(Bumped to the top to keep the conversation going...)
Breaking news: The Brady campaign says a judge has ruled that U.S. Rep. Bob Brady will remain on the ballot for the May 15 primary.
(NEW: Read Brady's response in his press release, here.)
Luzerne county Common Pleas judge Patrick Toole found Brady should have disclosed pension contributions the carpenters union makes on his behalf on his candidate’s statement of financial interests.
But Toole said Brady acted “in a reasonable and responsible manner” in filing out the form and should be allowed to amend his filing.
“Whenever possible, election contests should be decided by the hand of the voter in the election booth and not by the pen of the judge in a judicial chamber,” the judge found.
He concluded that Brady was not required to disclose his city pension, because he found it falls under an exception in the disclosure requirements for “government-mandated payments.”
In a prepared statement, Brady said he was continuing his campaign, and said rival Tom Knox had “crossed the line with mean-spirited personal attacks on me and thousands of working men and women.”
After Brady’s less-than-stellar performance on the witness stand in the case, Knox said of Brady, “if he can’t fill out a form, he shouldn’t be mayor.”
Today, the Knox campaign is deferring comment to its attorney Paul Rosen, who said in a telephone interview that Judge Toole had “created a special exception for Brady that’s never existed for anyone else.”
Rosen plans to appeal the decision to commonwealth court.
Comments (135)
And the machine wins again.
Posted by What else is new? | March 27, 2007 4:19 PM
The judge realized that Brady's situation was distinguishable from the others.
"The machine" is just a myth...it's a way for you to vent your frustrations and blame someone.
Posted by No | March 27, 2007 4:43 PM
I wonder how much it cost the machine to make sure Brady's name remained on the ballot? What a crook.
Posted by Typical | March 27, 2007 4:48 PM
The situation maybe different when it comes to Brady's city pension because of that silly ambiguous ethics rules, but the judge ruled that, even though Brady was wrong not to list his pension with the Carpenters' Union, he should be allowed to amend it. This sounds to me like a direct contradiction to past rulings in which candidates were taken off the ballot. Which is it?
Posted by Dave![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://blogs.phillynews.com/dailynews/nextmayor/nav-commenters.gif)
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March 27, 2007 4:51 PM
I think Brady is a good guy but the rules are the rules. It would be understandable if the judge said he didn't have to report the information. But to say that he does have to report the information but can remain on the ballot is a travesty. We can't maintain 2 different sets of rules. That is exactly the kind of politics that is sinking this city.
Posted by gotta move | March 27, 2007 4:57 PM
How much did it cost? I don't know, but Brady's wife has gets a $100K "salary" for managing an office...
Posted by Anonymous | March 27, 2007 4:59 PM
the philly machine wins again. not only is this fat bastard's name still on the ballot, his flyers are all over the streets of mayfair, as if we don't have enough trash littering our city and now the freakin' blvd has those illegal "brady for mayor" signs all over the place. by the way, philly has just sunk to the sixth largest city in the country, down from five as more and more people are voting with their feet. this city sucks.
Posted by kevin | March 27, 2007 5:01 PM
The rules are ridiculous and should be thrown out the window. There is no reason the financial disclosure form should be submitted with the petitions. They should only be turned in once a candidate gets elected. Bravo to the judge for setting a new precedent! The law is supposed to be flexible.
Posted by Anonymous | March 27, 2007 5:07 PM
You people are unbelievable. 24,000 people signed the Congressman's petition. Do you think any of them care about this decision? I sure don't.
I am proud to be supportive of Congressman Brady.
It is absolutely appalling to me that you are willing to give Tom Knox a free ride and allow his "Irish Catholic" aka "I am whitey McWhitey" signs line the streets of Mayfair, but not Bob Brady, who has literally pulled himself up from the bootstraps and, unlike Knox, has not forgotten where he came from.
You don't think Knox's wife makes a nice penny at her job? Just off pay-day lending - you know taking advantage of poor people.
Posted by James | March 27, 2007 5:10 PM
The judge did not set a new precedent. A new precedent would have been set if the judge said the disclosure is not necessary. He didn't! Instead he said Brady made a mistake but its OK. That's just silly. I think in some ways the judge copped out. He should hav either said that Brady was wrong and could not be on the ballot or that he was right and did not have to provide the information. This judge punted.
Posted by gotta move | March 27, 2007 5:12 PM
I just saw a tv commercial for Bob Brady. He's a good man who will be a voice for working neighborhood people like me. Tom Knox seems like a rich jerk who likes to win with lawyers - but in this election - we - regular workers get to vote! Sorry Tom.
Posted by N.E. Joe | March 27, 2007 5:15 PM
The judge made the right decision, even if it was a "punt". The whole spectacle was outrageous and unwarranted. What a collossal waste of everybody's time. This case revealed how our "ethics" system and regs, really doesn't work.
I bet the judge's thoughts were..."I can't believe I am doing this instead of fishing..."
And I couldn't agree more...what a distraction from the real issues and the real problems plaguing our city.
Posted by Way to Go! | March 27, 2007 5:17 PM
Tom Knox made a cold, hard, calculating political decision that he would have a better chance of winning if he was the only white guy on the ballot - period. Don't buy all of Knox's b.s. about the law - he would not have tried to knock a black candidate off the ballot and if you don't believe that, you need to get a grib on reality.
Posted by stevens | March 27, 2007 5:29 PM
Way to go !! Exactly !!! This was a distraction from the real issues. Tom Knox seems like a little whinner. A millionaire spending millions while the other guys can't. You call that a fair law? He disgusts me. A predatory lender charging poor people up to 400 percent. Selling his Insurance Company while trying to buy stocks in the Company buying his. He got caught and the State Ins. Department said that's a no-no Tom. I am sooo happy the Judge ruled in behalf of Brady. Hey Tom, you want some cheese with that whine?
