Want to see the change Deval Patrick brought to Massachussetts

[billbuckhead]

Bright Star of Mass. Tarnished by Lapses
'Don't Give Up on Me,' Gov. Patrick Pleads
By Perry Bacon Jr.
Washington Post Staff Writer

Sunday, March 18, 2007; Page A04

BOSTON -- Only a few months ago, Deval Patrick was being hailed by his party as a savior, becoming Massachusetts's first Democratic governor in 16 years and only the second African American to lead a state since Reconstruction.

But circumstances have changed quickly for Patrick, as they have often in a life that saw him plucked from the South Side of Chicago at 14 and awarded a scholarship to a prestigious prep school in the Boston suburbs. He was recently forced to plead, "Don't give up on me," to state residents, and at a news conference Friday he found himself repeatedly sidestepping questions about a staff shake-up that included the resignation of a controversial aide.
---------------snip--------------------
"People felt that Deval was really going to come into office with a ball of fire and change things," said Mary Ann Marsh, a Democratic political strategist in the state. "Some of these things seem to be more about doing favors than fixing problems. They seem to be the antithesis of the campaign trail."

When Patrick, 50, entered office, he decided to lease a 2007 Cadillac DTS as his official state car, replacing the Ford Crown Victoria his predecessor used; it cost the state an additional $543 each month, but he explained to reporters that the old car had a lot of miles on it and a broken heater. The move might have caused minor grumbling, but critics saw it as just another decision of a series in his brief tenure that embraced the very political elitism he ran against during his campaign, a list that includes the purchase of $12,000 drapes as part of a $27,000 renovation of the governor's office at taxpayer expense, the hiring of a chief of staff for his wife, and attempts to help a controversial mortgage company that has been accused of predatory lending.
---------------snip---------------------
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/17/AR2007031701005.html>

[Fearless]

1. Here's what he brought to MA

How's more than 1 billion dollars for higher education? 500 million for UMass Amherst ALONE, one third of their yearly budget on top of their yearly budget. Or aren't you a fan of education? How about the final stamping out of the ban on same-sex marriage? Or aren't you a fan of that?

So all you can think of is a damn car? Yes, that's sooo much more important than education and goddamn civil rights.

I'm sorry, you're out of your mind.

[seaglass]

5. But the towns and cities in this state are squeezed on education

funds...great for UMass - meanwhile HS/Middle school teachers are getting laid off, we may be closing an elementary school in our town...we are hurting and it has NOT improved since Patrick has been sitting in the corner office.

I appreciate the work he did to stop the constitutional amendment defining marriage but what else has he done?

[Fearless]

8. You do realize that local schools

are funded by local taxes right?

[seaglass]

18. And state aid n/t

[Fearless]

22. And FEDERAL aid, which was cut by the Bush Admin. by 9 billion dollars!

Further, the state isn't obligated to fund schools and obviously during a recession it's going to be tighter than not. These days the economy is not well, and this is just a factor of that, not of Patrick. What would you rather, roads, schools, hospitals, etc. Everything is taking cuts, lest we head back into debt as a state.

[thoughtanarchist]

77. The towns in my region got more state aid since Patrick took office.

[MagsDem]

35. He'd didn't have shit to do with gay marriage

That's just plain bullshit.

[Fearless]

38. Look... you can spout...

But you have no idea AT ALL. The back-alley deals done to get that thrown out you wouldn't believe... and I won't publicize. I don't care if you don't believe me... but look at the jobs that the people who used to support the amendment now have.

[MagsDem]

41. Look at the icon next to my posts

I have EVERY idea, and what you posted about his involvement in the gay marriage issue in MA is complete bullshit.

[Fearless]

47. And you're from WA, and I'm from MA...

You can believe anything you want... but it doesn't make it true. And icons are pictures. I have a vested interest in the events of which we speak. I don't care if you don't believe me. We all won already, it's pointless to nitpick now. If you want to believe that he had nothing to do with it, so be it. But I choose to believe that he did and I could provide further information, but I'm happy that certain organizations in this state have no ammunition anymore, so I'll let sleeping dogs lie. Clearly you've tried to turn this into some sort of personal issue, but the fact is that we're all on the same side. And I'd like to leave it at that, if you please.

