In his first extensive interview since endorsing Deval Patrick for Governor this morning, former Mass. Attorney General and 1998 Democratic gubernatorial candidate Scott Harshbarger spent about 45 minutes on the phone with Bob, Charley, and me talking about why he decided to back Patrick, what his role in the campaign will be, and what Patrick might learn from Harshbarger’s unsuccessful run for Governor in 1998. We’ll each be posting our summaries of the conversation shortly. Our thanks to Mr. Harshbarger for taking so much time to talk with us.
A couple of interesting highlights: Harshbarger said that he found himself choosing between three good candidates, each of whom he knows and likes personally, and any of whom he will happily support against Kerry Healey in November. He sees his endorsement as a chance to back one great candidate. Also, Harshbarger echoed a theme that has surfaced here at BMG: that the legislative leadership might not actually be all that psyched to see a strong Democrat instead of a weak Republican take over the corner office.
More soon….
There’s no one in this state more qualified to talk about ethics, values, public safety or politics than Scott Harshbarger. The man is the go-to guy on any question related to proper practice in terms of how government should act, how the business world should conduct itself. He’s got the bonus quality of having more qualifications as a public safety expert than just about anyone other than Tom Reilly, Gerry Leone and Don Stern (former US Atty).
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This guy is sort of the Al Gore of Massachusetts – he doesn’t have the filter of politics screening his views, and he can speak truth to power.
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Another bonus: having the endorsement of the leading advocate in the state, and possibly the nation, on good corporate governance can only help to neutralize the already ridiculous claims by Reilly (and Steve Bailey) that Deval’s board service was somehow lacking in integrity. Harshbarger is so committed to this issue that he wouldn’t have signed on had he had concerns.
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Hey BMG guys, did Harshbarger say anything about the LG’s race and why he’s on board w/ Silbert?
yes he did, and that will be in our summaries as soon as we get them posted. Short version: he thinks they both represent the kind of independent-thinking, “outsider” perspective that he feels is necessary to reinvigorate MA government.
Did ya bring up the Big Dig? He oversaw the Ward Commission investigation on the building scandals of the ’70s and I can only imagine he saw this coming from a 100 miles away. I wonder what his thoughts are on the causes and what we need to do to never have it happen again. (Although, while we don’t have building scandals–the recommendations of the Ward Commission did not prevent the Big Dig problems.)
Charley’s post just went up. Bob and I will be posting soon as well.
Above. However, I seem to have skipped over the part about law enforcement… I’ll paste that in somewhere.
It’s becoming apparent that you guys are the shit now! Except for people randomly swearing in comments, BMG is quickly becoming THE place for progressive politics. Go BMG!
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Also, I’m just a little bit envious that I am not the shit, of course. š
Have I missed something? I know that “bad” can mean good. I know that “phat” has nothing to do with one’s girth. I know that being “the bomb” is sometimes non-violent and laudatory. But is being, er, excrement, now good, even “wicked good”?
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It sucks getting old.
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for reason if “____” means “bad”, then “the ____” means “wicked good”. never understood how that distintion came about.