Maria_Stephanos's Blog

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Alright Mr. Political Editor, Mr. Battenfeld, Mr. Rub my face in my bad call.

I'm a woman of my word.  I was convinced until the bitter end Mitt Romney was going to be the choice.  I was WRONG.  So, you call it.  You name it (even though you didn't name Ms. Palin :) )

I'll wear a shirt that says you were right on television.  I'll run a road race.  I will shout it from the top of our studios with camera's on me.  What's it going to be Mr. Battenfeld?  

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I would like to share some very private writings with you. After I had the opportunity to sit down with Senator Kennedy in his Hyannisport home, I came back and started writing my personal thoughts and reaction to interviewing the Senator. Yes, I have interviewed President's, Movie stars, and Athletes, but this was a Kennedy inside the Kennedy compound. Of course, I grew up here and my family had very strong opinions about the Kennedy's. Both good and bad. I embraced the opportunity to go inside that compound, steeped in history and memories of this powerful family. I will only share a a portion now, let me know what you think:

"Finally drove past the signs.. that say stay out.. we pulled around.. and it took my breath away... the water was so blue.. the house was so white.. and there was Vicki standing on the porch... just chatting.. and mike Barnicle.. I walked in... and was hit with a musty smell... and I was instantly overtaken... by the history that surrounded me... Everything in there.. meant something. eveyrthing in there was history. Pcitures of his family.. jack joe dad rose... caroline kennedy with her daughter so beautiful...

"He is flawed. We all are... but he's also the person who has picked up the phone... and personally called... every victim of September 11th. He looked at pictures of Jack and Joe his brothers.. and tears filled his eyes... that has impact. I tried to imagine.. the family there.. talking politics.. talking issues... incredible... he told me about the painting that hangs in the dining room.. and was frustrated with the way a house came out... so he painted over it with trees!!! He was very proud of his paintings.. but told me his legacy will be his family.. not the 44 years in Senate.. but his family. his children. his grandchildren."

I wish you well, Senator, and am thinking of you on this day.

Maria

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Full disclosure.  I covered plenty of shenanigans up at the Statehouse.  I was a radio reporter back in the day, covering the Statehouse, that at the time was run by Billy Bulger, Tom Finneran and Bill Weld.  In that order :)

So I wasn't really stunned when State Rep Jennifer Callahan came out on the House floor saying she was personally threatened by another State Rep.  She claims this unnamed rep said, "I've been in this building a long time Jen, and I wanted you to know that I could make things real difficult for you.  I mean, Jen, I could really hurt you if I wanted to." Here's my take. For once, something wasn't swept under the rug, under the dome.  She stood up and made it very clear, this was something she wasn't going to tolerate.  Total respect for that.  But I did wonder.  If it was a man.. who was threatened.. and stood on the floor telling everybody about it, would we be sympathetic?  Or would it just be another case of politics ain't beanbag?

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And now he is. Mitt Romney "suspending" his campaign officially today.  Saying " I must stand aside for our party and our country."  Surprised?  I'm not.  I think he had no other choice.  It was obviously a difficult decision.  You could see it on his face. 

Just a couple of days ago, he was talking about how proud he was to see him name on the presidential ballot.  And now he's out.  And here's a little context.  The former Governor saying "I would forestall the launch of a national campaign and make it more likely that Senator Clinton or Obama would win. And in this time of war, I simply cannot let my campaign, be a part of aiding a surrender to terror."  Strong words.  Exactly what the Republican party wants to here. 

As a journalist, I try to look into the words.  I see a little posturing.  I wonder if we're looking at a vice president here.  I know there is little love between McCain and Romney.  But George HW Bush and Ronald Reagan weren't the best of friends either.   What do think? Flush this out with me!

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So, his heels are dug in. Mitt Romney telling his supporters he's here to stay and has no intention of dropping out. He's going all the way to the convention. Our political producer Jack A., who's intricately involved with all these campaigns isn't surprised. He says, Romney has the money, the desire and enough self confidence to think he can still win this. Do you think he can? I suppose anything is possible and I like to live my life not giving up on anything. However, I think the writing might be on the wall for Mitt. What do you think? Do you think he should hold on? Drop out? Support another candidate?

