According to Ryan Mackenzie's Congressional Campaign, Democratic nominee Bob Brooks is playing debate dodgeball. Brooks is accused of flat-out refusing to debate Mackenzie until after mail-in voting is done. He's ignored a request for a September debate on BRC 13 (Blue Ridge Cable), and wants to delay a debate at WFMZ-TV69. He is supposed to have agreed to a debate yesterday, but only on condition that the second half air on Election Eve.
Mackenzie has released a statement slamming Brooks for denying then an opportunity to compare and contrast the candidates. “We have offered and agreed to several dates in September, but Bob Brooks has declined or ignored all of them. My opponent’s latest attempt to delay any debate from being broadcast until immediately before the election — when tens of thousands of district residents will have already voted — represents a deliberate effort to hide from voters. It’s time for my opponent to stop playing games, agree to a debate, and answer for his record of fraud and corruption.”
There would be three reasons for Brooks to refuse to debate Mackenzie.
First, he could be so far ahead in the polls that debating Mackenzie would just be helping his race. I do think Brooks is likely ahead, but not by much in a purple district.
Second, Brooks is a lousy debater. I would buy that one from what I've seen. This includes his stumble when the hero of the working class was unable to define it at a Cedar Crest forum.
Third, Brooks has a lot to hide. He's been accused of a fraudulent conveyance in the transfer of real estate to his second wife, and a judge has concluded there's enough detail in the complaint for the matter to move forward. He refuses to pay back $160,000 he took from his family notwithstanding a judgment filed against him. He deliberately refused to list that judgment in his financial disclosures. He called professional firefighters who volunteer in their home communities as "scum" and "scabs."
As I've said many times about Brooks, he's too shady.
Don't get me wrong. I have no intention of voting for Mackenzie, whom I regard as little more than a Trump lemming. Nor will I vote for the not so "Green" candidate, Andrew Tupone.
If we could vote "None of the Above," that would be the hands down winner.
Bob has no need to debate, he is way ahead and has no benefit to debate. Ryan Mackenzie is closer to the center than Susan Wild ever was. Hope Mackenzie wins so Lamont McMlure can wipe the floor with him in two years.
ReplyDeleteLol. McClure is done. He is about to get thrown to the wolves by his own party in Northampton county when this next budget comes out. His smoke and mirrors game is coming to an end. Tara gonna take the hit for it and hopefully she has the Intergerty to put the blame where it belongs. At Lamonts feet. He destroyed Northampton county.
DeleteHope you folks like taxes.
This is getting sad for Brooks!! He has actively worked so hard to lose voters.
ReplyDeleteIs Lisa Boscola playing the same game?
ReplyDeleteWe received two invitations to debate: from Business Matters and WFMZ. I agreed to both.
The response to my call for Boscola to accept was a threat from her lawyer to “SuperPac” me.
She will spend your tax money for an election-year mailer to ask you to send her your opinion in the mail, but she doesn’t think you deserve to hear from the candidates in an open forum.
Scott Janney for State Senate
District 18
You better hope she doesn’t debate you she’ll expose you for the MAGA Trump sycophant you are
DeleteIn her case, I would understand. The great fundraiser you pretended to be has raised far too little money to be competitive, and nobody outside of super voters knows who you are. Why should she give you any visibility?
DeleteLions don’t concern themselves with the opinions of sheep.
DeleteIt’s funny that you think debates matter anymore. He’s not dodging. He’s doing anything else that would actually help. Darline Graham proves debates don’t matter.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, both of these men are do nothing nobody's. Current day politics attracts the worst of us. These aren't leaders, they're opportunists.
ReplyDeleteWhere are the true leaders? Have they been beaten down so badly that they dare not show face anymore? Or is our society so upside down / brainwashed that our electorate thinks these people actually have good ideas?
Or maybe our election process is rigged by the 2 party system to keeping pumping out these chumps to keep the scam going for themselves.
What's the point of voting in November? No matter the results your left with either a turd sandwich or a douche bag.
Crooked as the Snake River. twofaced, forked tongue brooks is afraid to debate because even he knows he would not be able to stand up to the scrutiny of a live debate.
