Gray's Town Hall Meeting in Ward 3

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it's unfair to say that Gray packed the hall with supporters. Anyone was free to come -- and as a Gray supporter, I received no special plea to come, as I have in the past for campaign events.

I'm disappointed to hear that that more Fenty voters were not there and I imagine Gray was too. He specifically wants to reach out to people who didn't vote for him.

I am a Ward 3 voter who voted for Fenty and would have loved to come to the Ward 3 meeting with Gray. However, it was scheduled to conflict with the biggest annual family event that Alice Deal Middle School has- same date and same exact time.
Gray's office did not seem too concerned when I phoned to tell them about the conflict. That planning ostensibly meant that several hundred families who would most likely have huge concerns about school reform were not present at the meeting.
This does not seem like he "specifically wants to reach out to people who didn't vote for him".
It may not have been purposeful, but it shows an astounding lack of community outreach- Deal is the Ward 3 public middle school and has 900+ kids. His office should have checked to see if there were community conflicts when scheduling- especially a public school.

[Anonymous]

I am a Ward 3 resident and Fenty supporter who was at the town hall. If Gray was genuinely interested in hearing from Ward 3 residents, then why have all of the non-Ward 3 Gray boosters there? Also, I was really turned off by the over-the-top electioneering occuring at the event. I had to say ten different times that I didn't want a Gray button.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jeff again demonstrates his difficulty with numerics. Fenty does not need a landslide in the general election to win. He needs only to get the most votes, and "most" can be as little as one more than any other candidate.

Fenty would have to receive a landslide among people who didn't vote in the primary but would vote in the general. Fenty has to make up over 13,000 votes. There are unlikely to even be 13,000 additional voters in the general. But, if there are, Fenty will need a landslide among them. He won't get it. So, the PUMA party is over.

Anonymous wrote:You'll also hear his vision for school reform, which does not place any value on academics. And you'll hear him state that since we're all so compassionate, we should agree to a tax increase. You'll hear him say that city residents are entitled to city jobs.

Actually, you won't hear most of that. Rather, you will hear Gray outline his vision of birth-to-24 education which emphasizes early childhood education and college in addition to K-12. You will also hear him discuss enforcing First Source which gives priority to DC residents for jobs funded by DC's spending. The previous poster seems to be almost as confused about First Source as he/she is about how to count votes. Alleviating the high unemployment rates in DC should be the priority of our mayor. I'm surprised that this PP doesn't support First Source, but maybe the poster prefers paying for social services to support the unemployed. In that case, I hope the poster will be compassionate and support a tax increase because unemployment has a high cost.

Again, Jeff, you are the one who appears to have difficulty understanding simple concepts. Show me where, in that videotape, Gray talks about the importance of a traditional, rigorous academic education that will prepare our children for college and make them competitive applicants. You won't find it, because it does not exist.

Yes, you'll hear a lot about how people should be entitled to an education beginning at birth and ending at age 24. You'll hear a lot about technical, vocational and special education. You'll hear a lot about how our school should be a place where those kids who either don't or cannot go to college will acquire job skills. And you'll hear a lot about First Source. And a community college.

But you won't hear a single word about the importance of an academic education. You won't hear him acknowledge that DCPS is the worst public school system in the nation. You'll hear none of that. His silence on this issue speaks volumes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Jeff again demonstrates his difficulty with numerics. Fenty does not need a landslide in the general election to win. He needs only to get the most votes, and "most" can be as little as one more than any other candidate.

Maybe Jeff, like Vince, received the same DCPS education that Vince did, and which Vince thinks was "great!" Since Jeff has now posted a link to the video of the meeting, you can all hear Vince boast about the wonderful DCPS education he recieved. And you should. Because that? Is some scary stuff.

You'll also hear his vision for school reform, which does not place any value on academics. And you'll hear him state that since we're all so compassionate, we should agree to a tax increase. You'll hear him say that city residents are entitled to city jobs.

Really, after listening to this meeting, you'll be so scared you won't even need Halloween.

Watch the video. Feel the fear. And then run -- do not walk -- to the polls in November. Write-in Adrian M. Fenty.

You know, your blatant fear-mongering didn't work in the primary. I doubt it's going to work now. It just pisses people off. If Fenty's people had thought more carefully about that and run a smarter campaign, he might have been the Democratic nominee now. But the old Marion Barry parrynoia just gets old after awhile.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jeff again demonstrates his difficulty with numerics. Fenty does not need a landslide in the general election to win. He needs only to get the most votes, and "most" can be as little as one more than any other candidate.

