Fenty voters; would you vote for him if he ran as a Republican?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In a heartbeat.

It is a disheartening truth that the basis for his loss as NPR stated this morning was because in the "last few months DC voters saw him as aloof, arrogant and out of touch". That's more important than a politician who actually did what he said he was going to do, apparently. F*ck the proof in the pudding. Give me a smile and a handshake or I'll knock you down.

I really don't think he's gonna do it. I'd be worried it may create more divisiveness in this city.

What's disheartening is that that is the story that the national media gets while the reality is that I didn't give a rat's ass if he was arrogant and aloof. Hey, go ahead and be aloof but when you let Rhee make a mess of my kid's school, then I'm not going to vote for you even if you're cuddly and fuzzy!

[Anonymous]

Yes. Absolutely. In a heartbeat. Hate Gray and his banal "one city" platitude.

- Bitter and disillusioned Fenty Supporter

[Anonymous]

This might sound crazy, but hear me out. Turn out was VERY light for the primary, which is supposed to be the election that really matters. Doesn't it stand to reason that turnout will be even less for the general election, which has never meant anything? Are most Gray supporters really going to bother to vote in the general election? Could we organize a grass roots campaign to write-in Fenty's name? I know he said that he wouldn't accept the Republican nomination, but would he really turn down the job if he won? Who is with me?!

[Anonymous]

Yes.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:This might sound crazy, but hear me out. Turn out was VERY light for the primary, which is supposed to be the election that really matters. Doesn't it stand to reason that turnout will be even less for the general election, which has never meant anything? Are most Gray supporters really going to bother to vote in the general election? Could we organize a grass roots campaign to write-in Fenty's name? I know he said that he wouldn't accept the Republican nomination, but would he really turn down the job if he won? Who is with me?!

Turn out was not light. The total number of votes cast for mayor was 111,660. In 2006, it was 109,781. Plus the 2006 number includes absentee and provisionals which won't be counted for another 10 days. A lot of Gray's support came from political activists who will almost never miss a vote. I hate to rain on your parade, but you will probably need an umbrella.

[Anonymous]

16:23 yes. if for no other reason than to prevent the sore losers from prevailing via a write-in

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This might sound crazy, but hear me out. Turn out was VERY light for the primary, which is supposed to be the election that really matters. Doesn't it stand to reason that turnout will be even less for the general election, which has never meant anything? Are most Gray supporters really going to bother to vote in the general election? Could we organize a grass roots campaign to write-in Fenty's name? I know he said that he wouldn't accept the Republican nomination, but would he really turn down the job if he won? Who is with me?!

Turn out was not light. The total number of votes cast for mayor was 111,660. In 2006, it was 109,781. Plus the 2006 number includes absentee and provisionals which won't be counted for another 10 days. A lot of Gray's support came from political activists who will almost never miss a vote. I hate to rain on your parade, but you will probably need an umbrella.

Jeff did you vote for Gray?

[Anonymous]

The faithful old guard will show up to vote. If you're new to the city you might think it irrelevant - that's probably because you've voted somewhere else without a history of disenfranchisement. The people who have roots here? Feel like these are the only elections that matter and they won't miss them. IOW, white newbie voters might skip it, but the DC old guard won't.

I'm not trying to rain on your parade, I'm honestly trying to tell you like it is.

[Anonymous]

16:23 I am with you. We have nothing to lose at this point. Future doesn't look very bright.

[Anonymous]

Definitely support a write-in campaign and will encourage other disappointed Fenty supporters.

[Anonymous]

Does the fact that Fenty is supporting Gray mean anything to the Gray-haters?

You might take a look at the Collins-Brooks discussion (http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/15/the-nutsiness-of-politics/?hp in the Times, concerning the nutsiness of modern politics.

[Anonymous]

It's not about hating Gray, it's voting the mayor I want.

[Anonymous]

It was more than being aloof. He didn't respect the law (how he handled hiring Rhee) or government relations (blew it with the city council), he didn't respect the press, blowing off legitimate questions, which made the public think he was an arse (there, if the questions had crossed a line, that would have worked in Fenty's favor). He got results BUT HE WAS NOT THE FULL PACKAGE. He did not build alliances. I'm upset he lost. I voted for him. I can't stand all the Fenty supporters who refuse to see what a mess he, Fenty, made of this.

[Anonymous]

Fenty said he's not running as a write-in Republican and will support Gray in November. He also said it's been a great 10 years and he's done with politics.

[Anonymous]

Just out of curiosity, is there a reason DC has to have separate offices for "Shadow Representative" and "Delegate to the House of Representatives?"

Yeah, I know November's only going to determine whether Gray gets 85% or 95% of the vote. But from an academic point of view:

Statehood Greens had Faith Dane on the ballot although the write-ins defeated her, 279-186. Not sure if any of the write-ins got over 186 votes, probably not. I suspect Fenty and Gray were up there, though. She seems to focus on the arts, statehood as a cure for all that ails DC, and little else. I doubt the Rhee fanbois will be voting for her.

The GOP had 1,373 write-in votes. No idea who was on top, I suspect Fenty and Gray were up there -- no idea if a serious candidate could emerge. Probably not at this late point.

As for others ...

According to
http://www.dcboee.org/popup.asp?url=/pdf_files/nr_474.pdf

the following folks have filed petitions (no idea if they've been accepted or not):

Carlos Allen (Independent)
Omari Musa (Socialist Workers')

four other folks have picked up the packets.