Will Gray resign?

[Anonymous]

Anyone read the Post today? It's not looking good for Gray and I'm wondering if he'll end up resigning. The investigation into his "shadow campaign" continues and Gray seems to think he can still be mayor. http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/mayor-gray-this-is-not-the-campaign-we-intended-to-run/2012/07/11/gJQASDL6cW_story.html

[jsteele]

Things are definitely not looking good for Gray. So far, however, no evidence of his involvement or knowledge of the shadow campaign has been presented. The government clearly has the goods on Jeff Thompson and it will be interesting to see what he has to say as part of a plea bargain. In addition, it looks like Lorraine Greene is pretty exposed, and if anybody can spill the beans on Gray, it is her. But, if neither of them offers evidence of Gray's involvement, I think he can skate.

[Anonymous]

He should still resign. He won by cheating.

[Anonymous]

He doesn't seem to care that he won by cheating. He will stick out his term even if every member of his campaign is indicted and convicted. That's DC--Marion Barry set a very high (low?) standard for conduct in office, and in achieving office, and in staying in office.
I do wish/hope Fenty would run again. I'd vote for him in a heartbeat. I don't think he will, though.

[Anonymous]

Mayor Gray's new slogan (and defense):

"One City. But Two Campaigns."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He doesn't seem to care that he won by cheating. He will stick out his term even if every member of his campaign is indicted and convicted. That's DC--Marion Barry set a very high (low?) standard for conduct in office, and in achieving office, and in staying in office.
I do wish/hope Fenty would run again. I'd vote for him in a heartbeat. I don't think he will, though.

He may have won by cheating, but there is no way in hell I was voting for Fenty for a second term. The stupidity of the Gray cheating is that he did not need to cheat to win. It's absurb. There were enough people who checked his box not for him, but against the other guy. Gosh, please provide some outsiders for the next election. Fenty was also a crook, just a different crook than Gray. Don't get it twisted.

[Anonymous]

I think Gray is toast. If he doesn't resign now, he would be crazy to run for re-election.

Do NOT want Fenty back - unless he can bring with him documentation from experts that he has finally matured.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think Gray is toast. If he doesn't resign now, he would be crazy to run for re-election.

Do NOT want Fenty back - unless he can bring with him documentation from experts that he has finally matured.

It's people like you that brought this scourge unto our city. Fenty didn't give a fuck about kissing babies and playing to the old guard and so he was booted. Even though he was a great mayor. We got the mayor we deserved.

Gray won't resign. This is DC you wait until you're indicted.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:
It's people like you that brought this scourge unto our city. Fenty didn't give a fuck about kissing babies and playing to the old guard and so he was booted. Even though he was a great mayor. We got the mayor we deserved.

Gray won't resign. This is DC you wait until you're indicted.

I would hardly call this a "scourge". Gray is doing a pretty good job of governing. Don't forget that Fenty also took money from Thompson. I wouldn't bet the house on Fenty's hands being totally clean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think Gray is toast. If he doesn't resign now, he would be crazy to run for re-election.

Do NOT want Fenty back - unless he can bring with him documentation from experts that he has finally matured.

It's people like you that brought this scourge unto our city. Fenty didn't give a fuck about kissing babies and playing to the old guard and so he was booted. Even though he was a great mayor. We got the mayor we deserved.

Gray won't resign. This is DC you wait until you're indicted.

Fenty hired a novice school chancellor whose actions severely disrupted my daughter's school when she tried to fix what wasn't broken. She instituted a controversial teacher evaluation program without doing pilot test on it first. The shoddy way in which the DC-CAS was instituted allowed for wide-spread cheating (and some cheating school staff receiving substantial bonuses) and it still hasn't been adequately investigated as of yet. These are just a few of the mistakes Michelle Rhee made. And she continues to make lots of money and get lots of acclaim because she knows how to give a good speech. Too bad she didn't know how to manage, or Fenty would still be mayor today.

At the time Fenty was elected, he was an arrogant fool who thought that good intentions and a good speech were all one needed to run a school system. Hopefully he's not as arrogant and not as foolish - then he might be a good mayor.

[Anonymous]

Yes Yes because the teachers DC had before were a touch of gold. Please get off your high horse. We've had this conversation before, just because you're daughter's school went through some change doesn't mean his plan was wrong. Many people resist change because it bring upheaval, but that is part of the process. I love what Fenty and Rhee tried to do, DC just wasn't ready.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
It's people like you that brought this scourge unto our city. Fenty didn't give a fuck about kissing babies and playing to the old guard and so he was booted. Even though he was a great mayor. We got the mayor we deserved.

Gray won't resign. This is DC you wait until you're indicted.

I would hardly call this a "scourge". Gray is doing a pretty good job of governing. Don't forget that Fenty also took money from Thompson. I wouldn't bet the house on Fenty's hands being totally clean.

I didn't like Fenty, but Gray is doing a LOUSY job of governing. He's been mayor for what, two years? Feels like 10, with all of the energy of a hot, languid July day. While there are a few bright spots, the bureaucracy is slowing down. There are lots of unfilled vacancies on DC boards and commissions. A constant drumbeat of scandals.

Bring back Anthony Williams!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes Yes because the teachers DC had before were a touch of gold. Please get off your high horse. We've had this conversation before, just because you're daughter's school went through some change doesn't mean his plan was wrong. Many people resist change because it bring upheaval, but that is part of the process. I love what Fenty and Rhee tried to do, DC just wasn't ready.

Rhee just wasn't competent.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:

I didn't like Fenty, but Gray is doing a LOUSY job of governing. He's been mayor for what, two years? Feels like 10, with all of the energy of a hot, languid July day. While there are a few bright spots, the bureaucracy is slowing down. There are lots of unfilled vacancies on DC boards and commissions. A constant drumbeat of scandals.

Bring back Anthony Williams!

The scandals have nothing to do with Gray's governing. Here are some difference between Fenty and Gray:

1) Fenty had plenty of money to play with and was able to spend like crazy. Gray inherited a deficit and has had to deal with a declining economy (which is world-wide, not something he caused in DC);

2) Fenty has the Washington Post editorial board as a fan club. The same board is constantly critical of Gray. This affects many people's perception of their terms;

As for Williams, everyone seems to be looking back at him with rose-colored glasses. He had is own ethics issues. And, as for campaigning, he was kicked off the frigging ballot because his petitions were illegal (involving one of the same guys involved with Grays shadow campaign).

The fact that you have to reach to "unfilled vacancies on DC boards and commissions" as a short-coming of the Gray administration shows just how good we have it. There was a time when such a list would have been topped by 300-some murders per year and a lack of basic city services.

Could Gray do better? Sure, all mayors could (or so their constituents think). I obviously wish he hadn't been involved in these campaign shenanigans. But, I still think he is doing a pretty good job of governing.

[Anonymous]

I think he has to resign. May not be today or next week, but eventually.