I try to be the good government type, but every once in a while the pure sport of politics gets to me and I give in to it. I focus on the personalities, the odds, the records to be broken and unusual deals to be made. I conjure up great contests like Hillary Clinton vs. Condoleezza Rice or a McCain/Guiliani ticket. That kind of thing.
One of the records I’ve always been interested in is the one held by Sam Houston; the only man to serve as governor of two states: Tennessee and Texas. I’d like to see someone do that again.
When former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld announced he was running for governor of New York I was cheering from the sidelines. I really didn’t care what he stood for or how his administration would help or hurt New York. The thought did not enter my mind. I just wanted to live to see the Houston record matched and Weld, for a brief time, was my guy.
He had the personality for it. Just a little off center, like Houston must have been. Last spring I visited the Massachusetts governor’s office. In the vestibule there are portraits of the last five or six governors. Weld’s is unique. All the other governors are dressed in dark suits. Weld’s portrait has him standing on what looks like a western ranch, in blue jeans, flannel shirt and cowboy boots. There’s an armadillo waddling nearby. A quirky personality to be sure, but remember, my hopes for him had nothing to do with good government. I’d just like to see someone serve as governor of two states.
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Warming To Warner
Now I have two new candidates and I believe Connecticut is the state where it can happen. How about a match up between former Virginia Governor Mark Warner and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, right here in 2010? To the winner goes the office and the right to say they stand alone, in U.S. history, with Sam Houston.
Warner is a Democrat who just pulled out of the race for the White House after serving one successful term as governor. Virginia often has governors who are deemed successful and I think the one-term limit has something to do with it. Warner would not be seen as a carpet bagger because he can claim Connecticut roots, having grown up in Vernon, graduating from Rockville High.
He should appeal to Connecticut voters, because he is seen as a moderate. A Harvard Law grad who made millions in the business world by becoming one of the founding partners of Nextel. A Democratic star Republicans can relate to.
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Bush League
Then there’s Jeb Bush, who can’t run for president right now, because it would be Bush overkill. And besides, Hillary needs to serve one term first to balance the historical Bush/Clinton/Bush/Clinton/Bush timeline.
Connecticut would welcome Jeb Bush with open arms. This is the ancestral home of the Bush family and he could make a case he wants to return to New England to get back to his roots. If Hillary can claim New York as home, Jeb can claim Connecticut.
Jeb would also appeal to moderate Connecticut voters. He comes from a low key conservative family, but has not been reluctant to use the powers of government to force change.
This would be a contest to watch. Two rising national stars – who might run for president someday – fighting over the right to lead Connecticut. The winner would make history and Connecticut would benefit from two candidates with the vision to lead. We’d be recruiting and hiring a governor with proven experience.
In this case, pure political sport would produce good government.
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Dean Pagani is Senior Vice President, Public Relations andPublic Affairs, for Cashman and Katz Integrated Communications in Glastonbury.
