Watch Sunday’s Norwood/Reed debate on GPB
Did you miss the Atlanta Press Club debate between mayoral candidates Mary Norwood and Kasim Reed on Sunday night?
The video has been posted on Georgia Public Broadcasting’s web site. See it here.
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63 comments Add your comment
The Chief
November 23rd, 2009
4:34 pm
On a list where cities don’t want to rank near the top, Atlanta is the 18th worst city for crime, according to a new list.
Washington, D.C.-based publisher CQ Press examined FBI statistics for murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and motor vehicle theft when determining its annual rankings, which have rankled public officials for 16 years.
Camden, N.J., ranks No. 1 for the most crime, St. Louis is No. 2 and Oakland, Calif., is No. 3 on the list.
Among Georgia cities, Macon is 26th, Columbus is 55th, Savannah is 116th, Athens is 196th, Sandy Springs is 274th and Roswell is 339th. Both Sandy Springs and Roswell have crime rates below the national average.
Tom
November 23rd, 2009
4:42 pm
Kasim Reed did an excellent job last night. I’m impressed.
Rick
November 23rd, 2009
5:04 pm
Hello Tom it so sad to see this wonderful city is being torn apart I dont like Reed but he did do a good job on this debate and I know Norwood staff are on here to make Jim Galloway look bad. I going to my decision in next day who I am going to vote for but I think Norwood is chasen people away from her I just see where she coming from on this election. I wish it was someone else running for mayor because the both them seem like they out to get power recognitionan and they not for the people of Atlanta but I think Reed got this wrap up.
JohnD
November 23rd, 2009
5:24 pm
Reed is just another Bill Campbell and will continue business as usual in city hall. If you are white and support Norwood, you’re a racist. Norwood may not be corrupt, but she clearly isn’t qualified to be Mayor. I don’t care if she might be a Republican, she’d dumber than a box of rocks.
Vote for neither. You can still vote in the other runoff elections and just say no to both of these.
Rick please explain
November 23rd, 2009
5:25 pm
Rick, you still haven’t explained how Ralph Long was able to plant a Norwood operative in a Kasim Reed field office to pay someone for stealing Norwood signs.
How long has the Norwood plant who paid the sign stealer been working undercover at the Reed field office?
Thanks.
Formerly RJ
November 23rd, 2009
6:26 pm
Nice job playing the race card on your first question, Jim.
Formerly RJ
November 23rd, 2009
6:37 pm
Kasim brags on his political support. Translation: he is well connected to the political machine. So, if you like the way things are functioning in this city, by all means, vote for Kasim.
Formerly RJ
November 23rd, 2009
7:01 pm
Kasim says he provided leadership for Senate Bill 69 regarding the sex industry. The Georgia Legislative website says it passed without opposition (48 yea, 0 nay, 1 not voting, 7 excused). Either he’s one heck of a leader or he basically saw the parade going down the street and jumped out in front to lead it. I’m leaning toward the latter…
Rick
November 23rd, 2009
7:02 pm
I am saying why is Ralph Long outside Reed campaign office and video something just dont add up because how did Long know Reed staff paid the person in his office to steal them sign why did he call the police dept and just went to the new station to drop it off so that tell me Long was in on this mess
OMG
November 23rd, 2009
7:49 pm
I talked to someone who was at the GOTV office. They have never seen that man before.
Please. He taped everything except where he went and confronted the man? Smells fishy.
Jim, you asked really good questions last night. I am still trying to figure out how some retired guys from the 90s will help fix 911 tech problems. Wouldn’t you want someone on the cutting edge of technology….not some old retired guys?
AtlantasFuture
November 23rd, 2009
7:49 pm
Mary NORWOOD is the best option for this city FOR CHANGE.
Reed = Franklin = NO new direction
Reed = Franklin = Campbell = ATLANTA Dies
AtlantasFuture
November 23rd, 2009
7:52 pm
Amazingly, REED’s camp LIES and says ‘it wasn’t them’. Yes, it wasn’t them…. oh, and we don’t need Oxygen to breath
http://www.11alive.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=52211415001#/News/Exclusive+Video%3A+Norwood+Signs+Being+Stolen/49906865001/50317397001/52211415001
AtlantasFuture
November 23rd, 2009
7:53 pm
Dude got Caught Receiving money from REED = Cover up liar
http://www.11alive.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=52211415001#/News/Exclusive+Video%3A+Norwood+Signs+Being+Stolen/49906865001/50317397001/52211415001
AtlantasFuture
November 23rd, 2009
7:54 pm
NORWOOD perfection, no. We all have weaknesses.
