Did He Win or Did She Lose?

Of course, the he is Senator-elect Scott Brown, R, Ma and the she is Martha Coakley. The obvious answer is yes to both questions since Brown won the election. But in politics, the obvious answer is not always the correct answer. So, what might we discover when we look a bit further.

On the Democrat side of the equation, the game could well be  the Blame Game. But who does  one blame . The Coakley campaign blames the Obama administration’s health care bill and its perceived failures  regarding the attempted terrorist bombing on Christmas Day. The administration on the other hand says Coakley ran a poor campaign. So, wherein lies the truth?

Hard to say that voter unhappiness over health care reform was not a factor. But, Coakley was ( rightly so, I think) perceived as being in favor of that effort and a guaranteed 60th vote. So which side was more accurate with their blame? Believe i shall go with the Obama folks on this one. With Massachusetts such a reliably Democratic state, her nomination was tantamount to election, right?( The last Republican senator in the Bay State was elected some 43 years ago and he was Edward Brooke. )My wife heard an interesting comment attributed to Coakley. You mean I have to stand outside shaking hands in this weather? Slight paraphrase. I think that she was in trouble before she realized it and then called the Axelrod cavalry  too late. ( He did actually pay Brown a compliment for running a smart campaign.)

As for Brown, he says the election was not a referendumon Obama. But don’t you know that both parties will study this campaign til the cows come home, from wherever it is that they go.

Brief summary- voter angst- and it spells trouble for incumbents or for  any candidate who is  perceived-rightly or wrongly- as not in tune with the voters. Should make for an interesting political season.

Welcome to the Senate, Mr Brown. The fun has just begun!

Footnote: This particular seat has been held by a Democrat for 57 years, was occupied by Henry Cabot Lodge before that.

Robert B Parker,R.I.P.

On Monday, my favorite author passed away. Crime novelist extraordinaire Robert B Parker died  of an apparent heart attack while working at home. Although he was 77, Mr Parker’s death was something of a surprise since he seemed in good health.

He was the author of more than 60 books; sales of which have exceeded 4 million. (Would have thought his sales were higher than that.) He did several series along with some western novels. But for my money  it was his literary creation of the wise-cracking private eye, Spenser, like the poet, that set apart from all the rest. Spenser seemed almost to be Parker’s alter ego. Both were gourmet cooks, quite literate and well read, fans of German short-haired pointer named Pearl and of course Bostonian to the core.

The Spenser series began with The Godwulf Manuscript and has at its latest installment The Professional. I can say latest since  his editor at G.P. Putnam’s Sons, Chris Pepe, says there are some Spenser books in the pipeline. That is good for those who are  his readers but will not lessen the sense of loss for his wife and 2 sons.

Condolences to his family who have suffered by far the greater loss.

I feel it somehow appropriate to close with one of my favorite Spenser quotes and they are many. At the beginning of one book, he is approached by a prospective client and asked if he is indeed Spenser the private detective. ” Yes, and proud of it.” Thank you Mr Parker for your literary gift   and you could justifiably be proud of it.