Related Stories:
- LIVE: Point Pleasant Mayor and Council Meeting – March 20, 2012
- LIVE: Point Pleasant Mayor and Council Meeting – February 21, 2012
- LIVE: Point Pleasant Mayor and Council Meeting – April 5, 2011
- LIVE: Point Pleasant Mayor and Council Meeting – March 6, 2012
- LIVE: Point Pleasant Mayor and Council Re-Organization Meeting – January 2, 2012
Cortland … in the coverage above you state that both parties in town are a joke. Unfortunately, you can’t deny that there are philosphical differences between the two parties. Dems generally believe in social programs for the have-nots funded by tax dollars from the “haves” – just look at the havoc Obama has wreaked (IMO). Republicans tend to be more fiscally conservative about giving away tax dollars, or anyway, that’s the generally accepted ideology for each party.
When I first got involved more than 20 years ago candidates ran on substantive issues. While party ideas were different, we basically respected that difference as well as the candidates who were friends or neighbors. Often, I voted for the candidate – didn’t care if he/she was a Democrat or a Republican if I felt they were true and honest.
However, since the advent of certain bloggers in town, you cannot deny the absolute viciousness of attacks aimed against a candidate from the “other” party. Bloggers even went so far as to attack the children of a candidate – what the heck? And how do you prevent the special interests – i.e. unions and their enforcers – from putting considerable funds and muscle into intimidation of a candidate they oppose? For crying out loud a Democrat union “enforcer” actually came to my home and threatened my husband, this after that same enforcer tried to get Marty’s union steward at work to shut down his political involvement!
People decry the clubs backing of council candidates, but the truth of the matter is that club members are generally such because they have an interest in their community and a desire to serve or contribute in some way. They usually believe most if not all the party ideals, but more importantly, know that they need club members to watch their backs should they stand for election – that they will be attacked isn’t a possibility – it’s a certainty.
Cortland, how and where do we find and/or elect a stand alone candidate willing to face that nonsense alone? I’d really like to know!
Karen – The people in the clubs on both sides are fine, upstanding people who are committed to Point Pleasant. That’s a great thing. But, when we gather under the banner of a Party or a team, we begin to de-humanize the other side. Suddenly, it’s not about that person who wants to work with me or you or whoever to make our town better. It’s about who holds the majority of votes and can force through whatever short-sighted garbage they want. The other side is seen as bad simply because they are the other side. I don’t think it was always like this, but it seems to be more so every year. And, of course, every year we jump right back into bed with the same cast of pay-to-play professionals who, along with the union “leaders,” milk towns across New Jersey for everything their taxpayers are worth. It’s obviously a systemic problem but it’s time for change. The people should abandon those partisan clubs and all meet together as residents of Point Pleasant. I bet we’d get further over the next 5 years if we were united rather than divided into petty partisan teams.
A majority of the last few years’ Republican candidates weren’t even club members until they ran for Council.
Comparing the national Democratic ideals to this town is not just disingenuous, it’s asinine. It has been almost 30 years that the Republicans have feathered the nest of their pay-to-play professionals. Dasti in less than 5 weeks has now billed us over $14,000. So much for Council members working for the town. Wonder how much that is going to end up costing us at the end of the year for all those extras?
I don’t think I’ve seen any Democrat standing over by Wenkes handing out your tax dollars.
For 30 years the Republicans have spent the residents’ money like it was water in this town. Dennis and I were the only 2 getting up and saying stop!
I won’t but I can mention specifics if necessary.
As for viciousness – I can print out the letters to the editor from Republican supporters way before any blog was ever started. Karma’s a bitch.
As for vicousness, let’s not forget Laura’s “spoof mailers” from the 2010, taking GOP mailpieces and adding little hitler mustaches, placing swastikas all over the place, referring to the Republican Club as the “gestopo.” What does that do for public discourse and open dialogue? abslutely zero! Now that hatred and insensitivity is not only disingenuous and asinine(your words), it’s mentally unhealthy. Maybe she didn’t make them, but she did post them. Have to wonder just how loose the screws are for all people involved. Bring the Nazis into it…all of a sudden you’re not just offending GOP sympathizers….
I never posted anything like that. So how would you know about it? You can accuse me of anything I have done just like you can have your own opinions but not your own facts. I guess that’s why I use my real name and you don’t.
Laura-guess that makes one of us a liar. But take a look at this
http://info.animallovertoo.com/2010election/rogersflyer10082010.pdf
Thats unaccaptable who do you think you are?
That’s some pretty fancy image editing work there.
