It’s About Credibility
by Brian Maloney, May 2nd, 2008 at 08:59pm
For a moment, let’s put aside whatever feelings we might have about House Speaker Sal DiMasi’s clearly shaky political future and look at his ethics mess from a whole different perspective.
Based on how they handle the events of the coming days, various Bay State organizations have a great deal to gain or potentially lose. Let’s take a look:
Bay State Republicans: now completely shut out of power and without substantial numbers anywhere on Beacon Hill, the GOP needs to prove to voters that it still has a relevant purpose.
That can be accomplished here by firmly positioning itself as a fearless watchdog against abuses of power during a period of one-party rule.
During the DiMasi mess, it has been out in front and particularly noisy. Whether the party will show a new, competent side over the long term is anyone’s guess. If London can elect a Conservative mayor, then anything is possible, even in Massachusetts.
Them Dems: could this be the new incompetent Bay State political party? How does one take the gift of single-party rule and screw it up this badly? Overconfidence is the culprit, the feeling that Bay State voters will overlook virtually any Democrat scandal.
Right now, they’ve become a fodder machine for pundits, a situation that will hurt them in November.
Newspapers: the DiMasi mess is unusual because the story was broken by the Democrat-friendly Globe, which normally serves to protect Beacon Hill’s corruptocrats. The Herald has had to play catch-up for once, but has been all over it since Sunday’s Globie front-pager.
This odd switcheroo might explain why DiMasi’s political position is now so threatened: the beautiful people still read the Sunday Globe.
Talk Radio: a medium that was created (largely in Boston!) as a natural citizen watchdog has now been so badly compromised that area listeners no longer trust it. All three local talk stations have been tripping over each other to see who could suck up to Beacon Hill the most, with embarrassing results.
Rather than serving as a voice for Massachusetts voters and taxpayers, all three stations now actively fight them, with perhaps a couple of exceptions on the schedule.
Think about it: while The Felon defends local crooks and WTKK features hour-long suck-up fests, THE GLOBIES went after DiMasi. When the Boring Broadsheet is more trustworthy than WRKO, WTKK and WBZ combined, we are in SERIOUS trouble.
While the commonwealth’s most powerful political figure goes down to defeat, all of these players need to have battle plans in place.
And when Sal gets the boot, I’ve little doubt that a local talk station will be waiting in the wings with a mega-bucks contract. How did the situation deteriorate to this point?
UPDATE: I’d left out a whole category here, that of local television news. During Friday’s 11pm newscasts WCVB-5 reported on the alleged threat against a female lawmaker by a colleague, but ignored the DiMasi scandal. WHDH-7 focused on the harassment angle but worked in a mention of Sal’s troubles.
But hey, aren’t car crashes on Route 3 more important?
Entry Filed under: Boston Media Suck-Ups
6 Comments
1. Really Right | May 2nd, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Why is it shocking the Globe is doing Devoid Patrick’s dirty work. I hope corrupt Sal hangs in there and makes this thing get uglier. Internecine warfare among libs is beautiful.
2. Phil | May 3rd, 2008 at 12:34 am
This mess sure looks like a hit on DiMasi by Patrick’s people. No one noticed a questionable third mortgage on DiMasi’s condo for a year and it’s suddenly in the Globe? It will be interesting to watch it play out over the next week.
3. Bob | May 3rd, 2008 at 1:12 pm
It should come as no surprise to anyone that DiMasi was “whacked” by the Deval posse. Power does have its privileges, albeit corrupt. Tony Soprano and our own Tom Finneran are perfect examples. I guess that’s how the game is played on Beacon Hill. In order to succeed in politics, you have to have a criminal mentality.
First, Sal, you HAD to have known this was coming.
Second, Deval, you’re a loser. Unqualified to be Governor. Period.
Third, the one-party rule up on the hill is a perfect breeding ground for all this childish, street thug mentality.
Fourth, VOTE THESE BASTARDS OUT!!! WE CAN GET RID OF THIS ROTTEN BEACON HILL CULTURE BY SIMPLY VOTING THE DOPES OUT OF OFFICE!! Sadly, this is our collective fault. We’ve got to work harder to win back sanity in our state government. They would have you think we’re powerless, and they snicker like Snidely Whiplash at the thought of US, the taxpayers, gaining more control over our lives and our hard earned money! Let’s ALL get more involved in the process and put some SMART, FAIR MINDED people in office. We CAN bring down the hack-a-rama. It’s not just a dream!
Howie Carr is 100% right on the money when he pulls back the curtain to reveal just how rotten and corrupt things are in our state government. Patronage, ridiculous pension amounts, disregard for the will of the people….it goes on and on…BUT we can change it ALL during the next elections. GET INVOLVED!!! These words must scare the crap out of any Beacon Hill pol.
4. Really Right | May 3rd, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Bob,
You seem to be under the impression that we live in a democracy/constituional republic…we don’t. It’s a kleptocracy,WE HAVE NO SAY. The corruption is boundless,endemic and inevitable. Your vote and mine is woth the same as the Latin King member and crackhead welfare whore.Our horrible system is designed to cut us off at the knees The SCUM and stupid people have us outnumbered.
5. musings | May 5th, 2008 at 10:28 am
Whoever slipped DeMasi the mickey should
be loudly applauded.
6. Tony Jankowski | May 6th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
this is 1984.