There may be “True Grit’ and there’s Actual Grit.
“True Grit” was a 1969 western film starring John Wayne as U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogbur, who went after dangerous guys.
It was so good that “True Grit” was reshot and remade in 2010, this time starring Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon.
Nevertheless it was solely a film. And all people is aware of there’s a massive distinction between film grit and grit in actual life, particularly in politics.
Grit in a film character is dependent upon good appearing. Grit in actual life requires braveness, perseverance and fervour.
Which is the place Mike Minogue is available in.
Minogue, 56, is one in every of three Republicans working for governor. The opposite two are Mike Kennealy and Brian Shortsleeve.
The winner of the GOP main will tackle Democratic Gov. Maura Healey who will someday get up to seek out out that she is just not working towards Donald Trump, however one of many three Republicans.
It might be Minogue, who has grit.
Not that he’s an enormous Trump fan, however as governor he would, for the good thing about the state, work with whoever is within the White Home, one thing Trump-hater Healey has refused to do.
Minogue is the previous CEO of Abiomed, the producer of the world’s smallest coronary heart pump that has saved numerous lives. He’s a businessman, an entrepreneur and a philanthropist. He’s rich, energetic and beneficiant.
He’s additionally a graduate of West Level, an Military Airborne Ranger and a embellished fight veteran of Desert Storm, the 1991 Gulf Conflict.
He led the primary infantry platoon that crossed into Iraq throughout that profitable army operation headed by the late, legendary and gritty Gen. Norman (“Stormin’ Norman”) Schwarzkopf.
Minogue, who has not run for workplace earlier than — and believes it is a bonus to be a non-professional politician — payments himself as “a brand new sort of governor” who has “the grit to ship for Massachusetts.”
In an interview with the Boston Bros podcast produced by Inside Lowell, Minogue final week mentioned he can be accountable solely to the folks of Massachusetts, not get together politicians.
Institution politicians, like Healey, “are beholden to too many individuals,” he mentioned.
Minogue mentioned he has no ambition to run for every other workplace and wouldn’t use the workplace as a steppingstone.
However may he, as a Republican governor, work with the Democrat- managed Massachusetts Legislature?
Nicely, if he may address hazing at West Level, getting moist and frozen at Ranger College, survive fight in Iraq, and work exhausting for 19 years to construct a billion-dollar firm, he’s assured he may work with the Legislature.
“I’ll work with anybody who has good concepts,” he mentioned. “Success in life has so much to do with grit and self-discipline.”
Whereas he has stable concepts about reducing the state’s $63 billion price range and returning financial savings to the cities and cities, reducing taxes, auditing the Legislature and different state businesses — in addition to a number of different concepts — the themes of exhausting work, self-discipline and grit run by means of his method to authorities, politics, enterprise and life.
Grit is a lesson to be realized, he mentioned. “It’s important to earn it when it’s not straightforward, however you’re doing it for the precise purpose.”
“You probably have function, you’ve gotten grit since you are serving one thing greater than your self, and you’ll succeed.”
“Everybody in life ought to have their nostril bloodied” after which be capable of “perceive what it’s to rise up,” Minogue mentioned. That’s grit.
“Individuals who have comfortable lives lack character. Possibly they don’t realize it. When you’ve gotten failed and suffered it provides you extra empathy, extra pleasure, extra gratitude.”
And extra grit.
Veteran political reporter Peter Lucas could be reached at: petr.lucas@bostonherald.com
