Rothenberg Report: MI-9: Missed or Growing Opportunity

[bfealk]

This Rothenberg Report refers to Nancy Skinner as the under-funded challenger and Gary Peters as a better funded and experienced candidate.

Michigan 9: Missed or Growing Opportunity?
By Nathan L. Gonzales

Republican Cong. Joe Knollenberg’s narrow victory in 2006 may have been a blessing and a curse for Democrats.

His under-whelming margin over an under-funded challenger sparked interest in the 9th District seat that was previously left off competitive race lists, based on the congressman’s fourteen years in office. Coupled with victories at the top of the ticket, Democrats are excited about a new opportunity in the suburban district with a better funded and more experienced candidate.

But last year’s battle also lit a fire under the incumbent, and he won’t be taken by surprise. Knollenberg has ramped up his activity in the district, fundraising, and political operation earlier than ever before. He’ll try to follow the 2006 blueprint of some of his House colleagues who took their races seriously from the beginning and survived the partisan wave

[maddogesq]

1. We are not men, we are DEVO. Wait, we are DLC.

Rothenberg is credible, but I wouldn't bet my life on it. One report source viewing the thousands of races that happen every election cycle is not the almighty final word.

Your constant dwelling on the fundraising issue is so DLC. The DLC is so much a part of what I see as the problem in the Democratic Party right now. They think we should act like Republicans to win. I say Mr. Truman had it right.

Oh by the way, note the sudden shift on the war by Harry Reid. Is he and the others in leadership listening to the people who voted for them....gosh, ya think finally, they took the earplugs out?

I recently read a book about FDR. He went through this whole scenerio prior to and at the '32 convention that was real divisive; kind of like what we see now. Yet, he prevailed to be one of the greatest presidents.

Nancy stirs the people. I do know that Gary can raise money and travel in the Hills of Bloomfield, but can he stand and fight toe to toe with Joe when it counts. It is my observation that he cannot. He could not pose a challenge in the AG race; in fact, it wasn't even close if my memory serves me correctly.

[bfealk]

2. Wow, get your facts straight

You are totally wrong about the AG race. It was the closest AG race in Michigan history. Gary lost by about 5000 votes, or one vote precinct.

I trust that Gary can go toe to toe with Joe, since he's actually been elected to office, whereas Nancy has not and he has passed more legislation even during the Engler administration than any other Democrat. He was also chosen to give the Democratic response to the Engler radio addresses. I'm confident Gary will be more of a challenge to Joe than Nancy even can dream of.

I choose to focus on both aspects, better funded AND MORE EXPERIENCED. No mention of Nancy running again. I wonder why.

[maddogesq]

3. The AG race was Gary's to loose.

Cox was beatable, IMHO. We had a sitting Democratic Governor. Cox had a lot of bad press at that time, if you recall.

So, you don't answer my charges about the DLC, which you are likely in lockstep with.

The tide is turning against the DLC. Look at the presidential race. Hillary's numbers are tanking in Iowa, yet she is the DLC poster child with all the machine money.

People are tired. They want a change. I think even some Dem seat holders across the country will be in primary election trouble if they don't get some stones and stand up to the boy king.

[bfealk]

4. Joe was beatable too, yet Nancy lost. Not your strongest argument.

I don't know exactly what your DLC charges are. Yes people want change and competence. Gary represents both. Gary has all the stones he needs to stand up to Republicans and in case you aren't informed, George won't be President when Gary takes office.

[maddogesq]

5. The fact that George won't be there is just the point.

If we get another establishment candidate, then the war will drag on, NAFTA won't be addressed, etc. etc. And yes, I can count to ten and I know when Jr. is done squatting in Al's house. In fact, I am counting the days. We may have more in common than you think.

The DLC charge stands from two things:

First, you appear to think fundraising is the only issue in this race. You absolutely dwell on it. Look at the threads.

Second, you start anti-Nancy threads, which are in my mind a bullying tactic often characterized by Republicans and such things as the False Newz Network. I have said before that I have NEVER started an anti-Gary thread. Not here, not at Michigan Liberal, not anywhere. The only thread I started was comparing their views on an issue by using text from their web sites, then giving the reason why I support Nancy. I plan on doing more of that. I have yet to see you do the same thing.

You started a thread about some obscure video that Nancy's people are SUPPOSED to post, yet it is their material to do with as they please, just as it would if Gary's team shot footage of an event.

Month after month, you continue to start threads. I am one of the souls who wish to answer you, because your tactics are old and worn out.

[noamnety]

6. I would like to hear more about the DLC here.

Is the DLC supporting either candidate? What are their views on it?

bfealk, I know there was a thread in the last election cycle where you said you thought we needed someone who was more of a centrist than Nancy Skinner, and when I read that, I winced, because I don't really know of too many centrists that aren't neoliberals. His resume, mentioned in another thread, does kind of hint at that.

Is that where you see Gary fitting in?

[bfealk]

7. I won't make the same mistake again

I will have a camera at all of Nancy's appearances that I attend so I have my own record of her outrageous behavior and statements. I thought Nancy would want to post her video, since she thinks of herself as such a good performer. Obviously she's not proud of her performance in Troy, or she would have posted the video right away.

[maddogesq]

8. Outrageous eh?

You start threads, thinking the masses go in lock step. I know of your behavior too; at OC, at various functions, etc. There will be a day that we shall do a face to face, but that's not important now.

