Red Sox fans have started the season with our bellies full
of 2013 glory and looking forward to warmer days and good games. The first bad
series is behind us and only a huge string of losses will turn our full
stomachs into full agida with memories of what our last super-confident team
did in 2011 by turning a winning season into a losing one with drumsticks and
cheap beer. Closer to home, we’ve had changes in our state leadership lineup
and many more ahead, so I thought I’d take a quick look at the latest from
Governor Lincoln Chafee as we push through the legislative session and look
ahead to the fall elections.
The phrase “lame duck” was first used in political circles
150 years ago and today refers to an elected official who will not be seeking
re-election. Lame ducks are often thought to be powerless since their imminent
departure leaves them with little political sway. Alternatively, some lame
ducks have used this time to give voice to issues that are near and dear to
them, fill vacancies on boards and commissions and generally leave a mark on
the government they are leaving behind.
With his term winding down, Governor Chafee has decided to
do something a little different than most lame ducks and do a grand tour. Last
week he celebrated his birthday in Wyoming and recently he’s taken jaunts to
Minnesota and Texas for speeches. He even hopped over to Connecticut last month
to visit with his friend President Obama and did a little surfing in Costa
Rica. To some observers of politics, this is just fine since he is almost
powerless with his lame duck status and his low approval ratings, but I have to
say that I think it’s kind of a “fried chicken and beer” approach to governing.
In fact, I find it maddening.
When one signs up to run for office, they take an oath to
serve. It’s not in the oath, but the assumption is that one will execute his or
her duties for the entirety of his or her term, not just for the part that is
appealing or fun. Governor Chafee has started to treat his job like the
“no-show” jobs that people are always talking about. He gets paid whether he’s
doing the people’s business or not — and its certainly hard to justify how he’s
promoting the best interests of Rhode Islanders if he’s giving speeches in
other states. I could justify his travels (and the expense we’ve incurred by
sending his staff too) if they were promoting Rhode Island to companies wishing
to relocate here but there’s no evidence that his travels are much beyond
opportunities to muse about his career in politics. His absence would also be
less obvious if there weren’t so much happening here — he was gone during key
moments of the pension settlement discussions and when Speaker Fox’s office was
raided — both times when it would be nice to know that the leader of the state
was up to speed.
Several times Governor Chafee has noted that his
administration is like a swimming duck that is moving its feet even as it
appears to be doing nothing. That’s
definitely the impression I get — and it’s lame.
