Shelton Hull: Losing And Purpose

[Metro Jacksonville]

Shelton Hull:  Losing And Purpose



This only touches on the first round of local elections on March 22, which eliminated most of the progressives from the ballot. The runoff is on May 17, and one hopes the results aren't what one expects. I should point out also that I never intended to have Democratic support, having criticized them too heavily over the years. I ran without a party affiliation specifically to express my disrespect for the two-party system. But what I discovered, as the campaign wore on, that there were very few Democrats in any race that were receiving party support. This is the real story.



Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2011-apr-shelton-hull-losing-and-purpose

[buckethead]

The Tea Party itself began as an expression of this concept of post-partisan activism, But Beltway Dems, then in control of Congress, recognized the movement as something that could quickly pull support from both parties and become a threat to all their interests, and duly directed a fusillade of verbal abuse their way (starting with the deliberate slur of “teabagger”), which had the desired result of pushing them further to the right, where they became the hammer in Sarah Palin’s hand. It’s almost exactly the same thing that was done to the anti-war movement a decade earlier; by defining them as left-wing wackos, the huge anti-war sentiment among conservatives and military experts could be dismissed, and those who didn’t fit the stereotype were alienated.

The most accurate description of our current political climate I've seen.

[BridgeTroll]

Great article... Hope to see more!

[wsansewjs]

I have to agree with Buckethead. This is not any biased message for anyone. This is an accurate analysis by one perspective in a honest and fairest way.

-Josh

[JeffreyS]

I tend to agree with the author's description of local Dems as professional losers.  Not unelectable but the party not trying to win elections.  I also share his concern as to what their payoff is.

[north miami]

At the RAP sponsored District 14 Candidate Forum Shelton's responses were embarrassingly to the point.In fact "Wreckless" in a positive,differentiated way.

For instance,with many general references to the power and specialness of Riverside/Avondale,including nation wide top positive rankings and postings having been recited at the forum,a question then posed to the candidates regarding long standing streets and drainage issues was met by Sheldon with shocking clarity:How could these entrenched problems occur in such a widely professed idyllic and empowered community??

[FayeforCure]

Ken Jefferson, who challenged John Rutherford for Sheriff, is the perfect example of how the stand-down worked. Despite being a longtime JSO veteran, and one of the better-known officers through his years as the Public Information Officer (including weekly spots spinning the “Wheel of Justice” on WJXT), even he was not perceived as good enough. Rutherford outspent him ten-to-one, raising over $220,000 to Jefferson, paltry $20,000, which reflects a stunning lack of support from his party, yet Jefferson still managed to pull 38% of the vote. That is to say, he had a really, really good chance of winning, but his party decided not to help. Why? If anyone knows, they won’t say.

Sounds like my own congressional race in 2008 when I ran against John Mica and got almost 150,000 votes, which represented 38%.

Though I agree that Democrats do not get their party support in races where they don't expect a Democrat to win, they do have a point as expressed to me by a local high profile Democratic donor:

It's a return on investment issue.

Apparently, Mica had once been challenged by a candidate (Wayne Hogan) who had made an investment of $5 million of his own money (outspending Mica in that race in 2002), and he also got pretty much the same percentage of the vote as I did.

http://www.rollcall.com/members/108.html

So it's not just a money issue that leads to a win.

IMO the order of importance for a win is:

1. incumbancy ( 95% of incumbents win re-election), this was of course not an issue in the mayor's race as there were term limits

2. The 22% Independents, or No Party affiliation seem to vote Republican in this area of FL

3. Republicans are sticky with their Party, there isn't much cross-over voting by Republicans, and Democrats have an easier time crossing-over as was the case for Audrey Moran. Republicans are also more retaliatory as it relates to cross-over voting as was also the case for Audrey Moran. (if Dems vote for you, you must be a RINO, so they rather vote for a real Republican)

4. Messaging and money: Republicans pick emotional issues like gun ownership, Dems tackle too many reality-based rational issues and need to be more focused. Keeping a laundry list of dry (unemotional) issues doesn't do them any good.

5. I agree with Shelton Hull, that identifying and supporting candidates should happen early, be a pro-active process, and start years in advance. Republican have been very good at making sure they get young folks interested early, and preparing them from  local elections on up. Republican's focus has been on local elections so much, that they have a good pool of seasoned candidates to choose from. Unless Democrats do the same, they won't beat the catch 22 they find themselves in.

6. My own personal observation is that Republicans tolerate unqualified, inexperienced folks to run and win office. A prime example is how Rick Scott won, whereas Jeff Greene didn't
http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/04/30/1605703/florida-senate-race-candidate.html

7. Also from a personal perspective as a woman, I feel Dems are held to a higher standard than Republicans. The old saying that a woman has to be 10 times more qualified for the same job as a man, also applies when people consider whether to vote for a Democrat or a Republican. Of course Obama, really beat that trend. But that seems to be more of a fluke and related to the overwhelming distaste of 8 disasterous Bush years, and a charismatic candidate.

Disclaimer, my vote was for Hillary initially, because I thought she was the more experienced, and tough candidate  

Nothing irritates me more than weak-spined Dems  

[hillary supporter]

 [/quote]

Disclaimer, my vote was for Hillary initially, because I thought she was the more experienced, and tough candidate  

Nothing irritates me more than weak-spined Dems  
[/quote]
+1

[jaxlore]

great article. definitely voices how i a have felt about this election.

