Title: Deval Patrick: A Reluctant Politician?

" This is the WBUR news podcast for Friday October 23 service of -- UB UR. Boston's NPR news station I'm Bob -- coming up. We examine Governor Deval Patrick sometimes frosty relationship with the leaders of his own party also Boston's first book festival opens this weekend. And -- today. Just as the traditional winter flu season gets closer. Massachusetts is experiencing shortages and delays of vaccines. For both the H1N1 swine flu and the seasonal flu. It's forcing some communities to cancel vaccination clinics they planned for coming weeks. To talk about the delays and what's causing them and what they mean for people who want the vaccine and maybe need to Maxine. When I turned it WBUR his health and science reporter Sacha Pfeiffer Sanjay good morning and morning -- Sasha what you around -- the community when you talk to people concerned. About the clues people concerned because of all the news coverage -- yes they're all this confusion. Were public health officials aren't prepared even though they knew last spring that H1N1 well."

" A problem well state officials say these delays are not their fault. The federal government is purchasing all the H1N1 vaccine so Massachusetts has no control over when the vaccine gets here. And the federal government is waiting for manufacturers to make enough H one vaccine to around between -- one vaccine. The problem for those manufacturers is there's a double demand for the services. Because the same manufacturers who make -- very much in demand seasonal vaccine are also making the new H1N1 vaccine. Here's Lawrence -- the State's medical director."

" These manufacturers are having to do really an unprecedented. Thing which is to create and to produce millions and millions of doses of two kinds of vaccines simultaneously."

" And the manufacturers just can't keep up with demand. At this point they're focusing on making more H1N1 in seasonal vaccine and that's why we and people in the rest of the country are seen delays in getting both of them so how much."

" H1N1 vaccine is available right now and as anyone other than healthcare workers able to get it."

" There's been a very limited amount of H1N1 vaccine available. Not very much and some providers -- ran an out of that right away. For now it's just people in high risk groups who have a chance to get the vaccine that includes children pregnant women and as you say health care workers but even -- people on high risk groups such as -- pregnant women say they can't find a place to get vaccinated aren't they at the top of the list. They are supposed to be first in line. But it turns out there's not just one H1N1 vaccine. They're almost a dozen different formulations meant for different groups of people some for babies others for teenagers and so. Even more complicated there's no way to find out much in advance how much beach formulation -- is gonna get. So you can't plan ahead of time."

" How to match the vaccines available with what providers have requested it sounds like a complicated and difficult distribution process extremely."

" The state medical director Tony great analogy she says distributing this vaccine is like throwing a big dinner party without knowing how many people are coming -- and what you're cooking. Until a bag of groceries is delivered five minister for the party. And you've got to make the meal and then everybody tells you the food allergies and the food likes and dislikes so if you're out they're hoping to get the vaccine one of the questions you're probably asking is will all of these canceled clinics be rescheduled what's what's the hope there most of them are postponed indefinitely. Right now state health officials in Massachusetts could have enough H1N1 vaccine to hold clinics in late November but they're not positive it -- in my -- December. So local public health directors who canceled clinics like Jennifer Sullivan and situated a really hesitant to be definitive."

" I am in good company with a lot of like how except the country definitely."

" Playing -- scheduling -- anything but we have the vaccine and our security. They really want an open next time capsules go."

" So for the general public its weight and patiently if possible."

" Unfortunately yes but remember that the flu season is long and health officials aren't even sure how on VH one N one virus will be around. So state medical director Lawrence Smith says people shouldn't feel like there's a limited window of opportunity to get vaccinated."

" We do have time and be encouraged people. Not to give up in the sense that if they haven't gotten by certain date they feel like it's not important yet no matter when it becomes available we really encourage people again."

" supplies to both vaccines into -- and one in seasonal and what about cases flu cases up down holding steady."

" We're seeing a little uptick in what's called influenza like illness but nowhere -- with southern states like Florida and Georgia and South Carolina Arsene."