Posted by I'm Lovin' it ! | March 27, 2007 5:33 PM
As long as we're making totally beside the point comments like the one about Brady turning in 24k signatures, Mumia Abu-Jamal has a French town and a Congressman supporting him. I guess that makes him innocent.
I also has chicken for lunch.
Posted by Dave![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://blogs.phillynews.com/dailynews/nextmayor/nav-commenters.gif)
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March 27, 2007 5:37 PM
I assume everyone else noticed this headline today: "City contractor pays Brady's wife".
Yep. Philly.
Posted by Joseph | March 27, 2007 5:38 PM
Good for Bob!
Bob also just settled the strike at the Community College of Philadelphia.
Nuff said!
Posted by foofghtr | March 27, 2007 5:41 PM
Dave, you are totally off base on that one. Brady's signatures on the petition accompanying this disclosure form are absolutely relevant. The fact is that nobody really cares about $8,500 Brady gets from a job he had over 20 years ago. Especially when he makes over $200k a year.
Now the voters know whatever came out of this hearing and they can decide whether it matters to them. My guess is that it won't.
People should be more inclinde to know who is in Tom Knox's pocket...we know Brady. Even the most cynical blogger knows...but what about Knox? That is scary...
Posted by James | March 27, 2007 5:44 PM
I know Brady's wife. She works for a privately owned center city firm. She's been there since the inception of that company. She was hired as the Executive Director and her salary reflects what other Executive Directors' salaries are. It was a no bid contract because there were no other bidders. No doubt this story was the workings of Tom Knox. It has Knox written all over it. If he can't get Brady one way, he'll try something else. It was clearly and deliberately not mentioned that Nutter's wife works for a no bid city contractor. Funny, isn't it.
Posted by Love 2 Dance | March 27, 2007 5:49 PM
VESTING corrupts, and absolute VESTING corrupts absolutely!- Lord Frank Rizzo
Posted by Tony DeFiore | March 27, 2007 5:49 PM
I'm a voter and I very much care that the Carpenters' Union is funding a pension for Brady even though he admits that he doesn't really do anything for them, and that he didn't disclose it on his filing petition.
My views of Knox have very little to do with the ruling on Brady's petitions.
Posted by Anonymous | March 27, 2007 5:50 PM
that last one was me. I keep getting signed out.
Posted by Dave![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://blogs.phillynews.com/dailynews/nextmayor/nav-commenters.gif)
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March 27, 2007 5:52 PM
I can't stand Brady and think he's the embodiment of the corruption that young, educated, affluent Philadelphians need to wipe away to make this town the Next Great American City. That said, he does have his supporters, and it would be pretty undemocratic if he were booted from the ballot based on what everyone knows was an innocent mistake. Let's crush Brady at the ballot box! A resounding defeat in May effectively will eliminate him as a political force in the city.
Posted by Joe | March 27, 2007 5:55 PM
Not that the Mrs. Brady issues is relevant to the ruling, but is she an "Executive Director" or an "Office Manager"? I've read both, depending on what newspaper the article's in, and I think there's a significant difference between the two titles.
Posted by Dave![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://blogs.phillynews.com/dailynews/nextmayor/nav-commenters.gif)
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March 27, 2007 5:58 PM
I don't necessarily think Brady should be taken off the ballot, either. I also don't necessarily think any of the other candidates should've been booted off the ballot by Philly judges for basically the same reason.
Posted by Dave![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://blogs.phillynews.com/dailynews/nextmayor/nav-commenters.gif)
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March 27, 2007 6:03 PM
Dave, She's an Executive Director. I don't know where they got Office Manager from. Sometimes people twist words or put their own spin on things to make others look bad, which is such a shame. Some people are just plain cruel.
Posted by Love 2 Dance | March 27, 2007 6:19 PM
Who cares that Brady's wife works for living and makes 100K - that chick is hot for an old broad!
Posted by Non Voter | March 27, 2007 6:44 PM
crooked politicians have to go. thank God for Tom Knox. This city needs a scrubbing. Emptry half of the Municipal Services Building and City Hall. With the free space, rent out to corporate offices. lower the wage tax, add cops and fix the schools. Knox can do it becuase he is not afraid. go Knox. he can improve this city for ALL.
Posted by demetri | March 27, 2007 7:06 PM
you are right on.
i am TIRED of crooked politicians and their lies.
Look at Bloomberg in NYC. He is improving the city better than Rudy did. Tom has suffered through hard times and can relate to the rest of us paycheck to paycheck workers. I will support Knox
Posted by jim | March 27, 2007 7:09 PM
Not only is Brady stealing money from good had working union carpenters and does nothing for it him and his buddy coryell should be thrown out of the carpenters union and neather one of them could build a out house
Posted by Union Man | March 27, 2007 7:13 PM
Two sets of rules. One for those who are against the machine and one for those who are the machine.
While I still hope that he gets thrown off the ballot as he has done to others, I believe Brady's lack of real ideas and his inability to articulate anything intelligently will be his downfall.
Posted by Stevie | March 27, 2007 7:15 PM
Stop crying, Brady will be the best thing that has happened to the city since Rizzo. Also tom knox is a JACK AS>>>>>
Posted by knox sucks | March 27, 2007 8:02 PM
Mr. Brady is a good man who has every opportunity run for Mayor of this city. I wish him good luck and i hope he becomes the next Mayor.
Posted by Carolyn | March 27, 2007 8:17 PM
The spirit of the full financial disclosure law is to protect Philly voters from people who have the wealth to buy elections (that would be Knox), who have an inclination towards questionable financial ethics (that would also be Knox, look up Fidelity Mutual and Knox in google), and to prevent financial conflict of interest. Bob Brady’s actions fall into none of these categories. Let’s not forget that Knox was fired from the Casey administration in the early 90’s, for his efforts to manipulate a State run health plan under his control to reward, unfairly, a company where he had a financial interest. Let me say that again FIRED.
