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- My first trip to the public library
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- You know, let's not even worry about the City Commissioners office messing up voter registration processing
- Bold ideas to fix the budget
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- City Releases Library Information to City Council
- Size of Philadelphia government?
Knox Was Marty Weinberg before Marty Weinberg was Marty Weinberg
Submitted by Dan U-A on Fri, 04/06/2007 - 9:28am.
Gar Josephs has a pretty interesting column about 'outsider' Tom Knox today in the Daily News. In it, he says that Knox, who has railed against the system with his grassroots campaign of millions of dollars of TV ads, is in fact, sort of insider. And, in fact, is not exactly enemies with Fumo and his crowd.
Who among us youngsters remembers the Marty Weinberg vs. John Street primary battle in 1999? You know, the one where Vince Fumo picked Weinberg, who then ran on the platform of "I am white," "I am white," as well as the more refined, "I am not black." Philadelphians who wanted John White and Dwight Evans though, voted strategically, and went for Street to keep out Weinberg. Well, man, guess who turns out was going to be the "fair skinned" candidate before Marty Weinberg?
This has Clout scratching its pointy little head because in 1998 Knox was a serious choice for mayor of - state Sen. Vince Fumo.
Now, Vince Fumo is many things (including indicted at the moment), but system-wrecking outsider is not one of them.
The Fumo flirtation with Knox didn't last because it was quickly determined that Knox hadn't moved into the city soon enough to meet the three-year residency requirement for the 1999 election. But Knox and Fumo were on the same team.
.....
Fumo declined to discuss Knox. But that is OK because we know People Who Talk to Vince and are familiar with his insights.
Here's what PWTV say: Fumo considers Knox very much an insider who plays an insider's game. Furthermore, Knox came to Fumo last year and asked for his support. Fumo declined.
The article also says that the Knox campaign said that Fumo and Knox were enemies. When Gar pushed them with his info, that changed to, well, 'we are enemies this time'!
I like people on the Knox campaign, like Susan. But, I just do not get it. I don't get how this rich guy, who was a big Rendell fundraiser, who was by all accounts a jerk while one of like 15 Deputy Mayors for Rendell, who has not apparently done much for Philly in the interim, ('cept for the whole payday loan thing and stuff), really gets them inspired as this noble outsider. I can see a plausible storyline for every single other candidate. But Knox?
Tom Knox was Marty Weinberg, before Marty Weinberg was Marty Weinberg.
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loan shark
Tom knox's predatory lending has ruined neighborhoods in phila.
I am glad that ministers and others have put together an organization to combat knox and his unfair advantage.
The worst part about knox is that he is lending his campaign the money so if he does win he will be able to pay himself back for fundraisers from the very pay to play people he says he is against.
There is no place for tom knoxs hypocrisy in philly.
That he has "ruined
That he has "ruined neighborhoods" is an exaggeration.
It's easy to pick on those couple years of payday lending
as Dan and this blog have done pretty much over and over (and as the Brady campaign has quite reasonably if annoyingly directed their supporters to do). What happened at Crusader may or may not represent important truths about what kind of man Knox is, and it is good for both the mayoral race and the continuing problem of these sorts of lending practices that attention goes there.
BUT, this post above pulls back from picking on Knox for what might or might not have been a temporary (and halfheartedly accounted for) misstep.
It gives some real context and perspective (as--credit where credit is due--Hannah also does on the thread on recent poll results) on just how absurb Knox's self-redefinition is. This is valuable history and context beyond the couple years at Crusader, about what kind of man Knox is, what functional role his candidacy plays in city politics, and frankly why we should be at least suspicious and at most dismissive of the basic idea of Knox running for mayor.
Jennifer
brady4mayor
Dear brady4mayor, are you part of the campaign, or just a poster? I'd appreciate the disclaimer.
Knox the Insider
Looks folks, the Gar Joseph's column today told us something most of us already knew: Knox is the consumate insider. From his massive contributions to politicians to his no-bid contracts for government work *while* a deputy mayor. Above and beyond all this, he has his enforcer and muscle squad lead by former JMB founder and drug dealer/extorionist Michael Youngblood. And now it's clear that he's a Fumo insider as well.
Maybe people are starting to realize that this man who is raging against the machine *is* the machine.
