Conference 7.286::massachusetts

  I am sorry that Weld has decided to take this job. I don't have much confi-
dence in Lt. Gov. Cellucci. His personal finances were a mess a year or two
ago. If he can't handle his own finances, how can we expect him to handle the
state's?
  It has been speculated that Pres. Clinton offered Gov. Weld this position
because it greatly increases the chance that MA will get a Democratic Governor
in the next election, and I think the second part of this is true. 

    I expect that Paul will do an excellent job of running the state
    and representing the real people like us.  He is a product of a 
    small blue-collar town.  His grandfather started an auto dealarship
    years ago which supported the family.  He does not have the personal
    big bucks that Weld has, so naturally he has trouble with personal
    finances being Lt. Guv!  Hey, at least he knows what we all go 
    through!!!  He does the family groceries on Sunday's.  The place he
    lives is not posh.  It is Harriman Reardon's old house that is not
    a palace.  A comfortable home but not a rich man's abode!  

    I, for one, think Paul can run our state well.  He cut his baby 
    teeth on town politics.  Grampy was always on the Hudson Light and
    Power Company Board.  Daddy has been equally involved with the Hudson
    Industrial Commission.  Paul, himself, was one of the earliest 
    Selectmen to be involved in the Charter Commission.  He really is a 
    grass-roots person.  

    I'm willing to give him a chance, but I think that this will make it
    easier for Joe Malone, (who I support), to get into the corner office
    in the next election. 

>            <<< Note 2108.0 by CSLALL::SHOOK "Jail to the Chief" >>>
>                                 -< Amb. Weld >-

    I think running as the incumbent will give him the only
    chance he has.  Smart move by Weld, unclear to my why
    Clinton would through the Mass Repub's this bone.

  I agree that having literally worked for a living and not coming from a 
wealthy family like Gov. Weld did could make someone a better governor. 
But I don't see coming from Hudson as 100% positive. Hudson's town government
has serious problems, IMO. The town does have lots of new industry, but 
much of its infrastructure is crumbling.

    Wouldn't Weld's appt out of the country reduce his stature and visibility
    as a strong governor when it comes time for the Republicans to develop 
    a short list of potential candidates for the '00 election?

I think the Democratic Party is tired of having a Republican governor in a
traditionally Democratic stronghold like Massachusetts. I bet it really annoys
them. It's been one of the great things about having him as Governor ;-). The
best way to change it is to give him an attractive job to remove the temptation
to run for a third term. Celucci may be a good governor but, he'll probably lose
and the DP knows it. 

What I wonder is...What's really in it for Weld?? 

Steve B. 

    My biggest concern is that with Weld out of the picture, and Cellucci
    in office, it's going to make it alot easier for the likes of that
    weasel Joe Kennedy to get elected. If that happens, I'm moving to New
    Hampshire! 
    
    Saw on channel 5 last night the president of BankBoston being
    interviewed on how he felt about Cellucci. He didn't sound too thrilled
    about the idea, and said that the state's economy is strong enough to
    cruise for the next 2 years until we get someone else in office to take
    over. Hope he's right.....

    Yes, it makes it almost a shoe-in for Joe Kennedy now.  The Dems
    get Weld out of the way so that Kennedy gets what he wants, and 
    Weld gets international experience, rounding out his resume, thus 
    making it easier next time he runs for US Senate.  (Or making him
    more attractive as a Republican Vice-Presidential candidate because,
    after 2 Dem terms, the country will probably swing back to a Repub
    president and Weld and Christine Whitman are two top VP possibilities).
    
    Sue

>                       <<< Note 2108.7 by ASDG::SBILL >>>
>                         -< Remove thorn from side... >-
>
> What I wonder is...What's really in it for Weld?? 


Weld has a reputation as something of a dilettante or a dabbler.
He is said by some to be bored with governing Massachusetts (indeed,
he took that rack as early as half way through his first term).
His hands-off attitude is said to be as much due to his not caring
as about strong laissez-faire Republican principles.
A third term was being considered because he couldn't think of what else to do.

If any of this is true, then what's in it for him is novelty and an excuse
to leave the post on a high note.

But it's also a level of introduction to national politics and international
affairs that COULD be a base for a run for the White House in, say, 2004.

I agree that Joe Kennedy is not the best candidate.
He works hard at being a populist, and he has the Kennedy name, if that
still matters.
I think Harshbarger has set himself up for a good run, and I think (and 
probably hope) that he can beat Kennedy for the nomination.

- tom]

>I agree that Joe Kennedy is not the best candidate.
>He works hard at being a populist, and he has the Kennedy name, if that
>still matters.
>I think Harshbarger has set himself up for a good run, and I think (and 
>probably hope) that he can beat Kennedy for the nomination.

    I'll be supporting Harshbarger...it will be an interesting contest.

Front page story in today's Globe says Joe Kennedy's popularity has
dropped and he'd be in a dead heat against likely Republican candidates.
I didn't get to read it, but I expect this is a temporary drop caused by his
ex-wife's book and its current publicity.

    Scott Harshbarger does not deserve to be elected dog officer. 
    He squished the  voter referendum that  would have eliminated 
    the legislative pay raise. He flew in the face of the voters.
    
    I'm putting my money on Joe Malone!
    
    Mark

    I wouldn't be surprised to see a CELLUCCI/MALONE ticket set up
    to beat the dems.  

>>    Scott Harshbarger does not deserve to be elected dog officer. 
>>    He squished the  voter referendum that  would have eliminated 
>>    the legislative pay raise. He flew in the face of the voters.

The voter referendum was off base.   He did the right thing in spite of the
political consequences.  Sounds good to me.

Weld was an abberation, a Republican running to the left of the Democratic
candidate.  (The next time, he was an incumbent.)  Unless Silber enters the
picture, I don't think Cellucci is going to be in that position, and I don't
think he'll have enough of a track record to take advantage of being an
incumbent.  Normalcy (i.e. a Democratic governor) may yet return.

						Brian

    If the voter referendum was off-base, then what harm would there be
    in putting it on the ballot? Why not let voters decide where the
    money goes?
    
    Mark