Saint Paul Mayoral race/ Good or bad, a vote cast for the team.
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posted by Bob at Monday, November 16, 2009
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Monday, November 16, 2009
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46 Comments:
After a small vacation I am back!
How many of you out there ever seen the show Golden Girls? This is one of my ole lady's favorite shows. If you aren't aware of the show, it is based on 4 retired elderly women living in Florida sharing housing. Their names are Sophia, Dorthy, Blanche and Rose. I personally can't stand the show because the people who produce and write for the show never miss a chance to knock conservatives.
The character Rose Nylon is a Minnesotan, from Saint Olaf. Rose and all Minnesotans on this show are depicted as dim witted ignorant fools, something I believe the local dfl has come to believe and count on during elections.
With property taxes tripling in less than 4 years, civil rights violations abound and the vindictive nature of politics in Saint Paul, DFLers still cast a vote for Coleman. OR DID THEY?
I honestly believe the DFL could have used Daffy Duck as a candidate and he would have been elected. Citizens locally don't elect people, they elect their party! Even Bill Dahn could be elected with a DFL endorsement.
Eva Ng had a good message and the ability to see it through. She would of been a good mayor. The problem she had in my opinion is,
Eva had the Independent Party endorsement but she tied herself to republicans. Republicans have been demonized locally to the point they don't have much of a chance of being elected. Eva would have been better off to of distance herself from the Republican party.
At the expense of being called bigoted I didn't think a woman especially an Asian woman had a chance in hell of being elected. I had even mentioned to a close friend I thought the Republicans and Independents were working hand in hand to get Coleman elected with their choice of a candidate.
Sometime ago I suggested we give vacant housing in the inner city to police officers who live in the burbs. WOW, did I plant a seed? It wasn't but a few short weeks later we hear of the HEREOS initiative. A smart way for the dfl party to solidify votes with labor unions. Eric received big cash for bad political advice to Debbie Montgomery. I should get some dough for this one. :)
What conservatives need to win in Saint Paul is a flamboyant candidate that isn't afraid to throw some punches. I think all of us in the losers dog house can learn some lessons from Jesse Ventura's bid for governor. Think about this!
I know many of you were expecting us property rights advocates to do something during the last election. Many of us discussed this issue and some wanted Coleman to be reelected so he could carry the brunt of the fair housing lawsuits as they worked there way through the legal process. I also had concerns about campaign finance laws. IF, I had registered this town hall as a pac I could have received donations to attempt to impact the election.
I did sign on to Eva's campaign to distribute fliers and get a yard sign. I never heard from anyone with her campaign. I ponder why, and I am not so sure I like my conclusions.
Your opinions will be greatly appreciated.
Part One
With property taxes tripling in less than 4 years, civil rights violations abound and the vindictive nature of politics in Saint Paul, DFLers still cast a vote for Coleman. OR DID THEY?
The only truth you wrote is the property taxes rising. We are actually paying for what we use instead using fake money and specialized funds (like Coleman and Kelly did).
Chris Coleman's record of investing in neighborhoods, growing jobs (even in this economy) and supporting schools with after school programs has earned him national recognition for his innovation and earned him this re-election.
I honestly believe the DFL could have used Daffy Duck as a candidate and he would have been elected. Citizens locally don't elect people, they elect their party! Even Bill Dahn could be elected with a DFL endorsement.
Tell that to Sandy Pappas, Andy Dawkins, and Jay Benenav who were endorsed by the DFL and lost the election for mayor. Chris was the first DFLers to be endorsed and win in twelve years.
Eva Ng had a good message and the ability to see it through. She would of been a good mayor. The problem she had in my opinion is,
She had sound bites. Whenever pressed for details on how, she had nothing. Even when people are dissatisfied as you say, they will not vote for a candidate that doesn't stand for anything. Even if they have to vote for a candidate they may not agree with. That's what happened in NY-23 when the Democrat got elected after 140 years of Republicans.
Eva had the Independent Party endorsement but she tied herself to republicans. Republicans have been demonized locally to the point they don't have much of a chance of being elected. Eva would have been better off to of distance herself from the Republican party.
Eva, was too endorsed by the Republicans. She was on their state website and enjoyed the full power of the state party behind her and money from fundraisers with Pawlenty and Coleman. No republican has had that kind of support in St Paul including Norm Coleman and Randy Kelly. She was a bad, bad candidate.
At the expense of being called bigoted I didn't think a woman especially an Asian woman had a chance in hell of being elected. I had even mentioned to a close friend I thought the Republicans and Independents were working hand in hand to get Coleman elected with their choice of a candidate.