" WBUR health and science reporter Sacha Pfeiffer thanks lot for coming in this Friday you welcome. -- Sasha and state medical director Lawrence Smith and you just heard today at noon for our latest Friday flo forum alive online discussion at our website WBUR dot award. Sasha will take your questions about the swine flu virus today at noon at WBUR dog door."

" President Obama will be in Boston this afternoon headlining a luncheon fund raiser for Governor Patrick. The event cost between 506000. Dollars a person. Money that Patrick and the state Democratic Party will use to boost Patrick 22 and re election bid. But -- WBUR spread -- reports resistance to the give and take that comes with Beacon Hill politics. Frequently puts Patrick at odds with other leaders in his own party. Last night Deval Patrick was addressing students at the Kennedy school of government. The topic was public service and you could hear that his public service has taken a toll on him over the last two years."

" I will admit that there were a few things that I did not anticipate. I knew there would be close media scrutiny but I did not anticipate. That sometimes I would be left feeling that if I walked on water. The headlines flash would be Patrick can't swim. I knew that change would come slowly. That I did not anticipate that we would sometimes have to do hand to hand combat with members of my own hard. Patrick then recounted some of his accomplishments in the last two years we have closed and eight. Billion dollar budget gap so far and delivered three budgets that were responsible. Transparent. Balance and on time who have -- in the state pension system. Tighten the ethics and lobbying rules and -- 49 other states. By introducing civilian flag has instead of police officers to state construction sites changes. People have been clamoring for in our commonwealth for over twenty years that we have delivered from."

" Patrick perspective and from the perspective of his staff he's been tremendously successful and -- most of his agenda. They acknowledge failures the governor was not able to get the gas tax passed. And although he tried hard to stop the sales tax. In the end. He was the only way the legislature was willing to raise money to close a budget deficit that keeps -- wider every month but what about that hand to hand combat with members of his own party. Lawmakers say the governor will work with them. Last may raid in the middle of negotiations over what kind of taxes the state should raise. Senate president Teresa -- appeared on radio talk show WBZ's night side with Dan -- and said this about the governor."

" Unfortunately he's kind of making himself irrelevant at this point in the game which is too bad because we really need it. We haven't had a democratic governor in sixteen years then did make -- they."

" We called senate president Murray's office three times to talk to her for the story about how she works with the governor never heard back. In the summer and other state senator also vented her frustration with the governor publicly. During the hearing the state senator complained to a crowd of 100 people that the governor was in her district making an announcement about federal stimulus money. And had even bothered twin fighter. One of the governor's former staffer says the legislature just isn't used to a governor who fights back the state senator did not call us back. Neither did the chairman of the house and senate ways and means committees. Nor speaker Robert Leo. When legislators said no Democrat wants to criticize the governor in public because he's the democratic governor going into a tough election. This legislator says Patrick is perceived by just about everybody as having campaigned against the legislature. Ever since he's been in office but doesn't understand -- he's responsible for the rift with lawmakers. The Senate Republican leader Richard to say is not reluctant to criticize."

" The governor's office is -- really communicating with anybody in the legislature. So we can't really plan offered anything that we're hearing from them because. They don't talk to either Democrats or Republicans in the legislature late."

" A top official from a previous administration appreciates the challenges Patrick faces. Marty Lansky who was Republican governor bill Weld's chief council. Says Patrick and his administration has the liabilities and the virtues of being outsiders."

" They have a tremendous passion for. The changes they won't debate the downside the cricket -- head. You fingertips then little chase. Full debate this all of kicks there's actually make things happen and they know it's not where does the governor and its people were signed up for."

" But democratic state representative jay Kaufman of Lexington. Thinks that's too simple an explanation."

" I -- many unfairly and more importantly inaccurately. See that the governors votes the policy making and player of ideas. But hates the politics. And I think that misses the mark by a lot. I don't teach hatred. But I don't think he gets any pretense of joy from what sort of he -- sits."

" We weren't able to talk to Governor Patrick about any of this for the story but his staff suggested we talked to John Walsh the chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic Party. And Walsh does not seem Patrick a reluctant politician."

