Joanie hearts Sal?

So when did Globe columnist Joan Vennochi become seemingly so palsie-walsie with House Speaker DiMasi?
Because every time she writes about state politics lately, it's all Sal, all the time.
They really are a match made in heaven they both view Governor Patrick with some ill disguised loathing and since no one in the Admin will talk to Joanie, she has perhaps cultivated the House leadership by way of compensation.

Now of course, Vennochi is prattling on about how Deval Must Deliver Massachusetts to Obama Or Risk Becoming Irrelevant!
Last year she said the same thing about the Anti Gay Marriage ballot measure, next year who knows where she will set the bar and how high?

Which leads me to a simple axiom of politics, don't let your enemies define what constitutes success.

Of course, I'd be on firmer ground if I knew WHY Joanie loathes Patrick so? After years and years of reading her column I'm no closer to understanding Joanie's politics, the best I can come up with is that she didn't think Patrick would win, and when he did that made her look bad and Joanie Doesn't Like That One Bit.
The rest of them are a transparent as glass, Jacoby, Lehigh etc...but Vennochi nothing a complete mystery.