Kool Aid for Manhattan?
Sarah Lyons, a Lenora Fulani ally was removed yesterday as the County Chairperson for the Independence Party on Staten Island.
Replacing Sarah is 21-year-old Frank Morano, formerly of Draft Golisano fame.
So far, the state Independence Party has taken action in Brooklyn, Queens and The Bronx.
So what is next? A recall of Manhattan County Chair Cathy Stewart?
State Chairman Frank McKay hopes so. The numbers, he said, are there. Then again, so is Fred Newman.
Of the 900 or so county committee members in Manhattan, "I feel very strongly that there are 106 to 163 outright cult members that, I hope this never happens, but if Fred Newman ever asked them to drink Kool Aid...that they might actually do that," McKay told The Politicker. "I hope it's simply a political cult."
Most of the others don't even know they're on the county committee, he said.
--Azi Paybarah
Even more evidence that this sorry excuse for a party should be put out of its misery. The Independence party has four main factions:
1) organized kooks;
2) free-lance kooks;
3) opportunists [some of whom cross over with (1) or (2)]; and
4) the unaware (those who checked the "Independence" box thinking it meant unafiliated, and those whose presence on its governing bodies, by the admission of its chair, apparently amounts to an act of fraud by another individual).
Any candidate who agrees to take the Independence line and help them to ciontinue to perpetuate themselves in November should be force-fed the political kool-aid of a total boycott by editorial boards, good government groups and all decent minded voters.
Even more evidence that this sorry excuse for a party should be put out of its misery. The Independence party has four main factions:
1) organized kooks;
2) free-lance kooks;
3) opportunists [some of whom cross over with (1) or (2)]; and
4) the unaware (those who checked the "Independence" box thinking it meant unafiliated, and those whose presence on its governing bodies, by the admission of its chair, apparently amounts to an act of fraud by another individual).
Any candidate who agrees to take the Independence line and help them to ciontinue to perpetuate themselves in November should be force-fed the political kool-aid of a total boycott by editorial boards, good government groups and all decent minded voters.
Now we have to hear Gatemouth in triplicate-Gatemouth, take a vacation or your meds
Are you still looking for work, Gatemouth?
Good for the Independence Party. You can't fault even free lance kooks when they take action to get rid of anti-Semitic pigs. Fulani couldn't even back herself away from the hateful words when given multiple opportuunities. The fact taht this party exists for millionaires seeking added ballot accesss is irrelevant to the point. Kudos to the independents inthe Independence Party.
While I agree that an extortion operation fraudulently run by freelance kooks and/or opportunists is preferable to one run by an anti-semetic cult, I'm not sure McKay's victory is really an occiasion for dancing in the streets. I say shoot 'em all and let God sort it out later.
I am not a kook.
Azi, for the record: I am a cool aide. The stuff people drink, however, is spelled Kool-Aid.
Playing musical chairs doesn't change their anti-Semitism. This is just musical chairs. These people have been involved with Fulani for a long time. What were they doing partnering with her for years? If her anti-Semitism bothered them, they wouldn't have been there to begin with. They may want the lightening rod out of the limelight but to be fooled by this window dressing is simply naive.
5:48: Not quite right. McKay is not an anti-semite; he's a whore, whose whoring enabled and empowered anti-semites. Whether this makes him better than them is a matter of opinion; it can be argued that it makes him worse. But, in the end, it is a distinction without a difference, for the proper way to treat both types is exactly the same. BOYCOTT AND QUARENTEEN THEM AND ALL WHO ASSOCIATE WITH THEM!
To be fair, there are others in the Independence Party who are neither anti-semetic or whores for those who are (although often they are still whores). In a party controlled by reprehensible scum, they were not reprehensible scum. They were, however, either quick-buck scam artists, or the types of people who stand on the corner raving about radio waves and the trilateral commission. In other words, none is entitled to own a line on the ballot. Those that take their line in a Gubernatorial year enable such folks, and should be treated accordingly.
BOYCOTT NOW!
Gatemouth,You're giving them too much credit. Would you be partners with Fulani? Did they just notice that she's an anti-Semite? Were those who spent so much time in the inner circle with her drunk until now or did they knowingly team up with her? Wouldn't you have noticed that there was Something About Lenora?
If you enable an anti-Semite you are guilty of Anti-Semitism. Like if you enable a murder, you are guilty of it yourself.
10:27 (and 10:22): Please re-read my posts. I think it's clear that I thought (a) enabling these people was as bad, and probably worse, than the actual crime, and (b) the punishment for enabling them should be the same as for the crime itself. I even advocate slaughtering the innocent, along with the guilty (and those complicit), so don't call me soft on these people; instead, join my call for a boycott!
Promise you will not support anyone who takes the Independence line. Write letters to the editor. Confront folks at candidates forums. I am your ally!! If Spitzer (or Suozzi, Weld, Faso, Manning, or Daniels) takes their line, Fulani will eventually be back in business. Kill the Independence Party now!!!
I was referring to the second part of your post at 6:35.
I think that anyone who has been very active in that Party has knowingly partnered with anti-Semites.
I also am not sure why you don't think McKay is an anti-Semite. How come?
I agree with your boycott idea in general, but what would happen if one candidate was Jewish and took the line after being offered it because of having tons of money or being able to get lots of votes for the Party and the only alternative to vote for was Al Sharpton? Would you just not vote and risk Sharpton winning?
Also, do you think cross-endorsements should be banned?
I am no fan of the Independence Party, but there are those in that party who have fought the Fulani influence from within. The fact that they had lost up to now did not make them enablers, just a bit inept. They only became more successful when the pressure of public opinion against Ms. Fulani threw the swing mercenary faction over to them.
