There is a scene in “The Campaign,” that rare Will Ferrell movie that fails to live up to expectations, during which Congressman Cam Brady follows up a brief physical encounter with a supporter in a portable toilet by misdialing her number and leaving a racy voicemail on the machine of a devoutly religious family, just as they are saying grace before dinner.
When Brady appears before the news media to explain, he points his finger at the battery of cameras and sternly announces that he will not tolerate this kind of behavior. But congressman, one reporter says, you’re talking about your own behavior. Brady quickly slips off the stage.
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where were a month ago Brian, all this bad news comes out after the election. you people are funny. Maybe will be lucky enough and Patrick can go to Washington and mess it up even more.
Patrick is all about posturing and has no interest in or skill in leading or managing. He sounds good, but cannot deliver. Everything that happens, as Brian notes is "surprising" and "disappointing". Maybe if he actually got involved he could prevent some of the outrageous events rather thanj reacting after they run into a tree. Or two.
Saying that these problems are a result of Patrick is a bit like saying that the national economy is the President's problem. Sure, the top slot needs to take responsibility. And, in private industry, the top slot surely has considerable influence. But in public and government affairs, too many people are contributing in too many ways to put it all in one lap. Looking at the problems as evidence of the malfunction of collective effort can yield more effective problem solving than casting blame at one person. Going after one person in this way is simplistic. It makes for a neat article, all wrapped up. But misses the boat as far as real problem solving.
Therefore, the Governor should not take any prsonal credit for the things that are going right. Right? I'll accept that.
You're correct to an extent but, as governor, he's placed people in authority who are at the root of these problems. A good executive places competent people in their jobs and manages these people. Choosing the wrong people, or being unable to manage them, will get you fired. Deval's clearly not a good executive. Doesn't make him a bad person, he's just not right for the job.
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If he sticks around his last two years in office will rival Dukakis's 1989-1990 for horror and chaos. He should grab that Obamajob while he can still get confirmed by the Senate. Then Tubby Tim Murray will get to be the Dems Jane Swift, at least until McLaughlin rolls over and Murray's indictment is handed up.
I think the time has passed that he could get confirmed by the Senate.
That's the problem. Too many people like him but he is a sad excuse as a governor. His legacy will reflect that. This state and it's tax payers will take years and much tax dollars to clean up after him.
You have expectations for Will Ferrell movies?
While all the examples you offer in this column are definitely negative things, your argument that they indicate that the governor's administration is 'falling off a cliff' is pretty overwrought.
Deval Patrick is a charismatic speaker who is very bright. Those two qualities don't necessarily make a good governor. Clearly he's made bad choices on those he's put in positions of authority. He's then exacerbated this by spending an inordinate amount of time doing his book tours and stumping for Obama. My gut tells me that he's not as interested in how his administration operates as he is in championing his ideals. That doesn't make him a bad person, as you say, but the fact that the walls are crumbling is no suprise. This is the governor you get when people vote on the rap, and not on the substance and ability of a candidate.
You could easily substitute Obama for Patrick in this comment, and all would still apply.
"fishinships" has hit a home run with this one...
Governor's "turmoil?" Turmoil? How about FAILURE?! It's what you get for not paying attention to what you're supposed to be doing. Drug lab scandal. EBT cards. Probation department. Lack of oversight on compounding center. Marian Walsh appointment and transportation department appointment. Too many failures.... With just two years left (and oh by the way, will he provide adequate oversight on the establishment of medical marijuana facilities, or will be be going the way of California?), his so-called "legacy" is already defined - poor.
At least they're coming to light and getting addressed, better than the alternative. Any administration will have misteps and other problems will come up but how they're dealt with is the key. Pundits and media have to write/complain about something; since the Patrick administration is addressing things the second guessors switch to writing about that they should have been prevented. The electorate so far has been satisfied with his performance and that's what really matters. Perhaps they won't next time.
"Times ah wicked terrible, and it's all the guv'nuh's fawlt." LOLOLOLOLOL! (Tribute to the missing-in-action "TheSystemWorked".)
Deval Patrick has done a terrific job as governor. The problems with New England Compounding relate to federal (FDA) regulation and should not be placed on Deval. The problems with the state lab director are certainly minor when you compare them with the massive oversight deficiencies of Mitt Romney and Charlie Baker on the Big Dig.
I'd say that in addition to the Pharmacy Board there is a problem with the Board of Registration of Medicine. The Globe story about the Dr. at Faulkner Hospital who is apparently a wonderful cardiologist but has had his license revoked because of an affair made me suspect that the Board was whacking him because of his diivorce. Well, I looked up the members and sure enough there are 4 women and only 2 men on the board. I think it would be appropriate to do some in-depth research on the board members, and if fully expect that this action by the board will be investigated and if it is due to bias, as I suspect, reversed. Goernor, are you checking this out?
Brian, tying Patrick to a problem in a private sector lab is ridiculous. It would be akin to blaming the governor of a state where Blackwater operated when they electrocuted American military personel showering while in Iraq.
Or the myriad military complex hardware failures on the respective governors.
It's just dumb.
Same holds true with the crime lab techie that falsified records. The blame rests on the lab directors shoulders. Not the governor.
Patrick's administration has been a failure since his first days as governor. From his first term getting caught with the lavish office renovations and the Cadillac debacle to the present with his Lt Governor being a raging drunk and the State Police chief retiring trying to hide his dui. And we have Patrick's hiring of a totally unqualified safety chief, the Probation department scandal and Patrick giving the illegal immigrants in state tuition is outrageous. I'm guessing he'll bail if Obama offers him a position and the same with Kerry. The Democratic party in this state is an embarassment locally and nationally.
Gov. Patrick's "[a]ides whisper that he’s planning to go bold in terms of policy proposals ... ." This is all well and good, but better policy will not cure inadequate *execution* and management. The scandals at issue are failures of execution, not of policy. Most politicians, journalists, and academics focus on policy because policy seems to be the locus of innovation and potential "accomplishments" that cited in resumes and biographies. By comparison, execution is usually seen as mundane, even boring. Big mistake, as repeated scandals and miscues should be teaching everyone.