Godbold publicly Joins Hogan, Brown surprised by announcement

[Diane Melendez]

I mean we as a city can work together and see ourselves in a more positive light.  We can work together.  That kind of we.  Not a person by person we.  LOL

[Livein32206]

Jimmy, I am an American first.

I have never been a "party" Democrat because I think the State and Local party is another extension of the status quo.  I would never have remained a Dem all these years if party actions were the basis of serious life choices.  I think the party is messed over.  I will remain a Dem but will never accept what being a Dem in the current context in Jacksonville means.  I will also work with the people in various parties when my heart and mind says they will do the best job for the people.

Regarless of political party, we are all in this together.  I will say this much.  I believe blind obedience to a party that eats it's own while pretending to be progressive is not at all what I think being a Dem is about.

If I'm not mistaken, wasn't poor treatment by the party (GOP) the reason why Glorious changed to a Democrat? The GOP is just as bad as Dems.

As for Godbold endorsing Hogan....personally, I could care less. Hogan may want to cut the budget, but with him being in the same arena as Scott...hell, look what he's doing to our state.

[Jaxson]

Jimmy, I am an American first.

I have never been a "party" Democrat because I think the State and Local party is another extension of the status quo.  I would never have remained a Dem all these years if party actions were the basis of serious life choices.  I think the party is messed over.  I will remain a Dem but will never accept what being a Dem in the current context in Jacksonville means.  I will also work with the people in various parties when my heart and mind says they will do the best job for the people.

Regarless of political party, we are all in this together.  I will say this much.  I believe blind obedience to a party that eats it's own while pretending to be progressive is not at all what I think being a Dem is about.

If I'm not mistaken, wasn't poor treatment by the party (GOP) the reason why Glorious changed to a Democrat? The GOP is just as bad as Dems.

As for Godbold endorsing Hogan....personally, I could care less. Hogan may want to cut the budget, but with him being in the same arena as Scott...hell, look what he's doing to our state.

Excellent point about Glorious Johnson.

[Garden guy]

What's wrong Jake...too good to vote for a black man...and the northside raising comes to the surface.

[hillary supporter]

What's wrong Jake...too good to vote for a black man...and the northside raising comes to the surface.

This statement is so off base that it makes you sound ignorant garden guy.  Perhaps you should discard the stereotypes before speaking about a man whose career has been completely public.

When (the most)progressive(liberal) democrat of Jacksonville endorses (the most) conservative (tea bag endorsed) republican of Jacksonville, GGs allegation goes with the territory!

[hillary supporter]

Mike Hogan happens to on tv right now on the Robbie Gould show (channel 99 on my tv).  He mentioned that while job creation is important, government doesn't create jobs.  He said government can facilitate the private sector to create jobs by:

1. Removing regulations that stymie the private sector

2. Lowering taxes

He said those are his two top priorities.  He also mentioned the city's budget will be set by the amount of revenue it takes in.  Assuming he's elected, we'll just have to learn how to do more with less.  In the case of downtown, that may not be a bad thing considering we've spent over $2 billion over the last two decades and its still in a free fall.  On the other hand, Riverside's Park & King is storming into urban Jacksonville's next hot dining and entertainment district without any city help.

I talked to someone today who is relocating from Jacksonville to San Francisco.  They can't find housing because as soon as it goes on the market, it's gone - at crazy-high prices.  The San Francisco area is creating jobs and the private sector economy there is surging in many niches - and it has nothing to do with deregulation or low taxes.

San Francisco has much higher costs of living (traditionally highest in the country) vs Jax (among the lowest in metro areas) The flip? Identical jobs get paid twice as much in San Fran as in Jax. I encountered this with many NYers who loved Jax (never met one who didnt) but wouldnt accept the (huge) drop in income.

[hillary supporter]

Yes it is. Wow, those posts are great prices! i had no idea!
Ooops i think we are off the thread a bit!
Jake was a great mayor. i wasnt in jax when he left office, so i cant relive the experience of Ed Austin, Maloney, et al. But , for my money, he was the city's best mayor. More reason i was a bit disappointed in his endorsement of Hogan. Accordingly, Mayor Godbold should stand up for GGs allegations on his own.

[duvaldude08]

Godbold was our best and most progressive mayor hands down. Even though he's endorsing Hogan, let's hope he can stir him in the right direction. As long as godbold is in the picture, whether its for hogan or brown, it is a good thing. Godbold's works speak for themselves.

Of subject, back when that Michael Jackson tour came here in the 80's guess who orchestrated that... Jake Godbold. He made the right calls and made it happen. He wanted to put Jacksonville on the map everyway possible. If he can enstil that passion in Hogan, the sky is the limit.

[Jaxson]

What's wrong Jake...too good to vote for a black man...and the northside raising comes to the surface.

I do not think that Jake Godbold is a racist at all, but appearances and perceptions do speak out pretty loud.  Symbolism matters as much as reality in politics.

This statement is so off base that it makes you sound ignorant garden guy.  Perhaps you should discard the stereotypes before speaking about a man whose career has been completely public.

When (the most)progressive(liberal) democrat of Jacksonville endorses (the most) conservative (tea bag endorsed) republican of Jacksonville, GGs allegation goes with the territory!

The symbolism, in my opinion, speaks loudly.  Godbold is not a racist and has a proven record to dispel that notion.  The problem is that politics is also a game of appearances and perceptions.  People will walk away with their own interpretation of this endorsement for better or for worse.  That is sad, but our reality.

[hillary supporter]

Jimmy, I am an American first.

