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Comments
Not making Bernstein's top 100 list was a death knell for the
campaign....
How on earth...
Could he beat out Linda Pizzuti Henry, who came in at #1....over the mayor, the governor, and every other person in the state. What an accomplishment!
PIzzuti
Interesting that the Globe disabled reader comments on that Pizzutti article.
Nonsense....
The only people who take that bullshit list seriously is the people on it and the morons who argue over it.
Smart move.
Just enough to keep your name out there in case Baker moves on or decides to quit in a few years. Going to be hard for anyone to oust Baker this election.
Maura Healey in 2022
Bet on it.
[edited to expand]
She's doing all the right things. She's on TV a couple of times a month on uncontroversial issues. She's stayed away from issues like the Teamsters' shake-downs in Boston and the State Police graft that would anger key parts of the base.
She'd get CRUSHED
By Nikki Haley if were being honest.
Big news if true
When did Nikki Haley become a Mass. resident?
You were replying to somebody talking about the 2022 governor's race.
Advanced political theory
That the state government and the federal government are two different things isn't something you can reasonably expect everyone to understand. You'd pretty much need to have attended school all the way through sixth grade to understand that. Assuming that every voter has that level of education is precisely the kind of smug elitism that the country so clearly rejected in the 2016 election.
If only they had been allowed
If only they had been allowed to attend charter schools. ;)
maura healey is burnt toast
no way she gets elected governor.
she has "stayed away fom the mass state police graft"???
what?
She's got other problems too
Pretty easy to paint her as a grandstanding bully for a number of things that she's done. Many of them were popular, of course, but they also pissed off a lot of people, and the trouble is that they weren't all the same people. If she's not careful, that adds up to 50%+1 who don't have a favorable view of her come 2022.
Some examples:
1. Guns. Popular...yes with a certain large crowd, but pisses of 2A people.
2. Going after the anti-abortion advertising company. Popular...maybe, but pisses of pro-lifers and 1A people.
3. Hate-crime hotline. Silly. May or may not piss off the 1.2 million MA residents who voted for Trump.
4. Exxon lawsuits. Popular with the tree-huggers, but not so popular with people who aren't sold on the "we're all gonna die" brand of global warming and who think the AG should enforce laws, not use state resources to grind an axe.
5. ICE lawsuits. Popular with the open-borders crowd inside of 128 and the Berkshires, but pisses off people who believe in border enforcement.
All of those pissed-off people certainly overlap, and many aren't single-issue voters, but taken together I wouldn't discount the possibility that they add up to more than half the electorate for 2022 who wouldn't vote for her.
Warren was a grandstander, but he's got a good shot next time since he can run on a solid record and you can't point to any time he's used his powers for ill the way you can with her.
What state are you in?
Because a substantial numbers of voters in Massachusetts are going to be in favor of the four items you listed, not against. Which is why, of course, she has her current job and why she could be a credible candidate for Governor if she chose to run.
Same state as you
The one where every presidential year there are 1.1-1.2 million R voters and 1.8-2 million D voters while every off year there are the same 1 million R voters but only 1 million D voters.
And I thank my lucky stars that Mass so wisely chooses to elect its governor on an off-year so that national and local politics don't interfere with each other.
Which *planet* are you on?
I don't know where you're getting your figures (though I have a guess). According to the actual voter rolls registered Republicans are noticeably in the minority: https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleenr/enridx.htm
Earth. How about you?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts_gubernatorial_election,_2014
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election_in_Mas...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts_gubernatorial_election,_2010
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election_in_Mas...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts_gubernatorial_election,_2006
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election_in_Mas...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts_gubernatorial_election,_2002
Pretty good pattern here. Presidential vote is about 2:1, gubernatorial vote is not very far from 50/50.
Your numbers would be right
If you only looked at the top of the ballot.
If you really looked down the ballot, be it constitutional officers or members of the General Court, the GOP would be in rougher shape in Massachusetts than it's been when electing members of the Electoral College. Governor is more of a personality thing, or at least it has been since 1990.
Not arguing
Just making the point that this place isn't quite as hard-left as it can appear sometimes.
Yeah I remember way back when (a few cycles ago) when Scott Brown's election and Richard Tisei's run for Lt. Gov. reducedGOP's representation in the State Senate to four. But within the Democrats in the General Court there's a strong contingent of social conservatives and pro-business types.
And believe it or not a number of them have good NRA ratings too ;-P
I call bullshit when I see it but I'm not in any hurry to leave.
Help, Please
Serious question. What are "1-A people" and "2-A people"?
Suldog
http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com
A=Amendment
Thanks for making me read a comment I would normally skip.
Ah!
The light dawns on Marblehead. Thanks!
