Tom Menino has served as Boston’s mayor for nearly two decades, so it’s only natural that news of his retirement after five terms in office would be met with plaudits from the usual suspects. We have our doubts that Boston is indeed the greatest city on earth; Merino’s thuggish claim that “Chick-fil-A doesn’t belong” there suggests there’s plenty of room for improvement. President Obama didn’t hold back on the praise for Menino, though.
President Obama, in statement: "Boston is the vibrant, welcoming, and world-class city it is today because of Tom Menino."
— Matt Viser (@mviser) March 28, 2013
Obama: "For more than 2 decades, Menino has served the city & every one of its residents with extraordinary leadership, vision & compassion"
— Matt Viser (@mviser) March 28, 2013
Obama (cont): "Boston will be a better place to live, work and raise a family because of the Meninos’ proud service to the city they love."
— Matt Viser (@mviser) March 28, 2013
https://twitter.com/Lynnette_Tweets/status/317376399692410880
Other politicians were quick to gush as well, with Elizabeth Warren declaring Menino “the best mayor in America” (sorry, Cory Booker).
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) on Boston Mayor Tom Menino not running again: Tom Menino is the best. Period. He is the best mayor in America.
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 28, 2013
Kudos to an urban legend, @mayortommenino for his many years of service to the people of Boston
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) March 28, 2013
Even New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg was willing to overlook Mayors Against Illegal Guns co-chair Menino’s turning a blind eye to those killer 17 oz. sodas.
.@MayorTomMenino will be remembered as one of the most influential and important mayors in Boston's long history: http://t.co/jdHWNn6dSn
— Mike Bloomberg (@MikeBloomberg) March 28, 2013
The fact that the U.S. Senate will hold a vote next month on the first major gun safely legislation in more than a decade is a testament to Tom’s determined leadership. As his partner in the coalition, I want to thank Mayor Menino for all his extraordinary work in the fight to make our communities – and our country – safer.
Mayor Menino, exiting: "I did it my way."
— Rick Klein (@rickklein) March 28, 2013
Chick-fil-A is alive and the Menino era is dead. #forward
— Alex Burns (@alexburnsNYT) March 28, 2013
Menino might not be running again, but he still has the rest of his current term to fill.
.@MayorTomMenino's walkoff line: “Just think about what I can do in nine months. I don’t need voters, anything. We can have some real fun.”
— Scott Malone (@MaloneReuters) March 28, 2013
"I don't have to worry about voters or anything. We can have some realll fun." – @mayortommenino
— The Real Segun Idowu (@revrenddoctor) March 28, 2013
Join the conversation as a VIP Member