THE BEST FORUM QUESTION NOBODY WILL ASK
The best question that anyone could ask at the magically reappearing LWV Forum won't be asked and would probably be ducked by not only the participants but most of the audience is the one I'd most like to hear a sodium pentathol answer to: Will you enthusiastically support the nominee of the democrat party in the General Election for County Clerk?
I will.
posted by UMRBlog @ 03:34
19 comments
19 Comments:
Not if it is Georgia Volm.
signed
Keith Niewohner
Because of the way I blind comment sources, I have no idea if this is a forgery or real.
Whoever it is, they give the perfect example why the GOP has been making inroads in Congress and State Legislative races.
Democrats exercise "free thinking" and wander around on the ballot. This gives results like the stone age Governor of Missouri. GOP, stays with its tribe.
The democrat party is a party of self-selection. That's why we had room for George Wallace and George McGovern at the same time. Once we start picking, in general elections, who's a "true" democrat and who's not, we're pretty much in the soup.
ABC
Count me out.
Signed
Darren Brinkley
Don't worry, it's really me.
Darren,
Once upon a time, I found myself unable to vote for the democrat in the General Election. What I did now has a name. It's called an "Undervote".
Next week I'll be writing some opinions with which you might disagree. I'd love to have you stop by and argue with me. Bring your lovely bride.
Thanks for stopping in.
If Georgia could not figure out the term "respect" in the last three years, then I won't be able to figure out the term "undervote" when it concerns her. This includes the general.
signed
Keith Niewohner
p.s. its really me both times.
Ok, I appreciate your coming in and commenting and I respect you a great deal.
Just so we're clear here. This is the second stage of turning blue states into red ones.
The first stage was horsing around in GOP primaries.
Very high price to pay for personal enmity.
Tony: I'm sure my Father will do his duty and support the nominee of the Party. As for me, there is no way that I in good conscience as a Union Man and Democrat would support Georgia Volm. As an offier of Local 822 I've heard firsthand from the good ladies whose lives were made miserable by Georgia. I will not turn my back on my Union Sisters. Georgias action are against everything I believe in as a Democrat. I will not put these ideals aside to have an easy Democrat win this November. I'd rather fight the good fight to remove someone that has abused my people than just say "oh well, nothing we can do."
Joe,
I certainly understand all your concerns. I'm confident there must be sustained grievances to go with all this mistreatment I keep hearing about. Usually that kind of thing is common knowledge around the courthouse but in this case those big wins seem to be a secret. It's strange that the grievants were so careful about keeping those successful redresses of workplace oppression confidential yet now they're talking so liberally about the underlying oppressive conduct.
I admire the IAM and its local board. You and your family go way back with me and I look forward to that continuing friendship. Still, in my opinion, your current position is inconsistent. You believe in workplace fairness. You're a union guy. You believe in fairness to citizens. You're a democrat. Yet if your candidate does not win the primary, you will favor any republican--before you even know who it is and hear what they had to say!
That's not the kind of common sense and concern for fundamental fairness I'm used to out of you.
If you run for committeman, your party can't be disposable.
Still, thanks for coming by and weighing in. That I disagree with you doesn't change the way I feel about you.
Tony: what made you think I would support the republican in the general election. I will not support Georgia for sure. I will do as you did and not vote for either candidate. Please explain how my taking a stand for my Party and my Union sisters is inconsistent. Just because Georgia may or may not be an easy victory for Democrats in November does not make supporting her the right thing to do. By the way, if your wife reported to you she was being treated the way Georgia treated her employees you would be the first one to raise hell.
OK, fair point on the undervote. Only difference is, I did it quietly.
You know I am opposed to anyone being oppressed in the workplace. I don't doubt that many people self-reported they were unhappy there. If it were objectively brutal and personally offensive, there would be arbitration
victories and unfair labor practice decisions.
There's a difference between annoying personal style and impermissible conduct in the workplace. We've all had bosses we didn't like.
You answered my question and I give you credit for that. I guess where we differ is that you view the current clerk as either anti-labor and/or anti-employee and I think it's just a matter of degree and personal style. Admittedly, I didn't work there. That's exactly why I look at what the IAM did or didn't do to vindicate these supposedly horrid conditions. In three years, no remediation for these legendary tyrannical outbursts? I know the IAM protects its people. Therefore, if there was no remdiation, there must have been no conduct justifying remediation. That leaves it a matter of personalities.
I'm stickin with my party's nominee. If Mr. Carper wins the primary, he's my candidate, simple as that. If Mrs. Volm wins, I'll save you a bumper sticker and ask you to reconsider.