[cali]

2. lol

that story is 11 months old, and all you're showing is that you know nothing about MA.

[billbuckhead]

3. If a Crown Vic was good enough for multi-millionaire Romney then...........

why isn't it good enough for alleged populist Deval Patrick? Why did Deval need $20,000 for drapes to help the people of Massachussetts?

[Fearless]

11. You do realize that the redecorating of state office is COMMONLY done with tax money right?

This is not an issue. It's stupidity. If they had to replace the roof, you wouldn't have a problem, but because it was drapes, you scoff.

[billbuckhead]

14. $20,000 for drapes in an office?

[Fearless]

17. Like I said, you scoff.

You also think that he personally went out to the store and bought $20000 drapes... guess what... wrongo. He paid for someone to do it. Did they overcharge? Clearly. Did he then pay for them out of his own pocket... yes. What is the problem then?

[freefall]

70. Did you actually read the article? The drapes cost $12,000. n/t

[billbuckhead]

4. But isn't the story true whether it's a million years old?

[Breeze54]

6. But he did pay for the drapes, out of his own pocket, after the uproar.

This is old news and you forgot to add the part where he posted every MA citizens' personal
info on his website for anyone to see! :eyes: That was fixed a week or two after the uproar.
(I can't remember the dates now.)

I suspect Gov. Patrick will be yet, another 'drive by" Gov., as soon as Obama is elected.

Here we go ... again. :grr:

[Armstead]

7. He had a bad start, His wife was suffering from severe depression

He had a rough start, but he's been improving steadily.

Posting an article from almost a year ago is hardly a good measurement of his overall, term so far.

[billbuckhead]

12. Reality is that one of the first things the "Hope" candidate did was get a Cadillac

[Fearless]

20. Reality is that one of the first things he did was get a car?

You're really stuck on this one aren't you? It's a car! You go boo-hoo wasteful spending... fine... but no, you go wahhh I just like to whine about something... freepers not welcome.


Goodnight.

[billbuckhead]

68. The governor office already had a Ford, but the "Hope" franchise candidate

The governor office already had a Ford, but the "Hope" franchise candidate had to have a Cadillac. Not another Ford Crown Vic or even a Chrysler 300, no, a freaking 50K Cadillac!

[high density]

9. March 18, 2007

Obama != Patrick

[usrbs]

25. Patrick is open and humble. Obama isn't.

Patrick is improving, and he didn't inherit such a ruined country as Bush has left his successor. But seeing his difficulties and his initial stumbles is a big factor in why I'm for Hillary.

[Fearless]

27. Clearly they must be clones...

I mean, they're both black... they must be related somehow... probably came over on the same boat...

In case you can't tell, I'm being facetious.

[jackson_dem]

10. What magic does "hope and change" have?

People ascribe magical qualities to "hope and change". What has Patrick achieved that is extraordinary? After all, he was an "uncommon leader" who was leading a "movement for change" that would "end politics as usual" and use the "politics of hope" and "post-partisanship" to reach a political nirvana of unity. Where are the results? How do slogans translate into governance?

[Fearless]

15. Do you KNOW what politics was like in this state under Romney?

How about the destruction of the greatest ESL program in the nation, the fall of sex-ed in schools favoring a failure of an abstinece only program, etc. etc.

But here's the big one... How about all the time that the legislature had to take out of it's sessions to overturn vetos?

[jackson_dem]

21. So "hope and change" brings nothing that a generic Democrat wouldn't?

[Fearless]

24. How about...

Doing the two things that he promised to do prior to election: ending the dispute over same-sex marriage and funding higher education. He didn't promise to do you any personal favors. And in case you didn't notice, we are in a recession, and if there was money, certainly it would go to things that you want too, but as there really isn't, we're all taking cuts to programs and efforts that we want. This is what happens when we don't recklessly spend into a large budget deficit.

