Yesterday, while reviewing my massive portfolio with my broker, I was rudely interrupted by a call from 610-759-7895. That's a Nazareth exchange, but my caller ID said "Northampton County Controller." Was I behind on hotel tax payments again? I stopped speaking to my broker and took the call. The person on the other end was not the Controller or anyone from the Controller's office. It was instead someone who would very much like to be Controller - Nadeem Qayuum.
He seemed a bit surprised that I answered and was even more surprised when I questioned why he was calling as the Controller when he is only a candidate. This is actually borderline criminal. He explained that he is calling as a candidate, but I told him his caller ID was deceptive and totally inappropriate. At that point we got disconnected. I tried several times to call the number again, but the phone just rang.
I'm unsure whether he understands that it's improper for a private individual to disguise his phone banking as official county business. I did notify the County, and hopefully they will have more success than I did. I will admit that if Zrinski had done this, I'd be all over her. But that's only because she knows better. ... I think.
About an hour later, I saw Nadeem on Rte 248, planting a sign. He looked very happy. I just drove by.
30 comments:
Did he break the law? You are an angry, "get off my lawn" old man, so your opinion on anything is suspect. Supposedly, Zirinski's team is making sure everyone knows he is from Pakistan. How is that relevant? Do all her endorser politicians approve?
Yes, Taiba, I believe he did. I have no idea what Zrinski supporters are doing bc I am not one of them. In fact, I voted for Nadeem, but do not intend to do so in the general. His Pakistani heritage is theonly reason I'd cut him some slack bc I am sure he is unaware that it is a crime to impersonate a public servant. https://law.justia.com/codes/pennsylvania/2014/title-18/chapter-49/section-4912.
Also, if I were you, I'd keep my mouth shut about lawns, given your own inability to take care of yours.
I received the same exact call and found it obnoxious.
It's no more a crime than the crimes you commit disguising your drivel as a blog.
Ohare with that massive portfolio and sexy bod 😍 one would think you have received some female admiration from someone other than mezzacrazy......she's free now too I believe😁
It is illegal to spoof caller ID. In fact, they keep passing that same law again and again, claiming it fixes the robospam issue. Anyone who does not know this by now is incredibly uninformed and should probably not hold public office. And Tara Zrinkski just wants a paying public job...and apparently doesn't care much which one. She's checking them all off with each passign election.
Hi Bernie,
I hope all is well.
The above comment is not from me. I am not sure why my name was mentioned.
Taiba Sultana
What's the appeal with this County Controller position? Are there hidden perks that come with this office? The effort and money being put in by each Democrat candidate don't seem to be congruent what the job entails. It's a pretty mundane office; yes, there's responsibility but there's no real glamour or status with it. The press won't be too interested in what you say or do. Which makes no sense because we all know TeamTara is using this to position herself to run for a higher office. She's certainly waiting for Wild to step away.
It will be great for her. She can continue selling solar panels and teaching and all her other PT gigs and wait for the next office. Could be Wild. I think Boscola's seat is more likely.
Taiba, your name was mentioned bc I am pretty sure you posted that first comment. You have interjected yourself too much. It was entirely inappropriate for you to start debating Zrinski at that candidate night in Easton. The forum was open for questions from voters, not wives and husbands of candidates.
Best to ignore them both and vote for John Cusick in November.
I think Zrinski and the Qayuums are both far left of traditional democrats. They are more like “the squad” politically, that means socialist. No thanks!
-- 11:31 - -
Good points; low profile job, quiet, probably no one constantly looking over your shoulder and boring enough that the press has no interest in the daily duties. Easy to run your side businesses from. I wonder why Nadeem is so interested in it and going through questionable (phone ID) tactics in his campaign.
TeamTara is moving out of Hanover Twp. into Bethlehem (city); near Liberty from what I've heard. I think that part of the city is still in NorCo and, thus, part of Boscola's district (18) so you may be right.
Zrinski did just move into Bethlehem. Rumor has it that Boscola is retiring after this term. So I think you hit the nail on the head Bernie, she will run for Boscolas seat in 3 years. No way she wins the primary though, a lot of D's will come out of the woodwork for that one.
Robocalls are very annoying. Thankfully most political candidates no longer use them
Bernie, cutting someone slack because of his heritage is bogus. If a person is running for office, it is his responsibility to know the rights and wrongs of a campaign. To hold this man to a standard other than the one to which you hold others is a bias. If elected, will you excuse his I-didn’t-know-because-I’m-an-immigrant card that you just handed him? I have no doubt he knew exactly what he was doing, but unlike you, I won’t excuse him.
Democrat or republican this is about competence and qualifications not politics. Cusick is the obvious choice.