REED is promising people for future govt promises. He’s paying money for NORWOOD signs.
And you think voting him in is ok?
AtlantasFuture
November 23rd, 2009
8:37 pm
Awesome question. Jim, with your terrific reporter skills, would you please investigate Reed stealing signs from NORWOOD?
Great question from @Rick please explain – How long has the Norwood plant who paid the sign stealer been working undercover at the Reed field office?
It’s like an FBI operation over at the Reed office, I’m sure.
Jason
November 23rd, 2009
10:18 pm
Is there another video that I’m unaware of? What I saw on tv showed some random person taking signs and then later someone showing up at a Reed for Mayor office to dump off signs. I didn’t see anyone at the Reed office paying for them or even asking for them.
Maybe I should go out with a video camera, steals some Reed signs and then video tape them being dumped off at Norwood’s office. Once I’m done, we can send her to prison for life since such a tape will be iron clad proof.
Seriously folks, go read a book on skepticism. Georgia’s low educational attainment is so obvious here.
GallowaysMom
November 23rd, 2009
10:20 pm
Jim, why did you scan and post the negative mail pieces (plural) wihin hours of them being mailed, but you STILL haven’t scanned and posted the negative Reed mailer DAYS later???
Are you even PRETENDING to be objective anymore?
Deborah
November 23rd, 2009
10:24 pm
The city’s political establishment have finally done the right thing. Because of the mayoral race, Atlanta’s police chief is now issuing an apology for APD shooting and killing that 92-year-old grandmother, Kathryn Johnston, in her own home after obtaining an illegal search warrant and later planting evidence of drugs in her home to cover it up.
This sums up Atlanta’s political establishment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0BynGVctHc
Jason tells jokes
November 23rd, 2009
11:10 pm
So Jason, do you also think Norwood paid someone to drive an exact replica of a black Nissan SUV with Cherokee County license plates that belongs to a high ranking Reed campaign operative, then placed Norwood signs in the back of the vehicle, then drove the vehicle to Reed campaign headquarters for the express purpose of photographing it?
Jason, rather than suggest others read a book on skepticism, perhaps you should google Occam’s razor.
AtlantasFuture
November 23rd, 2009
11:30 pm
Reed will say ANYTHING to get Elected. Tell the poor and downtrodden that he’ll keep their bellies full for the next 4 years. He even pays them cash to steal signs from satellite offices.
Yet, he’ll keep his mansion on the south side and NO person in the POOREST areas will be better if he is elected.
THUG, money liner of pockets, back office deals
JJ
November 24th, 2009
1:02 am
AtlantasFuture,
You complaint about Shirley Franklin but Shirley was the one that got this city out of the Red. She has done a great job. She did what she had to do to get us out of the Red. Before, she came to office most Atlantians didn’t know we were in the Red but she let everyone know. She did a great job and I hope she comes back one day as Mayor. We are no longer in the Red because of her. Thank you Shirley
Earth to Reed sycophants
November 24th, 2009
1:20 am
It was a PROCEDURAL vote; the outcome had been decided in ADVANCE. The OPENLY GAY Anne Fauver didn’t vote either, because the outcome had been decided in ADVANCE.
Are the Reed sycophants now going to claim the OPENLY GAY ANNE FAUVER doesn’t support LGBT rights either?
Would someone from the Norwood camp PLEASE educate the voters on this!
JJ
November 24th, 2009
1:48 am
Mary Norwood sounds like she only has a GED education. She sounds like a Hillbilly that puts on a White Hood at night. Please beware
GallowaysMom
November 24th, 2009
2:33 am
Norwood sounds like she has a GED? Really?
She graduated from Emory with HONORS.
The Late Maynord Jackson
November 24th, 2009
6:03 am
The whole Jackson Machine has endorsed Reed.. What does it take to win over you Norwood voters. Everything is going great with the Atlanta Government, if you don’t think so just dial 911. Vote REED EARLY & OFTEN.
PoliticOracle
November 24th, 2009
8:21 am
Watch Reed’s admission that he will raise taxes – right after he promised he would not! That kind of politicial double-speak is shady and we do not need more of the same dirty politics. Vote Norwood!
Shirley Franklin Sucks
November 24th, 2009
8:24 am
@JJ – it wasn’t until Mr. Glass came in this year that things started to get organized. Franklin’s last CFO ran to Dallas because things were such a mess. That’s 7 years of disorganization to one where things are actually starting to turn around. I’ll give her credit – she did come in right after Campbell, so she was fighting an uphill battle. We don’t need more of the same though. Reed will be more of the same.
