I made the mistake of taking part in the NYC mayor conversations. I consider myself a progressive, I used to consider myself a Democrat, but after what happened during the discussion, I have to ask myself wether or not I want to be a Democrat any more.
Message Board politics are interesting, there is always someone who feels that they are right, morally as well as text book, and they spend most of their time attempting to prove why they are right and you are wrong. They use insults and digs at your person to win arguments instead of arguing the points. These discussions are no different.
I honestly believe that Bloomberg will be better for NYC then Ferrer, and honestly, it doesn't matter what I think, nobody really seems to think Ferrer has a chance of winning.
But instead of arguments trying to persuade me to change my mind, I am heckled, insulted and berated. I'm accused of being a republican (a great insult), a racist, and insinuated that I am less then intelligent.
What has happened to my party?
I asked for one thing, a reason why Ferrer deserves to be mayor. Granted I did get a lot of "he says this" "he wants that", which is fine and dandy, but show me what he's actually done.
I am not a fan of Bloomberg, his attitudes towards civil liberties is appalling. He's basically a New Yorker who said "If I was mayor I'd do this..." and he had the money to become mayor, so he did. Now there is no smoking in restaurants and bars and we have quality of living laws so that when my neighbors play their music too loud I can call 311.
It pains me that I would consider voting for Bloomberg, it really does, but I don't buy into this voting the party line garbage. Voting the party line is how republicans get into office, its how bush got into office, and how John Roberts will get on the supreme court.
So excuse me if I don't want to be a party to that.
Stop calling me a traitor, stop calling me a racist, stop calling me an elitist because I expect more out of our politicians. NYC is one of the greatest cities in the world and yet we have some of the worst political choices in the world. We deserve better.
I ask you, now, here, what makes Ferrer qualified to be mayor of one of the greatest cities in the world? Please tell me things he's done, not what he says he's going to do.
My views of Ferrer are all negative, because everything I've seen him do is negative. He does not give me confidence that he would make a good mayor. In my view he is more worried about his political career then being mayor.
Please, prove me wrong.
Had we had a better choice for a Democratic mayor, I would be all over that, but neither I or any of my "elitist" friends feel he's qualified to be mayor, and that group of friends includes many races, genders, and countries of origin.
I don't vote for candidates just because they are democrats... and I would hope none of you would either, that's just irresponsible.
What did Ferrer do when people were swept up and arrested during the RNC?
Has Ferrer come out in opposition to the war?
Has Ferrer taken a leadership position?