And where did the money come from to pay for this re-scripting of the past to create our own Philadelphia super hero to save the day?? From 400% pay day loans.
Just like Santa Claus, Tom Knox doesn't exist...at least not as someone to give hope. He's just seen the latest opportunity to exploit, with the combition of real concerns in the city about governmental ethics, and campaign finance laws that allow him to craft an imaginary story about hismelf as the solution.
The only comfort I have is that we all know he has not a skeleton, but a graveyard, in his closet, and maybe just maybe it will come out, if the press does their job.
Thanks Gar. Finally we are getting real investigative reporting
Thanks Gar. Finally, we are getting some real investigative reporting from the print media.
Supporting Michael Nutter for Mayor
Investigative reporting?
Listen, I love Gar as much as the next guy, but the google search term "marty weinberg tom knox" got me this hit, on page 2, from a 1999 City Paper story:
It was a cover story. The local print media has a long way to go to truly covering all of the men running for Mayor in this race.
So Tom Knox is the political machine...
The same one Bob Brady is running to save us from? Give me a break.
Bob "I'm the Unemployment Office" Brady, whose wife makes $100K a year as the Philadelphia Writ Services office manager - owned by the oh-so-politically connected Mitch Rubin. Yes, that would be the same Philadelphia Writ Services that's referred in the Fumo indictment as having received $40K for a state contract that, surprisingly, involved no work anyone can prove.
Bob "Integrity" Brady who's accruing pension benefits for an unpaid job that, coincidentally enough, involves little to no work. Yeah, Bob "I Was Just Spinning the Shit" Brady.
There are some things that go beyond naiveté and fall under willful denial. This is one of them. Yes, Grasshopper, when you're interested in running for office, you have to go and kiss the ring of the people at the top - even people you can't stand. This is how it's done.
And there's yet another glaring hole in your thesis. If Tom is such a creature of the political machine, why was he not embraced by them? Oh, it's all a clever ploy to... wait, if it's only a clever ploy, why is the machine trying so hard to put Bob Brady in City Hall?
Perhaps one day you'll understand. And perhaps one day I'll learn to be more patient with those who are so frequently wrong, but never, ever in doubt.
Bob Brady
1. Bob Brady is proud of being head of the Philadelphia Democratic City Committee and a Union member, he is not running away from it.
2. Why do you only attack Brady, when there are four people in the race, all elected officials.
3. When you run as Caesar's wife, purity beyond reproach, do not be shocked when you are questioned when you are not as pure as stated.
4. What ever happened to your denial of paying for signatures. Did you do it or not.
5. Bob Brady can get a thousand people to vouch for him, from working people to DAs, union members, fellow congress persons, and the family of one severely disabled child in my Ward. I have yet to hear anyone other than himself say something nice about Tom Knox.
Yes I am a Ward leader and yes I am supporting Bob Brady.
Oh susan....
The other day you claimed that you are not a hack. I tried my best to hold my tongue on that, but now I can't refrain.
The definition of a hack, according to www.dictionary.com:
1. a person, as an artist or writer, who exploits, for money, his or her creative ability or training in the production of dull, unimaginative, and trite work; one who produces banal and mediocre work in the hope of gaining commercial success in the arts: As a painter, he was little more than a hack.
2. a professional who renounces or surrenders individual independence, integrity, belief, etc., in return for money or other reward in the performance of a task normally thought of as involving a strong personal commitment: a political hack.
No word could better describe you and your work. You waited a full 24 hours to respond to this original post, even though you were on all day. I was expecting you would either a)not respond (much like you have to all the other questions about Tommy Boy) or b) spin the shit. In many ways you did both.
Rather than confronting the proof that your boss is an insider, you try and throw mud at Brady. For example, you try to claim that somehow, Brady's wife is part of some scheme to rob Philadelphians via a contract. I'll refer to an earlier post I made:
The "no-bid" contract for the firm that employs Brady's wife is $1 million has been active since 1998. This is the only city contract they have. If they are paying her $100,000 a year over that period (now close to 10 years) they would have BROKEN EVEN with the contract and her salary, without even taking into account that they ARE INDEED working for the city and generating expenses to do that work. I would hardly call this tit-for-tat, since under those conditions they would be losing money - alot of it. Again, this is their only city contract and you can read all about this in the 3/27/07 Inquirer article.
