You know, I've been thinking about that speech, and now that I've actually read it instead of listening to it, I have to say, it really isn't all that good.
In fact, while it's not the worst speech I've ever read by far, it's pretty bland. But when I was watching it, I kind of liked it. I thought it was a nice speech given by a nice lady.
That makes me wonder--am I some sort of gullible sap when it comes to Rell? Are my expectations for the executive branch so low or so altered in some way that I'm ready to stand up and cheer whenever she gives a mediocre speech without tripping over her lines? Am I so desperate for our leader to, well, lead that I think every half-baked, incomplete plan is a great idea?
Does she emanate some sort of mind-control ray? Or is it that she's just very likable, very unpretentious and very human? She seems like one of us. Maybe that's why so many people root for her.
I believe Rell is capable of so much, if only she would realize it. There's great potential in an apparently unpretentious, sensible, selfless and decent politician, and the landmark 2005 session of the General Assembly suggests that she, along with the other leaders of our state, can accomplish an awful lot of good together when pressed.
I want her to realize that potential. Maybe that's why I'm willing to give her a pass from time to time. But I think my patience is starting to wear a little thin. If she is to accomplish great things, now, in the first year of her own term, is the time to do it.
I will be watching. So will a lot of others who placed their faith and trust in Jodi Rell.
18 comments:
I'm betting on the mind-control ray.
Rell has TREEEEmendous political capital, but is afraid to use it. Not sure if she is reticent to lose her popularity or whether she has the stomach to get out in front on a tough issue. She could do more, but honestly, what we really need is less.
Rell wants everybody to be happy all the time, and consequently is frozen in place for fear of upsetting some people. Leaders lead and don't ask others where they want to go first.
Anyone who lets M. Lisa terrorize and degrade people the way she does can't be as nice as everyone says. Or maybe she just doesn't realize it is going on ... like the corruption of JG Rowland.
Deconstruction, Part I:
"Ladies and gentlemen... It is an honor that I hold deeply within my heart." read: This is right up there with buying suits at TJ Maxx and taking cute pictures of my grandson with the disposable camera.
"Dick, Susan, Nancy and Denise...." read: we're on a first-name basis, right? I mean, I need a team and I've done nothing to build the Republican bench.
"This is a day of new beginnings, new promise and renewed commitment." because the old beginnings and old promises (from 18 months ago) didn't pan out?
"A trust that requires us, as the guardians of government, to toil with genuineness of spirit and intention." visions of grandma Rell trudging resoulutely forward, sweat pants and fanny pack firmly in place.
"The people of Connecticut look to us for understanding and compassion." Not really, we're just hoping you keep your hands our of our pockets - we've got our own well-paid therapists for the understanding/compassion part.
"They look to us for reasoned action and responsive governing." Did we not learn about gerunds in grammar school?
"And inspiration that flows from the purity of purpose and integrity." Huh??? Is she a Mystic or the anti-Rowland, she's losin' me here. I thought she was from Brookfield.
Deconstruction Part II:
"As the people of Connecticut look to us, we must look within ourselves so that we never lose sight of or waver from our purpose:" there's a lot of "look"ing going on here,but not much vision.
"Public service is an incredible blessing – and a burden of immense weight" Burden, blessing - is she in or out?
"I hesitated, but one day as my husband Lou and I were returning home from a trip, we crossed the Tappan Zee Bridge." And boy were those tolls raking in the dough. What does everybody think - should we put them back up, I mean I can't decide. Heck, let's put them up and charge a dime. Then it won't be too expensive but we'll make $342,541 for the General Fund. I mean, we have to be responsible here.
"It will be up to us – those of us who hold the public trust, who share in the blessings and burdens of public service – to help the people of our state cross the bridge to a new future." read: Yep, get 'em out of here. Move those unisured right over the Tappan Zee and make them somebody else's problem.
"we must also recognize that there is a great yearning in our state...A yearning for change...a yearning for stability...A yearning: a conflict between change and constancy." Keep Lisa Moody...can Lisa Moody...keep Lisa Moody...can Lisa Moody....
"we are at a crossroads of great importance and inspiration" Huh??? Is this an either/or proposition?
Deconstruction, Part III:
"For the responsibility is ours – beginning anew today – as we take the oath of office, to shape the Connecticut that we seek, but is yet to be." This is the blind leading the blind folks. Visions of Helen Keller.
"There will be many voices and many visions. The din of democracy, though sweet, is often deafening." I thought we were doing visual analogies...this must be good writing, we're assailing all of the senses now!
"I will seek to lead and to inspire. I will guard the public’s trust and continue to do honor to public service." Herein lies the problem - Grandma Rell may not understand: she's the Governor, it's not enough to "seek" to lead (that's what the campaign was about). IT'S TIME TO LEAD. BYW, how do you "do honor to" public service? Sounds vaguely obscene.
"And I will stand hand-in-hand with the people of Connecticut as we embrace new opportunities and take new directions." Kumbaya, my friends, Kumbaya.
"And I commit myself to creating that Connecticut that is yet to be – a Connecticut that must be – a place of opportunity where every person has the chance to chart their own course, by the integrity of their own heart." That is, as long as their heart tells them to do what Lisa wants.
I truly don't know what ever gave you or anyone else the idea that Rell had "great potential" to be a leader.
