Check out my latest column in the NU News:

Last week's victory for Deval Patrick signaled the end of an amazing race. More than any other single campaign, Patrick's has changed me by making me hopeful and excited about our ability as citizens to bring change more than ever before. His campaign reminded me just how strong a force for good politics can be, and how easily it can bring people together. Repeatedly, Patrick said his campaign had moved away from being a regular campaign. It was becoming a "movement for change." This movement should continue as a constant campaign to be ever better citizens...

A new poll out today shows that most Americans do not believe that Democrats have a concrete plan for Iraq:

While voters in Election Day surveys said corruption and scandal in Congress were among the most important factors in their vote, the postelection poll indicated 37 percent of all adults said the war in Iraq should be at the top of the congressional agenda during the next two years. Nevertheless, 57 percent of all adults in the AP-Ipsos poll said Democrats do not have a plan for Iraq; 29 percent said they do.

We need to have clear positions as a party on such issues as Iraq, health care, and education. We do not have to lock ourselves in an ideological box but it is important that we know -- and more importantly that voters know where we stand on the issues. This should be a big part of the lead up to 2008.

Otherwise we are going to end up with lines like these from the NUCR's Dave Moberg:

We know we are better than that.

It is rare to see a bunch of news about Representative Capuano.

I saw this first on NYT's The Caucus Blog:

Ms. Pelosi has named Representative Michael S. Capuano of Massachusetts to head her transition team.

The story appears in greater detail in todays Boston Globe:

WASHINGTON -- House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi yesterday named US Representative Michael E. Capuano of Somerville to head her transition team, as Pelosi prepares to take over as the first female House speaker in history in January.

The assignment will give Capuano a major role in shaping the House agenda for the beginning of the term, as well as oversight on a host of logistical issues involving the change from Republican to Democratic control of the House. Capuano said the transition team will help determine office assignments, make staffing decisions, and maintain budget controls.

"It's going to be one humongous pain in the neck, but it has to be done," said Capuano, adding that the assignment is likely to keep him in Washington for much of the next six weeks. "I've never been in the majority, so we're going to start from scratch."

Capuano, a former Somerville mayor who coasted to a fifth two-year term last week, holds the House seat once occupied by the late House speaker Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill of Cambridge.

In a statement, Pelosi said she is turning to Capuano because of his experience heading a task force charged with reexamining House Democratic caucus rules. That committee has not yet issued recommendations, and Capuano said he expects some of that work to be coordinated with his efforts on the transition team.

Now that the election is over it is about time to get this blog rolling again. These last few months we have spent so much time doing the small yet important parts of the campaign from the phone calls to the stand outs to the calling of volunteers and we have seen the difference it makes. Thank you to everyone that has helped Deval Patrick become the next Governor of this state.

At this time we still have a lot of work to do. It is not enough to just win the election and then stop working. As citizens we must maintain our commitment to the values and ideas that we have worked toward in this campaign. It is our responsibility to keep this campaign alive and to keep our leaders in check.

This blog will be an exchange of ideas and opinions and more importantly a constant discussion.

The new Christy Mihos ads are pretty nuts but I think they could play a role in the race. Have a look here through this CBS4 Link:

(CBS4) BOSTON Independent candidate Christy Mihos has released an outrageous new political ad that is just for adults.

The spot Mihos hopes will reshape the race for governor is so edgy; it will air only at night.

Commercial: (Mihos) Mr. Engineer, why is the big dig $12 billion over budget?

(Engineer) Well, um…

Call it Mihos' view of state government. “Some people will be offended and should be offended,” said Mihos. “It's real stuff.”

Commercial: (Mihos to Massachusetts politicians) “Hey how did big dig get $12 billion over budget?

(Politicians) Simply put...

And they're not just putting their tail between their legs. This ad is meant to do one thing for the Independent Mihos campaign. “Politics isn't beanbag and this is the ugly truth,” said Mihos.

This is interesting. People care about this stuff and I think if it helps anyone -- it helps Deval because he is really the only other outsider in this. We shall see...