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Posted By: Your Average Guey

Posted On: Dec 23, 2006
Views: 1231
Electoral Politics

I'm really apologetic about my cynicism, but we cannot expect too much of our elected leaders if our communtiies are not strong enough to stand up for themselves. It does not matter who the mayor is, so much. But rather (sino) it is important that the City be able to organize itself and demand and produce its fair share.


Posted By: Rich

Posted On: Dec 21, 2006
Views: 1267
ED Norris

Did anyone actually READ the court papers against Norris? Do your home work kids, BEFORE passing judgement. 1) The whole Victoria's secret thing was made up. There are NO recipts admitted into evidence to say that- thought the sun did report that; it just isn't there. 2) The money he used was NOT tax payer money. It was a private police fund set up in the 20's and had been managed like a mutual fund since then. Ed Norris spent roughly 100k. His predecessor Frasier spent 300k or so. of the 100k, less than 8000 was deemed as questionalble by the city. Mostly it was money used to take staffer to baseball games as a reward for good work. The mayor himself attended each of these parties. Norris paid back 8k personally to the fund. 3)The ONLY real charge that the feds had on Norris was for mortgage fraud for borrowing money from his father to put down on a home and not declaring it as income. However, in order to prevent the feds from going after his 75 year old dad, Norris took a plea and ALL of the charges in the indictment were wrapped into it. If they had had any real evidence on him, he'd have gone away for a LOT longer than 6 mos. 3) Unsuspecting prey? How many women could be bought off with lingerie? That's just stupid. And You don't think Clinton bought monica anything ever? And agin, there's no proof that he had ANY other women. He and his wife are still together to the best of my knowledge AND not one of the 8 women that the feds called before the grand jury said that he had anything more than a professional relationship with them.

You don't like Norris, fine, but at least get the facts right. And the important fact is this: with Norris, less crime, Without Norris MORE crime, and ****ed cops.


Posted By: Ben

Posted On: Dec 21, 2006
Views: 1260
Ed Norris?

Yeah, good idea.

First, shouldn't there a law against convicted felons running for public office (obviously DC doesn't think so, look how great they are doing). Besides this formality, how does it not offend anyone's sensibilities that the crime he was convicted of is directly related to his abuse of power in taking donated funds and using them to buy gifts for his mistress/es. Nice example this sets for all those who may have looked up to him is his role model position as commissioner.

This leads into point number 2, moral fiber is a joke when it comes to politicians, we all know this. Still, there is a difference between falling prey to special interest groups and taking advantage of money which is not yours to use to betray your wife and child. The former can be controlled with others political activism or citizen involvement (which we are all too apathetic to be interested in). The latter goes to the core of ones human nature. To sacrifice self respect and dignity in a way that betrays those closest to you, for only personal gain, is not really a trait that can be controlled.

It comes down to a question of values. Do we want a leader who is tough on crime, generous, caring, and a hypocrite? Or do we want a leader who may be looked up to and remembered by the example that they set in the life they lead.

I know people will throw Clinton or Kennedy back in my face. It's not the same. They did not use resources available to them to purchase gifts for women other than their wives. They did not have to buy gifts, women were after them. Two charismatic leaders who happened to be good looking genius politicians can’t really be compared to one, middle aged, bald, overweight man who must bribe his unsuspecting prey with gifts and presents purchased with funds donated from citizens surely with other applications in mind.

Besides, if we would have known about these transgressions before election time, they probably wouldn't have gotten into office in the first place. These examples are discoveries made, which are then looked back on with hindsight. In the end, either way, the world won't stop turning, and we'll all sleep just fine i'm sure...except for ed's wife, his son, these girls families, their friends...but obviously our own desire for objectively effective leadership and our fallback crutch on history should trump any sort of progressive insight or strides towards human value or moral fortitude.


Posted By: Deez

Posted On: Dec 20, 2006
Views: 1301
??????????

"our beloved Governor-Elect who first called out Pat by telling her to get off her "GD ass" and prosecute a case in which his own police department let the evidence get compromised"

I hope you're joking and being sarcastic. Our beloved Governor-Elect?!?! Maybe for you he's beloved, but in reality he's a goof. Name one positive thing he's done for this city or for the citizens of Baltimore. NOTHING!!!! This city needs Rudy Guiliani. He would make Baltimore a peaceful and fun place to be rather than keep it looking like a 3rd world country, the way your beloved Governer-Elect has. That goof hasn't done anything to revitalize this once great and historic city. "Beloved" hahaha yeah right. All of you O'malley lovers will be in for a big surprise...........


