Left In Lowell

Almost two years ago to the day, the editor of the Sun, Jim Campanini (JC I) couldn’t wait to let us bloggers have it because in his opinion the 2007 municipal election vindicated his friend, John Cox (JC II), the previous City Manager. (I would link to it but as you all know, the newspapers’ archives are not available to be linked.)

This is what JC I wrote:

THE BIGGEST losers on Tuesday were the local bloggers and their anyone-but-Cox-endorsed candidates. Wearing the long faces were the Left in Lowell liberals and Richard Howe Jr., the full-time Middlesex Register of Deeds, part-time Middlesex Community College instructor, occasional talk-show gadfly and incessant political blogger. (As previously mentioned, Ross-Sitcawich, a big LIL favorite, saw her council vote total drop 29 percent. On the School Committee side, LIL sister blogger Jackie Doherty dropped 18 percent, finishing fourth this year after topping the ticket in 2005. Oh my!)

For more than a year, Left in Lowell bloggers greedily published undocumented negative rumors and unverified comments pertaining to Cox,
while pushing the “professional” government of the pro-Lynch crowd. Howe more stylishly did the same, painting Cox and friends as the bad guys in a power struggle with the good guys. In the end, the bloggers’ blather for control of cyberminds — and votes — lacked credibility and had no impact. Every Cox candidate they blasted, except one, won council seats.

He couldn’t wait to slap everyone around, including Kristin and Jackie. Here is the link to Lynne’s post replying to JC II and mine.

So JC I, who were some of the biggest losers in this election? I am guessing JC II is on that list.

Says the Lowell Sun. Elliot is quoted in the breaking news article, including “Pundits will say what they will, but I assure you, securing the necessary five votes is not the primary reason.”

As (I suppose) a pundit, I could say a lot of things. I will refrain. But the real question is (since I doubt the votes would have been there for Elliot), who will be mayor?

*Phew* so the election season is over…all right, the local election season is over (we’re one month and counting for the special Senate primary, and a year away from 2010 Governor’s race). I hardly know what to do with myself.

I’ve been getting back into reading (sometimes in self defense when I get roped into playing percussion for one movement of one piece but have to go to an entire rehearsal *ahem* Mr. Lynne ) and I am looking for good book recommendations to read in my suddenly-available spare time.

As a bona fide geek, I tend towards sci-fi/fantasy, but I am out of touch with what is good out there any more. There are so many authors and a lot of junk on the shelves these days. (Anyone recommends Robert Jordan and I’ll choke!) But I also like contemporary fiction, especially of the British variety, and poetry. I don’t read a lot of nonfiction. That’s Mr. Lynne’s bailiwick (especially political books).

Therefore, this is a discussion thread about your favorite books and authors. So that we can take a break from all the politics and have some semblance of a life. What are you reading right now?