[Ken Burch]

75. What kind of future do we have if we say "hope" and "change" don't matter?

After all "solutions" doesn't mean anything more than "hope".

Governance without dreams can't be progressive. You can't just stick with the bland and mundane. You can't just stick with "all there is is all you see". If you do, you've already given up and settled for the status quo.

[Breeze54]

13. It's not 'Massahussetts'... It's Massachusetts

:eyes:

[Fearless]

16. Clearly it has been fixed.

[Breeze54]

23. It was edited after I posted, not before.

;)

[Fearless]

26. Yes, notice the timestamp everyone...

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm seeing red about this whole topic.

[Breeze54]

29. Why? I think it's healthy to discuss our leaders and their failures and accomplishments .

Why would that make you 'see red'?

I'm waiting for all the new Mass. jobs myself... and not in gambling.

PS. Why does my pointing out a spelling error irk you so much?

[Fearless]

30. Then you have to understand the big picture...

The economy is tanking... this is a NATIONAL issue... This state will NOT be stable until this nation is stable economically. We cannot hope to get all the jobs in the nation just because we want them more... The whole nation needs to be raised up before we could possibly fix the economic crisis in this state.

[Breeze54]

34. Trust me...I understand the big picture but Mass has

high job losses!!

Massachusetts unemployment rate
http://www.boston.com/business/ticker/2007/04/mass_tops_us_in.html

We've lost jobs, not gained them; according to these stats.

Massachusetts
http://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.ma.htm

Labor Force Data

Civilian Labor Force - July 2007 - 3,425.2 -- Dec 2007 - 3,398.5

[Fearless]

37. So do many states...

It is based on the kinds of jobs that are leaving... tech jobs specifically here... or manufacturing jobs in Michigan for instance... these are the types of jobs that nationally are going overseas, therefore it makes sense that the biggest losses would be in places where the highest quantity of these jobs are.

[Breeze54]

39. We've lost both tech (IT) and manufacturing

and Patrick also 'promised' to do something about affordable housing but I don't see that happening nor is crime down. If anything, it's way up! I hear what Mr. Pitt is saying below though. The legislature likes to 'strong arm' the Gov's, meanwhile us plebeians suffer.

[Fearless]

42. He promised to do a lot of things

and then the economy hit a down turn, so instead of mortgaging our futures, he has cut back on funding for his own movements... It's economic feasibility, not politicking. To expect that he accomplishes all that he wanted to without the monetary ability is pure foolishness.

[Breeze54]

55. The economy in MA was already in a down turn when he was elected.

He knew that coming in. We all did.

[Fearless]

58. Which is why we must suffer through the hard times together...

instead of passing blame.

[Breeze54]

64. I don't see you paying my utilities and rent!

:grr:

Give me a huge break!

I'll blame the elected, do nothing, people elected to do something, who do nothing viable!

[Fearless]

66. I don't pay your bills you're right...

I pay my own. And I don't pass blame to those who don't deserve it.

[freefall]

71. Cite your sources, please. The official report from the Massachusetts

Office of Labor and Workforce Development indicates you are wrong except that in manufacturing Massachusetts lost 400 jobs in 2007.

"MASSACHUSETTS UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AT 4.5% IN DECEMBER

Rate lower than December '06 and once again lower than US average;
MA ends year with nearly 22,000 new jobs added"

-skip-


"Massachusetts has added jobs this year; preliminary estimates for December show that 21,800 new jobs have been added since January 2007, with strong over the year increases occurring in the state's major growth sectors of professional, scientific and business services and education and health services as well as in leisure and hospitality."

-skip-

"Among other super sectors, information employment was up by 200, while construction and manufacturing were down by 900 and 400 respectively."

http://lmi2.detma.org/lmi/News_release_state.asp

Peace,

freefall

[Fearless]

73. Common misconception...

about the "unemployment rate" is that it actually measures those who are unemployed... This is wrong. Actually it counts the number of people that COLLECT unemployment (insurance) and omits those who have blown through it and have been dumped by the wayside. That is the same for the national level btw. Therefore, the number of unemployed is actually somewhat (or much) higher than this number. Funny huh.

