About Me

My photo
Nazareth, Pa., United States

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Angle's Race, By The Numbers

As I indicate in a post below, only 18.34% of Northampton County's registered voters showed up for Tuesday's election. According to a theory I am in the process of checking, it includes a disproportionately large number of Democrats. But that's not the only explanation for Angle's loss. Angle was the poster boy for the Sell Gracedale movement. The Will case definitely hurt him. I heard several voters complain about that in Upper Nazareth, where I greeted voters. On top of that, Parsons is popular in Wind Gap, where he serves on Borough Council, and in Pen Argyl, where he lived.

Here's how it went down.

Bangor: Parsons, 290 to 167. (Angle never does well here).

Bushkill: Parsons, 486 to 450 (Angle needed to win big here).

Chapman:  Angle, 14 to 11.

East Bangor: Angle, 55 to 50.

Lehigh: Angle, 671 to 562. (Angle needed a larger win here)

Lower Mount Bethel: Parsons, 230 to 182. (Angle has tangled the past few years with Supervisors over land use ordinances)

Moore: Parsons, 786 to 600. (Angle traditionally wins here)

Pen Argyl: Parsons, 136 to 101. (Expected. Parsons works here and did live here).

Plainfield: Angle, 527 to 516. (Angle needed a bigger win here).

Portland:  Angle, 45 to 37.

Roseto: Parsons, 129 to 108. (Angle was booed in May at an event in Roseto, over his Gracedale stand. He got some of them back, but not enough).

Upper Mount Bethel: Parsons, 646 to 591. (Angle alienated voters in his home district with his stand on GEO and his reluctance to spend County money to preserve environmentally sensitive land).

Upper Nazareth: Parsons, 323 to 208. (Angle usually loses here, but the margin is probably the result of his Gracedale stand).

Walnutport: Parsons, 92 to 90.

Washington: Parsons, 333 to 259.

Wind Gap: Parsons, 215 to 141. (Parson's home town).

70 comments:

Anonymous said...

Today someone said Ron Angle's use of Richard Nixon's quote was prophetic.

Nixon was a skilled politican but his emotional insecurities and inner demons destroyed him.

Ron angle is a skilled politican but his emotional insecurities and inner demons destoryed him.

I have to agree. Ultimately Ron Angle's worst enemy is Ron Angle. The cause of Ron Angle's defeat was Ron Angle himself.

Zorn said...

what about the fact tha the guy is just a self - centered a-hole and people are tired of him?

Anonymous said...

Bernie, you are forgetting some things
1. His inappropriate behavior at Council Meetings
2. Name calling to fellow Councilmembers (do I need to remind you of some of them)
3. Backroom dealings with palm payoffs (Upper Mt. Bethel Prison)
4. Backroom dealings of a DUI center that is now turning into a prison
5. Allowing the deteriation
of Gracedale and other county buildings
6. Not listening to what his constituents were asking for (Gracedale)
6. WAY TO MUCH PERSONAL BAGGAGE
a. Will forgery charges that
involved took money away
from a disabled family
member
b. Lawsuit over the land deal
with the dentist of which
he was ordered to pay out
over a million dollars to
the plaintiff
c. Lawsuits brought against
his own constituents
costing county taxpayers
d. Shoplifting charges in NJ

Not to mention some of the rumors
a. The treatment to his own
father
b. The lack of concern over
his Uncle James upon his
death
c. Issues with past tenants

If he would have been on the ballot countywide figures would have been much worse for him. Believe me, people wished they could have pushed the button for Scott Parsons in their district just to get Ron Angle off council. People want to see a council that works together and that just didn't happen with Ron Angle on board. When he was president, he ran it like a one man show and when he was booted as president, he continued to try to run it as a one man show.

WAKE UP BERNIE O'HARE, Ron Angle is out because of RON ANGLE, not because of democrats, republicans, Gracedale Goons or Union Thugs. Ron Angle is out because his constituents were tired of his bullshit, badgering, baggage and can't forget about his Bernie. The 4 B's ruined Ron Angle!

Anonymous said...

Anon 7:25 I believe your side won. Get over it and do something to deal with all that unresolved anger. Really you're toxic. I'm not in Angle's district but I've been reading all your complaints on this site and others. Try to be gracious in victory.

Anonymous said...

They are more gracious in victory than Mr. Angle has shown himself in victory or defeat. They are just not participating in the re-writing of history that has been a hallmark of this site.

Anonymous said...

