Is DC Mayor Gray toast?

[Anonymous]

This seems far more serious than the so-far unsubstantiated "Sillyman" Brown allegations against the mayor. Jack Evans is even suggesting today that Vincent Gray may not serve out his term. It does seem like DC is into serious ethical relapse mode, involving misconduct ranging from embezzlement, taxes, campaign irregularities, failure to report attempted bribery, etc : H. Thomas, V. Gray, M. Barry, V. Orange, K.. Brown, M. Brown, J. Graham, Y. Alexander. Others (even Evans and Mendo) have received document subpoenas related to the fundraiser investigation.

"WASHINGTON -- District of Columbia Mayor Vincent Gray personally handled as much as $100,000 in campaign donations linked to a politically-connected fundraiser now under intense scrutiny by federal investigators. ..."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/15/vincent-gray-jeffrey-thompson_n_1349558.html

[Anonymous]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

Signed,

Fenty Voter.

[Anonymous]

Those donations were bundled by Thompson, whose bundled donations for Fenty were worth even more $$ than those he gave Gray. Every sitting member of the Council, except Tommy Wells, received big $$ from Thompson. My fear is what happens if the entire elected gov't needs to resign.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Those donations were bundled by Thompson, whose bundled donations for Fenty were worth even more $$ than those he gave Gray. Every sitting member of the Council, except Tommy Wells, received big $$ from Thompson. My fear is what happens if the entire elected gov't needs to resign.

If most of the elected DC government needed to resign, it might be the best thing to happen to the city in a while. Of course, Newt's proposed moon colony will be a state decades before DC.

The headline grabber of the Gray story is that, thus far, Gray has managed to seem above the fray (disengaged?)from most of the allegations involving shady campaign tactics, jobs for cronies and their kids, etc. But here there are direct allegations that he was personally handling questionable contributions in large amounts. Stay tuned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

Signed,

Fenty Voter.

Yeah, I bet Ron Moten laughed all the way to the bank.

[Anonymous]

This what happens when you vote on feeling instead of results.

They went back to their old ways, and surprise! investigations/media were paying more attention.

Same thing w Congress. You're not prevented from being elected even w a felony record.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:This what happens when you vote on feeling instead of results.

As noted in a previous message, Fenty received even more money from Thompson than Gray did. So, presumably we would be in the exact same situation even if voters had voted on what you consider to be "results". What would your explanation be in that case?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This what happens when you vote on feeling instead of results.

They went back to their old ways, and surprise! investigations/media were paying more attention.

Same thing w Congress. You're not prevented from being elected even w a felony record.

Peaceaholics? Parks & Rec contracts filtered though the housing authority? A school Chancellor who leaves in a emit the moment she thinks she can no longer always get her way? Eraser-gate? Violation of the law giving charters right of first refusal for surplus DCPS buildings?

I'm upset about Gray, but still have zero regrets about voting against Fenty.

[Anonymous]

Whoops, not "emit," "snit."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This what happens when you vote on feeling instead of results.

They went back to their old ways, and surprise! investigations/media were paying more attention.

Same thing w Congress. You're not prevented from being elected even w a felony record.

Peaceaholics? Parks & Rec contracts filtered though the housing authority? A school Chancellor who leaves in a emit the moment she thinks she can no longer always get her way? Eraser-gate? Violation of the law giving charters right of first refusal for surplus DCPS buildings?

I'm upset about Gray, but still have zero regrets about voting against Fenty.

The question is not who was right or wrong about Fenty or Gray. It's beyond "Fenty did it, too" or "I told you so."

There seems to be a pervasive culture of corruption in the DC government. One can debate whether it is resurgent, worse, or the same as always was, just more out in the open now. I frankly thought DC was largely beyond the 80s/early 90s, except for the continuing crooked and clonish antics like Marion Barry on the council. And the city has made significant progress in management and service delivery since Barry, thanks to the Control Board, Williams and, yes, even Fenty. But now it's apparent that there is a much more widespread political ethics problem, involving various problems with a number of council members and likely the mayor also. It's a shame, but DC can't go on like this anymore.

[Anonymous]

No, Gray will be re-elected. Just look at his defenders here. Gray will easily have as many terms as he wants. The only thing that will get you kick out of office is trying to reforming DC Government. I can see the signs now "Vote Gray, keep the graft flowing!"

[Anonymous]

no surprise if you represent SE interests over the rest you are a crook

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Those donations were bundled by Thompson, whose bundled donations for Fenty were worth even more $$ than those he gave Gray. Every sitting member of the Council, except Tommy Wells, received big $$ from Thompson. My fear is what happens if the entire elected gov't needs to resign.

The only elected member of the government that would remain would be Tommy Wells? I'm OK with that. More than OK, actually.

And although I would have preferred Fenty over Gray, I have no illusions about his purity, or lack of it. He was just as, if not more, corrupt as Gray or anyone else. But there were only two realistic alternatives for mayor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those donations were bundled by Thompson, whose bundled donations for Fenty were worth even more $$ than those he gave Gray. Every sitting member of the Council, except Tommy Wells, received big $$ from Thompson. My fear is what happens if the entire elected gov't needs to resign.

The only elected member of the government that would remain would be Tommy Wells? I'm OK with that. More than OK, actually.

And although I would have preferred Fenty over Gray, I have no illusions about his purity, or lack of it. He was just as, if not more, corrupt as Gray or anyone else. But there were only two realistic alternatives for mayor.

Ha! wouldn't that be sweet revenge for Tommy given the way his collegues have treated him? I'd be good with Tommy too. Nice guy, but a bit too credulous about stuff. Erasuregate didn't need to happen-- someone in his postion could have listened to constitutent concerns about their kid struggling in homework, yet scoring advanced in Dc CAs and said-- "Hey, wait a minute! Something isn't right here!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, Gray will be re-elected. Just look at his defenders here. Gray will easily have as many terms as he wants. The only thing that will get you kick out of office is trying to reforming DC Government. I can see the signs now "Vote Gray, keep the graft flowing!"

I actually don't see any Gray defenders--just folks refuting the notion that Fenty wouldn't be roughly in the same position re Thompson. I'd be be happy to vote for anyone better (just as I was happy to vote for someone I still see as less corrupt than Fenty).