In his leniency plea Pawlowski claims that he is a legend among Allentown's less fortunate... there certainly is some truth to that statement. He was essentially voted into his fourth term by the minority voters. who he courted extensively. He visited their barbershops and hair salons, and attended their parties whenever invited.
I met with a black woman who was and remains a staunch supporter. However, I must say that she was also a supporter of Marion Barry in her previous community of Washington. Pawlowski's legal issues and even his mistreatment of some others were of no concern to her. Her single criterion was the access that Pawlowski was providing to people of color, including herself.
I should also note that Pawlowski won the recent election with much less than a majority of votes, because it was a three way race with a strong write-in candidate. In conclusion, I will refrain from making a moral judgement on the black woman's criterion.... We all have our own special interests.
The truth is Ed Pawlwoski like so many other urban politicians used/uses the poor and poor minorities as voters to win elections. They do this by making promises and spreading fear. The promises are never kept and the fear is at best overblown but generally unfounded. The poor in our urban areas are done a huge disservice by politicians like Ed but the media is also guilty of not reporting promises broken, these would include, neighborhoods, schools, and public safety that never improve but often in fact grow worse. Instead there is the slow drumbeat of positive news that is more like propaganda than information. In Allentown we witnessed an unholy alliance between Ed and the press to do just this, ED would glad hand the unfortunate while the Call reported everything through rose colored glasses. To this day you can find even educated westenders who believe in Ed. The team was that effective.
ReplyDeleteWill the reel OZ please stand up and help itz stand in, not by paying the stand inz legal feez! LOL
ReplyDelete13 or 14 dayz to be free of only one public parasitic panderer.
Each party has its targeted constituencies. That isn't a crime. I won't condemn him for that.
ReplyDeleteAll one has to do is take a look at Venezuela - after living under the dictator Chavez, the poor people elected another dictator Marudo, who has damaged the country even more, he was even reelected! Now they are scheduled for 1,000,000% inflation this year.
ReplyDeleteSeems the poor don't learn when electing leaders.
I was ready to take him on.
ReplyDeleteI left for the military in 2000 I would come back periodically to visit. I saw our city fall apart in that time frame. He was the leader for the majority of that time frame. He claimed and painted a picture that was not true.
Our educational system was not better.
The Job market did not get better.
Crime did not get better.
Home ownership did not get better.
Then he claimed something to be his that was not “The Niz” downtown development. We all now know that the Niz was Pat Brownes deal. For those that have seen the way he does business know the truth. I’m not here to judge anyone but I’m stating facts. I would have had more respect for him if he walked around praising those who came out with ideas rather then taking ideas from others and claiming them as his. A true leader acknowledges everything I stated above. The facts are the facts go to center city right now my family is not in a better situation. One can argue that we cannot depend on political figures to change the world but then don’t claim to have changed the world and or have become a so called “Legend.”
If there is anything this country does--it's overlook the obvious foibles of its politicians.
ReplyDeleteJust looking at Bill Clinton and Richard Nixon--everything in their careers suggested how it would end up, but their biggest fans ignored the facts, apparently because these guys are uniquely qualified to lead us. When it becomes worse is when the politicians themselves believe it.
In today's news, a Congressional Representative (the son of a previous representative) from a fairly wealthy, solidly Republican district--was indicted for stealing from his own donors to pay for his poor financial management and perceived entitlement to fancy vacations, dinners out, and the ability to buy what he and his wife wanted. They even misrepresented expenses as being for Veterans charities. Still expected to win re-election, handily. Of course.
Poor people have just as much right to a dumb or emotional vote as anyone else.
Robert, One may condemn the the Republicans for ignoring the low income urban areas but there is no forgiving the Democrat exploiting them. Feel the shame of it Robert, your party deserves it.
ReplyDeleteWhen a constituency feels that most are oblivious or even hostile to their concerns, then it's not a surprise when that constituency's vote goes to the flawed candidate who shows up and listens.
ReplyDeletePawlowski apparently showed up for those minority voters. Repeatedly. Did anybody else? If not, it's hard to fault them for voting for the only person who made a serious effort to engage.
