Michelle Wu: wrong, wronged and weak

Where to begin? Mayor Michelle Wu committed her share of wrongs in the run-up to the current tax-hike debate on Beacon Hill, from not pushing for budget cuts before asking for tax hikes to not providing lawmakers with timely tax revenue estimates. Yet, she’s also seemingly been wronged by a state senator with his own personal political agenda at the State House and wronged by business groups too eager to renege on a tax deal they made with the mayor. …. Wrong or wronged, the net result: Wu looks weak. Very weak. 

City councilor Fernandes Anderson accused of job-kickback scheme 

She allegedly split the loot in a City Hall bathroom. … WCVB has video of her arrest, not the money exchange. … I know they were pressed for time, but I’m surprised the Herald didn’t get the bathroom-angle into the lead.  … Update – The Globe got the bathroom in the lead.

Diana DiZoglio: Admirably zealous or just zealous?

Is it just me or is state Auditor Diana DiZoglio coming across as a little too zealous about auditing the books of lawmakers on Beacon Hill? … The current debate is about the effective date of her new voter-approved powers to audit the legislature, not whether she has the right to audit the legislature. And we’re talking about an effective-date difference of only a month or so. What’s the hurry? … I know DiZoglio is probably fed up with all the legislative antics to block, delay and limit her audits. But she’s also coming across as a one-issue pol trying to squeeze every last drop of publicity out of the showdown. … Btw: Along with the vast majority of voters in Massachusetts, I voted in favor of giving the auditor the power to audit the legislature. 

Why Biden’s pardon was wrong: it didn’t include one for Trump

Here’s the line in President Biden’s pardon of his son that jumps out at me: “People are almost never brought to trial on felony charges solely for how they filled out a gun form.” … Substitute the word “business” for “gun” in the previous sentence and you have a nearly identical argument against the charges that brought Donald Trump to trial in New York. … I know most partisans won’t acknowledge this, but both Hunter Biden and Donald Trump were targets of highly politicized prosecutions – and they were ultimately convicted on very dubious charges. President Biden could have shown magnanimity and courage by pardoning the two of them, effectively saying enough is enough when it comes to political prosecutions. Even if Trump declined such a pardon, Biden could say he tried and proceed to issue a pardon for his son. But he didn’t do that. … I get it: Biden showed admirable parental love for his son by pardoning Hunter. But he could have done it in a way that showed admirable presidential fairness at the same time. … Btw: I’m not the only one pointing out the similarities between the Hunter and Trump cases. The BBC is doing so too. …

Uber and Lyft drivers push to unionize: Is it even possible?

Those pushing to unionize Uber and Lyft drivers in Massachusetts are soon going to discover it’s like herding cats. It’s not going to be easy. And even if they’re successful, they’ll face the daunting task of trying to maintain strength and unity in a profession known for its come-and-go employees, most of whom view driving as a short-term gig till they get something better. 

Can’t blame him. Choice to lead embattled CCC has second thoughts

The guy who was chosen to head the most dysfunctional agency in all of state government has decided he really doesn’t want the job. … WBUR and the BBJ have more on the latest Cannabis Control Commission embarrassment.

Bingo! Romney’s Senate farewell

Mitt Romney, our former Massachusetts governor, bid farewell to the U.S. Senate earlier this week, urging unity and bipartisanship amid widespread disunity and hyper-partisanship. … I liked Mitch McConnel’s remarks: “On the Bingo cards of American politics, the governor-of-Massachusetts-senator-from-Utah combination isn’t known to be hit very often. (But) Mitt Romney’s repeated success in public office is a testament to his transcendent appeal of his character.”

Putin: Stalin’s long-dead victims really were guilty 

I read this depressing article at the Atlantic and thought of David Remnick’s classic “Lenin’s Tomb.” … Russia will never come to grips with the ghosts of Lenin and Stalin as long as people like Putin rule. …