03

I was wondering did Ron in that "gracious" manner you refer to congratulate Scott on his win?
This angst riddled campaign caused emotions to run high. The throes of death are further perpetuated by Bernies inquisitive request to search for some Zen reasoning for Angles demise. He encourages the "haters" to contribute.
Before you use the term gracious prehaps look at Rons' inability to define the word.
One should be gracious in defeat as well as victory.

It reminds me of the career ending interview Larry Holmes gave to Cosell involving the record holder Rocky Marciano and Holmes not being able to break that record.

"Rocky Marciano couldn't hold my jockstrap?

Cosell implored the former champ to be "gracious"

Holmes a champion with a huge story is a great man. I think he would take those words back given a chance.

Anonymous said...

Interesting assessment..Certainly the will issue and the prison issue impacted...Those along with Gracedale sealed his fate..Now, hopefully the new council members will toss Cusick quickly for his opposition to Gracedale and replace him with Ferraro..

Anonymous said...

What it comes down to is the old retired union folk. They all remember back when they all had 8 weeks vacation and got paid 40% more than they were worth. Times have changed because these dirtbags have chased all of the jobs and opportunities elsewhere. All those old farts car about are protecting the antiquated unions and their social security check until they pass away (which they know will be within the next 10 years). So, it's better to just keep sticking band aids on a bigger problem and hope that solution works (until they pass away).

Gracedale should have been sold to a private company. They would have kicked out those overpaid union workers and made the place into a profitable business which ends up paying local, state and federal taxes. As of now, we have another typical drain on the local economy that only benefits the few.

Look what's going on with Greece and (soon to be) Italy. Socialism doesn't work.

Anonymous said...

2:48,

Well, it looks like those old retired union folks kicked your ass and ron's ass and in fact Governor Kasich's ass in Ohio..Pretty good for old folks, lol

Anonymous said...

2:48

LOL Ha Ha

Go kick your dog through the hedge

You'll feel better and it will give Fido a chance to escape the dismal life you have created for him and yourself.

Chris Miller said...

Anonymous 7:25 AM
Do you have proof that Ron Angle took money in backroom dealings? Making an error with a statement like that could cause you to part with your finances. You may not like Ron but I would like you to point out to me who is going to replace him and his ability to deal with the financial matters of the county. You might recall his zero tax increase budget last year when no one else, including Mr. Stoffa, could come forth with a budget. Supposedly Ron is in the process of delivering yet another no tax increase budget this year. We will not really know the talent who will step forward until the next budget season. And when you look at things like the swapthon, increase taxes and the bond issue all that have to be dealt with let's see who rised to the top. I would also suggest that before you lay out your enumerations you attend meetings and see what is going on. Who knows, you might be able to come up with a solutions to the problems in the county.

Anonymous said...

Chris,

It doesn't take a freaking genius to present a no tax increase budget..You just cut and slice everything and the damage doesnt come till years after you left..You tea baggers are good at that..Any freaking idiot can sign some moronic tax pledge and cut government to shreads..Wow, I guess that makes him a hero to you..Well, apparently the folks in his district dont feel the same way..Tough luck buddy...And by the way, his tax cut prowess obviously took a back seat to his character flaws..

Anonymous said...

chris, cash your pension check that your union got you and go away.

Anonymous said...

My sentiments exactly Anonymous 7:25 a.m. He did himself in. The old saying- what goes around comes around- comes to mind.

As for the backroom dealings, I believe it was publicly brought out that he took $3,000. in "campaign contributions" from GEO. Nothing illegal and people can call it what they want.

As for the taxes, I believe that our county taxes are probably some of the lowest taxes we pay, especially compared to others, ex. school taxes, federal. If you would do the math, even if they would have had to go up 20%, it would not have really amounted to a lot, compared to school taxes. Nobody likes tax increases, especially those who own a bunch of properties, but sometimes no matter how much we don't like them, they eventually will have to go up or even more services will have to be cut. I personally would rather pay a small increase each year that a huge one every 5 years or so.

Anonymous said...

Change is good!

Zorn said...

the USA will be secure and safe once unions are banned and all the union pucks die off

c said...

I wish Ron all best in whatever direction life takes him. I agreed with 80% of the time. To give him credit, he always gave me the time of day, and I believe that he listened to my concerns. Ultimately for me, his behaviour was just too over the top. Now be gracious in victory, Ron is a human being just like you and I. Thank you for the time on council.

Bernie O'Hare said...

C, It's very nice of you to wish Ron well. If Scott Parsons' supporters all acted like you, I'd be more encouraged.

Anonymous said...

