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Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gavin Newsom Should Work on Governing Rather Than Podcasting
After listening to some of Gavin Newsom's new podcast, I thought, "You really shouldn't quit your day job." But maybe he should quit his day job given that so much of the governor's attention has been on vanity projects such as this one. They seem designed to gin up his national aspirations rather than deal with the many problems that plague the nation's most populous state. The podcast—where he has so far interviewed MAGA luminaries Steve Bannon, Charlie Kirk and Michael Savage—isn't nearly as cringe-worthy as his "Campaign for Democracy." That included tours and advertisements in red states. The campaign vowed to "expose and fight rising authoritarianism across the nation." It was Newsom at his hectoring worst—and reminded non-Californians what to avoid. By contrast, the This is Gavin Newsom gabfest showcases the gregarious and politically malleable Newsom who charmed his way into the state's highest office. That Newsom is an acquired taste, albeit one I have yet to acquire. But conservatives underestimate his intelligence. When he was lieutenant governor, I interviewed him about his Blue Ribbon Panel on marijuana legalization. He was impressively knowledgeable about the nitty gritty in the report. The latter point has left me puzzled, as he clearly can be a master of details. Unfortunately, his administration is noted for its grandiosity about, say, climate change. But the follow through? Not so much. Even many non-conservatives believe Newsom seems to treat the governor's job as an annoyance that gets in the way of more important business. I'm obviously not the first person to say this, but the best way for Newsom to build a national following is to do such a bang-up job running California that voters might say, "Yeah we want some of that." I remember when Democratic Gov. Michael Dukakis tried to ride the "Massachusetts Miracle" into the White House. His hopes dissolved upon closer scrutiny, but the concept is sound: First prove that you did exemplary work on your home turf. Yet, California remains the national poster child for government spending and dysfunction—where insurers are fleeing, taxes are painful, businesses are relocating, basic infrastructure is lacking and it's virtually impossible to build anything in an efficient manner. The state's golden image had tarnished by the time I moved here in the 1990s, but it's only gotten worse. It's depressing given California's culture of dreaming big things. I'm a foe of national-conservative revanchism, with its zero-sum outlook, hostility to immigrants, endless search for enemies (real or perceived), taunting of our allies, alignment with authoritarian regimes, hostility to free markets, and willingness to use government to advance oddball cultural objectives. The nation needs a leader who can articulate the old California Dream: an open society based on abundance and freedom. It's clear that Newsom could never possibly fill that role. Although he occasionally gives a nod to old-style California entrepreneurship, Newsom's California is depicted by scarcity. It's where government planners call the shots and bigger budgets are always the marks of the greater good. The LA wildfires spotlighted our state's overall incompetence. California once was the state where a visionary might start up a gee-whiz concept in a garage. Now bureaucrats and powerful unions would crush that concept in its infancy. Newsom isn't to blame for this malaise, but hasn't done a thing to unwind it—and has done much to make it worse. Instead of articulating a compelling vision that could spark a broad-minded counterpunch to narrow-minded populism, Newsom has taken an oddly defeatist course in his first four podcasts. In fairness, I don't disagree with reaching out to opponents for civil conversations. The governor was remarkably gracious. Again, I'm a fan of graciousness. But part of being a good interviewer—or the potential leader for a political party or movement—is to offer thoughtful rebuttals to the interviewees' bad ideas. It also means detailing fabulous ideas that might win over others. Listening to Newsom, I felt almost as if he were the guest on these shows. He granted too many points, stayed silent when he should have spoken up, and let his guests set the agenda. As The New York Times summarized, "The tenor with Mr. Bannon was set early on, when Mr. Newsom did not push back on his guest's repeated false claims that President Trump won the 2020 election." He let Bannon prattle about the evils of corporations and oligarchs. "I was shocked and pleased that the governor was on the same page," Bannon told Newsweek. I'm not sure what Newsom would say about that assessment, but it left liberals scratching their heads. It won't win over conservatives, who generally depicted the podcast as a transparent attempt to move right in preparation for a national campaign. Newsom's just not a very good podcaster. He's not a very good governor, either, but there's work to do—and he should spend more time doing it. This column was first published in The Orange County Register. The post Gavin Newsom Should Work on Governing Rather Than Podcasting appeared first on
Boston Globe
11-03-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
Michael Dukakis, a political lion in winter, reflects on his life and service
