Discussion for article #226548
Gov. Nixon seems like he canât win for losing in this situation.
Itâs the sort of bizarre tragedy that can make or break a skilled politicianâs national rep. But Jay Nixon needs good luck, a compliant media, or both to really get on the good side of this Herculean civil rights / quality of life / PR crisis.
Well, he was a little âlate to the party.â Perhaps if he had weighed in on the situation earlier and established a presence, his actions might have earned more compliance. That said, he is in a really difficult position right now.
1 Like
I totally agree that he allowed several days to pass before acting. Iâm not chiming in as a booster for Jay Nixon for {VP, Hillaryâs Cabinet, whatever it is heâs aiming for}.
But it is interesting. Herbert Hoover made a national reputation for himself by managing the Coolidge administrationâs disaster response to the 1927 Mississippi River Delta flood (as a minor figure in the Coolidge Cabinet). Of course, that tale of competence gets overshadowed by his own administration, but it speaks to what someone on the scene can do if they manage a tough situation well. (A less visible to the public at large but still apt comparison might be Taft as military governor of the Philippines.)
Really, I hope that whoever is making calls in MO avoids any future draconian measures. And if that means there isnât a âheroâ to this story, fine â thatâs often the case. But in terms of historical analogy, Gov. Nixon had and might still have a chance to introduce himself as more than just a great bio on paper. For the sake of the people on the ground more than anyone, I hope he succeeds or at least comes close.
Gov. Nixon will NEVER be an official in a Democratic administration. His âbioâ, as you call it, was written before this incident and it isnât impressive. I canât envision a Democratic or Republican senate confirming him for any position. You might want to research his political history and evaluate some of his decisions.
1 Like
Nixonâs career in politics is essentially over. He has stumbled, failed to lead, and shown how heavy footed he is on race matters and inarticulate to compound all these failings. Missouri wonât return him to office and no candidate for national office would want to be saddled with him. But thatâs just my opinion. There was another Nixon that was down and out and rallied to everybodyâs surprise and dismay.
Oh, I didnât know you had such authority. How did you vet Tom Vilsackâs record as IA Gov? Did you approve of the crackerjack job Arne Duncan did with Chicagoâs schools? Does it bother you that Eric Holder originally wrote the memo applying âcollateral consequencesâ to financial institutions when he was in the Clinton Administration - essentially the policy of âtoo big to fail?â Howâd you let that one past you?
I guess Biden was forgiven for denying character witnesses in the 52-48 Clarence Thomas approval vote in 1991 because of, letâs say, VAWA? How do you balance a record that long?
Say, while Iâm talking to a true DNC insider, are you on the credential committee for 2016? Iâd like to get floor access all four days.
P.S. The Senate confirms people with much less impressive records. Hell, the last two Cabinet appointees confirmed were Mayors, and not liberal firebrands, either. The idea that someone who won six statewide elections in a state that McCain won by less than 4000 votes wouldnât ever be considered or invited to be an asset in a Democratic campaign/administration (even as Cabinet), especially with him term limited in 2016, is dismissive and naively reliant on an ideological purity test that does not exist for such appointments.
I agree. Nixon has waffled to the point where heâs toast, barring some 11th hour, nearly impossible image turnaround. However, how âsaddledâ a national candidate would be by Nixon (as a surrogate, not a running mate) would depend on whether he can still raise money and GOTV in Missouri. If heâs able to do that, I think he might have a shot at the Cabinet. As far as I know, heâs ineligible to run for a 3rd term in 2016 anyway, although there may not be term limits if he was state AG 4 times.
The kicker for me, though, is whether he can be useful in Missouri. Look at the last former MO Gov appointed to the Cabinet - John Ashcroft. Ashcroft lost a (admittedly close) reelection bid for the Senate in 2000 to a man who died during the campaign. But he was useful for outreach to Mid-West Evangelicals, so he got a run as Attorney General. Ability to sway âindependentsâ and motivate Lean Dem people to polls in states like MO or NC are rare and over-rewarded qualities.
Itâs the same rationale that saw so many Presidents from Indiana and Ohio, so many high up Democratic officials from the South until the Civil Rights Movement (Cordell Hull for Secretary of State, anyone?), and so many Governors of New York nominated for the Presidency. Demographics overcome a lot.
If Jay Nixon had had a more dynamic presence or that undefinable quality of charisma that pols must have these days, we could expect to see him come around again in the future. But he appears he never did, and if these events in his state hadnât unfolded so horribly, we still wouldnât know who he is. Could be that he doesnât have national stage ambitions either. Maybe the private sector will call to him. Wink, wink, nudge, nudge.
1 Like