Matt
November 24th, 2009
8:28 am
I agree with Deboarah. It’s about time someone took the blame for that poor lady’s death. The quotas APD had in place are the reason she’d dead. APD needs to be reorganized. The reason they support Reed is that he won’t do that! He’ll keep this mess going just as it is.
“Officers lied to a judge to get a search warrant for Johnston’s home. They shot her six times, handcuffed her, planted drugs in the house, and then tried to coerce a witness into telling their fabricated story. The event caused a deep breach of trust between police and citizens.”
http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wabe/news.newsmain/article/1/0/1579776/Atlanta/Three.Years.from.Johnston.Death..Civilian.Board.at.a.Crossroads
AH
November 24th, 2009
8:48 am
I’ll have to wait till later to re-watch the debate but I remember Reed being called out on the missing yard signs…. His response was curious at best if I remember correctly. He parsed his words to the point that he indited himself and insinuated that both sides are doing it. Now we have video backing up this charge. If only the city of Atlanta had a real news paper they might do a story on this kind of dirty campaigning. Unfortunately we don’t which is why all our papers are dying some quicker then others.
Rick
November 24th, 2009
9:07 am
Why the same people on this blog seem like they are very racist
Norwooders STOLE My Handle
November 24th, 2009
9:25 am
dfg
AH
November 24th, 2009
9:25 am
@Rick can you please point specifically to a racist comment and expound on the comment to help us all better understand the racism you are seeing on these blogs?
Matt
November 24th, 2009
9:30 am
that’s the default reponse when someone doesn’t like a respose or someone’s alternate opinion – they’re racist. It’s old and we need a change in this City!
Paid Blogger
November 24th, 2009
9:35 am
……You paid staffers from both parties are only doing your candidates a disservice. You’re talking about campaign signs while Rome is burning. Grow up.
Norwooders STOLE My Handle
November 24th, 2009
9:47 am
PoliticOracle’s a good handle isn’t it? You can have it, you cyber thug.
Norwood was horrible in that debate, did you see her rendition of the angry Norwood supporter? I nearly spit my coffee out! LOL This woman is the biggest political joke since Sarah Palin and her beef with Levi Johnston.
On a serious note, Mary Norwood has presented no feasible plan to bring the city out of the current crime or financial crises. A lot of my friends have switched their support to Reed, they were reluctant since these sign-taking accussations started to fly but I explained to them that this is really a non-issue and is a part of the field ops game. Norwood has folks removing signs, just the same as Reed and I highly doubt that either candidates are condoning this behavior but that doesn’t stop zealous supporters from doing it. I remmember when I traveled to Augusta, Athens and Macon to volunteer with the Democratic party for the presidential election in 2008. The Republicans would remove signs from public right-of-way and individual yards and the Democrats would do the same. I don’t agree with this, but it is a very common part of the field ops game.
I do find it a little disturbing that Ralph Long, a sitting State Representative and “successful” real estate broker, can find the time to place signs on the streets and then wait to film someone remove them. Keep in mind people that removing these signs are not illegal, because they shouldn’t be in the public right-of-way in the first place but it is interesting that this guy has the time to sit and wait like that. He seems to be as much of a gadfly as Mary Norwood, always ambulance chasing but never getting anything done. I heard that he took credit from a bunch of “real” neighborhood activists on the Perkins Auto dumping issue. This guy is seriously and a joke and he lives off of his wife Erica Long who, by the way, gave Kasim Reed a nice $500 contribution (check the disclosures if you don’t believe me). She is high-powered attorney with a national law firm and it seems that she and hubby Ralph are playing both sides of this election. That’s political shadiness at its best.
Basically, four of six friends that were with Norwood are now supporting and the other two are seriously leaning. I told them to pay attention to the excuses that Norwood makes and the reasons she gives for not leading on the major issues. You see, her lack of leadership shows that she is incapable of making the tough choices. She’d rather play both sides, leave the floor or not take a position at all. I told them that if she really wanted to get information from the city finance department, which none of the other councilmembers have a problem getting, she would have demanded it in the media. Truth is, anyone can get the information – including me. All it takes is an open records request. How do you think AJC, Creative Loafing, WXIA and WSB get their information. Mary Norwood has not done the hardwork people. She ahs attended neighborhood meetings and shaken a lot of hands and that’s been about the extent of her leadership.