You want leadership, look to the amazing speech a Governor with a similarly huge electoral mandate gave today in Albany. Spitzer called for full public financing of elections, an overhaul of the judiciary via constitutional amendment, promised to veto any partisan redistricting, etc. etc.
cgg:
Connecticut voters are not interested in inspired leadership? A comment like that shows a low opinion of the hopes and dreams of your fellow citizens. Anyway, how would we know if we're interested or not? We haven't been subjected to truly inspired leadership in what seems like a generation.
So Jodi Rell is the problem??? I guess Jim Amman, and Chris Donovan are solutions???
We elect these people, we deserve what we get.
GOP governance manifesto:
1) When we're succeeding, recklessly squander our advantages for short-term political gain.
2) When we're in crisis, caution patience, achieve nothing.
3) Blame the ill effects of this foolishness on the Democrats.
I was definitely disappointed in Rell's speech. Okay, I get it, long day, lots of ceremony, no time - so cancel the parade for god's sake but give us something to look to this session! Pomp & circumstance should never overshadow purpose and resolution. I am middle class and I am afraid to open my electric bill. I am a small employer and I am scared witless about opening up my health insurance premium notice for me and my employees. If I am this scared, I can't even imagine how tough it is on the less fortunate. Hello, leadership? Are you there?
Rell is a major disappointment. Never seen such a shallow and limited governor. Shame on CT for electing such an insipid granny. 'Nice' doesn't help the people of the state. Let's ask her some difficult questions. Let's get her to act on something, anything.
Rell is not capable of leading in the way a governor needs to lead. Get used to it!!!
Malloy is as bad as Rell. Anything he did in Stamford was done by spending other people's money. When you look at how Stamford is actually run you realise what a disaster it really is.
But let's go a little further to the west where Eliot Spitzer who unlike Rell is educated, experienced and qualified to be governor has proposed cutting in half the number of uninsured in NY and he's put out a specific plaln with coat figures becasue he relies on pros for advice instead of lobbyists and political hacks whose aunts and mommies got them jobs in Hartford.
Genghis Conn said:
That makes me wonder--am I some sort of gullible sap when it comes to Rell? Are my expectations for the executive branch so low or so altered in some way that I'm ready to stand up and cheer whenever she gives a mediocre speech without tripping over her lines? Am I so desperate for our leader to, well, lead that I think every half-baked, incomplete plan is a great idea?
REPLY: In a word, GC, YES. She was marketed as the Queen Mother of CT to win the election, but now the QM meme wont get her through her term as governor (leastaways, i don't think it will).
GC CONTINUES:
Does she emanate some sort of mind-control ray?
REPLY: NO. Take responsibility for this yourself, GC. As citizens, we fearlessly have to work our way through how candidates are presented vs. what it is we require that they accomplish. Sometimes the swamp is pretty deep before you find the plug.
GCSEZ:
Or is it that she's just very likable, very unpretentious and very human? She seems like one of us. Maybe that's why so many people root for her.
REPLY: Remember the reaction to her roast comments? People were scandalized when they figured out she was about more than smiling and waving? Do you want a maternal figure or a dynamic leader?
In the absence of a plan, people want to be comforted. In the presence of a plan, not so important? Apologetic smiles are not a substitute for ability or action, just as skill at a barbecue grill is not a substitute for statesmanship.
This is all you need to know about Jodi Rell:
http://www.jodirell06.com/issues.cfm
The date for real plans and real strategies and real info from her keeps getting pushed into the future under a pile of smiles. Is she having health problems? What exactly is the problem?
If you need comforting, I'll send you some of my best cookie recipes, and directions for planting roses in your own garden.
GC SAID: I believe Rell is capable of so much, if only she would realize it. There's great potential in an apparently unpretentious, sensible, selfless and decent politician, and the landmark 2005 session of the General Assembly suggests that she, along with the other leaders of our state, can accomplish an awful lot of good together when pressed.
REPLY: GC, How can we not DEMAND leadership of our leaders? When we expect less, we just enable them and disempower ourselves. They are not friends, or parents, or part of a government leadership training program. We aren't running group therapy here on the backs of CT citizens. She can find her potential on her own time. We need a bold strategy, an action plan, the ability to bring together diverse viewpoints and forge a way forward - sugar cookies and long stemmed roses are so 2000.
Consider it tough love, GC, and don't get snookered. Nice is not enough to carry the day. Remember that she comes from construction company ties, and they may be the same people who paved the road to hell with good intentions.
Just a note about the speech: Lisa Moody writes all of Rell's speeches. Lisa Moody also makes every single decision in that administration. I've talked to her agency heads, her OPM director, senior republican legislators - every one will tell you that Jodi is nowhere to be found. They will also tell you that not a single one of them can get an audience with or have a one-on-one conversation with Jodi (which, by the way, is not her original name-it's Mary, Lisa convinced her to change it legally because Jodi was more "catchy"). It is the large (well, at least wide), impenetrable figure of Lisa Moody that is running the state of Connecticut.
We ought to be asking ourselves a couple of questions: is a single, 50-something, angry, parochial, overweight, woman who has never held any real job in her life qualified to run our state? When are we going to hold Jodi responsible for her acts - whether of commission or ommission - related to Moody?
Rell isn't going to dump Moody; Rell's scared shitless in her job; she ran from debating DeStefano where her ideas might have been explored or exposed, runs from any national governors' meetings were she might impart to others all the "first in the nation" things she has done.
Post a Comment