Real Bergen Democrats 
|
|
Mon Jun 16, 2008 at 11:23:18 AM EDT
|
Yesterday, Thurman Hart posted a strong diary in which he, essentially, directed our attention to the most recent indications
that BCDO Chairman, Joseph Ferierro, is operating (the functional equivalent of) an ongoing criminal enterprise.
Whether or not law enforcement ever, finally, "nails" Ferierro & Co is almost a secondary issue that says more about the integrity of our state and federal AGs than it does about the guilt or innocence of the machine that Mr Ferierro has erected at the expense of the taxpayers and residents of Bergen County.
It's understandable that the vast majority of BC residents have no idea of who Ferierro is or of what he does "for a living".
It's understandable that the vast majority of BC residents don't show up to register or vote in the primaries that determine who the CC members are.
The ignorance and passivity of the people is, at the core, what allows pathogens like the Ferierro machine to exist and to thrive.
What is not understandable, or acceptable, is for someone as intelligent and informed and empowered as Congressman Steve Rothman to "play ball" with the, de facto, corrupt Ferierro Bossed BCDO.
You can't embrace a pig without getting muddied up and smelly.
Thurman called for the following...
A four rating is a vote for Mr. Rothman to publicly state he is for honest and open government - and if that means Joe Ferriero can't get his support, then so be it.
So far, I only see three "votes".
We can do/be better than this.
Steve Rothman is, I believe, a basically decent and intelligent man. He showed great leadership in being for Obama so early on.
There is nothing Joe Ferierro has that Steve Rothman needs. Nothing.
Please support/reinforce Thurman's initiative and manifest this small/easily made, but significant, gesture and send Congressman Rothman a message that whatever "loyalty" or "obligation" he may feel toward Joe Ferierro is far outweighed by his obligation/loyalty to his real constituents and the loyalty/obligation he should feel to his own conscience.
Ideally, Rothman should need zero prodding from anyone; but as many have pointed out here, we don't live in as ideal world.
Think what a signal it sends that Thurman could make such a call for such a small action on a progressive website, and only a handful of individuals respond positively!
Please make this small gesture.....and maybe then we can go on to discuss even deeper issues/questions.
I would love to see three hundred responses by week's end.
http://www.bluejersey.net/show...
|
|
Discuss
:: (0
Comments)
|
|
|
|
Tue Jun 10, 2008 at 11:27:58 AM EDT
|
|
This is cross posted from politikernj http://www.politickernj.com/ma...
Whatever political capital he garnered from being for Obama early and for forcing Boss Joe to back off on the Andrews deception; he's now blown by coming out as a wholly owned subsidiary of BCDO Boss Joseph Ferierro.
Steve; what do they "have" on you???
If you're not being manipulated/intimidated into lying down for Boss Joe and you're doing it totally voluntarily; then that's even worse.
Is there ANYONE who can call themselves a progressive Democrat and still tolerate the de facto corruption of political bossism in general and that of the FBBCDO (Ferierro Bossed Bergen County Democratic Organization)???
Either way, Steve Rothman, shame on you for embracing this corrupt dirty machine politician.
When will politicians realize that they work for the people that vote; not the people that give them money in the form of "contributions"/legalized BRIBES?!!!?
From Frederick Douglass....
If there is no struggle there is no progress......Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.
PS Please take the time to read and think about the following message from Loretta Weinberg....
|
|
There's More...
:: (4
Comments, 869 words in story)
|
|
|
|
Mon Jun 09, 2008 at 11:10:39 AM EDT
|
|
This letter wasn't addressed to DSC Chairman Joe Cryan, but maybe it should have been.
An excerpt of a letter from Senator Loretta Weinberg and others to Bergen County Democratic Committee members (emphasis mine): Like you, we've spent our lives as Democrats because we believe in the principles of the Democratic Party.
We were inspired by the likes of John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. to give back to our community and be part of the solution to the problems that face America.
Our participation in this party was never motivated by personal or economic gain. We've spent our lives as Democrats in a county that for the most part was a GOP stronghold.
