QUINCY — Even before his trial on corruption charges, his Democratic friends had shunned him. During his disastrous run for governor, his own running mate deserted him and endorsed his Republican rival. It was little surprise when he garnered just 8 percent of the vote.
Now that his trial has ended in a deadlocked jury, former state treasurer Timothy P. Cahill is hoping to resume a quiet life in Quincy, working at a small investment firm in neighboring Braintree. Already a marginal figure in state politics, he is out of power and unlikely to run for office again.
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City and state politicians from Quincy (and, to an extent, all of Norfolk County) form a very tightly closed shop. There are rules in this Tree Fort for the boys who wish to play there. Timmy Cahill broke the rules. That doesn't mean you get thrown out of the tree, just shunned, until you reach the stage of "total vindication." Your fellow limb sitters practice "plausible deniability" to the rest of the world, while privately sawing away with gusto until you fall out for good. Unless you can hang on by your fingernails, as Mr. Cahill has done. One such Quincy branch brother is John Keenan, a local who never had a job that Quincy or commonwealth taxpayers did not pay for. He is now a state senator. Yesterday, The Patriot Ledger reported Mr. Keenan's saying that "Cahill was simply doing his job by supporting the Lottery." But, he added, “I wasn’t aware of all the details (in the case), but I know Tim and my sense was that he had an obligation to the Lottery, and I do believe that’s what he did. He ran those ads because of his obligations as the state treasurer.” The Ledger also reported" "Keenan said he hopes Coakley doesn’t pursue a retrial against Cahill. Furthermore, he wants to see charges dropped against former Lottery chief of staff Alfred Grazioso, who is accused of intimidating two witnesses in the Cahill case." What are details to the Boys in the Tree?
Only 'till the smoke settles . . . after all he did nothing wrong _ right?