Chris

If he comes up with a farewell budget that is zero, why is he always trying to scare the bejubus out of people with the Gracedale is gonna cost ya 30% ?
People got wise to him


Hey, fire 800 paople

Look at me my budget is balanced

and Stoffa should refund the taxpayers his salary
he didn't do his job

c said...

Give it time water will seek its level and folks will calm down.. Right now our nation is polarized and people are ticked. If the center does not hold then we are doomed. That center starts at the local level. Thank you for the praise. There are lots of things about Ron being on council that I will miss and not a single person has a reason to question his dedication or work ethic.

Anonymous said...

Angle had Parsons phone no. when he tried to bully him from even running by bragging about the size of his war chest. Guess he lost the no. Election Night when no call was made to Parsons to congratulate him on his victory.
And you complaint about Parson supporters not being gracious? Angle's days of intimidation and invective are over. He only has himself to blame. But the little swindling egomaniac will never admit this truth to himself.

Anonymous said...

Angle never had any class and was never gracious. If Angle had won and Parsons didn't call him, Angle and O'Hare would be bleating on about it for days.

I love all the superman on council nonsense. He was a bragard and a bully. People just let him bray on like an old mule, why waste your time on him. He almost broke his arm patting himself on the back.

His no tax increase was a farce. Stoffa gave him a budget to cut to help Angle's re-election, it didn't work. At the end of the day, this year Angle will wrangle another no taxc increase.

However, next year the new council will be left with a massive budget gap due to Stoffa living off the fat for seven years.

Then, the O'Hare narrative will be that Angle is gone and taxes have gone up. If the teabaggers on council are smart they will ignore Angle and vote for Stoffa'a budget otherwise they will be drowning in debt next year.

Anonymous said...

Dear 10:39,

Right on! After all of these years of no tax increases and cutting Government to the bone (including Gracedale obviously) the new Council will get stuck with a government that is pretty much a mess..Then when they are forced to raise revenues, so that the mess created can be cleaned up, the new council will be blamed for the increase. Give me a break!

Anonymous said...

Nobody voted in 201.

It would be interesting to see Ron Angle in a primary against Charlie Dent and thereafter in the general election for Congress.

That just might get the Bulldog national attention !!!

Do you think the voters would show up for that election contest?

Anonymous said...

I think Northampton County has had enough of its local Ron(Kim Kardashian) Angle.

Maybe his buddy Tony Iannelli will keep him on his TV show to boost ratings. The anti-semities love when Tony lets this guy get airtime.

Anonymous said...

Nobody voted in 201.

It would be interesting to see Ron Angle in a primary against Charlie Dent and thereafter in the general election for Congress.

That just might get the Bulldog national attention !!!

Do you think the voters would show up for that election contest?

12:24 AM

If Angle went to the US Congress . The nation would have its' first case of "fragging" by the other congressmen.
And I know it would be a unanimous bi-partisian decision.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Look, if you want to spend all your time with needless personal attacks, at least identify yourself.

Anonymous said...

"needless personal attacks", isn't that the name of this blog?

Anonymous said...

For many of us who know Angle well, the demise of this walking talking hate crime is simply the universe finally reaching balance. His policies, personality and misanthropic approach to politics will not be missed.

Bernie O'Hare said...

3:38, When I attack someone, it is usually not personal, and I identify myself. But you are to cowardly to identify yourself, even to a bottom-feeding blogger.

Bernie O'Hare said...

3:44, Yes, there is much wrong with Ron as he himself will admit. Public sector unions won't miss him. Reibman cronies won't miss him. But those of us who care about good government will miss him, and sooner or later, the County will miss him.

Anonymous said...

Reibman cronies??? Good Lord O'Hare, isn't it enough that Stoffa has yet to accept responsibility for his tenure as County Executive and still blames Reibman and now you invoke Reibman cronies.

Where the Hell in county governemnt are Reibman cronies? What is a Reibman cronie?

I on the other hand blame Bill Clinton for Ron Angle's loss.


You are a funny guy!

Bernie O'Hare said...

Reibman cronies are most certainly there. One of them is the Controller. One sits on Council. Alan Fowler, Jim McGeehan, Gortie Heller and even Karl Longenbach are ALL tied to Reibman. Most of them actively worked against Stoffa when he ran for re-election. One of them was just seen with the very people who are suing the County and the Exec. So yes, the world of pay-to-play is alive and well, and is just waiting to get rid of Stoffa so they can all return to the good ol' days of tax and spend.

Anonymous said...

So if Republicans would have came out in this "cold weather", he would have won?! Angle put himself in the position of people who do not normally vote, to vote just to oust him regardless of his opponent. TRUTH BE TOLD

Bernie O'Hare said...

