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Norwalk: Fool Me Once …


by turfgrrl


November 19th, 2007 · 80 Comments

Olympic athletes say that there’s no winning a silver medal, only losing the gold medal. And the gold medal of of politics is elections. Like sports, election track records are easy to keep score, you either have wins or losses tacked onto the long list of decisions that make up the campaigns. There’s a couple of things that popped up from yesterday threads about positive things in Norwalk politics. One is that the comments are filled with negativity. It always easier to be a critic, but to actually effect change, that is a much harder thing to accomplish because you have to do more than you just criticize the other guy. This maxim is something local Democrats keep failing to learn.

On a day when Republicans pushed forward issues that affect all Norwalkers, the gossiper mongers of the Democratic party unleashed the petty campaigns waged to see who would become the Captain Smith of this Democratic “Titanic” majority. Are they talking about the issues? It does not seem so. And it would also seem that they were more interested in diverting a post about infrastructure, historical preservation, property taxes and flooding.

Those issues should be talked about, by the political flunkies and people here. And let’s not forget over at the BOE where Dr. Lynne Mooore has controversy concerning the way West Rocks Middle School is being run. Our politicians and elected officials will only act if we demand action. That is much harder to do than writing comments on a blog, but it must be done.

Tags: In the News · Norwalk

80 Responses so far “Norwalk: Fool Me Once …”


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  • 1 Democrat // Nov 19, 2007 at 10:43 am

    Turfgirl,
    Those are some fairly hypocritical remarks from a hostess of continual “gossipmongering” and personal insults by people who often know and do nothing for the good of the city. Doug Hempstead made some nice remarks about focusing on Norwalk’s problems but it sounded a little pompous and self -serving. Then again, maybe he was misquoted by our not very reliable home town paper.
    The Republicans are criticizing Democrats for not sharing the commitee chairing-again hypocritical. When did the Republicans share chairing when they had the majority?

  • 2 anonymous // Nov 19, 2007 at 11:37 am

    Clearly the Norwalk Democratic Party needs a Public Relations strategy. Anything that could be perceived as negative or partisan should be kept behind closed doors, with only positive-speak for public consumption.

    This should start with the Town Chair and be enforced by all of the elected members of the party.

    It is clear that the Republicans have an attack strategy towards the Democrats for anything that can be perceived as partisan that they have been successfully pursuing for some time now (with collusion and support from The Hour and yourct.com).

    Dems need to get smart so we can get away from this negative rhetoric and focus on Norwalk Issues.

  • 3 turfgrrl // Nov 19, 2007 at 11:44 am

    Democrat: The problem with supporting free speech is that people can post pretty much anything here. That doesn’t mean that I don’t have my own opinions about what people comment on here, but I pick and choose what I want to say at the appropriate moments. That’s not being hypocritical, that’s being selective and its an attempt to steer back the flow of discussion towards the issues.
  • 4 turfgrrl // Nov 19, 2007 at 11:46 am

    anonymous: yourCT.com does not collude with any political party. Anyone can post here, and the comments are what they are.
  • 5 anonymous // Nov 19, 2007 at 11:53 am

    Turfgirl: I believe that you think you are objective, and I appreciate and find enlightening many of your editorial postings and they do influence my opinions, but you appear to have a republican bias in your postings. Of course, I’m looking at this through my Democrat lenses…I guess no one is really objective at the end of the day.

  • 6 anon // Nov 19, 2007 at 11:57 am

    Turf has said she was biased in the past, she’s just not partisan.

  • 7 Anonymous // Nov 19, 2007 at 12:06 pm

    I have been a registered democrat for decades. Is this a Hitler quote? “Anything that could be perceived as negative or partisan should be kept behind closed doors, with only positive-speak for public consumption.”

  • 8 Anonymous // Nov 19, 2007 at 12:12 pm

    A registered dem for decades and I voted for the first time mostly republican in the November election. I am new to this city and if things do not change I will sell my home and move.

    Free Speech about corruption based on supporting evidence is American. I am horrified by the politician who complained about Anonymous postings. Too bad. Your corrupt ways are being exposed.

