I was there. I've got some video too.
Last night's candidate debate among candidates for city council's seat in district 9 and 7 and city controller Democrats included a mention of my presence. It was nice to be recognized from the podium after the controller candidates gave their answers to the various rounds of questions.
I would have loved to have been a part of the presentations and would have done much like Patrick Dowd did. He gave his opening statement of 3-minutes. Then he departed.
Patrick could have stayed. He might have had another appointment. But, he should have ranted all night about the no-show opponent, Len Bodack, Jr.
There are five folks that are running for the Dem primary in the city controller race. Only one will emerge from the May 15 primary and advance to the general election. Then another election occurs. The winner of the general election in November gets to be sworn into office in January 2008.
KDKA Radio Host, Marty Griffin, is playing a bit from Twanda from last night's presentation. She talked a lot about 'accountability.' Nobody called her on the charges or the spending issues from her office. Well, there are a lot of reasons that perk into this story. It is fair to say that Marty Griffin has no grip on any of various issues.
It was amazing that Twanda showed up. I didn't expect the issue of her charges to come to a head there. Nothing was said, other than the words from Twanda that called for accountability, because there are far more important dragons to slay. The issue didn't hang like a lead balloon among those in that venue last night because the people there are smarter than the media that hosts radio talk shows.
The people there know Twanda. Last night wasn't about Twanda. People understand that the debate is more about a decision on May 15, 2007, and less about checks and spending from a member on city council.
Politics is about the future. The meeting hosted by B-PEP was about the future.
The corruption parts of the discussions for the D.A., investigators, and fact finders -- and they'll be all about the past.
A few callers to the show told Marty that the issues didn't correlate with Imus and Twanda.
In the community -- or should I type, "hood," the stand-off among the "authorities" and the "people" of color can't be ignored. When a gun of a police officer is pointed into the face of a young (less than 10-years old) girl of color in the back seat of a car, it isn't much of a stretch to think again about charges against a council women from others in power.
Bad things are happening on the streets. Really bad things. Kids are being shot. From time to time, the police are doing the shooting. School performance is bad. Economic hope is bad. This is ugly. Drugs, you name it. When things are so bad, a few pass-through checks is like a pimple on a donkey.
The corruption can't be excused. It is wrong. But, it is what it is. And, I have a thought that the people in District 9 won't vote for Tawanda unless they have a personal relationship with her.
Most of the people at the forum last night were looking past Twanda. Some were there to support Twanda. And those friends and family might allow her to win the Dem primary.
A large field of candidates makes it more difficult to unseat an incumbent. Twanda can win the primary. But, that won't guarantee another term. The general election is, thankfully, still a part of the political process.
My prediction: If Twanda wins the Dem Primary, David Adams will beat her in the general election. David Adams will end Twanda's career.
Interesting side note. At the end of the meeting last night, a benadiction was offered. The prayer asked for a DAVID to arrive, as in the Biblical David who took down the giant. David Adams was standing at his seat, next to the microphone and speaker. The spirit found in the message of that prayer was a serious endorsement for David Adams. It was just an interesting blogger's reflection.
My aggravation with the coverage from the likes of Marty Griffin goes to the show's content. He must have mentioned Twanda's name 100 times in the last hour. Meanwhile, he didn't mention the name of any others in the race. Zippo.
To take down those in power takes a one-two punch. One is the take down of those in power and their silly ways. The second act needs to be a build-up of the challengers. The limelight needs to go to others with alternative ways.
When the only tool you have is a hammer -- everything looks like a nail. The media and D.A. swing hammers -- but they don't do anything for a build up.
Paradise and another in studio guest were asked, "Are you disappointed in Twanda?" Neither were. I was not disappointed in Twanda as she showed up. I was disappointed that she didn't show up to the last debate at the library. I was HAPPY that she had the courage to show up.
The second fine remark from the guest said you let the charges run its course. You be patient.
All politicians steal. Twanda just joins the ranks of others. So, in a twisted way, Twanda's thefts, alleged, are not "show stoppers" to a candidate debate. Twanda has been beat upon in the media. Among neighbors, there was no need or desire to to see more bare-knuckle smack downs.
Footnotes:
Missing from the line-up of city council candidates: Ora Lee Carroll and Randall Taylor. Where where they?
In the controller's race, I talked to one guy who thought Mike Dawida won. His 2nd was a tie between Doug Shilds and Tony Pokora. I didn't see it the way he did. But, I don't generally agree with the political understandings of this friend.
The journalist in the audience were not the ones who were asking the questions. The TV 11 crew seemed to be getting interviews from spectators, not even talking to the candidates. So, it is no wonder that a hard-hitting question wasn't put up to Twanda. The MSM was not good for its watchdog role nor for the education of the other candidates.
Finally, when I ran for city council in a nine-person race, I didn't let any weirdness occur without a reply. When another candidate says something goofy, and I'm in the race, I went out of my way to challenge the double-speak and falsehoods. That helps to sustain a positive conversation. But those types of re-directed remarks take candidates off message. Plus, the put-down to the silliness of statements by others isn't the best way to earn votes for the speaker. Being brutally honest is valued in the conversation but it is discounted at ballot box.
If I had been a candidate in the city council district 9 race and on that panel last night, I would have repeated, word-for-word, a few of the statements Twanda just made, moments before.
Perhaps my script would have included: "I just heard something of keen insight. A speaker here displayed a tight grasp on the issues at hand. These words can't be ignored. I think it is worth my time at the microphone to repeat the words here in my notes. ... (blah, blah, blah) ... Right On Sister! Right On.
When I get the video opened, I'll fill in the blah, blah, blah part. The accountability line is on the radio.
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