The baby got his bottle. Romney won. Bulger is gone. Now, the Massachusetts taxpayers will have to foot the bill for Billy Bulger’s severance package and pension plan.

The several month-long assault on Bulger was a tactical operation worthy of a five-star military general. Romney systematically tore apart the ex-president in an effort to keep his political machine moving forward. By removing Bulger, Romney has cleared a path for his direct influence on the University, something that was hindered if Bulger was still in office.

Mitt played the game well. During his battle, Romney constantly preached higher principles; claiming that Bulger’s office was ineffective, too costly, and unneeded. Romney told us he was looking out for the taxpayers, not to mention he was looking out for our morals. After all, there is no way that Bulger could effectively head the university while his brother is running from the FBI.

This was all a smoke screen. This fight wasn’t about saving money or rescuing the students from a criminal-supporting president. It was about Romney throwing his weight around and making a stand against a political icon: Billy Bulger. It was just a political game.

Bulger represents everything the Governor is not. He is a symbol of old-style Boston politics, a throwback Democrat who stood in the way of Romney, the Republican who continually agrees on budget decisions that find UMass getting the short end of the stick.

Bulger’s resignation is going to cost the state more money than if he had continued as president. Bulger will get almost a million dollars in severance. Romney knew this. He knew how much Bulger’s severance package could be; moreover, he knew that Bulger had a long-term contract with the University and he knew that Bulger would be eligible for a state pension.

But Romney didn’t care. He wanted Bulger out and never ceased in his attacks. How much does Romney really care about Massachusetts, if he is willing to wage a political battle where the end result is costly to the state? How much does Mitt Romney care about UMass?

Not a great deal. Forcing Bulger out of office was an error. Bulger was a fundraising aid to the school; his long time connections to the Massachusetts business community often found more money for UMass. He showed an improved commitment to education when he started, and continually supported, the honors college. Furthermore, Bulger and the determined staff of the school helped UMass become recognized as a nationally competitive school. An even greater feat, he helped UMass become recognized within Massachusetts, a state known for its private collegiate institutions. Unfortunately, many of Bulger’s accomplishments will be overshadowed by the ordeal with Romney and his connections to Whitey.

The taxpayers can thank Mitt Romney for having to payout Bulger, a deal that has some calling Bulger a crook and full of greed. But Bulger’s arrangement doesn’t seem too far out of whack. As a state worker for over 40 years, he is eligible for the top pension plan. He could have asked for 80% of his annual salary, instead he opted for 60%. A greedy man, a crook, would have asked for it all.

Bulger is getting out when the time is right. Romney’s constant nagging about Bulger’s expenses and his ties with his brother would have severely affected his role as president. Having to explain to Romney why he ‘super-sizes’ his extra value meals at McDonald’s should not be on the agenda of a University president.

So, now the governor can leave Bulger alone. He is out of the game and should not be remembered as someone with greedy intentions. The only greed seen in this mess was the political greed of Mitt Romney. It was Romney’s politically driven attack on Bulger that forced the old Democrat into a cushy pension plan. It was Romney’s greed that took Bulger away from UMass at a time when the school needs a significant figurehead for support. Romney got what he wanted. Now Massachusetts will pay for his enjoyment of defeating Bulger.