Ironically, some of the same people who shake their heads and judge minorities for voting Pawlowski may soon be doing some rationalizing of their own, regarding their own unwavering support for a guy in Washington who was recently implicated in a felony. Hint: it's not Marion Barry. What's good for Pawlowski won't be good for the guy in the White House.
Bob,
ReplyDeleteWhatever Trump does, the left is worse.
The left likes to call Trump a liar, but honestly, he has kept all the promises that matter to his voters. In other words, real politicians, like Obama and establishment politicians lie to the voters about policy and official actions, like you can keep your doctor, we will repeal ObamaCare, I turned over all my emails,we were talking grandkids... Trump keeps his word to the voters while real politicians have a long and ugly history of routinely betraying the trust of the voters.
Americans see and understand the significance of this important difference. Americans also understand the media has and continues to lie to them on a daily basis. The once respected institution the press, have built themselves a new legacy of corruption, deceit, and disinformation. Same goes for the bureaucracy of much of the federal government. Their attempts to destroy Trump at all costs has cost them the trust of the American people, they have squandered generations of integrity and honor for mere partisanship.
If the left thinks getting rid of Trump solves their problems they are sorely mistaken. It is a new day in America, the left/media/deep state has revealed its corrupt,ugly, authoritarian side to the public. In the process they have made hard and fast opponents of those who used to believe we were all on the same team. We know better now and know exactly what the other side is and what they are capable of.
Trump is merely the benefactor of the growing dissatisfaction of a very large segment of the American public, we are much bigger than any one person. The left clearly doesn't get it.
Thanks, Scott, for proving my point. Maybe Pawlowski should add a line to his sentencing memo claiming that Republicans have done worse. Let's see how that works out for him.
ReplyDeleteYour comments about the "left/media/deep state" remind me of Hillary's false claim that her husband's troubles were due to a "vast right-wing conspiracy". In reality, her husband's troubles were self-inflicted. So are Trump's. But you're welcome to keep at it with Hillary's failed strategy. Truth will out again.
So sorry Trump RussiaRepublicans, but, we have seen this movie before. Trump will either resign before his term is up, or decline to run for re-election. It's the only way to protect himself and his kids from the inevitable.
ReplyDeleteThe only qualified person for the job that Trump hired was Stormy Daniels.
Bob, Earth to you, there were/are no Republicans in Allentown holding elective office. Then to put the icing on the cake, Ed's fellow Democrats such as you raised not a whisper of complaint during the 12 year reign of Pawlowski corruption. Then add that the press played along as well. You see Bob, Republicans don't get a pass when it comes to corruption, seems the press always finds their journalistic instincts come alive when there is the slightest hint a Republican may have gone astray of the law. And isn't it funny that even some Republicans raise the alarm over fellow Republicans who seem to commit crimes. Interesting how that never happens on the left isn't it? Yeah, you guys stick together through thick and thin, no crime too large not to look the other way, then you want respect. Yeah....sure. And Trent, your blindness to the sins of your side tell us all we need to know and your hatred/disrespect of those who merely don't share your political philosophy is telling as well.
ReplyDeleteBy the way Bob and Trent, Ed committed his crimes as mayor and abused his public office. No harm no foul from any Democrats while that was happening, yet you sound the alarm over hush money, legal hush money according to Alan Derchowitz that was done by Trump as a private citizen with his own money. You are unconcerned over the partisan weaponizing of the justice department and the FBI so long as they are focused on those you consider political opponents.To many this indicates a total lack of integrity on your parts.
ReplyDelete"You are unconcerned over the partisan weaponizing of the justice department and the FBI so long as they are focused on those you consider political opponents."
ReplyDeleteSomebody needed to say it! The ever expanding and never ending Mueller Investigation is an utter joke. As is the clear and obvious 'Get Trump At All Costs' agenda. Peter Stzok, Lisa Page, James Comey, Andrew McCabe, John Brennan and their rest of their crew have made that clear as day --- even if the water carriers in the Lame Stream Media simply refuse to acknowledge such.
