The people who really need protection from violent crime

First, some fun: Are Democrats cutting and pasting from the Healey campaign Web site? Via Scott Allen Miller, who also takes the time to try to stomp out Democratic zombies, or something.

OK, but what about those hordes of cop-killing rapists doing everything they can to elect Patrick?

Unlike Kerry Healey, Mike Mennonno actually lives in a neighborhood where violent crime occurs (Dorchester). He is not amused by what he says is her fearmongering:

She's out to scare the fancy pants offa folks in places like Beverly--remember, people outside of Boston and its environs vote for governor, too--where crime rates are not only much, much lower than in Boston, but also much lower than the national average. And there are actually lots of cities and towns in Massachusetts where this is the case, and the more affluent the better.

But it's not the wealthy who need protection from the kind of crime that's on the rise these days in Boston, it's the poor. Because it's the culture of despair that's producing the culture of crime. And the crime's fairly localized in low-income ghettos of despair. If you want to change that culture of violence you have to do more than meet it with force. A beefed-up police force is a good idea, sure. But it's not a cure for the culture of crime. You have to combat despair with hope, ignorance with education, dead-ends with opportunities.

Hub Politics makes the case that that cop killer at the State House was sent up there by a pro-Patrick correctional union solely to embarrass Healey:

The real question should about about MACOFU's role in Walker's placement at the State House. Was it a setup? It certainly looks like it.

New England Republican makes the case that if Patrick is elected, he will have the right to pardon all violent criminals (note to New England Republican: Read up on the governor's council). Also:

Deval Patrick seems to have a problem with the truth.

Adam Reilly ponders Patrick's pseudo-apology:

Let me be clear: Patrick had good reason to get involved with the LaGuer case. And it's absurd to criticize him for effectively representing Carl Ray Songer. The fact that Kerry Healey is making these major campaign issues highlights the basic poverty of her candidacy. But Patrick needs to handle Healey's attacks far more artfully. If he can't, he'll be trouble come November.

On Blue Mass. Group, FrankSkeffington says the way Patrick should respond is, and I quote:

... ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK

Pericles, though, argues it's not that bad:

The Repubs are loosing and when they are loosing they hit below the belt... what else is new?

And Jon Keller, no stranger to frothing at the mouth , says chill:

What's wrong with this statement? For starters, the writer seems not to have noticed that Patrick has already been stripping the bark off Healey and Romney for some time. Calmly, in a mildly rueful tone perhaps, but stripping it off nonetheless. The only thing that's gone wrong in Massachusetts in the last few years he hasn't blamed on her is the demise of the glazed cruller, and that's only because he hasn't thought of it.

Charley on the MTA watches the news cycle unroll on the whole thing.

David Weinberg blasts the Globe for what he says is playing right into the hands of a racist Republican smear campaign.

Optimistic Patriot says it's time for Mihos to drop out and back Healey.

Andy on Mass. Revolution Now wonders if it's time to send out a search party for Tom Reilly.

Kimberly Atkins notes that Healey put another $3 million of her own money into her campaign and that the latest poll still shows a big Patrick lead - and high unfavorables for the pride of Beverly.

John Keith wishes Patrick would stop yammering about the property tax:

Turns out, Massachusetts counties don’t have the worst property tax burden, in the country.