Reflecting on Tuesday's hearing...
One thing happened, and one thing hasn't happened yet -- and may not.
1) The thing that happened: Bob Brady looked vulnerable. He didn't come across well on the stand, saying he didn't understand his pension plan and signed his disclosure because his advisers said it was OK.
This apparently led the judge to ask if there was an IQ test to be mayor (what else does that question mean?) and led one Daily News columnist to say he really didn't look like a mayor during this very public performance. It seems clear that Tom Knox, in particular, will use Brady's admissions once the mud truly starts to fly. (After the hearing, Knox entertained the press corps for some time, saying, "If you can’t fill out a form, you shouldn’t be mayor.")
Same thing goes for the information that came out that Brady is socking away a n-i-i-i-ce pension from the carpenters' union, though Brady's role as an "adviser" is not full-time or, for that matter, paid.
Very feather-beddy. It doesn't sound very ... seemly.
2) And yet. The thing that didn't happen is the one that really matters. The judge hasn't ruled, and no matter how rough today was for him, the very powerful Brady is not off the ballot. And the people we talked to today are not certain at all that this was a knockout punch.
They guaranteed only appeals, and a process that will be racing throughout the primary season.
Anyone who was near Philadelphia in 2003 (or, frankly, pick an election) knows that things bounce funny in Philadelphia politics. What seems awful can be spun into a campaign-galvanizing event. I'm not coming down on one side or another, here. Just reminding you that we've got more than 50 days of drama to go.
Now, because we give you everything on the race, here's your guide to more coverage:
Story by the Daily News' Bob Warner and column by Jill Porter
From the Metro: Knox takes strong swipe at Brady and Josh Cornfield's blog
From Mayorpalooza
From AP via Channel 6: Brady Fights to Stay on Ballot in Mayor's Race
From KYW1060 and Channel 3:
Court Hearing Challenges Brady On Primary Ballot
Comments (8)
I am so glad somebody finally asked the BIG question regarding running for Mayor "Is there an IQ Test". As a matter of fact, "Is there an IQ Test" administered to run for public office in general? The answer is of course "NO" and my big question is "WHY"?
In this day and time, I am totally baffled that a major city in this country has not but in place some kind of competence test or even a literacy test. This to me and alot of other people I know, should be something we're focusing on, not challenging people for exercising their right to run for office. CHALLENGE PEOPLE FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO READ OR WRITE A SIMPLE ESSAY.....and still want to be elected. Don't challeng their right to run because you say it's not their time....ridiculous!!!
Posted by Anonymous | March 21, 2007 8:54 AM
Gee, anonymous, you raise a good point -- my second-grader has to write essays - why not the candidates? Of course, they'd have someone else write it for them, but if we made them sit down and do it in person at least they'd have to memorize it.
Posted by Wendy | March 21, 2007 12:20 PM
Memorize? I've been to enough forums where I can recite each candidate's stump speech word for word, tone for tone!! Ask me who my team of lawyers and policial patron is or whether or not I can afford heat or a can of soup!
Posted by FTP | March 21, 2007 1:07 PM
Ok so here is my question. I get Brady didn't come off as...hmmm...intellectually sound, to put it nicely. But why isn't anyone pointing out the obvious - all of these campaigns and candidates have attorneys and advisers. I highly doubt someone with as much wealth as Tom Knox signed his form without an attorney or his accountant reviewing. For that matter, I'm sure everyone had an attorney or an accountant review the forms. Also, I doubt Brady is the only one who didn't complete the form himself.
I don't know why Brady's people didn't get it right, but I do not, for one second, believe these candidates completed these forms entirely on their own.
Posted by Anonymous | March 21, 2007 2:10 PM
FTP, I change my mind, you're right.
Maybe they can all memorize Brady's blog post?
Posted by Wendy | March 21, 2007 2:22 PM
There's nothing wrong with having your lawyer/accountant review your forms. The issue here is that Brady says he doesn't understand some pretty basic concepts that I'm pretty sure the other candidates understand.
http://thenextmayor.com/vault/20070321_Brady_in_court.html
Posted by Dave![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://blogs.phillynews.com/dailynews/nextmayor/nav-commenters.gif)
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March 21, 2007 3:18 PM
ftp
knox and brady
How about "that thundering noise you hear the day after election is..."
Posted by Anonymous | March 21, 2007 4:18 PM
I have been reading with interest this blog regarding the ongoing ballot challenge and subsequent court appearances of Bob Brady. I have finally reached the point where I feel compelled to post. I find the actions taken by Knox over the last month disturbing, beyond the pale, and an offence to the democratic process. Let’s review.
The spirit of the full financial disclosure law is to protect Philly voters from people who have the wealth to buy elections, who have an inclination towards questionable financial ethics, and to prevent financial conflict of interest. Bob Brady’s actions fall into none of these categories. The Carpenter’s Union pension does not need to be disclosed since it is not a current source of income, and the disclosure form is so poorly written when it comes to government pensions that is left wide open to interpretation. So wide open to interpretation that it will require a judge (or more if there are appeals) to determine exactly what is meant.
If the spirit of the law is to prevent conflict of interest and to protect from unethical behavior, then examine Knox. While working for the Casey administration in the early 90’s, he was fired 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.
Knox states he’s an outsider to the existing political machine. An “outsider”? Puh-leeze. Remember he was fired from the Casey administration. His own commercials point out how he worked for the Rendell administration for $1 a year to balance the budget, blah, blah, blah. All his commercials have Rendell’s face plastered all over them, an obvious effort to play on his connections to Rendell. Connections, btw that are at least 15 years old. Outsider? Please. All of his actions in private enterprise, over the last 15 years have the earmarks of a well connected, savvy, political insider. People need to look beyond a single press photo of Knox shaking hands with a much younger, thinner, less combed-over Rendell.
Knox states he’s able to maintain his outsider status and remain apart from he describes as a “corrupt Philadelphia political machine” because he is spending his own money. One could speculate how that money was made. Did he have other deals like the one during the Casey administration that weren’t caught or had a blind eye turned toward? Today’s (03-25-07) Philadelphia Inquirer has an article that states much of Knox’s money came from short term loans made to the poor. Loans that charged, according to the article, 400% interest. 400%
Don’t believe me. Do a little digging of your own. Google gives interesting results if your search terms are “Tom Knox Fidelity Mutual”.
Compared to what little I have been able to find about Knox, and the items presented in this post, to me, Brady looks like Prince Charming, and Knox…well, the gender is wrong, but somehow I have no trouble seeing him as the Evil Stepmother.
Posted by Catherine | March 26, 2007 3:42 PM