I have never been a "party" Democrat because I think the State and Local party is another extension of the status quo.  I would never have remained a Dem all these years if party actions were the basis of serious life choices.  I think the party is messed over.  I will remain a Dem but will never accept what being a Dem in the current context in Jacksonville means.  I will also work with the people in various parties when my heart and mind says they will do the best job for the people.

Regarless of political party, we are all in this together.  I will say this much.  I believe blind obedience to a party that eats it's own while pretending to be progressive is not at all what I think being a Dem is about.

This is the real answer to the problem of the Duval Democratic Party,  ignored in Shelton Hulls article. Diane, i believe, was in the upper echelon of Glorious Johnsons campaign, i thought she was actually her campaign manager. When upper echelon members make statements like these, the credability of the party is lost. They say that they are democrats, but change, as the winds blow. To todays point where Diane is vigorously supporting the oppostional candidate.
As a life long democrat, let me counter Dianes responses with my own.
1) As diane proclaims she votes as an american first (which is ok in its context) I state that my votes as a democrat will make america first. As arrogant  as it may seem, in my long experience ive never regretted doing this. And the same is to be said of any party member of the Republicans.
Her quote of refusing to accept the democratic party in todays context, shows lack of confidence in the party. And her support of the opposing candidate?
I set my own personal example with my moniker hillary supporter. Hillary lost the primaries and Barack Obama won after a vicious campaign. Yet , i didnt hesitate to vote and support MY PARTY i pulled the lever for Obama.. And the rest is HISTORY.
Dianes comments of blind obedience must be taken into prerspective. She associates blind obedience with the event when one candidate of her choice was defeated by another. Because of her disappointment, she has chosen the opposing candidate. When Mike Hogan won, fellow party member Rick Mullaney endorsed Hogan.
When Alvin Brown won, fellow democrat Jake Godbold endorsed the opposition in Mike Hogan. At least when GOB Ed Austin and others were dissatiafied with their party, they left and joined the opposing republicans.
Another point to question Sheltons article is it fails to recognize how, when white conservative demos abandoned the party, African Americans maintained their support for the democratic ideals. Our lengend for that is the great Corrine Brown. While many a lot may question her eccentries (which i dont) AS A DEMOCRAT, she has set the 2011 standard for the democratic party... immpeccably.
I conclude my post with pointing out that i hope this can give explanation to Faye for Cures term "weak-kneed democrats" the real crisis of the Duval Democratic Party

[Diane Melendez]

So much for not allowing personal attacks.  Glad it's all about me and not the two men on the ballot.  Amazing.

[Garden guy]

What's wrong Jake...too good to vote for a black man...and the northside raising comes to the surface.

This statement is so off base that it makes you sound ignorant garden guy.  Perhaps you should discard the stereotypes before speaking about a man whose career has been completely public.

I could care less about sounding ignorant steven..and i'm tired of being nice...i spent 8 very long years trying to be nice when republican ran our country...you can kiss ass if you want to but i'm tired of it...it's all this ass kissing that's making democrats loose....if godbold can't look at see that alvin would be better for this city then fuck him...i use to kind of like the guy but if he supports hogan that means he's just like the rightwing idiot republicans that have dragged this city into the ground...nope...the statement is not off base and even if it is..i've heard soo much worse on here from the right or republican side and you've said nothing to them..so...

[BridgeTroll]

What's wrong Jake...too good to vote for a black man...and the northside raising comes to the surface.

This statement is so off base that it makes you sound ignorant garden guy.  Perhaps you should discard the stereotypes before speaking about a man whose career has been completely public.

I could care less about sounding ignorant steven..and i'm tired of being nice...i spent 8 very long years trying to be nice when republican ran our country...you can kiss ass if you want to but i'm tired of it...it's all this ass kissing that's making democrats loose....if godbold can't look at see that alvin would be better for this city then fuck him...i use to kind of like the guy but if he supports hogan that means he's just like the rightwing idiot republicans that have dragged this city into the ground...nope...the statement is not off base and even if it is..i've heard soo much worse on here from the right or republican side and you've said nothing to them..so...

I guess it is confirmed then...

[Jaxson]

What's wrong Jake...too good to vote for a black man...and the northside raising comes to the surface.

This statement is so off base that it makes you sound ignorant garden guy.  Perhaps you should discard the stereotypes before speaking about a man whose career has been completely public.

I could care less about sounding ignorant steven..and i'm tired of being nice...i spent 8 very long years trying to be nice when republican ran our country...you can kiss ass if you want to but i'm tired of it...it's all this ass kissing that's making democrats loose....if godbold can't look at see that alvin would be better for this city then fuck him...i use to kind of like the guy but if he supports hogan that means he's just like the rightwing idiot republicans that have dragged this city into the ground...nope...the statement is not off base and even if it is..i've heard soo much worse on here from the right or republican side and you've said nothing to them..so...

In my opinion, Garden Guy is saying what others might be thinking about this unusual alliance.  In a previous post, I mentioned how symbolism matters a lot in politics.  That is why it was significant that the late Senator Edward Kennedy and his niece Caroline lined up behind Barack Obama during the 2008 Democratic primaries.  To voters (and especially pundits), symbols and gestures can say a lot about a politician or candidate.  Garden Guy may have put it a bit less delicately than I would have, but I have to agree that the Good Old Boy network does look after their own - sometimes even transcending party label...  The racial aspect of it is hard to ignore if only because Jacksonville, as well as the South and the nation, still has scars from the past.  Is Godbold racist?  No.  But even he should have known the impression that his endorsement gave...

[Jaxson]

Not that stephendare needs defending, but I have seen him in some lively discussions with Hogan supporters on this board.  I believe that stephendare does what he can to keep this forum civil.  I do not agree with Jake Godbold's decision either, but will not question his motives - just the symbolism of it.