BostonGlobe.com Political Headlines - January 30, 2013

• John Kerry sails in Senate voting: The Senate confirmed Obama's nomination of Senator Kerry to be secretary of state, handing the Mass. Democrat a redemptive career victory. Boston Globe Washington bureau chief Christopher Rowland reports.

• 3 departures curtail New England's political muscle: A powerful trio of senators - John Kerry, Olympia Snowe, and Joe Lieberman - is gone, sapping the ­region's political clout. Globe correspondent David Uberti outlines.

• Optimistic Menino makes return to public stage: Back from his long illness, Mayor Menino delivered words of gratitude and a buoyant vision of Boston in his State of the City address. Globe politics reporter Andrew Ryan covers.

• Rep. Stephen Lynch to declare run for Senate: Lynch reserved a union hall in South Boston for a Thursday announcement that he is running in the special election to fill John Kerry's seat. Globe state house bureau chief Frank Phillips and politics reporter Michael Levenson detail.

• Mayor Menino back in action: The mayor didn't talk about running for reelection in his State of the City address, but he didn't sound like a man who is going anywhere. Globe metro columnist Adrian Walker elaborates.

• How Romney can stay relevant: Mitt Romney could carve out an important role in the Republican party. After all, in his other incarnations, he actually was a creative thinker and problem solver. Globe columnist Scot Lehigh elaborates.

• Conservatism in Japan: In a conformist culture with a growing conservative movement, small-government activists in Japan take a roundabout path. Globe columnist Jeff Jacoby writes.