1) For the sheer machine-in-action, can-you-believe-this-still happens fun of it: Stay tuned as the Democratic City Committee, which is run by Bob Brady, endorses a candidate today. Despite the fact that there are five passionate, experienced and thoughtful people in the Democratic primary, you can expect that endorsement has already been made out to...Bob Brady, of course.
Which would be just funny if the endorsement didn't also carry with it money and pride of place on the "official Democratic ballot" voting guides that will be blanketing the city come May 15.
We promise to update this when we get some interesting info from today's meeting.
2) Read Catherine Lucey's story in the Daily News on Chaka Fattah's exploratory committee and its spending. This story gets to questions that many of you have asked on the blog: What happens to the money Fattah raised before he declared his candidacy? What if he spent some of it then for services -- such as designing a Web site -- that continue to benefit him?
Specifically, Catherine reports that Fattah spent "more than $10,000 spent on the Web site that now serves as his campaign site," "more than $20,000 to produce videos that are featured on the site" and "at least $7,000 on expenses for the day of his announcement."
"The committee also paid salaries to several staffers who later became campaign employees. And at a series of campaign events, Fattah has been unveiling policy papers developed during his exploratory period," Catherine wrote.
Fattah said these charges are being leveled at him because he is leading in the race (and it's absolutely true that with front-runner status comes increased media scrutiny, by the way).
3) Read this really good story by Marcia Gelbart and Mark Fazlollah in the Inquirer, in which Tom Knox vows that if $15 million of his own money won't get him elected, then Knox will spend more! Wow.
Comments (8)
everyone allready know now that brady is the endorsed candidate. so now that the voting is over please tell us who all the endorsed candidates are for all offices
Posted by Anonymous | February 9, 2007 3:17 PM
"For the sheer machine-in-action, can-you-believe-this-still happens fun of it:"
I thought thenextmayor.com isn't taking sides? Sounds like a jab if you ask me. Keep up the bias works guys!
Posted by Anonymous | February 9, 2007 3:23 PM
sounds like calling it like it is to me.
Posted by Anonymous | February 9, 2007 3:36 PM
"sounds like calling it like it is to me."
I wanna bet you voted for Nader and enjoy sitting around "bloggin" about progressive you are. Keep it up.
Posted by Anonymous | February 9, 2007 4:37 PM
And I bet you'll be voting for Bob Brady. Keep it up.
Posted by Anonymous | February 9, 2007 4:50 PM
Dear obvious Brady sheep: Go eat some grass.
I can't believe this shit actually still happens. This city has so much insider bullshit politics, its what makes the city fucking suck so much sometimes. But democrat machines cogs can't see that, because they're blinded by their own stupidity. Fuck what's best for the city, right boys?
Posted by Joe | February 9, 2007 4:56 PM
ALL of the candidates at some point or another, have been part of this "machine". Fattah, are you kidding me? This guy couldn't be more of a fraud (a proven liar, shady fundraising practices and shady payroll dealings). Oh yea, and pro-Mumia. Nutter, good guy, but runs on a platform of "reform" yet doesn't mention how much he has benefitted from the "machine".Knox claims to campaign on behalf of the "people of Phildelphia" but couldn't be further removed from the people of this city. How many people live in Rittenhouse Square, with a doorman and 15 million to spend on a campaign. When was the last time that guy gave back to his community? Oh, yea, when he gave out some PBJ's at his announcement. He has also created a mess in which a completely worthless outsider (who has profitted not only from shady lending practices but also the insurance industry, which seriously, is criminal)who has no experience has an endless purse to use towards his goal. If people want a fair election, level the playing field so they can hear a real debate...instead of sound bites on a tv.
I am all for reform, but it starts from the bottom folks. We need to elect a good council to support a good mayor. All this talk of reform and policy papers mean shit if it can't get the backing of council. So lets get real and stop all the fee-good progressive yappin.
Sincerely,
"Brady Sheep" aka, orginally pointing out that this blog is extremely biased.
Posted by Anonymous | February 9, 2007 6:53 PM
Well, it appears that the only way to get elected in this town without the machine is to spend $15 million, so I'm not sure how much we can criticize Nutter for using the machine to get where he is.
Ultimately, yes, it does come down to voters how they keep electing the wrong people. Fortunately, we have some good candidates this year, if only voters who keep up with what's going on will get out and vote.
Posted by Anonymous | February 9, 2007 11:11 PM