Last week, Ron Angle ran into Charles "Don't Call me Charlie" Dertinger at a Slate Belt hardware store. Dertinger came out on the losing end of two races against Ron. No blows were exchanged, but Dertinger did swear up and down he won't be dragged into yet another losing race. In fact, he pulled out his wallet and said, "You can take this if I run against you."Another of Angle's former opponents, John Maher, has posted a blog on the Dem party website, fishing for an opponent. "Northampton County Council President Ron Angle is up for re-election in 2011 in his Slate Belt 4th county council district. His re-election is not a Slate Belt issue, but a entire Northampton County issue! The Northampton County Democratic Party must close ranks and stand four square to his defeat! We must find a strong candidate to run against him and once and for all 'get him out'!"
A worried Jon Geeting asks, "Has anyone identified a candidate yet?" As of two days ago, the answer is No.
Considering all the vitriol hurled at Angle in the form of anonymous comments, it's incredible that not one Democrat is willing to face the Bulldog.
46 comments:
There are actually Republican supporters of Gracedale actively seeking a Republican to run against him in the primary. that is where he is most vulnerable and could be taken down.
He has disappointed many of his past supporters.
that's nice.
Maybe Joe Cap?
I asked Joe that question on election day and he said no..emphatically NO! This is a thorny issue as it is almost a sure losing endeavor..in the past. No one on the horizon in the district as of now comes to mind.
No Dem has a chance in that district against the Bulldog. His only threat is if he has an opponent in the primary and the chance of that are slim to none.
Only a Republican will beat him in a primary challenge. His own side has had enough of him.
"only a republican can beat him in a primary challenge"
Duh! You are a brain scientist. Or a rocket surgeon.
Who would want to run against him? The campaign would be mean spirited. It's just not worth it. I saw the last campaign. No offense, but when you roll with a pig in the mud, the pig likes the mud. Just an analogy... no insult intended.
Bernie
When are you going to slam Angle and other Republican council members for a blatant violation of sunshine act in re meeting that Jenna of MC wrote about sunday? Here was a quorum discussing and deciding who should be President and VP of council!!! When Dems allegedly did this-- you slammed them. When will you slam Angle on this?
Actually, I've been writing about it since last week, have condemned it in several comments, but you seem to be in a hurry to have me condemn it just the first back-room deal, even though what they tried to do was a failure. Shouldn't I also condemn the second back-room deal to change that vote, you know, the one that involved two Democrats? If I write about one, shouldn't I write about both?
Are there even any Democrats in the Slate Belt? It would probably pretty useless to take him on over the issues, so the message would have to be "we need more civility" or "we need a less embarassing representative who isn't always in court"
No Bernie=-- we are not talking back room deals-- they are legal as long as, as you have pointed out it involves one on one phone calls, ect. Here we have a MEETING of 6 members face to face to decide official business. You know that is a clear violation. Nothing wrong with individual councilmen calling each to get support. Are you going to slam Angle on this or not??
Why is it important that I "slam" Angle over a meeting that apparently back-fired? Why must I assume that there was no back-room deal in the second instance? When Peg Ferraro was telling everyone to put on their best poker face, was she talking to a mirror?
Like I said several times now, I think it's very likely that there are several Sunshine Act violations throughout this whole process. I'd agree that the actual meeting of six R council members is the most egregious and easily-proved example bc they all admit it, thinking they've done nothing wrong.
But there was also a deal to oust Angle, and that probably involved Sunshine Act violations, too. So if I write about one, I have to write about all of them.
Then we have the reality that the Sunshine Act is toothless. In Montgomery County, where a quorum of Comm'rs were having breakfast meetings, we can see that there are no real repercussions.
I think I will write a post. Look for it in the next few days.
"Are there even any Democrats in the Slate Belt?"
Yes Jon, there are, especially in Northampton, Bangor, Wind Gap, Pen Argyl & Portland. I'm not sure, but think Dems may outnumber Rs. I'll try to find out.
Angle's flaw is also his strength. It has nothing to do with the issues. They like having a colorful bastard as their rep.
Rendell is getting all kinds of heat now over his wussies remark and his slam at 60 minutes broadcasters. But to some of us, that kind of dialogue is refreshingly honest. We need more, not less, of that kind of plain talk.
