tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6155133175831479740.post1441469516507363275..comments2024-02-16T04:05:23.512-05:00Comments on Rev-elution: Steve Bocckino's unfair assumption about Omar BeasleyREV-elutionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08726120253716456109noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6155133175831479740.post-85761646871535330202012-10-26T19:32:19.301-04:002012-10-26T19:32:19.301-04:00I like Omar Beasley but I am suspect of his silenc...I like Omar Beasley but I am suspect of his silence on the issue of 751. I was working for the Democratic Party at North Regional today next to Rod Cheney (he's the Tea Party Republican running for House 50 with billboards all over the place touting Voter ID, saying "NO" on the budget, etc). Cheney has started telling all the republicans who come to vote to vote for Beasley. These Republican voters over the past few days have called me a socialist, told me I don't believe in God because I'm voting for Obama, and so on. This also makes me wonder what Beasley has promised the Republicans if he gets elected. As you may know, many Republicans are being appointed to boards and commissions in Durham by the County Commissioners. The Democratic Party and the People's Alliance has taken notice and are rightly concerned. Without a voting record to go on and a record of commission/board work to review, I cannot support unaffiliated Beasley. The five seat Commission Board makes too many decisions that impact the future of Durham to roll the dice. Katenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6155133175831479740.post-34847362534250796042012-10-26T11:47:02.578-04:002012-10-26T11:47:02.578-04:00P.S. This 751 South development saga has been goin...P.S. This 751 South development saga has been going on since before my two year old son was even a thought! It has been through 1 watershed protection public hearing, two rezoning public hearings, a city annexation and utilities hearing, a county sewer agreement hearing, questions at candidates forums (which Beasley has disturbingly dodged), discussions at PACS (including the Friends, People's Alliance, Committee, INC) and who knows how many closed door meetings with government officials (we know of several back when Frank Duke was planning director and shortly thereafter).<br /><br />How much more discussion do you need, Carl?Melissa Rooneynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6155133175831479740.post-19808228679664137992012-10-26T11:42:08.182-04:002012-10-26T11:42:08.182-04:00Two things:
1) The Hunters' and other specia...Two things: <br /><br />1) The Hunters' and other special interests' votes should not count more than those of us regular citizens, but through donations like this, they effectively do.<br /><br />I could only donate about $50 to each candidate. So if $50 = a citizen, then the Hunters' donations amounts to 160 citizens. That's not Democracy.<br /><br />Regardless of where you stand regarding Durham's future development (in-fill versus new, outer-edge development, for instance), it should be disturbing to every citizen when special interests throw big $ at candidates or political action groups (for Hunter, this amounts to 1/3 of the Committee's donations this year, counting their previous ~$14,000 report, according to the Herald Sun).<br /><br />People don't hand over money like that for no reason. <br /><br />2) Given the broken state of politics in this country, any lack of transparency should be concerning to ALL citizens. These people work for US -- so we should know who they are and where they stand on the issues.<br /><br />By continually dodging the question regarding his stance on 751 South and, therefore, future developments on the edge of the county rather than in its center, where in-fill development is desperately needed, Beasley is clearly demonstrating a lack of transparency.<br /><br />At the polls, he has told some voters that he is a Democrat AND others that he is not affiliated with either party and will remain unaffiliated. This is an even more broad dodge and demonstration that he is far from transparent.<br /><br />Citizens need to ask themselves -- why should we vote for this person when we don't know who he is.<br /><br />The other candidates have voluntarily donated their time and efforts in numerous ways for the Durham community (Planning Commission, NAACP, INC, etc.). Where is Omar's proven record? <br /><br />He should serve Durham publicly before he runs for office. At least then we would know how he will truly vote on the issues that affect all of us.<br /><br /><br /><br />Melissa Rooneynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6155133175831479740.post-83262881070554062962012-10-26T11:31:18.950-04:002012-10-26T11:31:18.950-04:00So did the fact he use the hyperbole make what he ...So did the fact he use the hyperbole make what he said untrue? Yes, it is reasonable to follow the money. But is it also not reasonable to believe what a person says. Especially since his actions have not implied anything to the contrary? <br />We certainly seem to have a lack of journalistic integrity at the Durham Herald and it is being highlighted during this election cycle. Bumgardnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06927882368928764572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6155133175831479740.post-46817484047722084122012-10-26T11:25:55.022-04:002012-10-26T11:25:55.022-04:00I guess by this logic I could reasonably assume th...I guess by this logic I could reasonably assume that a candidate for president that receives an endorsement by lets say the KKK. That they are going to vote for a racist agenda. If I am not mistaken 751 is but one of the issues facing Durham County, and assuming that everyone on the slate for either of our two PAC's is going to vote for everything they want is a bad move. Especially in Beasley's case where he is on the record as undecided. Bumgardnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06927882368928764572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6155133175831479740.post-17364097810885679402012-10-26T11:18:22.175-04:002012-10-26T11:18:22.175-04:00I have asked Omar how he would have voted on the 7...I have asked Omar how he would have voted on the 751 issue had he been a commissioner. In my view it's an important indicator of how our community will grow -- continue the sprawl or focus on present developed areas in need. It matters because transportation costs will only grow in the future, our water needs are critical, and old-fashioned sprawl that accounts for neither can no longer be tolerated. This particular project also matters due to the way the developers carried it out. Omar ducks the question and takes no position. I find that more intolerable than taking a position I disagree with.Will Wilsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6155133175831479740.post-50037773778577112962012-10-26T10:34:50.334-04:002012-10-26T10:34:50.334-04:00I stand corrected! According to Ed Harrison, Mayor...I stand corrected! According to Ed Harrison, Mayor Pro Tem in Chapel Hill, they have a pro growth position. "Carl, I would recommend getting your facts straight when posting something that could be read by a Chapel Hill elected official," he responded. "I've voted against more developments in the past half-decade than any colleague -- and that was about 15 percent of the applications. Chapel Hill Town Council has turned down a total of two development applications in 13 years, out of at least 200 that came to Council in that time period. Those are the facts, and I can document them in entirety."<br /><br />REV-elutionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08726120253716456109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6155133175831479740.post-25066060535045377092012-10-26T10:17:37.602-04:002012-10-26T10:17:37.602-04:00I once heard a lawyer talk about circumstantial ev...I once heard a lawyer talk about circumstantial evidence, suggesting it was like a jigsaw puzzle, and he used as an example o puzzle showing a hamburger. He pointed out you didn't need to have all of the pieces in place to pretty well decide what the picture was.<br /><br />This political donation is more or less like that, isn't it? <br /><br />Absent any other evidence, it is not unreasonable to assume it is made to further the political agenda of the donor, or certainly it's fair to think it goes to a candidate whose views are consistent with those of the donor.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6155133175831479740.post-65890259621626374342012-10-26T10:15:33.051-04:002012-10-26T10:15:33.051-04:00Well, I see what you are saying but I think that &...Well, I see what you are saying but I think that "pointing a pistol at your head" is a bit of hyperbole. And it is perfectly logical to follow the money, and in public life appearances count, something that Omar Beasley should understand by now. I almost am a little surprised about the paid poll workers thing and thanks for bringing that up! As a volunteers myself, I frankly think paying poll workers should be illegal. If a candidate can't rouse support for his cause, he shouldn't be running, and the playing field should be level.<br /><br />I am new in this town and am poorly versed in the many struggles the black community has had here, includings those to make development go its way for once. But I think you do a disservice to your argument by using hyperbolic language like that.Dorothy Potter Snyderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15437027506822572629noreply@blogger.com