Massachusetts Republican gubernatorial candidate Charles Baker has selected state Senate Minority Leader Richard Tisei as his running mate in the 2010 election. As Boston Phoenix political reporter David Bernstein notes, “I think this pretty much makes this the most socially moderate Republican ticket in the history of ever. We’re well past the classic ‘Rockefeller Republicans’ here.”

This selection isn’t sitting well with everybody. Tisei certainly seems qualified and competent–far more competent than some past candidates for lieutenant governor, to be sure. However, one wonders if the controversy (such as it is) over Tisei’s personal life will be an issue in this campaign.

I will say this: Tisei on his worst day will likely be better than Tim Murray on his best day.

Mthinks I know who spread those scurrilous and truly nasty rumors (the wardrobe, credit card, diva,etc.) The excerpts below indicate Nicole Wallace, among others…

From the beginning, Nicolle [Wallace] pushed for Katie Couric and the CBS Evening News. The campaign’s general strategy involved coming out with a network anchor, someone they felt had treated John well on the trail thus far.

I had to trust her experience, as she had dealt with national politics more than I had. But something always struck me as peculiar about the way she recalled her days in the White House, when she was speaking on behalf of President George W. Bush. She didn't have much to say that was positive about her former boss or the job in general.

Palin lends her support to conservative Doug Hoffman; read Hot Air’s take on the pluses and the minuses. Stakes now through the roof.

Why left (i.e. White House) hates Fox News

A perspective on Black political apathy.

MSNBC’s racist teleprompter problem.

Congressman Mike Pence slams dinosaur media rites:

“So to my friends in the so-called mainstream media, I say, conservative talk show hosts may not speak for everybody but they speak for more Americans than you do.”

“Transparency” in the age of Pelosi-Reid-Obama. Short but effective.

My friend John Ruberry, speaking at Illinois Tea Party event

From the “Isn’t it pathetic” file: The Boston Globe reports that a group of African-American religious figures in Boston endorsed the re-election campaign of scandal-scarred Mayor Thomas M. Menino, arguing that Menino “…was the best choice for a community eager for solutions to chronic problems such as unemployment and lack of opportunity.” You have got to be kidding me.

One dissenting black religious figure accused Menino of playing racial politics, but a Menino flak blew him off, as usual.

A pro-Menino minister actually asserted that Menino was “a friend of the minority community who has joined it in fighting crime.” Say what, brother? Is black Boston doing better in 2009 than it was in 1993, when Menino first became Mayor? If the answer is no, then how can these guys stand with Menino? Can it not be argued that these clergymen are acting stupidly?

Mitt Romney’s enemies are at it again.

PoliticsDaily.com reports that the former Massachusetts Governor has been targeted by the same folks who attempted to sabotage his 2008 Presidential campaign; they’re even going so far as to launch a website attacking veteran conservative activist Tony Perkins for his apparent support of Romney.

Seriously, what is wrong with these people? If Sarah Palin fails to run for President in 2012, Romney will be the GOP’s only real hope to recapture the White House. Romney would have soundly defeated Obama if he had been the GOP nominee in 2008, as his economic knowledge would have been far more palatable to the general population than Obama’s saturated-in-socialism stands. Are these guys actually interested in stopping the spread of statism? Or do they have other motives?

Look, Romney is not perfect (and Romneycare certainly isn’t). However, by allowing the perfect to become the enemy of the good, Romney’s enemies are, to quote our Collectivist-in-Chief, “acting stupidly.”

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:25 — 13.5MB)

(Links of importance: Hillsdale College and its Imprimis essay by Jeremy Rabkin entitled “The Constitution and US Sovereignty”. This college accepts NO federal aid, thereby preserving its operating autonomy.)

Part 2 of my interview with DR Tucker of Notes from DR and Deval Patrick Watch fame. Patriot Games airs over the RFC Radio network. The attached podcast runs roughly 30 minutes in length, give or take. Here is an excerpt from his blog:

Let’s say the great conservative dream is fulfilled in the early 2010s—the Republicans recapture the House and the Senate in the 2010 midterms, and a Republican kicks President Obama out of the White House in 2012. What happens after that?

Hopefully, the powers that be in the GOP have enough common sense to realize that the populist backlash of 2009 is not necessarily a pro-Republican one (although the folks who protested Obama’s plans to socialize medicine didn’t exactly raise a fuss over Medicare Part D, Bush’s own effort to socialize health care). If a newly empowered GOP fails to learn the lessons of the past, the party will quickly find itself out of power by the mid-2010s.

Indiana governor Mitch Daniels is providing a real-life example of effective Republican governance.  He has managed to impose fiscal restraint, while simultaneously working to extend health insurance on a universal basis and maintain double digit (70%) popularity among the populace.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:36 — 13.5MB)

Return guest DR Tucker of Notes from DR and Deval Patrick Watch fame opines on the 1994-2008 era of American political activity, particularly the crackup of its center-right coalition.  Part 2 of the interview will follow shortly. Patriot Games airs on the RFC Radio network, Mondays and Fridays at 9 PM Eastern. The attached podcast runs roughly 30 minutes.