Chairman Joseph Ferriero is to be congratulated for taking an ailing county organization and transforming it into a viable political power. Bergen County has never had more elected Democratic officials than now. Bergen County has never been more important to statewide Democratic victories than now. But with this success has come the foul stench of pay-to-play, rampant patronage and a culture that government contracts for lawyers, accountants, architects, engineers and others is much more important than responsible public policy.
Ironically, the very individual responsible for much of the success this party has had in the last decade finds himself the poster child for all that is wrong with politics.
Raising obsence amounts of money should not be more important than developing a message as to why Democrats should be given the honor of governing here in Bergen County. Political power is not an entitlement, but a privilege and this party has forgotten that basic principle! Being effective voices for our party was always more important than how many jobs we could deliver or how many contracts we could provide for donors.
|
|
Discuss
:: (2
Comments)
|
|
|
|
Mon Jun 02, 2008 at 12:12:22 PM EDT
|
|
You've no doubt taken Huntsu's Senate Primary Poll already. But what about the other races playing out in tomorrow's supposed-to-be-irrelevant June Primary? Here's a place to share your thoughts, comments and predictions about some of those other primaries happening tomorrow.
Congressional Primaries
Contested Democratic primaries in the 1st, 5th and 11th Congressional Districts, plus Republican primaries in the 3rd and 7th promise to provide more primary-night intrigue than I can lately remember.
On the Democratic side, there are some pretty strong favorites going in, though I think the results will be closer than expected in all three places. On the Republican side, I think that Kelly is going to pull it out in the 3rd, and (I hope I'm wrong) that Kate Whitman is going to steal home in the 7th.
Local Races
And, don't forget about the local races happening here, there and around, like the BCDO showdown with the Real Bergen Democrats, and even a hard-fought mayoral primary in Washington Township (yes, that Washington Township).
How do you think tomorrow will shape up down-ballot? And, tell us what other local races you have your eyes on.
|
|
Discuss
:: (10
Comments)
|
|
|
|
Sat May 31, 2008 at 01:38:47 PM EDT
|
|
There was an editorial in the Record about the Primary fight in Bergen - including the Real Bergen Dems efforts to unseat the incumbent Dems Ganz, McPherson, and Walton, who are Joe Ferriero's candidates.
http://www.northjersey.com/opi...
While the Record did not endorse any of the Freeholder candidates for Tuesday's Primary, the editorial brings up the positive implications of giving voters an actual choice and a possibility for change at the County level. We couldn't agree more - of course we'd like our friends in Bergen County to choose US, but we are encouraged by the effort the Record is making to educate the voters about the race.
Other news about the Oury/Ferriero subpeonas and what is now being touted in the Record as "The Oury Story":
http://www.northjersey.com/new...
Apparently, Oury only filed ONE financial disclosure form in the past 6 years - in 2002 - and it did NOT include his involvement with Governmental Grants Consulting who was hired that same year to get grants for the Borough of Bergenfield. I love the inset that explains the kind of clients Oury typically works for. It gives you an idea of his sense of priorities.
Below is the paragraph that really struck me:
The phone number in a Governmental Grants Consulting letterhead is the same number Spatz uses for a more recent enterprise, Community Housing and Planning Associates. That number also appears on a Hudson County Economic Development Corp. document that lists Spatz under Zoning Administration in Union City.
Wow, these boys do get around. Coincidence that that phone number got used so darn much? I think not.
It's a good thing BCDO Spokesman Bill Maer says that the expensive attorneys Dennis and Joe are using won't be billing the BCDO. Will they be billing Bergenfield? Or Edgewater? or Demarest? or Garfield? Are we to actually believe that FINALLY Joe and Oury will know how painful it is to have pay exhorbitant amounts of money for an attorney? What sweet sweet justice.
|
|
Discuss
:: (6
Comments)
|
|
|
|
Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 06:08:57 PM EDT
|
|
The latest Bergen County nuttiness. Here is an article from the Record for today. Teaneck councilman Adam Gussen is challenging a sitting County Committee member and is demanding quite petulantly that Loretta give him priority.
http://www.northjersey.com/pol...
"We will not cower to her political will," Adam Gussen, a Teaneck councilman and county committee challenger, said in published statement about Weinberg. "We will never back down from our desire to participate."