Look at the records and you’ll clearly see who the real leader in this race is.
KASIM REED
Matt
November 24th, 2009
9:54 am
@Norwooders STOLE My Handle – it really bugs you that some people actually support Norwood and are tierd of the same old “business-as-usual” nonsense your candidate represents. It might just be OK for people to have other opinions and you should learn to respect that insead of posting around here like a cat who just had icewater thrown on it. Berating people into submission will not change their minds on this vote.
Norwooders STOLE My Handle
November 24th, 2009
10:01 am
@Matt
It actually doesn’t bug me at all. I love a good contested politcal race, it’s brings out the best in the candidates. I’m here clearly stating my position on things just like everyone else.
Does it bother you that I haven’t bought into the hype that Norwood is? She’s weak dude, bottom line! You can support her all you want, that’s on you. I hope you’re doing more for her campaign than posting on these threads, I am – because I’m the real PoliticOracel and I could only sit on the sidelines for so long.
If Norwood wins, I am prepared to honor her as mayor and to support her. But, right now I am supporting Kasim Reed and I want him to succeed.
So to answer your question again, NO I am not bothered by people supporting Norwood. It is interesting that she is viewed as an outsider and she’s been on council for 8 years and voted for many of the damning policies that have led us where we are.
And by the way, I dont know what you define as “berating” but the real PoliticOracle doesn’t berate. I share factually based information to support my arguments and my candidate.
Norwooders STOLE My Handle
November 24th, 2009
10:05 am
@Matt
By the way, did you jack my handle? LOL…Just kidding!
Hilarity
November 24th, 2009
10:10 am
A white man was seated next to a little black girl on the airplane when he turned to her and said, “Let’s talk. I’ve heard that flights go quicker if you strike up a conversation with your fellow passenger.”
The little girl, who had just opened her coloring book, closed it slowly and said to the man, “What would you like to talk about?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” said the man. “Since you are black, do you think that So-called President Elect Barak Obama is qualified for the job?” and he smiles.
“OK”, she said. ‘That could be an interesting topic. But let me ask you a question first. A horse, a cow, and a deer all eat the same stuff -grass -. Yet a deer excretes little pellets, while a cow turns out a flat patty, and a horse produces clumps of dried grass. Why do you suppose that is?”
The man, visibly surprised by the little girl’s intelligence, thinks about it and says, “Hmmm, I have no idea.”
To which the little girl replies, “Do you really feel qualified to discuss Politics ….. When you clearly don’t understand $@#$!!!”
Matt
November 24th, 2009
10:16 am
…that’s funny
Matt
November 24th, 2009
10:17 am
@Norwooders STOLE My Handle – really? lol I’ll be glad when this whole thing is over and people can go back to their “normal” handles and will stop being so paranoid.
Norwooders STOLE My Handle
November 24th, 2009
10:30 am
@Matt
I was seriously kidding about the handle theft. I don’t care if my handle is taken, I can still post on this thread and my voice is heard.
I really think Reed is going to beat Norwood on next Tuesday. She just hasn’t a good case. I think she’s brought on the Palin effect, nice and folksy but smart and decisive – not so much. The guy with the proven record will win out on this one. I think it’s unfair and a tad prejudicial for Reed to be branded as Campbell-esque, when he has a decade long state legislative record that reflects nothing of the sort. I think its a tactic do distract voters based on race, its subtle but its still there. Do us all a favor and don’t start assuming i’m black, male or whatever because you don’t know and it’s not important. What is important is that we argue based on fact, not rumorm, myth and innuendo.
Also, I want Reed to retire his usage of the word “robust” and Norwood to let go of the word “delighted”. They have worn these words ragged…LOL
Matt
November 24th, 2009
10:43 am
@Norwooders STOLE My Handle – Who ever wins needs to rally this City to unity in a bad way. I’m still thinking that Reed will not be able to break from the “old guard”. I’ll agree with you on their need to retire those words and i’ll up you one to hoping Mary stops the obligitory smile at the end of every comment. I love her and she has my vote completely, but that’s funny to me.
Political ops Norwooders stole my handle?
November 24th, 2009
10:48 am
So Norwooders stole my handle, theft and the physical intimidation of your opponent’s supporters is to be shrugged off as the way business is conducted?
Maybe that’s why voters are so strongly considering a new business model.
Political ops Norwooders stole my handle?
November 24th, 2009
10:52 am
By your logic Norwooders stole my handle, if a person parks a car in a public right of way, a Kasim Reed employee has a right to take the car, since the car was parked their illegally in the first place.