Other bloggers stated that they feel there is a corrupt insider element to this election. I whole-heartedly agree. Remember Knox worked for the Casey administration (and got caught involved in shady dealings). All his commercials have Rendell’s face plastered all over them, an obvious effort to play on his connections to Rendell. All of his actions in private enterprise, over the last 15 years have the earmarks of a well connected, savvy, political insider. Rather than being the outsider who maintains his outsider status, Knox is actually the proto-insider who made money on the side taking advantage of the poor. Gotta love those 400% interest loans of his.
I wish someone would look into Knox’s financial dealings. Look at the tax records. First, Knox provided only three years of tax returns. All the other candidates, including Brady provided five years. What the heck is he hiding? What did he do during those two years he doesn’t want us to see? Second, Knox the multi-millionaire with his lawyers, CPAs, and financial advisors has carefully (ethically?) structured things so that he pays only TWELVE percent in taxes as opposed to the twenty-one percent the rest of us regular folk pay. Brady, btw, pays about (can you guess it) twenty-one percent to his taxes like the rest of us.
Posted by Catherine | March 27, 2007 8:22 PM
Hey Union Man,
first of all, learn the English Languish and how to spell. Secondly, the pension that Brady is NOT getting (not income yet so not income if you didn't understand the article)is a pension that he earned as a carpenter all his life. And, since you didn't understand the article, he still does work for the Union. He deserves his pension just like any hard working person does. However, He's not getting that pension yet. So, it's not income. Union man, learn English, how to spell, and the rules of a pension plan.
Posted by I'm lovin it | March 27, 2007 8:38 PM
This guy's a crook. He reeks so badly of corruption that he stinks to high heaven. Has he articulated one solid idea yet? Seems to me his only claim is he's union and white.
Open your eyes, Philly, this guy's no working stiff everyman-- if you believe that line, you probably believed that "The Bug" was a Republican conspiracy and voted for John Street.
Posted by Matt E | March 27, 2007 8:41 PM
"Hey Union Man,
first of all, learn the English Languish and how to spell." - Oh the irony posted by "I'm lovin it" (Which, may I add, you're missing a "g" on your "lovin")
Posted by Michael | March 27, 2007 8:44 PM
Hey Michael, I'm really lovin' it. The missing g was intentional.
Posted by I'm lovin' it | March 27, 2007 8:58 PM
Still doesn't account for the "English Languish" - perhaps this Brady supporter is just trying to act like his candidate by playing dumb...they're just playing, right???
Posted by Illiterate | March 27, 2007 9:07 PM
Knox touts his rendell connection, but rendell always says he's neutral because knox gave him $300,000 in contributions over the years, he never says he did a good job. The joke in the Rendell administration is that knox who was getting $1 per year was overpaid, or as David Cohen says, "Vastly overpaid."
Posted by steve | March 27, 2007 9:33 PM
I have not yet made up my mind on who to vote for except that Brady is out. I feel he is too much the old school -- and is at the last unethical. He is too Washington. I like Evans, Knox, and Fattah in that order. I do not feel comfortable with Nutter, though would not be completely disappointed if he won. I would feel that we would not have grown from the old politics if Brady is elected. We need to get away from "politics as usual" in Philadelhia. Brady would not lead us in that direction.
Posted by steve | March 27, 2007 9:33 PM
I'm so happy Bob Brady stays on the ballot. Now lets get to the issues, Crime, Jobs & Housing.
Posted by Happy days are here again | March 27, 2007 9:33 PM
i don't trust tom ob knox ious as far as i can throw him .... he reminds me of rasputin
Posted by center city sam | March 27, 2007 9:35 PM
I like "old school" that can get things done, like settle the strike, unlike evans who refused to help. It seems like Brady can attract people to help him run the city. He did get Rendell, who is neutral, to kick in the money to get the strike settled
Posted by Steve | March 27, 2007 9:38 PM
steve makes sense
Posted by center city sam | March 27, 2007 9:43 PM
Philadelphia is corrupt and contented.Brady was given an exception by the judge even though the legal precedent was not on his side. Others have been removed from the ballot for doing the same thing.The judge thought this was court of equity and not a court of law.
Posted by Anonymous | March 27, 2007 9:52 PM
dear head up your ass "joe" the only reason snot nosed affluent , educated people exist is because of men like bob brady ...who may not know how to speak properly but the difference between you and he is that when he does speak ..he knows what he is talking about ! famous last words joe........i guess it's safe to say a person of your affluence and intellect could live virtually anywhere in the world and make it big ...i guess your business card reads offices located in london , paris & new york ...you're a misguided knox sycophant...ask not what philadelphia can do for you ...well you know the rest
Posted by center city sam | March 27, 2007 10:05 PM
Brady is a corrupt, uneducated, illiterate loser who doesn't know his @$$ from a hole in the ground.
He is THE poster child for what is wrong with Philadelphia.
Posted by Anonymous | March 27, 2007 10:07 PM
Just read that quote from Brady's press release about the attempt to get him off the ballot being a personal attack on him and "thousands of working men and women." What's up with Brady and all the other idiot machine pols always talking about how they and their supporters are "working people" or whatever. Is he insinuating that I don't work? I work pretty hard for a fraction of what he makes. I also pay his salary with my taxes. He needs to learn some respect for the people he's supposed to be representing.
Posted by Anonymous | March 27, 2007 10:07 PM
Shady Brady looks like and has the brains of Archie Bunker!
Posted by Anonymous | March 27, 2007 10:15 PM
Old school = NO school!
Posted by Anonymous | March 27, 2007 10:19 PM
The uneducated and uncultured trash like Bob Brady and his union goons are destroying Philadelphia!
Status quo? HELL NO!