Now THAT is funny. Do you have any idea how many people across NJ who have been encouraged to get involved in County Committee by Senator Weinberg herself? At LEAST Hundreds. Senator Weinberg encouraged me and at the time, I was just an ordinary resident of Bergen County. This attempt to paint Senator Weinberg as anti-semitic is ridiculous as well as fishy. The slate that just magically appeared to challenge what should be non-partisan councilmembers in Teaneck has been assembled- rumor has it - by Joe Ferriero's friends. Loretta does not "blackball" people. She does care about her constituents - all of them - and tries always to do right by them. She has supported us in 2006 when Joe Ferriero unfairly threw us off the line as INCUMBENTS simply for voting for her. We did not petulantly DEMAND her help. She was gracious enough to help us deal with a tiny tyrant named Joe Ferriero.
There's room in the pool for everyone, Adam. Loretta always says so. Just make sure Joe Ferriero isn't lurking just below the surface like an alligator. He does bite.
|
|
Discuss
:: (3
Comments)
|
|
|
|
Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 11:46:41 AM EDT
|
|
Well, It's official. We filed and here is today's paper:
http://www.northjersey.com/new...
According to the Ferriero-crats who need to retain their hold on Bergen County's government to retain their hold on power, they assume that this is all about District 37 and power grabs.
We don't think so. We are running candidates from several districts:
Carol Hoernlein from Tenafly DISTRICT 37
Carol Skiba from Hasbrouck Heights DISTRICT 38
Gail Frasco from Westwood DISTRICT 39
Our aim is nothing short of representative democracy. We want our government to be responsive to the people - the voters, the residents, the citizens of Bergen County. We want to free County Government from the whims of one man who has put a stranglehold on our County and who has systematically tried to control each of our Municipalities by his use and abuse of Pay-To-Play.
This Primary is different. We will let the voters decide. Not Joe Ferriero.
In order to retain his hold on power, Joe Ferriero must retain his hold on the County and its Government. We have a real opportunity here to reform the way things are done in Bergen County.
To help in our efforts to reform County Government and Party Politics, you can contribute to our Primary campaign at:
Real Bergen Democrats
P.O. Box 1764
Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632
No contribution is too small :)
|
|
Discuss
:: (6
Comments)
|
|
|
|
Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 06:49:31 PM EDT
|
|
Just got this in the mail and wanted to share :)
It's an open invitation to any Dems out there in Blue Jersey land who want to help Loretta Weinberg and her "Merry Band of Reformers". I will be there this Thursday nite and I hope to see you there too.
Remember Us?
We are the association that took on the Democratic machine and elected REAL
BERGEN DEMOCRATS in Bergenfield, Tenafly and Englewood in the 2007 primary
and general elections. In particular, we supported the candidacy of
Bergenfield's new Mayor Timothy Driscoll who championed our platform and
defeated the local political Bosses who answered only to the county
political rulers, with no accountability to Bergenfield taxpayers. That
changed when REAL BERGEN DEMOCRATS got involved.
We embraced the vision of Senator Loretta Weinberg, Assemblyman Gordon
Johnson and Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle as they stood under our
banner under the threat of fierce primary opposition. Their principles
withstood the test as their primary opponents evaporated under the heat of
an organized grassroots effort that underscored the support for the REAL
BERGEN DEMOCRATS.
We are proud to be Democrats and are proud to stand for Democratic ideals.
REAL BERGEN DEMOCRATS don't want to compromise our Democratic principles
under the rule of political Bossism. We want Bergen County Democrats to have
an opportunity to reflect the values of our greatest leaders like Presidents
Franklin Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman and John F. Kennedy while swiftly
adapting to the future with all of its unique challenges to overcome.
Speaking the language of tomorrow, we need to be better prepared today as we
heed the lessons of yesterday.
We are concerned that we've moved away from these fundamental Democratic
values and have lost focus on that which is important to the quality of our
lives in Bergen County.
REAL BERGEN DEMOCRATS provide an alternative to the unacceptable
business-as-usual status quo. Together, our voices will be heard in a party
that stopped listening to its rank and file membership some time ago.
Make a difference today by joining the REAL BERGEN DEMOCRATS ASSOCIATION and
help us by contributing to our fundraising event on March 27, 2008 at Club
201, 90 W. Palisade Avenue, Englewood, 6:00pm - 8:00 pm.