DFLers were able to get at least three Asian women elected here. Kazoua Kong Thao is the Chair of the Saint Paul School Board and Vally Moua Varro is is also on the school board. Both elected city wide. Mee Moua is a state senator (one of four in st paul)from the East Side.
end part one
Eric
Part Two:
Sometime ago I suggested we give vacant housing in the inner city to police officers who live in the burbs. WOW, did I plant a seed? It wasn't but a few short weeks later we hear of the HEREOS initiative. A smart way for the dfl party to solidify votes with labor unions.
State law prevents residency rules for city employees. You can thank the Minneapolis cops for fighting for this. I'm all for residency rules. If the people who service the city, actually had to live in the city, I'm sure we'd get a better level of service and therefore more bang for our buck.
Eric received big cash for bad political advice to Debbie Montgomery. I should get some dough for this one. :)
Hey Bob, I've told you before, you can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink. I ought to threaten you with a suit for writing this shit on my work (I'll wait until your windfall payoff from the slumlord suit). I only took half to a third of my normal rate and mathematically and historically, my plan was sound.
Much later, after talking to my colleagues who ran Carter's campaign, I found out we had very similar plans. Melvin executed better. Of course, Debbie was still working the day job and had to study up and be places which took away from her campaign time. Melvin went at it hard. He worked hard for it and won the endorsement. That's how it goes.
What conservatives need to win in Saint Paul is a flamboyant candidate that isn't afraid to throw some punches. I think all of us in the losers dog house can learn some lessons from Jesse Ventura's bid for governor. Think about this!
Yes. More bluster, no substance is what they need. How about actually putting forth candidates that can address problems people in the city face. Don't just say the schools are bad and blame the teachers union and taxes, say what you're going to do to fix it.
We are not so stupid that a candidate can both promise to cut taxes and increase services. It works for republicans running for congress (because they can be outvoted for something sensible by the other members), but it doesn't work for an executive.
I know many of you were expecting us property rights advocates to do something during the last election. Many of us discussed this issue and some wanted Coleman to be reelected so he could carry the brunt of the fair housing lawsuits as they worked there way through the legal process.
Yes, with all of the shit you guys talk on here, I'm surprised you sat on your collective asses and just, talked shit on here.
Waiting for that lawsuit- which has already been thrown out- to produce anything is a great excuse to do nothing.
Eva never had a chance.
I also had concerns about campaign finance laws. IF, I had registered this town hall as a pac I could have received donations to attempt to impact the election.
See you in four more years.
I did sign on to Eva's campaign to distribute fliers and get a yard sign. I never heard from anyone with her campaign. I ponder why, and I am not so sure I like my conclusions.
Again, she ran a horrible campaign and was a horrible candidate but, the Republicans made her much better.
Your opinions will be greatly appreciated
You got it.
Eric
"We are actually paying for what we use instead using fake money and specialized funds (like Coleman and Kelly did)."
Then please do us all a favor and tell the mayor and the rest of your dimwitted ilk to STFU and PAY.
Just send it in and STFU.
After this election, I cannot wait for the opportunity to publicly pin back the ears of the first moonbat that squirts tears about taxes, or LGA, or teh poor, starving children.
You're going to pay, and pay, and pay for less and less and less. End of story.
And that goes for your crappy, bottom of the barrel public schools as well.
You will get excess levy referendums every year to pay for a achievement gap and failure rate that has made SPPS the laughingstock of the nation.
Keep sending your kids there and keep paying. We will always need septic service and shoe shine stands; your kids will do fine.
You lefty morons have exactly the leadership you wanted...have yourselves a nice asshat dance around the peace pole.
Swiftee, Swifty, Swifti,
For a guy who lives in a city just one block from us, you sure are wishing for a lot of mayhem. Where do you think it will spill over if your dream comes true?
You still bitter from that past election? I thought you were done with us?
I just transferred my kids from a private suburban school into a St Paul Public School. A public school where 85% score above the state math standards. Its also ranked as one of the states best elementary schools. They seemed to understand how to close the achievement gap and lift expectations which is part of the task as well. The students are held to a high standard, and they meet and even exceed those standards.
There is another school over here on the East Side that is nationally recognized for math science yet, most of its students are on free reduced lunches. It didn't stop them from achieving.
For the record, Saint Paul Schools are still some of the best in the nation and are not a laughing stock, but a desired model (in some aspects) to reach.
Septic workers and shoe shiners are not jobs to be mocked when you're nothing but a wire jockey. Its all honorable work that can't be outsourced by Republicans who don't give a shit about working families.
My kids will probably both go into actuary science or engineering. They enjoy math and excel at it.
You can take that peace pole and sit on it.
Eric
See you in four more years.
See you in 2011......
Well thank you for your "opinion" Eric!
Eric, you can't sue me for my opinion.
