Another example of why we need to bring back shame to politics. (Honor and decency would be better, but shame at least provides a decent simulacrum).
Having admitted he got free work on his home from contractors (bribes? kickbacks?) and from aides (theft of public services? extortion?), and then lied about it (amazingly, the press is clearly more comfortable saying this part was wrong), Connecticut Governor Roland is hanging tough: Rowland Vows to Stay On as Governor. It's not even his first offense! “Earlier this year, Mr. Rowland paid a State Ethics Commission fine for paying less than market value for vacations at home owned by people who did business with the state.”
That there is as little shame among the political class in New England as there is in California is hardly surprising. What's interesting is whether the New England public is quite as inured to this as the folks who voted for Schwarzenegger. The NYT story suggests that it might not just blow over: A University of Connecticut poll released this week showed that 55 percent of Connecticut residents thought the governor should resign. Four newspapers called for him to step aside and some lawmakers have even talked about the possibility of impeachment.”
Wouldn't it be a change to have an impeachment trial about an impeachable offense?
The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority cancelled its plan to celebrate the latest “Big Dig” milestone, the opening of the southbound I-93 tunnel, by holding a Boston Pops concert in the tunnel. Even though the concert would be privately funded, most Bostonians seemed to think that with all the delays and cost overruns, nothing in this project deserves to be celebrated.
So there is, occasionally, shame in Massachusetts. I can’t speak for the rest of New England.