We look forward to beginning a new era in Bergen County Democratic politics.
You are cordially invited to join the rest of the
REAL BERGEN DEMOCRATS
as we kick off our 2008 Primary Campaign
Thursday March 27 2008
From 6 to 8 p.m.
At
CLUB 201
90 W Palisade Ave - Englewood, NJ 07631
Contribution $75.00
Make Checks Payable to:
Real Bergen Democrats
P.O. Box 1764 - Englewood Cliffs NJ 07632
For further information please call 973-224-4092
or email
RealBergenDems@gmail.com
For anyone who doesn't remember why we created Real Bergen Democrats - it was to prevent County Democratic Boss Joe Ferriero from deciding the Primary election last year instead of letting the voters decide. He has challenged us, allowed forgers to attempt to disenfranchise us, he has thrown incumbent County Committee members who voted for Loretta onto Column 4, he has failed to call conventions when we legally asked for them, he has drowned out our voices at EVERY opportunity - by neglecting to get quorums, by calling voice votes with NO opportunity for dissent, by locking the doors in the faces of our County Committee reps, by turning BCDO HQ into Hillary central BEFORE Super Tuesday, by in fact - acting like a PARTY BOSS. A Unitary Party Boss.
We are trying to wrest control of government from his clenched little iron-clad hands and give it back to the people. You remember. The people. You and me. Us.
Hope to see you all Thursday nite :)
|
|
Discuss
:: (4
Comments)
|
|
|
|
Thu Jun 21, 2007 at 12:10:58 PM EDT
|
|
In a letter sent to members of the Bergen County Democrats, Joe Ferriero responded to the Letter sent by Robert Gulack and signed by other County Committee members including me. Basically, he is stalling for time in regards to passing the resolutions. I hope they actually invite Senator Weinberg - who is on the Bylaws Committee - to the meetings when they discuss these resolutions.
Long story short - Joe Ferriero and Dennis Oury will not let any of us actually see any financial information other than what they saw fit to report to the government. The BCDO books will remain closed books.
In other news, the BCDO appears to be distancing itself from Senator Coniglio. Just like the spiders in the Lost in Space movie, and some Congressional Republicans, The BCDO usually eat their wounded, or at least run far far away from them.
In other words, things are Status Quo at the BCDO.
|
|
There's More...
:: (92
Comments, 296 words in story)
|
|
|
|
Wed Jun 06, 2007 at 12:54:41 AM EDT
|
|
The Real Bergen Democrats slate of candidates scored some key victories tonight. In Bergenfeld, Timothy Driscoll - who two years ago had his signature forged on a resignation letter in an attempt to disqualify him from voting in a tight special election - defeated Dolores Butler, the candidate of the same people who tried to disenfranchise him.
His running mates - Barry Doll and Councilman Bruce Carlson - defeated BCDO candidates Carlos Aguasvivas and John Person.
In Ward 2 of Englewood, Council President Charlotte Bennett Schoen defeated BCDO candidate Marvin Anault.
In Fort Lee, Councilman Michael Villano - the Real Bergen Democrats mayoral candidate - lost to the current mayor Jack Alter.
Bergen County Sheriff Leo McGuire (BCDO) held on to his seat by defeating Allen Gailes, Jr (RBD).
Bergenfield
Mayor
Timothy Driscoll (RBD) 623
Dolores Butler (BCDO) 529
Council
Bruce Carlson (RBD) 644
Barry Doll (RBD) 588
Carlos Aguasvivas (BCDO) 511
John Person (BCDO) 468
Englewood, Ward 2
Council
Charlotte Bennett Schoen (RBD) 411
Marvin Anault (BCDO) 335
|
|
Discuss
:: (2
Comments)
|
|
|
|
Tue Jun 05, 2007 at 03:01:15 PM EDT
|
|
Today, I laughed as I cast my ballot for the whole Real Bergen Dems slate in Column 1 and then picked the top three spots in Column 2 - for Weinberg, Huttle and Johnson.
I gave old Bergen County politics the 1, 2.
Our Column one looked solid - formidable even next to Boss Joe's Column 2.
I thoroughly enjoyed the irony of having our team on Column 1, it was particularly sweet since last year, Shama Haider and all of us incumbents on the County Committee in Tenafly were shooed over to Column 4. Now Boss Joe knows how it feels to get kicked to the curb.
