A few months ago, Judge Leonard Zito switched sides to become a Republican. Now Easton Controller Tony Bassil, formerly a Republican, is wearing blue. At a news conference yesterday afternoon, he announced he is now a Democrat.You own views are appreciated, especially if they differ from mine. But remember, commenting is a privilege, not a right. I will delete personal attacks or off-topic remarks at my discretion. Comments that play into the tribalism that has consumed this nation will be declined. So will comments alleging voter fraud unless backed up by concrete evidence. If you attack someone personally, I expect you to identify yourself. I will delete criticisms of my comment policy, vulgarities, cut-and-paste jobs from other sources and any suggestion of violence towards anyone. I will also delete sweeping generalizations about mainstream parties or ideologies, i.e. identity politics. My decisions on these matters are made on a case by case basis, and may be affected by my mood that day, my access to the blog at the time the comment was made or other information that isn’t readily apparent.
another joe long democrat?
ReplyDeleteA good guys joins the dark side. Hop on Joe's lap Tony. Good boy Tony.
ReplyDeleteDemocrat/Republican? Party lines are littered with fuzzy demarcation. That's why I'm so against straight party voting.
ReplyDeleteCareer politicians will do whatever it takes. Hillary knew nothing of New York, but there she was. Arlen Specter was BORN IN KANSAS. His parents were Russian < for all you Obama worriers. Arlen went to school in Phila. Later he became a Democrat and only became a Republican so he could run for so he could get elected to the DA in Phila. Where he went on to be the longest-serving Senator in Pennsylvania's history!
I repeat once again.. we need to set parties aside. We need to set words they speak aside and examine these peoples actions/records.
Who's, who? RINO/DINO? Not what people claim to be, but rather their actions speak volumes. That is what voters need to know. Not their party affilations.
LVCI, You're in good company. George Washington hated the rise of parties. But it's necessary these days or you get no votes.
ReplyDeleteTake a look at MM. he had a pretty good message when he ran for Mayor. But he was denied participation in a debate by the forward-looking academics at muhlenberg. His message was marginalized. Had he run w/ either major party, he certainly would have done much better.
I still don't understand the role of party politics on a local level... perhaps I have a lot to learn.
ReplyDeleteOh, Micki, you're so fine, you're so fine you blow my mind...
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ReplyDeleteLaini, Most states do not have local partisan elections.
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ReplyDeleteBack in 2007 the Easton GOP had a press confrence at Ashley's. I lived around the corer so I came to watch.
ReplyDeleteAt the end as everyone was leaving Tony asked me "When are you going to come back to the Republican party?"
I told him "I dunno."
Some Irony in all this.
ANON 4:07 sounds like another bitter far right winger. Bash Bassil for leaving rather than looking at why no main stream Americans want to elected Republicans any more.
It has less to do with the BS "Libearl bias Media", that always seems to favor LIbertarian NOT Liberal policies. And more to do with things like saying you relased a budget proposal that lacks any numbers. (Budgets generally need numbers.)
Opposing tax breaks for the working class in favor of tax breaks for millionares. A decade of nasty partisian tactics taken by Karl "Turd blossom" Rove, a former Vice President who is as popular as Osama Bin Laden at this point , and a party line that prefers to blindly oppose any bill the other side writes or proposes over actually working in the interest of the citizens.
In other words the voters are tired of a party thats main concern is the ultra rich and making the other side look bad.
Maybe if you Neo-Conservatives had substance and not BS Libertarian views (The free market will wipe our asses so don't buy TP.) maybe just maybe people wouldn''t be jumping off like its the Titanic in frigid Canadian waters at 3AM.
The problem isn't the concept of a "party".
ReplyDeleteIf they are based on serious differences in philosophy, principles, etc. it is fine.
If it is just a partisan label that engenders blind loyalty, that is a problem.
As I frequently say, I am not a Republican because I think an elephant is a cool logo. I actually believe in things. The current problem in the GOP is due to that exact fact. Many in the grassroots hold principles. Too many in the "establishment" think of the party like a sports team where anyone can do anything and expect blind loyalty.
Forgive me for being so forward, Bernie, but was your link supposed to point here: http://tinyurl.com/dkd6cy ?
ReplyDeleteAs I hinted in my story about this, it seemed like Bob Freeman had a lot more to do with this switch than Joe Long.
There are some obvious advantages for Bassil to be a Dem in a city that's has so many of them. Still the timing seems odd. Bassil's explanation is plausible enough, but it's also hard to believe there was absolutely no political horse-trading behind the scenes.
Let me try that link again: http://tinyurl.com/dkd6cy
ReplyDeleteMichael, Thank you for the link. More importantly, thank you for your perspective as the reporter who covers Easton.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I was not at the press conference and only heard about the switch from one of the Dem pols you mention.