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I refrained from posting last night, because I was so angry. Oh, I wanted to post. While I was sitting in that crowded theater listing to the final Republican gubernatorial debate in Asheboro, I was planning what I would say. I was going to do a voice post from my cell phone on the way home, but I was simply too fired up to say anything even reasonably polite. I wasn't much better off by the time I got home, so I thought, "I'll do it tomorrow, when I'm calmer."
So much for all that.
What's got me so hot? As I mentioned, last night was the final Republican gubernatorial debate, and it was held in Asheboro, NC. All of the candidates were there -- even Elbie Powers, the Ron Paul character that speaks his mind and usually has 1% or less of the vote -- with the exception of Pat McCrory. Now, common sense should tell you that with a race as close as this one, McCrory would not CHOOSE to miss the last debate, especially with his opponents attacking him every chance they get. No, you see, Pat McCrory has a JOB. He is mayor of Charlotte, and he has city council meetings to attend. Early on in this race, McCrory made it known that he would not be missing city council meetings, because when he does, the Democrats control the meetings. He stood by that promise last night.
Oh, did I mention that there are other gubernatorial candidates that also have jobs they should be doing? Namely Fred Smith, who has been an absentee senator in the NC legislature for the past two years, missing OVER 300 VOTES IN 2007 ALONE. And just in case you're not familiar with the NC legislature, it's got a Democratic majority, and every Republican vote counts when you have a Democratic majority.
So much for all that.
What's got me so hot? As I mentioned, last night was the final Republican gubernatorial debate, and it was held in Asheboro, NC. All of the candidates were there -- even Elbie Powers, the Ron Paul character that speaks his mind and usually has 1% or less of the vote -- with the exception of Pat McCrory. Now, common sense should tell you that with a race as close as this one, McCrory would not CHOOSE to miss the last debate, especially with his opponents attacking him every chance they get. No, you see, Pat McCrory has a JOB. He is mayor of Charlotte, and he has city council meetings to attend. Early on in this race, McCrory made it known that he would not be missing city council meetings, because when he does, the Democrats control the meetings. He stood by that promise last night.
Oh, did I mention that there are other gubernatorial candidates that also have jobs they should be doing? Namely Fred Smith, who has been an absentee senator in the NC legislature for the past two years, missing OVER 300 VOTES IN 2007 ALONE. And just in case you're not familiar with the NC legislature, it's got a Democratic majority, and every Republican vote counts when you have a Democratic majority.
Gosh, do I even need to finish writing this post to let you know WHY I'm so angry about last night?
As you can probably guess, two of the candidates took this opportunity to make it seem like McCrory doesn’t care about the people of North Carolina. It all began when Jack took the stage to speak on behalf of Mayor McCrory and explain why he couldn’t make it. There Fred Smith sat in front of the crowd, leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed, sneering and shaking his head. Oh what am I saying, I’m not being fair here – he’s always sneering. But he did made a show out of showing his disgust in a very tasteless manner.
The debate opened with an actual question, but rather than answer it right off the bat, Fred Smith took the opportunity to address the crowd and scold Mayor McCrory for not attending. I have the spectacle on tape, and I’ll be uploading it tomorrow so you can all see what it looks like when the pot calls the kettle black.
In all honesty, I don’t entirely remember what Smith said because it was completely dwarfed by Bob Orr’s comment. When it came time to answer the question, Orr again chose not to address the issue and instead told the crowd that McCrory “needs to decide whether he wants to be a mayor or run for governor.”
Seriously?
So let me get this straight – for starters, you absolutely have to be independently wealthy to run for governor. That’s what I’m going to take from that comment, because Orr obviously wants his gubernatorial candidates to be jobless.
And if you DO have a job when you run for governor, you’re supposed to completely shun it? Doesn’t that just speak VOLUMES about your work ethic? How do the citizens of North Carolina know you’re not going to decide it’s time to run for president in a few years and just leave your position empty in the governor’s mansion? Justice Orr, it’s good to know that if you are our next governor, you’ll be entirely committed to your position UNLESS something better comes along. Fred Smith has already shown his great work ethic through his senate attendance.
So yes, let’s please criticize McCrory for deciding to stick with his commitments, because after all, we don’t want a governor that’s going to stick to his word, and we CERTAINLY don’t want a governor that thinks he’s supposed to do his job.
annoyed
Did they mention that he couldn't show up because he had to be at his city commission meeting? Maybe they should've at least let him give a video opening statement or something.
Smith, absent when it counts!!
McCrory, doing the job he was elected to do.
As for McCrory's choice to do his job, I applaud him for his honoring of his commitments to the city of Charlotte. I just pray that he is not faulted for it come next Tuesday.
Did you hear Gov. Weasley endorsed Hillary today? Honestly, he is one supporter I think Hillary could have done without. hehe ;-)
There IS the perception that McCrory pulled an Edwards by running for mayor again and is basically selling out his city. It's going to be a logistical nightmare to find a replacement for him if he wins in November. He knew well before last November that he was going to run for gov, so why burden the city like that? Because he wanted to say he won 7 times, in my opinion.
Additionally, Orr is certainly not independently wealthy, so I'm not sure where that notion comes from. I doubt Pat is really struggling for money so much that he NEEDS the $20,037 that he makes from the Mayor gig every year, but that's just my perception.
Finally, if he wants to quit his job and move up, why doesn't he just do it? I've said the same thing about the three presidential candidates because I don't think they can effectively serve their constituencies and run at the same time.
And I mean, really, if this is what they do at Charlotte City Council meetings, I think he can be at the debate... although, this does give me a very favorable impression of his leadership under pressure, which is probably why he doesn't take Fred's crap ;)
Kinda hard for McCrory to pull an Edwards when Edwards had hardly served one term when he decided to go for his promotion. And if he really did only want that 7th term for the campaign, why is he letting his job as mayor interfere with his gubernatorial run? Shouldn't he just pull a Smith and ignore his real job while focusing on the campaign? Or are you saying that's an out?
Let me tell you how I feel about candidates that run for office while holding other positions -- let their constituents decide. That's why we have elections. If McCrory ends up losing the election and going back to Charlotte, they're a lot more likely to say "Hey, this guy really does care about us -- he risked losing a statewide election to stick with his duties as mayor". On the other hand, if he just completely shunned his responsibilities, the citizens would have every right to kick him out. It's ultimately their decision, and I respect that.
And Ryan, I sincerely apologize for anytime I've made you cry by going "completely insane" on you in my blog. Sometime I just don't know my own strength ;-)
Yeah yeah, cheap shot, I know.
Look at the Nazis they had politicians that did things and see how that went?
(Yes, I'm joking)
:-)
Sam
Last GOP Debate
Beltline Conservative
Re: Last GOP Debate
I never said he had a job he needed to be at the night of the debate, simply that he has a job he needs to be doing that he ISN'T doing. That's why I pointed out the figures from 2007 -- he hasn't been doing his job for a while now.
Re: Last GOP Debate
Re: Last GOP Debate
Re: Last GOP Debate
So, to Confucius, grow up. Is this the best you can do, "have a cirlce jerk with the rest of your Fred Smith closes?" Please.
Go back to the t.v. play 360 with your friends while the adults have a conversation, okay?
Re: Last GOP Debate
Re: Last GOP Debate
Still, I am the only (or one of the few) conservative who posts there.
BC