Will Fenty win the DC mayoral primary against Gray?

[Anonymous]

13:04 here. You are missing my point. 13:29. We never know what we're going to get. Look at Fenty. He campaigned that he was opposed to taking over the schools, but announced that he'd reversed his position the next day. Gray just feels amorphous and I've educated myself as much as I can. I have voted against incumbents several times. For me Fenty's main problem is style over substance. His style isn't charming. He's done a lot for the city and for the schools.

[Anonymous]

If you are voting against Gray because you've reviewed his record and find him to be inadequate or for Fenty because you are impressed with what he's done, that's great. But initially you said you had thought about voting for Gray but realized you'd be choosing someone you didn't know over someone you did. If that is factoring in, in my mind, that's just lazy.

[Anonymous]

Fenty has an energy to him that Gray doesn't have. Gray won't even answer the question as to whether he would fire Rhee. He says, "I haven't said that I would definitely fire her." If this is an example of his straightforward leadership style as a candidate, I can't imagine that he's going to become less fickle once he's elected. He should just answer the question.

Look, Fenty has rubbed some people the wrong way. But test scores are up, McLean Gardens got its dog park, and he has smart people working for him. When I attended the Ward 3 straw poll and Gray said (and I am basically quoting him here) that he appreciates our concern with our "home values" and with our "childrens' education", and he's not against any of that, but that other Wards need more help, so don't expect any more of "that" -- well, that was it for me. If Fenty wants to close the highways to go on a bikeride; give money to his favorite swimming pool; make his guards stay in a shack, and be private about his private whereabouts -- well -- I'm not about to applaud that -- but he's pretty much done or tried to do everything I elected him to do. I'm not looking for a best friend or a husband. I'm looking for a Mayor.

And yeah, I care about the value of my home and about the education of my children. Without apology, candidate Gray.

[Anonymous]

That's all well and good. I am actually moving out of the area so I haven't invested myself too deeply in either's policies because I will be gone before the elections. But I'd probably side with Gray on putting the needs of other Wards ahead of Ward 3, which is doing pretty well on its own. You are entitled to your opinion, obviously, but I would support Gray's position on that matter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's all well and good. I am actually moving out of the area so I haven't invested myself too deeply in either's policies because I will be gone before the elections. But I'd probably side with Gray on putting the needs of other Wards ahead of Ward 3, which is doing pretty well on its own. You are entitled to your opinion, obviously, but I would support Gray's position on that matter.

Yes the people who pay the most in taxes shouldn't get any return on their investment in the city. Why should they expect better schools, their home values go up or *gasp* a new park. After all they do is pay the lion's share of the city's revenue. Your attitude is the reason why so many people will always move out of the city, and if Gray wins I know a number of families that will also pack up and move up the road to MD.

[Anonymous]

Sigh... those people pay higher taxes because they are already receiving a lion's share of the benefits of the government. It may not APPEAR that way, but the system is set up to perpetuate the advantages those people enjoy, many of which are ultimately unearned and the result of systemic privilege.

You are not entitled to better schools than others in your municipality, or higher property values, or a new park, no matter how much you pay in taxes. Those things would be great to have and if a mayor can provide those across the board, fantastic! But you are dead wrong that people should "expect" that to which they are not entitled.

[Anonymous]

Taxes aren't an investment, but a payment for services rendered. People in Ward 3 already receive greater services and, as such, pay higher taxes.

[Anonymous]

People tend to vote based on their own interests. When a candidate comes to my Ward and mocks my interests ("I know you care about your "children"" -- double quotes intended), I lose interest in that candidate. I don't vote purely with a what's-in-it-for-me attitude, as I do believe in the common good and support Obama and think health care is a right, etc. But when a candidate comes to my Ward and essentially mocks me and my interests, I become less interested in that candidate.

But not to worry. Fenty has a lot more energy than Gray (the man is an athlete), and he hasn't even taken out the big guns yet. Can't wait for the parade today.

Higher test scores, lower crime, more recreational services ... and I'm supposed to vote the man who brought this to us out of office because he seems uppity? No thanks. That's a problem for his family and maybe his shrink. I don't need him to kiss my baby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People tend to vote based on their own interests. When a candidate comes to my Ward and mocks my interests ("I know you care about your "children"" -- double quotes intended), I lose interest in that candidate. I don't vote purely with a what's-in-it-for-me attitude, as I do believe in the common good and support Obama and think health care is a right, etc. But when a candidate comes to my Ward and essentially mocks me and my interests, I become less interested in that candidate.

