Jon Runyan runs afoul of transparency

Is he too busy to answer questions? (4.00 / 1)

Apparently Mr. Runyan is too busy to answer questions from prospective constituents.  The first time I put a question on his blog, it was deleted.  I posted another question there over a week ago - its still there, unanswered.

Blog: http://www.deciminyan.org

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by: deciminyan @ Wed May 12, 2010 at 19:34:38 PM UTC

Fascinating. (0.00 / 0)

Did you get a screen shot of your question, before they trashed it?  

It's not a particularly snappy signature, but here's what I think we need in the next NJ Democratic State Chair.  

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by: Rosi Efthim @ Wed May 12, 2010 at 20:15:37 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Re: Fascinating (0.00 / 0)

Unfortunately, no.   It never occurred to me that they would do something like that.  But I just saved the screenshot of the question I sent on 5/4.   It's a fairly innocuous question - let's see if they answer it.

Blog: http://www.deciminyan.org

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by: deciminyan @ Wed May 12, 2010 at 21:00:43 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Yes, please do. (0.00 / 0)

If they take it down, send me the screen shot, okay?  

It's not a particularly snappy signature, but here's what I think we need in the next NJ Democratic State Chair.  

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by: Rosi Efthim @ Wed May 12, 2010 at 22:05:15 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

No problem (0.00 / 0)

You'll be the first to know!

Blog: http://www.deciminyan.org

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by: deciminyan @ Wed May 12, 2010 at 22:25:24 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

He's like "Ensign Parker" from "McHales Navy" (0.00 / 0)

He even looks like him.  Basically honest, naive and totally inept.  Kind of sad really.  

The "late payments" is something of a cheap shot.  Assuming the taxes are paid in full, along with applicable interest and penalties, the state actually benefits since the interest and penalties exceeds the time value of the money owed.  All this does is show that Runyan has a tendency to be neglectful and careless, even with his own money.  The irony is that the only one who is harmed financially is Runyan himself.  The rest of the stuff is relatively trivial.

The real issue here is Runyan's lack of experience and knowledge.  Parading around with a pocket Constitution does not make him Felix Frankfurter, and getting hit in the head multiple times by Michael Strahan et. al. does not prepare him for playing political hardball.

Like "Jefferson Smith" in "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington" he's simply the tool of political operatives representing the interests of as powerful political machine in Burlington County.  

The sad, and dangerous aspect of this, is that because of his own naivete and inexperience he doesn't even know it.

http://christiegonewild.blogsp...

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by: ken bank @ Wed May 12, 2010 at 20:46:06 PM UTC

Pocket Constitution (0.00 / 0)

I like - very much - that he carries a pocket Constitution. Mind you, I hope he reads it, but I have nothing so far to suggest he doesn't. (And I carry the Bill of Rights in my wallet, so I won't complain).

I agree that experience and knowledge are an issue - a bigger one. Bigger still is that he demonstrates a certain lack of intellectual curiosity. I don't get the sense - am I wrong? - that he's in a steep learning curve of issues mastery so much as a steep learning curve of how to speechify and pose for snapshots. Good enough for some voters, but they'd be selling themselves short.

No, it's no cheap shot to go after the 33 late property tax payments. Irrelevant that the state made $$. The point is the lack of responsibility to the community, and the suggestion that he's above paying what other people pay.

It's not a particularly snappy signature, but here's what I think we need in the next NJ Democratic State Chair.  

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by: Rosi Efthim @ Wed May 12, 2010 at 20:53:08 PM UTC

[ Parent ]