" Don't think he's reluctant at all particularly in the give and take -- accomplish something and I think there's ample evidence of that. For example in the the need for revenue this past year the governor was not -- the system that wasn't his first proposal. In digital content and wanted to get intakes and engage in there was put on the table three pending. Reform practice."

" So Walsh says Patrick forced the legislature to push through the reforms in exchange for which he agreed to the sales tax. Wash his point is if Patrick is such a bad politician how come he got most of his agenda passed by the legislature this year. For WBUR. --"

" Dozens of internationally recognized writers such as Richard Russo and Cornell west are visiting Boston this weekend. They're taking part. In the workshops panel discussions performances and readings for the first ever annual Boston book festival which opens tomorrow in Copley Square. To find out more about the festival of which we should say WBUR. Is -- media partner. And find out what makes Boston attractive to writers we talk with -- festival's founder and president Deborah Porter talk about Boston from the writer's point of view in a couple of different ways if you can what is it about this city. That provides such a rich source of material for writers who write about Boston or based their stories in Boston --"

" Boston has an interest in history and great neighborhoods and so writers have a lot to write about that respect the variety and diversity of the neighborhoods."

" I think that for writer Boston is a great place because we have so many readers and is that why we have as you said a minute ago an embarrassment of Rich's wife is Boston such a haven for writers."

" I think writers are attracted by the university's we have here the writing programs. So I think that. -- people are attracted the area for that reason and stayed because Boston's a great place to lift the Boston Globe hosted a book festival back in 2003 but unlike other cities."

" Boston hasn't had an annual book festival like this one what was the inspiration for this event."

" Boston is the only major city and even the only minor city in the United States and even the world that doesn't have a big public event to celebrate the culture. And it seemed an insidious of readers intellectuals and universities that that was something that was lacking in the city of Boston. And sign a few other people got together and said let's put -- a book festival."

" It's been a long road getting to the opening of the festival with a kick off tonight and then the festival itself tomorrow you've been working on this for. Some time."

" We had a lot of learning to do about how one goes about putting together a team of cultural institutions and then getting sponsors to fund festival because we are an independent. Nonprofit the festival comes as the number of people."

" Reading books using technology. Instead of the printed page is growing and growing rapidly. Are you among those worried or excited about that I know the technology is going to be addressed at the hospital."

" It is we are having a program on the future reading books about patients. But I'm not worried I'm excited at the prospects of technology in reading her the day goes by without a new entrant into the U reader market. Of all the events that are happening at the festival what is it that your most excited about. I'm most excited about or -- publicly is that 2006 winner of the Nobel prize for literature we'll be keeping our keynote presentation. He's agreed intellectual and a defender of free speech. And -- very honored to have him at the festival."

" Given what you've seen so far are you confident that this. First annual book festival will in fact become an annual event after 2009."

" Absolutely there's been so much excitement and anticipation for this book festival and I am confident that it will continue. Step reporter thanks a lot for coming in got to meet -- thank you for having me."

" One of Boston's greatest modern writers won't be at the festival he's dead. George V Higgins is perhaps better appreciated by outside critics than most Bostonians. Higgins wrote as a columnist for both the Boston Globe and the Boston Herald and brought a sense of place to the dialogue. Of his characters. WBUR is David O'Leary has this profile."

" As a writer George V Higgins had a leg breakers ability to grab you hard -- you wouldn't -- now. A Boston now because none of these 26 novels transpired more than an hour or two outside the city. He was all business he's writing -- lean he knew the place and he knew ought to tell the story. Here's the first line of its first novel the friends -- cool Jackie Brown 26. Would no expression on his face. Said -- he gets some guns with that Georgie and which you smack up against the unfolding story of his most famous creation. Eighty -- an aging street criminal O Lloyd Hammond -- running guns to some of his pals who robbed banks. Oil and his fictional friends with the underclass of the underclass and Higgins had a combined in inhabited their world. As a state and federal prosecutor organized crime and men as a criminal defense attorney on the flip side. He knew the mean streets he knew who. The high fluid types as well he knew the accidents. Com he's known for his style like I mean no one can touch them for dial. Boston Globe columnist Sam Alice vividly recalls some of the scenes in the book that would also repeat themselves. In the acclaimed movie of the same name. Listen to any court showing up for extra knuckles on his left hand to gun dealer Jackie Brown first time they meet."

