I Know What You Did Last Election

Beware of a possible tactic/argument by Ferriero - this is important (4.00 / 1)

Ferriero is intent of rigging the upcoming Bergen County Democratic convention to nominate Zisa and whatever other cronies in place of our progressive, clean-government champions Sen. Loretta Weinberg, Asm. Gordon Johnson and Asw. Valerie Vainieri Huttle. 

Ferriero is out to change the convention rules so that delegates from throughout Bergen County, ie who DO NOT LIVE IN THE DISTRICT, can vote on whom to nominate.  This is patently absurd - why should people who don't even live in a jurisdiction be able to vote in that jurisdiction's elections?  Can you believe it? 

Of course, we know why - if the convention were limited to the 37th district and were a fair vote, Loretta, Gordon and Valerie would win.  But when it's countywide, all the cronies whom Ferriero controls get to vote.  Completely rigged.

Well, let's play this out.  Say, knowing that the convention is rigged, Loretta, Gordon and Valerie choose not to go to the convention to be part of such a sham - that they run on their own line.

It's then that all of us here must be vigilant - we cannot allow Ferriero to say, "Our nominees were chosen by a small-d democratic convention, open to all delegates hroughout the county, and Loretta, Gordon and Valerie chose not to play by the rules.  So they're not the 'real' Democratic ticket and all Democrats should unite, now, behind the 'real' Democratic ticket of Ken Zisa et al."

Friends, THAT's what we may have to work very hard to counter.  Ferriero has this scenario complete rope-a-doped out.  The REAL Democrats ARE Loretta, Gordon and Valerie.

And we progressives must send a signal that we hold accountable Democratic elected officials throughout Bergen, from Congressman Steve Rothman to members of the legislature, if they fall for Ferriero's tactic. 

Some of these pols have been too ridiculously "neutral" for us to tolerate any longer.  If they stay "neutral" when the Democratic county convention's nominees will be produced by a rigged vote, then they are not neutral about corruption and they don't merit our support either.

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by: Steven Goldstein, Garden State Equality chair @ Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 15:09:40 PM UTC

BCDO Bylaws (0.00 / 0)

Does anyone know if there's a date set for the County Committee vote on the bylaw changes? The changes include, for those who haven't seen them:

1. Changing the process for BCDO candidate endorsement so that ALL committee members are eligible to vote for a particular district's candidates, and not just those CC members who reside in the district.  This one seems obviously intended to dilute Team Weinberg's support by including CC members from the 36th, 38th, 39th and 40th districts. 

2. "Clarifying" an existing bylaw provision that disenfranchises CC members (on "non-statutory votes only) if those members publicy supported any candidate in a general election who was running in opposition to a BCDO-endorsed candidate.  This one seems aimed at Englewood Democrats who supported Dr. Stern's independent candidacy against Wildes last year.  I read this rule as applying to anyone who expressed such support at any time in the past, with the only exception being if they were not a registered Democrat at the time.  What puzzles me is that the amendment says it's merely reiterating the language that previously existed, but moves it toward the front of the bylaws to provide greater emphasis.  Am I missing a substantive change here?  It seems suspicious to go to the length of amending bylaws just to make a superficial edit.

3. Changing the specification of the County Convention to allow the Chairman more flexibility in when the Convention taks place. Existing bylaws specify "last week in February"; the change would any convenient date up to and including the 15th of March.

I'd be very interested to see what our resident bylaws geeks' take is on these changes, and what might be the likelihood of voting them down. 

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by: Bill W @ Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 15:18:19 PM UTC

Bylaws Vote is January 31 at 5 pm (4.00 / 1)

Bill, the vote is next Wednesday the 31st at 5 pm at the Hackensack Middle School.  I got a letter in the mail just today about it. He is actually pushing the changes strongly.
Please spread the word to fight the power and vote NO on the Bylaws changes.  If you are a mayor or council member DO NOT GIVE UP YOUR COMMITTEE SEAT. You will not be able to vote on the Bylaws.  They WILL stop you at the door.  I fully expect to be challenged AGAIN at this vote, even though I am still on the committee.

P.S.  I added a Diary on this topic

One Vote.  Yours.  It really does matter.

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by: carolh @ Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 17:22:17 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Bergen County is not the only "crooked" county in NJ. (0.00 / 0)

Unfortunately, this kind of dirty stuff goes on in other counties in our beautiful state, but to mention the particulars could get one in trouble.

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by: krose @ Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 16:55:11 PM UTC

that's the point isn't it? (0.00 / 0)

Intimidation, blackmailing, blacklisting and smearing. They're effective strategies to hold on to power. (access to millions of dollars thanks to pay-to-play contracts doesn't hurt, either)

The dirtiest secret of all is that they are vastly outnumbered and can only stay in power through these tactics. An open democratic process would spell defeat. It only takes a few brave leaders to open the flood gates and bring it all crashing down. But that's much easier said than done.

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by: Juan Melli @ Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 17:05:14 PM UTC

[ Parent ]