There may very well be some bias in why I have not flipped out the way I would if this were Zrinski. It is not bc of his heritage per se, but because it is clear to me that he simply does not understand the rules and his grasp of English makes it difficult to communicate with him. I'd like to think I'd cut the same slack to Zrinski if she had just arrived from Russia.
As hard as you well-heeled white women try to pretend you are "allies", your racism and classism is showing in this race. Zrinski will easily win this primary, but Zrisnki herself has shown that she is very much a classist, at the very least, with her remarks about Qayuum's supposedly inferior education. University of the Punjab is the largest and oldest university in Pakistan and is highly regarded. She displayed more than a small amount of xenophobia worthy of Trump when she insulted his education.
Once the election is over, I will reflect a little more on whether I needed to do more than what I did. I wrote about it, confronted him and informed the county. As I reflect, I doubt there is much more I could have done than what I did except perhaps smear him bc he doesn't look like me.
Once the election is over, I'd hope you'd reflect on your own bias as well. It really is unnecessary bc Zrinski will win. All you and she have done is demean yourselves.
Bernie, you are making a HUGE assumption. I have no intention of voting for Ms. Zrinski because I believe she is as unqualified as her opponent. My point is that you are giving someone a pass based on the fact that he is an immigrant. Now, you add his command of the English makes communication difficult. Excuses, excuses. Not knowing basic campaign rules makes me KNOW he has no business holding such an important office. And for the record, I am far from well-heeled and have voted for many who don’t look like I (and I’m not a Madeleine Albright disciple who thinks women should blindly vote for women). Sometimes, Bernie, your jumps to conclusion fall very short.
Tara for Controller. I feel like Bernie has issues with women. First it’s Wild, then Boscola, now Tara. Ridiculous. Your posts are sickening. You are just an angry man dude.
You really hate women man. “Well-heeled white women.” Really dude? What’s the deal with you and women. Boscola, Wild, Tara… WTF. You are an elitist yourself. Remind me of Don Lemon.
Yes, Asked an official Zirinski endorser why? He said he knows she is considered an ill-informed elected official and a fool but she would be a useful fool for McClure. MacClure and gang are terrified of Cusick and worry about his being Controller. Zirinski would do what she is told and continued to runaround making her meaningless virtue signaling speeches.
"You really hate women man. “Well-heeled white women.” Really dude? What’s the deal with you and women. Boscola, Wild, Tara… WTF. You are an elitist yourself. Remind me of Don Lemon."
I am just as critical of women in office as I am of men in office. And should be. They get no pass bc they are female just as men get no pass bcc they are men. And yes, Zrinski's base is well-heeled white women who pretend they are progressive while smearing the educational background and work history of an Asian man. Trump would be proud of you. I've spoken with and have had email exchanges with several of you. I do applaud your involvement, but you need to be more critical in your choice of candidates. Zrinski is a blatant opportunist who is just waiting for the next office to come along. If you did any reasonable amount of research on her, you would be unable to support her in good conscience for controller. It is just not her. Now mind you, I voted for her for county council. I am not completely negative about her. But she has some serious flaws as a controller, not the least of which is that she knows nothing about finances.
It's funny. You have criticized me for cutting Nadeem some slack bc he is an immigrant who still has language problems. I should treat him the same as everyone else. But then you criticize me for treating women in office the same way I treat men in office. You can't have it both ways.
You said you would report ion the Controller debate in Easton. When are you going to write about it?
I did, but I believe I threw away my notes. I have to check. It would not be good to write about it unless I find them. I do have some memories that stand out, and perhaps I'll share them.
Lesser of two evils..voted for this guy in primary but not even sure he is better than Cusick at this point..Tara was not even considered for this primary slot as she is totally unqualified for the job and a boot licker also. Merge with Lehigh and end the stupidity and nonsense of NH county.
Thank you for reporting on this. Misrepresenting an official office is not acceptable behavior and should be a red flag for anyone campaigning for an elected position.
Your concern is valid. I emailed Mr. Bernie after this blog was brought to my attention.
I explained to Mr. Bernie that I didn't use any direct phone number to make him a phone call. I used the call box placed in the building where Mr. Bernie lives while I was knocking on doors.
I am sure he will investigate why the facility’s call box has a caller id that says “Northampton County controller.” I reached out to the county and am working with them to find out the error that did not occur from my side.
I studied law and am running for a public office. I am very well aware of the rules and regulations.
Your concern is valid. I emailed Mr. Bernie after this blog was brought to my attention.
I explained to Mr. Bernie that I didn't use any direct phone number to make him a phone call. I used the call box placed in the building where Mr. Bernie lives while I was knocking on doors.
I am sure he will investigate why the facility’s call box has a caller id that says “Northampton County controller.” I reached out to the county and am working with them to find out the error that did not occur from my side.
I studied law and am running for a public office. I am very well aware of the rules and regulations.
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