It wasn’t “The first mayoral debate,” just the first that DeMaio chose to participate in. The fact that this one was sponsored by the Lincoln Club and the Taxpayers Association (two organizations recently joined at the hip) must have made him feel safe.
Sacramento Sam
Alger preferred that earlier debate where Lorena Gonzalez of the San Diego Labor Council was an Unbiased moderator. We see you working there, Alger.
Sacto Sam,
Alger makes a fair point. Of course Gonzalez has biases, just like everyone else in politics. But DeMaio will have to deal with the unions if he’s elected mayor. I’d like to see if he can earn some respect, however grudging.
Ironically, Maplight appears to be a left-leaning group, established under the premise that corporations are buying unfair influence. It must have been a shock to find the top influence-buyers in the California Legislature are actually unions.
Sacramento Sam
There is a Cancer on the City of San Diego: it is called Union Greed, both in pensions and salaries. DeMaio, Faulconer, Zapf are all trying to cure the patient. DeMaio has no more obligation to be chummy with union “leaders” than a Surgeon does with a Cancer. The idea is to save the patient, not make-nice with the illness.
Alger
Sam,
I would hope that you realize that the Lincoln Club and the San Diego County Taxpayers Association are just as biased as the Labor Council. The former just happens to share your bias.
As for DeMaio, I would prefer that he, and anyone else who wants to represent ALL OF SAN DIEGO as its Mayor, not limit his or her participation to forums where they can guarantee friendly questions.
Mole
Sam,
If DeMaio does or does not show up that is a big deal because voters care about what he has to say. He is important as he is driving the issues. He gives voters confidence to join in and make things better. He talks to the taxpayers.He picks the venues best suited to get his message across and is not obligated to provide campaign assistance for opponents.Fletcher and Dumanis also talk to their supporters repeating their mantra,”No crony capitalist left behind.” Voters have already heard that and find it wanting.
Alger
Mole,
Are you saying that it is better for our Democracy if candidates running to be the Chief Executive of the 8th largest city in the Country only attend events where they can preach to the choir?
Mole
Alger,
Events are not debates. In a debate a moderator only introduces the debaters and moderates the clock. The debaters are involved in the give and take within the bounds of the debate rules. In the process of debate they can state what they think and demonstrate whether or not they can think. Then the listener can evaluate what he thinks about what the debaters put forward as their beliefs and goals. What passes for a debate today is a show/event for promoters and agenda driven talking heads who participate in the show/event even though they are not candidates. I do not give a dam what a talking head has to say, unless of course he becomes a candidate. I say it is better for our Republic if candidates running to be the Chief Executive of the 8th largest city in the Republic avail themselves to all available means of communication they desire, hopefully and most importantly debates. How about you Alger, are you for or against debates?
Alger
Mole,
I favor debates and the more the better. I hope for many different formats and a wide variety of settings, moderators and sponsors. I want to know as much as much as possible about the candidates, including how they handle less-than-friendly questions.
Comments 9
It wasn’t “The first mayoral debate,” just the first that DeMaio chose to participate in. The fact that this one was sponsored by the Lincoln Club and the Taxpayers Association (two organizations recently joined at the hip) must have made him feel safe.
Alger preferred that earlier debate where Lorena Gonzalez of the San Diego Labor Council was an Unbiased moderator. We see you working there, Alger.
Sacto Sam,
Alger makes a fair point. Of course Gonzalez has biases, just like everyone else in politics. But DeMaio will have to deal with the unions if he’s elected mayor. I’d like to see if he can earn some respect, however grudging.
Something else to watch on the union side: campaign contributions. Labor unions snagged 8 of the top 10 places in campaign contributions to the California Legislature, according to the group MapLight, which tracks the influence of money in politics. If anything like that influx comes to the mayoral race, DeMaio will be in trouble.
Ironically, Maplight appears to be a left-leaning group, established under the premise that corporations are buying unfair influence. It must have been a shock to find the top influence-buyers in the California Legislature are actually unions.
There is a Cancer on the City of San Diego: it is called Union Greed, both in pensions and salaries. DeMaio, Faulconer, Zapf are all trying to cure the patient. DeMaio has no more obligation to be chummy with union “leaders” than a Surgeon does with a Cancer. The idea is to save the patient, not make-nice with the illness.
Sam,
I would hope that you realize that the Lincoln Club and the San Diego County Taxpayers Association are just as biased as the Labor Council. The former just happens to share your bias.
As for DeMaio, I would prefer that he, and anyone else who wants to represent ALL OF SAN DIEGO as its Mayor, not limit his or her participation to forums where they can guarantee friendly questions.
Sam,
If DeMaio does or does not show up that is a big deal because voters care about what he has to say. He is important as he is driving the issues. He gives voters confidence to join in and make things better. He talks to the taxpayers.He picks the venues best suited to get his message across and is not obligated to provide campaign assistance for opponents.Fletcher and Dumanis also talk to their supporters repeating their mantra,”No crony capitalist left behind.” Voters have already heard that and find it wanting.
Mole,
Are you saying that it is better for our Democracy if candidates running to be the Chief Executive of the 8th largest city in the Country only attend events where they can preach to the choir?
Alger,
Events are not debates. In a debate a moderator only introduces the debaters and moderates the clock. The debaters are involved in the give and take within the bounds of the debate rules. In the process of debate they can state what they think and demonstrate whether or not they can think. Then the listener can evaluate what he thinks about what the debaters put forward as their beliefs and goals. What passes for a debate today is a show/event for promoters and agenda driven talking heads who participate in the show/event even though they are not candidates. I do not give a dam what a talking head has to say, unless of course he becomes a candidate. I say it is better for our Republic if candidates running to be the Chief Executive of the 8th largest city in the Republic avail themselves to all available means of communication they desire, hopefully and most importantly debates. How about you Alger, are you for or against debates?
Mole,
I favor debates and the more the better. I hope for many different formats and a wide variety of settings, moderators and sponsors. I want to know as much as much as possible about the candidates, including how they handle less-than-friendly questions.