Obama's policies drag down Democratic governors

[Geee]

Washington Examiner:

Obama's policies drag down Democratic governors
By: MICHAEL BARONE
Senior Political Analyst
September 21, 2010

In Washington I'm often asked how many seats Republicans will pick up in the House and whether they'll win a majority in the Senate. But I'm seldom asked anything about the 37 races for governor that will be decided next month (except for Georgia, which will have a runoff if no candidate tops 50 percent). Yet governorships can be just as important in politics and public policy as seats in Congress. Four of our last six presidents were governors, not senators or congressmen, before serving as chief executive.

Moreover, states have sometimes taken the lead in public policy. Robert LaFollette in Wisconsin and Al Smith and Franklin Roosevelt pioneered progressive and New Deal policies before the Great Depression gave FDR his chance in Washington.

Similarly, welfare reform -- one of the great policy successes of the 1990s -- was initiated by the likes of Republicans like Tommy Thompson in Wisconsin and John Engler in Michigan and Democrats like Evan Bayh in Indiana long before it was passed by Congress in 1996.

Going into the election, Republicans hold 18 of the governorships up for grabs, while Democrats hold 19, as well as seven of the 13 not on the ballot.

Coming out of the election, Republicans are likely to be far ahead -- but with a few question marks in the very biggest states.

[Stella]

If the GOP candidates for Governor are not willing to be like Christie from NJ the result could be a disaster for the GOP. Many states are close to bankruptcy and the health care mandates will push many of them over the edge. Some very unpopular cuts are going to have to be made with the Unions tying their hands to make the necessary changes.

[Geee]

If the GOP candidates for Governor are not willing to be like Christie from NJ the result could be a disaster for the GOP. Many states are close to bankruptcy and the health care mandates will push many of them over the edge. Some very unpopular cuts are going to have to be made with the Unions tying their hands to make the necessary changes.

 

 

That is why I was so upset in the post yesterday about what the Dems and the Unions are trying to do to Scott Walker in Wisconsin. He proved that he could make the tough decisions and cut the budget even above all the wringing of hands and knashing of teeth to bring the county back into the black.