September 6, 2006
District Residents -- Be Afraid, Very Afraid
There's a lot of fear being sold these days in D.C.
Yesterday District residents were treated to fear from both local and national leaders. President George W. Bush again played the terrorism card in a speech downtown, slyly insinuating that a Democratic victory in November's midterm elections would find Al Qaeda terrorists freely walking the streets of American cities. More locally, mayoral hopeful Linda Cropp doled out some fear of her own, warning of the consequences of electing competitor Adrian Fenty. According to the Post, Cropp stated:
It's better to pay that monthly mortgage than to buy a lottery ticket to get enough money to buy a whole house. You know, some pundits may be willing to take a chance on the future of the District of Columbia, but I'm not. We can't afford to put our future and the progress of the District of Columbia at risk. The stakes are really high.Put the two together, and we may as well all move to West Virginia and wait out the next decade or two. Just imagine the horrors of a Democratic Congress and Fenty mayoral administration -- not even all those Al Qaeda terrorists or Iraqi insurgents will be able to get a good public school education, visit a functioning library, have their garbage picked up, or invest in real estate with the hope that it would gain in value. Oh, the horrors.
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How many different ways can DCist.com find to express its endorsement of Adrian Fenty for mayor?
It isn't really an endorsement. It is just saying, wow, look at the losers squirm. Which, if they squirm is bad or interesting ways, is noteworthy.
"“Say no to drugs.” That has been a mantra of politicians since Nancy Reagan told kids to Just say no. Mayoral candidate Adrian Fenty is apparently ignoring that message. A political television ad streamed on his campaign website indicate that Mr. Fenty may be hiding a marijuana habit. This would certainly be ironic, given that Councilmember Fenty serves in a city that has been trying to fix its drug problem. It is not the ad about Fenty answering his blackberry that exposes him. The gotcha is the name of the TV ad – Fenty 420. This is a common codeword for pot. The reference to 420 has to be intentional. Fenty must know what 420 means. Is this his way of sending smoke signals or maybe his version of Morse Code asking for help. Fenty’s next post should be a 12 step program, not the Mayor’s office. And the proof: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M8IDBGkKfM "
Fenty could win with a strategy that is as old as adversarial politics: just try not to be as publicly odious as your main competitor. Sure, it hasn't worked so well for the Democrats of late, but since when have they been able to execute ANY political strategy?
Chris,
No endorsement here. I'm simply pointing out what pretty much every political analyst in the District has pointed out thus far -- Cropp has gone negative, and in a big way. The scare tactic is on manifestation of that drift. I find it rather amusing when any politician manages to link their opponent's victory directly to some awful evil, insinuating that there is some obvious causal relation. That's what I was going for.
I don't think DCist has made any editorial endorsement of any candidate (thus depriving him or her of what, five or six votes?), although it's been pretty clear for a while how one particular editor will be voting.
Maybe this is an indication about the real Adrian Fenty. Maybe Adrian Fenty knows exactly what 420 stands for, personally.
Its just plain disappointing and disgusting. Not a good thing.
Is the man the Washington Post just endorsed a pot head?
Why is the political ad called Fenty 420? Voters have a right to know before they go to the polls.
Fedward,
If you're talking about me, you'd be surprised who I'd vote for.
If you take into consideration the Washington Post's endorsement of Fenty, Cropp's remarks make complete sense. She was just responding to the reasoning of a major, respected news source for endorsing her opponent. Her attack ads are horrible, but this quote seems like a simple, overdrawn attempt to make a connection between the Prez and local politics.
Martin -
I'm assuming you're going to write in Jonathan Rees for Mayor. Is that wrong?
If Fenty is a pro-pot candidate, that'd be the best thing ever.
Bwahahahahahahahaha...hold on, need air- bwahahahahahaaaaaaaaa....*weeze*
Yes, Adrian Fenty has hidden a secret pro-weed message in the filename of the flash file for his website, the "420" has nothing to do with the table width that you can see in the page source RIGHT BELOW THE $^&#%ing FILE NAME.
I'm not saying that Fenty doesn't blaze (or have sex with barnyard animals), but until he comes out and denies it publicly my vote will go to another candidate who uses table widths of less questionable value(s).
Fedward,
Damn it. You got me. I was actually going to write him in for every office up for grabs. I figure he and his many aliases could probably staff the District's entire government and have enough extras to make a dent in the schools.
Mojotron...
Who you thinking about voting for?
No way Fenty is a pothead. The "Fenty 420" ad was probably named that by a smartass staffer that is now laughing their ass off over the speculation in this thread.
