(Providence, Rhode Island)

Happy 69th birthday to Vincent A. "Buddy" Cianci, Jr. The former Mayor of Providence was the toast of the town Wednesday night at Waterplace Bar & Restaurant, where we celebrated the "30th anniversary of his 39th birthday!"

The event was a fundraiser for the scholarship fund that bears Buddy's name. The fund, by Buddy's account, has sent a couple of hundred local kids who needed some help to college over the years.

Speaking of college, that is one thing Buddy and I have in common. He is a 1966 graduate of the Marquette University Law School, and I am a 1981 graduate of the Marquette University College of Speech (now the College of Communication). Hopefully, the alumni magazine will publish our photo from above!

Many of you outside of Rhode Island (especially my kids) will recognize his name from the fictitious "Buddy Cianci Junior High School," which Chris Griffin attends on the FOX TV show "Family Guy!"

Buddy and I now work together at WLNE-TV ABC-6 in Providence. He is our Chief Political Analyst, and I am the Weekend Anchor and Chief Political Reporter.

Check us out on-air, or online at www.ABC6.com.

Cheers!

(Boston, Massachusetts)

It was a fascinating day covering the "Tea Party Express" in Boston today.

Whether you like her or not--and there are plenty of people on both sides--Sarah Palin remains a powerful political figure in the American conservative movement. I don't think she'll ever run for office again, but she will remain a galvanizing ideologue and prolific fundraiser for causes in which she believes.

There were a lot if cheering conservatives, booing liberals, and fascinated and supportive independents in the crowd today. Hey, that's what Boston Common--a site just blocks from the original "Tea Party"--should be about. Here is my story from ABC-6 News tonight!

http://ww.abc6.com/Global/story.asp?S=12309906

I don't adocate for any side or for any party. What I do advocate is that people inform themselves and participate in the democracy.

It is YOUR country, not the politicians'! So, own it and foster it!