I've seen "Civility". It consists of Council members who outright lie, but are nice about it. I'll take honesty.
One last point Bernie, are you not at all concerned that the Republicans, led by Angle, decided to have a secret meeting to decide official business, in violation of the law, AT THE REPUBLICAN HQ WITH CHAIRMAN SHULMAN PRESENT AND HAVING INPUT??
If this was Joe Long and dems, you would be all over it!! Are you going to refer to Shulman as BOSS now?? Will you call Angle a Shulman repubilcan
It's Shuman. I've addressed your concerns.
Sorry Bernie, Northampton is not part of the Slate Belt.
danthemann
I stand corrected. Northampton is in District 3. Angle's got Bangor, Bushkill, Chapman, East Bangor, Lehigh, Lower Mount Bethel, Moore, Pen Argyl, Plainfield, Portland, Roseto, Upper Mount Bethel, Upper Nazareth, Walnutport, Washington & Wind Gap.
I think it's a Republican he'll have to worry about.
How about Charles Manson
Below are just a sampling of posts you have done on Sunshine Violations. You went so far as to sue over at least one of the. You withdrew your suit after council agreed to sunshine law training but indicated that you would sue again if future violations popped up. Well, we are waiting...
http://lehighvalleyramblings.blogspot.com/2006/08/why-idiot-should-sue-when-pas-sunshine.html
http://lehighvalleyramblings.blogspot.com/2006/06/council-solicitor-media-lawyer-agree.html
http://lehighvalleyramblings.blogspot.com/2006/11/northampton-county-council-agrees-to.html
http://lehighvalleyramblings.blogspot.com/2007/01/is-northampton-county-council-starting.html
http://lehighvalleyramblings.blogspot.com/2006/07/are-lehigh-valleys-government.html
http://lehighvalleyramblings.blogspot.com/2006/06/mcclures-law-and-order-committee-meets.html
Funny thing is that after reading the Morning Call article yesterday, the only people who may not have broken sunshine laws are McClure and McHale b/c they were so inept that nobody thought it necessary to include them in private conversations. I love it!
The latest electon indicated a more conservative electorate here in the SB than in the past as I believe a lot of disgruntled D's crossed over. Historically a fairly evenly split district, it was probably more Democrat leaning in the recent past than today. Yes..thre are still D's alive and well in the SB district.
My observations on election day in Bangor told me the grey panthers are the ones who come out in force to vote. The Gracedale issue was not news to them and they readily signed the petition to halt the sale. Ron is the face of the sale. That issue alone could be decisive during a campaign run. Just saying..
I do intend to write about the Sushine Act violation, and mentioned that in another post. You are correct.
Bernie tell us all what Ron Angle has done for northampton county during his tenure on county council,are there any positives beacuse as we all know there are lot of negatives,it would be great to see all the improvements he has made,can you list them for your readers?
If you can only find negative things, then why are you unable to find a Dem? I'm sure somebody will volunteer. Angle has accomplished quite a bit.
1) He ended a culture of corruption in which people paid for their jobs and cronyism ruled. Two people ended up in federal prison.
2) He did everything he could to stop I was unable to stop a wasteful, $111 million bond, which will end up costing taxpayers a quarter billion dollars.
3) He tried to stop a goofy swaption, which will cost you another $12 million.
4) He finally stopped a costly Bi-County Health department, which will just add another layer of fat to an already bloated government as currently crafted.
5) We're finally selling Gracedale, a money pit that crams four residents to a room.
6) We eliminated nearly 100 unnecessary positions, which alone saves you $5 million.
7) He prepared a no-tax-increase budget.
8) He managed to renegotiate Bethlehem's Artsquest TIF, which will result in millions more money for cash-strapped Bethlehem Schools and the County.
I could go on but I'll stop here as I have posts to write and could spend an entire night listing Angle's achievments.
Please provide actual evidence of one person having paid for a job. Not your fish wife gossip but actual evidence. Pretend you are still a lawyer.
Stoffa and Angle claimed the swaption would cost 20 million. Hedging their hyperbole I see.