Laura, who did the editing of the flyer for you to post?
Karen, I think you need to give the average blog reader credit for being sufficiently intelligent to separate the spin from the substance. Certainly, they have the ability to reject exploitation (real or perceived) of a child or the exploitation of that exploitation (r or p).
As for attracting candidates, the local club’s systematic derailment of Mike Permuko’s attempt to enter the last mayor’s race was executed with greater efficiency than any campaign waged in any of the blogs. (No disrespect intended to any of the blog hosts).
The recent reappointment of the pay to play professionals who were part of the GOP defeat was done with complete indifference to the added scrutiny.
Correct me if I’m wrong…Boro Independent did not even exist at the time of the 2010 Primary
Correct. The site started in November 2010.
Sorry if I was unclear. I did not mean any blog campaigns against Permuko; I meant other blog campaigns of any sort.
I wonder if the political tenor in town would be better today had his campaign survived.
free2byand me: do you know the political history of Mike Permuko? Before he was a Republican, he was a Democrat… and before he was a Democrat, he was a Conservative. . .a kind of party flipper back and forth?
Spooner, changing parties does not mean someone is not competent to hold office and should not be an automatic disqualifier. The theme of this post is the barriers to attracting qualified candidates to run. As the world, including PP, has gone through dramatic changes in the past 30 years, I am far more wary of a person who exactly the same beliefs as they did 3 decades ago.
free2byandme: Permulko in the 1990′s ran as a Conservative against incumbent Republican Congressman Jim Saxton when he was living in Toms River. . .he got less than 1% of the vote. . .I guess he was highly qualified. . .not to mention his runs here in Point Pleasant as an Independent and a Democrat in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, and 2004. In 1999 he got 1/3 of the vote that Democrat Shawn McCarthy got(343 vs. 1096) Very qualified? In 2000 it was even worst: Democrat Brian Hanlon got 3058…Permuko got 341. . .more qualifications? In 2001 he did better running as a Democrat with Shawn McCarthy, but still lost to Sharpe and Bob Morris. In 2003 he ran as a Democrat…only to drop out of the race? In 2004 he ran as an Independent again: got 549 votes against Shawn Mc Carthy’s 4387, who won that year beating Republican Terry Lauten. . . who Republican Chair Pat Gottschalk did not support. . .
…now it’s your turn to list the facts that made him qualified. . .
Spooner, According to your argument, only unqualified people loose and qualified people always win. I think we all know that’s not the way the politics works.
free2byandme: I don’t know whether to laugh or feel sorry. . .”I think we all know that’s not the way politics works” . . .so you mean all those primaries we been going through nationally. . .is not what politics is about. . . and the fact that people go and vote for these candidates has nothing to do with politics. . .those voter numbers I reported has nothing to do with politics either???
I choose to laugh.
The biggest number of votes alone do not determine one’s qualifications.
You are confusing qualification with popularity. For the past year and a half, the GOP argument has been that its candidate lost the election for mayor because unpopular decisions were made. Does that mean the candidate was unqualified?
free2byandme…it’s an accepted fact: voters don’t vote based on qualifications. . .but vote based on their perceptions and how it relates to them. You want to preachthe sweet sound of qualifications. . .go right a head?
…and it’s not just unpopular decisions when you draw the conclusion that “it’s candidate lost the election for mayor because unpopular decisions were made”
…she lost the election in my opinion for a number of reasons. . . but principally it came down too in large part “the unions” opposing her. . .using everything at their disposal to destroy her. . .even making her son an object of derision. . .
…did she make unpopular/popular decisions. . . asking employees to take 33 furlough days, then trumpeting “zero tax” didn’t go over too well with unions… but then the PBA was gunning for her way back in 2009, even before there was this zero tax. . .The town being faced with possible diminishing revenue, a 2% cap, and meeting ever growing contract demands. . .kind of a “catch 22″. Unfortunately or fortunately depending on your political perspective…she was in the middle of it, having to recommend decisions to other Council members, which for unions. . .was unpopular?
Did she lose because she was unpopular…
…here’s some Monday morning quarterbacking: (one) she should have opposed school budget amendment or recused herself, since she had kids in the system.
(two) never had “zero tax” when your telling employees to take 33 furlough days…
(three) should have never called the police into her home just before the election?
Swastikas all over and mustaches? Getting a little carried away aren’t you?
It’s satire and it makes me laugh. I guess my German ancestry must have something to do with it.
