How cool is this? Mike Dukakis practices what he preaches: he’s the block captain for his neighborhood in Brookline:
The would-be leader of the free world and three-term Massachusetts governor, who has been a relentless voice calling on fellow Democrats to return to grass-roots organizing, is putting muscle where his mouth is as an official block captain for Deval Patrick.
Cindy Rowe, the Brookline Town Democratic Committee’s chairwoman, says she got a call from the town’s most famous Democrat this summer, after her organization resolved to ramp up a vigorous precinct-based campaign operation on behalf of whoever emerged as the party’s gubernatorial nominee. “I want my list, I want to be a block captain,” Dukakis told her.
“It was startling in the best sense of the word,” says Rowe. “I mean, here’s a guy who did it. He was the last Democrat elected governor.”
Anyone who has heard Dukakis talk knows how real-world the guy is: He walks everywhere; he picks up trash on the T; he complains that he practically broke his axle driving up to Lowell … this stuff matters to him. He clearly still thinks of himself as a citizen first and foremost. It’s old-fashioned, stubborn, we’re-in-this-together-dammit liberalism. Time for a comeback of those values, huh?
Very bright and underrated. I liked this quote:
<
p>
<
p>
Growing up I remember State Reps going door to door and engaging people in conversation. Talking with someone face to face has the most power in any scale election.
Thanks for giving it the attention it deserves.
<
p>
Great job Michael Jonas.
I only wish I had been old enough to vote for him at least once.
he didn’t come to the Saturday 9:30 am canvassing meeting in Brookline because… he wanted to start canvassing at 10!
<
p>
Brookline’s canvassing efforts have been phenomonal. I’m expecting that Brookline outperform it’s output in 2002, relative to the rest of the state. If we don’t, then Deval will win in a walk.
Even better there is a piece in the article of how along his door knocking travels, he continues to pick and dispose of street trash he encounters. I know folks here at Northeastern that have seen him making his walk from Brookline to campus, that have mentioned seeing the same thing.
<
p>
There is no more essentially decent and honest person in the public arena than Mike Dukakis.
I take the Green Line up Huntington Ave. on my way to work every morning; on occasion I’ll cross paths with the Duke, and I have seen him picking up garbage on his walk along Forsyth Way.
<
p>
Nice to see a Governor (or former Governor) who actually cares about his community to pay attention to the little details like that. It does make a difference.
I went to Northeastern in the mid to late 90s and lived in a dorm across the street from the building where his office was. At least once a week I’d pass him on my way to class, he always had a smile on his face and always said hello. Not much to add regarding his citizenship, but I enjoyed the brief interaction I had with him. On the (very) few occasions that I spoke with him I found him friendly and engaging.
A friend of mine was walking his dog in the Arnold Arboretum, and ran into Dukakis. “How do you get out of this place?” Dukakis asked. My friend pointed the way out; Duke said, “You’d think I’d know that by now.”
<
p>
Just thought I’d share.
Don’t you think?