Romney wins respect for apolitical recruiting

Boston Globe Online ^ | 12/27/2002 | Joanna Weiss, Globe Staff

[xsysmgr]

As police chief in Arlington County, Va., Edward Flynn was only vaguely aware of this fall's election in Massachusetts. Then his phone rang in late November and a voice asked, ''Could you hold for Governor-elect Romney?''

It was the start of a swift and surprising courtship that led to Flynn's appointment as public safety secretary. Flynn flew to Massachusetts and spent an hour talking with Romney, and liked his views on crime, which he said were more sophisticated than ''lock 'em up and throw away the key.'' Flynn was intrigued that the Republican never asked about his party registration.

[RobFromGa]

If the Boston Globe is making favorable comments, it can't be good. I'm not sure surrounding himself with moderates and liberals is the way for Romney to help Massachusetts or his party.

But I do recognize that Romney is operating deep behind the front lines and has many logistical problems to deal with. Plus, he has a big fiscal disaster to clean up without cutting services, raising taxes, or limiting benefits.

[Egregious Philbin]

If the Boston Globe is making favorable comments, it can't be good. I'm not sure surrounding himself with moderates and liberals is the way for Romney to help Massachusetts or his party.

Romney, however, is probably pretty happy about it. He can't get anything done in Massachusetts without "surrounding himself with moderates and liberals." He'd lose all support if, gaining office, he suddenly began to push the conservative, Republican line. He didn't campaign that way, and it doesn't represent Massachusetts voters either. He campaigned as a pragmatist, open to the suggestions of either party.

[Egregious Philbin]

We're a single party state on our fourth consecutive Republican governor.

[SamAdams76]

My initial impressions of Mitt Romney are very favorable. He seems like one of the the most decent guys to ever gain elected office and don't let his "apolitical" actions fool you, he is a man with traditional conservative values. He reminds me a lot of GWB. He's not your typical back-slapping politician who is in the back pocket of union thugs and other special interest groups. He's independently wealthy and thus can't be bought by anybody. I sincerely believe that Mitt Romney intends to do some serious governing and that in the end, our budget problems will be solved WITHOUT the raising of taxes. If he is able to pull this off, he will make it much harder for a liberal tax-and-spender to ever get in the corner office again.

[RobFromGa]

Everything I've read about Romney is positive as well. He appears to be interested in leading and solving problems. Good luck to him.

As long as he sticks to economic policies that have been proven to work (tax rate reductions, small business incentives, improved training instead of handouts, high expectations) he (and Mass) should come out fine.

It is amazing that MA has elected four consecutive GOP governors-- why do you think this is?

[SamAdams76]

It is amazing that MA has elected four consecutive GOP governors-- why do you think this is?

I think there are a lot more conservatives in Massachusetts than is generally perceived to be. The problem is that there is a dearth of conservative candidates running in Massachusetts. The vast majority of congressmen and state reps run unopposed. Outside of Mitt Romney and arguably Jim Rappaport (who Mitt is feuding with), there is pretty much nobody else in the Republican party here with any kind of name recognition.

There are a lot of conservatives in this state that are hungry for conservatives to vote for.

[GraniteStateConservative]

If there were more Republicans in the legislature, Republican wouldn't fare well in gubernatorial races. Voters think that a Republican governor will be easily checked by the legislature.

[RobFromGa]

The situation in MA sounds similar to GA in some ways. We are now in the process of breaking that mold here in Georgia.

At the state government level, there have been more Democrats interested in state office. Over time, this generates more proven Democrat candidates for state-wide elections-- making them more likely to win Governot and Senate seats.

Till November 2002, there has been little reason to be a Republican state official in Georgia. Georgia has been a one-party state governement run by Democrats. They have set up all the rules to maintain that power. And still the GOP took over Georgia!

Good luck in Massachusetts!

[TakeitBack]

"The only
way it'll help us is when Kennedy finally dies."

There will only be another one waiting to run with the torch. It will be a long and uphill climb for MA to rid itself of the deep-rooted corruption and omnipotence of the kennedy klan. Why that known criminal continually gets re-elected in this state perplexes me.

[TakeitBack]

MA's biggest problem IS the legislature. This is a group of people who throw out what the majority of voters vote for and carry forth their own agendas -- in utter defiance of majority rule. They do what is best for them - period - and has nothing to do with what is best for the people. Its disgusting and criminal - yet they all remain, year after year.