As governor, part of my job is to tell people things they don't like to hear.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
Politicians like to tell people what they want to hear - and what they want to hear is what won't happen.
The public don't know what they want; it's my job to tell them.
Part of my job is to make sense of all that I hear, and to retell it in a forceful way so that the decision-makers at Treasury can hear it. At least that's how I see it.
I have a job to do on policy. And I think that's what people want their governor to do. Not politics, policy.
When a governor asks you to come and serve... or a president, subsequently in my life - you do so.
It's my job as governor to set a vision.
I'll get a three-page letter and the last paragraph says 'I know you'll never read this, but here's my number.' I love to call those people because the first thing they say is, 'Governor, I didn't mean everything I said in the letter about you.'
I don't have to muzzle myself when I'm a civilian. When you're a governor, you kind of have to do it, because you represent the whole state. You have to leave your personal opinions to yourself a lot. I learned that.
It is in the public interest to know what our governors are up to. If they are up to doing good, then they are only too happy to let us know. When they are up to no good, they want that kept secret.
It's always an interesting experience for a politician to be heard in silence, I have to say.