Baker’s decision disappoints

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Charlie Baker has struck me as a reasonable and personable guy.

Heck, he even has a sense of humor as he regularly appears on Bax and O’Brien.

I’ve not always agreed with his viewpoints, but I believe he is interested in reaching compromises with the Legislature and generally not behaving in the extremist manner of too many in his party.

Yes, yes, yes, I think there are extremists on the left as well. Don’t write me that nasty email just yet.

What I don’t understand is why Baker – who does regularly appear in Western Massachusetts – wouldn’t consent to a debate out here.

Don’t our votes count as much as people who live in the Boston area? In theory we’re equal, but of course in policy we are not.

This move underscores the age-old divide between the eastern and western parts of our state.

Baker is reportedly debating the Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jay Gonzalez three times back east.

The conventional political wisdom may be at play here. Gonzalez is an underdog who could benefit from the exposure. The more he and Baker meet the more potential Gonzalez has for swaying voters to his side.

There are currently very few people who are betting that Baker will lose. He is popular with members of both parties and Gonzalez seems to be the sacrificial lamb that Democrats must offer up.

Ironically debating in Western Massachusetts would be pretty safe for Baker. With three debates scheduled in and around Boston, Boston media are less likely to make the trip out here to the hinterlands to cover it.

And Western Massachusetts tends a like more conservative in many ways than Eastern Massachusetts. It’s friendlier to Baker.

But it’s not going to happen and that just increases the feeling that we don’t count as much.

When I see the governor next, I’d like to ask him why he passed on a local debate.

Here are a couple other questions I’d like to ask:

Baker has been resistant to the philosophies of the Trump Administration, so why is he endorsing a man running for the Senate who has said he will support Trump with every vote in the Senate if he is elected?

Does Baker not have a relationship with the Commonwealth’s two Democrat senators? He could sit this one out and endorse no one, but he didn’t.

Is party unity more important that an independent choice? Or does he think Geoff Diehl hasn’t a chance against Elizabeth Warren so it really doesn’t matter?

Is it just all theater?

Here’s another question: is the state ready for marijuana tourism, and if so how are we going to capitalize on it?

Yup, the idea of legal recreational pot still scares many people. I get it. I also get that those communities that accept it should see a nice bump in tax revenue.

So will the state consider marijuana tourism in the same way they promote the fall foliage?

I love politics.

Hall of Famer

Congrats to my friend Ray Hershel who was recently inducted into the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame. Ray retired earlier this year from WGGB after an astonishing 50 years on the job as a reporter.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: he is a role model for all of us.

There is no one I know more deserving of this honor.