I guess next you are going to tell us if the signs were placed there illegally, Kasim Reed supporters have a legal right to physical intimidate witnesses to the taking of the signs.
Matt
November 24th, 2009
10:56 am
Two wrongs don’t make a right. Both sides are acting wrong. People deserve better and passionate people sometimes do stupid things – politics suck. The bad thing is that the City and her Citizens suffer for this misguided nonsense.
AH
November 24th, 2009
11:16 am
@Matt can you please explain how both sides acted wrong? Maybe I missed it or something but it seems that only Reed’s camp acted wrongly.
Norwooders STOLE My Handle
November 24th, 2009
11:36 am
@Political ops
I’m in no way advocating car theft and for you to compare that to the the taking of these signs, that are literally worth about $1.50, shows that you are about as cooky as a lot of these over-zealous supporters. Since you brought up parking illegaly in the public right-of-way, let me shed some light on that. Have you ever been towed? I have and when it was for illegal parking, the city had the right to tow my vehicle and only after I satisfied my fine was it returned to me. Now, this doesn’t give any average Joe the right to take my car but when it comes to illegal signage – no one has a title or any other ownsership documents that proves who does or doesn’t own those signs. Basically, they become public property once they are disgarded in the public. Signage in the city of Atlanta has to be permitted by the bureau of buildings. I have actually seen a city vehicle driving around and removing illegal signs from utility polls, street corners and from buildings.
This sign crap is a weak way to distract from your candidate’s weakness. She’s not smart, she’s a panderer and she has no record of leadership. She will lose because, though the voters want change, Norwood hasn’t demonstrated that she is any semblance of it.
@Norwooders stole my handle
November 24th, 2009
11:54 am
About that comparing car theft to campaign signs. It’s not the money, it’s the principle-no pun intended.
If a person drops a dollar out of their pocket, and instead of choosing to alert them, you wait for them to go around the corner then pick it up that’s bad. If they drop $500 out of their pocket and you do the same thing, there is a good chance it hurts them more financially, but the moral principle is still the same.
Reed does just not strike one as a person of strong moral principle; he strikes one as a person committed to a power grab. Case in point the yard signs. We already have one instance of a photograph of black Nissan SUV with Cherokee County license plates and a Kasim Reed sticker, parked at Reed headquarters with Norwood signs in it? Was that a set up by Ralph Long as well?
And speaking of the alleged set up, thank you @Norwooders stole my handle for giving us the best evidence that the Reed camp is lying. I’m referring of course to your disclosure about Erica Long.
If the Longs are playing both sides against the middle, then what is most logical @Norwooders. That he would go to such great lengths to discredit Reed in a set up, or that he was genuinely pi$$ed off about the sign stealing and wanted to get to the bottom of it?
See @Norwooders if you look at it that way, it suddenly isn’t about a $1.50 sign. It’s about ethics, character, and taking personal responsibility when a staffer goes to far, not trying to lie your way out of it.
Sometimes @Norwooders the little actions tell us big things about character, and a $1.50 sign, and the Reed camp’s reaction is telling us some very disturbing things about character.
Common Sense
November 24th, 2009
12:55 pm
So Norwood being her own vendor for robocalls isn’t unethical? She did state in the PBS that she was a vendor for the city, and didn’t dispute Reed’s claims that she was profiteering off of her business as a council member.
Rick
November 24th, 2009
12:55 pm
Ok I am not for Reed or Norwood but I can say Norwood supporter on here attacking Reed supporter if you make a comment about Norwood they would call you dumb, stupid or illiterate. I have been call a drunkie, dumb, illiterate, no school education from Norwood supporter, I can say Reed people attack you on race. But Norwood people are calling Reed people all kind of nasty words. My friends came on here to read some of the blog comments they said this how Atlanta residents act. It sad that we are the American people do not stick together as one racist attention do bring us apart I am not African American or White I am American.
Whoeever win I wish them the best luck
WOW
November 24th, 2009
1:01 pm
Little things like the most significant piece of legislation you passed in 8 years being in-fill housing. Not that thats bad, but there was never much in-fill housing going on except in her neighborhood. Meaning, she never sponsored any significant legislation that helped ordinary citizens of this city. Just those in Buckhead and Morningside that were opposed to McMansions.
That was her response in the PBS debate to the question of most significant legislation being passed as well. Her words, not mine.
