Bulletin from the Alternative Universe

"As for the one Mormon running for office, those who really believe in God will defeat him anyways, so don't worry about that; that's a temporary situation."
Rev. Al Sharpton during a debate at the New York Public Library.

First, my apologies for my unplanned hiatus. My lack of posting was not due to a dearth of happenings, but rather too many, and I will share them with you as my accounts of my migrations in the Alternative Universe of Massachusetts Politics unfolds.

But first, I wanted to comment upon a television appearance which may someday be remembered with that of another Massachusetts Presidential candidate. Here's Gov. Mitt Romney on the Tonight show with Jay Leno:




Now, while Mitt Romney MAY be another Jack Kennedy, Jay Leno is no Jack Paar. But as somebody who actually saw both Tonight Show interviews, some parallels are striking.

Kennedy and Romney - before their interviews - were known, but not well known. Both were considered curiosities because of their religious beliefs, and both had voters wonder if one of 'them' could be trusted in the White House.

Both approached the purposely unacknowledged problem in the same spirit. They used humor, openness and honesty to connect with viewers - and voters. I admit, this Romney is the person Porcupine came to be acquainted with, a person of sincerity, candor and sly humour. Like Jack Kennedy, Romney exudes charisma and intelligence, and both make voters want to give them a fair shot, and feel better about themselves for doing so.

It's interesting that Romney experienced a meteoric rise in opinion polls taken right after the Hardball Miss America Pagent (with Chris Matthers as Bert Parks), the botched Republican Debate. Yes, Romney did get off a few good lines, but the pallid viewing audience doesn't account for the immediate contrast. On the other hand, the Tonight Show is seen by millions, and Porcupine has a feeling that more people CoMITTed to him there.

It's a pity he can't play piano like Dick Nixon, too.