Posted by Anonymous | March 27, 2007 10:21 PM
I love all you sukkas arguing about Brady. The guy is an incompetent fool and I'm happy to have him since I live in the burbs. The more the city keeps shooting itself in the foot the more the good jobs move out here. We're getting rich out here while the city keeps declining, we grew our job base by more than 25% over the past 5 years while the city has been roughly flat. My company just finished an office building out here union free and its higher quality than anything in the city anyways. The burbs need to wall off Philadelphia and leave it to its own means. When I go to the city (from montco) I go to NYC.
Posted by Greg | March 27, 2007 10:30 PM
greg don't get lost in central park after dark or the bronx...you may want to climb over that wall you just built around philadelphia to get back to montco
Posted by center city sam | March 27, 2007 10:38 PM
There's a tunnel the Bronx to Philadelphia? No wonder there's crime in the Bronx.
Posted by Anonymous | March 27, 2007 10:52 PM
anonymous is sounding more like archie bunker with each blog he she or it writes ...sounds like he has a personal axe to grind.... hey noony baby don't be jealous of old bob there just because he got a lucky break like vince papale ..this is america and only in america do dreams come true..........my God noony if lap tops could kill ! just don't vote for the guy ...enough with the character assaination...who else can you point the dirty end of the stick at ?
Posted by center city sam | March 27, 2007 10:54 PM
correction :character assasination...some people have tunnel vision any comments anyone ?
Posted by center city sam | March 27, 2007 10:57 PM
Maybe all the jobs left Philly through the tunnel and went to the Bronx.
Posted by Anonymous | March 27, 2007 11:03 PM
... I hear the Bronx has a lower crime rate than Philly nowdays. Must be all the hard working, Bob Brady supportin' folks in Philly.
Posted by Anonymous | March 27, 2007 11:04 PM
Greg, I'm sure that sprawly office park is of higher quality then anything being built right now in the city, like you said.
Everytime time I look at the the recently finished Cira Centre I say "Damn I wish that looked that new building in the burbs that everyones ranting about." Oh well.
Posted by P | March 27, 2007 11:10 PM
hey this is just a wild guess but does any one think that anonymous is a "postal employee" ? why doesen't he run for office in fort apache the bronx.........
Posted by center city sam | March 27, 2007 11:16 PM
correction doesn't
Posted by center city sam | March 27, 2007 11:19 PM
thank you p !
Posted by center city sam | March 27, 2007 11:20 PM
Hey, you've convinced me, sam. I'm moving to the Bronx. If I ever want to come back and visit all the hard workin' Brady supporters in Philly I'll just use that tunnel.
BTW, what about that petition ruling? Brady gets to amend his financial statement but other candidates don't, huh? Looks like Knox's judge is a moron.
Posted by Anonymous | March 27, 2007 11:22 PM
Brady's better than everyone else because everyone goes to him for payola and no-show jobs. That's why he gets special treatment. All you suckers just get to pay taxes to support ward leaders' lazy bum friends in their patronage jobs.
Posted by brady supporter | March 27, 2007 11:26 PM
hey just for fun guys ...why doesn't knox put his dentures in when he appears on camera or in the press ....with all that money he still looks like dr. shock ! oh yeah i know why so he doesn't have to lie through his own teeth...sorry duh ! how stupid of me
Posted by center city sam | March 27, 2007 11:26 PM
You know why Brady doesn't suck his gut in when he talks to the press? No? Because it's too full of your tax dollars, that's why! HARDYHARDYHARHAR!
Posted by brady supporter | March 27, 2007 11:28 PM
The exact same people who supported Street, support Brady. Their mantra is Corruption, Cool! Crime,Exciting! Taxes, Bring it on! There really is a sucker born every minute in Philadelphia.
Posted by Center City Supporter | March 27, 2007 11:34 PM
dear brady athletic supporter (size extra small ) payola is what dick clark took in the 50's and sixites maybe that's why he got outta dodge...wake up bs only two things are certain death and taxes ...i bet you're the guy with the commuter cup driving the 8 passenger denali by yourself passing me while i'm freezing my ass off waiting for the bus ! "no show jobs, ward leaders, suckers ,tax payers "...funny thing though ..guys like you know where to go when they need a favor
Posted by Anonymous | March 27, 2007 11:38 PM
P, just because a building has a good architect doesn't mean the windows and sprinkler systems don't leak and that the union did a terrible job... take it from me, I lived in the St. James, Toll Brothers McMansions are built better and even I hate those things. As far as Brady is concerned, now that he's on the ballot, he should be able to run away with this. He's been in Philly politics forever. If Knox, Nutter, or Evans even come close it'll be telling of what an awful job he's done for the masses in this city. Brady is the kind of guy that will be very good for a select few and bad for most of us.
Posted by jen | March 27, 2007 11:43 PM
bob brady is entitled to your tax dollars to do favors for his friends because he grew up in a rowhome and is a hard working guy who had to get taken to court before he'd pay back his welfare checks. brady's a great philly guy and every hard working philadelphian wants him on the ballot. Go Bob Brady! he's a tax dollar pinata!
Posted by brady supporter | March 27, 2007 11:51 PM
dear nonny you beat more dead horses with your blogs than barbaro ... i mean you keep beatin' on bob brady-e-o... you sound like a broken record ..you raised some valid arguments but this rain man bit of yours is gettin' old.....vote for fluffer nutter or tom ob knox ious and see how far your tax dollars go ...it's not what you make sometimes it's knowin' how to spend it ...you know what i mean mr. bob basher..
Posted by center city sam | March 27, 2007 11:51 PM
I'm voting for Bob Brady! I like a guy who gets a pension for eating my union dues and getting fat! WOOHOO!
Posted by hard working rowhome goat ball licker | March 27, 2007 11:53 PM
yeah mr . brady supporter why don't you write in that genius of a mayor bill green when you go into the booth to vote against bob brady ...better yet write your self in......
Posted by center city sam | March 27, 2007 11:56 PM
oh well i'm turnin' into a pumpkin' i'll check back with you brady bashers tommorow ... i agree though.. no one should misuse union dues for any reason...
