Joan Vennochi’s column this morning is excellent. She diagnoses Governor Patrick’s current situation as accurately as anyone I’ve seen:
Call it the curse of high expectations. Governor Deval Patrick is finding out what happens when hope meets the reality…. As a candidate, he reveled in words and symbols. As governor, he often finds them beneath his dignity.
Voters are disappointed, as a result. Unfortunately, Patrick interprets disappointment as cynicism.
But disappointment is what happens when people let down their guard and believe, even for one election cycle, that a politician can be different, as advertised. If it turns out to be business as usual, why shouldn’t they feel betrayed?
And she’s got good advice too.
It is Patrick’s responsibility to give Massachusetts voters a reason to keep the faith. From the big picture to the small, he should engage in a daily battle of message and massage with as much zest as he did as a candidate.
How best to do that? Perhaps a media blitz along the lines of what President Obama is doing now wouldn’t be a bad start. Hit every radio and TV news and talk show that will have you. Go on a breakneck schedule of community meetings. And in those situations, confess error where errors have been made. Yes, talk about the big stuff that has been done and is still in the works. But recognize that the small stuff matters, as Charley has eloquently explained, and admit that everyone in his administration, including both him and his staff, has been a bit tin-eared on this and must do better going forward.
Contrary to an (IMHO) ill-advised press release issued by his political committee this week, it is emphatically not “too early to focus on politics.” Why does he think Governors are referred to as “politicians”? Politics is how you get things done in public office. He needs to practice good politics now, if he wants the chance to continue doing so in 2011.
sabutai says
I would humbly suggest that Deval’s best course of action would not be a media blitz, but to stop making stupid, self-evident mistakes. It probably also wouldn’t hurt to tell everyone who works in his office that the days of running to the media to tattle on enemies and/or friends, with or without his express or implicit blessing, are now over.
david says
“To stop making stupid, self-evident mistakes,” as you put it, would seem to be an essential first step. đŸ™‚ No argument from me on that. But IMHO that’s not enough, and the question is, what then?
sabutai says
Introduce an actual bill to back up the pension reform press release. And press for it — in the place that matters. Forget the town halls – walk the State House halls. Put some muscle behind it.
<
p>Introduce a program to give a small credit to towns for every project that uses flagmen rather than police officers.
<
p>Talk up the bill on ethics reform. Identify State House savings.
<
p>A flurry of activity to look like he’s doing something (beyond a single press release) should be enough. We’re used to hacks running this state, and honestly I don’t think the voters mind it so much. Just do enough — get a couple people laid off — to give some impression of movement. Then he can point to it next year.
<
p>Because, seriously, who in the commonwealth can hang with the guv right now? The only ones who could (Coakley, Murray) won’t try. And the ones that will try (Baker, Cahill) can’t. Polls that say “like or dislike?” are worthless….the only ones that count ask “this guy or that guy?” I’m officially entitling the 2010 gubernatorial election “Deval by Default”.
jimc says
This line KILLS:
<
p>
<
p>Ouch! I repeat myself, but if Deval were Joe Theisman, he’d have both feet pointing backward after that one.
<
p>Just words, Deval?
<
p>
johnd says
People never like the guy who has to deliver bad news. Even if the election were held next week I think Deval would win reelection. However, should any strong candidate emerge and Deval doesn’t change his ways, then he will probably lose soundly.
<
p>I think the Deval who ran for Governor would have a field day on the Walsh story, the Milton neighbor hire and many of the other high paid positions filed by Deval people. He would also exaggerate the “tin ear” complaint we hear nowadays into a chronic symptom of a person out of touch. Maybe he’d even ask if the “I get it” comment with his accompanying scowl is just a slogan or whether the current Gov rally does get it.
<
p>Tensions are high in these times and people may harbor negative feelings towards Deval which will fade with time (they always do). The sheep will be fed garbage and be happy with the farmer even as he plans their slaughter. My town was rejoicing this week for the $1M+ in school aid we will receive from the Gov… as if Gov Patrick himself was writing us a check from his personal account. So many people are too stupid to realize we are getting our own money back (unless it was just printed meaning we are giving ourselves a loan). Why to the citizens think money like this is some sort of “gift” or “reward” when it is “our” money to begin with.