He thought he owned Column 1. It was never his. It was OURS - the Bergen County Democrats -the ones he tried to punish for .. gasp... actually exercising our Special Election votes for Loretta Weinberg. State Senator Loretta Weinberg, who helped let our voters know last year where to find us on the ballot and defended our candidates this year when Boss Joe tried to get our slate disbanded.
Lets see how this all turns out - I feel like I am reading a page-turner and I only have a few more pages to go.........
|
|
Discuss
:: (0
Comments)
|
|
|
|
Tue Jun 05, 2007 at 06:49:17 AM EDT
|
|
"Y'all know my steelo" -> Nas
I am not sure how long this entry will be, so this is my essay topic:
Re-elect Charlotte Bennett Schoen for 2nd Ward Councilwoman in Englewood. Say no to Michael Wildes? puppets.
Vote Lieutenant Allen Gailes Jr., for Bergen County Sheriff. Say yes to diverse and independent government.
This is my conclusion:
Vote for the Real Bergen Democrats, Column 1. Vote for the Weinberg/Johnson/Huttle team.
Englewood Report Interviews Lt. Allen Gailes Jr.
Englewood Report Endorses Charlotte Bennett Schoen for Reelection
Bergen Grassroots Endorsements
Exhibit D: From noon to 8pm this day, you can support the Real Bergen Democrats candidates who are opposed by Boss Ferriero's hand-picked candidates in the June 5 primary. They are Englewood Council President Charlotte Bennett Schoen; Bergenfield Council incumbent Bruce Carlson, Timothy Driscoll for Mayor and Barry Doll for Council, and County Sheriff candidate Allen Gailes, Jr. All have the endorsement of Bergen Grassroots.
The polls open soon, so I have not had the time to write this in Spanish. I will add this post to my "to translate" list. And I should have probably written this post last night or maybe a couple nights ago, but I tend to procrastinate. But for the record, my two centavos.
|
|
There's More...
:: (12
Comments, 1400 words in story)
|
|
|
|
Fri May 25, 2007 at 05:49:58 PM EDT
|
|
(Skip to the Podcast with Allen Gailes.)
While The Englewood Report's primary focus is local news, we do post stories that Blue Jerseyans may find of interest. Our latest entry is one such example.
In the Englewood Report's first ever podcast, Bob Stern interviews Lt. Allen Gailes, who is heading the Real Bergen Democrats ticket in June's Democratic Primary. Gailes is challenging BCDO candidate and current incumbent Leo McGuire for the position of Bergen County Sheriff.
This is an important election. The winner will run the largest law enforcement agency in the county with a budget that has grown to more than $50 million a year.
|
|
There's More...
:: (0
Comments, 19 words in story)
|
|
|
|
Sun May 20, 2007 at 12:08:31 PM EDT
|
|
Apparently, BCDO attorney Dennis Oury who just so happens to be the new Bergenfield Borough Attorney is in hot water for charging the Bergenfield taxpayers for political work:
http://www.northjers...
Can you say "pay to play"?
Also, apparently unbonded folks who worked in the tax assessors office collected and absconded with tax payments made in cash to the Borough. They were fired after the fact - but there is a lot of anger rising from the taxpayers of Bergenfield. Finding out that they are also paying for Dennis Oury's extracurricular activities is not going over very well.
I wouldn't be surprised if someone got tarred and feathered soon. The Primary in June is going to be VERY interesting. Timothy Driscoll is running as a Real Bergen Democrat for Mayor there and is becoming quite popular due to his strong stand against Oury and Pay to Play. I have heard from folks in town and if Driscoll wins the Democratic Primary, he is probably sure to win the General Election in November.
Timothy Driscoll, you may remember, is the WWII veteran and Bergen County Democratic Committee member who found himself the victim of a forgery before Loretta Weinberg's special election at the BCDO. I really think he has a fantastic chance of winning this Primary due to the voters in Bergenfield finding out about the corruption and pay to play nonsense there.
