Author Archives: billmanzi

Deficit Commission Rejected

Posted on January 27, 2010 by billmanzi

The U.S. Senate yesterday rejected a proposal that would have created a bi-partisan “Deficit Commission”, which would have had the authority to make recommendations that Congress would have been forced to vote up or down, with no amendments. The proposal, … Continue reading →

Posted in National News | Tagged | 1 Comment

President Obama and the Left

Posted on January 26, 2010 by billmanzi

With the potential collapse of health care reform President Obama has begun to take some withering fire from the left wing base of the Democratic Party. The complaints are multifold but boil down to the President paying too little heed … Continue reading →

Posted in National News | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

What Ails Democrats?

Posted on January 25, 2010 by billmanzi

With the Coakley loss there will be plenty of post election analysis done on why she lost, and whether that loss should lead to a re-evaluation of Democratic Party strategies and policy goals. Two interesting columns, one by Senator Steve … Continue reading →

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The President on SCOTUS Corporate Free Speech

Posted on January 24, 2010 by billmanzi

The President this week talked about the Supreme Court decision that opened the floodgates for special interest money to flood the political system. The Court broadened the concept of First Amendment rights for corporations, enabling corporate and other special interest … Continue reading →

Posted in National News | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Governor Patrick at the MMA

Posted on January 23, 2010 by billmanzi

Governor Patrick at the MMA yesterday giving the keynote speech and giving an advance peek at his budget, and how it pertains to local aid. His remarks were welcomed by local officials, who had anticipated large cuts in general local … Continue reading →

Posted in Methuen, Municipal Finance, State News | Tagged | 3 Comments

David Paleologos on Senate Race

Posted on January 22, 2010 by billmanzi

David Paleologos of Suffolk University was the pollster who first saw Scott Brown take the lead in the Senate race. He and his team at Suffolk did a terrific job of tracking the movement in the race. His bellwether polls … Continue reading →

Posted in National News, State News | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Health Care Conundrum

Posted on January 22, 2010 by billmanzi

The victory of Scott Brown has thrown Democratic plans for health care expansion into chaos, with both Senate and House leadership seemingly unable to come up with a cogent strategy to bring a bill forward. The most obvious way forward … Continue reading →

Posted in National News | Tagged | 1 Comment

Wednesday Morning Quarterbacking

Posted on January 21, 2010 by billmanzi

Senator Scott Brown delivered an old fashioned electoral whipping to Martha Coakley yesterday, defeating her handily across Massachusetts and upsetting the national applecart for the Democratic Party. Scott Brown ran an energetic campaign, and used a great retail operation to … Continue reading →

Posted in National News, State News, U.S. Senate Race | Tagged , | 3 Comments

More Senate Polling and Handicapping

Posted on January 18, 2010 by billmanzi

The folks over at Public Policy Polling have released their last Massachusetts Senate survey, and it shows Republican Scott Brown with a five point lead over Democrat Martha Coakley. I have attached the press release and the poll results from … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | 5 Comments

President Obama in Boston

Posted on January 18, 2010 by billmanzi

The President swung through Boston to help Attorney General Martha Coakley yesterday, giving a boost to the campaign in its final days. And what a final few days it has been. Chris Cillizza over at “The Fix” has estimated outside … Continue reading →

Posted in National News, State News | Tagged | 2 Comments