<
p>Walsh will survive, Aloisi will survive, the Gov’s neighbor will survive, the gas tax will survive, the Pike will continue indefinitely and so will the Gov. What will get hurt… our checkbooks will go down, reform will be window dressing, the sheep will continue to graze and our grandchildren will be paying for all of this.
yellow-dog says
its genuine even-handedness. She give Patrick credit where it is due, but recognizes the weird mixture of arrogance, sincerity, and political incompetence that characterizes him.
<
p>The best Patrick can hope for is to create a media narrative in which he was beat up by Beacon Hill politics, has learned his lessons, and is working to put it all together. At which point he begs for 4 more years to implement what he’s learned.
<
p>I doubt this will happen. My guess is that, like Presidential candidate John McCain, he’s his own worst enemy. I also wonder if he has the appropriate people in place to rehabilitate himself.
christopher says
…you generally campaign in poetry and govern in prose. President Obama is discovering the same thing. I’m not so concerned with the symbolism, but he does need to communicate better.
somervilletom says
I suggest that Governor Patrick and his staff take all this as a wake-up call (or perhaps the proverbial two-by-four upside the head to get their attention) to refocus on setting our vision and priorities, and get on with leading. President Obama is setting a marvelous example, and I think we should emulate it.
<
p>Here’s what I mean:
<
p>1. Admit the screw-ups. Sometimes, we have to go over the line to realize the line is there. The line was at the Marian Walsh appointment. Now we know. I think the best way forward is to admit that the administration let itself get distracted from its focus and made a sequence of escalating mistakes. Admit it now, offer the mea culpa now, and MOVE ON.
<
p>2. Restate the vision and priorities. I think it’s time for a prime-time high-profile address by Governor Patrick to the combined Massachusetts house and senate. I would like to see him state something along the lines of the following:
<
p>”We share a common vision of a state with a vibrant, healthy, and growing economy. We have a great deal of work to do in order to realize this vision. The three most important areas upon which need to focus are (a) rebuilding our transportation infrastructure, (b) providing affordable high-quality health care to every resident, and (c) providing high-quality education to every resident.”
<
p>3. State measurable goals by which we will measure progress towards each of these three priorities.
<
p>I suggest that every proposed action, internal and external, be explicitly measured against the extent to which it advances these priorities.
<
p>It is vital to address the perception of corruption because every one of these priorities requires significant increases in public spending. The public will not support these increases before this perception is changed.
<
p>In my view, the Marian Walsh appointment is a screw-up because it does not materially advance any of the above three priorities or goals. As vital as “expand[ing] and improv[ing] the way that quasi-public agencies support non-profits in obtaining financing” may be, it is a distraction from these priorities. I think that’s an important reason for the intensity of the reaction against it.
<
p>I find the appointment of Mr. Aloisi questionable because his track record in advancing our most important priority is, at best, dubious. It is because of this context that his mis-steps regarding BMG became an issue. If he is the right person to lead the new transportation agency, show us why. If he is not the right person (and I suspect he is not), then replace him now. Again, take the heat and move on.
<
p>Focus is never easy. There is always important and necessary work that nevertheless must be deferred. That’s what priorities are.
<
p>When the nay-sayers squawk — and they most surely will — then I suggest we hold them to the same standard. Remind them of our priorities. Ask them to offer their own suggestions of how to improve the situation. Listen to them, and then publicly and forcefully embrace or reject them, and explain why. The most likely result will be to box them into the position of obstructionists, as our President does so skillfully.
<
p>Above all else, stay positive. Our vision and priorities are the right ones. The people overwhelmingly support them. The current discontent is because the people expect more from us. That is a good sign. That’s why I think we should admit our screw-ups and show them what we’re doing differently.
<
p>This is a time when all of us need to roll up our sleeves and get back to the jobs at hand. When Governor Patrick and his administration are perceived to be doing just that, he will win re-election in a landslide.
pierce says
Or at least that is how it reads to me.
