Good summary in the Daily News on how de Blasio and his team crafted a message of change, stuck with that message, and rode it all the way to Gracie Mansion, with the help of his some affecting ads using his family and the ineptitude of his opponents.
Nothing surprising in the article, but it does show how deft a campaigner de Blasio is.
Whether he shows the same skill at governing is another matter.
Barack Obama is a terrific campaigner.
Governing?
Not so interested or competent at that (Race to the Top, Obamacare, etc.)
I remember seeing the same euphoria engulf crowds in 2008 and yes many of us were disappointed in Obama. We need to help BdB remain focused on the values he ran on. There will be great political and influential pressure on him that is bigger than you and I can imagine. Live your writing and analysis.
ReplyDeleteHis transition team didn't raise any immediate red flags for me. We'll see how this goes. The Rahm meeting and calling Emanuel a "great mayor" is a problem, however, one I will not forget for a while.
DeleteIn 2008 I could not believe what I was hearing out of a presidential candidate: thoughtful, intelligent, scornful of soundbites, refreshing rhetorical breaks from tepid democratic compromises. Talking about a more nuanced foreign policy, bringing back constitutional checks, bringing back regulation and a focus on the middle class, skepticism towards educational testing, bold talk on the environment and health care.
ReplyDeleteTurns out Obama's words didn't matter. I'm sorry, but DeBlasio's don't either. If we let him, he is primed to be NYC's Obama.
I admit it's nice that a progressive and anti-big business message is popular. So were Obama's messages, and it didn't matter. Deblasio's already starting cozying up to the policies of Rahm, Cuomo, and other monstrosities.
We got a guy in better than Bloomberg, now we have to hold him accountable. Whether he's some magical angel, or just another corrupt pol, we have to make his life hell if he doesn't do what is necessary to give this city back to the people.
This guy does NOT deserve your support. Not yet. Support must be earned. And words mean less than nothing. History should have taught you that.
We can all jump up and down about how a gay black poet will be in Gracie mansion. Did you know that this gay black poet worked for freaking Citigroup.
It's time to get serious about running this city. It's getting cold and our brothers and sisters out on the street are starting to freeze. If they - and all of us - not at the center of what we do, rather than this breakdancing mayor, then none of this matters.
Well said, Lorenzo. I am going to build tomorrow morning's post around this.
DeleteThanks! Just to emphasize: does anyone think the money side, the political players, the lobbyists and bankers and real estate moguls are counting on his words? They're watching his moves. It will help if the people's side would adopt such a strategy for once.
DeleteThough I will miss coming here every time a street light flickers and reading SUCH IS BLOOMBERG'S NEW YORK!!!
DeleteI kid, of course. Love this blog.