Competition is hot and heavy this year for the Boston Globe’s “Bostonian of the year” title, which may give Barack Obama speech writer Jon Favreau a leg up, considering the unfortunate photo of him groping a life-size cardboard cut out of Obama rival Hillary Clinton.

The Washington Post broke the story two weeks ago, but this link to the photo will take you to the Huffington Post  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/05/facebook-obama-speechwrit_n_148774.html

Favreau, who is now Obama’s speechwriting director, quickly offered a ham-handed apology when the photo surfaced. Now that he’s in the running to become the “Bostonian of the year” we suggest Obama’s speechwriter once again borrow a line from Gov. Deval Patrick and, “Reach for that.”

Turnpike officials are pushing to buy their way out of controversial variable-rate loan with the bankrupt Lehman Bros. for less cash than the state originally borrowed.

Alan LeBovidge, executive director of the Pike, asked Pike board members Monday night to authorize a purchase of the Lehman Bros. loan for less than the $35 million they gave the state in 2002. 

The tricky loans — known as swaptions –were made to pay for the $15 billion Big Dig up front and have dogged state officials because the rickety financing allows the companies to demand a sum of up to $447 million to close out the debts.

The cost of the Lehman Bros. termination payment was $75.7 million at the begining of the year, but last week fell to $45 million and has since fallen to below $35 million, the official said.

Pike board members have advanced a $100 million hike in tolls to pay off the loans and to stave off the termination payments, but ending the Lehman swaption won’t decrease the hike, said one official.

The lump sum payment, if finalized, will likely be paid for out of the reserves and the state must prove they can replenish those reserves with other revenue, an official said. 

The state still has two other swaptions with UBS and J.P Morgan, which could force the Pike to pay $353 million and $19 million in termination fees, respectively.

As word of Transportation Secretary Bernard Cohen’s resignation trickled down to state officials Monday night, several saw Cohen as an unfair scapegoat for Gov. Deval Patrick.

“Cohen’s become the fall guy for their own bad decision making,” said Massachusetts Turnpike board member Mary Connaughton. “In the end, Patrick has to be accountable for this stuff.”

Rep. Joe Wagner (D-Chicopee) said he had a solid working relationship with Cohen.

“I think Cohen worked hard to meet the challenges of transportation here in Massachusetts and I think he’s very capable and he’s been very professional,” said  Wagner, legislative co-chair of the transportation committee.

Cohen, 62, earns $150,000 a year as transportation secretary. His role was increasingly diminished as transportation took on greater importance in the state thanks to a massive toll hike and sour Big Dig debt. Everyday operations of the department were handed over to Jeff Mullan in October, and Patrick had clashed privately with the agency head.

But both current and former transportation officials seemed more interested  in weighing in on James Aloisi’s impending appointment as Cohen’s replacement. Patrick nearly appointed Aloisi two years ago, but decided against it at the last minute because of the politically-savvy lawyer’s Big Dig connections.

“This crystallizes why Gov. Deval Patrick was taking money from Big Dig contractors,” said Christy Mihos, who served on the Turnpike board and ran against Patrick in 2006. 

“Being from Chicago, I guess that’s the way they do things there,” Mihos said in a nod to recent corruption charges in Patrick’s home state of Illinois.

Connaughton also questioned Patrick’s judgement.

“If he wasn’t right for the state two years ago, why is he now?” another transportation official wondered.

Aloisi had a defender, however, in Lt. Gov. Tim Murray, who blamed Big Dig missteps on elected officials yesterday and said Aloisi “is somebody who understands the ins and outs of our transportation system at the state level, at the federal level.”

Beacon Hill enjoyed an early Festivus celebration recently, and even Lt. Gov. Tim Murray got in on the action.

Festivus, for those who don’t know, is a Seinfeldian (sure, that’s a word) holiday involving a metal pole, feats of strength and the airing of grievances. To the last end, owners of the State House cafeteria left blank paper, some pencils, and let grizzled state employees have at it.

In a year where two Senators have resigned in disgrace and the economy quickly went down the tubes, there’s a lot to gripe about. Corruption grievances ruled the day, including a “Not guilty? Ha!!!”  comment. There are also obligatory quips about the building site — which used to be a cow pasture full of bull. “Nothing has changed,” another wrote.

Ever the optimist, the Lt. Gov. took the high road.

“Smile!” Murray wrote. “If you don’t like it — LEAVE.”

The real festivus miracle for Tim? If Gov. Deval Patick takes his advice.

Rep. Lew Evangelids (R-Holden), a contender for House Minority leader, sent a letter strongly opposing a 10 percent local aid cut to Speaker Sal DiMasi today.

Evangelidis said he wrote the letter, signed by six other Republican reps, Wednesday before current Minority Leader Brad Jones (R-North Reading) sent out a press release declaring all Republicans opposed the reduction.

The ever-dwindling minority party held their holiday party last night — I bet even the egg nog was icy.