It was not the best of weeks for fire-related materials in Commonwealth politics, and find out why convenience store owners are doing swell.
Winners |
Losers |
Convenience Store OwnersSome started charging (and pocketing) the extra dollar that state was adding to the cigarette tax before it went into effect. Plus: Christy Mihos is running again! |
SmokersThe price of cigarettes has gone up again, and Massachusetts now has the second highest cigarette tax in the nation. |
Committee for Small GovernmentThe state certified their signatures to get an initiative to abolish the state income tax on this November's ballot, which will be make for interesting developments as voters go to the polls in a recession year. |
James MarzilliThe state Senator got slapped with a slew of charges in an indictment from a Middlesex grand jury and looks like end his political career with a plea of insanity. |
Melody BarnesThe former Chief Counsel to Sen. Kennedy on the Judiciary Committee is now a senior domestic advisor to Barack Obama's presidential campaign. |
BMW Direct Inc.This politically connected Washington D.C. based direct-mail firm raised over $700,000 for Barney Frank's no-name 2006 GOP challenger from conservative activists and kept 96% of it. |
Nancy StolbergThe longtime aide to Deval Patrick will take on new endeavors away from Beacon Hill and state politics -- for now, at least. |
James RubertoThe Pittsfield mayor has the state Ethics commission is breathing down his neck for accepting two 2004 World Series tickets at face value from former BoSox GM Dan Duquette. |
Deval PatrickThe town hall idea seems like it will go over well and set a positive tone for him at a time when his popularity seems to be making a comeback. |
Norwell and Marshfield boards of SelectmenThe town governments oppose legislation to allow real estate developers to forgo local bylaws and offer affordable housing, so they took the overly dramatic step of sending Gov. Patrick a teabag and comparing themselves to the patriots of 1773. |
Mitt RomneyHis vice presidential prospects were the talk of the town all week. |
Several towns struggled - or failed - to put the money together for their Fourth of July celebrations. |
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Wally Edge
While many analysts are forecasting his decline, major political reporter, insider and CW-shaper Mark Halperin of Time believes that Mitt ... >
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August 19, 2008
"They don't have something positive to say about what they're going to do for America. What they try to do is, they say, 'Well, this other guy, he's unpatriotic,' or 'This other guy, he likes French people.' That's what they said about Kerry."
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- Political Punch, 08/18/08
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Mazilli
He's been Sisitskied. Bizarre behavior by a liberal portends political death, as with Sisitsky's anti-Bulger filibuster of a couple of decades ago. Ergo, a bit of grab-ass, without any apparent attempt to use his office to get into someone's pants, means indictment (how absurd), the obnoxious Wendy Murphy trolling for dollars under the guise of ministering to "victims," and a general lathering all 'round. Not excusable, but not quite Packwood.
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