But not to worry. Fenty has a lot more energy than Gray (the man is an athlete), and he hasn't even taken out the big guns yet. Can't wait for the parade today.

Higher test scores, lower crime, more recreational services ... and I'm supposed to vote the man who brought this to us out of office because he seems uppity? No thanks. That's a problem for his family and maybe his shrink. I don't need him to kiss my baby.

I don't want to judge your thoughts, but your words sound like someone who has made up his/her mind and is interpreting all information based on the conclusion already reached. For example, Gray's message to Ward 3 did not seem mocking to me, and given the result, I suspect most listeners heard it as a call to their civic-mindedness. But I admit I am predisposed to favor Gray, so my own interpretation may be affected by a desired conclusion.

[Anonymous]

I am voting for Fenty. I am not clear at all about what Gray's priorities are and plans. I am quite happy with what Fenty has done with schools.

[Anonymous]

No. Obama calls me to civic-mindedness. Gray wants to play Robinhood and I'll take a pass. I have made up my mind to vote for Fenty. And Gray winning a Ward 3 straw poll by 4 votes, at which there was a massive attempt at fraud and at which only 350 people attended doesn't really scare me. Ward 3 voters will turn out in droves on the day the vote really counts, and the overwhelming majority of us will vote for Fenty.

And if I spend more money on less of a house than I could have had elsewhere in the District so that my kids could go to a good public school, and I pay higher taxes for the "privilege", explain to me again why I should not feel entitled to the benefit of my bargain? Because I didn't get it the first time you tried to explain it to me. Seems to me that it's a lot of Gray voters who have a profound sense of over-entitlement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:... And Gray winning a Ward 3 straw poll by 4 votes, at which there was a massive attempt at fraud and at which only 350 people attended doesn't really scare me. ...

Can you expand on the "fraud" remark? I have heard questions raised about kids from outside being paid to hold Fenty signs, but you seem to be implying fraud on Gray's behalf. The major complaint I have heard about Gray supporters is that their booing of Fenty is unsportsmanlike.

[Anonymous]

Many people came from other wards to the Ward 3 straw poll to show support for Gray (or another candidate). There is nothing wrong with this, although I do think it would be better if people attended the straw polls that are designated for them, rather than those designated for others. But freedom of speech and of commerce -- I get it.

Only many of the people who visited Ward 3 from other wards also voted. They made it very easy to do. You had to visit two stations in order to vote: At the first station, you filled out a white form, at which you stated your name and address. No verification was required. So basically you could have chosen any address within Ward 3 and claimed that you lived there -- either as Don Quixote or Tiger Woods on Tom Brown or Suzy Smith. You were then given a yellow card which you took to another station. The yellow card only contained a list of candidates, and all you did was check off the one you wished to support.

So there was no way of verifying the legitimacy of those who registered to vote in the first instance, and then no way of typing those "registrations" to the ballots. That's why it took a couple (few) weeks for them to sort out the legitimate votes from the legitimate ones. And who knows if they got it right. Probably the best they could do is an approximation.

Traveling from another ward to a Ward 3 straw poll, and then trying to vote at that Ward 3 straw poll is fraud.

Now, I do not know if people were paid to hold up Fenty signs. If they were, I would call that poor form, but not fraud.

There certainly was plenty of booing from Gray supporters every time Fenty tried to speak. They actually tried to drown him out. That is poor form. Poorer form, I'd say, than it is to hold up a sign for a fee (if indeed that did happen).

The moderator of the forum would not even allow Fenty to answer the question as to whether he would retain Rhee if he was (re)elected. He was told that his answer was an assumed "yes" and to sit down. Which he actually did. He had to save it for his closing. I didn't think that call was particularly fair. All the candidates get to answer this question but you, Mr. Mayor. You sit down and keep quiet.

It was a great closing though. That was when the silent majority stood up and gave him an ovation. "Yes, she's aggressive; she's a hard-charger, she's controversial, but she's getting results and I will absolutely, without any reservation, retain her if re-elected."

Much better and more becoming of a leader, I think, than, "I'm not saying I will definitely fire Rhee if I am elected." Not that she wants the pleasure of working for you, candidate Gray.

[Anonymous]

I meant "tying" those registrations to the ballots.

[Anonymous]

I also meant sort out the legitimate votes from the illegitimate ones. Must be the wine and mint julip I had last night.