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- Tom Ferrick on the Library Fight
Anyone notice the downward trend of Councilman Kenney's Posts?
Submitted by Matt Scobell on Wed, 04/18/2007 - 8:52pm.
After accepting $10,000 from his political patron Bob Brady, Councilman Kenney continues to use this forum to openly criticize his patron's biggest and most relevant opponent. He even admits in another thread that he whacks Tom Knox's Press Secretary Susan Madrak around.
The Councilman's posts here have consistently devolved into bitter and sarcastic comments and rants a la gman. He's here attacking Knox on Brady's behalf because Knox has a plan for Philadelphia; Kenney's patron does not.
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Jim Kenney is not a shill
He honestly supports Bob Brady. Anyone who's spoken to him can tell that.
You're not going to get much traction around here painting Jim with such a wide brush. Even those of us who argue with him respect him far too much to accept your $10K theory.
I'd say Jim sounds most strident when he's defending Frank DiCicco. But Frank's is a hard case to make on a progressive website.
To a progressive crowd, Vern Anastasio, a good government and consistently anti-casino activist, is going to sound preferable to a former Republican and unreformed machine candidate like DiCicco, who had to flip-flop on casinos in the past 12 months just in order to run for re-election.
(To DiCicco's credit, he's done some good things since his Road to Damascus coversion on the casino fight; however, Vern, who's always fought them, is justified in taking some credit for pressuring Frank into finally doing the right thing.)
Even though I think Kenney sounds wrong sometimes when he defends Frank--just as I think Frank sounds tortuous sometimes when defends his casino flip-flop and his relationship with the indicted State Senator Fumo--I think your broadside is just too broad.
Jim is an honest Brady supporter who's simply stuck defending a friend's mediocre-at-best Council record.
Proudly supporting the BEAUTIFUL Philly For Change Council Slate and MICHAEL NUTTER for Mayor
I'll make the case -
I'll make the case - Councilman DeCicco stood up in 2002 when no one else did to be lead sponsor to ammend the Fair Practices Ordinance to enfranchise transgender Philadelphians. His staff (David Fitz) met with us several hours every week for over a year working on this landmark legislation. Back then - only about 5% of the US population lived in municipalities enjoying this coverage. Many of the non lgbt "progressive" groups thought the extreme discrimination and violence faced by transgender Philadelphians was beneath their notice. It wasn't popular. Several religous organizations including the Councilman's church oppossed it. Indeed - some "progressive" organizations in this City were very the ones that fired people merely due to their transgender status. Several city agencies, and cultural institutions as well.
Skip ahead 5 years - due in no small part to the leadership exhibited by Councilman DeCicco & the other members of City Council (like Councilman Kenney) who voted with him - over 33% of the country has similar legislation. With more passing every day and with similar legislation being introduced in Congress shortly. That's progressive leadership.
When his opponent says Frank doesn't like lgbt people - it's such a pathetic lie that I can't help cracking up. There's a reason why his opponent was chased away from Woody's Bar this week when he tried to hand out flyers saying the Councilman hates lgbt people. Actually - there's many reasons.
Gee, I dunno, Sam...
Isn't that what you just said?
From Wikipedia:
Press secretary, Knox campaign. Blogger on hiatus, former award-winning journalist.
Shill for DiCicco, yes
You got me. Happy to admit it.
Good use of boldface, too.
I'm just not comfortable implying Jim Kenney's BOUGHT.
Btw, Susan, you have been one poised, bright, cheerful punching bag on this site.
MOST impressed. Good to know there's a place in politics for intelligent bloggers!
Proudly supporting the BEAUTIFUL Philly For Change Council Slate and MICHAEL NUTTER for Mayor
Former award winning
journalist. Was that a Pulitzer or what? If one is an award winner, does one need to tell everyone? Shouldn't we know it already?
www.jameskenney.com
www.311forphilly.com
Dude
Chill.
I generally like you, but, your contributions to this site aren't very constructive.
---
Check out my blog!
I am currently working for Marc Stier and Ellen Green-Ceisler.
Thanks,
but my comments are honest. S&M says whatever she wants, however she wants, to who ever she wants without criticism. So, why the need for me to chill? Have you asked the paid mercenary to "chill" on her regular, personal attacks on all who disagree with her?
www.jameskenney.com
www.311forphilly.com
If Kenney's contributions to this site...
Aren't constructive, than I don't know how many people's are. Jim has posted a lot less since the primaries began in full, and as the conversation on the site has (predictably) devolved as everyone rushes to push "their guy" (which happens, it seems, in every contested primary), but his continued engagement on this blog is a testament to the dedication and heart of man who is working his ass off every day to make this city a much better place. (I'd start my "Draft Kenney" site now, but the next mayors race isn't for four years and I wouldn't want to lose Kenney to a "higher office" when we desperately need more people just like him running this city)
You may not like who Jim supports for Council or Mayor (hell, I'm currently working to unseat someone who I assume is a friend of his), but we will all be much better off if just a few of the serious reforms that Kenney has proposed become law. And you know what? He's on here just about every day talking to us about what he is trying to get done, and what is going on inside City Hall. If you would prefer that he not continue to fight inside, or that he not come on here to discuss what is going on (whether you agree with him or not), than I guess you have the right to that opinion. What I really hope though is that on May 16th we can all take a breather, put the nastiness of primary season behind us, and get back to the task of making the city better, something which I truly believe that ALL of us want.
And as far as "roughing Suzie up" goes, COME ON! (I know you didn't say that Ben, I'm just using this to reply to others as well) Suzie can throw verbal punches, and I know for a fact that she can take some verbal jabs. Jim was quite obviously talking about debating, not physically fighting, Susan. Suzie sometimes has it rough on here, as the sole Knox supporter that ever seems to venture onto the site (that should tell you something about who those 32% are that are supporting Knox- I'm guessing older and a little less well off), but she is not defenseless.
I work for Damon K. Roberts in his run for City Council. Unless otherwise stated this and every comment by myself is the opinion of myself, and not of Damon or any other candidate, organization, committee, etc.
Hey!
Are you calling me old??? And poor??? LOL
Press secretary, Knox campaign. Blogger on hiatus, former award-winning journalist.
I love community
My initial impulse when reading the post above was to use my moderator privilege to delete this post. I really can't stand people who use YPP as a place for personal grudges and rumor mongering.
However, the response to this post has been far more valuable. The commenters above have demonstrated that there is a community on this blog that has agreed to some basic standards.
Again, as we move forward through the primary process, I want to send a reminder to people who have already been a part of the YPP community to stay. It's been a nasty few months, but we will return to our regularly scheduled programming.
For newcomers, you are welcome to stay too. I hope you do. However, this is a blog that has always tried to root itself in ideas and positive thinking about the direction of our city. The primary, and candidate affiliation has made that difficult--it's a flaw of our democracy--that tried to so hard to get away from idealizing monarch-leaders--that we we still attach leadership to personality rather than challenging ourselves to take collective action.
Whatever though, 26 days to go.
It's getting close
to the end of the campaign. I will agree to take a few deep breaths and turn down the rhetoric. Sometimes, it is fun to vent, but I am not above taking advice.
So, truce is in effect.
www.jameskenney.com
www.311forphilly.com
Thanks. I know that everyone
Thanks.
I know that everyone is stressed out. I can feel it and I'm hundreds of miles away.
---
Check out my blog!
I am currently working for Marc Stier and Ellen Green-Ceisler.