DEAR GOVERNOR DUCEY:
We’re now nearly two weeks into what I fear will be your Reign of Error, but so far, so good. The sky hasn’t fallen; you haven’t eliminated all taxes and given the money to your rich friends; and you haven’t once used the word “wetback.” Well done, Sir, especially considering the threatening tone of the dark money-fueled campaign that got you elected.
You can probably tell that I didn’t vote for you. I wouldn’t vote for you if you were running unopposed or against Evan Mecham. I might vote for you if you were running against Hitler, Kim Jong Un, or that crazy-ass Le Pen woman from France. However, you’re still the governor of the state in which I choose to live, so I have to hope for the best. I’m not like your fellow Republicans in Congress whose sole purpose over the past six years was to do all they could to see to it that President Obama failed because, if he (and the country) had succeeded, that might have meant that they had been (gasp!) wrong.
I don’t want you to fail. I want you to grow into the job and maybe realize that you represent all Arizonans, not just the ones who live down the street from you in the gated community. I’d like you to learn that the word “tax” is not like “child molester.” It’s not always an evil thing. And I’d like you to at least think about some of the pre-conceived notions that you and others carry into office and maybe leave cracked open—just a little bit—the door that leads to Reconsideration and then, a bit further down the hall, Enlightenment.
I also want you to know that I’m not with those guys over there, the ones who wanted to recall newly elected Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas before she even took office. That’s just crazy talk. People at least deserve the right to screw up before you kick them out of office.
Please know that Sam Brownback’s “experiment” in Kansas is an utter failure and would not have a different outcome if it were tried in Arizona. (The only reason that Brownback got re-elected by the skin of his teeth is that enough Tea Party crazies emerged from their bunkers to keep a Democrat from getting elected and dragging the state into the 21st century.)
Please know that spending even one more penny of the state’s money to fight the courts over the money that is rightly owed to the public schools is not only folly, but an outright dereliction of duty. And don’t align yourself with that band of legislators whose latest proposed strategy to screw over the schools is to simply ignore the courts. That train has already passed the stops of Folly and Dereliction of Duty and is barreling straight ahead to the end of the line, Criminal Activity. Anybody who, as part of their job, publicly swears to uphold the law and then turns around, when things get inconvenient, and proposes ignoring the law…that person belongs, at the very least, out of a job and, more probably, in a jail cell.
And please know that you’re not going to have all the right answers. Nobody does. A very common phenomenon is that people with a lot of money tend to believe that they’re smarter than everybody else. (A lot of them also believe that they’re better than everyone else.) You don’t have all the answers. Heck, no offense, but you probably don’t even have all the right questions to ask.
You’ve led a charmed life. You managed to get into a fraternity—at ASU!—even though you’re Catholic. (That actually is quite amazing.) You became a millionaire and got out just before the unstable pyramid (ahem) settled. That does not mean that all of your ideas for “fixing” Arizona—a state that really isn’t all that broken, especially compared to other places—are going to work. Most of them should never even get past the germ-of-an-idea stage.
The biggest favor you can do yourself is to rid yourself of the crackpot notion that a person who is successful in business will automatically be successful in government. That’s like saying, “I’m a good basketball coach, so I will be able to do origami.” Business and government are almost totally unrelated and you would do yourself (and your constituents) a great disservice trying to equate the two.
The head of a business has one responsibility—to make money. Success is tangible and quantifiable. A governor has many responsibilities, only one of which is not losing money. The chain of command in a business is clear, from workers to management to CEO to shareholders. Meanwhile a governor is like the hub of a wheel and has to deal with department heads, other elected officials, special-interest groups, homeowners, the media, public-service unions, and other agencies—all at the same time.
A good business has to be nimble. Good government has to be solid and take the long view for the public good. A business doesn’t have to be transparent in its dealings. Government doesn’t have to spend money on marketing. The list of differences is long and compelling.
You made a lot of money as a businessman. Please try to be a better governor.
This article appears in Jan 15-21, 2015.
If Obama had represented all Americans, following your advice to Ducey, he may have succeeded at least in part. Further, ” Anybody who, as part of their job, publicly swears to uphold the law and then turns around, when things get inconvenient, and proposes ignoring the law…that person belongs, at the very least, out of a job and, more probably, in a jail cell.” applies far better to Barack than any other President in history. As to not having all the answers, could you please find a way to write your nonsense so that you quit presuming to have all the answers?
Mr. Danehy, your column certainly uncovers more than just the top soil. You actually plowed right into the political scene with some pointed remarks. Thank you for mounting your soap box. Your description of the political power could not have been better.
Too bad we don’t have a few articulate leaders with public platforms in the Democrat party to mount the needed opposition views. Since we lack even one statewide elected official, no legislative leader of the stature needed to attract attention statewide we suffer without a strong counter presentation to the programs of the Republican Governor and his political financial backers.
Democrats outnumbered on many fronts need to pull themselves together, hold a statewide conference adopt a state Democrat platform outlining their support for income equality, articulate economic fairness that supports hardworking Arizona families.
