Duke Dooval

Royalty has re-emerged after some 230 years in Boston: all hail King Dooval, Duke of Hurl, Overlord of Cambridge. Here the King imagines grasping all your tax dollars. He seems to be enjoying the sensation.

Duke Doovie is up to his eyebrows in corporate money. $50,000 a pop for his coronation. His speech is set to take place on the State House steps -- traditionally, where the exiting Governor has his last photo op as he and spouse descend the steps for the last time. But the Duke (smells like left-over Dukakis, but more royal), wants to hold his speech for the people there. Trouble is that the people are not really invited, the corporate donors are.

Key players in the shake-down of corporations seeking to do business with the Commonwealth are: (1) Jack Connors, Chairman of the Board of Partners Health ... also paid $500,000 to lobbyists to make sure that King Duke says OK to the healthcare reform bill which is to grant $200 million of Medicaid reimbursements to hospitals; (2) Cheryl Cronin, a powerful Democrat lawyer representing Tom Finneran, and BECHTEL; (3) Bob Crow, the lawyer at the Boston rep office of Wolf, Block (a Philly firm) and a "good friend of John Kerry"; (4) Robert Beal, a real estate developer removed from the board of MassDevelopment by Romney and said to be seeking re-admission to the board; and (5) Nick Littlefield, a lawyer friend of Senator Blowbag and a lobbyist seeking to streamline zoning and regulations for biotech firms. Nobody, then, with an agenda....

Cyndi Roy, a member of the King's transition team, refused to release the names of and amounts donated by contributors on the transition website, but pledged absolute transparency ... but not when. How about in 100 years, or as a result of the next indictment?