Ever Walk in On Your Parents Having Sex?

This is the one thing that just makes me shake my head at Massachusetts Politics in general.

There is perhaps no other legislative body in the country that is more disgraceful then the Massachusetts General Court. No one is as unqualified to be a Governor as Deval Patrick. If this doesn't prove it, I don't know what does.

To be blunt, I could care less about where Governor Patrick's ideological stances are at this point. I never thought I'd say that, but really, it's true. I just want to see this guy get through one day giving off the aura that he might have the slightest clue of, I don't know, WHAT TO DO.

We've had all sorts of fluffer-nutter Pod Casts, Civil Rights speeches, and other acts that give us 'fuzzy feelings'. Deval's not wearing the old tie to the office as much anymore and is going for the more casual, cool look. He opened up the Governor's private elevator so everyone can use it. He took those ugly velvet ropes around the corner office down, too. Don't you feel more 'engaged'!?What's next? A soft serve ice cream maker in the main rotunda of the state house that gives away 'free' cones to anyone who wants it? Is this Sesame Street?

In his first month in office, Patrick has almost burnt his office down accidentally (which he laughed about on his 'Pod Cast'), dismissed the man whom he had just appointed to the head of the Economic Affairs cabinet position and replaced him with, well, himself. He played long-face about the recently discovered budget deficit before re-instating nearly $383 million dollars worth of cuts to the budget and now apparently is considering completely crushing the budget by raising the salaries of members of the state legislature all so he can get a free ride for the next four years. Seeing as everyone else seems to be getting a nice wad of dough except for, of course, those of us whose shoulders it will fall on to pay for all these goodies.

If that weren't fun enough,, has announced he will not be keeping his pledge to cut property taxes, abandoned any state role in apprehending illegal immigrants and announced his opposition to voters participating in the state constitution's initiative and petition process.

Then right up there with The Senator Barrios "Kill Peanut Butter and Fluff Sandwiches" legislation, Deval Patrick is trying to get more in touch with us by speaking to use through our iPods. After all, If that's not government in action, I don't know what is. Patrick said he was eager for the opportunity, touting it as a wonderful opportunity for more 'dialogue', which in the end, kind of confuses me. For a 'dialogue' to occur, two people need to be talking to each other, right? So if Governor Patrick is interested in hearing from me or is considering playing people's concerns back and responding to them, there isn't much 'dialogue' going on, just more Patrick sweet talk.

Politically, one must wonder where Patrick's head has gone. Ideological differences aside, I admired his political know how and his ability to pain an image of himself and successfully market it to the masses. He ran a brilliant campaign for governor, although now, the truth may be coming out that it wasn't about changing anything, it was about marketing a gimmick. Never once was it about substance, it was all style. Senator Steven Bounoconti of West Springfield, the DEMOCRAT legislator of the year once upon a time, called Patrick "Naive". Dan Bosely, Patrick's original Economic Affairs appointment, couldn't take it on saw the writing on the wall before so much as the first week of his administration was done. Now, Patrick's willing to bump up the salaries of the pigs in the legislature in exchange for passing more of his goof-ball legislation and doing it blatently right out in the open for everyone to see. Listening and watching the actions of the Democrats in the state house, you can't help but question whether Patrick possesses even the core competencies that are required to do the basics of the job.

Now I'm not naive to the process. I know how it works. The Legislature gets goodies if they give goodies back to Deval, Quid Pro Quo. But the problem I have with deals like the one Patrick is floating around with the Massachusetts Legislature is alot like the one we have about our Parents and having sex. Sure you know your parents do it, afterall, if they didn't, you wouldn't be here reading this. But it's a totally different thing to see it actually happening right in front of you. I know the legislature and the Patrick Administration are trying to stuff their own pockets as well as their buddies' pockets. I just wish they'd at least try to do it behind closed doors.

It's less politically inclined folks like Patrick that make me squirm these days. At least when most politicians make these kinds of sleezy deals, they try to keep them hidden. Then I can justify my outrage and come on and rant about it around here. But when you've got bafoons like Governor Patrick running around the Corner Office, I can't help but think the fun has been taken out of it all.