A Bunch of Windbags
Some of you no doubt are wondering what Mayor Sam's opinion of last night's debate is. Well in a word, boring.
The clear winner was Hertzberg because at least he had some things to say. Poopy acted like he was on Oprah until his outburst against Hertzy and Tony Villar. I was particularly impressed with Richard Alarcon who managed to stay above the fray and did a good job detailing his record. He came off kind of classy. Bitter Bernie on the other hand - well lets just leave it at that.
Rather than spend any more time on the debate, lets talk about Alarcon's campaign finance reform. All of the candidates seem to support a ban on donations from developers and contractors that do business with the city. I think to be fair you have to add in labor to that, AT LEAST the public employee unions.
So my throught is - who is going to be the first candidate to have the guts to say that city unions should not be able to donate to elected officials. I doubt none. But we'll keep the heat up on it here.
The clear winner was Hertzberg because at least he had some things to say. Poopy acted like he was on Oprah until his outburst against Hertzy and Tony Villar. I was particularly impressed with Richard Alarcon who managed to stay above the fray and did a good job detailing his record. He came off kind of classy. Bitter Bernie on the other hand - well lets just leave it at that.
Rather than spend any more time on the debate, lets talk about Alarcon's campaign finance reform. All of the candidates seem to support a ban on donations from developers and contractors that do business with the city. I think to be fair you have to add in labor to that, AT LEAST the public employee unions.
So my throught is - who is going to be the first candidate to have the guts to say that city unions should not be able to donate to elected officials. I doubt none. But we'll keep the heat up on it here.
Posted by Mayor Sam @ 12/03/2004 01:38:00 PM
13 Comments:
None will. They will dance around the issue-each claiming they will if they make it through the primary. And then, not a word will be heard about it, as they benefit from the union money for the general.
Why couldn't there have been a more interesting question last night, say about lap dancing?
I agree with the sagacious Mayor Sam that Hertzie was the clear winner of last night's debate. Mayor Poopie looked alternately weak under the continuous attacks or like a hothead (I think he could learn a thing or two about governing from Hugs or, much as I hate to admit it, Tony V.), and Bernie said it best himself when he said he's not a politician and doesn't want to be. Alarcon pleasantly surprised me; I hope he gives Tony V. a run for the Hispanic voting bloc.
Who's going to carrying Alarcon's campaign finance reform torch forward into the fray? Don't hold your breath for any overhaul changes, especially regarding city unions being unable to donate. Hertzie's "bold" idea about overhauling LAUSD at least proves that he's willing to keep himself open to any idea.
Give me a break Meat.....That's not telling us anything. After the blunders you made on this debate maybe it's best we don't know who you are. Bob "Plastic Man" Hertzberg was horrible. He was way to stiff and came off arrogant as hell. His priority being the schools is a joke. Bob go tell that to the victims families in the South LA who have been killed by gang violence at school. If you don't have public safety 1st you don't have anything. Bob came off very insincere, phony and many people couldn't relate to him. I think it was Hahn and Alaracon. Jimmy fought back instead of sitting there like a whuss and good for him. The others acted like immature, classless idiots. The media has been saying how horribly they behaved. They were invited into someone house and they torn it apart. Shame on them
I guess Hugsberg know's he isn't going to get the union vote so he can go after LAUSD. He could get some mileage going after the rest of the unions, but he won't.
No, you give me a break! The phoniest of them all is Villar with his "my friend" this and "my friend" that. People can't relate to him because he doesn't give them a chance. Like his city council constituents, the people he told he wouldn't desert to run for mayor again unless the city was in a disaster. The city needs improvement, and that's for sure, but we're far from a disaster. We shouldn't give him the chance to desert the city of Los Angeles for those special interest he likes so much.
Hahn is "fighting back" because he's not man enough to admit his administration is rife with scandal and he's allowed his minions to run rampant with questionable ethics. At least Hertzberg, when given a hardball question about his record with the schools, answered forthrightly and honestly.
What media are you reading? Alarcon presented his case with class and style, and Bob packed more into his thirty second responses than Villar did during the entire debate. Maybe he could have said some more substantive things if he hadn't been too busy making sure everyone knew he was their "friend."
Funny that Villar and Hertzberg didn't say jack shit when Hahn said they took special interest money. They sure stayed quiet on that one. Hertzberg acted for the camera. Bad move. He needs lessons..
Debate? What debate? Here's my take:
JACKAL JIM HAHN
'Jackal Jim' blew it when he again lost his temper(as he did at UCLA with Soboroff).....Jackal's eyes narrowed....and we saw OH MY GOSH some emotion...even if it was negative and poorly delivered !!
He scored some on police, scored smaller on transportation issues, scored some on housing issues.....but LOST BIG on issues of integrity, issues of just what WAS accomplished in the four years he had been Mayor and had no answers for his judgment of selection of deputy Mayors or for that matter commissioners, responding to play to play, responding to why no cops when 11 billion for sky in the pie aviation plan. He was awful after the debate when his excuse for the grand jury investigations was that 'no on has been indicted....they are just investigations and accusations' statement.