That must be why turnout was around 18%. Gimme a break.

Anonymous said...

Your ''theory was that a large number of Democrats showed up at the polls'', was it not?. Regardless of the percent.

Anonymous said...

Good God. You call that Good government? You mean you will miss the days of trying to using your public office to exact private vengeance by targeting certain persons for job elimination? When asked if this was the case with Archie DiIsidore your exemplar of good government said well its half the reason.

Good god. Let's see. Stoffa supports Angle. Parsons wins. Parsons considers how to respond. I know. Why not adopt the approach set forth in the Ron Angle book on good government - Rule 2.1 If someone fails to support you,never forget the fact and know that there will be a price to pay. Sooner or later, one way or another, revenge will be had.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Angle is correct about Archie D'Isidore. Archie's wife and Ron are mortal enemies, but Angle's point about the Director of Court Services is right on the mark.

The position is a patronage position. It should be eliminated, and the workers reporting to the Director of Court Services should be laced under the Court Administrator.

Right now, the Criminal Division is the worst office in the County, with back-biting employees who are not doing their job. But bc they are union workers, it is almost impossible to fire them. Put them under the Courts, where they will serve at will. If they don't do their job, they'll be shown the door.

This proposal is good government. It creates efficiency and solves a problem with a renegade office.

Bernie O'Hare said...

9:23, You stated that people who do not normally vote came out just to toss Angle, and the turnout percentage proves you're full of shit.

Anonymous said...

Def. mortal enemy - an enemy who wants to kill you

So this woman wants to kill Ron and since you said enemies
Ron wants to kill this woman
why is that

Bernie O'Hare said...

Look, don't try to play sophist with me, or you'll just end up looking stupid. Obviously, the word was being used in the political sense, not the literal sense.

Anonymous said...

The percentage you keep quoting Bernie is county wide. If you look at the results, D-4 had more total voters turn out than all the other districts. Seems strange D-4 numbers are higher than D-1, since Bethlehem had a very strong get out the vote effort.

Have you calculated the turnout of just d-4? Was it above the county average? Was it a higher percentage than d-4 4 years ago? D-4 8 years ago?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Anonymous said...

Tic Tac LOL

Bernie O'Hare said...

Turnout in Angle's district was about the same as it was county-wide, from a low of 0% to one district that had 28%. In Townships with disputed supervisor races, it was higher. In townships with no disputed supervisor races, it was lower. There is no district average at this juncture.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"Tic Tac LOL"

What the hell does this mean?

Anonymous said...

Bernie, you are right, the voter turn out SUCKED, what is wrong with people? I wonder, if we could censure those who did not vote, how much arguing and horseshit would we have to put up with? Not much, I would guess.

Anonymous said...

The last defense of scoundrels would be ersatz patriotism. The last defense of hate crime Know-Nothing neandertherals is to blame Reibman cronies. Alas the true scoundrels who defend a documented serial hate crime propogater who promoted policies which undermined taxpayers' long term intersts---is to think voters just needed "change "--Indeed. Find a better alibi than reibman cronies' sour grapes. Angle is gone. Ding dong...and praise any Higher Power.

Anonymous said...

Who the Hell is suing the county? Are you refering to the Gracedlae people? Union members? This is a new one.

Bernie O'Hare said...

I am referring to the surcharge, to the attempt at att'y fees, etc., etc.

Bernie O'Hare said...

" is to blame Reibman cronies."

I did not blame them for Angle's loss. You took something I said and twisted it into something I did not say. I claimed Reibman cronies will not miss him. You asked me to name some of them. I did. Now you claim I blame them for Angle's loss. I don't. But to suggest they don't exist is utterly ridiculous. That's why Stoffa is hated so much.

Anonymous said...

Stoffa is not hated he is too utterly ineffectual to inspire anything but benign antipathy. Angle earned back the hate he spews daily. Save his sell-Gracedale-debacle Stoffa is not hated. He worked for Jerry. worked for Republican Jane. Tried to get a job with Reibman and now presents himself as a paragon of good government. His alliance with Angle proves his point is not good government but expedient self gain. So an enabler of flat-earth short sighted no clue policy has lost his Know Nothing ally. More power to the Higher Power!

Anonymous said...

I thought that lawsuit was done?

Bernie O'Hare said...

Not too much hate there, is there?

Bernie O'Hare said...

You thought wrong.

Anonymous said...

Actually the 11:45 anon is giving you a very accurate Stoffa history.
I haven't heard many people say they hate Stoffa. They are just sad he is so ineffectual.

