Random Thoughts And Observations

--Today is Public Employee Recognition Day in Massachusetts, so here's a shout-out to some of my favorite people working for the state and city.... who I can unfortunately refer to only as "Statehouse insider," "source in City Hall," "person close to the committee," "high-ranking department official," "aide to a state legislator," and "Beacon Hill veteran." And hey, if you bump into "city employee who wishes to remain anonymous while speaking about the Mayor," tell him/her I say keep up the good work!

--I went to a board meeting of the Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy yesterday, which featured a sneak preview of a children's book that has been commissioned for the inaugural this fall: "Rose's Garden," about a little girl planting a garden. Curmudgeon that I am, I had my doubts. But I must admit, I liked it. The author, Peter H. Reynolds, told me that he met with Ted Kennedy a few months ago, and spent an hour letting the senator talk about his mother, about the legacy of the park, etc.

--I don't think this is how Marty Walsh wants to get his name in the papers. 

--You think the GOP is in bad shape in Massachusetts? Yesterday this guy became the Republican nominee for US Senate in Montana. 

 --I keep a close watch on women in politics, and particularly the rapid decline in female Republican officeholders. One of the party's few potential stars, US Rep. Heather Wilson of New Mexico (a Keene, NH native!), looked like she could become the Senate nominee in New Mexico, for Pete Domenici's seat. But conservative groups, including Club for Growth, narrowly pushed US Rep. Steve Pearce to victory in yesterday's primary (despite Domenici's intervention on behalf of Wilson). Pearce will likely lose to the Democratic nominee, US Rep. Tom Udall; Wilson might have had a chance. It now appears that the GOP will, at best, stay at five women senators, although two of them (Collins-ME and Dole-NC) could potentially be toppled. The Democrats are currently at 11, and although they could lose Landrieau of Louisiana, they will likely gain Shaheen in NH, and possibly Hagan in NC.