Mitch Daniels: Prudent & Effective or Missing the Zeitgeist?
I'm curious what the Ricochetti make of (as Peter likes to say) our own Mitch Daniels decision to oppose a vote on a right to work bill favored by the majority Republican legislature in his state. He is trying to negotiate school reform with the teachers' unions and is making this concession "at this time" for the greater good. He even went so far as to praise the Democratic lawmakers that have fled his state to avoid a vote.
Mark Levin for one has declared him unfit for public office as he failed Levin's litmus test. But remember this is also the governor that decertified public sector unions and eliminated their collective bargaining rights upon taking office. So accusing him of simply being a RINO clearly misses the mark.
Is he simply being pragmatic? Is this what he means about avoiding side-show issues? Does he correctly gauge the majority public mood? Is he crazy like a fox for being so deliberately bipartisan? Or is he missing the zeitgeist and ducking when he should be striking?
Is it more mature and presidential to be sober and temperate, or does our country need the take-no-prisoners-demonize-the-enemy-in-your-face approach of Chris Christie to pull us out of our current fiscal predicament?
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Jul '10
Re: Mitch Daniels: Prudent & Effective or Missing the Zeitgeist?
Mitch Daniels should not be frustrating the legislature in this area. It is not in his interests or Indiana taxpayers' interests. When the people elect Republicans to do a job and they shirk, as they have repeatedly since Reagan left office, it results in these Tea Party challenges they find so distasteful and disruptive.
Hopefully, Mitch will share his explanation with us, but from where I sit he is senselessly frustrating his allies and empowering his opposition.
Oct '10
Re: Mitch Daniels: Prudent & Effective or Missing the Zeitgeist?
i'm sure gov. daniels will issue a clarification on the matter (and i hope he declares his support for what walker is doing in wisconsin), because some people at national review are starting to get worried.
Here's a question Trace: What would Obama do?
what would obama do if it was the GOP (instead of the dems) who fled the state of indiana to prevent a quorum? would obama back down? or would he use this crisis ala rahm emanuel to slam republicans for fleeing the state and not doing the job they were elected to do?
He'd go after the republicans HARD, right? and not only will he WIN in the court of public opinion, it would be a SLAM DUNK. He'd beat the republican fleebaggers like a drum.
But that's the opposite of what gov daniels did.
Edited on Feb 23, 2011 at 8:40amOct '10
Re: Mitch Daniels: Prudent & Effective or Missing the Zeitgeist?
what the media should be focusing on SHOULDNT be anymore about the "budget fix" bill in wisconsin or the "right to work" bill in indiana but that democrat legislators are becoming flight risks--fleeing the states and making a mockery of the system.
Edited on Feb 23, 2011 at 8:44amMay '10
Re: Mitch Daniels: Prudent & Effective or Missing the Zeitgeist?
The rest can be reasonably debated, but this? Those Democrats have clearly abdicated their responsibilities.
Jun '10
Re: Mitch Daniels: Prudent & Effective or Missing the Zeitgeist?
Gov Daniels has the correct position, at least for a negotiator. "I want flexibility and cooperation in school reform, you want to survive as leaders of your union. You won't hear me calling for your utter distruction as long as you see your way helping me out here." Most of the problem with collective bargaining is when PE unions are "bargaining" with fellow Democrats in a non-adversarial process which is, in truth, little more than divvying up the spoils .
May '10
Re: Mitch Daniels: Prudent & Effective or Missing the Zeitgeist?
Aaron Miller
The rest can be reasonably debated, but this? Those Democrats have clearly abdicated their responsibilities. · Feb 23 at 8:47am
It looks like his press secretary issued a clarification this morning. Governor Daniels was praising those who came to protest at the statehouse -- NOT the absent legislators.
Dec '10
Re: Mitch Daniels: Prudent & Effective or Missing the Zeitgeist?
Aaron Miller
The rest can be reasonably debated, but this? Those Democrats have clearly abdicated their responsibilities.
This is also where I have a problem with Daniels.
If in his political judgment this is the wrong time to fight this battle I can understand that. I too am apprehensive about opening a broader front that brings private-sector unions into the battle as enemies when the fight against the public sector unions is going so well, is supported by a majority, and the private-sector unions are at worst sitting it out.
But to excuse the behavior of the Democratic legislators and say it is a "legitimate part of the process" is wrong headed. Their behavior is illegitimate. Refusing to vote may be legitimate. But engaging in extra-Constitutional behavior that prevents others from voting is not. Daniels has essentially said that anytime the Democrats, or Republicans, want to flee to another state to prevent a vote it is okay.
Dec '10
Re: Mitch Daniels: Prudent & Effective or Missing the Zeitgeist?
Trace Urdan
Aaron Miller
The rest can be reasonably debated, but this? Those Democrats have clearly abdicated their responsibilities. · Feb 23 at 8:47am
It looks like his press secretary issued a clarification this morning. Governor Daniels was praising those who came to protest at the statehouse -- NOT the absent legislators. · Feb 23 at 9:04am
It is a good thing he cleared it up, apparently. I hope his position on the behavior of the Dem legislators is now unambiguous condemnation.
It is a bad thing he so poorly articulated his position to begin with and only clarified it through his press secretary. Gibbs did this a lot for Obama.
May '10
Re: Mitch Daniels: Prudent & Effective or Missing the Zeitgeist?
Trace Urdan
It looks like his press secretary issued a clarification this morning. Governor Daniels was praising those who came to protest at the statehouse -- NOT the absent legislators.
I haven't been following this news closely. Do you mean he was praising the Democratic voters who protested? A Democratic legislator would be negligent for not working whether he was on the statehouse grounds or not.
If it's about exerting leverage to ensure the fiscal viability of his state, then Daniel's position does seem reasonable.