" No -- got those. I bought some stuff from a man that I had his name and it got Trace. Them and I bought a floor. He went to MCI Walpole fifteen to 25. Still in hand but he had some friends shut my hand and a draw more -- one of them stop the door shut. Having your bones breaking. Just like a man snapped and shingle. Hurts like a bastard."

" Long before The Sopranos. And the -- Tarantino. George -- Higgins was giving unique natural voice. To hoods and their wives and even low level defense attorneys chasing their next case while their creditors chase them. When Elmore Leonard called the friends of Eddie -- the best crime novel ever written he couldn't have known that -- begins hated being called crime."

" He saw himself as a and more with shelves victims of crime and bless them and they're just a crime right there. He just understood the human condition and he understood that it was most vivid in language and and -- among alliance."

" In the sixties and seventies reporter James long would delve into the same world with ride to see this begins to. Life magazine dubbed Boston the murder capital of America. Cops grew up with Roberts. And both were on the take. Deacons draws it hard -- I can't think to a greater -- and actually he gets created his own genre and it was a matchup. For all of the fiction Higgins in coal oil real and artificial shared the same world he against traffic with the real life -- coils. As a prosecutor Higgins listened -- wired -- says they applauded he interrogated. Cut deals with them heard them sing for their supper. Then as a defense attorney heard all their excuses. Them at their sentencing. Would Higgins called toothbrush date he heard them plead with the judge in one of his novels and old career burglar tries to win a judge's sympathy."

" Kerry resettled his thin shoulders inside the CD blue suit -- he keeps for such a raids. Along with the white broad cloth shirt with the sixteen inch color that looks like a great -- fifteen inch neck. Makes them think that you've been sick and -- feel sorry for. -- pulled it when they let a modern day Amber's got himself a pardon from president Truman meal bastards. Works every time."

" Higgins has an understanding. For human failings. It was made here by his own sense of failing say that friends of George Higgins. One of them was Jimmy self betrayal was to me theology is works. In -- novel the friends of -- cool. -- gives up the gun dealer Jackie Brown to a federal agent in order to stay out of prison. Only to find out the agent once more. Now he breaks the -- he gives up his friends the bank robbers. Eddie looks like the -- yet the feds do nothing to protect him his best friend Dillon gets the -- contract to kill him. And as it turns out Dylan was the real -- and government informant working both sides of the street. Close friend Michael -- witnessed the commercial breakthrough with the friends of -- Kuwait."

" You know at the end of the day that's when he -- that everybody betrays everybody in the course of the book. And including the prosecution cross betraying the performance -- they be trading informants Dillon. -- for the prosecutors have."

" In the last act of the novel that was George Higgins opening act as a writer. Eighties XEQ shooters and best friend takes into a Bruins game in the old garden. Drunk on cheap beer in the nose bleed section eighty revels in Bruins still are -- you war. Christ. Numb before. Bobby you'll what do future he's got. Two pages later -- future and it's three miles north on a road off route 91. In a core with an empty global. He established himself with -- one book as a major writer and he could always sell his next book. With a stunning emancipation of this first success. Higgins dumped seventeen previously unpublished ones in the town land as trash. Then went on to write and publish 25 more. He was the toast of the town -- character playing -- trench coated heavy smoking heavy drinking. A brilliant but what conversation list and a -- a regular. Like Eddie Coyle George V Higgins died of his own failings just short of 70. Years ago this November. A boat Boston he'd seen at all heard it all in told its stories. For WBUR. I'm David aware."

" This podcast is a free service of WBUR Boston. To make a contribution to support the news go to our website wbur.org."