My first inclination was to keep commentary on the Kennedy funeral to a minimum, mostly because it just seems tacky to Monday morning quarterback a Mass of Christian Burial. But I have spent the last few days surrounded by church types who all have an opinion, plus I am under strict orders to post tonight,Continue reading >>
Becoming a Lion
For this left-leaning Catholic from New England with a passion for policy, there are few people held in higher regard than Jed Bartlet, who, unfortunately, is imaginary. Ted Kennedy has always been one of those few, as I would guess he has been for other northeastern Catholic Dems. Kennedy spoke our language. Much like ObamaContinue reading >>
Health Care, Soundbytes, and Talking to a Dining Room Table
Barney Frank was my first taste of Massachusetts politics. I heard him speak at BC during September of my freshman year. He made a snarky comment about Jerry Falwell and I laughed loudly, to the shock and disapproval of my fellow students who seemed to think that being impressive had to involve being prim. InContinue reading >>
Traditionalism and Outrage Overload
Two recent thoughts from watching TV: I fear that I am genetically pre-disposed to prefer “the way things used to be”. I try to fight that internally (are rotary phones really superior to cell phones, or am I just being nostalgic?), but occasionally something jumps out at me that I really wish were “the wayContinue reading >>
The speeches are piling up, and I am in the weeds.
Here’s some thoughts, more abbreviated than I had hoped, on the three speeches this week. State of the City: Savvy self-promotion. Menino mentioned a lot of ways that the city got out in front of the economic crisis, working to reduce foreclosures and strengthen neighborhoods. He also announced that for the first time in decadesContinue reading >>