You know what I think Eric, maybe all those Watchdog Newspapers I distributed and talks to the neighbors in Montgomery's ward had an effect on the last city council election. I and the Watchdog were pounding the gentrification issue pretty hard. Carter took advantage of the property rights activist attacks on Debbie. Carter's supposed concerns about gentrification were nothing more than lip service to aide him in his election.
Tell me Eric, did you or other dfl hacks get the heroes initiative from a seed here? I noticed you didn't comment much on this. My intuition tells me the idea was taken from this forum you claim is the lowest common denominator.
As to your recent insinuations I don't have a pot to piss in Eric. I love this city so much I attempted to donate a $2500 website I paid for "out of my pocket", to the Highland District Council. I could easily donate $2500 or more out of my pocket counter suing you against any legal wrath you or anyone else sent my way. You want folks to see how pitifully poor you think I am, bring it on! I and this town hall are represented by not one but several law firms and bountiful cash backing us. Enough money to bankrupt a city attorneys office. :)
To clarify, I wasn't saying a woman or Asian couldn't get elected. In my opinion, IF the DFL had endorsed Eva she would of had a chance. Eva was riding the wrong horse to get elected as a woman and an Asian in Saint Paul.
Just my opinion.
Eric, you can't sue me for my opinion.
Really? What do you think suits based on slander and libel are about? Facts?
Talk to your trial lawyer buddies.
Answer me this Eric, did Debbie get $5000 worth of advice? I don't think so, if she did she would be on the city council. I don't recall anyone else in any other campaign receive such a high fee for consultation. Your advice must be special. :)
Its a more than advice Bob. You don't understand that profession so I won't bore you. It was $7500 for three months and to answer your question- yes. Its not special. I have about 12 years of experience leading people to the DFL endorsement. She was not endorsed before when she won and I thought I could help her correct that. Again, my plan and strategy wasn't brain surgery, it was simple and almost basic endorsement activities.
You know what I think Eric, maybe all those Watchdog Newspapers I distributed and talks to the neighbors in Montgomery's ward had an effect on the last city council election. I and the Watchdog were pounding the gentrification issue pretty hard. Carter took advantage of the property rights activist attacks on Debbie. Carter's supposed concerns about gentrification were nothing more than lip service to aide him in his election.
Yes Bob, that's it. Your newspaper. It had nothing to do with this being a close knit community where the contest was between two people who had deep roots in the community. Carter's father came close to beating out Montgomery for the endorsement four years earlier. His mother represents the area on County Board. His grandfather (also named Melvin) was known in neighborhood too.
Debbie's family also go back to Rondo days. She is well-known throughout the community too.
The winner of the endorsement was going to be the one who worked hardest to turn out their supporters and walk them through the DFL process so that they cam become delegates and vote for them.
Debbie lost the endorsement by only six delegates. I quit earlier that week. Anything that happen beyond the endorsement had not input by me. Although, you are trying your best to make it so. I was no where near that campaign.
end part one
Eric
Part Two:
Tell me Eric, did you or other dfl hacks get the heroes initiative from a seed here? I noticed you didn't comment much on this. My intuition tells me the idea was taken from this forum you claim is the lowest common denominator.
Bob, you are like Bill Dahn when it comes to this blog. Bill Dahn thinks he had something to do with Jesse Ventura getting elected and lets us know every chance he gets. You are that way with this blog. No one reads this for influence. My father was a fireman and my uncle was a cop in a city (Chicago) that had a residency rule. I knew the benefits of living in a neighborhood with city employees. I worked over in Minneapolis when I lived there to try and bring that rule back years before you wrote anything. Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton and Council President Jackie Cherryhomes talked about incentives to cops for living in the city since they have state statute preventing them from making it mandatory. Dozens of big cities have wrestled with this over the years. Council research would provided dozens of case studies where it worked and failed. But, if you think its because of your blog- good for you. Tell us about your insulation.
As to your recent insinuations I don't have a pot to piss in Eric. I love this city so much I attempted to donate a $2500 website I paid for "out of my pocket", to the Highland District Council. I could easily donate $2500 or more out of my pocket counter suing you against any legal wrath you or anyone else sent my way. You want folks to see how pitifully poor you think I am, bring it on! I and this town hall are represented by not one but several law firms and bountiful cash backing us. Enough money to bankrupt a city attorneys office. :)
Tough talk for one who's already lost twice with this case. I would try to explain how you can't bankrupt a city department but, you're already talking about a whole lot you are obviously clueless on. So, I'll say, OK Bob that sounds logical.
To clarify, I wasn't saying a woman or Asian couldn't get elected. In my opinion, IF the DFL had endorsed Eva she would of had a chance. Eva was riding the wrong horse to get elected as a woman and an Asian in Saint Paul.