ReplyDeleteWas there something he did when he served 12 years in the PA House of Representatives from 2012-2024 that you did not like? Is there something he did wrong on the committees he currently sits on? What did he do that you didn't like? Examples please.
ReplyDeleteAre you serious? He's a back-benching Trump puppet who lacks the spine to stand up to him. He's voted several times against Congress' authority to insist that the President come to them for military action, at least within 90 days of picking a fight. This is how we end up with an executive branch that is too powerful. He voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which has and is going to hurt a lot more people than it helps, especially those in need. 25,000 people in his district will lose SNAP, after the midterms when changes are cynically timed to take place. He's been far too vocal in his dense of ICE, While I think we need ICE, I also think it has killed people.
DeleteThe problem isn’t what he did, it’s that he did nothing. He went along with the party line during a pointless run in office.
DeleteHe’s tied with Trump which means he supports inflation, war and data centers.
Brooks is a two-digit IQ coward. who slammed the volunteer firefighters who are charged with the duty of saving his worthless lying ass, and whoever's home he's currently squatting in while he runs from his financial responsibilities.
ReplyDeleteSusan Wild, who is admired by LV Democrats, backs a woman candidate and LV Democrats kick her to the curb. Now, the progressive left who run your local Democrat party have no choice but to support another old white guy with a lot of baggage. MacKenzie is the average guy with typical faults; unlike Brooks who's a person who has done nothing to earn anyone's earnest respect. Anyone who says so is lying. Anyone who thinks Brooks is the better of the two is just as much as a phony as he is.
ReplyDeleteAs involved liberal progressive who identifies more with the DSA then the Dems. I can say 100% Brooks is not part of the "Progressive Left". He's a Moron that had the "right perceived profile" (Working class, white guy, firefighter.) He was put up by his establishment friends in Harrisburg in DC because they like his BS image and they know he will just do what he's told by Hakeem Jeffries and the party leaders.
DeleteI would think he is hiding from the fact that he has so many scandals.
ReplyDeleteThis is becoming concerning for the Brooks team. I think people expected him to get off the ground faster, and he seems to be struggling. Mackenzie seems to have the stronger message, I saw he just held a Working Families Fair and was talking about what he’s doing for voters. Voters respond to that. Right now, all I know about Brooks is that he’s a firefighter and likes motorcycles.
ReplyDeleteI just found out Brooks is for single payer health care. Nothing like throwing your fellow firefighters and first responders under the bus! My entire career we made wage concessions to keep our good healthcare. Now he wants to take it away! There is a reason why most unions are against single payer, it would cost us more for longer waits and less access. Even Bernie Sanders rosy numbers on his website state a 4% tax increase for the middle class. Plus higher overall tax brackets. It will take a massive middle class tax increase to pay for it. Thats the part they don’t talk about.
ReplyDeleteBrooks would be crazy to debate Mackenzie. It’s a no win situation for him. Mackenzie is behind and desperate and will be likely to lie his face off. Brooks is semi-smart, and has no experience in politics. Do not let Brooks out of the basement.
ReplyDeleteToo bad Big Mac didn’t win. His debates with Lil’ Mac would have been epic.
ReplyDeleteNo question, Bob Brooks is a flawed, bottom-of-the-barrel candidate. That doesn’t seem to matter so much these days, however. Still too early for me to criticize Mackenzie in the same way, so between these two, I will definitely recommend voting for Mackenzie.
ReplyDeleteIn the end, Bernie. I believe you actually will vote for Brooks. Your TDS remains too strong to overcome. It’s an addiction.
You don't know me. I refuse to vote for any of the Pa. 07 candidates. In the last congressional race, I refused to vote for either Wild or Mackenzie. I said No to mackenzie bc he was parroting Trump too much, and I was really turned off by Wild for parking in handicapped spots, which makes her the lowest of low persons. I voted for Lou Shupp. Two elections before, I did vote for Wild bc the R candidate had factories in China.
DeleteDisagree. If Bernie says he's not voting for either I totally believe him. He's a man of his word even if he's a stubborn old bastard:)
DeleteBob Brooks is a socialist.
