The "rug" syndrome
Submitted by scharrison on Fri, 01/27/2012 - 9:10pm
When you have a plan worked out or an expected course of events, and something happens that changes everything, it often feels like somebody has pulled a rug out from under you. Your natural reaction is to throw your arms out, maybe dance around a little, look for somebody you can grab onto so you don't fall on your face, and other desperate acts that you hope will not be caught on film.
Well, Bev Perdue just pulled the rug out, so before we do too much more dancing and flailing and grabbing, we might want to take some time to get our balance back.
Yes, there's a long list of possibly suitable Dems to take Bev's place as a candidate for Governor, and (like everybody else) I've got a few faves I'd love to see in that mansion. But I'm not going to drop any names in this thread, and I would ask that commenters try to refrain from doing that as well.
I'd like to dedicate this diary to defining (or redefining) the "job description", if you will, of our state's highest elected office. Skills, responsibilities, ideologies, etc., that you believe are important for our Governor to have. Maybe if we can figure those things out, the list of hopefuls will get shorter and easier to manage.
I'll start it out, but don't feel like I'm laying claim to this particular aspect: A good administrator. I didn't say a capable administrator; having capabilities and actually using them don't always go hand in hand, especially when political considerations come into play.
Okay, that was a little vague. Since we're not dancing, I'll lay it straight out: A good administrator doesn't engage in or submit to patronage. The best person for the job is the best person for the job, period. Putting somebody you know and trust into a position might seem like a sensible idea, but it could also be a sign of weakness. There's sometimes a fine line between a well-oiled machine and a factory that produces those chalky, Valentine's Day "I Wuv U" candies. A good administrator strives for the former and abhors the latter, and simply won't tolerate a brown-nosing toady.
And I'll tell you something else a good administrator won't tolerate: Unethical behavior. Not because it's potentially politically damaging, but because someone who engages in unethical behavior simply cannot be trusted. They can't be trusted to make the right decisions in their jobs, and that's doubly important when their job is to serve the people by using the people's money.
A good administrator is not "secretive". If something works, everybody should know about it. If something doesn't work, well. Everybody should know about that, too. Everybody makes mistakes. A good administrator doesn't live in fear of his or her mistakes becoming common knowledge, because they are usually few and far between, and are dealt with in a timely fashion. No closed meetings, no hidden agendas, no shredded memos, and no deleted e-mails.
I'll leave off for now, and (hopefully) let some other folks write this job description. I will say this: It's a sad portrait of our state that those basic requirements I've listed above seem like a child's wish-list that simply cannot be filled.
It's a little wordy
Sorry. I've been working my butt off for the last few days and haven't engaged much here. But it doesn't mean my mind wasn't churning out unwritten observations.
I had to either write it down or seek therapy, and I can only afford to do one of those things. ;)
My Want Ad
Granted there are a lot of other issues I care about like education, the environment, and many others, but I worry that the order I already put up is too tall to be easily filled.
Wouldn't it be nice
if we didn't have to fill the job until a qualified applicant came along? Instead, we'll end up with whoever the wealthy decide will make the most presentable specimen.
Wow. I have really become jaded over this whole running-for-office thing...
Grabbing already, and not ashamed of it*
Progressives in NC are fortunate, somewhat. Because of the teabaggers and redistricting, there are plenty of highly qualified Dems who would be available to run for Gov. As part of my post-Perdue slip-and-slide I've kind of latched on to one, but that one would be a good choice. As would others (the runner-up of the most recent Dem primary for US Senate, for example) - and that is a good thing. It can't hurt to stop and smell the roses, though, and take the time to figure out which highly qualified candidate could win...
*I don't mean to imply that the author believes we should be ashamed if we, say, already signed a petition or two - but my 2nd cup of coffee has not yet hit and that's the best subject I could come up with.
Ability to win is important
Unfortunately, the legacy of some previous winners (Black, Easley, etc.) has made winning less likely for those who follow.
Yeah, we should definitely be doing some window shopping. But we might want to put the item on layaway instead of buying it outright, because...we might find a better deal...have a change of heart...read a consumer report...*sigh*. I had thos whole shopping analogy lined up, but it fell apart like a poorly-stitched...that's it! Poorly stitched. We don't want that. :)
Joe Hackney?
My favorite politician in the entire state. Would make an awesome Governor.
Do good. Be nice. Have fun.
Joe Hackney
would probably not consider it.
He would certainly make a wonderful Governor, but the man is not an ass-kisser, so it's no-go.
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing
-Edmund Burke
My ideal candidate
will have a demonstrated ability to lead as well as "administrate" (administer?). I don't expect to agree with this candidate 100% of the time, but I do expect integrity - and I will measure that integrity by matching the record of public service - votes and statements with what is said during the campaign. Too many politicians have changed their minds on issues just to get elected. Certainly we all understand having changed our minds - it's a human thing to do. But if a candidate does it too often, and, too expediently, that candidate is not for me.
Education has been discussed a little - I'm going to expand some on it. I will be looking for specific educational ideas from the ideal gubernatorial candidate - not just "I support education". I would assume that most candidates support some form of education. I want to see specific plans from candidates so that I can evaluate who is listening to educational experts, and who is paying lip service to a phrase.
That's all I've got right now. There's a lot more, but those are my bellwethers.
"Administer" is the proper verb,
derived from the Latin "Administrare". But somewhere along the line some bureaucrat decided he didn't like the serving and giving aspects of the root minister, so he cooked up "Administrate" to puff himself up a little. He probably had a really big gavel, too...
Bowles
Joe Sinsheimer just said Dalton is out, which means someone better set to hit the ground running is stepping up. The only way someone could be better set would be that s/he has got the money and/or the fundraising muscles to compete with McCrory's resources.
I wonder how long we'll be kept waiting in advance of Feb's filings.
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing
-Edmund Burke
Bowles or Dalton
I'm assuming you meant to say Bowles is out? As it currently stands, it seems we have:
Walter Dalton
Bill Faison
Do good. Be nice. Have fun.
Dalton or Bowles
No, I was saying that Joe Sinsheimer is saying that Dalton is out. Sinsheimer values his reputation as a go-to-guy, so he's careful with these prognostications. In fact, usually they aren't actually predictions so much as they are information he has. So I'm saying that if it's true that Dalton is out, it would be because someone with bigger fundraising muscle and support is about to emerge. Best guess right now is that that would be Bowles.
But it would be exciting if it were someone no one has named yet.
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing
-Edmund Burke
Got it
Joe doesn't often get it wrong. This would be very big news, but not very positive news, in my view. Bowles' most recent performance with Simpson was a miserable affair all around.
Do good. Be nice. Have fun.
Dalton is not out...
...gave a great speech yesterday at NCDP SEC mtg. He got the crowd on their feet!
I'd be really surprised too
I heard Dalton was in top form ... but the rumor mill in this case came highly recommended. Given that the story hasn't moved over the course of the day, I'd have to conclude it was a false alarm.
Do good. Be nice. Have fun.