Massachusetts Liberal
The video from the Channel 4 Debate is now available online. If you didn't get a chance to watch it, I recommend you check it out over there. One segment, which I found to be the best, was when Karl Dean turned Bob Clement's carpet-bagging question around on him:
18 comments:
Sean...you clearly know that the point Clement was making is that Dean and his cronies have had eight years to choose anyone from Nashville to run the Deaprtments in Metro and they have repeatedly brought in out of state replacements with little or no knowlege of Nashville. Most of the Department heads do not live or pay property taxes in Nashville or Davidson County while they make all of the spending decisions...in fact our Metro Fire Chief lives out of state and flies home every weekend and has done so for years now! and....Dean wants to continue to allow this practice and feels comfortable with it. The point Clement is making is...Whats so bad with being a native Nashvillian? Why are we considered not competent to run this city by Dean and his ilk? Dean's contempt for Nashvillian's is an insult to our intelligence.
you clearly know that the point Clement was making is that Dean and his cronies have had eight years to choose anyone from Nashville to run the Deaprtments in Metro and they have repeatedly brought in out of state replacements with little or no knowlege of Nashville.
Really? That was his point? No, I didn't know that...I'm glad you could be here to help Bob speak, because he didn't mention anything about that in the debate last night, he was just being critical of Karl's lack of native status.
Dean wants to continue to allow this practice and feels comfortable with it.
I'm sure Dean wants the best people for the job. Does Bob not? Will Bob exclude from positions those who were not born in Davidson County limits?
Whats so bad with being a native Nashvillian?
Nothing, and nobody ever said there was.
Why are we considered not competent to run this city by Dean and his ilk?
Dean isn't saying native Nashvillians aren't capable of contributing good things to this city, however, where a person was born should be the last consideration when trying to hire a competent person to run a department. Experience, education, personal skills, etc...should all be the top priorities. Besides, you were trashing Buck Dozier's ability to run the Metro Fire Department...do you feel the same about the carpetbagger?
Dean's contempt for Nashvillian's is an insult to our intelligence.
Yep, I'm sure he hates his wife and kids with a passion. He probably wakes up every morning and says, "Rascoe, I wish you were born up North you stupid redneck." Yeah, Karl is just full of contempt for Nashvillians.
Right on!!!!!!!!!
I do think that Clement stayed teh course in his question to Dean and quite frankly Dean responded as any lawyer would to try to deflect it humorously like in court to take the focus off that fact that he is the one that is touting that he is not from here. Why should he be so proud of that. Why is he saying what he's saying. It's time Nashville has someone who will connect other Nashvillians to the progress of Nashville and I think Bob did an excellent job in bringing this out and I sincerely hope people will give him the opportunity to serve this city. He is just simply someone people here can relate to.
He is just simply someone people here can relate to.
If you are a senior citizen who thinks that big ideas, with no specifics, is the key to good Government; you are correct.
Sean for you to defend that over eight years NO Nashvillian could be found to run a Metro Deaprtment is unbeleivable and disingenuous! No one in a county of over 500,000 could be found? Dean frankly thinks native Nashvillian's not imported by Vanderbilt are not intelligent enough for the noble job of "running the affairs of others". Dean's answers are very lawyer like and just a little too slick don't you think? Dean is just being the trial lawyer he was trained to be. Too bad that all of his slick lawyering couldn't save Paul Dennis Reid the Captain D's murderer although I must give him credit where its due...he tried his best to get him off. This is something to ponder at the next wine and cheese party you host.
Sean despite your contempt for Bob Clements 30 ideas in 30 days...we are STILL WAITING for Dean's 1 idea in 1 day....and his answer to Bob Clements challenge to agree not to raise property taxes over the next four years.
Jon,
I'm not defending Purcell's hiring decisions, because quite frankly I don't care if he has a single native Nashvillian running a metro department; he should hire the person who is best suited for the job.
But perhaps you should go back and read the Metro Charter...the Legal Director actually doesn't handle the hiring of Metro Department heads, sorry to burst your bubble.
he tried his best to get him off. This is something to ponder at the next wine and cheese party you host.
I ponder it all the time, and quite frankly I'll be proud to have a mayor who does the best he can in whatever job he is in. Paul Dennis Reid, along with every other accused criminal, deserves the right to a defense on par with the prosecution. To deny that, would be a definite throwback to the old politics of the 30s, 40s, and 50s.
