"Hope" and "Change" not working out in Massachussetts

[carlotta]

The Obama twin, David Axelrod-created Deval Patrick governorship in the state of Massachusetts has not lived up to its promise, not even close. He was supposed to be the agent of change and unity, the new politics of hope--the very same campaign that Obama is running. Now, two years into office, Deval Patrick is a huge disappointment.

Today's NY Times lays it out: Early Dazzle, Then Tough Path for a Governor

Mr. Patrick, who easily won office in 2006 after dazzling voters with a message of hope and change, suffered a nasty defeat last week at the hands of the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives, which quashed his proposal to increase revenues by allowing three resort casinos in the state. None of the governor’s major policy proposals have cleared the Legislature, in fact, and he and Salvatore DiMasi, the speaker of the House, have taken to trading barbs publicly.

Mr. Patrick is faring better than a year ago, when he was under siege for spending more than $10,000 on drapes for his State House office and upgrading his state car from a Ford Crown Victoria to a Cadillac. (He later agreed to reimburse the state for the drapes and part of the car lease.) By his third month in office, Mr. Patrick had announced that his wife was being treated for depression, and by his fourth, he had overhauled his staff.

But even now, governing is not coming easily for Mr. Patrick, 51, a former civil rights lawyer and corporate executive who came to Massachusetts on a prep school scholarship in the ’70s.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/27/us/politics/27patrick.html?hp

[jakem]

1. misleading title much?

some of us still like and respect Patrick.

Romney fucked this state over good. It will not be a quick fix.


on edit: and calling them 'twins' is rude on many levels.

[carlotta]

4. It's not a misleading title at all

That's exactly what the article is about--the failure of Patrick to live up to the promises of his "hope and change" campaign. Go read it.

[Mass]

30. Because entrenched old politicians comparable to the Clintons are blocking the way.

Sorry, but Patrick is not at fault here (except for wanting to change things). People like DiMasi and others are. We need MORE Deval Patrick and Barack Obama, not less.

BTW, Patrick has not been created by Axelrod, except may be for people like you who are paid by the Clinton campaign.

[JNelson6563]

11. It smacks of that

"they all look alike to me" attitude, doesn't it?

Oy.

Julie

[oneofthepeople]

21. Spin out of control

I know, I know, with only a couple of posts under her belt who
is she. I am a Democrat and I am wondering how some of you are
going to come together after the snarking I have seen on this
site. I read every day the policy discussions, the things that
mean something to most of us in this nation after 7 years of ,
yes, that is why division comes so naturally, we only know how
to 'snark'. That is all we have had for seven years!

If I didn't know better I could be reading a Republican
thread. Perhaps the infiltration of non-democrats here has
been contrived. I avoid most and was mislead into this one. 

The word is out. Repeating lies over and over agian does not
make a truth. 

Perhaps I have been mislead into Democratic Underground as
well. There are Democrats here, Democrat Lites, and many
Republicans. 

Go back to snarking. You have learned so well the divide and
conquer. Some of you have forgotten that it is the Republicans
we have to defeat in November. 

[grantcart]

54. thank you for your post were you supporting or arguing th e OP or reply #1?

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

45. Of course they're twins.

Didn't you know that all black people are the same? Jesse Jackson, Deval Patrick, Barack Obama, O.J. Simpson :crazy:

[PBS Poll-435]

49. Well They....

Do share notes, test answers, speech writers, advisors, consultants, stratigists, jokes, and a similar past...

Does the shoe fit?

[Vinca]

2. So you want to talk candidate-governor relationships?

How about that Hillary and her supporter Governor Spitzer? And Governor Patterson? Has Hillary heard about the second escort service yet?

[flor de jasmim]

3. NYT: Abandon hope, all ye who enter here...

So the sub-text is that hope and change are doomed? Sheesh. And the comment about the "twin" remark being offensive is right on the mark. Also that Patrick was "created" by Axelrod.

[saltpoint]

5. You never want to call a baseball game in the third inning.

There are several more at-bats to go.

[Life Long Dem]

6. Is this about the primary? Or just a play on words?

[MannyGoldstein]

7. Obama And Patrick Are Entirely Different Animals

I knew from the start that Patrick would be... well, exactly what he is. (I'm a resident of Mass)

Obama seems to be cut from different cloth, unless he's just really really good at conning me.

[MNDemNY]

22. But their calls and their scat are so similar.

[LisaM]

55. There have been comparisons before this.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/04/16/patrick_obama_campaigns_share_language_of_hope/

[Jersey Devil]

8. So Clinton's scorched earth now means destroy all those who are pro Obama

Sick

[joeybee12]

19. god you people are insane,..the NY times runs an article and

that's Hilary's fault also...what twisted, twisted logic.

[Alter Ego]

9. Deval's my governor--I voted for him and I still like him.

If fucking Sal DiMasi didn't decide to be an intractable brick wall on every issue out of pure spite then maybe Patrick would be able to get things done.