Areas where he remains vulnerable:
1. HIS records have been supboenaed for criminal investigation.
2. Money remaining in departments (like ports and DWP, etc.) with no use since 911 for protecting their own areas and his whining about getting money elsewhere.
3. Troy Edwards, not only being a young fundraiser, BUT AS HERTZBERG MISSED in his comments, most importantly having no business experience to run these three major independent departments.Also remember it was in conversation that Edwards had that pay to play came up.
4. The appointment of commissioners dismissed by Riordan for their actions in and out of office to high commissions and his ignoring totally all calls for their removal until he had no choice.
5. His inability and lack of vision to find other resources in the last 4 years to get more police on streets to really have impact on public safety, while finding resources to fight secession, hosting campaign fund raisers, etc.
RICHARD ALARCON
An amazing job. Exceeded all expectations of anyone in audience or who even knows him. He was MAYORAL. He gave specific answers to specific questions. He is taking actions now with lawsuit vs DWP, ballot initiative, pending legislation to help make City better. While I am not a supporter of Alarcon, he deserves the credit for being most prepared and able to best answer in that format.
HUGGY BOB HERTZBERG
Surprised everyone with school breakup issue, even though old and limited jurisdiction of Mayor's office to do a damned thing. It set him apart at beginning and he was only of candidates to support breakup. Dangerous tactic but got others talking about his issue.....with their same old answers.
A bit weak in his response to Jackal Jims attack on he and Antonio about 'no lectures'. He asked permission from moderator to respond when he knew he wouldn't get it. Looked weak by playing by rules. At that point Antonio took over our of turn and cut Jackal Jim down when he tried to interrupt. Huggy needs to stand up and let people know he has cahones and can play by any rules or no rules. That is leadership.
Weak answer on Bratton seems 'like a nice guy(or fellow). Who the hell cares if he is a nice guy......and by many reports he isn't.....we just need a good chief which he seems intent on being.
Overall did suggest good ideas(after shock of his cutting to the chase introduction, turned into another break up LA schools). Obviously bright, thinks out of the box, great ambition, eloquent when he needs to be...just needs to connect and get his ideas out in sound bites instead of complicated theories.
'CHIEF' BERNARD PARKS
Stiff, like still in uniform. Seemed uncomfortable and needs to not look down so much when he is speaking. Reads too much. Good answer on Bratton remaining. Took Hahn on directly on many issues. Professional but a bit weak. Bringing up the bottom on this one. Needs some fire in his belly and needs to stop talking about his wife who is not liked by many.
ANTONIO V. (AV)
Passionate, fearless, caring and knows his stuff. Did much better than anticipated he would do. He stood up to Jackal Jim the moment the Jackal mistakenly stepping into AV's territory. You could tell he was just lying in wait.....and then pounced.
Some good ideas. A very strong candidate who was far more aggressive with Jackal Jim last night than he was during the entirety of the last campaign. AV is a man of the streets, he learns from experience. Jackal Jim ought to hope he isn't in the final with AV or he will see a different AV this time around.
OVERALL:
A good start to a rough campaign. The focus clearly is to keep Jackal Jim out of the runoffs.........and if last night was just the beginning. Jackal Jim may just be out of a job..........and then have to work for a living.
BIGGEST PROBLEM: The Mayor has a record(sort of) this time, and any way you look at it, it ain't impressive !!!!
I'm sorry but did I miss something? Did Hahn or his staff get indicted on any charges? You better watch out, you are starting to sound a little slanderous....
I'm sorry but did I miss something? Did Hahn or his staff get indicted on any charges? You better watch out, you are starting to sound a little slanderous....
From the Daily News.....A testy Hahn, toward the end of the debate, grew tired of the attacks and told two of his opponents, Hertzberg and Villaraigosa, that they were in no position to lecture him.
Both men had raised millions of dollars from various interests when they served as speaker of the state Assembly, Hahn said
today's LA Times states that Antonio is all over the place and doesn't have ONE issue to go after. He's been saying for months public safety now he changes to Schools just because pompous Bob did. Both of their special interest money will come back to bite them in the ass. Especially Antonio who took from ENRON. Many of their executives have been indicted. Parks let Rampart happend under his watch. That will come out as well. Let's watch the show.
There's an interesting article on the candidate's body language during the debate at: http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-op-debate5dec05,1,4465977.story
Check it out!
Hertzberg needs to learn to quit bobbing his head and stop using so much hairspray. He comes off very egotistical. People who were at the debate and confronted him said he as a sleaze bag. Tony needs to learn how to speak about anything. He needs speech lessons.
From Badseed:
I was pleasantly surprised by Alarcon. Villar seemed like a deer caught in the headlines; voice seemed shaky & not confident. Bitter Bernie was a dud. I was somewhat impressed by Hertzberg, but he seems out of touch with South & East LA. For me, Alarcon came out on top.
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