Advertisement He no longer moves as easily, is recovering from a minor medical procedure, and his political battles are a memory. But a visit on a recent afternoon found Dukakis — state representative, three-term Massachusetts governor, Democratic presidential nominee, university professor — eager to talk about his full, personal life and commitment to public service. Governor Michael Dukakis announced his candidacy for reelection in Boston on April 26, 1986. George Rizer/Globe Staff His vision of good government has not changed over the many years, he said. It's a vision based on honesty, working for the common good, and assembling a team of smart, committed public servants, traits that are not taken for granted in politics these days. 'I was fortunate as governor,' Dukakis said of the so-called Massachusetts Miracle, an economic turnaround in the 1980s that catapulted him within sight of the presidency. 'I was able to attract terrific people to work for the state.' Dukakis won his first term as governor in 1974, inheriting a state budget deficit that ballooned to $500 million and a double-digit unemployment rate. Although he scaled back the deficit, his combination of budget cuts and tax increases contributed to his defeat by Edward J. King in the 1978 Democratic primary. But Dukakis rebounded to reclaim the governor's office in 1982 and 1986, winning national praise for the state's robust economy and securing his party's 1988 nomination for president. Advertisement 'I'm not sure it was a miracle, but it's what happened,' Dukakis said of the state's high-tech boom. 'It wasn't just me, but a lot of good people who made a huge difference. Today, I think it's fair to say, it's probably one of the better-governed states. We can be proud.' Presidential candidate and Governor Michael Dukakis shook hands with the crowd after delivering a campaign speech in New Haven, CT., on Oct. 20, 1988. Paul R. Benoit/Globe Staff If Dukakis is plagued by lingering regrets, they didn't surface during a wide-ranging, hourlong conversation. Not even about the 1988 presidential race that he lost decisively to Vice President George H.W. Bush in a campaign Dukakis once had led by double digits in the polls. Republican ads that portrayed the governor as soft on crime, as well as a controversial debate performance, preceded his defeat. Related : One Republican ad highlighted the case of Massachusetts inmate Willie Horton, a Black man who had been convicted of murder, was released on furlough, and attacked a white couple in their Maryland home while Dukakis was governor. In a nationally televised debate during the campaign, Dukakis offered what was considered a bland, dispassionate response about whether he would support capital punishment if his wife were raped and murdered. He repeated his opposition to the death penalty and never mentioned Kitty's name. 'It happened, I lost, and you can't go back,' Dukakis said of the election. 'I've been blessed with a great spouse and wonderful kids and a great life. So I didn't become president, but that's the way it goes.' If Dukakis is a slow-moving lion in winter these days, spending much of his time poring over newspapers, he remains a sharply opinionated one. In an exchange with Scott Kerman, a friend and author of an upcoming biography of the governor who was visiting that day, Dukakis described Trump as corrupt and incompetent, with the potential to do harm both domestically and internationally. Advertisement However, Dukakis quickly pointed out, Trump won the election, and elections have consequences. 'I hope this is just a phase, and I hope that by the time this guy finishes, people will understand there is a difference,' said Dukakis, who also seemed puzzled by former vice president Kamala Harris's performance in the race. 'She seemed to be doing well, and she seemed to have people responding to her. But, in any event, she lost, and the other guy won. I hope I'll still be around when he leaves.' Related : For Dukakis, politics is never far away. He follows developments in state and national government closely, and said he occasionally receives calls to talk over a piece of policy. It's an interest connected to a life of public service, he said, one his Greek immigrant parents instilled in him. Their success and love of the United States are part of the reason he holds immigrants and their contributions in such high regard, and criticizes those who seek to demonize them. 'My father was 16, and my mother was 9 when they came over. Not just them, but immigrants generally, how do they do this?' said Dukakis, shaking his head, noting that his father graduated from Bates College and Harvard Medical School, and that his mother earned Phi Beta Kappa honors at Bates. 'Immigrants are still doing it, and they're doing it every day. And the young people, too, so many of them. Their parents came over here and did great things, and now the kids are doing remarkable things,' he added. Advertisement Dukakis reverted over and over to memories of childhood, family, and Brookline. Kitty, 88, slept in the adjacent room as he spoke, and Dukakis brightened when he recalled meeting her for the first time while running the Boston Marathon in 1951 as a high school senior. Kitty, a Brookline freshman, was offering water to runners as they passed through the town on Beacon Street. Governor Michael Dukakis and his wife, Kitty, at his inauguration in Boston on Jan. 2, 1975. Bill Brett/Globe Staff 'That was how I met my future wife,' Dukakis said, chuckling at the memory. 'She handed me a cup of water.' After his political career, Dukakis taught for many years at Northeastern University, close to where his father had practiced medicine on Huntington Avenue for more than five decades. Dukakis also advocated for the restoration of the Emerald Necklace, picked up countless pieces of litter along the way, and touted the benefits of making In addition, he has promoted a 'I loved being governor,' Dukakis said. 'But it was more than just my being governor. It was the fact that we could attract terrific young people and make the state a model for the kind of government that I believe in. That continues at the state level, notwithstanding what's going on nationally.' When asked about his legacy, Dukakis paused and looked away before answering. 'Probably, at least I hope it will be, that I left an example for young people,' he said. 'Especially those whose parents came over here as immigrants, and who made a little contribution to their community and their country. Advertisement 'You know, that's the American story.' Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey with Michael Dukakis in 2024 at Northeastern University, where he taught. Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff Brian MacQuarrie can be reached at