Nowhere in your rant do you even consider discussing your campaigns 180 on the question of Knox and Fumo. You come close, by stating that he has to kiss Fumo's ring in order to run. But that doesn't answer why he not only accepted Fumo's endorsement or why he donated so much money and office space to Fumo's personal choice. You also ask why he wasn't embraced by Fumo this time around? Well, I'd probably ask Nutter, Evans, Queena and Fattah why they don't have Fumo's endorsement. I'd also ask them if they had to kiss Fumo's ring so they could "get to the top". I doubt they did. The allegation that you have too is demeaning to everyone who has worked hard to get where they are in Philadelphia politics.
All this article in the DN did was prove what so many people already knew. Tom was some dorky fundraiser that thought he had some experience and crediablity to run for mayor. Suddenly a man, who'd spent a lifetime brokering inside deals and using his wealth to buy influence with candidates, appears on the horizon as a knight in shining armor, ready to defend Philadelphian's from this "machine". As you said Susan, "give me a break".
People have been questioning Knox's friendship with a convicted member of the "machine". You posted, finally, in response to these questions, an article from the Inky. Knox states in it that you shouldn't turn your back on people just because they have been convicted of a crime. How noble. Yet, you and your staff have done nothing but denied/turned their back on someone who hasn't been convicted yet (Fumo). Doesn't our system of government allow all to be presumed innocent until found guilty in a fair and balanced trial? Why then is it acceptable to not turn your back on a corrupt convict but instead deny your past with someone who has yet to be convicted? I thought Knox was some guardian of fairness and forgiveness?
In 1945 Tom Pendergast passed away after a long career as the party boss of Kansas City. His image was tarnished nationally by his conviction on various corruption charges. Under incredible criticism from the press and allies, Vice President Truman went to Kansas City so he could attend his old friend Tom Pendergast's funeral. He stated that no matter what Tom had been convicted of, he was still his friend and that no matter what other people threatened (even if it cost him an election)he wouldn't turn his back on an old friend. Brady has never turned away from Fumo. What good what it do if he did? Where is the integrity in denying what everyone already knows? If anything, this shows that Knox has no integrity. Denying what everyone knows just makes your boss look bad. But then again as a 3rd rate mercenary, you don't care about making your boss look good, only spinning the shit to make others look bad.
Does it matter...
I'm wondering how much it matters that Knox is an insider if the perception of him at large is one of an outsider. Of course this begs the more general question of how much does reality matter vs. perceived reality (and more existentially, aren't they the same?). The real practical question for the campaign becomes, if there is solid evidence of Knox's insider status, what, if anything, is being done by the other candidates to expose him? Also, if he's truly an insider, there's gotta be more on him than just this Fumo connection of 8 years ago... I think that if someone can successfully leverage this kind of insider status information to change the public perception of Knox (the perceived reality) from an outsider to an insider, even if only marginally, Knox is in real trouble.
---
Working for and supporting Matt McClure for the 4th City Council District and leaning towards Michael Nutter.
Paying for signatures redux
Again:
Did the Kn ox campaign pay for gathereing signatures or not. Inquiring minds want to know.
It's not hard to get people to vouch for you...
When they owe their job, their spouse's job, their kids' jobs, and various other forms of the "special" treatment connected people get in this city to the same man. Yes, showering public cash on people has always been an effective way of getting their support. Have I ever argued that it isn't?
Bob Brady is the machine personified. I presume he also proudly embraces the many indictments?
The city is not in the financial shape to further fuel the old-style patronage and grant machine by which Bob Brady feeds his adulation habit. This is public money, not Bob's personal property. Why, even Vince Fumo admits it's really Other People's Money.
If I had the time, I'll bet you for every single Brady booster you present, I can find someone who was denied much-needed city services because 1) he didn't know the "right" people or 2) pissed off the "wrong" people.
Paying for Signatures
Again:
What ever happened to your denial of paying for signatures. Did you do it or not.
Does Bob Brady embrace the indictments?
I guess he's used to it by now: his buddy Izzy Beloff, his mentor George X. Schwartz... hey, I hear Bob even got "the book" when Schwartz died. No wonder none of the ward leaders will publicly challenge the party corruption - you never know what might turn up in the local papers.
