Such is it that in 2012, there are at least two candidates who are vying for the votes of voters who want to completely waste their votes.

I have confirmed that Christopher Hoffman, Chief Probation Officer at Hampshire Superior Court, has been arrested.

Hoffman was named in the Ware report on the patronage scandal in the state's probation system. The report suggested that Hoffman was given the CPO position over a more qualified candidate. The union that represents probation officers, NAGE, has brought a lawsuit on behalf of the candidate passed over for the job.

It's the only debate that matters! Join us Friday October 28 in Salem for the culmination of mankind's great experiment in democracy, when two candidates for President of the United States square off, with the future of the free world hanging in the balance! In one corner, the late ALEISTER CROWLEY

Tim Schofield told me a while back that he had decided not to run for the state senate seat being vacated by Steve Tolman -- but "upon further reflection," he tells me today, "I'm going to run."

Two state representatives, William Brownsberger of Belmont and Jonathan Hecht of Watertown, have already declared their candidacies.

Rob Consalvo, Sal LaMattina, and Mark Ciommo will endorse city council candidate John O'Toole today, I have learned.

It is a little unusual, though certainly not unheard of, for district councilors to stick their nose into another district's primary, and is certainly of interest given the tensions over the influence of "outsiders" in the race.

In the new issue of the Boston Phoenix -- in print and online today -- I write about the state of the Massachusetts Senate primary race, which appears to be narrowing rapidly to Elizabeth Warren chase by Alan Khazei.

But wait! I can now report that attorney James Coyne King will formally announce his entry into the race early next week.

Mitt Romney really cares a lot about illegal immigrants, when it gives him an opening against his chief political rival. He's pounding away at the issue lately, because Texas Governor Rick Perry, much like Texas Governor George W. Bush before him, has a relatively squishy record on harsh treatment of the undocmented. Likewise, four years ago Romney hammered on the topic furiously against US Senator John McCain, co-author of failed legislation dubbed "amnesty lite" by conservatives.

On the Scott Brown - Elizabeth Warren dust-up, I'll point you to Glen Johnson's take over at the little paper/web site across town; I pretty much agree with what he says there.

I do want to add the context of Scotto's story. I'm not trying to make much of this, but think it's worth noting in line with Johnson's thoughts about the apparent attempt to play hard-knock Brown vs.

Four years ago I wrote a lengthy article about the overlapping circles of Mitt Romney's business and political worlds -- and his manipulation of those intersections to enrich himself and those who were helpful to him, or could be in the future.

Today, Donovan Slack has a great article in the Boston Globe, about a remarkable new equity fund created after the 2008 election cycle by Romney's top fundraiser Spencer Zwick and Romney scion Taggart.

Early in the Tea Party movement days, I wrote the following:

There weren't a whole lot of big-money institutional Republican types disappointed by Sarah Palin's announcement that she will not seek the Presidency in 2012. But there were reportedly quite a few of those folks trying to lure Chris Christie into the race.

What I haven't seen much of is the suggestion that this may have a little something to do with the GOP's problem on gay rights.

John "JC Pennies" Connolly was the top fundraiser of the at-large Boston City Council field, leaving him with nearly a quarter-million on hand heading into the final 5+ weeks of the campaign. But young Felix G. Arroyo continues to build up a serious stake. Ayanna Pressley dropped to fifth in cash-on-hand, after spending some dough on signs, pamphlets, and other snazzy material.

They're calling it "The Most Important Debate Of Our Lifetime"; "Scary Showdown In Salem"; and "Marginally Less Ridiculous Than The GOP Debates."

Clearly, "they" (me and whoever's near my desk) need some assistance. That's where you come in!

UPDATED: It happened! Watch archived video of the Vermin Supreme vs.

I just saw something -- a small something, a mere $100 line-item -- that should have Boston City Councilor Bill Linehan a little nervous.

It's a contribution, reported yesterday by Linehan challenger Suzanne Lee, from Shanti Fry of Cambridge. It's Fry's first donation to Lee, and comes just days after Lee finished first in the District 2 preliminary election.