A governor’s primary power is not the administration of government or the ability to veto legislation. It is the effective use of what President Theodore Roosevelt called the “bully pulpit”. A bully pulpit can bring issues to the fore due to the stature of the office and the publicity it generates. When a governor speaks the entire state listens. When governors do not address real issues they lose relevance,
influence and credibility.
Gov. Chafee's Tough Road
Over the past few years Rhode Island’s Governor has faced a rocky road. Not all the criticism aimed at Governor Chafee has always been fair. The Governor inherited a state economy mired in a great recession, the 38 Studios fiasco, and a miserable fiscal situation. His job was also made more difficult by communication failures and a General Assembly that was sometimes indifferent to his leadership.
Regardless of the causes, a recent public opinion poll prepared by Fleming and Associates found that 57% of Rhode Islanders believe that the State is headed in the wrong direction. Also only 30% think that Governor Chafee is doing an excellent or good job. As President Lyndon Johnson so aptly stated, “Every President has to develop a moral underpinning to his power, or he soon discovers that he has no power at all.” This observation pretty much describes the condition of leadership in the Ocean State.
For the rest of the post visit: http://www.golocalprov.com/business/gary-sasse-rudderless-in-the-ocean-state/
No comments:
Post a Comment