  • 9 Anonymous // Nov 19, 2007 at 12:28 pm

    I’m going to walk away from this computer. Nothing angers me more than people attacking free speech when corruption is running wild. I can’t remember the last time I have been this upset. And let me tell you something. Your attempt to silence people will fail. I will make sure of it. Controversy always makes a city better.

    I admit. I am sick and tired of being sick and tired about both Republicans and Democrats. Where are people’s principles? Do people only care about themselves? I am walking away. That statement gets under my skin like nothing else. My house could be burned down and I wouldn’t be upset. You could take all my money, but you will never take away my principles.

    Don’t Public Relations me with corruption.

  • 10 anonymous // Nov 19, 2007 at 12:32 pm

    #7 - it isn’t a Hitler quote - its just common sense. If banging your head against a wall hurts, stop doing it.

  • 11 anonymous // Nov 19, 2007 at 12:34 pm

    #9 - If you can’t handle free speech, then you should stay off this blog.

  • 12 Anonymous // Nov 19, 2007 at 12:37 pm

    nothing changes things like a tax increase.

    nothing changes when money is needed for public service and is denied.

    The way I see it there are no winners this time around until change is made for the better we all sit and wait.

    #8 plan on selling your home

  • 13 Stepford Wife // Nov 19, 2007 at 12:42 pm

    anonymous

    Will you explain what you mean.

  • 14 MGeake // Nov 19, 2007 at 12:44 pm

    #9 If I’m the politician you are “horrified by”, I was not complaining about anonimity per se. But when somebody hiding behind the cloak of anonimity claims to have attended what was supposed to be a closed meeting that I, in fact, attended, and then incorrectly reports what actually transpited at that meeting, then I am more than entitled to question both the veracity of their claim to have be in attendance and their motives in making a report that attacks the actual attendees while hiding their own identity.

  • 15 Anonymous // Nov 19, 2007 at 12:44 pm

    When are people going to start looking at the BIG picture and stop the party politics. We are after all neighbors and taxpayers of this city. If we want change we must all push up our sleeves and get busy. Attend meetings, get your voice out there. Don’t say it won’t matter because it will. Why should people feel the need to sell their homes and move. We are the taxpayers and we do have a voice. We just need to get people to listen. The only way to do this is to get out and get involved. Party politics is what’s killing this town and killing this country. Everyone trying to out do the other and the results keep coming up the same.

  • 16 Anonymous // Nov 19, 2007 at 12:50 pm

    MGeake,

    I admit I like how you wrote number 14.

    What are your views on keeping negativity behind closed doors in relation to the third paragraph of this thread?

  • 17 anonymous // Nov 19, 2007 at 12:53 pm

    Nicely put #15 - We can sure use a good turnout of citizens at the BOE meeting tomorrow night. If you are planning to go to the council swearing-in at 8:00 Tuesday night, how about coming one hour earlier and going to the BOE Swearing-in and meeting as well. It’s in the room right next door to the council chambers. Show your support to help get our schools back on the right track.

  • 18 PR // Nov 19, 2007 at 12:56 pm

    Do not say anything negative at the BOE meeting. Only positive comments. The press will be there!

  • 19 Anonymous // Nov 19, 2007 at 1:00 pm

    Translation for Post 11

    If you don’t like corruption, then stay out of it.

  • 20 Anonymous // Nov 19, 2007 at 1:07 pm

    Now we know the REAL reason why streaming video to watch Board of Education meetings will never happen.

  • 21 anonymous // Nov 19, 2007 at 1:25 pm

    I guess I hit close to home with post number 2. I’m only suggesting that the TDC and elected dems follow the same PR strategy that the republicans in Norwalk are executing and have been executing for the past year. No one is suggesting that “free speech” be suppressed, but that the party needs to get smart about PR, especially within the context of a successful republican PR strategy in Norwalk that takes advantage of the local paper’s and this blog’s editorial sympathies. The republicans are just smart enough not to talk about what is said in their closed door meetings. Galen’s quote in the paper was just a dumb move on her part, as TG and the Hour quickly pointed out, and will always be around to quickly point out any negative interpretation of anything that is said by any Democratic official.