I've slipped 420 references into various work products for the Dept. of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and the Marine Corps over the years. It's always telling to see who has to suppress a giggle when a surreptitious 420 appears during a presentation.
rofl.. I'm sure Fenty made the flash himself, too.
Sorry, but I simply don't believe that you're putting out stuff like this for the purposes of providing political analysis. Your bias is showing.
If DCist hasn't jumped on the Fenty bandwagon, DCist is very much alone. Almost everybody and their grandmother is trying to get in good with the man now.
Your bias is showing.
Who cares if it is? Is DCist some sort of religious non-profit or something?
I'm with Chris. DCist had better pull its hem down to hide that bias. It's unseemly. When political hacks get a glimpse of that full, firm, heaving bias it renders them all aquiver, unable to articulate reasonable arguments or stand up for anything without revealing the particulars of their policy organ.
And your bias is noticeably enhanced when you disagree with me. Mmmmmm... bias enhancements.
Chris,
Trust me -- if Fenty were doing this, I'd write about it. The news now is about Cropp. After all, she's the one down in the polls, so everything she does will be seen and reported as an attempt to climb back up.
And Everett, we're not going to jump on anyone's bandwagon. Well, maybe Rees'. Obvs.
I don't really trust Fenty. He is a real shady dood!!
Right now, safety is the number one concern for DC residents right now.
If you look at the record, I really believe Fenty thought he could score points by being the lone ranger on crime when he voted NO for the recent emergency crime legislation?
Maybe he has a better plan to address the senseless killings that are rampant in the District now?
Where’s the Plan Fenty?
Inaction is not cute.
Doing nothing about crime does not save lives.
And he wants DC residents to vote for him for mayor. I cringe at the thought.
Linda Cropp is the ONLY candidate who can win the mayor’s race and who understands how to fight crime in this city.
My casual use of the term "endorsement" was deliberate. By not actually using that term, you are free to act as if you are unbiased in what you choose to devote editorial content. Goodness know this isn't the first time DCist has had stuff on it about Linda Cropp using negative campaigning -- as opposed to some of the serious questions the negative campaigning has brought up about Fenty.
Oh, and I don't want to get all conspiracy theory about it, but why would you bring this up on the same day that the Washington Times brought up the public school gaffe, or, for that matter, the Barry endorsement of Fenty?
Chris - In case you didn't notice, the Post article is dated today. Despite your disclaimer, you are getting "all conspiracy theory about it".
This is a serious question, because I'm very puzzled by this mayor's race.
What's so great about Fenty? Here are the arguments in his favor:
* He's young;
* He answers his email;
* He's a good campaigner;
* He does good constituent work.
Those are fine qualities in a councilman. But what in the world makes him qualified to be mayor?
I agree with Bennie about the danger of electing Adrian Fenty Mayor.
Linda Cropp deserves a second look. I don't believe for one instant she would never campaign dishonestly.
Looking back at things, maybe Fenty thought he could score points by being the lone ranger on crime when he voted NO for the recent emergency crime legislation?
Maybe he has a better plan to address the senseless killings that are rampant in the District now?
Where’s the Plan Fenty? I
naction is not good for Ward 8.
Doing nothing about crime does not save lives.
And he wants DC residents to vote for him for mayor.
I cringe at the thought.
Cropp is the ONLY candidate who can win the mayor’s race and who understands how to fight crime in this city.
I'm not saying that I actually believe that DCist has shown particular bias, but Jezus, so what if they did? What, are you gonna report them to the FEC? For what? Providing succor and support?
Are you gonna monitor every DC-area blogger, to make sure they don't express preference for one candidate or another? This isn't a tax-exempt organization, or the government, and it's not like the authors here wreathe themselves in some aura of objectivity - half the reason for reading is to hear their opinion on some issue. So stop acting like you've ferreted out some grand collusion.
Also, they've ignored the Barry endorsement or something?
Finally, it's nice to see that Cropp's supporters have been cribbing their Web campaign style from He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.
Jim, it's not necessarily a matter of anyone cribbing anything. The Spamming One himself endorsed Cropp a while back, and doesn't the name "Carmelita Lopez" remind you of aliases you've seen before?
Come, on. You don't believe for one second that Linda Cropp would run a negative campaign?
Young Adrian Fenty is not prepared to be our new Mayor.
I thought maybe he was sharing a computer with the Cropp campaign, and just forgot to log off.
Martin,
If you are unbiased towards Fenty then why has there been no mention of my website http://www.DumpSkinner.com?
Nearly all the major news outlets have reported on it.
Taylor
Taylor,
That's a good point. But by way of defense, when you first emailed me about the site months ago, it was taken down shortly thereafter. After it came back up, pretty much everyone wrote something about it (including the City Paper, which gave it front page treatment).
