vennochi, you have the stones to talk about a pol using photo-ops and say nary a word about the king of such ploys, that being the former bag man turned mayor of a formerly once proud and great city. ya ever see when arne duncan, your favorite presidents sec. ed. is in town whose front and center of said photo ops? but, when as usually happens when this gasbag mayor is through meddling, the you know what hits the you know what, mayor photo ops is nowhere to be soon. just poor ol carol johnson left all by herself to dangle in the wind to face the irate parents of boston public school children.with menino, it ain't a matter of black or white, it's as usual, whats in the MEDDLE. btw vennochi, why don't you as a public service ask your favorite senatorial candidate, one e. warren what she thinks about WAL-MART being kept out of boston by mayor gasbag. the lady wants my vote, she'll answer that question.oh silly me, i forgot that you're one of the quartet of supposed influential journalists who for whatever reason are to scared to ask the tough questions that need to be asked. and answered. maybe santa will bring you , cullen ,mcgrory and lehigh some brand new stones for xmas.ma

What a fluff piece! To disparage Brown's background and life experiences is a real cheap shot. Ms. Warren has had a cushy life, hasn't she? Brown's problem is that he had the courage, energy and desire to improve his life and emerge as a moderate rather than demanding more and more for "free" from government. And, by the way, every politician has photo-ops. Or don't you remember the Duke in a tank!

This column is beneath the smarmy standard Joan usually sets for herself. Scott Brown does have a very impressive life considering his upbringing. Only a rabid hater could declare that he was not homeless, and suggest that he does not really understand the plight of the homeless. NEW PARAGRAPH: It is columns like this which seriously diminish the standing of the Globe.

This plainly stinks! What a slanted, political claptrap piece of trash column. Please retire, Joan. I have had enough of your stupid, blatant, political junk writing.

Sen. Kerry is too busy with his inside stock trading and junkets to foreign capitals to bother with poor kids in Massachusetts. Maybe Bay State voters will show Liveshot the door in 2014.

Ignoring the -ahem "substance" of the piece.... These kids should NOT be counting on Sen. Brown in the same way that the kids in California, Ohio or any other state should not be counting on Sen. Brown. This is a local problem and they should be provided for locally. In fact, Sen. Kerry could provide an endowment for this and many other organizations from his personal wealth that could fund these types of programs forever...instead he asks all of us to pay for it. The Constitution says we should 'promote' then general welfare not provide it.

There is a disconnect when politicians leave their home state for Washington, D.C., and then return for the "photo opportunity" described here. Sen. Brown's brusque dismissal of a reporter's queries do not surprise, but they certainly sadden a reader who realizes that the disconnect is deep, and that the only issues Sen. Brown cares about are those that will get him elected. As for Sen. Kerry -- well, that's another story entirely, and, hopefully, without being shamed into doing so, he will demonstrate measurable humanitarianism and re-connect with his constituency here at home.

Don't quote a poll that doesn't come from Rassmussen... unless of course you are trying to sell a lie...

Awww, commenters, you mean the little kids in the photo didn't melt your hearts? You don't want to get out your checkbooks and send the agency a donation? What's that you say? You've hardened your hearts against the overwhelming tide of needy people, some of whom you're pretty sure are just scamming the system? Well, why else would Senator Brown take the time to stop by the shelter? He certainly knew he wasn't going to get any votes from the kids or the adults there. He must have been sending a particular message to his supporters, but what a complicated one it is. Let's see, maybe it goes something like "I'm sad for these little kids and these homeless families, but I'm not interested in providing any more public assistance for them, as my supporters are counting on me not to do. The families will have to earn their way out of their terrible situations themselves. I have a duty to get the federal budget under control, before we're all homeless. But even though I have no words of hope for this agency and these homeless families, it was worth my while to stop by and let them know I'm thinking of them this holiday season. Because, after all, I am their Senator, so I should stop by once and a while, right?" ("And, pssst, don't forget, it's election season!") "Goodnight, Moon."

Joan, your Brown obsession is getting creepy!

As usual Joan takes a shot at Brown for every program that receives funding from the feds. A couple of things 1.Our congress and administration spent 1.5 trillion more than they took in last year. 2. John Kerry was on the super committee to reduce the deficit by 1.2 trillion over 10 years and didn't get the job done. 3. The MA delegation has yet to offer or submit any recommendation as to how to reduce the deficit despite them being electorially bullet proof and 4. There are no cuts, just a reduction in increase