Election Day: NYC Mayor
Candidates:
Mike Bloomberg [Republican, Independence, Liberal]
Fernando Ferrer [Democratic]
Thomas V. Ognibene [Conservative]
Seth Blum [Education]
Anthony Gronowicz [Green]
Audrey Silk [Libertarian]
Jimmy McMillan [Rent Is Too Damn High]
Martin G. Koppel [Socialist Workers]
Let’s face it: This is a two-man race. And just barely that. It’s all about Mike Bloomberg. If you like him and think he’s done a good job, vote for him. If not, vote for Ferrer. That said, it doesn’t say a whole lot when the occupation you’ve listed for yourself is “Candidate.” Why so often a candidate? “Candidate” is basically the same as saying “Loser.” And this kind of thing is emblematic of the knuckleheaded thinking of Ferrer’s campaign from the beginning. Ferrer continuously tries to portray himself as an underdog. Certainly, his personal history is admirable; his accomplishments are impressive. But he is not an underdog because of his history. His underdog status stems from a combination of bumbling and posing. He poses as the underdog because that’s all that’s left to him. And it’s, in large part, his own fault.
Ferrer wuld likely be a fine mayor, but who would know it? What viable alternatives has he offered? His message that there are “Two New Yorks” — much like John Edwards’ “Two Americas” — that need to be made equal is a plausible one. But how does it happen? Why did he never really take this idea, lay it at Bloomberg’s feet, and make him explain it? Is it because he can’t explain it himself? Perhaps he can explain it, but, unfortunately, it’s hard to tell for sure.
It’s frustrating. There are certainly reasons to not vote for Bloomberg — no, the smoking ban is not one of them, sorry — but what are the reasons to vote for Ferrer?
If anyone has an answer to that, please share. It would be much appreciated. And if done in time, it could sway at least one vote here right now.
On a side note, hope you noticed that there’s a Rent Is Too Damn High Party. Of course, this begs the question: Why didn’t Ferrer make the Democratic Party the “Rent Is Too Damn High Party?”
Regarding the Rent is Too Damn High Party, I suggest scrolling down on the party website to find the articles about McMillan being doused with gasoline and tied to a tree along the side of the Belt Parkway.
Also, on the Video Voter Guide, check out the speeches by any of the candidates sponsored by the Socialist Workers’ Party. They’re all pretty much identical in language (as much as I hate encourage politics as entertainment, the SWP is in terrible need of a PR staff…or at least some speech coaches), but it warms my heart to know that there is room for some real old school leftism in local politics, if not on a national scale.