Lou, can you tell me which of the convicted or indicted political felons (or at least their practices) Brady has repudiated?
If Knox Wins
this will be the arrogant, nastiness that will permeate the second floor of city hall for 4 years. If you vote for this guy, Susan is the type of person that he will surround himself with. Should be real fun. Well, sometimes you get what you ask for. Then, it will be too late.
www.jameskenney.com
www.311forphilly.com
Signatures redux
Did the Knox Campaign pay for gathering signatures. Inquiring minds want to know.
Naturally, A Scoudrel Will Resort to The Ad Hominem Attack
Susan,
I would expect nothing less from your campaign. Rather than set our minds at ease regarding the concerns raised by myself and others, you can only resort to attacking others. I'm guessing you are doing so, because you have no defense. I'm talking about the following issues:
Committee of Seventy head, Zack Stalberg, is very concerned about "the loans" the millionaire is making to his campaign - that those "loans" will be repaid to the millionaire in exchange for influence.
The Payday loans that made the Millionaire so much money in the first place. Those profits were made on the backs of the poorest among us. Does he have any shame?
I think his ads portraying him as an outsider, are disingeuous, at best.
Several here have asked, and I will also ask - did your candidate pay for signitures?
I'm supporting Bob Brady, because I think he's the best candidate for the job. We have a City that is sorely in need of the leadership that Bob Brady can provide. Bob Brady cares about those in need and will provide more than hope for those folks, he'll deliver education and jobs. Bob Brady has already delivered jobs and opportunity to the City he has lived in his entire life. Bob Brady is real and walks the walk. One of the things that I especially admire about Bob Brady, is his loyalty. He doesn't cut and run when a friend is in trouble.
There are other good candidates in this race. If I wasn't supporting Bob Brady, I would be supporting Dwight Evens. I also think that Michael Nutter is a good candidate. While I'm not a fan of Congressman Fattah, he's certainly qualified. I don't think your candidate is qualified or cares one whit about poor people and there are a great many poor folks in our City.
Why don't you wait until you can tell the truth about your candidate, rather than attacking other candidates? I'm not being paid, nor do I expect to be paid, for saying nice things about Congressman Bob Brady.
disclaimer
im just a guy who really wants brady to win.
also, what gets me out here posting, frankly, is that brady gets no fair play in the inquirer or the news.
brady would be a great mayor.
all i can say is god help us if knox finally 'takes the for sale sign off city hall' by buying it.
Still waiting...
Which of the convicted or indicted political felons (or their practices) has Bob Brady repudiated?
And Councilman Kenney, I notice your employment with the Vitetta Group began just about two weeks after their city contract began. Was there any discussion of your possible employment during that contract negotiation process? I used to be a recruiter specializing in sales and marketing executives, and I must say, that seems like an awfully quick decision.
Still waiting too
Did the Knox Campaign pay for gathering signatures. Inquiring minds want to know.
Your silence speaks volumes. Do we have to wait until May 4 to find out
But why
should Brady repudiate anyone? Didn't you post this quote by Knox:
" I don't care what people say, people criticizing me for helping an ex-con. Shame on them.""
BTW, Tommy was talking about someone who extorted money earmarked for building a homeless shelter.
Brady v. Knox
Who earns respect and who buys it. Who has people that are loyal to him and who has to buy loyalty. Who walks into a room and people crowd around and who stands there by himself.
Who gets volunteers and who has to pay for signatures.
Which contract
are you talking about? As you proceed down this road, check your facts and consult with Paul Rosen.
www.jameskenney.com
www.311forphilly.com
I'm starting to gather that
I'm starting to gather that Kenney and Knox really don't get a long. ;)
--------------------------------------------------
Staff member of Longacre for 5th Council District.
Is The Millionaire's Campaign About Throwing Mud?
Susan,
It appears to me that you're throwing mud with the hope that some of it might stick. What is your campaign hiding that you have to take this low road? Why don't you come back when you have something positive to say about your candidate? Other than his wealth, from the backs of poor folks, perhaps you have nothing to say?
I would rather deal with issues that are important to the future of the city.
Did your candidate pay for signitures? Inquiring minds want to know.