The New York Times certainly does like to write about NC politics. Maybe their editors have moved down here, too. Anyway, their most recent story is about Governor McCrory’s somewhat rocky relationship with the GOP legislature here. As John Frank of the N&O notes, the entire story can be condensed to two paragraphs:
Stopping at a paint store in the North Hills section of the capital, Charles Snyder, 72, who owns a construction company, called himself “a lifelong registered Republican” but said he was unhappy with the state’s conservative direction.
He lamented that the governor did not have more control over lawmakers. “If he agrees with them, he’s fine,” he said. “If he disagrees, he’s emasculated.”
The article talks about how McCrory ran as a moderate but has often gotten knocked around by the legislature. I guess the main theme of the piece is that McCrory has been a weak governor. Well, maybe. He’s still finding his bearings, so to speak, and though he’s promising to be more assertive this session, the legislature has already proven itself to be very assertive.
In part, McCrory’s problems are nothing new. The NC governorship has historically been a very weak position. It was only in the 1990s when they were allowed to veto bills. The governor still can’t veto redistricting bills, if they could then NC politics would be a lot different today. Only in the 1970s were they allowed to run for more than one term. In this state, the legislature has been calling the shots for a long time. It didn’t start with McCrory.
Still, voters aren’t likely to care for these historical details come 2016, when McCrory is up for reelection. It’s imperative that McCrory be allowed a few ‘wins’, or else his reputation as a weak executive might take hold. And the truth is, those veto-proof majorities in the legislature won’t last forever, in which case McCrory will become a much bigger player. In the meantime, he should use the bully pulpit to his advantage, bring that customer service mentality to the executive branch, and forget about what the New York Times has to say.
John Wynne is the “conservative voice” at PoliticsNC, where he also provides polling analysis and commentary on legislative campaigns. When not writing about politics, he enjoys gardening and listening to opera. Contact: johncwynne@gmail.com.
At least you didn’t put it with that howdy-doody smiling official guv’ner photo… thanks for that, at least! Might get a reputation as weak… that is hilarious! Even his own appointees run over him like squirrel who froze at just the wrong time!
Come on, John. Really? “…or else his reputation as a weak executive might take hold”? You really offered that one up to us? There’s no doubt in my mind, and in the minds of just about everybody I know, talk to, or overhear, regardless of their politics. His reputation as a lightweight, weak and thin-skinned governor has been well secured among most of the public, all in a matter of 16 months.
In addition to those descriptors, he is in line to be dubbed a governor “in title only,” a total shill for Duke Energy, a truly bad comedian (cookies for womens’ rights supporters), and being too busy and/or uncaring to interact appropriately with average “Joe Citizens” (cue the Charlotte restaurant story on the employee he got fired, and run the film of him playing catch with an aide so as to avoid meeting with educators). And of course there’s his role as the ultimate apologist for the performance of three incredibly poor, incompetent, and unwise appointments— Art Pope, Aldona Wos and John Skvarla.
Sure John “voters aren’t likely to care come 2016″…you hold on to that dream and maybe just maybe it will keep you warm on a cold November night in 2016 when McCrory is rightfully ousted.