Posted By: The Baltimore Cynic

Posted On: Dec 18, 2006
Views: 1267
Um.

I wish to humbly object to this poll because there was no "None of the above/Move to Harford County" available.

That being said, perhaps any of these options will be better than the rocker frat boy dead set on accomplishing his dream of running the country.

Also - seeing Dixon indicted while Mayor just sounds so cool.


Posted By: ppatin

Posted On: Dec 14, 2006
Views: 1301
MPC

Mary Pat Clarke believes that the police should be using their resources to bust Hopkins students for underage drinking. Sorry, but in a city with close to 300 murders per year that's a waste of time and money.


Posted By: ppatin

Posted On: Dec 14, 2006
Views: 1258
Norris

Ed Norris could probably be elected. Felons can't vote, but they can usually run for office. Hell, some people have run for office from prison. Obviously he has zero chance of being elected, but I'd pick him over any of the clowns who're currently in the running.


Posted By: Galt

Posted On: Dec 13, 2006
Views: 1247
mayor??

Mary Pat Clarke? On the subject of substantive public safety, she's got a disastrous record. Another upper-class white liberal choosing to believe that crime will disappear if we throw free money at underemployed people.

I think we should assign most mayoral functions to a City Manager, as most cities now have.


Posted By: Commentator

Posted On: Dec 12, 2006
Views: 1274
Norris?

Ed Norris is not a reasonable response - he is probably not even eligible given his conviction. But that is not my point (I actually like Norris too). Excusing the unreasonable votes means the readers of this Blog choose Keiffer Mitchell Jr.

Fantastic, let's just get on the bandwagon with the "choice" the single party wants us to make. Don't complain when you make the same choice and get the same results...


Posted By: Chococybes

Posted On: Dec 11, 2006
Views: 1293
Norris

... maybe O'Malley will think back on the days that Norris gave him a soft shoulder to cry on after the Dawson murders and get him a pardon!
Or maybe Ehrlich will do it as a final ass-boot before he leaves!


Posted By: Deez

Posted On: Dec 11, 2006
Views: 1320
Mayor?????

Pat Jessamy????? She doesn't know her ass from her elbow. What this city needs is a total reorganization. From top to bottom. Pat Jessamy likes criminals, the whole judicial system is a phucking joke!!! Where do you know of a city that would allow a murderer(s)to walk free on these 3rd world country streets. What judicial system do you know would let a murderer confess to not one, not two, but three murders, give him a 30 year suspended sentence, and put him on 5 years probation?? 5 years of probation FOR MURDER!!! And you're voting for Jessamy?!?!?!? Look at the juvenile system, oh don't even get me started on the juvenile system. This city is joke.......Ed Norris all the way. He can clean up this city the way it needs to be.


Posted By: Hoodlum

Posted On: Dec 9, 2006
Views: 1291
Poll

I voted for Norris. If the city is going to be messed up, we should strive to be the most corrupt, crime-riddled slum possible, and as Norris' and his fellow actions and convictions show us, he's the man for the job.


Posted By: Questioner

Posted On: Dec 8, 2006
Views: 1294
Jessamy

I like the SA but do we really need the animosity between her and the new Gov to continue and escalate to the further detriment of our fair city?


Posted By: observer

Posted On: Dec 8, 2006
Views: 1277
State's Attorney

While I do not expect much from the readers here I must point out that it was our beloved Governor-Elect who first called out Pat by telling her to get off her "GD ass" and prosecute a case in which his own police department let the evidence get compromised, thus sabatoging any attempt at prosecution. Considering the overall climate in which city prosecutors work (residents, i.e. juries who hate police) it is a wonder any defendant ever pleads or is convicted of anything. And on top of that, many of these same residents (witnesses) refuse to cooperate with cops therefore scuttling many more cases. The State's Attorney's office DOES do a yeoman's job, despite the naysayers. Pointing out these truths consistently is NOT blaming others.


Posted By: ppatin

Posted On: Dec 8, 2006
Views: 1246
Are you insane?

Pat Jessamy does an excellent job? What planet are you living on? She cared more about bickering with Martin O'Malley than she did about fighting crime. Although, I do have to give her credit, she was good at prosecuting law abiding citizens who defended themselves from armed robbers.


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