WHO WON THE DEBATE?

“I exhort therefore, that, ... prayers ... be made for all men;  For Kings, and for all that are in authority...” (from 1 Timothy 2:1-2).

Monday evening at 6 p.m. was kind of a weird time for a debate to be scheduled but that was the time for last night’s Gubernatorial debate which was televised on Boston’s FOX 25 and in fact took place at the station’s Dedham, MA studios.  The man of the hour was featured.  I don’t mean any of the candidates- I mean Chris Wallace, fresh from his controversial interview with former President Clinton.

I’m glad FOX 25 featured not only Republican candidate Kerry Healey and Democrat candidate Deval Patrick, but also Independent candidate Christy Mihos and Green-Rainbow candidate  Grace Ross.  I thought Wallace did a very good job moderating the debate, and managing to keep from having a smirk on his face!  The only candidate who did not impress me at all was Grace Ross, a seeming throwback to Haight-Asbury of 1966.  She makes Deval Patrick look like Rush Limbaugh.  I’m sure she’s a very nice woman, but I think she’d be much happier in some socialist country in Europe.  Seriously, Deval Patrick is NO Rush Limbaugh.  His defense of driver’s licenses for illegal aliens and instate tuition for illegal aliens was weak.  Despite that weakness, Patrick is handsome, articulate, and likable.  Kerry Healey is being painted by her opponents as a rich out-of-touch country club Republican and in fact she acted like a rich out-of-touch country club Republican!  The Romney-Healey administration has driven fees and fines through the roof; Kerry Healey is hypocritical in many respects when she talks about “rolling back the income tax” and other tax breaks.

Yes, I like Christy Mihos.  Although 96.9 FM Talk’s Michael Graham calls him “angry”, I think Mihos DOES have a good vision for Massachusetts.  His Proposition 1 which calls for rolling back property taxes is a great idea.  His criticism of the ineptitude of the politicians on Beacon Hill (I believe) is valid.  Mihos IS angry about his firing from the Mass. Turnpike Board by former Republican Governor Jane Swift due to his calling for accountability for Bechtel-Parsons and other contractors involved in the Big Dig.  I hope no Greek-Americans will be angry with me, but Mihos has that “nerdy Greek” demeanor going on just like Mike Dukakis did, but unlike Dukakis, Mihos is charismatic, funny, and a true populist.  He also is not afraid to get in Kerry Healey’s face regarding the shortcomings of the Romney-Healey administration (as he essentially did last night).

Can Mihos attract voters?  As of this writing, he is in the single digits in the polls.  Critics argue he is taking votes away from Kerry Healey and will guarantee that Deval Patrick is elected Governor in November.  Healey says she welcomes the third party candidates, but if you believe that one, I’ve got a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.

You can probably guess I very much like Christy Mihos and will likely vote for him in November.  In substance, the winner last night was Mihos. In style and class, the winner was Deval Patrick.  For a “political junkie” like me, this is an interesting race, indeed!