  • 22 Mike Lyons // Nov 19, 2007 at 1:26 pm

    #1 - The Republicans had a 8-7 majority on the Common Council in 1983-1985 (I was on the Council then), and we gave 3 committee chairmanships to the Democrats. In 1985 the Democrats took a 9-6 majority on the Council, and we asked them to reciprocate and give us 2 or 3 chairmanships. They refused and took all the chairmanships, as they will this year.

  • 23 MGeake // Nov 19, 2007 at 1:33 pm

    #16 I really depends what the “negativity” is.

    If it is just a conflict between personalities, grow up!

    If it has to do with how we run the Democratic Party, well I believe that “families” should keep their disagreements private. Inviting the “neighbors” into the fray only escalates the fight; it doesn’t do anything to resolve the conflict.

    If it is a genuine policy disagreement, then by all means let’s debate it. I have a very wise friend who is a State Senator in North Carolina. He told me that, before he got elected, he couldn’t imagine ever agreeing with a Republican, but after he served a while he realized that what was the correct thing to do for the people he represented was somewhere between his position “on the left” and the Republicans’ position “on the right”. If you can’t listen, if you won’t compromise, you may make the party patisans happy, but you never get to “the truth”.

    I won’t compromise my principles, but I will listen to different appoaches. And how many Council debates really devolve into a question of principle?

  • 24 turfgrrl // Nov 19, 2007 at 1:50 pm

    anonymous #5: I am never unbiased. The whole point of commentary is to express opinions, not present all sides to an issue. Certainly I take into account all sides before forming my own opinion. I don’ think my political world view falls neatly into party politics. I’m a fiscal conservative and a social liberal. Where I fall on the spectrum depends on the issue.
  • 25 Anonymous // Nov 19, 2007 at 1:52 pm

    Lower case a, I moved from Norwalk from the Hartford area. The other towns I where I looked at homes were Greenwich, Darien, New Canaan, Wilton, Stamford and Westport. I bought a home in Norwalk b/c Stepford issues, size of home per dollar, ETC. Your posts does hit close to Hartford corruption (home). The idea of an attack strategy. I don’t want to attack anybody. I want the truth. I want informed citizens. I don’t care what party does it. Parties are never about the individual liberties. They only care about what is best for the party. My money will not be donated to either organizations in this town if this is how we play politics. This town is very close to home.

    Spend your money on informing the town with the BIG issues. The vague flyers I received from both the democrats and republicans is more of the same. Moccia putting out statistics without any context of the numbers. Does he think we are that stupid? The website said very little. Give us the information and let everyone decide. Stop hiding things behind closed doors.

    I am going to do like some other towns in Fairfield County and change to Independent. I am sick and tired of this mindset. Stop it already. And I will keep posting here.

  • 26 Anonymous // Nov 19, 2007 at 1:59 pm

    meeting tonight pollution control commission

    something in Norwalk stinks and its going to cost money to fix I suppose.

    I heard a democrat council member had the issue put on for tonight thats progress who cares who and what political party they belong to.It got done.

  • 27 Anonymous // Nov 19, 2007 at 2:02 pm

    This is a good question:

    What are your views on keeping negativity behind closed doors in relation to the third paragraph of this thread?

  • 28 Anonymous // Nov 19, 2007 at 2:05 pm

    27,

    The answer is GROW UP!

  • 29 MGeake // Nov 19, 2007 at 2:20 pm

    #27 If by “third paragraph” you mean the debate about who should be Council President, I think people on this blog are free to debate it publicly all they want — in fact, I’d like your input — but until we have met privately to make our choice, members of the Democratic caucus should really only be debating among themselves. We have two years where we have to work together; what is the point of burning bridges before we’re even sworn in???

  • 30 Anonymous // Nov 19, 2007 at 2:21 pm

    “If it has to do with how we run the Democratic Party, well I believe that “families” should keep their disagreements private. Inviting the “neighbors” into the fray only escalates the fight; it doesn’t do anything to resolve the conflict.”

    You are skirting the question. Families? Does this mean BOE, Corda, Moore, ETC? The question was about the BOE thread. Neighbors? Does this mean parents?

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