Jul '10
Re: Mitch Daniels: Prudent & Effective or Missing the Zeitgeist?
So where is it written he can't have it his way? Wasn't he elected Governor?
Why can't he sign the GOP "right to work" legislation and then tell the teachers' unions to stuff it?
It is sure sign of leaden feet to say that it's not something he should consider because he did not run on that in his campaign. A leader needs to be agile, consistent and clear with his principles.
Mr. Daniels fails.
Dec '10
Re: Mitch Daniels: Prudent & Effective or Missing the Zeitgeist?
Aaron Miller
If it's about exerting leverage to ensure the fiscal viability of his state, then Daniel's position does seem reasonable. · Feb 23 at 9:19am
The bill affects private-sector unions, not the public-sector unions or the schools. Apparently the public-sector unions in Indiana lost collective bargaining rights six years ago.
This is a right-to-work bill that undermines the private-sector unions.
Oct '10
Re: Mitch Daniels: Prudent & Effective or Missing the Zeitgeist?
Daniels' quixotic negogations reminds me of Ford negotiating with the UAW. Daniels seems to want us to believe that he is asking the union to help him with school choice now and then he'll eviscerate the union.
Why am I confused when it's all so completely clear?
Edited on Feb 23, 2011 at 10:43amOct '10
Re: Mitch Daniels: Prudent & Effective or Missing the Zeitgeist?
It would be good to have Mitch address these issues on Ricochet, if he has time. I for one would think it prudent for any Governor to keep a low profile as the Legislature makes it's sausage. Work behind the scenes, yes, but don't get out in front of the issue.
May '10
Re: Mitch Daniels: Prudent & Effective or Missing the Zeitgeist?
Gov. Daniels is Chief Executive of Indiana (not Wisconsin, New Jersey or any other state) and up until now has been pretty stellar in his stewardship of the state. Indiana does not require the 180 degree change that many others require - principally due to the preparatory work he has done pre crisis.
People may want to second guess his decisions or place them in a prism of GOP Presidential politics. Based on his track record, demonstrated acumen and ability, I am more than willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. If he thinks this is the correct path for the state of Indiana, so be it - he knows a lot more about Indiana finances than do I.
If he was in a national role I would feel very different. He is not and his job is to do what he thinks is best for his state. While a more aggressive stance would make me feel better, that doesn't mean that it is the correct choice.
Jun '10
Re: Mitch Daniels: Prudent & Effective or Missing the Zeitgeist?
As a voter who had placed Daniels high on my list of potential candidates I could unreservedly support, this looks very bad for Daniels, especially as Governor Walker in Wisconsin is not blinking in the face of Democrats who cut and run. I don't pretend to understand all of issues in each state, but politics is a place where perception becomes reality. And the perception is that Daniels is abandoning principle to expediency.
He'll be explaining this in the months ahead, just as Romney must explain the Mass. healthcare legislation he signed.
In the meantime, Daniels just went down a few notches on my list--if he can explain why he did what he did, I'll listen.
Sep '10
Re: Mitch Daniels: Prudent & Effective or Missing the Zeitgeist?
Mitch is a politician and I suspect if he is throwing a bone to the Democrats in his state is it because he see an advantage to his broader agenda. The question is what is the advantage and the agenda. I suspect it is to be viewed by independents (who he will not need in the primary but will if he wins the party's nomination) as a moderate Republican rather than an anti-labor zealot. After all, he has already accomplished as much as Walker aims to. I don't think Mitch's record is one of a "RINO squish" in any way, but he spoke in his CPAC speech of needing big majorities and getting the ther side to like us a little bit. This sounds like some of that.
Nov '10
Re: Mitch Daniels: Prudent & Effective or Missing the Zeitgeist?
Mitch Daniels lost me when he came out for a VAT tax. If he’s against RTW for some misguided idea that it will help him negotiate with the teachers’ unions then that shows how right I was to oppose him before. I said he was no conservative if he supported a VAT, and now it appears he’s not the sort of Republican who could ever be a conservative. He’s terribly naive if he thinks he can soften up the teachers’ union by being a squishy Republican. Teachers respond to force and power only. Trying to make nice with that bunch is suicide.
Daniels is looking more like John McCain every day. I predict he will be an early casualty in the Republican primary process.
Nov '10
Re: Mitch Daniels: Prudent & Effective or Missing the Zeitgeist?
That “getting the other side to like us” has been the death knell for so many Republicans one wonders if they suffer a learning disability.
Jul '10
Re: Mitch Daniels: Prudent & Effective or Missing the Zeitgeist?
I trust Governor Daniels has a better grasp of politics and priorities in his own state than we do. If he believes a tussle over a "right to work" law will be a prolonged distraction from more pressing issues, I would defer to his judgment.
Mitch Daniels took on Indiana's public employee unions six years ago and put Indiana's public finances on solid ground.
Frankly, the dismissive tone towards Governor Daniels in some of these comments is off base. Mitch Daniels has earned respect.
As for Mark Levin, he keeps plummeting in my estimation.
Edited on Feb 23, 2011 at 11:47amAug '10
Re: Mitch Daniels: Prudent & Effective or Missing the Zeitgeist?
Forced unionization is immoral (it is compulsary association), especially given that it is nearly impossible to compel a union to return that portion of dues 'used for political purposes'.
Gov Daniels is really saying to the union - 'please, let's preserve this circumstance where your serfs do your bidding - with the help from the state, of course - all I would like in return is to pay them less.'
Why can't he support the 'right to work' legislation? The outcome there is that the workers have to make concessions to the state, but then they have the recourse of leaving the union (and recovering the cash they lost to state concessions.) That almost sounds Win-Win.
Praising Democratic legislators for bad behavior (fleebagging) invites more bad behavior.
Concur, if he chooses to run on the national stage.