As you all know, I’m a Massachusetts native.

So when I found out that former Governor Jane Swift was speaking I was very excited.

She was the Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts that became Governor when Governor Cellucci became Ambassador to Canada.

She was the first Governor to give birth (to twins nonetheless) while in office.

She was the Governor during 9/11.

Since two of the planes that were hijacked on that day came from Boston’s Logan Airport, Governor Swift had to deal with and make decisions that few others had to on that day.

Governor Swift’s comments were great - funny, entertaining, and insightful. She spoke about leadership on and after 9/11, being a women leader and what that means, and how to create a stronger GOP.

She’s a moderate Republican - pro-choice and pro-gay rights but religious and fiscally conservative - and she talked about how the excesses of the extremes are causing GOP moderates to be in danger. When religious fundamentalist Republicans make waves, those waves shake the boat of the entire party.

But moderates are very important to the Republican party. And things will only change when moderates on both sides stand up and hold their ground.

I remember back when Swift was Governor and how people were livid when story after story came out about her abuses of office - having staff pick up her kids, having the state police drive her back and forth to her home in the country (3 hours each way every day), etc, etc. Her poll numbers went down to the single digits!

But when she talked today you get a different sense of those things. She gave birth while in office, there was no Governor’s mansion, she wanted to raise her kids at home but lived 3 hours from Boston, etc, etc.

Was the news media going overboard? Should she have stepped down as Governor to raise her family? Eh, I think she did a good enough job - MUCH better than Romney - plus she is so much more fun. And better looking.

I hope she runs again - it would make for a good campaign. (BTW, she said she would “never say never” when asked if she would run again!)

Check out BoiFromTroy’s take here.