Put in writing the Democrats support for education, organized labor, environmental safeguards, uniform ability to pay taxation. It is presenting details on the Democrat’s programs for creating opportunity and winning back voters who are full of fear as a result of economic conditions.
Some past Republican leaders have scapegoated and put on the doorstep of our Latino citizens and neighbors South of the border the results of their own mismanagement and special favor fixes for financial political support.
Just one example of the political fix is favoring the for profit charter schools over publicly elected school board district schools. It is well documented the slow legislative destruction of properly funding education at all levels. If that wasn’t the case why is the Legislature under Court Order for the serious withholding of funds for public education that was approved by the voters?
Democrats rent a facility to hold a state convention, allow every registered Democrat to present their proof of voter registration and adopt a platform. Winning back positions of elected leadership starts with issues relevant to the hardworking folks of Arizona.
The public voted for him, although you may have not. Clearly they see something worth while, and you as a clearly positioned liberal you are for people, which means also for their choices. Instead of bashing this state elected official perhaps you could use your time to check out his website dougducey.com to see his stances on things and if you want to support that. Perhaps, also while your online, check out http://www.2015AZGTC.com where governor Ducey launches a job applicant website for the AZ people. It is a sad day indeed when we can’t stop focusing on an entrepreneur who became very wealthy through his own hard work, when we could be focusing on what he is trying to do for our State, which is in need if some help.
What a pathetic, disgusting screed. A stinking sack of feces would not reek more than this filth. The party of “Dark Money” is the Democrat party. It’s the party that funnels money from huge corporate foundations like the Ford Foundation, government employee unions, and dozens of others, into Regressive Marxo-fascist campaigns like Douchebag’s, or Dungball’s or what ever the Fascist-crat candidate for governor was. It’s the so called “Liberals” who live in the gated communities and despise people who actually work for a living instead of skimming off the efforts of others. But, then, i would expect nothing less from this waste of time rag
Right on the mark. Good job, Mr. Danehy.
It reads like a manifesto of someone that has no concept of business. Franchises are purchased and have no guarantee of success. That does not make it pyrimadical.
For gosh sakes, start your own business. See how it works.
I really liked last weeks column about Pancho Villa, it is good to re-visit the history of certain political personages, and remind folks of historical facts.
And this weeks is written poignantly. We will see if this next cat sitting in the Governor’s office will not, judging from his crony roots, disappoint us too.
East Valley News Net, if Tom Danehy’s, articles are a waste, And, this Rag, Why are you wasting your valuable time responding to it? Thank you Tom. Sincerely, Mick Smythe.
Me thinks Mr. Danehy thinks an awful lot of Mr. Danehy ! ! ! !
I can’t believe the bottom half of the sixth paragraph. If that’s true, Obummer would at best be back on the streets of Chicago stirring up shit or at worst doing 15 to 20.
Nice job – I’m going to cut and paste the part about running a business having very very little to do with governing and post it everywhere I can. The notion that they are the same thing baffling to me.
At least when people turn out in protest, they’ll be able to rally around “Drop Ducey”.
13 dislikes and not one of you with the balls to say why. I was put on this planet to annoy the left and not one of you has figured out that the more dislikes I get better I feel. Gives a whole new meaning to shooting fish in a barrel.
Hey cw 13…Brave soul! Don’t sign your name and publish a picture of yourself.
Mouth off about folks likes and dislikes without comment. Who cares? Meaningless clicks, it’s not the Gallup Poll!
I’ll still read your comments and judge accordingly. Today’s measure, dislike. Sign your name.
I posted a picture of me on my bike for years. After I sold it I changed it to my dog in his N.Y. Rangers jersey. As far as names go, years ago I sent a letter to the Red Star and my parents got flooded with nasty phone calls. My father and I have the first name. My number is unlisted, his isn’t. At their age they don’t need nasty calls from ‘civil’ liberals. Who cares? Obviously you do or you wouldn’t have bothered to write. Too easy, Brother. Too easy.
CW13 I liked your answer. I am one of your likes. I understand, been there……I found out a long time ago, play in fire sometimes get burnt. Now days there are a lot of problem folks running around. You know the old song. “glass houses” Want to be published expect some people not wanting to be ID.
East Valley News Net:
Check your meds, those anger issues are resurfacing.
Besides, you’re frightening the children.
Wow, another well written column with a minimum of name calling.
I will do you a favor ( free of charge) and call b.s. on a couple of your remarks Tom.
Why are we “crazy” to think that we are Taxed Enough Already (TEA)? Add them all up sometime.
As for the Republicans blocking Obama, that is ridiculous. Pelosi and Reid played fair?
How many bills did old Harry bring up for a vote Tom?
For the first two years of his reign, King Barry had the House and the Senate.
How much immigration law change did he propose then? Now he refuses to enforce a law he dislikes?
Your comments on upholding the law should put this prez in the slammer.
Not to mention sicking the IRS on conservatives, Mexican gun running with Holder…. oh hell with it
I just remembered that you never listen.