Maybe Jeff, like Vince, received the same DCPS education that Vince did, and which Vince thinks was "great!" Since Jeff has now posted a link to the video of the meeting, you can all hear Vince boast about the wonderful DCPS education he recieved. And you should. Because that? Is some scary stuff.

You'll also hear his vision for school reform, which does not place any value on academics. And you'll hear him state that since we're all so compassionate, we should agree to a tax increase. You'll hear him say that city residents are entitled to city jobs.

Really, after listening to this meeting, you'll be so scared you won't even need Halloween.

Watch the video. Feel the fear. And then run -- do not walk -- to the polls in November. Write-in Adrian M. Fenty.

You know, your blatant fear-mongering didn't work in the primary. I doubt it's going to work now. It just pisses people off. If Fenty's people had thought more carefully about that and run a smarter campaign, he might have been the Democratic nominee now. But the old Marion Barry parrynoia just gets old after awhile.

It's not just fear-mongering and paranoia. To all those Gray supporters out there, doesn't it bother you that he raised $1 million from the teacher's union? What do you think they want in return?

The double-standard is outrageous. It's OK for Gray to run on what was essentially an anti-gentrification platform, but it is divisive when Fenty supporters point out the obvious?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jeff again demonstrates his difficulty with numerics. Fenty does not need a landslide in the general election to win. He needs only to get the most votes, and "most" can be as little as one more than any other candidate.

Maybe Jeff, like Vince, received the same DCPS education that Vince did, and which Vince thinks was "great!" Since Jeff has now posted a link to the video of the meeting, you can all hear Vince boast about the wonderful DCPS education he recieved. And you should. Because that? Is some scary stuff.

You'll also hear his vision for school reform, which does not place any value on academics. And you'll hear him state that since we're all so compassionate, we should agree to a tax increase. You'll hear him say that city residents are entitled to city jobs.

Really, after listening to this meeting, you'll be so scared you won't even need Halloween.

Watch the video. Feel the fear. And then run -- do not walk -- to the polls in November. Write-in Adrian M. Fenty.

You know, your blatant fear-mongering didn't work in the primary. I doubt it's going to work now. It just pisses people off. If Fenty's people had thought more carefully about that and run a smarter campaign, he might have been the Democratic nominee now. But the old Marion Barry parrynoia just gets old after awhile.

It's not just fear-mongering and paranoia. To all those Gray supporters out there, doesn't it bother you that he raised $1 million from the teacher's union? What do you think they want in return?

The double-standard is outrageous. It's OK for Gray to run on what was essentially an anti-gentrification platform, but it is divisive when Fenty supporters point out the obvious?

Well, like I said, if the Fenty people had been smarter about how they got out their message he might be the candidate today. Beating people over the head with the ghost of Marion Barry (oh wait, he's not dead yet...) wasn't productive. BTW, Gray is not anti-gentrification. I'm a gentrifier and I voted for him.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:
It's not just fear-mongering and paranoia. To all those Gray supporters out there, doesn't it bother you that he raised $1 million from the teacher's union? What do you think they want in return?

Gray did not raise $1 million from the teacher's union. This whole thing has been spun beyond recognition so I don't blame you for getting it wrong. But, the AFT waged an independent expenditure campaign. They did not provide the funds to Gray. By law, the AFT could not coordinate with the Gray campaign. Most of the money was spent on mailings and phone calls to union members, as well as polling. Both the Union and Fenty now have an interest in acting like the AFT played the key role in Fenty's defeat. But, that's simply not the case.

On the other hand, I was bothered that Fenty raised multiple maximum donations from LLCs controlled by a handful of developers. The Lerner family alone gave nearly $30,000. The majority of those LLCs are not even located in DC.

[Anonymous]

[quote=
Watch the video. Feel the fear. And then run -- do not walk -- to the polls in November. [/b] Write-in Adrian M. Fenty.
You know, your blatant fear-mongering didn't work in the primary. I doubt it's going to work now. It just pisses people off. If Fenty's people had thought more carefully about that and run a smarter campaign, he might have been the Democratic nominee now. But the old Marion Barry parrynoia just gets old after awhile.

It's not just fear-mongering and paranoia. To all those Gray supporters out there, doesn't it bother you that he raised $1 million from the teacher's union? What do you think they want in return?

The double-standard is outrageous. It's OK for Gray to run on what was essentially an anti-gentrification platform, but it is divisive when Fenty supporters point out the obvious?

