The American Spectator

Washington Prowler

p> KERRY STRIKES br> Traffic in Boston was barely evident on Sunday evening as the Prowler bopped into town for the big Democratic party that is already developing across the city known for its Freedom Trail, its fine Italian restaurants and Irish bars. /p>

But all is not well in DNC land. Throughout the city, event planners and lobbyists setting up large parties and fundraisers for the coming week were developing plans B and C due to continuing fears about local union disruptions.

"It's a mess. I've never seen anything like this," said one lobbyist in his hotel lobby. "We have a party planned, but no guarantee that it will come off, because there are threats from local unions to picket out front. Now my client is looking at covering the tab for an event that many folks won't bother to come to. It's embarrassing that it has come to this."

Two weeks ago, the man for whom this weeklong party has been planned -- Sen. John Kerry -- had been in Beantown to quell concerns about organized labor disruptions, but Kerry's attempts at peacemaking apparently didn't take.

The Kerry camp lays much of the blame for the city's ongoing troubles at the feet of its Democratic mayor, Tom Menino. Menino's people blame the DNC, as well as Kerry. All of this, despite a meeting between Menino and Kerry only a few days ago.

Menino was working feverishly throughout last week and into the weekend to reach at least tentative agreements with police and firefighters unions, as well as other municipal unions, to block any attempts on their part to upset a critical week for Kerry and the city. Late Sunday, Menino was claiming victory, claiming there would be labor peace for at least the next week.

p> KERRY MISSES THE SIGN br> Sen. John Kerry , attempting to burnish his image as an everyman appeared at Fenway Park on Sunday night and threw out the first pitch at the Yankees-Red Sox game. The appearance was supposed to be a surprise, but Kerry couldn't help touting the event to reporters on the plane from Ohio. /p>

topics:
Unions