Patronage: Perception is Danny’s reality

“I believe in political patronage. Leaders shouldn’t be ashamed or embarrassed about looking after their supporters. Patronage is a good thing. It’s essential to the democratic process. It makes the party system work. We should have more patronage, not less.”
— John Crosbie, No Holds Barred.

•••

Three months out of office, and Danny Williams’ legacy isn’t faring so well.

Elizabeth Matthews, his former communications director, may be qualified for an almost $200,000-a-year job at the C-NLOB, and his old lawfirm, Roebothan, McKay and Marshall, may be the best selection for an untendered public contract in a suit against tobacco companies potentially worth hundreds of millions of dollars, but perception is reality in politics.

On another front, Danny Dumaresque may not be overly popular within the Liberal party, or NL itself, if call-in shows are an indicator, but he’s done some damage to Williams' lower Churchill deal.

The Telegram even ran a front-page picture this week of Danny Dum, which is how the newsroom once referred to Dumaresque.

Danny Williams may have attained God-status while in office, but his legacy in the afterlife is showing some cracks.

Comments

Anonymous said…
The more things change the more they remain the same.
March 4, 2011 at 11:28 AM
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