So when you wrote "I didn't think a woman especially an Asian woman had a chance in hell of being elected."--earlier today, you really didn't mean woman or Asian? You just meant Republican?
The real story here is ERIC BREATHES LIFE BACK INTO DEAD BLOG, BOB JOHNSON SAYS BLOG NEVER DEAD, JUST SLEEPING WITH EYES CLOSED, HEART STOPPED AND BREATHING PAUSED.
Eric
Breathe of Fresh Air Continental Congress LIVE Right NOW
http://www.givemeliberty.org/CC2009/default.htm
Eric, you once said to Bill Dahn in a private conversation, "It is my job to get them elected (DFL candidates), once they get in office I don't care what they do". Now you will tell us Bill lied. This is your moral foundation. It is all about money and appeasing your party. You don't give a damn about right or wrong. All you care about is the almighty dollar, and the image of your party.
Eric said;
Tough talk for one who's already lost twice with this case. I would try to explain how you can't bankrupt a city department but, you're already talking about a whole lot you are obviously clueless on. So, I'll say, OK Bob that sounds logical.
My response;
OK so we can't bankrupt a city office. It isn't possible to bankrupt a city office who has all the tax payers money they can spend. I could of used a better choice of words. What can happen to a city attorneys office is, they can be made to beg for money above and beyond their budget, RIGHT ERIC? Didn't Choi beg for money from the city council because he claimed the city attorneys office was cash depleted defending the city against the numerous lawsuits initiated by bad city policies over housing.
Rumour has it Choi in private warned our leadership the ordinances pertaining to housing could leave the city vulnerable to legal action. This message from Choi didn't get in the way of arrogance from the powers that be.
I would be a liar like you Eric if I claimed you aren't part of the life blood of this town hall. But, don't fool yourself, you don't make it all happen. Jeesh, your ego is what you claim mine to be. I was able to stay away from here a lot longer than you ever have. :) You are hooked on this town hall like many of us. You like to fight, you like the unexpected, and you aren't getting a fight like the one you want any place but here.
Fact is politics has been boring in Saint Paul until us property rights advocates started having some fun and you know it Eric. However, I wouldn't expect to get any credit from you. To you we are the enemy here. An obstacle, something to overcome. And Eric, if this forum is insignificant as you would like folks to believe, then why do you spend so much time here? In fact you spend more time here than I do and I am the host.
Back to the mayoral race.
Eva lost the vast majority of property rights advocates votes when she didn't respond to our questions.
So when you wrote "I didn't think a woman especially an Asian woman had a chance in hell of being elected."--earlier today, you really didn't mean woman or Asian? You just meant Republican
My response;
Eric with small numbers voting it is only common sense to figure citizens prejudices into the equation, gender, race and poltical affiliation. I meant every word of what I said.
One day people will of had enough of the status quo and fund a real campaign for change. Then Eric, your plate will be full.
Eric, you once said to Bill Dahn in a private conversation, "It is my job to get them elected (DFL candidates), once they get in office I don't care what they do".
I never said that and Bill didn't tell you that. All about the money? I wasn't a contractor and was paid rather we won or lost. I was a $48k/yr lowly party employee back then. My job was on the election side. There are counter parts who are staffers on the governing side. They handle the elected official's business after the election.
Bill was in the DFL office complaining about the Independent Party Governor. WTF could I do? I tried to help Bill and he pissed on that so, the hell with him. That's what I was thinking back then.
Second, why in the blue blazes would I, a political professional, confide in a Bill Dahn- a virtual stranger who had mental issues he needed to deal with? I wouldn't. Most people wouldn't.
This is your moral foundation. It is all about money and appeasing your party. You don't give a damn about right or wrong.
No its not but, don't let the truth stop you from writing.
You can fact check yourself in your previous accusations about me in paragraph eight. I took a lesser amount of money to work and endorsement race for a candidate who never received the DFL Party endorsement. While DFLers and progressives worked for another candidate.
What else you got?
Rumour has it... that if you eat a handful of Poprocks with a gulp of Coke, you will die. This whole blog is one step below rumors.
This next one is classic:
I would be a liar like you Eric if I claimed you aren't part of the life blood of this town hall.
Liar like me? You mean starting a blog and giving it mission statement like :"On A Truth Seeking Mission" but then engages in passing rumors?
Fact is politics has been boring in Saint Paul until us property rights advocates started having some fun and you know it Eric. However, I wouldn't expect to get any credit from you. To you we are the enemy here.
That's because the term 'property rights' is so offensive. People have rights, not property or corporations - or that's how it should be.
I'll stick with those who care about the rights of people and you can advocate for the those who believe in the rights of Property.
Eric
I said;
Eric, you once said to Bill Dahn in a private conversation, "It is my job to get them elected (DFL candidates), once they get in office I don't care what they do".
