Few political scientists or journalists foresaw the rise of Donald Trump. But Norman Ornstein did.

James Carville put a note up on the wall of his campaign headquarters for Bill Clinton in 1992, “The economy, stupid.” It was a reminder of one of the key elements of Democratic campaign and an effort to say on message.

For any third party candidate with dreams of the White House, I suggest something similar: “It’s the electoral college!”  Don't ever forget that this constitutional arrangement controls your destiny.

Today I take a day off from politics and as I've been doing since 2012, to brag about the wonderful students who are graduating from the University of Massachusetts at Boston.

It's great to have Bill Weld back in politics, but not at the cost of throwing the Presidential race into the dysfunctional House of Representatives.

Donald Trump is the most unqualified person ever to run for president. He is also the most transparently flawed candidate ever to run for president. His lack of intelligence and integrity are on full display every day. Over the next six months, the most unqualified, morally and intellectually bankrupt candidate in history will be spewing ignorant and hateful attacks at the most qualified candidate for president in modern times.

Stay tuned for six months of “swift boating” Trump-style.

Why would New York hedge fund managers care who represents Eastie in the Massachusetts senate? The answer is hidden in dark money, and our commonwealth teeters on the verge of becoming a dark money empire.

Seven special elections introduced seven new white males to the State House. When it comes to representation the answer to the question, Are We Not a Little White for That Kind of Thing? appears to be a resounding No!

The vast right wing Department of Dubious Research churns out plenty of stuff about the glory of the free market, including in Jeff Jacoby's Boston Globe column. But our economy needs more regulation of free loaders like the Koch Brothers, not less.

This week's Boston Globe poll was very revealing. It revealed that the public cares about one set of issues, and the media and interests care about another set. The issues the public cares about least garner most of our attention.

The citizen petitioner is Longmeadow Selectman Alex Grant, who said he’s “looking forward to a nice debate on these issues” and that “[a]s long as we’re respectful, it’s going to be valuable for our democracy.” Local gun owners, however, appear to be anything but pleased about the opportunity for such a debate at the spring Town Meeting. Opponents of gun control in town wasted no time organizing and mobilizing against these measures. The N.R.A.’s “Institute for Legislative Action” targeted Longmeadow’s proposed gun control bylaws. Within weeks, signs started showing up on lawns in Longmeadow asking residents to “Vote No on Articles 20-30-31.” These signs include a link to a recently created web site, LongForLiberty.org. What they do not include is any mention of what articles 29, 30, and 31 are about.