[stillcool]

50. how could we not...

lose jobs that is? But, could you explain to me what our Governor has to do with Senator Obama's candidacy?

[Fearless]

53. Clearly nothing substantial... just people trying to pander.

[Breeze54]

57. Yes, personal experience and opinions is pandering.

:eyes:

[Breeze54]

56. Patrick will most likely be leaving as Gov.; if Obama is elected.

They share speeches, don't they?

[Fearless]

59. Doubtful

I don't see him leaving for anything other than a high level position and somehow I don't think that'll happen... what's the phrase... he isn't "qualified on day one" bwahahahha! and so forth.

:rofl:

[Breeze54]

60. You think it's doubtful he'll be heading for DC if Obama is elected?

You are naive'!

[Fearless]

62. No, it's just a hunch...

We'll see. I'd gladly concede if I was wrong.

[Breeze54]

63. You are WAY wrong!

:rofl:

[Fearless]

65. Like I said, we'll see...

But I'd personally like to get him elected first. Deal?

[freefall]

72. Apparently you don't get the big picture. Your post is contradicted by your links.

When the UNemployment rate is dropping that means we are gaining jobs. We are losing jobs when the EMPLOYMENT rate is dropping. A quote from your first link (Note: this info is for March 2007):
"The Massachusetts unemployment rate had the largest month-to-month drop of any state in the country in March, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today."

Your second link is comparing data for July and December 2007 in a state where seasonal employment is likely to be high. Comparing data for January 2007 and January 2008 is more reliable as is done here:
http://lmi2.detma.org/lmi/News_release_state.asp
This report indicates that Massachusetts gained jobs in 2007.

I'm not a big believer in statistics but yours don't back up the point you are trying to make.

Peace,

freefall

[sniffa]

19. What does this have to do with Rathergate?

:shrug:

[Fearless]

28. I'd like to dub this the next Red Scare...

Thuglican scare tactics trying to stir up trouble... and now we've got the election tying into it somehow... My they are persistant. Too bad I'm more stubborn.

[WilliamPitt]

31. Explain for me

...how the byzantine mayhem and old-guard idiocy of Massachusetts politics can be accurately compared to the national political situation?

Massachusetts is unique, weird and politicaly dysfunctional to such a degree that I don't see how a comparison can be made with any accuracy. MA had 16 years of GOP governors before Patrick, but also had stanchly Democratic House and Senate majorities...and the leadership of those bodies did the governing, effectively closing out the Governor's office on matters of policy. Ergo, the MA Governor's office became a small entity in governmental matters, lots of speeches and ribbon-cutting and rhetoric, but not much influence on policy.

MA is run by the House speaker, the Senate president, the Secretary of State, and the mayor of Boston. It has been thus for decades, and much more so with 16 years of GOP governors. Patrick came into office thinking that he'd actually get to run shit around here, which threatened the supremacy of the old-guard power structure...so they made sure he got his ass kicked. Patrick's biggest enemies in the MA government are his own fellow Democrats. They've made sure he knows who's boss in this state, and don't care if he loses re-election in '12. They prefer GOP governors, because they don't have to even pretend to share power with the Executive branch.

And that's just the surface of the matter here in MA. This place is amazingly nuts, so trying to compare it politicaly to anything else, literally anything, doesn't work.

[dogman]

32. How is that different than Washington?

It seems you could be describing Tip and Raygun. The National Dems compete and will not work to pass their "mandate".

[Fearless]

36. There isn't a supermajority in the national legislature

[WilliamPitt]

40. Indeed, on the surface

Because you're talking about Legislative branch v. Executive branch static between opposing parties. That's standard issue in all 50 states. But the interior power-structure on the state level (in MA and all the others) involves all sorts of local history, emnities, grudges, money, and entrenched power; it's the same as DC federal stuff on spec, but the details make the difference.