Posted by center city sam | March 28, 2007 12:03 AM
I'm just sinking to your level. It's fun. I went to grade school too, you know. Ah, the memories.
I already told you I'm voting for that cuddly teddy bear bob brady. Why would I write in Bill Green? I want a mayor who includes grade-school comments in his press releases! And gives away my tax dollars!
Ok, see you kids some other day.
Posted by nonny | March 28, 2007 12:04 AM
To "Illiterate", hmmmm, ok, yes, we're playing. You get a little gold star cause you're so smart you figured it out, good boy. whatever.
To "Anonymous", talk about not knowing your @$$ from the hole in the ground. You have no idea what you're talking about. If you knew Brady, you would not be acting childish and childish in your writings. And as for you "Brady Supporter" you have no idea about Brady or you would not be spouting such lies. You are not a supporter. And oh, by the way, I know who you are !!!!
Posted by I'm lovin' it | March 28, 2007 12:22 AM
I would never vote for Bob Brady! Those ads he did for TV were a joke. He's barely understandable at times, he talks like a street tough, but I guess this is the best we can expect from a union and machine man. Brady very conveniently forgets those who have helped him in the past. For anyone who understands Italian, he's "troppo strafotente."
The people of this city deserve much much better than this barely literate boor.
Posted by Stacy | March 28, 2007 12:31 AM
Philadelphia needs to WAKE UP and see this guy for what he really is: an illiterate fraud who wants to keep Philadelphia in the 19th century.
Posted by Anonymous | March 28, 2007 5:51 AM
Bob Brady = John Street Light (White)
Lining his pockets with Union member's hard earned dues. Setting his wife up with a high paying job, indirectly paid by the city (tax payers). Executive Director? Who cares what the title is, $100K to shuffle papers? Oh, she works for Rubin, a member of the Fumo gang, and an investor in the casinos. Ah, Brady will support casinos!
Posted by Anonymous | March 28, 2007 6:06 AM
How come I'm not surprised by this turn of events? That's right, because we live in a city whose political leadership, for most part, doesn't get it and won't until we fumigate City Hall.
I like Tom Knox but things won't change under him much. I like Dwight Evans but things won't change under him either. I like Michael Nutter but he can't connect with the voters. Chaka "Khan" Fattah? More of the same.
The real problem in Philadelphia politics starts at the wards and works all the way up. Until everything in city politics changes, corruption will continue to thrive in this city and Philadelphia will be a second class city.
Posted by More of the same | March 28, 2007 6:14 AM
Bob Brady = the candidate for the uneducated and uncultured.
Posted by Anonymous | March 28, 2007 8:24 AM
Hey Stacy - you stuck up snob! You've probably never worked a hard day in your life. If you can't understand Bob Brady, it's probably because he's not the kind of neighbor you have in the suburbs or rich parts of the city - whereever you live. But Bob fits right in where I live and most voters live: Row House Philadelphia!
Posted by N.E. JOE | March 28, 2007 8:54 AM
I like bob brady because he got taken to court to pay back his welfare checks. He's my kind of guy!
Posted by hard working goat ball licker | March 28, 2007 9:05 AM
So he lives in a rowhouse - BIG DEAL! Does that qualify him to be Mayor? NO WAY!
Brady doesn't have the brains or skills to be Mayor - he should run for dogcatcher instead!
Posted by Anonymous | March 28, 2007 9:21 AM
I fail to understand how the conversation on this blog has denigrated to such childish rhetoric. As a fairly well educated woman, who is a Bob Brady supporter, I fail to understand the level of vitriolic language here being thrown around. Can we please leave elementary school behind and focus on what is happening with our candidates?
Knox appears to be a rich bully who is used to buying things, and cheating to get what he can’t buy. That is what is really going on with this ballot challenge. Knox is afraid of Bob Brady. Afraid of his past success, afraid of his good guy character, and afraid of the RESULTS that Bob Brady produces. While Knox was sitting around filing his nails and thinking of ways to cheat (I’m going to appeal this ruling of the judge who created an exception to the law, blah, blah, blah, whine, whine, whine), Brady was out working. In addition to doing his regular job in DC, he was taking the time to solve a strike. If Knox was any sort of a worthwhile candidate, he would not be thinking of ways to buy and cheat the voters, he would be thinking of ways to win them over. However, every time I see him on TV, he comes across as someone with the personality of an angry rattlesnake, so maybe winning voters over isn’t’ his best bet.
I agree with the judge “whenever possible, election contests should be decided by the hand of the voter in the election booth and not by the pen of the judge in the judicial chamber”. I hope Knox shuts up, takes his lawyers away and lets us do just that.
Posted by Catherine | March 28, 2007 9:24 AM
Hey NE JOE - are you another brainwashed drone who can't think critically and independently?
Obviously, you're
another uneducated and uncultured loser who wants to keep Philadelphia in the 19th century!
Why are you so scared of people who are smart, educated, cultured, and skilled? Because you aren't?
It's time for Philadelphia to stop catering to the lowest common denominator.
Posted by Anonymous | March 28, 2007 9:27 AM
Thanks, Catherine.
I think the conversation has denigrated because the Brady supporters have shown up (you're in good company).
As far as talking about what's going on with our candidates, Brady was just allowed amend his financial filing and stay on the ballot, in direct contradiction with previous rulings in very similar cases where other candidates were not allowed to amend and taken off the ballot. Sounds like a double standard to me.
Posted by Anonymous | March 28, 2007 9:35 AM
Bob Brady is a union loving bum! It's only a matter of time before he gets indicted. He is as corrupt as corrupt gets and it is common knowledge the he is about as smart as a door knob. He has no business even running for mayor. If he wasn't a puppet for the Machine he would be cleaning toilets in the union halls, and we know how messy those get!
Wake up Philadelphia! This is another great example why this City is second class on it's best day.
