An Odd Time For a Heart-to-Heart

What else has to happen to prove the dire need for a two-party government? On January 7th, Sal DiMasi was overwhelmingly re-elected by his Democratic colleagues as Speaker of the House. On January 27th he will officially tender his resignation, both as Speaker and as State Representative. I will not pronounce him guilty. How could I? He has not been charged with any crime. What I will point out, however, is the fact that so many Democrats, most likely with the fear of retribution hanging over them, fell in line January 7th and voted for DiMasi. How could a conscientious leader, knowing he is planning on leaving office at the end of the month, lead his following off the edge of a cliff, making them look like a bunch of lemmings? Garnering overwhelming support from his fellow Dems, DiMasi appeared ecstatic on the evening news, and I might add, surprised, although I don't recommend he should consider acting as a third career. Why go to your family and discuss stepping down less than three weeks after being re-elected? Did Mr. DiMasi suddenly decide he misses practicing law and can't wait to return to that? The Telegram quotes him as saying, "This decision was not made lightly and was made for a very simple reason: For me and my family it is time - time to move on, time to return to private life and time to return to my first professional love, the law." But didn't you realize all of that on January 7th, Mr. Speaker?

Now consider the two people most likely to succeed, John Rogers and Robert DeLeo. According to today's Globe article written by Frank Phillips, both men appear to have issues swirling around them, although these accusations are being hurled from one against the other. From p. A6, "Rogers supporters are pointing out that some of the ticket brokers legislation at the center of the state and federal probes was passed by DeLeo's committee, although no one has accused DeLeo of wrongdoing. DeLeo's allies, in turn, have pointed out that Rogers is being dogged by campaign-finance questions. He had made undisclosed monthly payments from his campaign funds to a close friend and political consultant who used the money to help him buy a Cape Cod vacation home they say they co-own." Add to all of that the questionable exits and history of the past two Speakers from the State House and what do you get?

The most unlikely-to-be-believed quotation stemming from Mr. DiMasi comes to us by way of the Telegram on p.A6 and relates to the Speaker's respect for the citizens of Massachusetts. "I never lost sight of the importance of all that we do and I urge you in the difficult fiscal times ahead to maintain this as The People's House." Please, Sal, cut the humor.

Telegram & Gazette, Monday, Jan. 26, 2009, p.A1 "DiMasi to resign under shadow" by Rodrique Ngowi of The Associated Press
http://www.telegram.com/article/20090126/NEWS/901260355/1116

The Boston Globe, Monday, Jan. 26, 2009, p.A1 "DiMasi will resign" by Frank Phillips
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/01/26/dimasi_will_resign/

The Boston Globe, Monday, Jan. 26, 2009, p.A6 "House speaker's relationships contributed to his undoing" by Andrea Estes and Matt Viser
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/01/26/house_speakers_relationships_contributed_to_his_undoing/