DC Residents - whatever you do please don't vote for Sekou Biddle

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your absolute bias against Sekou Biddle has been obvious for months. You haven't examined his record, nor have you considered his endorsements by other individuals and groups, such as Tommy Wells, David Catania, Getrude Stein Club, DC for Democracy and many, many others. You've narrowly focused on your real problem - other leaders in this city.

I am not sure what part of "I like Sekou and if he is elected, I think he will be a decent Council Member" was difficult for you to understand. Yes, if you want a Council Member who will immediately be welcomed to the club, Biddle is your man. Personally, I think the club is not working out. Obviously, Orange would be even worse. But, Weaver -- who I support -- Mara, or Lopez would all be less likely to engage in business as usual.

I have said repeatedly that if you like the way things are going in the city, vote Biddle. If you want change, you have better choices.

Jeff, I like you. I also like and know Bryan and Sekou. But what's with the "guilt by association" heckling of someone you claim to "like"? Bryan is a great guy, but what does he really know about the byzantium of education reform beyond basketball and gang shootings?

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:Jeff, I like you. I also like and know Bryan and Sekou. But what's with the "guilt by association" heckling of someone you claim to "like"? Bryan is a great guy, but what does he really know about the byzantium of education reform beyond basketball and gang shootings?

I have a number of criticisms of Biddle beyond what you describe as "guilt by association" but what I would more accurately call "political debts". Biddle literally has life-long ties to Kwame Brown. Their fathers were friends before even moving to DC. Biddle was selected for the interim position only after Brown literally pulled people into a small kitchenette to twist their arms. Biddle hired Brown's father as a paid consultant. Biddle's campaign is being run by Brown's former campaign manager. Does that make Biddle a bad guy? No. But, it does suggest that he would have a very difficult time in being independent from Brown. If you believe that providing Brown with a reliable supporter will benefit DC, then by all means vote for Biddle. But, it has been my belief for months that the Council needs an independent voice who will not engage in "business as usual". The Council needs reform and reform will not be strengthened by electing someone beholden to the Council Chairman. Rather, reform will be furthered by electing a strong advocate for transparency and accountability.

Biddle does have a stronger background on education issues than Weaver. However, the schools takeover led to mayoral-control, not Council control. So, the Council's power over the schools is limited. Moreover, the Council has a lot more on its agenda than education. If Biddle wanted to remain focused on schools, he should have stayed on the SBOE. In the areas in which the Council can impact education, Weaver has actually had more creative ideas than Biddle. Just read the Greater Greater Washington surveys on education in which they expressed disappointment with Biddle.

[Anonymous]

Have you seen Orange's latest mailer? The gist is that the big bad Republican Mara is the tool of the congressional GOP and to avoid electing him by splitting the Dem vote, we should all vote for Orange.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:Have you seen Orange's latest mailer? The gist is that the big bad Republican Mara is the tool of the congressional GOP and to avoid electing him by splitting the Dem vote, we should all vote for Orange.

I wonder if Orange's polling shows that Mara is a bigger threat than Biddle? Mara and Orange do seem to be going after each other pretty heavily. Mara had a great mailer that showed a bunch of oranges and one green apple. Mara, of course, was supposed to be the apple while all the Democrats were oranges.

[jsteele]

Wheels coming off Biddle's campaign? Yvette Alexander who previously endorsed Biddle is apparently robo-calling on behalf of Orange.

[Anonymous]

Frankly I think that bodes well and makes Alexander look terrible and like a fair weather friend. as dcist stated --she is not principled.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:Frankly I think that bodes well and makes Alexander look terrible and like a fair weather friend. as dcist stated --she is not principled.

In other news, the sun rises in the east and set in the west.

[jsteele]

Wow, Tim Craig is reporting that Alexander said she flipped to Orange because Biddle told her he didn't need Ward 7 to win. If that is true -- which I am sure Biddle will deny -- he is an idiot. Even if it were true (and I don't think it is), he should never say such a thing.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:Wow, Tim Craig is reporting that Alexander said she flipped to Orange because Biddle told her he didn't need Ward 7 to win. If that is true -- which I am sure Biddle will deny -- he is an idiot. Even if it were true (and I don't think it is), he should never say such a thing.

And if he did say it, it was presumably said in confidence.

I could not resist that double entendre!

[Anonymous]

We just got a Biddle call from Charlene Drew Jarvis. Whoop-dee-doo, Sekou!

[Anonymous]

Was Alexander, or any of the endorsing Councilmembers really doing anything? I think she just shot herself in the foot where respect from her constituents and fellow legislators is concerned.

The election is Orange's anyway. The rest of this is just chatter.