Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Dishonorable Graves on the Plaza

Who was missing when Boston City Councilors Michael Flaherty and Sam Yoon announced their joint campaign to open the trap door on November 3rd under Mayor Tom Menino? (beat...beat...beat) Why all the other councilors, natch.

It's not like pols who criticize Da Mare disappear or even have their families shunned. Yet, folk downtown do seem wary of endorsing any opponents. Even the higher profile, attention-seeking sorts like the Johns Tobin and Connolly were not in the scrum surrounding the candidates.

I did see a council contender though, the affable Doug Bennett. The scooter campaigner was right there with the media and machers. He'd greet all comers or those who might have thought they'd pass by with, "Will you vote for me on November 3rd?," and hand out his LITE, vague campaign tract. I don't see any path on it to his four simple goals (clean streets, lower crime, lower property taxes, and better paying jobs). Yet he's the Opie Taylor here, with the wide eyes and wider grin. He's hard to dislike.

The total absence of fellow councilors at the announcement seems obvious in this highly political place and time. Likewise, they have not and will not endorse the Flaherty/Yoon ticket-like object. They are just not looking for trouble, or some would whisper, retribution.

No doubt the renegades would have a better shot in the general if some of their buddies would pipe up and join in. No one here but us mice, as they used to say in the cartoons.


Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world
Like a Colossus; and we petty men
Walk under his huge legs and peep about
To find ourselves dishonorable graves.

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