Still, O'Leary isn't completely disinterested in electoral politics.
"I would love to see Tim Pawlenty as the Republican nominee for president in 2012," she said, referring to the governor of Minnesota, who has publicly lauded the Tea Party members.
Oh, and we weren't just being irreverent: there were real elephants in the parking lot between Free and Spring streets, courtesy of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey. The election was really the second greatest show on Earth.
Related:
Caprio's Clinton fixation, Brown's Mark Blyth on austerity, virtue, and why the Democrats are like your mom, Does Obama have the cojones to win?, More 
- Caprio's Clinton fixation
It was the highlight of Democrat Frank Caprio's bid for governor: an endorsement by Bill Clinton before an enormous American flag at the Rhode Island Convention Center.
- Brown's Mark Blyth on austerity, virtue, and why the Democrats are like your mom
On the heels of this fall's Tea Party tempest, austerity is all the rage in Washington. Witness President Obama's call for a five-year freeze in domestic spending in his the State of the Union speech this week and the GOP's push, in response, for a far fuller gutting of the federal government.
- Does Obama have the cojones to win?
To make sense of this bizarre and dispiriting moment in American politics, here are the things one needs to appreciate.
- A lawyer’s adventures in bad judgment
People who know Keven McKenna know he is not a stupid man. Whether or not the Providence attorney, ex-state representative, and Harold Stassen of Providence mayoral races uses good judgment is another question.
- Split atop the RI Tea Party
The Rhode Island Tea Party, a right-wing assemblage best known for its tax day rally against government spending on the State House steps, was until recently run by three women — Colleen Conley, Marina Peterson and, to a lesser degree, Nan Hayden. But no more.
- Gifts of the magi
OK, so math isn't Poliquin's strong point. And he's a little shaky on consistency. But are those minor flaws enough to convince Santa to leave coal in his stocking?
- Interview: Raj Patel
"The opposite of consumption is not thrift but generosity; if you look at happiness studies, we are happiest when we give things away rather than when we accumulate or when we don't spend."
- Nobody dies
Some things in life are essential — beer, the MLB Network, caller ID — and some things aren't — tofu, Jay Leno, the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development.
- 2009 had some redeeming qualities - really
Let's get serious: For many Portlanders, 2009 was a crap year.
- Chaos Theory
In less than two weeks, when Massachusetts voters elect Martha Coakley to the US Senate — let's not pretend that Republican state senator Scott Brown has any chance of pulling off the monumental upset — they will trigger a massive domino effect that has the state's political class buzzing with anticipation.
- Alternatives abound
The 2009 tax increases around the country.
- Less
Topics:
This Just In
, Politics, Political Parties, Bill Clinton, More
, Politics, Political Parties, Bill Clinton, Olympia Snowe, Tim Pawlenty, elections, University of Southern Maine, Chellie Pingree, Dean Scontras, Voting, Less