Gracedale only has four people in large rooms that pass federal guidelines. Rooms that allow staff to scan four residents at one time to provide for extra safety and security. The same rooms that residents and their families are fighting for their lives to save from your vultures.
Nice of you and Angle to call their home and only real security a "money pit".
Maybe Stoffa's pal the asst. Director of Administration who hangs out at the courthouse is a "money pit". Hey Ron., why not save us from that!
I could go on but I am not the drug addled one who is writing a version of reality unrelated to reality.
Svengali Lee
Dubious Achievements
emphasis on DOOBIE
Hey don't forget Angle's condemnation by both the Anti-Defamation League and the NAACP. Quite the accomplishments.
About the swaption its easier to vote no when you get to vote last after everyone else voted for it.Way to make it look good Ronny boy.
Bulldog? He is more like a bull in a china shop.
You can't find a Dem because no one in their right mind would want to run against him. Today's political climate is toxic, nasty and polarizing. Who the hell needs that for a part time job that pays peanuts. Ron will do what he needs to in order to hold on to power, and many people in the Slate Belt love him. Running against him would be like running against the Anti Christ. Why would a sane person subject themselves to the abuse that they would take?
Really, C, why would anyone want to run for local office at all? There is a lot of negativity.
But with Ron, you claim he'd be a tough opponent. Actually, a lot of negativity is directed at, and not by, Ron. Yo can see that just on this blog. All those anonymous personal attacks come, day after day, even in blogs having nothing to do with him. In the last election cycle, there were at least a dozen negative mailers and more attack robo calls than I can remember. Before that, he was pictured next to swastikas.
None of that matters to him, but he does have a family.
Angle has actually been the victim of three sleaze campaigns and incessant online smears.
Once you do get elected, it must also be very disconcerting when fellow Council members lie to you.
So I've told Angle that he is nutz for running, and I think that applies to most elected officials.
"Stoffa and Angle claimed the swaption would cost 20 million."
No, they're being honest. The number varies, day to day. It is currently $12.7 MM. A few months ago, it was over $18 MM. It could easily be back there in a few months. No one knows.
Angle's incendiary rhetoric and antics could get an opponent shot in the head. Best to let flame throwing bulldogs lie.
This is precisely what I mean, C. Day after day, Angle is subjected to vicious attacks like the one above, which obliquely compares him to the person who shot Congresswoman Giffords. All this negativity actually turns people off and makes them more inclined to vote for Angle.
I suppose you are right Bernie. There just aren't any boundaries any more. Running for any political office at this point in our country would be awful. That's just what the climate is like right now..and Ron is passionate about his beliefs, so he would be a tough opponent.
The whole damned process has become so sinsiter, and when you get in...it gets even worse. People lie, threaten your family, threaten your business and reputation. Why?
Regarding Ron...I have not always agreed with him, but he has always taken the time to listen to me, personally. Sometimes he ticks me off beyond belief and sometimes he comes up with some really bright ideas.
I wish that we as Americans would get back to being decent human beings...and realize that we have a ton of work to do to provide the next generation with the same opportunities that we have had. We have really, really big problems facing our country, and we need to be all hands on deck to solve them.
I was once an elected official. Never again, I paid my dues. Thank you to all who serve in a public office.
C, I don't know who you are, but when people like you lose interest in serving, we're in trouble. Unfortunately, I agree with everything you said.
Wait, I think I do know who you are, but it will be our secret.
bernie, it seems that anon 4:28 laid out lots of evidence about an imbalance in your coverage of the two alleged "back room deals", and when they asked you to address it, and the fact that you didnt even acknowledge the sunshine act violation until called on it, you dodged the topic.
any reason why? your silence is deafening on the subject
I agreed with much of what was said, and do intend to write about it, but will do so when it is convenient for me, not you. Last night I was writing until 4 AM, and will not sacrifice telling people what is going on so that you can play your political games. I will write about it, but not for your sake.
Locally I call for Ron Angle to have a mental health evaluation. He is exhibiting signs simular to the shooter. And if you think this is a joke you are wrong. No one acted on the shooters behalf, Ron seems to be unhinged lately, with the outbursts and vial name calling. These are the early signs.
I'll leave this one up to demonstrate just how nasty some people can be.
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