[3rd time's the charm]
Sean:
The only question I have is similar to one that you raised in the past about Diane Neighbors and the car wash bill. I live in a neighborhood that isn't effected one way or the other by whether Clement's carpetbagging question is valid or how deftly Dean answered it. Why should I be impressed either way?
I think there are more pressing issues that affect Nashvillians than the Clement-Dean identity war. The ones going down at tonight at Council Meeting are a good start.
Why should I be impressed either way?
You shouldn't necessarily be. I personally care about the issue because I am from the North, and Clement and his cronies seem to have a problem with people who decide to make Nashville their home, rather than have their parents decide for them.
But as for substance, I suppose it comes down to which issues do you think are the most important?
It seems like Karl blew it when he gave a bunch of rambling answers to Clement's questions about taxes. He was totally incoherent.
Anon,
What didn't you understand?
Karl Dean isn't going to do a hack political move like make pledges 4 years out when you can't know the situations that will come up. Thats something George Bush the elder did, and he looked like a fool four years later when he had to go against his pledge.
He said he will put any property tax increases that are proposed, up to a vote by the people in Nashville.
Bob Clement is running this race like he is running for Congress. Say you'll hold the line on taxes, Check! Call for billions of dollars in increased spending for unnecessary and unrealistic projects, Check! Pretend that there is enough "waste" (which shall not ever be actually defined) to cut that would cover the costs of these new programs, Check!
As a Congressman, he is used to writing checks we can't cash, but on the Municipal level, you can't do that. So unless he is going to use his "international connections" to get China to loan us money like they do the Federal Government, his style ain't gonna cut it.
I see the Dean campaign has sent you their post debate talking points... real original commentary Sean...
I wish, it would make my life a whole lot easier if I had some talking points.
But alas, they haven't sent me anything, the truth is, I actually watched the debate (twice) and paid attention to what Karl Dean said, something which I guess you aren't capable of, because if you had, his answer on the question of property taxes would've been clear.
As a neutral observer, I gotta say Karl Dean won that debate hands down.
*Karl had the best one-liners. Always key in a TV debate
*Karl knows Metro while Bob knows Washington
*Bob has promised us the moon, but no idea how to pay for it. We just can't raise the debt ceiling like you did in DC, Bob.
*A property tax pledge. Thank God for a honest politician. Karl Dean knows that its the people who will decide a property tax incrase not him. Dean was not off-message at all on this. he just demonstrated a keen understanding of how it works.
Its funny how Crisp was defending Bob Corker's decision to raise property taxes while Mayor of Chattanooga. Now he's spinning away.
*Clement ran for Congress from another congressional district. The guy runs for office. Thats just what he does. I'm sure win or lose, he's not done.
*All these Clement hacks on Sean's blog are spinning this debate so hard. It clearly shows they thought they're guy lost the debate.
*Clement is an honorable man, who has done some very positive things, but that sun has set. He's too much of a federal legislator to run the day to day operations of this city. I fear Bill Boner Re-Deux.
The question I guess I'll always be asking is, what does it mean to be a "native Nashvillian"? I've lived here my whole life so I guess I am one. My parents moved here 20 years ago, put down their roots, and plan to stay here when they retire. But people like Crispy would probably tell my dad to go back to Philly. Sure, you'd lose 50 jobs that his practice fills, but at least the city would be a little more PURE with one less Yankee!
The people of Nashville were the ones who decided to elect mayors who weren't born here for the last 16 years. I guess that makes us all a little elitist!
I totally agree,Goldni! I was born in NJ, raised outside of Philly, left to go to college, lived in DC for 5 years (so, yes, I have seen politicians like Clement up close and personal) before moving to Nashville 20 years ago. I have lived here longer than I have ever lived anywhere. You know, the same can be said for Karl. My kids were born here. Same with Karl. Nashville is our home, and one we love. The only thing I see when I look at Karl Dean is a dedicated Nashvillian who has served this city well and will continue to do so. Karl does not claim to want to take this city from good to great, because Karl knows, and has said, that Nashville is already a great city.
Where did Crisp go? Until somebody asked him about supporting Corker's tax hikes, he was a madman in here. Anyhow...
I don't know Jon Crisp, but I can't tell if he's just ignorant/uninformed or dishonest. I'm not sure which is worse.
Jon, you paint the picture as if Karl Dean is some ambulance chasing, elitist attorney. He's not!!! He was an attorney for the city!! He left loads of money on the table to work for Nashville! Do you understand this?
I'm a conservative Jon, and I'm so glad you're no longer the chair of the Davidson GOP. Holy cow, you're an idiot!!
Blake
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