Meanwhile, this martyrdom of Ed Pawlowski is truly pathetic. Who do Emily Opilo and her paymasters down at The Morning Call think they are kidding? Today's Democrat Party is simply NOT the one that former President John F. Kennedy used to belong to, that's for certain.
ROLF OELER
Scott,
ReplyDeleteAs a person who has lived in countries where there really is a "left" and even perhaps a "deep state"--your histrionic discussions about both in the United States are patently ridiculous, especially when you use these terms to stoke political enmity. Blathering on about "free college" isn't a revolutionary left movement.
Even as absurd as Allentown's politics are at times--Allentown is similar to many other American communities in the challenges it deals with, to include the loss of its industrial tax base. You know, from your time on the school board, the hole this leaves in city and school district finances. Mack leaving was not political--it was foolish (considering that the plant never really lasted).
"Deep state"...come on.
Geoff, I have lived in countries where there really is a left. That said, I live in one now, America where the Democratic Party has embraced socialism on a broad scale. They proclaim it, the fact that you are in denial speaks to an ignorance or delusion on your part.
ReplyDeleteYour denial of the "deep state" is the template response of the left meant to impugn rather than argue the point.
Allentown is not "typical" of other communities, Bethlehem and Easton are. They lost industry and important manufacturing but with competent, non corrupt leadership they have made a comeback. Allentown is well placed to improve as well, it's voters re-electing incompetent and corrupt leaders, and approving and accepting such prevent that from happening.
The school board, our revenues were stable, our expenses were exploding due to PSER's. That caused the layoffs. But again, Allentown's voters have elected hacks, opportunists and incompetents to populate that board. The results are what they are and will get far worse.
Michael Your blog didn't use to be like this. It's long past due Scott gets his own blog instead of constantly cramming his politics down someone's throat every time they say something on yours expressing a moderate point of view. It's gotten nearly offensive as his old 'Allentown Commentator' group he use to host.
ReplyDeleteMichael I understand you may not agree with Scott's heavy handed politics but what he says reflects peoples impressions of this blog. Hence he REALLY needs to get his own and you can link to it. Let people duke it out on his instead of yours.
Course what you do with it is your business, but I'm certain I'm not the only one who is offended. Have you noticed the same six people are the only ones leaving comments here anymore?
My Two Cents:
Here we are whining year after year how Democrats are ruining the city. Meanwhile Republicans seldom offer candidates. So what if they lose. They never will win if they don't bother even running for office. Hence nothing will ever change if all you're going to do is sit around and bitch about always losing. Who ever thought the Eagles would win the Super Bowl. They didn't get there by bellyaching how great the other team was. Instead came out each and every game trying for a win. Hell, Republicans in Allentown aren't even showing up for the game. This says more abut them then words need to explain why things are the way they are.
BTW
I'm not going to debate this with you Scott. Not on MM's blog. Go get your own.
Wow! How pathetic! So according to LVCI Armstrong is what's wrong with Allentown and now Mike's blog. Wouldn't both be better off without him? Sad and typical for what passes as commentary in the city.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, the Republicans fielded a candidate for mayor,remember? He lost, shocker, just like every other Republican who has run in the city.The Democrats prefer Democrats, even incompetent and corrupt ones over Republican candidates and they outnumber R's by two to one.
One more note, isn't it interesting how only "Armstrong" is heavy handed, and "ramming his politics down our throats". Trent, Bob, and Geoff never do that, in fact no one on the left ever does that.
Scott get your own blog
ReplyDeletelvci@4:09, thanks for your concern, but scott's comments are welcome here. as you know not allowing anonymous on the blog curtailed the number of comments received. however, it did not curtail the readership.
ReplyDeleteDidn't Scott start the original blogging media in the Lehigh Valley.I remember reading it during the Aflerbach madness.It exposed the corruption and malfeasance of the Aflerbach reign of incompetence
ReplyDeleteWilliam,
ReplyDeleteThe Allentown Informer was a Yahoo group site, that was cutting edge in 2001. That in time turned into the Allentown Commentator, also a Yahoo group site. We had a lot of readers and real fierce debates. It was fun, then blogs became the thing and Bernie O'Hare had a great one. I figured why compete with him, he's doing a great job. That was then.