This article was linked in one of my daily email news aggregators, and thought it would be of interest. It’s Jon Keller, who does seem to pride himself on being a professional cynic at times. Plus he seems to assume that Dems will automatically raise taxes if unchecked, which is definitely not our experience with Massachusetts Democrats.
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Keller is fairly accurate at diagnosing the state GOP and predicting a long tenure out of the corner office. I suspect Baker will be the last Republican Governor in a long time. Chris Doughty is trying to replicate Baker’s success, but he’s a total unknown. In his first interview with Keller he admitted he voted for Hillary in 2016 which sinks him for the nomination and said he was pro-life which sinks him in a general election, especially against Healey.
Keller is right to point out how Weld and Romney took on special interests, but the only fights I remember from the Baker era were the ones he avoided. He caved on ending the film tax credit, he caved in taking on the police details, and he avoided taking on any real housecleaning for the Soldiers Home scandal.
Which brings me to my second quibble which is that the film tax credit and using circuit breakers funds to fix the T were Baker initiatives supported by progressive Democrats and blocked by the establishment Democrats who really run Beacon Hill. DeLeo fought Baker to save the film credit and avoid using any rainy day funds to shore up the T. As Deval’s mixed tenure should show, a trifecta is no assurance of progressive domination.
The solution to Kellers problem is buried in his observation that Cahill spoiled 2010 for Baker. Ranked choice voting paired with blanket primaries would really open up our choices to more problem solving candidates on both sides of the aisle. It would ensure a moderate Dem like Cahill and a moderate Republican like Baker have a fighting chance at making it to the general election. The spoiler effect is likely the primary reason Baker choose against running as an independent and he knows he’s underwater with his party. In the short term that is a gift wrap governorship for Maura Healey, in the long run, it’s unhealthy for the country’s oldest democracy to be dominated by one party.