Suldog
http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com
Travelers of certain roads in Massachusetts
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts_Route_1A
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts_Route_2A
Well yes,
that too...
Stayed away? She's neck deep
Stayed away? She's neck deep in the Teamster and MSP crap. Remember her giving fiery speeches at the Teamster Hall in Charlestown? Maura was fortunate enough to not have been grilled by the local media over it and has maintained her silence. The MA AG's office has been turning a blind eye to corruption for years and that's why the feds take the lead on all these cases. The AG's office is too politicized to prosecute their buddies and the feds even during the Obama years don't trust the office to not leak like a sieve to their friends.
The reason why the AG is so involved in national politics is to draw attention away from scandals at home.
To be fair
It's going to be hard to run against Baker's record of [look up what goes here], his successful campaign to [find something to fill in this space], his popularity - well-deserved because of [fill in later] - and his concrete plans to have [look this up too] in the future
oooh
Political P.R. Mad-Libs!!
eh
That would imply there's something to actually fill in the blanks with.
The government is best which governs least....
or something like that right?
Probably explains his high approval rate.
We'll never know
The Globe runs weekly stories about his overwhelming popularity but hasn't gotten around yet to asking what I think would be the natural follow-up question of why.
My opinion....
-You don't hear of any major issues except for the MBTA, and every governor pretty much handled it the exact same.
-He seems to work well with the legislature, democrats and republicans alike.
-He appears to have put the right people in the right positions, as you haven't heard much in terms of corruption, poor performance, or other issues regarding his appointments (except for the state police)
-When the state police stuff came about, he actually took some action.
-In addition to working well with the legislature, he is probably going to pass this criminal justice reform bill which appears to be fair all around.
-Not many democratic politicians (in a democratic state which goes about 3/1 for D/R) have anything bad to say about him.
Thank you
I'm still not totally sold on all of it, and his total disdain for the MBTA is a complete dealbreaker for me, but I appreciate the detailed and thoughtful response.
Maybe you...
Yeah, nothing about the state police. Or the bond rating dropping. Or fiascos in the DCR. For example.
He doesn't complain when his vetos are overriden. Good show.
The state police, or the DCR, or the EEA firings, or the hack job at DOR overseeing financing. For example.
Yeah? How many are in jail? How many do you think are going? How much in stolen wages and benefits will be returned?
The one he didn't like, didn't work to pass, and has stated he'll "fix" later?
Not much of anybody has anything good to say about him.
More than just me....
If it were as bad as you say, more people would be speaking out. One anon on Uhub complaining doesn't matter at all.
Not that I don't think you're aware
But WBUR ran an article on his approval rating. I'm bad at using the comment style to get things to show in-line with the comment, but here's the link: http://www.wbur.org/news/2018/03/23/baker-poll-massie-gonzalez-warren
What's interesting to read in there is his high approval rating, then a line by line approval rating on particular issues. To me, they don't match up. Everything is <50% while he enjoys a 70+% approval rating. I don't understand how we can think that he essentially has a failing grade for things when we rate them individually but overall are telling the rest of the country that he's the best Governor in the entire Republic. It's baffling to me.
The answer is simple
He is good by comparison. Thats how screwed this country is when it comes to politicians. A do-nothing governor who over a decade ago set our mass transit system up for total failure has good approval ratings, cuz, I dunno, at least he isn't embezzling money or cheating on his wife with strippers? OH WAIT he could be POTUS with that behavior!
Not that I don't agree with the sentiment
But do you honestly think people stop and ask, "Well, how do I like him compared to LePage or Sununu or Raimondo?" when considering their answer? Because I don't think that's what people do. There might be some cynicism or apathy involved, but I don't think we're stopping to consider him side-by-side with other, specific governors like that.
Easy
Somebody can disagree with his handling of one thing, but approve of his overall performance. It's somewhat similar to a .300 hitter in baseball. You don't have to hit every ball on the screws for folks to approve your total performance.
Suldog
http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com
The MBTA
is the MAJOREST issue. And in fact, he had a direct hand in screwing it over.
Yeah, past governor's "handled it the same way" and look where the system is.
Mass transit is probably the ONE issue that, if addressed, will in tandem help alleviate MANY other issues at the same time. Mobility is key to the constantly changing economy.
I guess it sucks for him that the system is LITERALLY on fire during his watch but karma is a bitch.
Been saying it for a while, the person who gives the MBTA the attention it deserves and makes transit a priority in this state will have statues of them built and buildings dedicated to them.
In a few decades no one will remember Baker for anything...positive anyway. He is political vanilla ice cream.
The MBTA is a major issue to MBTA users
But most voters don't use the MBTA on a regular basis.
Hence, second term Deval Patrick paid more attention to the T than first term Deval Patrick, and at that, well, how was the T a month after Patrick left office?
