Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

The Other New Progressive Northeast Governor Wins a Big One

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Governor Patrick has been compared by critics on this page to Elliot Spitzer in New York: both new, both reformist, both due for a rough taking down by the Powers That Be in the legislature and political establishment.

This calculus initially looked impeccable: both ran into trouble, both were stymied in initial reforming efforts, both got bad press.

The tide may be turning. As the NYT reported yesterday:

In a major victory for Gov. Eliot Spitzer and his party, a Democratic assemblyman won a stunning upset in a State Senate election on Tuesday in a district that has been in Republican hands for a century.

The win reduces the Republicans’ majority to one seat and will intensify pressure on the majority leader, Joseph L. Bruno, as he tries to maintain his party’s grip on the Senate, which it has controlled for more than 40 years.

Defenders of the status quo in Massachusetts, and those who think that Patrick’s overwhelming bottom-up internet-powered victories in both the primary and the general elections were exceptions and not indicative of any potentially fundamental changes in our political ecosystem might take note.

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Comments

  1. Spitzer has been very close to a photo finish with a NY grand jury for a considerable period of time. His tactics are dishonorable and maybe not illegal but he also could be placed in civil peril.

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    p>Governor Patrick on the hand has done nothing. Not done nothing to get himself in hot water, he simply has done nothing.

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    p>The Republicans maintain the majority? Does that mean they still call the shots or only do so periodically?

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    p>Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi are the perfumed princes on Capitol Hill. They sure have done a swell job!

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    p>With President Obama at the helm,Reid and Pelosi as his executive officer and operations officer no doubt they will bring BIG CHANGES to USA. Probably make 1972 look like a placid lake. Show of hands the folks here that were older that 20 in 1973. Shame. Every day was exciting.

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  2. to run against.  Di Masi and Co. are all Democrats so he can’t really take it to them unless he wanted to start a civil war.  

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    p>All the problems he has had with the legislature are problems within the family so he won’t be winning many victories like this anytime soon.

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    p>Unless of course he decided to run some more reformist candidates against some incumbents in his own party. But, that would start a war on Beacon Hill between reformers and insiders (like Ed King vs. Dukakis) or (Keating vs. Bulger).  And it is most like many of Patrick’s candidates would lose.  The toughest thing to do in politics is beat an incumbent in a primary.  And what would be the rallying call – that Di Masi has stopped casinos.  

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    p>Ultimately, Patrick will just have to work with and pressure Di Masi and try and use his grassroots support to gain some leverage. It has started to work and he is making progress.

    • … Spitzer will be in the same boat.  He just had a two year grace period from that particular hell, is all (he sure had plenty of others, though).

  3. Teachers union there supported the Republican, partly because the Dem supported school choice, but also b/c they roll with status quo.  

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    NYSUT is one of the Senate Republicans’ largest contributors. Between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2007, the union contributed $654,831 to members of the Senate Republican conference, with each member receiving at least one check, according to the New York Public Interest Research Group.

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