Speaking about the Speaker...

Did you catch the latest LeftAhead podcast? No? Well, Mike, Lynne and I chatted up on the Speaker situation as well as the how the Boston Mayoral race is shaping up. Also, next week, make sure to check in for Adam Gaffin from Universal Hub.

DeLeo folks smarter?

Looks so.

Kukawski and other Rogers supporters said the speaker and DeLeo were plotting to make the transfer after Jan. 7, after newly elected representatives who backed DeLeo were sworn into office and could participate in the leadership vote.

"When we met with [DiMasi] in December and he asked us for his vote, he said: 'I'm not going anywhere. I want to stay,' " said Kujawski, referring to DiMasi. "We believed everything he said, but it looks like he was just orchestrating the handing of the gavel to DeLeo. I feel completely deceived."

I have no idea what really happened, but I also have no idea why the Rogers people wouldn't suspect such behavior and be ready for it. Like Sean Connery has said before, never bring a knife to a gun fight. And if they weren't recruiting from prospective freshmen, why not?

Anyone Who Uses Republicans to Become Speaker

Is the Enemy.

Period.

I'm looking at you, Rep. Rogers.

From the State House News Service (emphasis mine):

DiMasi was still weighing his options late Friday, but several House members said privately they expected him to relinquish the gavel within a week. DeLeo allies quietly but confidently predicted that the Ways and Means Committee chair would be speaker by the end of the month. Rogers said he was confident he would be the next speaker, and was reaching out to House Republicans in an effort to reach the 81-vote majority.

It's no big secret that DeLeo has the inside track to the Speakership, I'm hearing that from people with their own sources as well as those I know in the know. But what I don't know is how solid that majority is. I wish both Rogers and DeLeo the best, but let it be known that anyone who uses the Republican Party to gain the Speakership is the enemy. We had a Speaker who had done that before and this state suffered under those regressive policies. Speaker DiMasi, say what you want about him, was a progressive hero who did a lot of good. We can't afford to revert backwards from his policies, legislative goals and visions.

DiMasi is Gone

The Lowell Sun's right, DiMasi is going to be stepping down over the next few days. How'd the Sun get that scoop? Must have been a leak from someone in the Lowell-area delegation.

Any predictions on who wins the battle of the titans? My gut says DeLeo. Personally, I'd like to see a dark horse candidate emerge, rather than the stale and potentially ethically-challenged DeLeo/Rogers camps, mainly someone who doesn't support casinos, like Bosley or another powerful legislator, but I just don't think anyone else has the clout. Hopefully, in a few years, we'll see one of the progressive heroes of the legislature rise to that stature, but for now we're just going to have to be vigilant, ensuring Rogers and/or DeLeo don't get their way on any of their anti-progressive issues.