[midnight armadillo]

16. Amen!

Deval unfortunately did not plan well for the complete stonewalling from the Legislature and clearly was at a loss when confronted with it last year. DiMasi seems to be utterly lacking in any ideas other than "Stop Deval!"

Sheesh. I wonder if it's some bitterness regarding a non-Beacon Hill, non-Italian pol taking the corner office.

Now instead of state casinos (which I oppose) we'll get one down by the Cape from the Wampanoags without favorable terms for the state coffers, which is worse than state casinos. Good job DiMasi.

[bowens43]

10. You hill supporters are getting more and more despicable every day.

no wonder your candidate is losing, she's just like you. There is nothing that she won't do or say to get the power she believes she is entitled to.

[carlotta]

13. explain how posting a NYTimes article is despicable?

I didn't make this up.

[Benhurst]

14. Posting anything even tangentially critical of

The One is despicable. Shame on you! Do you want to raise doubts?

[Armstead]

18. They are both Black politicians who are trying to change things -- Therefore they are "twins"

Yes there are similarities, including Axelrod.

But to imply that Obama will be exactly like Patrick is both racist and misleading.They are not clones.

For one thing, Patrick has spent most of his career getting rich with a law practice.

And, as a resident of Massachusetts, I'd say it is far too soon to judge Patrick. he inherited a lousy legislative leadership, plus the remains of Romney, among otehr problems. And, despite his failures, he has gotten things done.

And the idea of casinos was very controversial on its own terms.

[joeybee12]

20. So comparing two white politicians who follow a similar path and are supportive

of each other is racist also, I guess. Cna't compare black people, can't say Duval makes speeches at Obama events...nothing anything at all that is the truth is apparently racist in Obama World.

[NJSecularist]

12. They are black. They are the same people.

:eyes: :eyes:

[HCE SuiGeneris]

33. Seems to be the theme here. How disgusting.

Why is it that one black person must always represent the whole race? Utter bullshit.

[bunnies]

39. "twins" even.

asinine. :eyes:

[susankh4]

15. As expected...

an empty suit is still an empty suit. No matter how purdy their rhetoric may be.

Axelrod should be ashamed of himself.

K&R

[xchrom]

17. recommend

[madrchsod]

23. barack obama was stunned today

by finding out from a member of the democratic underground website that he has a twin brother...

upon hearing the news that he "created" obama`s twin brother, david axlerod released this statement.."no comment"

[mopinko]

24. the lessons of harold washington, first black mayor of chicago

this kind of change is never easy. those accustomed to power and influence don't take too well to being told no.
there is a lesson here for us obamanuts- it will be ugly. a true change of course will involve a battle for the rudder, and it wont be polite or pretty.
harold washington had such a hard time getting anything through the machine city council in his first term, that we became known as beirut on the lake. comedian aaron freeman made a beautiful career for himself by casting the battle as "council wars", with harold as luke skytalker, etc.
he gained a majority in the council when a lawsuit showed that the ward map had been illegally gerrymandered along racial lines. he went from 29-21 to 24-26. he accomplished a lot more once he had that majority, but sadly, died early in his second term.
his legacy lives on, tho. city services are now expected to be provided on an equitable basis, and mostly they are. and a young man black who was a community organizer back in those days will soon be in the white house. from what i see, he learned his lessons well.

[NastyRiffraff]

25. Perfect. the Obama campaign should hire many of his supporeters here.

They have the Republican campaign strategy down pat. When there is negative info about your candidate:

1) Attack the media disseminating the information. Claim "bias." The newspaper/network/pundit has always supported your rival. The truth is irrelevant here.

2. Bring up some sin of the other candidate. Doesn't have to have a thing to do with the issue at hand. It doesn't even have to be true.] the object is to change the subject and throw the negative focus onto the other candidae. A twofer!

3. Blame the media for printing or otherwise conveying the information on the grounds of "destroying the country/party," or better yet, they're against your candidate's pet buzzwords (Hope! Change!)

[ecstatic]

26. What does that have to do with Obama? They're both black?

[carlotta]

28. No, there's much more than that

They have the same campaign chairman (David Axelrod), running almost identical campaigns based on "hope and change", the two are good friends who admit that they "borrow" from each others' speeches.

[Drachasor]

56. That doesn't really have much bearing on how they work once elected

They share some campaigning strategies and some rhetoric. They happen to be friends. That's it.

[Mooney]

42. It's even worse than that. They KNOW each other! n/t

[PBS Poll-435]

50. And....

They share notes, test answers, speech writers, advisors, consultants, stratigists, jokes, and a similar past...

[Catherina]

27. I'm going to be so happy to see racists squirming in Jan 09 n/t

[Buzz Clik]

29. sink...

[Cali_Democrat]

31. This is how Obama will be attacked folks

Not with anything Obama said or did, or any of his policy proposals. No my friends, Obama will be attacked with the guilt by association logical fallacy.

