We here at MassPoliticsProfs are in the process of reassessing the way the Massachusetts Democratic and Republican Parties go about nominating statewide candidates. Professor Ubertaccio describes the project in this recent Patriot Ledger op-ed. The first of several panel discussions in our “Party Matters” series was held on March 5^th in Boston and a second will be convening at UMass, Amherst this spring. Have the Bay State’s party organizations denied ordinary voters (enrolled and unenrolled) their rightful place in statewide elections? Do party nomination rules help or hurt party nominees in the general election?

The good news is that positive emotions like hope can reduce racial resentment in political campaigns. The bad news is that SuperPACS will spend hundreds of millions to promote negative emotions.

Just yesterday it seemed that my colleague Professor Cunningham, was ready to jump on the Charlie Baker bandwagon to help make the Republican Party competitive at the national level. 

Little did Mo know that the Governor was guilty of “traitorous behavior.”

Governor Baker would be wise to take note of the disconnect between key values he espoused on the campaign trail and what the 2024 Games would look like and do to the state’s finances.

Political science on how nationalization helps the Republicans keep the House and what the GOP might do to overcome its demographic disadvantage in presidential elections. Hint: the future of GOP presidential hopes isn't with a Sun Belt Tea Partier, but with a moderate - maybe from the northeast?

The Knights of Columbus’ decision not to march in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade this year is shameful. The organization’s excuse for pulling out is transparently dishonest.The Knight’s leaders don’t want to march in a parade with gay people, so they accuse these gay people of political divisiveness for wanting to march in a parade, for wanting to be a part of a community. On the bright side, I can now feel a little bit less guilty about having not participated in the K of C in years (I’m a 3^rd degree Knight).

It’s hard not to notice that the national Republican Party is becoming more and more unhinged. A good part of this, I think, is the decimation of the party’s moderate wing. Yes, the GOP once had moderates, and even progressives.

President Obama’s delivered a speech well worth watching at Selma – but more worthy of being read.

Public service motivation reminds that there is more to governmental services than just efficiency. Sometimes government allots resources because it uplifts the community at-large. Right or wrong, watching the Pats parade on TV or knowing the rite-of-springtime St. Patrick’s Day parade is going on is worth it. We must make sure that the resources diverted for the parades come from all Boston’s neighborhoods -- not just less affluent communities. But with this substantial caveat I say, “on with the parade!”  Sometimes government acts best when it acts inefficiently – and making ourselves feel better about this winter is something all of Boston needs.