"our states popular incumbent governor." only in your mind and with your help scribe. ok, question 2 that will never be asked by lehigh of our status quo. governor patrick, way back you were on record as wanting to use civilian flag people in place of highly paid police details. thats nice but never ever once as governor did you say or do anything about changing the states dreaded and draconian prevailing wage law. HOW COME? back to romney. he with then lt. governor kerry healey told unarguably this countries most bought and corrupted legislature to take a hike when said elected body tried to gut the much needed long overdue bill that became MELANIES LAW. because of the stand of our top 2 state officials and a few other pols and a huge outcry from the people, that bill became law. romney told wm. bulger he was not fit to lead our state flagship school in amherst because of his actions and words concerning his brother. romney led the charge to get rid of matt whats his name after the tragic tunnel accident that took a womens life as she was driving to logan. btw scot, when was the last time you and a few of your colleagues took a stand on something that was not elephant or donkey but rather as a matter of right or wrong? or the 1st time. ma

Scot is correct that a governor is not responsible for job creation in his state. But we will hear many times over the next 5 months that Massachusetts ranked 47th (or whatever) in job creation during Romney's term. The message Romney should bring on this subject, is that job growth has gone to the states with lower tax rates and less sever regulatory environments. In one term, Romney could not change the Mass culture to that of say, North Carolina or Texas. But these are the states that are growing jobs and population, and are taking congressional seats from the liberal states like Mass and New York. This message will work for him, because the people are already voting with their feet by moving to more conservatively run states.

Agreed that Mitt Romney accomplished some positive things for MA during his tenure as Governor, and agree with M.A. below that one of the most important was showing Billy Bulger the door. But the most telling indicator of who Mitt Romney really is can be found in the state of shambles that he left the MA State Republican Party in, post his departure for matters of higher ambition. That particular series of events makes clear that this man is not, and never has been about making things better and restoring order for the longer-term. Instead, it's always been about what he personally needs to do to move to the next step on his personal ambition ladder. Makes me wonder what "next" will be, should he be elected president.

If Mitt had been anything besides an abject failure as governor, we would have governor Healey now, not governor Patrick. The voters rushed to take Romney's chaff out of office.

Please join them.

What is really weird is that Romney seemingly can't talk honestly about what he did when he was governing (healthcare, tax loophole reductions, etc.) without freaking out the right wing of his own party. Think about that. It's like knowing your spouse is having an affair but not talking about it. I mean, really strange.

In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking readers into an emotional response or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.

+69,000 jobs added. That is a record of failure.. Scot, OT - Artur Davis

Mitt Romney is running on 2 fronts using his Massachusetts background. He didn't raise taxes. Well he did. He created a bundle of jobs. He didn't. He balanced budgets. Sort of but did this by kicking the can down the road and left the incoming governor with a billion dollar deficit. As a technical leader he did what he was suppose to to run the state with the help of a reasonably cooperative legislature. In fact that's how he got his health care law through. Most telling was his being missing in action during the last year of his governorship moving about the country badmouthing one of the most prosperous, educationally advanced, innovative, and socially progressive states in the union. His vision is the antithesis of such a society, namely patriarchal, trickle down economics, disregard for economic displacement, and a neo-con hawkish view of foreign affairs. No one can say for certain how the highest office will shape one's ideology but from what we know, caveat emptor. Also using Mr. Lehigh's logic it is our more well endowed citizens who plunged us into this recession. So far they have not lifted many fingers to get us out.

Most people are going to Texas or North Carolina (or Florida, etc.) for the warmer weather - not because the political climate is "better". Better jobs are coming to Massachusetts because we have better schools (at all levels) and a better educated workforce. The new jobs in Texas are minimum wage jobs, not jobs that can support a family. BTW - sever = cut, severe = bad.

Wasn't there also a much overlooked factoid that, while Romney was Taxashoosetts governor, he failed to take home a paycheck... voluntarily?

Which Romney are we talking about?

Romney's term was preceded by 12 years of Weld, Cellucci and Swift, all Republicans. Are you accusing them of doing nothing to change the culture you feel so urgently needed changing, or are you saying theirs was the culture that needed changing, in which case he was taking on his own party?

There was one glaring error in Scott's column. When he mentioned Bill Weld & Mike Dukakis. He didn't point out that at one end you had Bill Weld, and I am surprised when he opined the other end Mike Dukakis being the worst governor in recent history, with Weld being one of the best. I would say Jane Swift was the worst, Dukakis is a close 2nd, with Deval closing in!!! The Popular governor? With who Scott, the sycophants from the Globe, the welfare cheats, the illegal immigrants who commit crimes? The winner of the popular vote with 49%! My God, the more Warren & Obama are going to lose by, the more panic the Globe becomes!!!

James Thurber's observations on our American society have never rung truer.

I find it hard to accept that Romney was in any way good for the state. He was most interested in himself and running for President. Aside from health care, he sounded as governor as foolishly as he did running gainst Senator Kennedy. Nothing can excuse the egomaniac.

My memory of the Romney era was of him running around the country ridiculing Massachusetts - so what is it exactly that makes him so proud now? Can't wait for the stories he'll tell when he runs for emperor of the world.

My memory of Obama is him running around the world and apologizing and pissing off allies

Guys: Did you see the recent Suffolk poll showing that Governor Patrick is the most popular politician in the state? You may not like him, but let's not be solipsistic. Scot

Add how does that affect what he did as governor, either way? The current salary for governor is $140,535. Romney made well over double that in speaker's fees ($374,000). At best it's a stunt.

Scott, That is like being the tallest little person!! Congress has an approval rating of 14! Is this the same poll that had Marsha Coakley up 14 points the weekend before the election? Try and not be pedagogue!

solipsistic lipstick? :)

The most damning interview with Romney is Tim Russert's from 2007 (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22273924/ns/meet_the_press/t/meet-press-transcript-dec/#.T8kLsY4b7H0). Russert nails Romney on everything from flip-flopping on abortion after citing his mother as the reason he was pro-choice, to claiming a fee is not a tax. As Tim said "Governor, that's a gimmick."

Bam: He's at 60 percent fav, for god's sakes. That's v. good in tough times. Scot

I am with honestman. You are incomprehensible and off-topic. But genuine. I like genuine. You can't simulate a MikeArnold. But still incomprehensible.