Keller @ Large

Patrick's Top 20 Run Through The Spin-O-Meter

BOSTON (WBZ) ― The governor has produced a "Top 20 Accomplishments" list about his own administration, and as soon as WBZ's Jon Keller saw it, he knew it was a job for the spin-o-meter.

In the battle of Iraq, the U.S. and our allies have prevailed -- as George Bush can attest. It may please the crowd to claim victory, but you've got to be sure the spin doesn't get too far out of control.

And that's what happens in a new listing of his administration's accomplishments released by the governor. No doubt, some of his claims are perfectly legit.

Patrick has aggressively pushed clean energy policies, including wind and solar power development. His auto insurance reform has brought more competition into play. And like it or not, he did play a key role last year in defending gay marriage from repeal.

But some of the items on his achievements list are grist for the Spin-o-meter.

For instance: He says he "fought" for "long term savings" by asking state workers to pay more for their health insurance, but Patrick's chief of staff Doug Rubin admits that bill is dead as a doorknob on Beacon Hill.

As evidence of his success as chief salesman for our economy, the governor cites a trip to a biotech conference in California that hasn't even happened yet. Rubin says they have high hopes for it.

But he concedes that it was premature to claim reform of the costly police detail system as an accomplishment. "We're working toward that," said Rubin.

Great. When the mission's accomplished, let us know, in the meantime, the Spin-o-meter says those premature claims just bury the needle.

Rubin says merely trying to make changes is something worth celebrating.

Maybe so, but the Spin-o-meter is a tough audience, and judging from Patrick's sagging poll numbers, so is the public.

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