I can't stress enough that I am not a Fenty supporter, though.
Your site did get ample mention in the comments, though, Taylor.
It appears that the Cropp campaign has moved from the TV to the blogosphere comments sections.
Who cares if DCist "endorses" a candidate anyway? The Post has, The Washington Times has, The Examiner has, what's to stop a local news oriented blog from doing so?
Martin,
Fair Enough. The site was down because I was threatened with a law suit. Luckily the ACLU and my lawyer helped me out.
KCinDC,
Yes there have been a lot of comments. I appreciate all the people accross the city that think the Skinner situation is a major issue.
To the moron who brought up the "420" reference on Fenty's website: ever think that it has to do with the width of the video?! The video is 420 pixels wide, and it's quite common to use such naming conventions on the web. Sheesh.
I honestly don't think it matters whether or not DCist.com endorses Fenty (or Marion Barry, for that matter). My hang-up is that DCist.com is trying to pretend it hasn't endorsed someone when in it's editorial decisions it has.
I honestly don't think it matters whether or not DCist.com endorses Fenty (or Marion Barry, for that matter).
Thank you Observo, master of the obvious!
My hang-up is that DCist.com is trying to pretend it hasn't endorsed someone when in it's editorial decisions it has.
That's a very slippery slope you're on my friend! According to you, the "editorial decision" to not cover a story means that a person (or editorial staff) is advocating a position; that's a logical fallacy.
Jesus, Chris, get a life! Who cares who Martin favors for mayor? It doesn't change the fact that Cropp has been engaging in negative campaigning, and that's newsworthy enough to be an item.
I might have voted for her before the attacks, but I'm certainly not going to vote for her now. The last thing we need in a mayor is someone who thinks attacking her opponent is an acceptable and viable strategy.
As opposed to a mayor who's has a racist and homophobe as a close advisor that he's refused to disavow; or a mayor who's been discipline by the court for abandoning clients in his care?
Walter Cooper,
I wish I knew. At this point I don't feel like I'm voting for someone as much as I'm voting against them, which gets to my problem with Fenty- he's known better for what he's against than what he's for. I have a fear that he'll alienate Chief Ramsey and not much will get done in DC a la the Sharon Pratt Dixon years (ugh). But that's kinda a worst-case-scenario in my mind, I haven't ruled out voting for him and he'd probably do OK as a mayor. I still may go with Cropp or Johns.
Probably, he'll just fire Ramsey, don't you think?
Is firing Ramsey a bad thing? Not to say he hasn't done a good job, but he seems to have stalled as of recent. Replacing him wouldn't be the end of the world. (And no, this isn't an endorsement for Fenty, merely a question based on an idea that was just brought up.)
Probably, he'll just fire Ramsey, don't you think?
I dunno, that could go either way; really depends on which way the wind is blowing IMHO.
If the rank & file cops are behind Ramsey, then I could see a Fenty administration keeping Ramsey on as a stabilizing force and a way of giving a wink and a nod to DC civil servants letting them know that things aren't going to change that much. The decision could also very easily go the other way with Fenty deciding he wants to clean house and throwing Ramsey out on his keister.
Yes, firing Ramsey would be a Very Bad Thing. Seriously, I can't overemphasize the difference between calling the DC police 10 years ago vs. calling them today, from response times to prefessionalism to follow through (and there's still plenty of room for improvement in all 3 categories). And factor in the dysfunctional DC goverment that he's working with; you don't hear stories about cops with malfunctioning equipment anymore or as many "bad cop" stories. Compare with Baltimore's rampant crime and PG County's infamous police department- DC could easily have either of those problems and I think Ramsey's responsible for the difference.
The last two mayoral elections, I can honestly say I voted FOR the candidate as opposed to voting for the candidate I thought was the least offensive to me. This time, I'm not so sure. I kind of like Marie Johns, but to be honest, they come across to me as mediocre -- and, the case of Vincent Orange, just plain bad. In any case, I'm once again at a point where I wish they had the choice "None of the Above" on the ballot.
Chris, I would say give Marie Johns another look. There is not a single supporter of hers that I know of who is simply voting for her because Fenty or Cropp or Orange would be absolute disasters for the city.
I am supporting her, not voting against the others. Meet Marie Johns! Perhaps this video introduction will make an impression that rest of us have, a fact the mainstream media seems reluctant to report....
What Chris said pretty much sums it up- I guess Tony Williams spoiled me.
Mojo: Don't credit Ramsey/MPD with improved 311/911 response. Credit Michael Latessa, the Director of the Office of Unified Command. He's under the mayor or the city admin, I think.