ReplyDeleteNo, you are.
DeleteBrooks is too dumb to be socialist. He thinks socialism means you're on Facebook and Instagram. He thinks Iran is that song by Flock of Seagulls. He thinks paying back $140K stolen from family makes him more palatable to volunteer firefighters who have more courage and honesty than Brooks has ever possessed. His own peeps in the Nazareth area who know him best (Hecktown, Upper Nazareth, Vigilance) hate his guts.
Delete@9:37 What a childish comment. I know you are but what am I. Thanks for playing.
DeleteI am a democrat, and I support free and open debate between candidates.
ReplyDeleteShapiro owed a favor to Mommy Mac or Baby Mac and got Brooks nominated.
ReplyDeleteLittle Mac would have soiled himself in a debate with McClure or Crosswell.
He will have an easy time with Brooks.
lol. Mackenzie wanted McClure as his opponent. Shapiro owes the Mackenzie’s no favors as they’re irrelevant. Did you see what Shapiro said about Ryan? Pretty much neutered him.
DeleteBrooks cannot be trusted, period.
ReplyDeleteMackenzie bends the truth too much, and as for Trump- let’s remember that Trump couldn’t remember Mackenzie’s name when he was here. But Brooks has to get this financial thing in order, and should have done so already. Surely some Democrat super fund can loan him $160,000. to clean this up. He really can’t show his face until he does. Mackinzie is probably a better campaigner. Brooks needs his teeth whitened to match his opponent’s.
ReplyDeleteBernie endorsed sniveling little coward Shapiro who pissed his pants at the thought of debating Mastriano. Shapiro ran away and hid. Bernie endorsed him. Why not similarly endorse cowardly Brooks? What exactly are your guidelines for supporting cowards? Asking for everyone.
ReplyDeleteMastriano was a dreadful candidate, feared by nobody except the Republicans. They knew he’d lose any statewide or federal election.
DeleteAnd yet, little Joshy ran away and hid. Your comment is weaker than Joshy. Cowards like cowards, though.
DeleteMaybe in his place Brooks could have his ex mother in-law or some sh#tb#g volunteer firefighter as a stand in.
ReplyDeleteIf Brooks can’t win in this environment. If Dems can’t pick up 30 seats in this environment, it’s time to rip the party down and rebuild it.
ReplyDeleteWow...my personal views on the race are so closely aligned with the moderator it's scary. As a Democrat who supported Ryan Crosswell, I find Brooks professionally unqualified for the office and his dealings with the family loan as well as his calling out of volunteer fireman as "shitbags" are bad looks for him. If McKenzie wasn't so closely aligned with Trump, I'd cross over and vote for him. I'll abstain from the race in the end.
ReplyDeleteBull. You are a MAGA supporter.
DeletePerhaps the Lehigh Valley seat in Congress can be left vacant. There can be a staff to help people with questions but with these two dolts as the options, I see no need for a representative.
ReplyDeleteWe can try again in 2028.
MAGA is so horrendous that we should vote for the Democrat even if they have flaws. Short of being a pedophile like Dear Leader, choose what you see as the decidedly lesser evil.
ReplyDeleteDems are pretty horrible too so there's that. Best suggestion on this post is to leave the position vacant.
DeleteDems are pretty horrible too so there's that. Best suggestion on this post is to leave the position vacant.
DeleteIs Ryan looking to Debate in person or my phone?
ReplyDeleteSadly, most voters today choose the candidate based on sound bites and social media. The super voter (of which I am one) is who would watch the debate or subscribe to the newspaper to read the article, if there was one. The casual voter (those people drive me nuts) usually just votes by party. Brooks is lucky because he is running during what will be a bloodbath for republicans and has set the bar so low in what people expect from him that he meets it with little effort.
ReplyDeleteI once again am amazed at the actual concept of voting or not voting based on hatred rather than policy.
ReplyDeleteAnts marching….Around in circles. What do they eat?
ReplyDeleteBernie --Whats going on with the court case for Brooks? When is the hearing on the mother-in-law issue suspose to happen? Hopefully before the election
ReplyDelete