The Boston Globe informs us that Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick’s administration “… urged approval of a controversial Gloucester charter school earlier this year, over the fierce objections of city residents and the advice of state specialists, based not on its merits but because it would further the governor’s political agenda, according to a recently published e-mail.” Wonderful!

“The e-mail,” the story notes, “..contrasted with the administration’s repeated denials that politics played a role in approval of the charter school and could potentially weaken its credibility as it seeks legislative approval of proposals to help the state’s worst schools.”

Wouldn’t it be nice if Gov. Patrick approved more charter schools not for political purposes, but because they were the right thing to do? And don’t you wonder if President Obama is leaning on Gov. Patrick not to run for re-election?

The Boston Herald and Boston Globe report on an alleged coverup within the administration of Boston Mayor Thomas Menino. As mayoral contender Sam Yoon notes, “This is what happens when power goes unchecked and unopposed…Absolute power corrupts absolutely.’’

The problem is, what if Boston voters again fail to recognize that its mayor has fundamental leadership issues? After all, just last month a federal judge declared that Menino had overstepped his authority in attempting to force Boston cab drivers to move to hybrids. Will Boston voters, who rejected qualified alternatives in 2001 and 2005, once again choose to stick with Menino, an empty suit in an empty chair?

Once again, the blind lead the blind here in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The latest example: an August 2007 press release from US Congressman John Tierney championing a “Greener Workforce.”  In particular, he acknowledges the support of now departed White House “advisor” Van Jones.

Special acknowledgement goes to the Ella Baker Center’s Van Jones, whose passionate expressions have been liberally borrowed here, and whose personal “energy” has greatly advanced this idea.

Here is the entite release taken from the congressman’s web site:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 6, 2007

Tierney Champions “Greener” Workforce

Washington, DC – Over the weekend, the U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation, which takes a historic leap forward in making our country more energy independent, growing our economy, creating new jobs, lowering energy prices, and addressing the global warming crisis. The House passed the measure by a vote of 241 to 172.

Congressman Tierney offered the following statement on the House floor in support of the New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer Protection Act (H.R. 3221), which includes legislation (the Green Jobs Act of 2007) he authored and spearheaded through the committee process:

Remarks as Prepared for Delivery
Congressman John Tierney (MA-06)
August 4, 2007
The Green Jobs Act of 2007

I rise today to highlight Title I of the energy bill before the House today – The Green Jobs Act of 2007, which previously had been passed by the House Committee on Education and Labor.

Let me begin by acknowledging and thanking Speaker Pelosi for making the issue of “green workforce development” a priority in her environmental agenda.

My co-sponsor, Hilda Solis of California, is appreciated for her work in ensuring that a broad cross-section of workers get in on the bottom floor of growing industries.

This innovative proposal – “green jobs” – will make $125 million a year available across the country to begin training workers for jobs in the clean energy sector.

Thirty-five thousand people per year can benefit from vocational education that will provide for them secure employment in this country.

Until now, the U.S. has not had a coherent strategy to address the growing labor demand in these “green” and “clean” energy sectors.

Title I of this bill will help a broad cross-section of workers get into these growing industries.

Green-collar jobs can provide living wages and upward mobility. For some, they will create a way out of poverty, even as they help improve our environment and buttress our national security by lessoning reliance on foreign oil.

We’ve passed legislation to increase Science, technology, energy and mathematics teachers; to educate more engineers and scientists.

Now we have the chance to make sure those who do not have degrees or who may not choose to attend college can also support a family and contribute to their communities.

Urban youth, retired veterans, struggling farmers and displaced workers from our manufacturing sectors can all get training through this proposal.

They will help met a growing labor need, as America seeks thousands of “green collar workers” to:

• Install millions of solar panels
• Weatherize buildings and homes
• Build and maintain wind-farms
• And more

These jobs are energy saving; air-quality improving; and carbon cutting – and they are local!

They mostly cannot be out sourced to other countries.

Solar panels and wind farms need to be built here.

Buildings to be retrofitted to save energy have their foundations on U.S. soil.

Today we can join Speaker Pelosi and the many numerous advocacy organizations that have worked hard to develop and expand the concept of “green jobs” – making sure that the benefits of a cleaner, greener economy are shared broadly at all income levels.

Special acknowledgement goes to the Ella Baker Center’s Van Jones, whose passionate expressions have been liberally borrowed here, and whose personal “energy” has greatly advanced this idea.

The return in energy saving helped by “green jobs” can be enormous – the positive impact on lives from rewarding employment can be priceless.

Mr. Speaker, Title I of this bill can help provide America with the working muscle, practical experience and training, and industry-specific intelligence to change our nation’s future.

I urge my colleagues to support the entire bill, being mindful that the Green Jobs Act of 2007 contributes specifically to its appeal.