[OzarkDem]

35. He'll be attacked for his inexperience and shallowness

his ego, his obsession with becomeing a "rock star" in politics.

Fine for a TV show or movie, but the rest of us want a real leader, not the political equivalent of Star Search.

[Cali_Democrat]

36. I hope your right

better than by his "associations." At least that has something to do with Obama whether you believe it or not.

[OzarkDem]

32. Razzle Dazzle + no experience = poor leadership

Its good to take a close look at Deval to get an idea of how Obama would govern if elected.

All the PR and money in the world can't make a candidate with little experience and a big ego a real leader. Any other time, it might be ok to take the risk and let Obama do some on the job training. But the country is in a dangerous time both with its economy and foreign policy.

Why some voters want to choose an inexperienced candidate to lead in tough times is ridiculous.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

34. One AA politician represents all AA politicians? You are delusional.

[OzarkDem]

37. Its pretty simple

Obama and Deval have a lot in common, particularly their inexperience and rise to higher office based on razzle dazzle campaigns.

No experience = poor judgement and unwillingness to listen to others. No thanks, we don't need a president who gets his training on the job.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

40. Yes, Hillary's "judgment" is a thing to behold...

:eyes:

I'll take Barack, thank you very much.

[Firespirit]

38. Do you have a point?

As far as I can tell, your point seems to be that one idealistic black politician is being stonewalled by a corrupt, entrenched party machine that resents his very presence, and therefore all idealistic black politicians are DOOMED! DOOMED I say.

But surely I have mistaken your intentions. There must be some deeper meaning, some other point than "Forget idealism, the machine can't be overcome so don't even try." Right?

[carlotta]

47. It's simply a warning

All the pretty speeches in the world, all the high-falutin' buzzwords about a new kind of politics, etc. don't mean anything when the rough and tumble of real politics set in. Governing is extremely hard work, things don't get done becoause a leader is charismatic or tells us things that make us feel good. Governing is about elbow-grease, hard work, sleepless nights, and a lot of other factors. My fear is that people think that because Obama can rock a crowd, that that translates to being a capable leader. The two things, as the NYT article points out, do not necesssarily translate. It's a cautionary tale.

[Mooney]

41. BRING BACK MITT! n/t

[LSK]

43. ummm, every campaign runs on change and unity

But that makes Obama the governor of Mass now???

:wtf:

[Occam Bandage]

44. Well, if one black politician isn't a very good leader, I bet all black politicians are bad leaders.

Especially if they share a friendship and a speechwriter. Then it's just hopeless.

[hfojvt]

46. Why the heck is he pushing casinos anyway?

That's something I'd expect from a DLCer.
Anyway, I am glad it was defeated.
He needs to learn to work with his own speaker though, but I don't know that much about Mass politics. Maybe I'd blame the speaker if I knew more.

I'm not sure though, if you compared Duval's first two years to Clinton's first two years, which would look worse.

[JTFrog]

48. Right up there with Fox News.

[MethuenProgressive]

51. The failure of Deval Patrick bodes ill for Barack Obama.

Nice speeches. Nice suits. Lofty rhetoric.
Accomplished Zero once in office.
Deval is a shiny ornament in the corner office, nothing more.

[ProSense]

53. The failure of Jon Corzine bodes ill for Hillary!

Deval Patrick

Arnold Schwarzenneger

Jon Corzine

Does the failure of Schwarzenneger (the worst rating of the three) bode ill for McCain?


On edit: Patrick has a higher approval rating than the others!

[ElsewheresDaughter]

52. another Axelrod inexperienced leader needing training wheels for on the job learning.....

America Can't Wait!

[ElsewheresDaughter]

57. another AA male candidate who is blaming his short comings on a white women

He blames Speaker DiMasi, a veteran of Beacon Hill who embraces old-school ways of doing business and holds far more sway than the governor over his members. Mr. Patrick believes his casino bill could have passed if Mr. DiMasi, who said gambling would be a scourge on the state, had not pressured lawmakers to oppose it.

“It’s part of what we ran against, and it needs to be called out,” Mr. Patrick said in an interview last week on the day before the House overwhelmingly killed the bill. “We’re going to keep working on it until we get a Democratic process that’s functioning.”

In addition to the gambling plan, which would have allowed up to three resort casinos here, Mr. DiMasi has rejected Mr. Patrick’s proposals to let towns raise certain taxes and to eliminate a century-old property tax exemption for telecommunications companies. But the casino plan drew the most attention and is Mr. Patrick’s highest-profile defeat to date.

“He’s got to score some major successes to prove he is relevant,” said Paul Watanabe, a political science professor at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. “One thing you don’t want to be is irrelevant, especially with the kind of appeal that he had as a candidate and is similar to that of Barack Obama.”

[anonymous171]

58. Good. I won't vote for Patrick in the GE.

[Unbowed]

59. Isn't he coming into office on the heels of Mitt Romney's great mess?

I imagine Patrick's had a lot of cleaning up to do after Romney. The word was that Mittens made a bloody mess of things.