Last night I caught a rerun on CSPAN of Wednesday’s ceremony honoring Senator Brooke with the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor awarded by Congress. Senator Brooke was nominated two years ago by Senator Kennedy in recognition of his years of public service and the historic significance of his elections. Speakers included President Obama, Senator Kerry, Congressman Patrick Kennedy, Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, Speaker Pelosi, and the floor leaders of both parties in both chambers. Brooke was a Rockefeller Republican with many of the progressive views that label implies. He was the first black person to be elected AG of any state, serving 1963-1967, and the first popularly elected (as opposed to legislatively elected) black US Senator from any state, serving 1967-1979. He also celebrated his 90th birthday last Monday.
One wonders, though, if Senator Brooke recognizes the Massachusetts Republican Party.
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p>As some of you know, the Edward Brooke courthouse at 24 New Chardon Street is named after Edward Brooke, in honor of his work in the field of juvenile justice.
He gave a great speech at the convention in Lowell that year, and presented the first Edward Brooke Award for distinguished service to the MA GOP – to Andy Card.
“Ms. Phillips conduct reminded Porcupine of another prominent reporter with the same surname – our own Frank Phillips from the Boston Globe. Porcupine particularly remembers his conduct during the Republican Convention last spring, as he stood with his back resolutely to the stage, short-sleeved black shirt and arms akimbo, chatting madly with a buddy, occasionally glancing up at the funny folks in the seats, as they made all that noise applauding, while Senator Edward Brooke delivered a genuinely great speech. Mr. Phillips couldn’t be bothered to watch much of Andy Card’s speech, either – just long enough to get a ‘money quote’ so he could pan the speech and convention as boring.
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p>Yes, the Phillips Reporters don’t need to watch events or speeches unfold. With their uncanny psychic abilities, they can tell us what was said and what happened without going to the trouble of actually listening to the speakers. Especially those who are associated in any way with the Bush/Cheney/War for Oil/Axis of Iniquity/Halliburton/Neocon/Texian Speak/Cyborg Party.
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p>After all, we ALL know what THEY’RE going to say. So different from Howard Dean.”
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Sure, he probably would, if of course he can find that needle in today’s Democratic haystack:) The national GOP is another story entirely!