Keller @ Large: 2011 Can't End Soon Enough

BOSTON (CBS) - Have you met anyone yet who is looking back fondly at 2011?

Listen to Jon's commentary:

If you pay close attention to the news, especially political news, this was one of the most depressing years on record, and while no one hates to relive it more than I do, it's worth doing so to help inspire us to make sure 2012 is not a repeat performance.

The year began with the horrific attack on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and others in Tucson, Arizona.

The shooter was a mentally-ill man who hated Republicans as much as Democrats, but that didn't stop left-wing partisans from trying to blame their right-wing enemies for fostering a culture of political violence.

One of the loudest mouths doing so was local Congressman Mike Capuano, who just a few months later could be found exhorting union members to "get out on the streets and get a little bloody."

Under pressure, Capuano apologized, but I really don't think he or his belligerent GOP counterparts are sorry at all for the poisonous, gridlocked atmosphere they've created, which spawned appalling governmental failures like the debt-ceiling crisis and the supercommittee flop.

Up on Beacon Hill, they actually had a relatively productive year, cleaning up after the probation scandal and tightening up the penalties for repeat violent offenders.

But there were still some depressing moments, most notably the corruption conviction of Sal DiMasi, and the hopelessly cynical efforts of his defense team to pretend the bribes he took were just business as usual.

It was also dismaying to see Gov. Patrick showing signs of lame-duck-itis, from the ill-advised bet on Evergreen Solar that cost us millions to the ill-advised decision to write another book, and, worst of all, his refusal to acknowledge the seriousness of illegal alien crime.

And the less said about the presidential race, the better.

The Republicans so far have had little to offer beyond anti-Obama invective, while the president seems ready to run his campaign from the gutter.

Yes, 2011 can't end soon enough, even though 2012 may not prove to be much better.

You can listen to Keller At Large on WBZ News Radio every weekday at 7:55 a.m. and 12:25 p.m. You can also watch Jon on WBZ-TV News.