The city's 12,034 registered Democrats will be wooed and wheedled between now and June 7 to vote for this or that set of candidates in the primary contest that will settle who gets on the November ballot. But because political wisdom in this city regards a primary win as tantamount to success in the general election, you will see heavy artillery mixed in with hugs and handshakes on the campaign trail. Since candidates filed on April 11, voters have had ample time to read about them, observe them at public meetings and maybe meet them in person in First, Second and Fourth ward neighborhoods. The forum pictured above was organized by two neighborhood associations.The final week before the primary tends to bring out the worst in political campaigns. Having lived here since 1983, I can attest to the pitch of rhetoric that takes place, sometimes to the extent that voters stay home in disgust rather than go to the polls. If you have formed your own opinion of a candidate, I would suggest disregarding the last-minute nonsense. Vote however your conscience dictates, but please VOTE.
--Bernice
Then how would we know who's Hitler-like, or Jerry-like, or who's been bought lock, stock and barrel by big business? Or who's the closet Republican? (Usually it's the white guy by default but this time I'm giving the edge to the black guy who can't shut up about the injustice of the PMUA rates.)
ReplyDeleteBernice, I think that for the rest of my time living in Plainfield, I am going to plan a vacation the week before the Primary - all of them. It is astounding how nice people turn ugly, and winning is the only thing that matters.
ReplyDeleteIt is also very amusing that Plainfield with its 116 plus churches exhibits such un Christianlike behaviour the week before. Maybe even God takes a vacation the week before Plainfield primary.
Well said Bernice! Well said! We have too many issues to solve. However way it turns out, there are big challenges ahead!
ReplyDeleteVote wisely - Vote intelligently - But PLEASE VOTE!
. . . and Vote OFTEN. . . .ha . . . .Column D
ReplyDeleteTMWCTG
We already have Dan Damon attacking Tony Rucker each and every day. Calling people Nazis, liars and so on.
ReplyDeleteI think your comments bear well. People should not be voting by blind party affiliation. Storch has a 8-year track record. He should be able to tell us how he shrunk out taxes, increased safety, increased quality-of-life or increased economic development. Rucker should be able to articulate how he is going to change things, his vision and how he would do things differently.
People should vote on this criteria. Not party affiliation. Calling the New Democrats Republicans is wrong. But so is calling Tony a Jerry guy wrong. After all, Cory was on that ticket more then once.
Such name calling assumes the residents are very stupid and I personally feel insulted every time I see Damon say Tony is part of the "Green team" just as I do when I hear Jerry call the New Democrats Republicans.
Until we vote with our heads rather then our emotions, we are doomed to relive the past.
Bernice, you have never challenged the New Democrats assertion that they have never taken money from the PMUA.
ReplyDeleteWhy? Why not look it up?
@ 12:02 - All democrats have taken money from PMUA. That is the precise reason why no one around here wants to DISBAND them. Meanwhile, our property owners can't afford to pay 3-5 times more for services than surrounding cities. It's a shame and its criminal but until we have some elected officials who aren't afraid to take on a critical issue, we will just repeat this cycle for the next 25 years. Whether Storch or Rucker get the OK nod, Plainfielders will still be stuck with the PMUA.
ReplyDeleteBut wait...5:56..Cory Storch said he did not. So he must be telling the truth.
ReplyDelete