The party is about supporting wealthy candidates who will buy their line: see Perot, Golisano, Bloomberg. THESE folks were knowing enablers of Fulani. Doesn't make them anti-semites, but they clearly overlooked things that were morally outrageous for their own short term political gain.
This party has one single asset: they picked a terrific name to put at the top of their ballot line...and voters who value small "i" independence are unfortunately fooled by it.
"Lew", That kind of begs the question. What were those acive in the party doing there with Fulani? It was (and except on the surface) still is her party. Would you join the KKK becuase you thought you could change it from within? Would you become a skinhead because you figured you would be a good influence on them? Does that make any sense?
Hopefully Newman and Fulani will re-join the Democrats. Then, after everyone else leaves, we might have some political competition in this town.
I sort of get the feeling Memblatt's back:
11:46 & 12:02: I' don't know if McKay's an anti-semite, but I'm not sure it matters, because he's made common cause with them, and therefore deserves to be lumped with them.
However, Fidler is right that there are others in the party who have never made common cause with the Fulani gang. Several other groups joined the party so that they could control the ballot line and sell it to the highest bidder, and they've always resented Fulani for cutting in on their action. Still others have their own crazy ideological axes to grind. So while they might deserve to be called extortionists (or extortionist wannabes) and lunatics, they don't deserve to be branded as bigots.
I'm not sure I get your point about Shaprton. The whole idea of a boycott is prophylactic. If the threat is strong enough, no one legitimate will take the line and the Independence party will whither and die.
If folks tkae the line, they should be prepared to take the consequences.
And, yes, I would outlaw cross-endorsements (except in the case of qualified incumbent judges, who should, ideally, be exempted from facing partisan campaigns for re-election). I have nothing against adding more parties to the ballot, let a thousnad flowers bloom in our glorious democracy! However, those parties should run their own candidates instead of operating glorifed extortion rackets preying on others.
Tell Lew Fidler to give back the illegal campaign contributions from Seddio.
I sort of get the feeling Memblatt's back:
and her name now is Gatemouth
Gatemouth, I only wanted to know if you think it's okay to make an exception in extreme circumstances. I like the boycott idea. Nobody should get a free ride for taking the line and the press is far too sanguine about it. I'm with you on this.
10:41 Isn't it obvious that you, Gatemouth now commend your own ideas?
Stu: perhaps I would, but I don't think I'd question myself concerning whether I'd make an exception under extreme circumstances. So either comment upon the substance, if you have a problem with it, or crawl back under your rock (unless you're really a Fulani supporter, in which case I'd gladly treat you to a glass of Kool-aid).
First, thank you Gatemouth. [did i say that?] Being a bigot is far worse than being a kook or a political extortionist. None are good, but the epithet shouldn't be lightly tossed around.
as to the Garson family member or apologist who posted about the Seddio contribution, the contribution was not illegal. Even the DNews did not call it illegal. And anyone who thinks that Frank Seddio bought my support ignores not only my 20 years of friendship with him, but is an idiot for thinking so.
And, BTW, because I value my integrity I have returned the contribution because I don't want to allow even the most ridiculous people in the world to have the remotest nonsensical reason to impugn it.
To Azi:
It's "Kool-Aid" (no e). Also, Journalism 101 is that if you get a statement from one side you should balance it with a statement from the other side. You include an extremely accusatory and provactive statement from McKay, but didn't call the Independence Party in Manhattan for a response? Very poor journalism.
To the Posters so far (all 2 of you): It's obvious you're partisans against the independence party, but do you feel so insecure about your opinions that you need to repeatedly spam the board?
stu: looks like the Kool-aid drinkers agree with you; nice company you keep.
Lew: Thanks. If you read the thread, you'll see I never implied otherwise
10:41: Thought about it, and exceptions wouldn't work. If you promise you might open a loophole later, you lose the prophylactic effect. It's like cutting a hole in a condom.
Why don't you ask Michael Bloomberg, George Pataki, Chuck Schumer, Joe Bruno, Eliot Spitzer how they all got duped by this so-called "cult". But you won't do that, will you?
I'm a member of the IP State Committee and I'm a free thinking independent committed to real grassroots democracy. How about a serious poltical analysis for a change?
Grow up!
They weren't duped. They disgracefully propped up the party when they didn't even need to because of their own opportunism and egos. Unlike you, they were not active members of Fulani's cult who partnered with her for years. They rationalized taking the line in their own minds and by doing that made lots of money for Fulani and co. If you are a very active member of that party, you are not freethinking, independent or committed to a real grassroots democracy. Otherwise, you would have walked out as soon as you saw what the people running it were all about.
Too bad anti-semitism does not mean anything anymore..... everything is anti-semitic - no dialouge just baiting. Thankfully though, not very effective now - and who cares - don't give a darn about it - means nada to those underserved communities that Fulani works in. But killing appears to be a turn-on to a lot of folks, seems to make you really excitied WOW. You can't kill this.
The belligerence whew - it's actually amusing -
Go Fulani! Keep working with jews - yes there are jews that continue to work with and agree with Fulani.
Go Fulani, build a Black, independent political movement! Go Fulani Go ahead!
AG's office got nothing - You can't stop it.
Na na na na na!
I JUST WANNA LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT I AM ACTIVE IN THE INDEPENDENCE PARTY AND I LOVE ALL PEOPLE NO MATTER WHAT RACE THEY ARE.NOT EVERYONNE HAS THE SAME VIEWS OR ISSUES IN THE PARTY so why blame us all??