Posted by Brady Hater | March 28, 2007 10:05 AM
Hey. To be fair this was the same stuff that took good people off before. This is America the rules are not applied the same across the board. I think Bob can do more for the city in DC. As a mayor he won't be able to wail until the midnite hour and solve a crisis/strike.
Posted by Invictus | March 28, 2007 10:06 AM
brady is crooked. he's a back room dealer. he stifles progression by rewarding patronage rather than qualification. this city will remain stagnant as long as he is involved. besides the fact, he's a knuckle head! do you really want a knuckle head running the city? i guess if you work for a union you do...
Posted by jmsdvr | March 28, 2007 10:15 AM
We already have had enough knuckleheads running this city!
I saw that Brady's lawyer said this about the decision: "It doesn't suck" Unbelievable!!!!!!
Posted by Anonymous | March 28, 2007 10:21 AM
Has anyone on this actually read the opinion?
I have and it states, correctly, that NO COURT has addressed the issue of whether a city pension is a "governmentally mandated payment."
So the court is saying that all of the previous cases, Knox and his supporters are citing and saying "it's the same thing!", are actually different. In the area of law, you can compare cases that are identical and none of these cases are identical. Previous cases have addressed issues of real estate and primary income but not a pension paid as a result of state law.
Posted by Rachel | March 28, 2007 10:38 AM
Rachel, the judge ruled that the carpenters' union pension (which is not the same as Brady's city pension) was "the same thing" and that he was wrong not to list it on his financial disclosure. He then proceeded to allow Brady to amend, even though previous rulings didn't allow candidates to amend.
Geez. How many times does this have to be spelled out. Maybe it's just that nobody in Brady's merry band of hard working rowhouse goatball lickers wants to address it, huh?
Posted by Anonymous | March 28, 2007 11:04 AM
Ouch, baby. Very ouch.
I have to admit, after reading through these it sounds like we have a couple dozen engaged voters out there. Let's face it, this was a ploy by Knox supported by Evans to knock of the Machine and level the playing field. Obviously there are benefits to both campaigns if Brady is gone (ie: worrying about how to marry a TV personality to get free name recognition) but either outcome in this case will result in some "undecided" voters to look elsewhere since BB may not be able to hold enough rallies to woo them all in. Is he "old skool philly politics?" Most likely. Is he "book smart?" Maybe not. Is he people smart? That's what remains to be seen. He's the only candidate that has not greeted me at events (the rest will engage with me despite my big "Evans for Mayor" accessories even if it is just a polite greeting or playful banter). I tell everyone I meet that we have a big pool of candidates with a lot of experience, I feel my guy has the record and drive to get it done for Philadelphia.
Yesterday I was driving down Ogontz between work activities and realized how much cleaner it has become over the last 14 years. I used to drive through there from N Philly to my old job in Ft. Washington (1993-95) daily and it used to be much dirtier and desolate. It was difficult to find a storefront that didn't have an Evans for Mayor sign. If having that kind of presence in that neighborhood helped shape it to what it is now, then Rep. Evans is the man to lead this city. He has a track record of building "front room" relationships with businesses, schools, neighbors, churches, and his own office. I'm sure there are some people that he's known for a long time helping out, but it is a far cry from the cronyism that permeates this city. If Knox and Brady represent different sides of the same old coin, then neither should be mayor. Next colorful comment begins here:
Posted by FTP | March 28, 2007 11:27 AM
To say the conversations had denigrated because Brady supporters have shown up does not make sense. The people who are acting irrationally and slinging mud appear to be the Knox supporters. I make a call for the level of conversation to increase to discussing the issues, and to point out some serious failings of Knox. You all respond with more of the same “Brady is a bum” name calling. Appears to me the conversation cannot move forward because the Knox supporters cannot elevate their game. Or perhaps, keeping the conversation at this kindergarten level IS the game. I’d love to know how many of you are real citizens who are interested in the welfare of a great city like Philadelphia, and how many of you are on Knox’s substantial payroll, or perhaps hoping for a handout? How much do you get paid to monopolize the conversation of this blog? Do you get extra to keep the entire focus squarely on Brady and make disparaging remarks about him?
Posted by Catherine | March 28, 2007 11:31 AM
Anonymous,
Actually, if you read the opinion, In re: Benninghoff (sp?), the court permitted the candidate to amend his complaint to include the income and because the candidate acted ethically, it shouldn't be fatal.
The opinion further states that Brady and his advisors acted ethically at all stages of this proceeding - they did not act with the intent to deceive or hide information from the public. Brady does not actually receive money from the pension, as he's not vested yet so he didn't think of it as income and that is fully explained in the opinion.
Posted by Rachel | March 28, 2007 11:36 AM
Rachel, everything you just said about Brady applies to those other candidates who were removed from the ballot in previous rulings.
Catherine, the issue here is Brady's financial disclosure ruling. I'm also not a Knox supporter. It just looks like there's a double standard here.
Posted by Anonymous | March 28, 2007 11:50 AM
Rachel, everything you just said about Brady applies to those other candidates who were removed from the ballot in previous rulings.
Catherine, the issue here is Brady's financial disclosure ruling. I'm also not a Knox supporter, it just looks like there's a double standard here.
Posted by Anonymous | March 28, 2007 11:50 AM
BTW, Brady doesn't know what "vested" means, so what you said about him not thinking it was a source of income because he wasn't vested is bunk.
Posted by Anonymous | March 28, 2007 12:02 PM
Anonymous - I don't hate smart people - I hate socially elite snobs like you and Knox supporters who think you are actually what qaulifies as smart. In my neighborhood we care about families, worry about our children, our saftey and our public schools - not the expensive private schools you probably went to - we have bigger problems that will requires a leader who gets us and comes from the neighborhoods like bob brady - not a rittenhouse sqaure joker like knox who never helped anyone in his life.