Eric said;
I never said that and Bill didn't tell you that.
My response;
Bill said this to me some months ago. Today I recited it to the best of my knowledge. Bill visited me at my home today and read what I posted and said it wasn't your exact words but real close with the same meaning. Bill said he would comment on this.
Eric, it's not a rumour when it comes from the horses mouth.
Eric said;
That's because the term 'property rights' is so offensive. People have rights, not property or corporations - or that's how it should be.
I'll stick with those who care about the rights of people and you can advocate for the those who believe in the rights of Property.
My response;
RESPECT for property rights enhances freedom Eric! Property rights are constitutionally guaranteed for a reason Eric!
You are right about one thing Eric, people have rights. PROPERTY RIGHTS, I wish you and your ilk respected that.
Eric
does the dfl'ers think they will get away with any election fraud or campaign violations.
the union and dfl party used their wealth to get Chris Coleman back in office so they can control St.Paul by controlling the mayors office.
Eric, it's not a rumour when it comes from the horses mouth.
You're passing on information you were told that was supposedly told to that person. That person stopped by your house today and we find out that you still got it wrong.
The horses mouth is telling, I shared nothing with Bill and I don't feel that way.
You also said Rumour has it Choi in private warned our leadership the ordinances pertaining to housing could leave the city vulnerable to legal action.
In that instance, Choi would be the horse but, you didn't hear him say it. You heard nothing but, still write this stuff.
Once again you defeat yourself with own words. Shakespeare described you best in Hamlet when he wrote the phrase: "hoisted on his own petard". That's you Bob when you tangle with me.
8:16
Eric
does the dfl'ers think they will get away with any election fraud or campaign violations.
the union and dfl party used their wealth to get Chris Coleman back in office so they can control St.Paul by controlling the mayors office.
Only if you think you can get away with murdering the English language like that.
The city DFL was up against a state Republican Party. I saw the deputy state chair of the GOP canvassing on election day. I know the sitting governor and former Senator and Mayor of St Paul, Norm Coleman had fundraisers for her. Chris Coleman didn't have Klobuchar raising any money for him, or the governor on his side.
This election, the DFL did spend a lot of money to re-elect the Mayor. When you have a record of getting things done, it speaks for itself.
Eric
Eric, all of us regulars have witnessed you eat plenty of crow meat here over the years. Good grammar doesn't win debates. The truth does.
You are a self proclaim spingalee of the English grammar. "Petard", teh! Only queers and intellects will get your drift. Why don't you just come out and say you think you are a big fu*king bomb around here? Us blue collar guys will get it then.
Eric from my experience with you over the years, I believe every word of what Bill said to me concerning you. No grammar will change that. You feed from the troth and your prerogative is to keep the slop flowing.
Swiftee, look at Capitol Hill Magnet, Nokomis Montessori, Farnsworth and L'Etoile Du Nord.
Then pick up your face and eat those words.
Pffft!
Eric
How fare will Eric get in life if he had to work with his hands and not his mouth.
If you are really good with you mouth go see Norm Coleman's dad, he will be in the parking lot behind Seronos Pizza.
Who's Next
It's Reds Savoy's Pizza and I'm good with my brain, not so much the mouth.
If you want to know, as an adult I've had to work as a bellhop, lift truck driver, general laborer in road construction, Builder in a Truss Plant and maintenance in a plastic factory.
You don't come out of college being a consultant- not a real one. You got work your way doing all of the shit work and having to take other jobs to make ends meet. Especially in Minnesota where it seems everyone is related those with relatives, get access. Those labor jobs helped me appreciate an education and be a strong supporter of unions.
So before I used my head, I used my back. For me, using my head was a better bet. So far, so good.
Eric
Back to the point of the post. Ng is having issues with a complaint filed by her former campaign manager, I know she was not on top of returning calls to reporters, didn't have a lot of substance to her answers and there fore did not demonstrate an understanding of the issues and was just a generally poor candidate.
The Scoop has the story:
Ex campaign manager to Ng: You owe me money -- and broke campaign law
By City Hall Scoop on November 13, 2009 5:02 PM
Of course, this all comes down after the election...
The Scoop remembers sniffing something way back in September, when St. Paul mayoral candidate Eva Ng's campaign manager, Lisa Belak, stepped away from the Eva for Mayor campaign. After all, when someone leaves a campaign suddenly, there's always something.
All involved said no no no, but now we learn, yes yes yes.
Belak has filed a complaint with the Minnesota Office of Administrative Hearings, accusing Ng of being chintzy and of violating campaign finance laws.
