Patrick 'regrets' call on behalf of Ameriquest

[-..__...]

WTF is it with this guy?

He seems to be regretting, apologizing or 'correcting mistakes' for a lot of things lately... and he's only been in office less than 3 months.

Patrick 'regrets' call on behalf of Ameriquest

By Globe Staff

Governor Deval Patrick this afternoon said he "regrets" calling a top official at the financial giant Citigroup and interceding on behalf of the owners of Ameriquest Mortgage, a subprime lender where he was a board member before taking office.

Patrick issued a statement in response to a story in today's Globe that described the telephone call two weeks ago between the governor and former US Treasury secretary Robert E. Rubin.

Patrick said he and Rubin spoke for "at most a couple of minutes" and he offered "any insight they might want on the character of the current management." Ameriquest Mortgage was seeking urgent financial help from Citigroup, where Rubin is a board member.

"Even though I made this call solely as a former board member, and I believe that was clear to Mr. Rubin, I appreciate that I should not have made the call," Patrick said. "I regret the mistake."

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/city_region/breaking_news/2007/03/patrick_regrets_1.html

[Breeze54]

1. Faux Suxs 25 is out to get him.

It's good that he apologizes but why does he keep doing things that need apologies? :shrug:

I didn't have a problem with removing the rethugs furniture, at all. :rofl:
I'm not sure why his wife needs a secretary and we have to pay for it.
Did she get elected too? :shrug:

And his not getting a car that is more green kind of pissed me off.
Does he really need that flashy of a car?

[YankeyMCC]

2. He's making rookie political mistakes

this one was the only one of real significance. (although I do personally agree with the other poster that he should've picked a greener car but it was still just a rookie insignificant mistake really) The status quo needs to find things to attack him on and each mistake will cost him dearly.

I'm still relatively pleased with his performance. I think he is genuinely earnest in his desire to do good for the people of the state and that he does have in general the right ideas and approaches. But he's no populist-saint, he's a successful man who's made connections to the status-quo all his life and his nature (human nature) will be to reach out to help people he's worked with in the past and yes help himself if only to maintain and grow his old relationships. And that is why this phone call is the most significant mistake yet because it is more than just a superficial tarnish of his 'caring for the people' image like the car thing.

As I said I think he does honestly care for the people at least more than the republican and independent choices in the last election and our last governor and I think he truly listens to the people and tries to follow through because he recognizes the value in that, that is the way a democracy succeeds.

But he's still making these mistakes and there are people that would not like to see even this kind of politician with his support of the people go any further in a political career.

[Eugene]

4. It may be a rookie mistake, but it had the appearance of impropriety.

Every politician should recognize that that kind of situation.
As today's Boston Globe editorial suggests, Gov. Patrick
could have avoided this mess with a call to the State Ethics
Commission.

I want Deval Patrick to succeed too, but part of the job as
governor is leading by example. That is why the upgrade to
a Cadillac during a time of cutbacks rubbed some people
the wrong way. He is doing good things, but missteps like
this can drain away his public support.

I'm not expecting him to be Mike Dukakis, but Gov. Patrick
needs to pay attention to appearances.

[YankeyMCC]

5. I agree he does need to learn that lesson firmly

I just trying to give him a little more time to pass final judgement on his fitness to hold public office.

[seaglass]

3. This was really disappointing, I hope he gets over his "growing

pains" very quickly.