Comparing MA to DC is the same as comparing LA, CA or NY to DC. The details break down any ability to lay out acurate comparisons. When the (D) governor of MA gets kneecapped by (D) politicians because he dared to assume he'd get to govern the state, because those (D) politicians don't want to share power, plus all the rest of the story, he comparison fails.

[dogman]

45. I guess everything is in the details.

I was thinking specifically of Jimmy Carter and how he was hamstrung by majority Dems who jumped in bed with St. Ronald. It seemed even Clinton worked better with the opposition at the state level and brought that to Washington. The special interests and regional differences (North-South, East-West) seem the same with only a difference of scale.

[Fearless]

51. I do agree that details matter...

Yet we all seem to have different details... ahh life...

[Fearless]

33. While I'd agree with you in theory...

I'd also say that in truth, when the issue gets big enough, the Kennedy's still rule this state. Only he doesn't come down for everything anymore and most stuff is left to the legislature. But the force is undeniable. I'd turn to this photo of Romney signing the health care bill from the front page of the globe for my proof...




Just my personal opinion.

[WilliamPitt]

Makes my point

The existenceand gravitational pull of the Teddy Phenomenon in MA sets thestate apart when it comes to comparisons. Every state has two Senators, but there's only one Teddy...and his footprint on MA politics makes the situation unique. It's like the Bush clan in TX...it's its own thing.

[Fearless]

49. Some bodies are so large that they curve the space around them.

It's not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, in Kennedy's case, I believe it is a very good thing. Further... Many times we attack MA legislatures for their programs, and potential failures, but what we must know is that many of the things that they are trying have never been done before, and there will be rocks in the road of progress. But, I'd rather be heading down that bumpy road than standing stock-still watching the cars go by, or worse driving headlong though the tides of progress.

[LoZoccolo]

43. CALL CONGRESS NOW!!!!11

[LoZoccolo]

44. CALL CONGRESS NOW!!!!11

[I Vote In Pittsburgh]

46. What does this have to do with the primaries?

:shrug:

[jasmine621]

48. He is one of Obama's national campaign chairs. That's what! nt

[Mass]

52. Thanks for repeating the GOP talking points. Sad to see on DU.

And, BTW, we are still much better off than in your state.

[Fearless]

54. I'll K&R that!

:rofl:

TK-12

[AllieB]

69. And I'll take Deval over Sonny Perdue (sp?) anyday

;-)

[shawmut]

61. sickening post

:puke:

[billbuckhead]

67. So the best way to help the GOP is to tell the truth about Axelrod's template?

[Vet31203]

74. huh

I've only heard great things about Patrick, but than again my experience in Mass is limited to Pats, Celtics and Sox games, Of which I am truly devoted. This all sounds bad but put it in comparison with the corruption of Republicans in Iowa, it pales in comparrison.

William J Meyers for House 2008

[Ken Burch]

76. Please tell us why this thread isn't racist.

And please tell us why it isn't racist to imply that the difficulties of an African American governor mean that we can't nominate an African American for president?

It's not like there was a better white candidate who was running in Massachusetts that year. There certainly wasn't a white who would've been more progressive.

[Fearless]

78. Yes, do tell...

[MethuenProgressive]

79. Here's the really racist part:

...another decision of a series in his brief tenure that embraced the very political elitism he ran against during his campaign, a list that includes the purchase of $12,000 drapes as part of a $27,000 renovation of the governor's office at taxpayer expense, the hiring of a chief of staff for his wife, and attempts to help a controversial mortgage company that has been accused of predatory lending.

Yeah, commenting on $12,000.00 drapes is "racist"...

You state:

It's not like there was a better white candidate who was running in Massachusetts that year. There certainly wasn't a white who would've been more progressive.

Tom Reilly and Chris Gabrielli were both excellent candidates, with progressive records.
Deval Patrick was a corporate anti-union lawyer.
Deval Patrick was David Axlerod's trial run. Same themes of playing to liberal guilt, same message framing (same speeches, in fact), same coached style, same false cries of racism.

[sniffa]

80. I'm surprised this thread was kicked to the top

Maybe it'll will locked now since the freeper douchebag who started it was long ago banned.