Mass. GOP Drinks, Dances

A buoyant Massachusetts Republican Party celebrated George Bush's victory last night and predicted the "rebirth of the two-party system in Massachusetts" as a result of Gov. Michael S. Dukakis' loss in the presidential election.

In a packed ballroom at the Westin Hotel, Bay State Republicans drank together and danced together as the vice president racked up state after state.

"People have asked me about a mandate," said Nancy Bush Ellis, after the announcement of her brother's victory. "Well, I don't know about a mandate, but I do know that on January 20 the American people have a date with a great man."

And despite the loss of Republican Senate candidate Joe Malone--who was defeated overwhelmingly by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy '54--GOP politicos predicted the resurgence of Republicanism in Massachusetts.

Ray Shamie, the head of the Massachusetts Republican Party, took the stage about half an hour after Bush achieved the 270 electoral votes needed to win the election and said the state's Republicans would look to take control of the governor's seat in 1990.

Malone seemed to be the heir apparent of the Massachusetts Republicans, saying in interviews and in his concession speech that he would "take a hard look at the governor's seat in '90." And onlookers were even more optimistic, saying Malone would knock the defeated Dukakis out of the State House in the next gubernatorial election.

There was a predictable amount of Dukakis bashing from the Republicans, who have gone more than a decade without a GOP senator or governor in the state.

"We don't need Mike Dukakis in Washington. George Bush and the American people have sent him back to Massachusetts," said State Rep. Steven D. Pierce, the House minority leader. "And in 1990, we're going to send Mike Dukakis back to Brookline."

Youth was a theme of the evening, from the pop music that drowned out television coverage to the hordes of college students who packed the ballroom. State Sen. David Locke (R-Wellesley), speaking just after Bush's victory, addressed his remarks to the younger partyers, saying "You are the future of the Republican party."

In the cheers that followed, several blue blazer-clad students broke into a chorus of "Happy Days Are Here Again," as older Republicans smoked cigars and cheered. Children, wearing sweatshirts emblazoned with Bush-Quayle stickers, wandered about the party. One boy clamored in front of the TV cameras and said, "I like Bush--it got me on TV three days ago."

Balloons festooned the room--red, white and blue for Bush, green and white for Malone--and the six bars sold mixed drinks for $5 to the well-heeled crowd. In the crowd of 1000, there were few minorities and more men than women.

Many Republicans were dressed in black tie. One man said he was dressed up "because it seemed appropriate for the occasion--after all, we knew we were going to win."

Shortly after Bush's victory, one Boston University student said to his friends, "Let's get wasted for God's sakes, that's why we're here now."