To wit, according to a memorandum by Administrative Law Judge Eric L. Lipman:
"Complainant Lisa Belak, was Ms. Ng's campaign manager until she resigned on August 31, 2009. Ms. Belak alleges in her complaint that Ms. Ng and the Treasurer of Ms. Ng's campaign committee violated Minn. Stat. §§ 211A.02 and 211A.06 by failing to account for campaign expenditures in the campaign finance reports filed in September and October 2009. Specifically, Ms. Belak alleges that she provided Ms. Ng and her campaign committee with $1,700 worth of consulting services and $1,788.57 in campaign materials (printing services, office supplies) that the Respondents have not reimbursed her for, and did not account for on the Ms. Eng's campaign financial reports."
Lipman this week ruled Belak has made a prima facie case and a ordered an evidentiary hearing within 90 days. Click here for the order.
Ng says she's done nothing wrong. "This is an accounting issue, and Lisa has not behaved properly," she said. In fact, Ng said she wasn't aware of Belak's complaint, filed Nov. 6, until a PiPress reporter told her about it. But she was aware of the issues.
For the consulting fees, Ng responded that Belak never signed a contract, hasn't supplied proper invoices and never did work she wasn't paid for. "We put that contract in front of her face. She never signed it, and in the end, I had to let her go. ... And she never gave us never, never a single invoice."
Belak responds that emails accounting for her work should have sufficed.
For the supplies, Ng says, "We didn't know about those supplies until she left. Then all of a sudden, she throws down a pile of receipts -- and they weren't even verified." Thus, Ng says, the campaign shouldn't have had to report any of it, since it wasn't verified as legit.
Belak responds: "All the supplies that were purchased used used on behalf of the campaign."
See above, where Ng said she "had to let her go"? So Ng fired Belak? Ng, a corporate executive , who had never run for public office before, bristled at that word. "I don't ever want to say I fired somebody. ... You could use 'mutual separation.'"
Belak said she left on her own accord "for a variety of reasons," not all of which were related to the campaign.
Belak said she waited until after the election to file her complaint "to be low on the radar" and not interfere with the race. "I'm going through this process to get reimbursed and to hold people accountable," she said.
OK, OK, the Scoop gets that Belak wanted to keep a behind-the-scenes spat behind the scenes during the campaign. But this all does make the Scoop wonder about the DFL's purportedly skilled opposition research...
Eric
Well isn't that interesting.
Seems SPPS has replaced public access to the raw MCAII *and* BST scores with meaningless bar charts.
Oh, yeah. My radar is way up now.
I'm not interested in the sanitized, colorized, dimwit version, dolt. I want to dive right in and see the real data in excel...just like you did.
After all, since you "use your head", I'm sure you wouldn't be duped by the asinine hand-outs the district has posted either...no, indeed. A scary smart consultant like you would demand the whole story.
Since you opened your pie hole, I'm sure you've had access to the numbers, dolt. Please share the link so we can all have a laugh at your gullible ass.
Maybe Bob will send out 60,000 e-mails! HAHA!
To what end Tom?
For the one upsmanship?
Naw, you can do your own homework. Those four schools are tops. Spend your own time tearing it apart or pissing on them. You're so good at shitting on things.
We've done our homework and using the same measurements that we used in Mahtomedi (which even you will acknowledge is one of the best districts in the state)these four schools measure up.
We all know that this isn't about schools. Its your ongoing vengeance against the school district since you were rejected by the voters. Also, its something I wrote so you decidedly must take a stand of opposition.
So, do your own damn research or not. I don't care. You know most on here won't and will line up with you to shit on another institution.
Eric
MCA-II Scores
L'Etoile Du Nord
http://www.greatschools.net/modperl/achievement/mn/2110#mca
Capitol Hill Magnet/Rondo
http://www.greatschools.net/modperl/achievement/mn/2068#mca
Nokomis Montessori
http://www.greatschools.net/modperl/achievement/mn/2014#mca
Rankings of MCA-II Math scores in St Paul (take note that two of the top three are East Side schools)
http://www.greatschools.net/cgi-bin/cs_compare/mn/?level=e&area=d&district=437&sortby=mca_math&tab=acad
You can take it from there. As I said yesterday, we have schools that have over 90% of the students meet or exceed standards.
That is according to the MCAII scores in math and reading. That's the standard you asked for isn't it Swiftee?
Eric
Yeah, if I was so half assed careless about where I sent my kids to school, I wouldn't want to make it any easier for people to make notice of it either, Dolt.
You just can't handle the truth, can you?
I shit in toilets. And that is exactly what the left has turned our once proud public schools into. 43% of SPPS seniors hit the streets without a diploma every year. Did you know that, Dolt? That's who your kids are going to school with.
In many schools, 60% or more of the kids can't pass the basic skills test which quite simply means they cannot read at all...That's why those numbers are no longer available to the public.
I would no sooner send one of my kids into that cesspool than I would run them over with my car.