<
p>Vennocchi and other pundits have written this column many times before. Not a hard one to nail really. Politician who campaigned on changing the culture of Beacon Hill succumbs to its temptations. The public’s high expectations lay in tatters…..
<
p>What is more troubling is that this column has been written a few times about Patrick and yet here we are with the latest version hot off the presses two years plus into his term. Our Governor finds himself ensnared again in bear traps which enmeshed him previously. Call it a case of moderately recurring tin-ear syndrome. Pavlov’s dog would learn that after the same trap closed on its hind leg twice it would be wise not to step there again. Patrick seems to forget the short-term political pain that his fairly minor yet politically damaging infractions have caused him until he does it again.
<
p>Its likely characterological with Patrick but also stems from his short-years in electoral politics. It has much to do with his clear distate for the press.
<
p>All politicians hate the media while craving its affections. The experienced ones either don’t show the hate or know how drip feed the press into submission. As a newcomer to the game Patrick has yet to master either trick. Patrick is right that many of these flareups are, if not entirely manufactured by the media, lovingly nurtured by them. When an insiderism-story breaks you just know the Governor is first thinking what a load of crap the story is. When questioned about it, he can barely contain his displeasure at being called on a decision that in the scheme of things is not one that affects many people. Only after he has let the story fester and balloon abit does he finally make a case or concede an error in judgment. Then the air goes out of the story and he starts to regain his control of the agenda again. But precious months are lost in the process and political capital expended needlessly.
<
p>What is surprising, is that the political professionals he brought in after his original novices had been sent back to the non-profit sector have let him, and in the case of Ms. Marian Walsh, abetted his stepping into these traps again. I recognize even the best political staff will make mistakes. But didn’t someone somewhere in the corner office think the Marian Walsh thing could blow up badly. Likely there was someone. Maybe they got overruled. Maybe they lacked the stature to contest the choice. Who knows?
<
p>The Governor is right that these matters are largely trivial. They are by no means a nail in his political coffin – not even close. Ms. Vennocchi overlooked a fair amount of the Governor’s successes from his first legislative session. He will score others this year and next. But, whether Ms. Vennocchi and the local commentariat are handed further softballs of this ilk is up to the Governor and his top staff. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be surprised if we were back here again, wondering why a Governor that promised change, and has delivered much, undermines all he has achieved with a few impolitic decisions.
david says
Here is the entire press release that I referred to in my post (email, no link).
<
p>
<
p>An outstanding example of missing the point, IMHO.
somervilletom says
Sigh.
<
p>I agree with you, David. I suppose we’re all learning, through counter-example, just how good President Obama is at all this.
bostonshepherd says
Two differences though:
<
p>(1)Obama has the appropriately obfuscating lexicon down pat whereas Deval does not;
(2) Obama has, for the most part, complete cooperation of the legislative branch whereas Deval does not.
<
p>Both candidates were unknowns and ran on vacuous platforms of “change” and “hope” and “yes, we can.” They are both vastly under-qualified for their jobs. But expectations for them were sky high, and that can only lead to disappointment.
<
p>Deval cannot effect much, if any, change in government so he can only sail in the same general direction as the General Court politically, whereas Obama can and is making very radical changes to the role in government of which, I believe, most voters had little idea. We’ll get a consensus in the mid-terms in 2010.
<
p>Symbolism may be Deval’s only currency at this point, and what does he have to work with? The Cadillac, the drapes, threats of toll-versus-gas-tax-increases, and the Marian Walsh triple-play (the appointment, the salary, and will-they-buy-the-reduced-salary insult.) With this sort of symbolism, who needs performance failure?
<
p>The damage from Obama’s driving the economy off the cliff (guaranteeing auto warranties? Tripling the nation debt?) will take longer to materialize.
somervilletom says
“Vacuous”? In comparison to just what, exactly?
<
p>”driving the economy off the cliff”? You’re joking, right?
<
p>Are you seriously suggesting that Mr. McCain and Ms. Palin would have done a better job
<
p>If and when you have a better candidate to offer, let me know. If and when you have better ideas to offer, let me know.