Taylor’s Takes: I blame Trump for ruining local politics

I’m going to keep this short and sweet.

Donald Trump has ruined local politics for me.

I can’t hate him for it. He didn’t mean to do it. But he did it, all the same.

When then-candidate Trump came onto the scene in 2015, he completely changed the political game. No national campaign has been the same since.

Trump’s fearlessness, candor, and willingness to speak about virtually any subject was a radical difference from the polished, perfectly tailored suit-wearing candidates of yore.

He swore. He yelled. He mocked. He bragged.

And people fell in love with his style.

He has toned down the flash since the 2016 campaign in recent years, but he’s still the same Donald Trump.

With that in mind, I turn, begrudgingly, to local politics.

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey is up for re-election next year in an increasingly blue state, as her policies continue to drive out right-leaning residents who have the means to move out of state.

So far, three prominent Republican challengers have thrown their hats into the ring and are making the rounds throughout the state, giving stump speeches, shaking hands, and kissing babies.

I’m a member of my town’s Republican committee. All three of the candidates have already swept through the area in search of support.

Brian Shortsleeve was the first. He condemned Healy’s disastrous funding for illegal alien housing and the state’s general lack of direction. I think he also spoke of the failed green energy initiatives her office has implemented.

Mike Kennealy visited several weeks later. He spoke of many of the same issues, while also trying to discredit Shortsleeve and his time with the MBTA.

Earlier this week, Mike Minogue blew through the area to give his version of the Republican talking points.

I didn’t even bother to attend.

I’m as interested as anyone else to hear what a candidate has to say before lending one of them my support. But I could not bring myself to attend another two hours of rehearsed monologue followed by a Q&A.

In all honesty, Kennealy and Shortsleeve didn’t excite me as a voter. I came away from both of their appearances thinking “more of the same” from a starry-eyed Massachusetts GOP candidate.

The presentations were fine, and I agreed with most of their points.

But there were at least two problems.

I couldn’t really tell you where their differences are, if any. They could swap speeches and I probably wouldn’t notice.

And there was no passion. Trump had passion when he ran for office the first time. He wanted the job. He fought for the job. I don’t see any sparks of passion in any of the candidates I’ve heard from so far.

I realize that it’s very early in the process and we have a primary election for a reason.

But dammit. Can we get a candidate in Massachusetts that has a fire under their ass and isn’t afraid to show it?

Pick up the energy, guys. Don’t just tell me why it’s so depressing to live in Massachusetts. Tell me why I should be fired up about your campaign. If you don’t seem fired up, why should I be?