McCain
In the wake of Barack Obama’s triumphant European tour, the political press continues, by and large, to declare the election all but over.
By STEVEN STARK | October 24, 2008

Eyes on the (yawn) prize

The biggest story coming from the campaign trail lately seems to be: Which candidate is more lackluster?
A remarkable thing has happened: neither John McCain nor Barack Obama has done virtually anything to bolster his candidacy.
By STEVEN STARK | July 23, 2008

O's got a TV eye on you

The era of TV advertising in presidential general elections is over
With his decision to forgo public funding, Barack Obama can raise as much as he wants, giving him a huge financial advantage in the fall campaign.
By STEVEN STARK | June 25, 2008

10 above-and-beyond Earth-huggy ways to do things in Boston that, of course, do not use gas

By MIKE MILIARD | June 11, 2008

‘Sorry’ state

How to eliminate a bad decision or policy misstep and win back voters
A leading theme among Democrats this year is how they won’t allow Barack Obama to be “Swift-boated,” as John Kerry was in 2004.
By STEVEN STARK | October 27, 2008

So to speak

Letters to the Bostone editor, May 2, 2008
The article attacking House Speaker Sal DiMasi by David S. Bernstein was offensive character assassination based on ethnic stereotyping and cute political correctness.
By BOSTON PHOENIX LETTERS | April 30, 2008

Is the MBTA on track?

In the real world, funding is only an issue; politics is the most persistent problem
As targets for criticism go, it is hard to imagine one more inviting than the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, better known as the MBTA, best known as the T.
By EDITORIAL | April 30, 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

Clinton fatigue

What is driving the widespread movement pressuring Hillary to drop out, even though she is very much still in the race?
This past week, Vermont senator Patrick Leahy urged Hillary Clinton to quit the Democratic race in the interests of party unity.
By STEVEN STARK | April 02, 2008

Precedent-breaking president

An Obama win in November would be historic for reasons beyond race
With the news that Florida and Michigan are unlikely to redo their primaries, it’s become even more probable that Barack Obama will be the Democratic presidential nominee.
By STEVEN STARK | March 26, 2008

Whither the GOP?

With Democrats in total control of state government, the Massachusetts GOP should be a rising voice of dissent. Instead, it seems more impotent than ever.
Ask people to name the leading voice of opposition on Beacon Hill these days, and you’re likely to be told House Speaker Sal DiMasi.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | March 19, 2008

Clinton’s ‘kitchen-sink’ strategy could yield Pyrrhic victory

Talking points
Many Democrats, it seems safe to say, never thought a Democrat, let alone Hillary Clinton, would use a similar tactic.
By IAN DONNIS | March 12, 2008