What you need to know is you NEVER truly answer the charges anyone makes. Yesh, the AG race was 5K or whatever, but when it it is a candidates's election to looose, that's a lot of votes. You do the usual when confronted with something you know is true. You know the DLC schtick. Yet, you don't answer me. I expect that out of Repubs, but I cannot expect that out of our side of things.

You seem to be a sentry sent out by the Gary camp because they need someone to play the bully part on these boards or blogs. The problem is, I have been a victim of bullies all my life, and you are one of the easier ones to take apart...piece by piece. Why? you are just so damn obvious.

[bfealk]

12. Will you be in Birmingham tonight?

If so, I'll see you there and you can finally reveal who you are, since you like hiding behind your anonymity here on line.

[noamnety]

9. You might want to also consider

bringing a camera to Gary's events. ;)

(teasing you a bit, cause I see you are much more enthusiastic about filming Nancy Skinner than you seem to be about filming Gary speaking.)

Did you ever ask him about what benchmarks he expects to meet in Iraq before we can leave, and what the plan is if the benchmarks aren't met? Any chance of you doing a sit down interview with him on that subject and posting the video online for us?

[bfealk]

10. Issues

I have been to a couple fundraisers for Gary. His position on Iraq is that we start to leave immediately, recognizing facts, that it will take 12-18 months to get all of our soldiers and equipment out of Iraq safely.

Gary has always behaved in a professional manner at the events I've been to, including a fundraiser at my home. He's never behaved in the outrageous way that Nancy did in Troy. Gary sticks to the issues and doesn't personally attack anyone.

And he's never lied about his relationships, nor even brought up relationships with other politicians or celebrities to boost his candidacy. He's never invoked Barack Obama or anyone else to puff himself up, as Nancy constantly does, this time worse than last time.

[noamnety]

11. That's an interesting response

"Gary sticks to the issues and doesn't personally attack anyone."

Are you saying that's how you'd like to see his campaign operate? Is that something you hold up as an ideal?

[maddogesq]

13. Gary has bent the truth about his election record.

I agree that Gary has run successfully for office. True, He had a SOLID Democratic majority in that Senate district that includes Pontiac, Southfield, Oak Park, Berkley, Southfield Twp. Bloomfield Twp is the odd one because it's generally the strong Repub area. He probably had the strongest Democratic State Senate area OUTSIDE of Wayne County. Consider how well Aldo did in 3 election cycles, despite monumental odds. Now that's an achievement to brag about! Gary says that his constituents say that he was the first Dem State Senator since the Civil War to represent them. This is true for BLOOMFIELKD Twp. but not for the cities I listed above. Aldo is the first Dem in STATE HISTORY to win the 37th.

Like much of Gary's statements it's sort of true. When he polled elected Dem officials
for support and they asked if any one else was running, he said "nobody else
is running". When asked "Is Nancy running?" He said "NO!" even thoughhe had TWO conversations with Nancy and she told him she was going to run. That to mee is as egregious as you can get!

[bfealk]

14. I suppose you were there

when these statements were made? I doubt it. I suspect you are going strictly on hearsay. Nancy says lots of things that turn out not to be true.

[maddogesq]

15. I have it on good atuthority from several sources.

And I am not sure your comments sbout statements based on hearsay carry all that much weight considering some of these accusations you made that you admitted yourself were hearsy, especially bout Nancy and her past job with the First Gentleman.

Look, if you don't start the threads, I won't say anything, You start threads, I and others answer. It's as simple as that. Bullying is bulling is bulling. You take up space with these attacks on Skinerr on what otherwise is a nice board to come to every few days. There will be a primary!

[bfealk]

16. "Good authority from several sources"

I think that's what the intel on WMD in Iraq said.

As far as a primary, if Nancy stays in until August, I'll be extremely surprised, although given her stubborness and lack of reality-based thinking, I won't be all that surprised, I guess.

My first hand information about why she left her job with Dan Mulhern is one interesting comment from a John Cherry aide, when I asked her why Nancy left, she didn't say because Nancy had decided to run for office. She said, "I can't talk about it." That's a very interesting answer and very open to speculation that Nancy didn't leave just to run for office.

I don't know what I've said that you consider bullying. You seem to have a strange definition of bullying.

I guess now that we're near the end of a reporting cycle, we'll get to see how much support Nancy really has when we see her fourth quarter fundraising numbers. We'll get to see who has given her money and how much.

[maddogesq]

17. You are saying "Cherry Aide."

So, that doesn't tell me didly. She couldn't talk about it? Come on, you can do better than that. You started with all that firing stuff many threads ago both here and at Michigan Liberal, but I have yet to see ANY proof.

"As far as a primary, if Nancy stays in until August, I'll be extremely surprised, although given her stubborness and lack of reality-based thinking, I won't be all that surprised, I guess."

Your reality exists on a planet other than this one. A primary is healthy, because it helps us find out who we really are as the fairly new 9th Congrssional District. And honestly, I like a bit of spit and stubborness in a candidate...something a few Dems up in Congress could learn from.

[bfealk]

18. Actually...

The statement was made to me directly. A primary might be healthy, if Nancy weren't such a flawed candidate. But I guess I'll let 4th quarter fundraising, endorsements, and other factors speak for themselves.