Posted by NE Joe | March 28, 2007 12:10 PM
NE Joe, you know absolutely nothing about me. Please stop trying to change the subject of the discussion to goatball licking.
Posted by Anonymous | March 28, 2007 12:14 PM
When are people going to catch on that Tom Knox just lent his campaign that millions of dollars. do you know what that means? The second he wins the election he's going to start doing a ton of fundraisers with special interests so that he can pay himself back.
At least with the other candidates, we know upfront who their donors are. With Knox, we won't know who's buying favors until after the election.
Posted by Philly Pete | March 28, 2007 12:18 PM
Anonymous - the only thing I know about you is what you write - and you sound like a rich elitist snob - are you Linda Knox?
Posted by Anonymous | March 28, 2007 12:32 PM
When are you "from the neighborhoods" people going to wake up and realize that Brady is an illiterate fraud who is using you and your union dues to fund his rich lifestyle?
You uneducated rowhouse idiots are braindead and brainwashed. No wonder Philadelphia is so dysfunctional.
Posted by Anonymous | March 28, 2007 12:46 PM
"from the neighborhoods people are braindead and brainwashed?" Do we really want these knox elitists running the city?
Posted by NE Joe | March 28, 2007 12:51 PM
Just because someone is smart, educated, skilled, and has a good job doesn't mean they are elitest - it means they worked hard, know what they are doing, and make positive contribution to society, which is a hell of a lot more than I can say for these sorry dropouts who roam the streets blaming others for problems of their own making.
Philadelphia needs to raise its standards and expectations and stop catering to the lowest common denominators - the stupid, ignorant, uneducated, lazy, and irresponsible who destroy the quality of life in Philadelphia.
Posted by Anonymous | March 28, 2007 12:54 PM
I'm tired of all this Knox vs. Brady BS...and the funny thing is, I don't care! I'm voting for Dwight Evans anyway! The man has ideas and plans for this city...he helped turn around West Oak Lane from what it used to be, and plain and simple, he just seems like he wants to do the right thing for this city. I'm not impressed AT ALL by Chaka Fattah, Knox, or Brady. I dont pay too much attention to Michael Nutter either. DWIGHT EVANS FOR MAYOR!!!
Posted by K-Rich | March 28, 2007 1:13 PM
Brady has done NOTHING for Philadelphia. He is a clueless, illiterate fraud that is a poster child for the dysfunctional policies and regressive behavior that have ruined the quality of life in Philadelphia!
We need smart, educated, and skilled people leading Philadelphia in the 21st century - it's time for CHANGE, PROGRESS, and REFORM!
Posted by Progressive Reformer | March 28, 2007 1:19 PM
ok man, you got me. I'm elitist and I hate rowhomes, families, freedom, apple pie and goatball licking. You've also managed to get the discussion totally off topic again so that nobody's talking about how Brady just got treated differently from the last couple people who made honest mistakes on their financial disclosures. Good job.
Posted by Anonymous | March 28, 2007 1:43 PM
ok man, you got me. I'm elitist and I hate rowhomes, families, freedom, apple pie and goatball licking. You've also managed to get the discussion totally off topic again so that nobody's talking about how Brady just got treated differently from the last couple people who made honest mistakes on their financial disclosures. Good job.
Posted by Anonymous | March 28, 2007 1:46 PM
Bob Brady is an illiterate, egotistical, bully. By the way, I am a white man from Overbrook, Brady's home neighborhood, so please do not think that my comments are driven by race.
Posted by Vince | March 28, 2007 2:17 PM
To Anonymous - a/k/a Fred Flintstone. Come out of the stone ages. Is so hard to believe that Mrs. Brady got her own job? That she's a career woman in her own right? You know, we are allowed to have our own careers and we're also allowed to vote and drive cars.
Posted by Hard Working Career Woman | March 28, 2007 2:29 PM
To Anonymous - a/k/a Fred Flintstone. Come out of the stone ages. Is so hard to believe that Mrs. Brady got her own job? That she's a career woman in her own right? You know, we are allowed to have our own careers and we're also allowed to vote and drive cars.
Posted by Hard Working Career Woman | March 28, 2007 2:29 PM
Is Mrs. Brady a career woman or did Bob get her one of those "clerical positions someplace" he was talking about in that interview with Metro a while back?
"It depends on who the person is. ...If it’s a young man I can always help them get into a trade, if it’s a young lady you can help them get into a clerical position someplace. You have to get them skilled and trained. If the people want to work they’ll work."
BTW, is that interview why Brady's handlers no longer let him be interviewed by Metro? I've noticed he's the only candidate who doesn't show up in the paper on Mondays.
Posted by Anonymous | March 28, 2007 2:49 PM
N.E.Joe,I am not a "stuck up snob." I lived in a rowhouse in North Philadelphia for 12 years, and I now live in another section of Philadelphia; I've been in Philadelphia ALL MY LIFE, and I care about this city. I have worked hard and resent your assumption and implication that I haven't.The reason I find Brady hard to understand is that HE doesn't know how to speak, not because I am "educated" or "elitist". Don't make the arrogant mistake of assuming that everybody who doesn't like Brady is a Knox supporter, either.
Posted by Stacy | March 28, 2007 3:18 PM
Here's something off the beaten path: Let's take a break from the endless candidate forums that seem to attract only a few invested Philadelphians and hold a series of "traditional Philly" events. This could include running the Art Museum stairs, a mini-Wing Bowl, how many cardboard Santa's you can knock over in 15 seconds with an endless supply of batteries... something ridiculously fun and Philly so that we can see the lighter side of these guys! Rendell was never afraid to be a little silly on the side and Rudy Guliani in drag back in the day? suhWEET!!
Posted by FTP | March 28, 2007 3:29 PM
I don't know Bob Brady,I'm actually supporting Nutter, but it seems to me that he is a good man who has done nothing but helped get strikes settled, democrats elected, and wants the city to be safe. What's wrong with all of that? People on this blog are really mean. Nutter has bigger ideas and that's why I'm for him, but Bob Brady certainly is an important leader in Philadelphia and we would be worse off without him and can do a lot worse than him as Mayor.