If a person doesn't use the MBTA
but then bitches about traffic (in ANY MA city or surrounding area) then they are affected by the overall shittiness of the T. That point needs to be driven into every resident's head. It is the job of transportation advocates and political candidates who actually want to do something about the T to never stop shutting up about it.
The never-ending story you hear about that is "infrastructure isn't sexy, fixing the T isn't sexy"
Like, its not flashy enough to fix our sadly, criminally crumbling train system. But tell any true blue masshole out there you're gonna shave 20 minutes of their morning commute via car, and there are a few things they might start doing out of the pure ecstasy they feel at that statement! These days it IS actually sexy, even if these blowhard dinosaur politicians still refuse to realize it. I have a T stop minutes walk away from both work and home but I can't utilize it since I NEED to be at work on time every day and the lines I would take for my trip break down EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. Without fail. I wish I didn't have to scream at Uber drivers for 40 minutes every day and could just read a book on a train but it just isn't an option right now.
Charlie Baker's popularity?
Baker is popular because he has perfected the art of not upsetting anyone by not doing anything. In reality, Baker is just another conservative without the sharp edges - to wit: his calls for MassHealth cuts and refusal to support the so-called millionaires' tax demonstrate where his real roots are.
His leadership style reflects a pattern of placation and inaction. This is particularly true when you consider Baker’s half-hearted criticisms of the Trump administration’s draconian language on immigration with the fact that he has stood by and done nothing as ICE agents terrorize the state's immigrant communities and rip Massachusetts families apart.
Massachusetts has a long legacy of standing in the forefront of implementing ways of improvising the lives of its citizens. Our legacy suggests that the Massachusetts should be standing with states like California, New York and Washington as they pass their own climate change laws, health care expansions and public college plans. Baker has sat on his hands as the T falls apart in front of us. He was surprised by the State police scandals, surprised by Mt. Ida, missing in action on opposing the Olympics and the list goes on and on.
Charlie Baker has not earned a return to office. He sits on his hands while Trump and his GOP followers systematic deconstruct our judicial, law enforcement and environmental protection institutions and systems. He certainly is not courageous and certainly not a leader. He practices an arm’s length form of acquiescence to Trump policies and a cowardly collaboration with Congressional GOP leadership - even as they exhibit rabidly partisan and logically fractured national policies.
At best, Charlie Baker, “America’s most popular governor,” makes insincere and often vacuous gestures that do little but appease those voters who eschews thinking of anyone or anything but themselves.
Democrat views like this make Baker unbeatable
Rhetoric like yours is why Democrats have no chance against Baker. Did you intentionally omit the word illegal when commenting on immigrants dealing with ICE? Legal immigrants have nothing to fear and even those committing new crimes that would trigger deportation can trust that a sympathetic D.A. will do whatever necessary for them to stick around, just in case the immigrant wants to brutally murder two Doctors in Southie. Talk about ripping families apart, literally.
Baker is despised by most conservatives, especially the million plus here who voted for President Trump. It's a joy to mail back Baker's monthly fundraising envelope, empty. The problem is Democrats will only nominate someone with the most extreme leftist views. Sadly, a moderate has no chance.
A viable Democrat would trounce Baker (see Scott Brown, Kerry Healey etc.), as they would get the support of those who will only vote D and those of us turned off by Baker's mistreatment of President Trump, most recently refusing to greet Vice President Pence at Logan. Really shameless by Baker but the Democrats offer nothing at this time. I will give Massie a sympathy vote and have never heard of the other guy.
I'm not sad to hear about
I'm not sad to hear about this. I've contacted him about issues in Newton and he didn't even bother having one of his staffers send a form letter reply. Now that I think about it, that's enough that I'd go volunteer for one of his opponents the next time he decides to run for any elected office. Hopefully he stays retired from politics.
Setti is a real good guy
but he's ridiculously out of touch with low income voters and that would have hurt him in the long run. And when I asked him how he planned to overcome Baker's numbers, his answer was somewhat tepid.
He's a policy wonk, not a leader. I wish him well.
I think that is why he
I think that is why he infuriates me so much. I would hire the guy to run the State , like if we had a State Manager, but as a politician he just is weird. Endorsing people in Congressional office outside of his district. Declaring things that the entire Democratic Legislature and Republican Gov were set to sign as not enough. Making a huge focus on affordable housing when his own record is rather bad.
He seemed too quick to follow the stream.
I hope he lands in a well paying Non Profit job somewhere.
I'm kind of bummed
I was thinking of voting for him. I mean, whoever wins the primary is basically Baker fodder barring some kind of major scandal (think "hiking in the Appalachians" rather than "rogue chemist taints every drug case" scandal.) But still, he looked like a good standard bearer for the party.