[Bike Jax]

Shelton as usual culls the BS with brutal honesty. The sad part is that the individuals that sat and read this article are the ones that most likely did get off their ass and voted. And I also truly would have liked to seen the faces of those reading this that did vote, and that moment of realization that they may have made the wrong choice.

[vicupstate]

I have been very critical of the Duval Democratic Party, in this forum, from time to time. Mainly because they do not present themselves as the ALTERNATIVE that they should be, to the lousy performance of the city government.

But with the limited funds that they have, you have to expect they are going to place selective bets on the races with the BEST shot of winning. 

Spreading the funds into EACH council district or into a hopeless case does no good whatsoever, it only depletes what funds do exist. 

The 38% that the D Sheriff candidate got represents the 'floor' that any Democrat running Countywide will get. It is a long way from 38% to 50%.  Having a D after his name got him to 38%, but every percent beyond that has to be earned the hard way.

  Unless the electorate at large is unsatisfied with Rutherford, or Jefferson can spend at LEAST .50 to Rutherford's $1, he never had a chance.  That is why the party did not 'invest' in his race.

[north miami]

 

Shelton writes of ".....the crushing county wide defeat for the Democratic party,which laid down like prostitutes for Republicans........"

Graphic image indeed,one mindful of discernment.I recall that of the few D running in this most recent election one D bio-at least reportedly- included past prostitution and images of "pole dancing".

That possibly a hint as to D demise??

Save the posts-'reportedly' is all it takes in the slime slip political world.The innuendo and out the other dynamic works mostly in favor of R.

(By the way,I voted for the purported public pole dancer,and I voted for Moran without giving much weight to or even in spite of the endorsements of the Weavers,Non Group and Carlucci.And I am ashamed at not having earlier researched Alvin Brown's capabilities,further assuming a vote for Brown would be 'lost' and simply granting darn near everything to the black community.)

A lifelong registered Democrat with propensity for 'Independent' outlook and even 'crossover',I made my choice  for District 14 Candidate without even knowing the party affiliation of my preferred candidate.In fact there were no "D" running in 14.And how interesting that Riverside/Avondale District 14 demographic profile supposedly suited in so many ways to D yet no D to chose from.

No D probably for the same reason I myself would not run.After all,Posts Like This One are likely more caustic to political aspirations than public pole dancing.

I was,like many of my Avondale neighbors, an ardent supporter of Obama for President. Two Obama signs in my front yard.Obama yard signs clearly outnumbered McCain-perfect political science lab.

The local political scene could prove telling in another aspect.One that could trump high ideals and capabilities of  individual candidates such as Brown and Sheldon and thwart an emerging centrist transformation. Hardly acknowledged and in fact dared not put to pen-the unfolding 'race' issue.
Not a matter of historical "Racism",outright and unfounded prejudice and overt violent action against persons of color but rather a new dynamic,born of experience,particulars which can be overheard at the lunch counter.Call it the Friendship and Safety factor.
The black population has proven problematic for many whites.There are huge swaths of Duval county unsafe for whites-in fair turnabout we are collectively in the wrong space on the bus.Duval's signature "Murder Capitol" speaks unedited volumes.Like my native North Miami,where I am now unsafe in the once safe,idyllic neighborhood of my youth,a burgeoning black population has spread.There are few positive examples of truly healthy integrated communities.I would not care to subject my neighborhood to yet another test for that certain 'diversity'.The Westsiders sit at a Cassat Avenue intersection, look out on the passers by and exclaim "what the damn hell".Why look what happened to the West Side the Hogan pioneers built!
White Flight" speaks for itself,as does the fact that the new majority black population hardly make's it's own call for retaining or replenishing 'diversity' within expanding predominately black areas.
This dynamic has been a driver behind the miltant anti Jacksonville theme.

Folio's Anne Schindler likely got it right in her March 29-April 4 2011 piece "It's My Party".
There could be a collective holding of noses as they bring Hogan to the Mayor's office.
Innuendo and out the other.Like radio waves,unseen,but capable of resonance.

So far the Hogan signs dominate on my street and in fact all over the place.

[FayeforCure]

So far the Hogan signs dominate on my street and in fact all over the place.

Not true of San Jose Blvd south of !-295.......just at Wal-Mart and Bealls.

This contrary to previous Republican candidates like McCain, and Peyton.

The appetite for effective leadership is apparent.

As Alvin said: we need to make Jacksonville a destination, not a pass-through.

empty strip mall Hogan is symbolic of the economic destruction that over-development of suburbs and strip malls have created. Heck even Wal-mart is not doing well anymore 

[Garden guy]

Where's my sign?

[north miami]

Not true of San Jose Blvd south of !-295.......just at Wal-Mart and Bealls.


The appetite for effective leadership is apparent.



empty strip mall Hogan is symbolic of the economic destruction that over-development of suburbs and strip malls have created.
[/quote]

Perhaps momentum is picking up, Brown campaign machine coming up to speed.

Frankly we have no idea how a Brown Administration will approach "Growth Management",we can only surmise,as we did with Moran.Personally I sure would like to get the chance to see!