Wow has gall
November 24th, 2009
1:13 pm
Wow, you blaming Mary Norwood, who has been shut out of the power structure for eight years by the political machine in Atlanta, for not passing more legislation makes as much sense as someone in the 1880’s saying the reason Atlanta shouldn’t have a woman as mayor is that she hasn’t voted in any elections.
Atlanta Eagle patrons file federal lawsuit against city
November 24th, 2009
1:31 pm
Why does it alway come down to a lawsuit for the City to act right? They’ll win and we will pay. If the Police support Reed, then I am firmly against him. This taxpayer is tierd of paying out lawsuits because of inept management! MARY NORWOOD on DECEMBER 1!!!
http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/atlanta-eagle-patrons-file-212308.html
Deborah
November 24th, 2009
1:35 pm
The constant dismissal of sign-stealing on video reminded me of how an abuser would treat his battered partner: Look, it’s nothing. You caused it. It doesn’t really matter. There are bigger things to worry about.
Yeah there is: A candidate so obviously lacking in virtues — taking responsibility and sincerity — probably would not gain them in higher office. Reed is not acting like a man.
Rick
November 24th, 2009
1:59 pm
Atlanta Eagle patrons file federal lawsuit against city:
How you going blame Reed for what happen at the Eagle blame the person in charge. You never did like Reed in the first place you just trying to use a excuse not to vote for Reed. I am sure Reed does not support them officer who came in to raid Eagle.
this is horrible campaigning
November 24th, 2009
2:40 pm
YOU IDIOTS!!!!! MARY NORWOOD HAS BEEN IN THE CITY HALL FOR 8 YEARS HOW IS THAT CHANGE!!!!!!!!!! SHE IS LITERALLY WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO CHANGE!!!! I MEAN WOW YOU IDIOTS SHE IS THE USUAL BUSSINESS!!!!!! U IDIOTS
MC W
November 24th, 2009
2:57 pm
^She’s been held hostage by the mayor and most of the remainder of City Council, for the majority of these past eight years.
Now then, explain to me how her opponent has differentiated himself from the current administration.
this is horrible campaigning
November 24th, 2009
3:50 pm
hostage….really! r u kidding. REED IS A SENATOR! guess what he made laws for the state. he was not in franklins admin like norwood who keeps saying she never got the instructions to do her job. OMG!
Norwooders STOLE My Handle
November 24th, 2009
4:02 pm
@MC W
You’re making excuses for Ms. Norwood. And smart voters don’t like excuses. If the council’s holding her hostage now (which is about as laughable as it gets) what are they going to do when she’s mayor? No one is holding her hostage, that’s victim-speak.
Mr. Reed has actually been surprisingly hard on Franklin. I recall reading an article where he graded her lower than all three candidates and he criticized her work ethic in this second term.
You make your candidate look weaker than she already is, but hey I understand when you’re grasping at straws.
MC W
November 24th, 2009
11:29 pm
Of course he graded her lower. He’s running to replace her and her approval ratings are atrocious. I mean hey, let’s not focus on the fact that he ran her second campaign or anything; that couldn’t have anything to do with her endorsement of him.
You sound like a fairly intelligent person in certain respects, but your whole-hearted support of Kasim suggests to me that you’d rather have an experienced “coalition-building” lawyer running the city than a somewhat (in terms of years on the job, not much) less experienced woman who likes to harp on city government. Your priorities are different from mine; I tend to vote more on willingness to call out the sickness in a governmental body, and Mary has it. No, she hasn’t worked miracles in her term as councilwoman, and I’ve been disappointed in her, but it IS the truth that she’s been “kept at bay” by people who don’t enjoy working with her. Unlike certain politicos I prefer a nagging old lady to a slick young lawyer. And, you can call me whatever you want, but I simply can’t trust Kasim. When he opens his mouth he sounds like he’s talking to the mirror or a wall; there’s a certain subset of very successful businesspeople/lawyers who simply use people to get where they want to, and he sounds like he’d fit right in. You’re okay with that? Fine. You think it makes him a stronger candidate, that he can make friends and promises somewhat faster than Mary? Has he demonstrated an ability to keep friends/promises? I can’t see it.
I’m certainly not grasping at straws; I’m rather baffled by the support Kasim has received. Then again, I don’t like feeling like I’m the one being talked down at.
almost over
November 25th, 2009
6:50 pm
Don’t worry folks we are just days away from a new mayor God bless the new mayor and regardless of who it may be lets support them to keep this city moving in the right direction…..can I get an AMEN?!!!
Al Dunbar
November 30th, 2009
4:46 pm
Anybody have a link to the debate in a different format? Can’t play this on my Mac.