I feel it's my sacred duty to provide my kids with every tool I can to help them be successful in life. That's why the wife and I finance their private educations on top of subsidizing the public sink hole...but that's us; you just keep telling yourself your kids are getting "top notch" educations in SPPS there, sport.
That is the same crap the district is putting out. It doesn't say how many kids didn't take the test.
Past history shows that as many as 40% of students from any given school do not take MCA tests.
90% of 60% leaves a lot of kids out in the cold.
Capital Hill was a shining beacon of excellence at one time. But the leftists in charge decided that there weren't enough minority kids attending, so they instituted a new admittance test based upon "alternative intelligences"....it was based upon pure moonbat bullshit that a certified kook named June Maker pulled out of her ass:
http://www.gifted.uconn.edu/nrcgt/maker.html
I know this because I administered the test during it's trial period.
It was, and as far as I know continues to be a fucking disaster.
The only way to wring the truth out of the school district is to analyze the raw data....which you cannot fine, can you?
I ought to threaten you with a suit for writing this shit on my work
Er, no, Eric. You can't.
Read the Minnesota defamation statute.
To be actionable, Bob would have had to...:
1) say somethign defamatory about you that was untrue, that...
2) he portrays as a fact, rather than his opinion, and that something would have to have...
3) damaged your reputation, finances, business or community standing.
4) And since you're a "limited public figure" under Minnesota law, you'd also have to prove malice.
You need ALL FOUR.
1 would be a stretch even IF 2 was pretty clearly opinion. 3 is a bigger stretch; the community is going to think less of you because of Bob's opinion? And as to 4? Not a chance in hell you can show even a drunk, insane Jury that Bob intended his remark to do harm.
As misguided as I think the RICO suits are, yours would be worse.
But by all means do it!
That second paragraph from the end should read:
"1 would be a stretch even IF 2 wasn't pretty clearly opinion. 3 is a bigger stretch; the community is going to think less of you because of Bob's opinion? And as to 4? Not a chance in hell you can show even a drunk, insane Jury that Bob intended his remark to do harm."
One other part to the statute; there has to be a third party involved. I left that out because it's a public blog and I didn't need to be redundant. But if I don't add it, someone will point out that I didn't. Don't need that.
Bud,
here's a little secret for you:
99.5% of defamation cases brought by non-public citizens fail. The burden is indeed high so that it doesn't put the squeeze on the first amendment.
Saying I ought to, and I will are two different things. You're a fan of the law- its the ol' 'shall' and 'should' difference.
Eric
Saying I ought to, and I will are two different things.
So if you know that you haven't the faintest legal leg to stand on, then what you're doing is blustering?
You're a fan of the law- its the ol' 'shall' and 'should' difference.
Right.
And since you "can't", the question is "why would"?
Some times I feel Eric isn't playing with a full deck.
What's your opinion.
I don't have opinions about other guys "decks".
But when people threaten legal action, it means only one thing.
If they don't know that they don't have a legal leg to stand on, it means they're ill-informed, but they're sincerely trying to intimidate someone.
If they DO know they don't have a leg to stand on, but make the threat anyway, it means they are BSing to try to intimidate someone.
And if they believe, wrongly, that they have a legal leg to stand on, it means they think they have the means to intimidate someone.
What do all these have in common?
How did the Thread go from Voting to Legal Action.Affiant does not threaten, Filed A09-2031http://www.slideshare.net/Sharon4Anderson/sharons-appeal-a092031
Forcing the Courts to have Links for the Average person Title 18 Charges against Auditor Mark Oswald Supervisor Election/Taxes
Put your Money where your Mouth is
Thank god Eric is back! Finally something interesting.
I want to differ with Eric about SPPS. I'm not impressed. I sent my child to Crossroads Elementary for about a month. The attitude and language he learned was enough to have me pull him from the school and find a private school for the rest of the year.
It doesn't have the test scores of the schools that you mentioned but it was a school of excellence the last 5 years.
While his teacher was great - the assistants were grumpy, rude and disrespectful of the children.
When we asked our child about the assistant he said "she isn't always mad, Dad."
It was just an unacceptable situation. He was learning to not get into trouble or punished, not receiving an education. He was learning how not to be noticed. Just what you want for your child, right?
Jonathan
I'm glad you are all back! Interesting, albeit broad reaching, blog!
Eric 1:56 PM
My kids will probably both go into actuary science or engineering. They enjoy math and excel at it.
You can take that peace pole and sit on it.
Yes Sir Commander E
They haven't run you out yet Eric? I haven't been around for a while but I figured they'd have you chianed up in the back yard by now! Still spouting you shit huh?
1:36 PM Jonathan said
The attitude and language he learned was enough to have me pull him from the school and find a private school for the rest of the year.