Posted by Anonymous | March 28, 2007 4:25 PM
I work for a living and live in a rowhouse, and I'm tired of guys like Brady getting rich of the backs of the working people while claiming they "support" the working man. He's played everyone for the fool.
Posted by Anonymous | March 28, 2007 5:10 PM
From these comments it looks like there wasn't a lot of work being done in the Brady or Knox headquarters yesterday. I'd like to know how many of those comments came from the same or similar IP addresses.
Posted by Max | March 28, 2007 5:36 PM
If Bob got kicked off the ballot I'd never vote in this City again.
I'd also probably move to the burbs.
I live in this ass backwards city because people like him are still around here helping people.
When that day ends, I'm gone!
And Tom Knox, you gotta be kidding me...
All you Tom Knox Kool Aid drinking supporters make me laugh.
He's living the lap of luxury at Fort Knox, he's not concerned about you, or how to make your life better.
He's a savy businessman, that's it nothing more.
Posted by Overbrook Resident | March 28, 2007 5:52 PM
I'm sure Brady's a nice guy if you know him personally. Unfortunately, the vast majority of voters don't know him personally and instead rely on their elected officials to effectively manage the city rather than expecting to get direct help from them. Since the m/o of most elected officials with Brady's leadership style is to provide direct assistance to voters (one could cynically assume that's in order to get those people to vote for them), most voters probably aren't going to benefit from somebody like Brady being mayor.
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March 28, 2007 5:57 PM
Brady the "working man", what a load of crap. He's been living off the taxpayers for well over 20 years. I wonder when he last held a real job?
Posted by Anonymous | March 28, 2007 7:10 PM
The argument should not be about Brady, everyone knows about Brady. A lucky few have some good reasons to like him and the rest of us need to decide who to vote for. Between Nutter, Evans, and Knox it's actually going to be very difficult. I might just jump on the one leading the polls before the primary. What's everyone elses plan?
Posted by John | March 28, 2007 8:24 PM
hey nonny i'm back ..let's see in the 19th century this city had jobs...a tax base ...and an exponentially larger population and let's see very little crime ...let's go back in time and elect bob brady ...this city needs to cut some of the hand outs ...the problems in philly and all other major cities existed long before bob brady was born ...let's see my dad retired from his job just in time before his american company sold out to the japanese and the koreans...the only home grown industries left in this country are things we can build or create with our own hands ...why doesn't anonymous stoop to knox's level and help him with some more pay day loans or foreclosures... you are just as bad as knox ...working for him would be tantamount to working for a fascist dictator ...hey maybe the trains will run on time...i'd vote for donald trump before i'd vote for knox...he has an ulterior motive for becoming mayor ...maybe he wants some more no bid contracts for his new businesses that he acquired via hostile take overs ...there will be riots in this city if knox becomes mayor ...the first thing knox will do if he wins the primary will be to raise money to pay back the 4 million dollar non pay day loan he made to himself from his campaign fund...talk about opm and creative financing ...he reminds of that guy brennan(indicted fraud, first jersey securities) put ..maybe he should fly around like that guy in a helicopter on his commercials..maybe he can create some more koiz zones for monopolies like comcast..or make some sweetheart deals with the new ceo of the lcb or get a piece of a casino call it "the city of hard knox " ...i guess knox managed to dodge an enron type scandal due to the luck of the irish ... so the next best thing was for him to become a mayot of a corrupt city so he could HELP people ...oh give me a break scarlet ohara ! this tyranncial bastard makes joe kennedy senior look like milk toast..
Posted by center city sam | March 28, 2007 10:16 PM
i hope you reporters are getting some good feed from these blogs...you should be able to sell alot of news papers before the may election...let's not be so hasty to portray bob brady as the geico caveman just yet...let's see what skeleton's come out of the other candidate's closets ...oh did i say come out of the closet.mmmmmmmmmmm
Posted by center city sam | March 28, 2007 10:25 PM
Brady gives it to the working man without the decency of a reach-a-round. Union dues fund his luxury retirement!
Posted by Anonymous | March 28, 2007 11:47 PM
He doesn't have a luxury retirement. He is not retired. And when he choses to retire, he will get his pension that he worked for just like everyone else. No one gets a pension that they didn't work for.
Posted by Mrs. B | March 29, 2007 12:10 AM
Mrs. B - are you illiterate like Brady? Haven't you read the reports of him receiving a pension from the Carpenters Union without doing any real work?
He's a fraud that is making money off the backs of real working union people.
WAKE UP!
Posted by Anonymous | March 29, 2007 4:28 AM
See bradythebum.com.
Mr. Workingman had to be sued to force him to pay back welfare payments.
Posted by Anonymous | March 29, 2007 6:12 AM
See bradythebum.com.
Mr. Workingman had to be sued to force him to pay back welfare payments.
Posted by Anonymous | March 29, 2007 6:14 AM
Bob Brady is totaly inept. I have known him for years, and I am amazed at how much false confidence he posseses. He has a HUGE ego, and frankly I am delighted that he will remain in the mayoral race. He will be exposed as a fraud.
He will have a difficult time dealing witrh defeat....that huge ego will be badly bruised!
Posted by Overbrook Man | March 29, 2007 8:43 AM
Michael Nutter for Mayor for all Philadelphians!
www.nutterformayor.com
Posted by Anonymous | March 29, 2007 8:48 AM
BOB BRADY Is A LIAR AND APOLITICAL HACK IF THERE EVER WAS ONE
Posted by Anonymous | April 23, 2007 12:26 PM
It's amazing that you don't even have to have a college education to be the Mayor of Philly. I guess if you want to be the leader of white trash it doesn't matter.
Posted by anonymous | April 28, 2007 6:45 AM