Monday, March 03, 2008
When did we start to behave like Republicans?
At the February meeting of the Warminster Township Democratic Organization (WTDO), there was an agenda item buried toward the bottom:
"Brad's report on the intrusion into the 29th..."
Having received the agenda in advance of the meeting, I saw this and inquired. I learned that there is a young man namd Benjamin Irey of Warwick, PA who has collected enough signatures on petitions he's filed with the state, to run in the primary for the Democratic position on the ballot in the 29th District. The incumbent member of the State Assembly is Bernie O'Neill (R).
Brad Kirsch, the chairman of the WTDO, will thus face a primary battle against Irey to win the right to run against Bernie for State Assembly in the 29th -- yet again. Kirsch claimed that he is "only running this year again because no one else wants to run." Kirsch further believes he has a chance to win the seat this time because of gains he made against Bernie in 2006 versus his campaign in 2004. Brad says he campaigned in '06 "flat on my back", having suffered a severe shoulder injury while campaigning; Bernie spent little-to-nothing on the race he was sure he'd win.
In '06, Brad's gains were picked up in an off-year when our Congressional newcomer, Patrick Murphy, took the area with a hard-fought campaign. This year, Brad -- at almost 70 -- must give the run his all if he's to retain the prior gains this year. It's a Presidential year, when each party will be coming out in force. And since there are more registered R's in the 29th than D's by a wide margin, we predict it will be tougher for Brad than ever to maintain his gains or win the seat.
Plus our local party is fracturing. Why? We're not keeping pace with the changing times. We're mired in the past. And we've got a mindset of pessimism. And we EAT our own! For example:
When Ben visited the Bucks County Democratic Committee (BCDC) to express interest in running in the 29th as a Democrat, and sought help, the BCDC made the first mistake: they referred Ben to Brad. Brad is Ben's opponent in the primary, and is not the chairman of the 29th. The BCDC should have referred Ben to Frank Feinberg.
The Democrats' mishandling of Ben went on from there. Brad met Ben and Ben's father for FOUR hours, "to scope him out." (One Democratic insider said he'd "have to stick a hot poker in my eye" if called to such a meeting.) Brad reported to the WTDO and BCDC that Irey showed up carrying a folder from Mike Fitzpatrick for Congress, so "obviously, he's a plant."
Frank, chairman of the 29th, says that Brad "apologized" for overstepping and interviewing Irey himself. Such "intrusion" BY BRAD into the business/work of the 29th -- as a candidate -- has usurped Frank's authority. Many in the 29th, outside of Warminster, are questioning who's running the show here ... Frank or Brad. As a result, many of the non-Warminster 29th members called for a meet-and-greet featuring Ben Irey, to give him equal footing with Brad.
To make matters even worse, the meet-and-greet was held on Thursday 2/28 at 7 p.m. -- a time when Frank (who is chairman of Warminster's Board of Supervisors, who met at exactly that date/time) would certainly be unable to attend.
Clearly, the 29th is in disarray -- and "intrusions" on many levels.
In my opinion, we are charged with following a complicated process -- one that should not be fraught with "intrusions". People -- that is, potential candidates -- should not EVER be considered an "intrusion" but rather, we should welcome them as potential stars down our long road toward genuine democracy. Let's respect one another ... and welcome "newbies" with open arms. Let's nurture them and have them lead us in new directions for inspirational change, if not now then later.
"Brad's report on the intrusion into the 29th..."
Having received the agenda in advance of the meeting, I saw this and inquired. I learned that there is a young man namd Benjamin Irey of Warwick, PA who has collected enough signatures on petitions he's filed with the state, to run in the primary for the Democratic position on the ballot in the 29th District. The incumbent member of the State Assembly is Bernie O'Neill (R).
Brad Kirsch, the chairman of the WTDO, will thus face a primary battle against Irey to win the right to run against Bernie for State Assembly in the 29th -- yet again. Kirsch claimed that he is "only running this year again because no one else wants to run." Kirsch further believes he has a chance to win the seat this time because of gains he made against Bernie in 2006 versus his campaign in 2004. Brad says he campaigned in '06 "flat on my back", having suffered a severe shoulder injury while campaigning; Bernie spent little-to-nothing on the race he was sure he'd win.
In '06, Brad's gains were picked up in an off-year when our Congressional newcomer, Patrick Murphy, took the area with a hard-fought campaign. This year, Brad -- at almost 70 -- must give the run his all if he's to retain the prior gains this year. It's a Presidential year, when each party will be coming out in force. And since there are more registered R's in the 29th than D's by a wide margin, we predict it will be tougher for Brad than ever to maintain his gains or win the seat.
Plus our local party is fracturing. Why? We're not keeping pace with the changing times. We're mired in the past. And we've got a mindset of pessimism. And we EAT our own! For example:
When Ben visited the Bucks County Democratic Committee (BCDC) to express interest in running in the 29th as a Democrat, and sought help, the BCDC made the first mistake: they referred Ben to Brad. Brad is Ben's opponent in the primary, and is not the chairman of the 29th. The BCDC should have referred Ben to Frank Feinberg.
The Democrats' mishandling of Ben went on from there. Brad met Ben and Ben's father for FOUR hours, "to scope him out." (One Democratic insider said he'd "have to stick a hot poker in my eye" if called to such a meeting.) Brad reported to the WTDO and BCDC that Irey showed up carrying a folder from Mike Fitzpatrick for Congress, so "obviously, he's a plant."
Frank, chairman of the 29th, says that Brad "apologized" for overstepping and interviewing Irey himself. Such "intrusion" BY BRAD into the business/work of the 29th -- as a candidate -- has usurped Frank's authority. Many in the 29th, outside of Warminster, are questioning who's running the show here ... Frank or Brad. As a result, many of the non-Warminster 29th members called for a meet-and-greet featuring Ben Irey, to give him equal footing with Brad.
To make matters even worse, the meet-and-greet was held on Thursday 2/28 at 7 p.m. -- a time when Frank (who is chairman of Warminster's Board of Supervisors, who met at exactly that date/time) would certainly be unable to attend.
Clearly, the 29th is in disarray -- and "intrusions" on many levels.
In my opinion, we are charged with following a complicated process -- one that should not be fraught with "intrusions". People -- that is, potential candidates -- should not EVER be considered an "intrusion" but rather, we should welcome them as potential stars down our long road toward genuine democracy. Let's respect one another ... and welcome "newbies" with open arms. Let's nurture them and have them lead us in new directions for inspirational change, if not now then later.