Jonathan
Not everyone has the money to put their children in a privet school.
This sounds like the mayor has to make sure these teacher are capable of teaching and they all should have taken a college coarse of Child Psychology to be able to reach out and handle the child.
Understanding instead of anger work with these kid.
1. Bob asked for our opinion and I gave it to him stanza by stanza in the second and third post on this thread. No one counters any of that.
2. Swiftee comes on says something about all public schools- which is sweeping and dumb but par for course for him. I correct him. He asked for examples, I give it to him using the same test scores one of the best school districts in the state use- Mahtomedi. I know because that where we had our kids first. Swiftee goes on to rant but, never addresses anything.
3. Bud Lightening tries to make the argument that lawsuits are for winning and if you can't win, you shouldn't file for one. He ignores decades of precedence in which lawsuits bring out other evidence. You may lose the libel suit but, the court may find you do solid work. That's helpful. Kenneth Starr totally failed to nail Bill Clinton in Whitewater. He lost that but, he did find out about the affair and it ultimately led to Clinton being impeached. He is clearly not an attorney.
4. People are still making comments half-assed informed or completely uninformed. no one calls them on it because its what you want to hear.
5. Jonathan and other. Read the links to the school test scores and data. Those schools I named are nothing like the ones you named (or one). I would go back to paying for private school in burbs if the schools were like Crossroads or some of these others.
Those are the reasons I've felt that I have posted enough.
Eric
Jonathan
Not everyone has the money to put their children in a privet school.
This sounds like the mayor has to make sure these teacher are capable of teaching and they all should have taken a college coarse of Child Psychology to be able to reach out and handle the child.
Understanding instead of anger work with these kid.
This is what I mean about uninformed comments and stating them like facts.
Every single teacher that has a license in Minnesota, had to take several child psychology classes. There is a set of standards that they must pass and specific classes address this.
Democrats are trying to add more classes, in order to be licensed to teach and Republicans are trying to weaken the standards and preparations.
Why? Because they don't believe in the professionalism of teaching and want people who have worked in other fields to be licensed to teach without going through the standards, as you have mentioned and observed are pretty necessary.
The mayor has nothing to do with this. Its a state standard that the MN Dept of Education grants the licenses and set the standards. The local school boards has jurisdiction over everything else. Including taxing power. The mayor and city council does not and can not.
Again, they already take these courses and the schools are full of aides and paras who focus in on these children. These problems go beyond the school day with each and everyone of these kids. If they are learning discipline, respect or time management at home, let alone living in fear of the people around them, moving yet again, what to eat, and other things children shouldn't have to worry about- what makes you think a few hours a day of change is going to help much?
The main difference- in my own non-scientific thoughts- is the involvement of parents in the kids education. In Mahtomedi the PTO and every school event is well attended. Teachers and parents correspond all the time, parents are showing up at parent meetings etc. I found that same thing with my kids current school.
Aside from test scores and parental involvement at this school, it also has the most student enrolled from suburban districts like Woodbury and White Bear Lake.
Its a very good school in spite of what Tom says. There are several in St Paul. Parents who take the time to do their homework on these schools and work with the kids, can find great schools.
Eric
kids are smarter than we are
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Eric 8:54 AM
Yes Mr Eric why did Jonathan put the children in a privet school.
We have to make public schools equivalent to the privet ones, so all kids get a good education.
Eric what type school did you attend, maybe it was catholic.
To all at A democracy
Have a mellow Thanksgiving .
I went to catholic and public schools.
Jonathan was talking subjectively and named the school. I'm not defending that one at all- or most of them.
I named several public schools that are tops. Small classes, high scores.
My point was that there are some very good public schools as opposed Tom Swift's point that they are all bad and a laughing stock of the nation (yet, we keep losing our superintendents to other cities who are willing to pay more for their expertise).
That's all.
Eric
There is always home schooling,
children would need a parent with knowledge for that to work, plus a parent not working or working from home.
I also with to a catholic school for a while, I liked public school better.
Harding and Johnson High Schools were nice.
Eric,
You are no Ken Starr. Your little "Maybe I'll Sue" thing was nothing more than trying to intimidate Bob. I called you on it, and your trying make a silk purse out of a sows ear. You are trying to bully people, and now your waffling because you were busted.
I dont expect you to admit it, but thats all there was to it.
As to public verses private versus charter schools - it is easy to cherrypick public schools that work well, they do exist. But there's one thing they have in common. Most of them are SMALL.
Saint Paul schools are FECKING HUGE. And there is NO NO NO NO NO way to make a HUGE school anything but a cutrate warehouse for kids.
Yes Eric, what ever you say is Gospel and your GOD of this Blog for sure,
and the Martin Luther King of Minnesota DFL
Thank God
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