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As President George W. Bush gets ready to deliver his final State of the Union, I sit here in my own state of confusion.  I'm still so on the fence about who I would like to see as our next President.  It's not from a lack of knowledge about each and every candidate.  I'm insatiable when it comes to politics and this is as good as it gets.  There have been so many different twists and turns.  And each candidate brings something interesting to the table.  But not one of them has forced me to turn my head and just look at them.  I wonder how many of you feel the same way.  You don't have to tell me who you are voting for, but I want to know if your on the same fence with me!  And if you work for one of the campaigns and you just want to push their agenda, take it somewhere else please.  I want to know what real voters think!

Maria

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on the primary! Drained and exhilarated at the same time. I love politics and I was eating, breathing and drinking it every second up in New Hampshire. What a thrill. And the voters of New Hampshire were so smart, so interested and so dynamic. They are passionate.

Everywhere I turned, I was bumping into "somebody." Dennis Kucinich and his wife. Paul Cellucci. Charlie Gibson. The guy from Desperate Housewives, Jay Severin, Howie Carr, Margery Egan, Jim Braude, Pat Buchanan, Deval Patrick Jane Swift, Congressman Bill Delahunt. The list goes on. The Obama girl was up there, John Edwards stopped by our studios up there. But it was the little kids who came by who most impressed me. They lived in New Hampshire and already loved the political process. They were voting in their schools. They knew who each candidate was (btw, so do my kids, but that's another story!) They were special. I loved seeing politicians try to run away from our political editor Joe Battenfeld. Deval Patrick gave him such a hard time, I had to shake his hand. I loved the people who came by, just watching some taking pictures and others asking for autographs. Thank you for that.

I loved hearing people scream in the bathroom about Hillary's weepy moment and whether or not it was real. This was good theater. And I was so happy to have a front row seat. And I hope you watched and loved every minute of it, too!

Maria

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So, I'm up in the good old Granite State. The day before the primary and wow is all I can say, it's insane. I just took a walk to the bathroom and I was inundated with people who wanted to talk about their candidate. I was also approached by a man who tried desperately to convince me he will be the next President. Sorry, I wasn't buying it. Driving in, there is so much signage all around. In the snow banks, on the street -- everywhere. These people mean business. And I love every minute of it and I think the people of New Hampshire does, as well. This is exciting. There's something to be passionate about, even if it's hating a candidate.

But I want to know, how much are you guys paying attention to New Hampshire or the campaigns? We live and breathe it, but how about you?

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So, I called my mother yesterday at her Nashua, New Hampshire, home, and she seemed suprised to hear from me.  I don't know why.  I call this woman nearly every single day.  When I call, my number comes up as private, and she usually answers the phone with a cheery, "hi dear!"  But 'tis the season of politics, which means my Granite State mother is getting A LOT of private calls.  And they're not from me.  Ann Romney's called her.  Obama's called her.  John McCain.  You name it.  They've called her.  And they're more charming than her daughter!  They've promised her things,  they invite her to their events.  They're offering up the world!  Well Mom, I just want you to know, that after Tuesday, I'll still call you every day and I'll still invite you to things and I'll give you the world!  I won't disappear after the primary.  I promise.

Tell me that drives you crazy.  That we are used and schmoozed, and then dropped like hot  potatoes.  They never come back and engage us or really care what we think once they're in, unless of course, it's time for re-election!  As I told you before, I'm heading up to New Hampshire Monday.  If I have the chance, you can bet I'll mention this very blog to each and every candidate I can.  And I'll be live chatting on MyFoxBoston, starting at 2:30 pm.  Join me!

Maria

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So, I'm getting ready to head up to New Hampshire next week to cover the New Hampshire Primary and decided to take our Matchmaker 2008 quiz. It helps pair you with the candidates who are closest to your beliefs. It was fun, we all laughed here, but the bottom line is, we like who we like. It starts with the issues and it's also other things. How do you feel when they talk? Do they move you, stir passion, make you angry? And at this point, quiz or not, I'm just not feeling that yet. How about you?

Maria

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You've probably seen the tape by now. During a campaign stop this week in South Carolina, a John McCain supporter asked him: "How do we beat the BLEEP?"

That supporter was referring to Hillary Clinton. McCain responded by laughing and saying: "That's an excellent question".

McCain is now being criticized for even responding to the woman. So today, he was asked about it and said that he's always voiced his respect for Hillary and that he can't control what other people say…

He's right. He can't control what other people say but he can control what HE says. And how HE responded. When asked "How do we beat the BLEEP?" He could have replied There's no place for that kind of talk here. Let's talk about what we can do to get our country on track... etc. Ignore it. Shift the focus. Rise above it. Excellent question was a stupid response. What do you guys think? How do you think he should have answered?