UMRBlog--in an undisclosed location
Tony: after Eric wins the primary, I hope you and I will get to work together to get more REAL Democrats elected. We would make a great team. Too bad you're on the losing side on this one.
Joe,
You know you're the next thing to family to me but I do have news. We've only adopted early voting in Illinois. We haven't established early counting.
I look forward to working with you for many years to come.
Darren,
Get a REAL job in the PRIVATE sector!
Anon 0938,
Came pretty close to whacking this as a personal attack but decided instead to leave to show that my side of this primary can be as petty and childish as theirs.
Darren and I seriously disagree about this one but I have the greatest respect for him as a public servant, husband, father and citizen. If you think he doesn't have a "real job" walk a mile in his loafers for a while. He's worked his way through the seniority musical chairs, paid his dues and no does well on a responsible and challenging job.
I'm glad you agree with me but grow up in the way you disagree with others. Please.
Tony: you ask what the IAM did or did'nt do in in regards to Ms. Volm. Isn't it enough that Local 822 unanamously endorsed Carper at the January meeting. Isn't it enough that 3 former employees of the Clerks office signed a letter spelling out Georgias mistreatment.
Or that Missy Brinkley, whose father you have been friends with for as long as I can remember, would raise the concerns she has.
I trust Missy and my Union sisters assessment. I'm sorry you trust Georgias more than theirs. By the way, on the comment about undervoting, you're the one that brought it up first.
Joe,
On the U/V, I just didn't pick up what you were saying. Of course, I'm the one who brought up the U/V in the first place.
It's fair to say that my question was what the IAM did about the offenses when it learned of them. I've done a little research on my own but there's no answer forthcoming to my legitimate questions.
I've written in here and elsewhere about my admiration for the former Steward in the Clerk's office. When she tells me she personally witnessed prisoners copying official records, we have a whole new ball game. She's had three years to tell me that and she's never said it.
I have endless admiration for what the IAM did in the Mayor's race. It gave the candidates endless opportunities to address the membership and be questioned, booed,heckled and even insulted. My understanding is that the IAM endorsed a candidate here without even an opportunity for the incumbent to be heard. I don't respect that and it doesn't move me. It's not a matter of trusting someone more than someone else. It's a matter of process defects.
If you care to, take a look at what I wrote about Labor Endorsements in general back in February. That was not about any specific race but my opinion remains unchanged of what kind of union endorsement process has real gravitas.
Finally, you make reference to friends. It is not easy to take a position opposite so many of my very best personal friends and long time allies, youself very much included. If I felt I had a real choice, I'd have spent the last three months in San Diego or Tucson. This is gonna be over in less than two weeks. The good part of the process will then begin. I will achieve clarity, finding out how many of these folks really were my friends and how many of them were friendly only as long as I agreed with them and advanced their causes. With you, that doesn't worry me a bit. We have some real history.
But, if you happen to know who the moron is who says no campaign will want my help anymore, tell him that my hourly rate practicing law is a lot better than my politcal volunteer hourly rate.
Thanks for writing.
Be Well and know you have my friendship and respect.
Tony: Was it OK when you spoke at Machinists Hall during your campaign for States Attorney, before you left the building I made the motion to give you Local 822s endorsement which passed unanamously. It didn't seem to bother you that Barnard never got a chance to address us. Now who is being inconsistent?
You have been afriend to my family for over 25 years. We may be on oppisite sides on this one, but if you need me down the road I'll be their...Joe
Joe,
Not comparable on two scores. First, that was general election, not a primary fight between two representatives of the working persons' party.
Second, JB had announced his candidacy in August of '03. He'd had more than a year to write for an invitation as I did. I had no way of knowing and no obligation to police whether he had done so. What was I supposed to do weeks from the election, call for a time out and write his request letter for him? Your agrument's not reasonable because of the differing contexts.
In this case, as I understand it, your local acted the month after petitions were closed and endorsed one candidate. That's a lot different from a general election and more than a year to request a chance to be heard. You're a smart guy, too smart to toss this up to me and think it's valid. Let's find something we can agree on real soon. Your local is a valued friend, as are you. Your argument's lame. You're not.
Best,
ABC
Tony: I'm sad you think my arguments are lame. If I did not feel they would hold up to scrutiny I never would have posted them. After reading your response I feel even better about my position. We won't change each others mind on this so I request you start another posting so we can argue about what golf ball is better, or whose baseball team is better. I've always enjoyed being around you Tony. You've taught me alot. Come March 21st may the best candidate win...Joe
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