Patrick Administration Lost Already
After an inauguration filled with much pomp and circumstance, newly-sworn in Governor Deval Patrick is learning that maybe this whole Governor's thing wasn't as easy as he thought it would be, that is assuming of course, he gave it much thought at all. Given the events of the first three days in office, one must be wondering.
Just today it was learned that newly appointed Economic Development advisor Rep. Daniels Bosley (D-North Adams), will, uh, not be appointed to anything at all. The job, at least Patrick figured, was going to be a 'super cabinet' position of sorts, overseeing housing and urban development, technology and some other areas of the state government. The pay was assumed to be well into the $100,000 a year range. Sound too good to be true?
Bosley today, stepped down from his post before he ever got there to go back to the house, after not really ever resigning there. It was discovered that his office was to be moved from the Governor's office to way down the street, his pay was to be cut, and in the ultimate insult and exercise in the weird, he wasn't going to have any power anyways.
One is probably shaking their head reading that last section, but Patrick, according to Bosley, let him know that, well, he was just going to be a figure head. In fact, Patrick wants to run the department himself, in an effort to be more 'hands on' in his administration. Jimmy Carter was 'hands on' and look where it got us. What a precedent to set. It will be interesting to see how Patrick reports the weekly happenings of the Massachusetts Economy to, well, himself.
In a statement of even greater comedy, Patrick said this would be a change from the "way many of my Republican predecessors operated". I have yet to hear of many Republican Governors, in Massachusetts or anywhere for that matter, that would think that hiring themselves as a cabinet level authority would be a smart move. Come to think of it, I've never heard of DEMOCRATS ever doing that.
Bosley isn't foul on this whole thing, he just wants to go back to the house and get to work again. Some wondered if his position of opposition to Casino Gambling strained the relationship and he said it didn't. I mean, it's not like it would have mattered. He was just supposed to be a figure head!
And in the greatest shocker of all this week, Governor Patrick had to re neg on that good old campaign promise of lowering property taxes. In addition, we found out that Patrick's pretty silly plan of putting 1,000 more police officers on the streets won't even be happening to a quarter of his original plans. Two corner stone issues to his campaign, squashed once there isn't enough of everyone Else's money to spend.
Patrick has thus far proven himself to have very little knowledge of how to govern. Most of his campaign promises were, as expected empty. His civic-re engagement plans a smoke screen for a total lack of an agenda. What little agenda he did have is now out the door when he's not spending money like a madman.
For future reference, a candidate for the Governor's Office is saying "I don't have a plan", "We'll be looking into that", or "Let's Connect the Dots", perhaps it's time to raise some questions about their qualifications for the post.
The most disturbing trend in both Massachusetts politicians and the voters of the commonwealth has been the incredible will to commit to vague promises that when we finally get around to opening them up and looking at the guts of the issue, find out that, well, it wasn't so great of an idea after all. Maybe we all don't agree.
Campaign slogans and rhetoric are no excuse for actually knowing what you're talking about. It's clear Deval Patrick doesn't have the slightest idea of what to do in the corner office. I can't say i'm honestly surprised Patrick is back peddling. However, I am utterly shocked at how early it's come.
Just today it was learned that newly appointed Economic Development advisor Rep. Daniels Bosley (D-North Adams), will, uh, not be appointed to anything at all. The job, at least Patrick figured, was going to be a 'super cabinet' position of sorts, overseeing housing and urban development, technology and some other areas of the state government. The pay was assumed to be well into the $100,000 a year range. Sound too good to be true?
Bosley today, stepped down from his post before he ever got there to go back to the house, after not really ever resigning there. It was discovered that his office was to be moved from the Governor's office to way down the street, his pay was to be cut, and in the ultimate insult and exercise in the weird, he wasn't going to have any power anyways.
One is probably shaking their head reading that last section, but Patrick, according to Bosley, let him know that, well, he was just going to be a figure head. In fact, Patrick wants to run the department himself, in an effort to be more 'hands on' in his administration. Jimmy Carter was 'hands on' and look where it got us. What a precedent to set. It will be interesting to see how Patrick reports the weekly happenings of the Massachusetts Economy to, well, himself.
In a statement of even greater comedy, Patrick said this would be a change from the "way many of my Republican predecessors operated". I have yet to hear of many Republican Governors, in Massachusetts or anywhere for that matter, that would think that hiring themselves as a cabinet level authority would be a smart move. Come to think of it, I've never heard of DEMOCRATS ever doing that.
Bosley isn't foul on this whole thing, he just wants to go back to the house and get to work again. Some wondered if his position of opposition to Casino Gambling strained the relationship and he said it didn't. I mean, it's not like it would have mattered. He was just supposed to be a figure head!
And in the greatest shocker of all this week, Governor Patrick had to re neg on that good old campaign promise of lowering property taxes. In addition, we found out that Patrick's pretty silly plan of putting 1,000 more police officers on the streets won't even be happening to a quarter of his original plans. Two corner stone issues to his campaign, squashed once there isn't enough of everyone Else's money to spend.
Patrick has thus far proven himself to have very little knowledge of how to govern. Most of his campaign promises were, as expected empty. His civic-re engagement plans a smoke screen for a total lack of an agenda. What little agenda he did have is now out the door when he's not spending money like a madman.
For future reference, a candidate for the Governor's Office is saying "I don't have a plan", "We'll be looking into that", or "Let's Connect the Dots", perhaps it's time to raise some questions about their qualifications for the post.
The most disturbing trend in both Massachusetts politicians and the voters of the commonwealth has been the incredible will to commit to vague promises that when we finally get around to opening them up and looking at the guts of the issue, find out that, well, it wasn't so great of an idea after all. Maybe we all don't agree.
Campaign slogans and rhetoric are no excuse for actually knowing what you're talking about. It's clear Deval Patrick doesn't have the slightest idea of what to do in the corner office. I can't say i'm honestly surprised Patrick is back peddling. However, I am utterly shocked at how early it's come.
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