This is a strangely objective account of the Tierney Tisei debate. Previous coverage of this contest has been more worthy of Fox News than the Boston Globe. The debate itself was pretty standard fare, platitudes from Mr Tisei and laundry lists from Mr. Tierney (that would be empty platitudes and clean laundry, by the way). Not mentioned was the Tisei people with bull horns just outside the grounds of North Shore Community College shouting insults about Mr. Tierney and his wife. What is interesting about that is that it reveals to ugly core of the Republican campaign and it is based on the testimony of convicted felons. Relying on the Eremian brothers is like relying on Al Capone as a character witness. You can do it...but is it a good move?

I was there, didn't notice any bullhorns. Tierney sneered a lot, began to attack early in the debate, while Tiseil focusing on bipartisaship, looked nothing like the "extremist" that Tierney kept referring to. After several of these attacks, Tisei showed the audience a flyer from the Tierney camp stating that he will "end Medicare"; many in the audiece seemed surprised by the obvious lie, except for those of us who have received, so far, seven of these attack Tisei flyers in the mail. The younger men I know haven't received them so they are clearly targeted mailings. Audience couldn't ask questions, so I couldn't ask Tierney if the goal is to scare women or senior citizens.