I see one swastika and no mustaches. Is my vision going? I never even noticed the paid for by. As satire I like it. Plus look at all the promises. They seem to have come true. Sorry I cannot take credit for the editing, people send them to me. If I find them funny or amusing I post them. If you’d like to bring attention to what the Republicans have done in this town, or should I say, to this town, be my guest. Keep going.
Dasti back and already BILLED over $14,900 for approximately 5 weeks.
Shared Services – How’d that work out?
New Computer Software – How’d that work out?
Toni and Mitch didn’t take a salary for the first six months but got the whole yearly salary in August. I guess that’s similar to what our former CFO did.
Should I continue? Sorry I have to go out but feel free to continue. Thanks for a good laugh.
PS How’s that hoodie working for you Republican Club President Tommy boy? Isn’t that what you were wearing for your gotcha journalism? lmao
Karen, the idea that the philosophies of the national party play out in the politics of our town is really propaganda. The town council is not dealing with welfare or abortion, they just have to keep our little town great.
If we look at the facts, they simply tell another story. Look at the many many years of Republican Majorities and the spending and raising of taxes. We have padded the pockets of the professionals and spent capital expenditures like it was free money. Last year with a Democratic majority they started to right the ship with a plan for the future. They said no to many capital expenses and were able to keep the town employees working and our services continued. Remember, it took many months for professional auditors to figure out our town’s finances. Which party was in charge and watching the books? This year when the Republicans came back they brought back the same professionals who guided us to the mess of the past. Departments are putting forth and being told they will get money under capital. Heck, we may even get another 800k fire truck without even an audit of if we really need it. Remember when the joining of the fire companies would save us money?
It would be nice if we could get rid of party affiliation on the ballot and let them run on ideas. Why is that not done? Money?
Concerned – You asked, “It would be nice if we could get rid of party affiliation on the ballot and let them run on ideas. Why is that not done? Money?”
All it takes is the will of the people. We could vote to have a non-partisan Council if we wanted. It just takes a little people power!
Spooner, not that it matters, but for once I agree with you. Ms Rogers like many who are elected have a sense of entitlement. To her credit, at least she didn’t sit there like a potted plant like so many others who stay elected for years and accomplish nothing but build a nice biography, good or bad she made a difference. How about we the people DEMAND that the candidates debate the issues that face our town in an open and impartial forum, before we vote, then hold them to the positions they subscribe to. Otherwise, why don’t we elect the fern in the lobby? I am not into name calling but those who attend Council meetings know the elected officials who made a career out of voting with the majority, nodding their heads, and making sure everyone knows what high school they graduated from. Demand more from your elected officials, and don’t punish people for taking a stand.
@ Spooner…
It wasn’t the unions that defeated Rogers….she defeated herself with her bully tactics & unwillingness to work with anyone who didn’t agree with her. She wasn’t a good politician nor statesman, she wanted to be a dictator (hence the Nazi comparison). People who excell in politics know how to work with their opposition, not alienate them. Do you REALLY believe that we would be better off with her at the helm??? I don’t. And, a lot of non-union residents believed (& still believe) she wasn’t the best choice.
@Common Sense: as Jeff said:”Not That It Matters”. . .The unions were a lot more conniving this time in reporting campaign money. They learnt their lessons from the Republicans. In 2010, Schroeder running against Rogers…only reported spending about $10,400. . .yet the year before. . .the union money flowed like water into Potter and Vicelli’s campaign…to the tune of over $86,500. . .
…you’ll never accept the fact:that the politicians and the unions over the decades of making promises. . .have pitted their members who live in these small towns against their neighbors who pay their salaries . . .while THEY go on their merry way….milking every career opportunity they can to further their pockets and acquire more power. . .and could care less about the animosity they leave behind . . .
Facing I believe a $34B short fall this year, Trenton and Christie continue to give us lip service speeches, and are doing little if any to reform civil service, collective bargaining, arbitration, pensions, and out of control rising medical costs?
From what I see, Christie has back tracked from his position…waiting for the out come of the Governor recall in Wisconsin. It’s all well and good for public employees to have secure high paying jobs, with good benefits. . .but irregardless of the out come of this recall. . .it still leaves the question:”where’s the money going to come from to pay for all this”?
… and all you can tell me is what a bully she was, not a good politician, nor statesman(the Nazi comparison) . . . and you think these problems are going away with that “one liner”. . .
@ Spooner
I was not trying to solve all of your problems or produce a “one-liner”…I was merely pointing out the obvious, which you can not or will not accept…Sue Rogers was her own worst enemy and she could not fool everyone…nuff said!
…by the way Christie was in Wisconsin Tuesday. . .Yea enough said!