Bergenfield is definitely a town to watch in this Primary.
|
|
Discuss
:: (49
Comments)
|
|
|
|
Mon May 07, 2007 at 01:20:12 PM EDT
|
|
Well, I just heard the latest. The county and local Real Bergen Democrats will all be together in column 1 on the ballot. The BCDO candidates will appear in Column 2, headed by Senator Loretta Weinberg, and Assemblywoman Valerie Vanieri Huttle, and Assemblyman Gordon Johnson. This means our Real Bergen Democrats candidates including Tenafly's very own Shama Haider and candidates Mike Lattif, Pat Rouse, and Joe McDermott are all in Column 1. Also in Column 1: Timothy Driscoll and the Real Bergen Dems in Bergenfield, as well as Councilwoman Charlotte Bennett Schoen of Englewood. In a stunning turn of sweet ballot irony, the Real Bergen Democrats will have the Column 1 advantage over the powerful Party Boss-endorsed candidates who are now in Column 2. Only in NJ............
|
|
Discuss
:: (9
Comments)
|
|
|
|
Fri Apr 27, 2007 at 10:00:32 AM EDT
|
|
It's been a while since my last diary on this, but I wanted to give you all a better timeline of what has been happening with LD37.
April 11, during the day, Senator Weinberg and the LD37 team met with Union leaders in Bergen County to get their opinion of how to address the offer of withdrawal from the Wildes, Zisa, Wilson team. The majority view was that the LD37 incumbents should accept the offer and move to the BCDO line to avoid an expensive primary battle.
After the meeting with the Union leaders, the LD37 incumbents met with the Real Bergen Democrats candidates - 20 to 25 people at least, and discussed the course of action on the offer. It was decided that they should take the offer ONLY IF THE REAL BERGEN DEMOCRATS line stayed intact.
In order to accept the offer of withdrawal and the move to the BCDO line discussed at the press conference on Thursday April 12, several things had to happen:
1. Wildes, Zisa and Wilson had to withdraw as candidates (in writing), which had to be certified.
2. The BCDO Committee on Vacancies had to then certify the LD37 incumbents as the replacements on the BCDO line.
3. Their paperwork had to be submitted by the deadline.
Because the paperwork for this was submitted past the deadline by the BCDO lawyers, the Attorney General of NJ must now get involved to place the LD37 incumbents on the BCDO line.
After April 12, the BCDO Lawyers demanded that the Real Bergen Democrats freeholder candidates withdraw. That would place our whole Real Bergen Dems slate in jeopardy because you need county candidates to bracket together on one line.
The LD37 team was harassed, threatened with legal action, bullied, told that the BCDO would reinstate their withdrawn candidates, and generally given a hard time about the county level candidates. Those candidates offered to run although they knew we did not have the resources to support their run. They were chosen because they were excellent candidates who knew the possibility was great that they may lose to the BCDO county slate. But they agreed to take the chance so we could have a unified slate.
The BCDO then demanded that the LD37 team publicly endorse the BCDO county candidates. Which the LD37 team rejected.
Then last week, Kathleen Donovan - the County Clerk drew the lottery names for the placement on the ballot, after accepting all the paperwork to create the Real Bergen Democrats line filed and submitted by Real Bergen Democrats Campaign manager Brenda Allen. Ms. Donovan's lawyer, John Carbone then attempted to throw out the whole Real Bergen Dems slate by insisting that we did not officially state who our campaign manager is. After Ms. Donovan accepted form after form signed by - you guessed it - campaign manager Brenda Allen.
And so, not only is the BCDO in court to get the LD37 incumbents to switch columns, but the Real Bergen Dems are in court to stay together as Column 1 on the ballot.
That is why the crypticness of the last 15 days. It is all still up in the air. But at least now, the BCDO has backed off on requiring that the Real Bergen Dems line dissolve. The question is whether the AG will let the LD37 incumbents switch columns and if the judge will rule that the Real Bergen Dems will stay together.
At this writing any folks who want to help the Real Bergen Dems candidates - please visit the website and volunteer, we are continuing the campaign regardless. The candidates will still be identified on the ballot as Real Bergen Democrats regardless of where they end up. In fact the LD37 incumbents will be in Tenafly for the street fair on Saturday if you want to meet them and talk to them in person.
So, that's the story.
