Well we sure are in the midst of non-stop political news. Coming close on the heals of Chris Christie declining to run for the presidency we get much the same news from Sarah Palin. Hot from a cool Wasilla: “After much prayer and serious consideration, I have decided that I will not be seeking the 2012 GOP nomination for President of the United States.” I don’t know how much there really was to consider. After all the G.O.P. establishment was against her, the talking heads in the main stream media never gave her a chance at winning and if the experiences of other Tea Party backed candidates are any indication, the Tea Party label isn’t necessarily a winner either, at least not at this point. Rick Perry’s hopes are sinking and Michele Bachmann’s have already sunk. Perry may have a second wind in him if he can overcome the fact that his support among conservatives has been cut in half, according to political analyst Chuck Todd, and if he doesn’t have any more pet rocks sitting around the ranch that might embarrass him. As for Bachmann, who is rather Palinesque in her own approach, she seems doomed and beyond resurrection [...]
Steve Jobs, Apple Visionary Dead at age 56
The Boston Globe is reporting, “It was the loss of this remarkable, relentless talent that stunned the electronics industry when Jobs resigned as Apple’s chief executive in August, and named Tim Cook as his successor. It was well known that he was struggling with pancreatic cancer, but his resignation was still a shock, perhaps because it was so difficult to conceive of an Apple without Jobs at the helm.” And Bloomberg reporting, “Steve’s brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives,” Apple’s board said in the statment. “The world is immeasurably better because of Steve.” As I sit writing this on my Apple MacBook, I am amazed how one man’s vision changed the entire world. He will be missed!
Elizabeth Warren, Scott Brown, Forbes Magazine, the Globe, and the Phoenix
First, let’s just lay out the actual fact: in a story dated June 1, 2010, Forbes Magazine listed Scott Brown as the 10th-highest recipient in Congress of campaign contributions from the financial sector, and the 8th-highest Senator. Here’s what the story actually said. Wall Street’s Favorite Congressmen Brian Wingfield, 06.01.10, 06:00 AM EDT A certain truck-driving senator from Massachusetts and two GOP congressmen running for Senate are among the biggest recipients of contributions from the financial sector. WASHINGTON — Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., achieved fame earlier this year when his election threw a wrench into Democrats’ health care plans. But as the recipient of nearly $442,000 in campaign contributions from the financial industry in 2009 and so far this year, he’s also an important player in Wall Street reform. In fact, only nine other members of Congress took in more from the financial community–and most of them hold leadership positions or important seats on the committees writing the bill. For the record, the other Senators ahead of Brown were, in order, Schumer (D-NY), Gillibrand (D-NY), Reid (D-NV), Shelby (R-AL), Lincoln (D-AR), Bennet (D-CO), and Dodd (D-CT). Those all make sense (except for Bennet, whose presence on the list is a [...]
Thousands fill the street 10/5/11 in Wall Street
But you don’t have to take my word for it – these look like pretty full streets and I gather this is still going on as I type at about 6:00 PM. Number estimates differ but the expertise of union support meant permits, and the largest march yet for the Occupy movement. Boston had its own march, which this time included nurses, students, and others and Occupy Boston is now supported by a formal vote of endorsement from the Boston Labor Counsel. When I asked some of those encamped in Dewey Square how long they planned to stay, the answer was, “As long as it takes.” I noticed that the Occupy Boston facebook page is now over 10,000 strong, so there are lots of folks who are interested, and supportive, and going to Occupy Boston’s wiki or website to check on what is needed, and what is scheduled.
Post-debate chatter
In the post-debate scrum last night, I managed to grab four of the MA-Sen candidates for very brief conversations. Apologies to Alan Khazei and Herb Robinson, whom I didn’t manage to corral, and to Tom Conroy, half of whose conversation was lost to an equipment failure. :( Here’s what I got. The most interesting chat, I’d say, is the one with Bob Massie, who directly criticized DFA, MoveOn, and PCCC for, he says, endorsing Elizabeth Warren without learning anything about the other candidates. So Massie goes first; the rest are alphabetical. Bob Massie: Tom Conroy: Marisa DeFranco: Elizabeth Warren:
The Herald *hearts* Elizabeth Warren?!
Count me among the surprised who checked in on the Herald’s coverage of the debate it co-sponsored last night with UMass-Lowell, and found a virtual love-fest in its cyber-pages. Front-runner smart, solid on big stage By Joe Battenfeld It was her first test, and Elizabeth Warren passed it — but not with straight-A marks. Warren won the crowd over just by walking on the UMass-Lowell debate stage, and when she walked off, her front-runner standing was firmly intact…. Warren’s solid performance will ensure she stays at the top of the Democratic pack. *** Elizabeth Warren doesn’t miss beat in Herald debate By Hillary Chabot A polished, front-running Elizabeth Warren emerged from the first U.S. Senate primary debate and high-profile political test largely unscathed last night, as she and the five other Democratic candidates focused their fire on the Republican incumbent Scott Brown. *** Elizabeth Warren scores well with panel Undergrads, profs also like Khazei, DeFranco By Jessica Heslam Sorry, Scott Brown. If UMass-Lowell junior Mary-Kate Hazel was heading to the polls today, Democrat Elizabeth Warren would get her vote for U.S. Senate. That was the sentiment among a half-dozen college students — and a trio of professors — who gave [...]
