‘It’s back to the future’
I hope not. It’s too formula driven. Most people admired Weld. But they didn’t view him as a ‘superhero.’ They eventually learned he was flawed and ushered in a decade of Corner Office-Legislative shenanigans and gridlock. I don’t want a Charlie Baker who promises to resurrect the good old days of the early Big Red years, for the other side of that nostalgia coin is the second-stringer years of Cellucci and Swift. Charlie has to convey he’s ready to build upon 2009 and beyond. He can borrow a bit from Weld. But he has to remember that Muffy tried her own version of running against Dukakis (complete with Willy Horton orange prison-garb suits) and it was tired and old and rejected after twelve years of GOP rule. Deval swept into office on a wave of desire for change. He didn’t deliver. That is the issue. …

Notice Weld’s own use of the phrase ‘Weld- Cellucci administrations.’ … Advice to Charlie: dump most, if not all, of the Weld-Cellucci advisers pining for ’90. The idea of running a campaign with a hint of magnanimity (“I’m going to try to build on the best of recent administrations, learning from their mistakes”) hasn’t occurred to them.. … Maybe a way to jolt Charlie back down to 2009 earth is to ask: Did you favor Weld’s appointment of Billy Bulger as Umass president? Please explain. Will you bring back Jim Kerasiotes and Matt Amorello? Please explain. … Don’t get me wrong: I like Charlie. He’s a good man. But he has to be his own man. …

Speaking of back to the future, do you really think these three questions touch on the top issues facing Massachusetts? What next? Comparisons to Jesse Helms? … I’ll concede gambling is definitely on the agenda. But it’s not a top issue for most Massachusetts residents. … What are the top issues? Hub Blog would say (not necessarily in order): 1.) The entire economic climate of Massachusetts (outdated rules, laws, taxes and other obstacles to private-sector growth) 2.) Beacon Hill’s corruption and culture. 3.) Property taxes and the link to education. 4.) Out-of-control public unions. 5.) The state’s new universal health-care program (people generally like the law but not its potential for skyrocketing costs).

More from Outraged Liberal, Hub Politics, Howie, Margery and Joan.

Update -- Peter Porcupine writes in:

Balanced for the Glob, I suppose.

The Boring Broadsheet announced the Mihos candidacy in June as an afterthought about Patrick's campaign hires. 'Says he will run...' was their characterization of his announced candidacy.

One of the other Republicans (Quick, you're a reporter - who is the OTHER announced GOP candidate?), Mr. Baker, gets the front page AND a flattering 13 year old photo on the web site (not that he's aged badly, but still).

A parade of Democrat analysts have been on radio and television, talking about what a FINE candidate Baker will make.

Do they think this is HELPFUL in getting the REPUBLICAN nomination? I am fascinated by their explanations of how Republicans will vote, myself.

Update II -- Someone privately made a good point that I should have thought of and mentioned: How many people 40 and under even remember Dukakis? References to Weld and Dukakis are fine. Using Weld-like tactics are fine (a sales-tax rollback jumps to mind). But building a campaign around the Weld-Dukakis contrasts is silly. ... P.S. -- Not that Hub Blog hasn't engaged in a little Duke I, II and III historonics now and then. But I'm largely writing for political junkies. I'd never base a campaign on early-90s good vibes.

Update III -- Jon thinks Charlie has already made a rookie mistake.  ¶ 7:56 AM