Middletown Democrats Calling

A site dealing with Middletown Township, the Democratic Party and most importantly the issues and residents of the community.

Thursday, June 08, 2006

O'Grady Case is Rested

So here I've been saying that one party rule might not be such a hot idea for some years now. It's no secret that the Feds have been all over Monmouth County. In Middletown, they netted Committeeman Ray O'Grady on corruption charges and the case has just rested and gone to the jury. I think one party rule is a bad idea in Middletown, and it's led to a lot of abuse. Whether it's something as small as the township administrator, Bob Czech, having a vehicle that is too expensive, or as large as Peter Carton's law firm getting the business for the bonding work in town and the committee bonding at nearly every meeting, Middletown has a lot of problems and I think most of them have to do with one party control.

posted by Joe Caliendo @ 3:27 AM  

6 Comments:

  • At 3:30 AM, Blogger Downtowner said…

    One party rule can theoretically work, provided that the party in question is able to effectively police itself. The Middletown Republican Party cannot, so I agree that in Middletown one party rule is not a good idea.

    If you have the right cast of characters I suppose it can work. So, I'll say no it's not a great idea but with a grain of salt and not say that it's a bad idea everywhere.

     

  • At 7:35 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Why do you think one party rule does not work? Get the facts and stop looking like chicken little pushing this NON-ISSUE!

    There are tons of urban areas in this state (just about all of Hudson County, for example, and most of Essex County) that are one party systems. Only they are all democrats. They have highly contested elections and checks and balances between factions of the one party. It works fine.

    The problem in Middletown is that you guys never run any real alternatives to the republican candidates.

    The problem is not having one party rule, but in getting Middletown to field 2 slates of tickets who are electable.

    Get with it and run some good candidates and the citizentry of Middletown will throw votes your way. Problem lies in your party. Get some candidates that hear what the residents are saying.

     

  • At 4:22 PM, Blogger Matt lives in Northern New York said…

    I fail to see how one dominating voice is ever a good thing, Democrat or Republican.

    But, anonymous is right. The Middletown Democrats have not historically placed electable candidates on their ballots.

    But, the Middletown Republicans have remained silent, effectively stiffling debate. Brightbill and Wilkens have yet to distinguish themselves as individuals. Their 2005 campaign was generally marked by silence. A similar tactic is being employed by Sodon.

    The tactic left an ill-equipped DeSevo and Borbely twisting in the wind. But, whether the tactic will work against Short, who is making a lot of noise on a numbr of issues, remains to be seen.

    The silent treatment can only work for so long. Will Middletown residents resign themselves to having candidates and representatives who refuse to take stands on issues? It is entirely possible, then again they might want someone slight more active.

     

  • At 9:55 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Thanks, matt.

    Here is my acid test for the one-party complaint. Since municipal elections are non-partisan, just don't run as democrats next election. Run the same candidates, but run them as "A Republican Alternative" - if the problem is the one-party system, then you will win. If, however, the problem is the candidates are lame, the party name won't help much.

    As for the republican silent campaign, why change what works? Since the democrats don't field a candidate that can seriously draw republican voters, they just rely on the numbers being in their favor and walk softly to a victory.

    If you want to win, you have to get more votes and to get more votes, you have to steal some of theirs. You can't do it by just appealing to the 'sense of fairness' of having 2 parties. Voters want to know that you think like them and will represent their interests. Voters don't care if it is 1 or 20 parties. They will elect someone who will fight for their causes.

     

  • At 4:33 AM, Blogger Joe Caliendo said…

    THIS COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED BASED ON THE TWO PARTY SYSTEM. TWO PARTIES HELP ENSURE THAT THINGS LIKE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN MIDDLETOWN DO NOT TAKE PLACE.

    BECAUSE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS DO NOT SHARE PARTY ORGANIZATIONS OR LEADERS POLITICALLY, THAT MAKES THEIR VESTED INTEREST BEING IN BEATING THE OTHER PARTY AT THE POLLS. FOR THIS REASON THE TWO PARTY SYSTEM BASICALLY PUTS THE TWO PARTIES AT EACH OTHER, WITH THE VOTER IN THE MIDDLE MAKING THEIR DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT SPECIFIC CANDIDATES THEY WANT.

    AS FOR ANY CONTENTION THAT DEMOCRATS SHOULD RUN AS REPUBLICANS. THAT MAKES NO SENSE WHATSOEVER.

    I DO NOT KNOW WHY MIDDLETOWN BECAME SO REPUBLICAN. I DO KNOW THAT WHEN POLITICAL BOSSES OF ANY PARTY START WORRYING ABOUT HOW MUCH THEY ARE MAKING OFF OF GOV'T IT'S A BAD THING.

    AND, YOU WILL NOT FIND ME DEFENDING HUDSON OR ESSEX COUNTY. I DON'T LIVE THERE AND DO NOT WANT TO. SO I AM NOT GOING TO DEFEND ANY ONE PARTY SYSTEM HERE IN MONMOUTH.

     

  • At 7:33 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Joe,
    Your post makes it clear why the democrats lose the elections in town. It is simple: you are out of touch with the voters of Middletown.

    1. TAKE THE CAPS LOCK OFF. It is 2006 and this shows you are not with it. We moved beyond all caps with computers in the 1970s and today we have 24% of the voters in town being between 18 and 24. They vote and view people who can't text message or who type in caps as Dinosaur. Sorry, but it is a turn off.

    P.S., only 12% of town are seniors who could relate to your typing, but most of them don't go online. Check with Matt if you think I am off base.

    2. Man, look where the residents come from? I am guessing the half the voters in town come from or have ties to strong democratic holds like Hudson County. By your comment, you alienate them and seem to be condescending.

    3. My suggestion to run as "Repiblican Alternative" was simply to point out that it is NOT the label of Democrat that causes you to lose, but the quality of the alternative you offer.

    4. Middletown has many dems and many who relate to the dem ideals more than the republican party these days. But, you still can't get the votes. Why is that? Again, Matt touched on it: if the other side won't debate, then you have to figure out how to reach the people with where you stand on issues.

    5. I am with you with the 2-party system, but YOU keep thinking that the 2-party pitch should get you some votes. I am suggesting to drop that plank in your platform. It is not only weak, but seems to be looking for the sympathy vote. You can have 2 parties and all the checks and balances and voter choice you want. Even if they are within the same party...or if the other choice is green or communist or any lable you pick. The key is to give voters a real choice. Run on a platform that is real and not polyana stuff like corruption or 2-party rule.

    This upcoming election is a great chance to win an office. You had a shot with Azzolina when he went bananas with the Town Center. You had a great shot this year with Ray's indictment. But, I can't even tell you who you ran against the newbies on the other side.

    The moment for the democratic party to rise up and be heard here in town is NOW. If you are stuck in the mud with the anti-hudson, caps-lock-on, vote-for-me-since-I-am-not-them stuff, the moment will pass your party by again.

     

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