dagblog - Comments for "Bill Weld Goes Rogue"

Ah, I got you. Yes, after he

Michael Wolraich — Mon, 23 May 2016 17:57:28 +0000

Ah, I got you. Yes, after he lost the Republican primary, he dropped out of the race rather than run solely on a Libertarian ticket.

I know it couldn't have been

Michael Maiello — Mon, 23 May 2016 02:15:47 +0000

In reply to Bill Weld Goes Rogue

I know it couldn't have been significant for the Koch businesses, but one of the things about Johnson's time as NM governor is that he had a lot of roads paved to counties who voted for him and Koch controlled companies did well in that business. Hard to say he bought favor from the Koch brothers, because NM didn't have the money to really do so, at the level those guys roll, but perhaps friendships were made back then?

At the same time, Johnson was not a bad guy. I remember him being for pot legalization, in an honest way, before it was popular. Cheerleaders at my local high school even refused to perform for him over it, arguing that his stance on marijuana undermined what they had been taught about drugs ruining the community.

If all this Trump stuff means that old school Republicans switch to a true Libertarian ideology that is really about maximizing social freedoms first, rather than tax cuts for the rich first, I think we're all better for it.

I think you're right it was

Flavius — Sun, 22 May 2016 16:48:02 +0000

In reply to That's a funny story, which I

I think you're right it was Bulger.

I had a friend who served in the "General Court" with whom I could usually check but he ,sadly, just died. BTW although he fairly conservative and fairly gay- phobic he approved of Barney Frank's legislative skills. And , I think, just plain liked him.

My impression is that Bernie might not be as able to reject the consensus and still be effective. It's not easy.

I think that's definitely the

Doctor Cleveland — Sun, 22 May 2016 03:34:55 +0000

In reply to "..an agent of electoral

I think that's definitely the plan. And it sounds reasonable.

But on the other hand, I've had enough of too-clever tactical plans by Republicans who hate Trump. Their track record with the clever footwork has been abominable. At a certain point, they're just struggling against the fact that they need to choose between Trump and Clinton. Just vote for Hillary already. Don't goof around with procedural tricks.

That's a funny story, which I

Doctor Cleveland — Sun, 22 May 2016 03:24:56 +0000

In reply to Then-governor Weld was

That's a funny story, which I usually hear attached to Billy Bulger (of the infamous Bulger brothers). Bulger was President of the Massachusetts Senate while Weld was governor, and his St. Patrick's Day breakfasts were legendary. That line of Weld's shows how good he can be when he's on his game.

And yeah. A lot of went on in the 1980s and 1990s was Watergate payback of various kinds, including the Bork thing and the treatment of the Clintons.

Well, yes, but that's an

Doctor Cleveland — Sun, 22 May 2016 03:21:12 +0000

In reply to Fyi, this isn't Weld's first

Well, yes, but that's an artifact of New York politics, where you can run on more than one party line simultaneously. Weld wasn't interested in the Libertarian nomination except in combination wth the Republican nomination, because he actually wanted to be elected governor. This is different.

It's true that Weld's political star has been in decline for almost two decades; he never quite recovered from his (nearly-successful) attempt to take John Kerry's Senate seat from him. He doesn't have any clear path to high office any more. But this deliberately quixotic run is new for him.

Fyi, this isn't Weld's first

Michael Wolraich — Sat, 21 May 2016 22:06:40 +0000

In reply to Bill Weld Goes Rogue

Fyi, this isn't Weld's first date with the Libertarians. In 2006, the Libertarian Party of NY nominated him for governor, but Weld dropped out of the race after he lost the Republican primary. You're absolutely right that he's a political orphan, but he's been one for some time.

"..an agent of electoral

Oxy Mora — Sat, 21 May 2016 15:09:19 +0000

In reply to Bill Weld Goes Rogue

"..an agent of electoral anarchy", ---nails it exactly.

Of course my first response is to come up with reasons why this helps Clinton more than Trump. But in the context of this election, anything is possible.t may attract the patrician Republican vote---there must be a few of those in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida---who are embarrassed by Trump but wouldn't vote for Clinton.

If the media gets behind this new upstart and Trump considers the ticket a threat, he will try to impugn the Libertarians---which would be very counterproductive. So, on balance, I think it helps Clinton.

The western states and New England could produce interesting fallout.

Then-governor Weld was

Flavius — Sat, 21 May 2016 13:01:16 +0000

In reply to Bill Weld Goes Rogue

Then-governor Weld was invited by Mass Senate majority leader John Powers to attend the St.Patrick's Day dinner in South Boston where Powers introduced him by saying with pretend humility "We're honored to be addressed today at our little celebration by someone whose ancestors really did come over on the Mayflower ".

Weld : " Oh no,they sent the cook and the housekeeper ahead to open up the cottage".

As you say ,he and Hillary were working (on a joint assignment) for Archibald Cox when Nixon fired him.

Just a piece of misc data :at the time Western Union had a response line you could call to send one line messages to the White House. It was essentially closed down by the " firestorm" in response.

The head of WU asked the guy in charge "What are they saying?".

"You're a bum".