I feel a little better because at a fund-raising event last night I got a chance to ask Maureen Feeney "Who do you have to bribe to get a drink around here?"
What a stick in the mud. Everyone else thought it was funny.
I support gay marriage, gun control laws, decriminalizing marijuana, abortion, and all kinds of other libertarian and leftist agendas. But I think the biggest problem that this state has in one-party rule. We so badly need a strong opposition party - some form of resurrected, small government Bill Weld-style Republican Party. There are other states that are ideologically right or left, and yet have a strong opposition party.
When you look at the history of power consolidation on Beacon Hill, it becomes apparent that one party has legislated power into their hands. Year after year, the pass rules that make it harder and harder to unseat an incumbent. It's not a legislature, it's a club - with private membership - and membership benefits.
In Massachusetts, to run for office as a Republican you have to be absolutely filthy rich. It's a must. Because you are going to have to self-finance.
Do you want to be the bar owner with a "(Republican) for Mayor" sign in your window? What would Boss Menino and his licensing boards do your business? It's sad, it's sick and it's blatantly anti-American. But I would be scared if I owned a small business in this city and I supported an opponent of Wilkerson or Menino, or anybody else. I would literally fear for my business. The ones who don't fear for their businesses are the ones who are naive.
A local bar in my neighborhood just received unanimous neighborhood support for an entertainment license renewal. Unanimous. However, the owner has run afoul of Menino in the past, and had the audacity to have Mike Flaherty's support. So guess what? The licensing board denied him the request. Disgusting. Horrible. Anti-american. Boston.
We so badly need a Republican party in this state to be organized and have the money and wherewithall to fight these abuses. It's easy to blame the Republican national party for being out-of-touch, but the reality is that it's a fool's errand to even try to be a Republican in this state. It's not worth the millions of your own money you'd have to spend to be heard.
But let's not forget that Bill Weld was our most popular Governor. Ever! And he was a Republican. So it's possible, but the roadblocks the state democratic party has erected are enormous.
An elected official should have to fight for their political life at every election, instead, in Massachusetts, they take re-election for granted.
The Wilkerson mess will hopefully help unravel a little of the city's tightly-wound power grip, but I highly doubt it.
What a Friday rant! I must be hungover. Who do you need to bribe to get some coffee around here?