Fenty raised nearly 5 million dollars. Seventy-five percent of that money were donated by people and corporations located outside of the District of Columbia. The majority of his campaign chest came from donors in NYC. Does it bother you that NYC residents and companies were attempting to buy and influence the lives of Washingtonians?

[Anonymous]

16:46 - What do you have against vocational schools? Guess what? Many kids do actually graduate from DCPS well-prepared for college and go on to top tier schools. It only makes sense to have strong vocational programs. Most successful school systems also offer vocational programs. When does Gray say he doesn't support strong rigorous academics? DCPS will only be successful when ALL wards have great schools and programs, not just Ward 3.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn't realize Ward 3 residents were so incapable of getting themselves to a meeting at St. Columba's Church to ask questions. Stop whining and move on.

It is difficult to understand what Jeff is saying with Gray's DICK jammed so far down his throat. He posts reasonably under his real name and then hides and attacks everyone who disagrees with him. Lame.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't realize Ward 3 residents were so incapable of getting themselves to a meeting at St. Columba's Church to ask questions. Stop whining and move on.

It is difficult to understand what Jeff is saying with Gray's DICK jammed so far down his throat. He posts reasonably under his real name and then hides and attacks everyone who disagrees with him. Lame.

You forgot to include a Hitler picture.

BTW, why are the Fenty supporters so obsessed with the idea of me and Gray having sex? That's got to be the strangest fetish I've ever encountered.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't realize Ward 3 residents were so incapable of getting themselves to a meeting at St. Columba's Church to ask questions. Stop whining and move on.

It is difficult to understand what Jeff is saying with Gray's DICK jammed so far down his throat. He posts reasonably under his real name and then hides and attacks everyone who disagrees with him. Lame.

You forgot to include a Hitler picture.

BTW, why are the Fenty supporters so obsessed with the idea of me and Gray having sex? That's got to be the strangest fetish I've ever encountered.

That's it! You've officially lost all objectivity. it's really disappointing. What is this visceral Gray rage about, seriously?

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't realize Ward 3 residents were so incapable of getting themselves to a meeting at St. Columba's Church to ask questions. Stop whining and move on.

It is difficult to understand what Jeff is saying with Gray's DICK jammed so far down his throat. He posts reasonably under his real name and then hides and attacks everyone who disagrees with him. Lame.

You forgot to include a Hitler picture.

BTW, why are the Fenty supporters so obsessed with the idea of me and Gray having sex? That's got to be the strangest fetish I've ever encountered.

That's it! You've officially lost all objectivity. it's really disappointing. What is this visceral Gray rage about, seriously?

What the hell are you talking about? What is the objective response to being told you have someone's dick in your throat? I'm the one raging? Are any of the Fenty supporters actually sane?

[Anonymous]

19:46: You are incorrect in stating that Jeff sometimes posts anonymously. That is simply not the case.

However, as the poster who suggested that Jeff has a crush on Gray and should ask him out, I must say that image of Gray's dick rammed down Jeff's throat really resonated with me. You actually made my day. It is true that Jeff has lost all objectivity where Vince Gray is concerned. Love is blind.

Vocational Ed lover: My point was not that vocational education is bad and, no, Vince did not actually state his opposition to a traditional, vigorous academic education that will make our children competitive for college. However, when someone makes a speech, and stresses first that he considers his DCPS education to be of the highest caliber, and then goes on to stress the importance of technical education, vocational education, special education, and community college -- while saying nothing at all about the importance of a sound academic education, one can only draw the correct conclusion.

And if you think the public schools in Ward 3 are good, I want whatever you're smoking. Some of the elementary schools within Ward 3 are good. However, I wouldn't send a lab rat to any of its middle schools or high schools. I absolutely agree that every child within DCPS should receive a good education and, with Fenty, it looked like we just might get there.

Now we have Vince, who wants to ram his dick down the throat of every child within DCPS who has dreams for college.

People, this is not fear-mongering. This is true, primal fear.

Write-in Adrian M. Fenty come November 2. Don't let Vince Gray ram his dick down your throat, too.

[Anonymous]

Wow, I am becoming even more embarrassed to be a Ward 3 resident.

I attended the event last Thursday. The room was full for a while before the presentation even began, with scores of people forced to hang out in the hallway. That said, there isn't anything Mr. Gray said during the Q&A that wasn't said during the campaign.

I also understand that there will be other events in Ward 3 to continue to reach out to Fenty supporters.