Anonymous said...

Don't blame criminal division. That hiring freeze assented to by Stoffa to appease the knuckle heads on council created the problem. Cut cut cut and then bitch about work not being done. Don't expect a vacant job opening to do work. At least you finally acknowledge Angle's true motivation all along.

Anonymous said...

Not sure about the Glenn Reibman cronies but it must have been a kick in the groin for Stoffa to observe Longenbach's involvement in the Parsons campaign. Stoffa appointed Longenbach to the position and he demonstrates his loyalty by running the campaign of one of Stoffa's major critics! Another county solicitor was observed on videotape at the Parsons victory party high-fiving Justice James. That office has always been political but usually in favor of the incumbant who hired them.

Anonymous said...

snon 248, just so you know, the union employees aren't over paid, infact, we have some employees getting food stamps, free school lunches, public housing and many more gov't help due to LOW wages. so get your facts straight! They work there for the benefits, that everyone wants to take away. as was explained in the past, but now one wants to listen, the reason the county pays $.68 per dollar for benefits is because the less they earn the more the county has to pay.. Get educated, you may understand one day!

Bernie O'Hare said...

"Don't blame criminal division. That hiring freeze"

Oh, I'll blame them. That office is the nasiest one in the Count, a fact agreed to by anyone at the courthouse. They need to be ut under the judges, who can get rid of the lazy ones and the troublemakers.

Bernie O'Hare said...

9:30,

I don't have a problem with Karl supporting Parsons. I think he could do that and remain loyal to Stoffa. But then I saw the video. It was sad to see Karl consorting with the very people calling for Stoffa's recall, as well as the attorney seeking to surcharge Stoffa personally. I don't know how Stoffa can trust Karl after that. And the County Exec should be able to trust his own lawyer.

What also bothers me about that is that on election day, a county solicitor must be at the elections office between 7 AM and 10 PM. Chris Spadoni was ill, so Karl filled the breach, he said. If that is so, then why was he at that Parsons party? Same for the assistant solicitor.

In her case, she is supposedly handling some union negotiations, and there she is, high5ing and hugging Justus James at a party dominated by union members and Gracedale Goons.

Anonymous said...

Yikes! Never thought about Longenbach's obligation to be at the elections office at the very time he was partying it up at Ditzi's! And yes there appears to be a definite conflict of interest with the solicitor handling union negotiations for the county partying with a union boss. Stoffa should take them both back to the woodshed.

Anonymous said...

Bernie you are being unfair to the employees in the criminal division. There was a time when they were a bit rude and irrational but things have calmed down there and they are doing a good job. Give them credit for seeing the light.

Bernie O'Hare said...

I will be happy to do that when I see it myself.

Anonymous said...

Karl is a good and decent man. In a match of ethics and morals between Stoffa and Carl. Carl wins hands down.

Anonymous said...

Isn't it a sad thing that in Northampton county people have to assume they are under surveillance when they participate in activities.

O'Hare and comapny are like the old KGB for Chairman Stoffa.

It is very sad and many will be happy for the day when they can be involved in activities without every move being recorded by some agent of the state.

Mr. Stoffa you are pathetic, please resign.

Anonymous said...

The "surveillance" was provided by Stoffa enemies and posted on their website. The "state" had nothing to do with it. What the hell are you smoking? And Longenbach was hardly discreet about his involvement in the Parsons campaign. He is a political partison who can no longer be trusted by Stoffa. When Karl ran for judge and was crushed in the primary, Stoffa was there to support him. And he pays Stoffa back by embarassing him by managing the Parsons campaign. He may be a good and decent man but his judgement and loyalty stinks.

Anonymous said...

I have been studying the "goon" surviellance video. Capturing and freeze framing shots. This because I want to find out which one of the attendees is Winston Smith. he always is posting on their website and seems to be in charge in some way from the background. I've eliminated some of them as possibles.I would think he is a COAF member, even though he speaks like he isn't.

Anonymous said...

Angle was quoted saying something dumb like he knew he would lose? So he proceeded forward with landing on his face?

That reminds me of Pee-Wee Herman falling and saying, "I meant to do that!"

Too comical, Pee-Wee Angle!

Anonymous said...

There is no such thing as a perfect leader either in the past or present, in China or elsewhere. If there is one, he is only pretending, like a pig inserting scallions into its nose in an effort to look like an elephant.

Liu Shao

Anonymous said...

Yeah, I spent 40,000 on a loss because that's the kind of generous and spending guy I am.

Hahahahah!!!