-- Coming up for air... looks like the Garnett trade has unravelled on its own and if he has an opt-out after 1 year as noted, it's for the best not to swap out Al Jefferson. But in Pierce-Garnett sure brought back memories of spring 2002 - only better. RE Andre Kirilenko, check out this list of myriad injuries (called by Peter May today)- it poses the question whether 'Kirilenko' is Russian for 'JD Drew.' I still see the #5 pick swapped given that available players (a) don't look like difference-makers, (b) are too similar to Big Al, (c) both (a) and (b)...

-- RE your post yesterday on property taxes: 'revolt' against government seems a strong conclusion. Would love to see some demographics on how many of the anti-override voters are dependent on Social Security and state pensions. (Also that the government-bashers are dropping like flies from talk radio - Howie Carr is an anomaly.) I think your first instinct was much more accurate: people who vote against overrides just can't afford them. It's a revolt against high costs.

ALSO - very important - those voting against aren't directly affected by the town services driving cost increases: schools. I don't know any parents who like voting permanent tax increases - BUT they do it because they see the taxes as inextricably linked to quality of education. If I'm right, the real worry will come in about 6-8 years when the baby boom generation is finished with Massachusetts public schools, deep into college costs, and thinking about flipping their houses for cheaper places to live. Even affluent towns won't vote overrides after 2012 - and then we will have a REAL problem.

The best solution is (non-government subsidized) economic growth, with some alleviation of tax inequities. Note in yesterday's story on the Stoneham sports & music wipeout how much of the town's property base is not taxable: One of the great ironies in Massachusetts is how many pro-override voters love their green space...

-- Defer the Nixonian comparisons to the present Bush administration, only to ask if that makes the present Democratic voices McGovernite?