When the Tea Party rabble-rousers began chanting “You Work For Us” at municipal employees, first responders, and state workers, I was hoping that some of them would at least slip on the ice patch lining the nook off Beacon Street where they parked their small parade. If Tuesday's labor rally kicked off as a respectable spat between several thousand union folks and a few dozen flag-waving morons, that incendiary declaration elevated the theater into all-out class warfare.

Inauguration isn't just a relatively thrilling circus that the Statehouse hosts once every four years. It's also the most superficial and elaborate production that the legislature acts in – and, as Beacon Hill observers are aware, these are some of the most splendid actors in the commonwealth, skilled enough to nurture token news items into weeks of political theater.

One thing even more certain than Tea Party bigotry is the fact that the Democratic demographic is a melting pot worthy of a college catalog cover. Outside of today's pres-assisted rally at the Hynes Convention Center, old folks, young cats, black, white, and Jersey-orange Oompa Loompas all congregated for a glimpse of United States Senator John Kerry.

As DEVAL PATRICK gears up for the fight of his political life, Boston Phoenix Executive Editor PETER KADZIS and political reporter DAVID BERNSTEIN sat down for an hour-long conversation to let Patrick make his case for why he deserves four more years as Governor of Massachusetts.

It was surprising on several levels.

I once saw a bumper sticker that read “Rape a Gay Whale for Jesus.” Assuming that the driver was not a homophobic bible boy who likes to diddle blowholes, it was possibly the most brilliant protest ever forced upon my eyeballs. I wish I had a massive oak tag shouting that catch phrase with me earlier this afternoon.

Going into this evening’s State of the Commonwealth address, Governor Deval Patrick knew that he would have to shine a little light on the dire predicament that Massachusetts and many of its residents find themselves in this winter. In short – he had to make lemonade out of local aid, and talk more about a green economy than the lack of green to float this economy.

“I like that early voting!” Governor Deval Patrick says; an off-the-cuff statement he makes in casual conversation while being fitted for a lavaliere microphone, not far from a sign that reads, ‘Elections are won in the last 72 hours.’

The second floor of 179 Lincoln Street is hopping today, despite the fact that the space, undergoing renovations, looks like the sort of concrete skeleton that trance-dancing rave organizers drool for.