Loretta also wanted me to pass along her thanks to the Blue Jersey blogging community for your continued help, support and patience.
|
|
Discuss
:: (24
Comments)
|
|
|
|
Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 05:46:27 PM EDT
|
|
I really didn't know what to expect when I walked into 50 Main Street, Hackensack today just before Noon. I was afraid there wouldn't be any friendly faces. Was this going to just be the Wildes Zisa team giving their concession speech before the election even happened? Before the Primary even? Would they feel bad faced with the folks who fought them and robbed them of the victory party they should have had since the BCDO 37th Convention?
Well, the Governor was going to be there, so there was probably going to be a lot of folks there. I had a rare free day to go. It was fate - I had to go because I actually could. So I put on my lucky yellow raincoat - the one I wore to my very first Howard Dean meetup - and the very last one I found for sale on Cape May during Hurricane Floyd.
Surprisingly, the room was half empty, but all the key players from each camp were present - and the full press. Star Ledger, Record, TV. This was historic. The Democratic Machine-backed candidates for State Senate and Assembly were actually withdrawing after the BCDO convention that elected them. The Bergen County Democratic Boss was admitting defeat before a single vote in the Primary had even been cast. The reason given was Party Unity. Uniting to run against the Republicans. (Who?) Making up, avoiding a rift, all that stuff. It was explained as a family fight that was being resolved. Governor Corzine and Congressman Rothman were apparently brokering peace between the Weinberg and Ferriero camps like we were in the Middle East. Governor Corzine explained how he made many phone calls to ease the tension between the camps. While Governor Corzine was remarking on the current "angst" in the Bergen Democratic Party, a whole stack of chairs fell over on the side of the room with a crash. The Governor did make a clear point of explaining how he is STILL against pay-to-play and dual office holding, and that he differs from Joe Ferriero on that important point. He mentioned that this race is also going to be a Clean Elections race.
The real moments of humor were of course Joe joking as usual. I don't know if anyone realizes just how FUNNY these BCDO things are. When we are all in the same room together, it is not all glaring and tight-lipped silence. We actually bust on each other. It is usually quite entertaining. Joe usually can be quite charming when he needs to be. And boy did he need to be today. But the best moments were actually provided by Michael Wildes and Ken Zisa. Ken mentioning that he was still out campaigning that morning when he got the phonecall. (Poor Ken - he was always the last to know.) Wildes at first seemed unusually humble and then managed to say that "we would've won" in his speech. That was funny in itself, but the uncontained laughter of a few folks on the left side of the room after he said it was just priceless.
During and after the speeches, everybody hugged, it was a feel good, photo-op moment to show our Governor we were all making the effort to get along nice like. (I secretly suspect that this was all a ruse so Michael Wildes could get the one most valuable photo-op that has eluded him all these years - he and Loretta in the same picture). I had the hardest time keeping a straight face during the speeches though, I kept seeing the Englewood Report's photoshop images in my head of Senator Coniglio and Ferriero and Wildes, Zisa and Wilson. I just could not get those images out of my head.
My take: We were in the middle of a big family fight and Governor Corzine had invited Senator Clinton to dinner. He would be horrified if we all started throwing dinner rolls at each other across the table with Presidential Candidate company there and all. It would be quite embarassing. I don't blame him for being concerned. Bergen County is a big necessary chunk of the NJ electorate to win over. But the thing is, the Weinberg camp would have won handily. Joe just couldn't stand to lose the Primary. It saved face for the BCDO organization - temporarily. But there is still the matter of Pay-To-Play though. I'd have to say that is still the biggest division between the Ferriero supporters and the Weinberg supporters.
This early concession could be due to Michael wanting to save up for his race against Rothman next year. Or maybe the Ferriero camp gave in so we would stop digging? Digging for answers? Digging into Ken Zisa's ELEC reports? Digging to locate Dennis Ourey's undisclosed bunker? Digging to see who gave what to whom or where the BCDO money really goes? I found it very interesting that several speeches mentioned the 39th and 40th districts and how we need to elect Dems in those districts. The money from those districts last year went to the Borgata - remember?
Like my favorite fortune cookie said - "Love all. Trust a few." Lots of love flowing at 50 Main Street in Hackensack today. Trust? well, that takes a little more time.
|
|
Discuss
:: (17
Comments)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Featured Stories |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
