Democratic History or Democratic Change?

[Desire Grover]

I know we are all excited that the ONE PARTY RULE over Chester's City Council has been crushed but we need not relax and think that CHANGE has indefinitely come. One big question is... will the Dems truly resist the wealthy arm of the Republicans or will they gradually buy into the lifestyle of the ivory tower? Hmmm.... we shall see...

[Garland L Thompso, Esq]

Independently run does not mean anything goes. Scurrilous drivel is scurrilous drivel, no matter who purveys it. And while it is quite true that high education is not everything, it also is true that ignorance is not a badge of honor -- it's just a deficit of intellectual capacity.

[Naquaiya]

Test # 1: Are the newly elected representatives already financially successful, or will they see a new and more wonderful life financially as a result of being elected? Test # 2: Are elected representatives in your jurisdiction allowed to run for office more than once? If so, Test # 3: Where would the bigger money come from for a campaign re-election bid come form? If the answer is "money" from the "ivory tower of politics" then ..................don't hope for much.

Naquaiya

[Desire Grover]

@Garland L Thompson, Esq

Why are you so worried about the information of a website that is entirely an independent and un-sponsored source of opinion? This is a community hub where people can share their thoughts and observations about Chester life and beyond. No one has to be as educated and as amazing as you in order to share their thoughts here. You do realize that right? I once used to do very in depth reporting but recently I began to do commentary only because I don't have the same time to give to all of that. Even when the content transition happened I made it very clear in this post:

May 4th http://eventspot.ning.com/profiles/blogs/less-work-more-vlogging

Where were you?

Garland my friend/foe "You doeth protest too much."

The current video is not ALL about Kirkland. He is mentioned only once and for no more than 5 seconds in the video. So why do you worry so much? What the video primarily focuses on is how political people get into office promising to bring change but end up not doing so. The commentary or "opinion" is very clear about that. You also contest the content without even being specific about what you believe is not a fact. As the wonderful journalist that you are just write a list for me to work with. Pretty please!

And the fact that Kirkland wrote me the day before you did, using the same exact talking points is juuuust… coincidental? Hmph… fair enough.

Being that you are an astounding journalist, that I have never heard of until now, I take it that you have watched all of my videos on this site? Yes or no? If not then you might want to watch this one ( http://eventspot.ning.com/profiles/blogs/top-secret-council ) to find out what my thoughts are about the Republican leadership of this town. It also details why I even started this website.

Overall your protest only makes me even more curious as to why someone would defend a person like Thaddeus Kirkland so much. Kirkland and I have had our own personal run ins. Right Kirk! He didn’t care about facts then. Hmmm...maybe…maybe I need to look even deeper? Maybe I need to do an all out investigative report on the brotha? It must be what Garland Thompso, Esq would like me to do :) Thanks Garland. You have inspired me to dig even deeper.

[Garland L Thompso, Esq]

Actually, I've never played basketball with the representative. And if you had asked, like a good reporter, I'd have told you I never talked to him about your post. I note your description of yourself as a "small fry, uprofessional, illiterate journalist," but the reality is that even small fry can put out scurrilous claims that require rebuttal. Not only have I worked as a professional commentator, in law school I made a particular study of what constitutes fair opinion and what crosses the line. As a professional, I watched you make assertions I consider irresponsible, so I spoke out.

Your response has been to continue assertions you can't back up. Well, in the professional journalism community, we say that scurrilous claims cannot a good argument make. You've exemplified that, and added to it with yet another.

And just for your information, education in journalism can be had in several ways. One of them is apprenticeship, in which rookie practitioners work under tuteledge of experienced pros. That way they learn not only how it works, but also where the lines fall; what's permissible and what's out of bounds. With your own words, you demonstrate that you never have made the apprentice's mark.

State Rep. Kirkland is a man I have met and greatly respect. It's rather obvious that you are the one who has an unannounced agenda, and that's why you keep repeating claims you know you can't prove. And by the way, that's not really journalism. We pros don't write from agendas. We just want the truth. Learn from that.

[Desire Grover]

@Garland L Thompson, Esq

@Garland

I have a suspicion that you were sent here by none other than State Representative Thaddeus Kirkland himself. And if this is so… and you and he play basketball together…tell the Rep. that I am in no way intimidated by him. And if he is worried about his reputation he should have been concerned about that 17 years ago.If he wants to debunk me he should just get to work and be a leader… not a cry baby.

As for Linder and West, I can only say that they seem like nice people. But even nice people have been rendered useless in this Delco political climate. And that is the ultimate challenge for them in "my opinion". I'm sure you are familiar with opinion columns and editorial commentary.

And you may remember Barbara Bohannon Sheppard as our Mayor about 18 yrs ago. My memory is fuzzy at the moment but didn't she have two Democratic Council members on board with her and still they didn't get much done? YIKES. So it appears that the Dems have had a chance in the past as the majority and it still got them nowhere. So naturally they are going to have to do better this time around. Even without a Mayor to weigh in.

I have no high hopes about the Dems and most Chester locals don't either. That is why only about 5,000 people voted in Chester on Nov.3rd, out of the 20,000+ potential voters that could have voted.

I find it interesting that State Representative Thaddeus Kirkland would be so concerned about a small fry, unprofessional, illiterate, uneducated journalist like myself. I can only imagine the migraine he will have in the next year or so. It will then be re-election time. A time when the professional and literate forms of news media and opinion columns will have at it. Endlessly discussing his legislative record of 17 years, as a Prime Sponsor of house bills that are filled with “nothingness. I hope around that time he pays you well. You'll be working a whole lot :)

PS: I thought I'd add some clarity to the second to last sentence ;)

[Garland L Thompso, Esq]

Funny thing about that commentary. You were so focused on questioning the value of the 2 Democrats' electoral victory, you missed the real import of the story: That Republican heavy-handedness, exclusiveness, and disparate distribution of political spoils -- over generations -- has finally lost the GOP Chester, its original county power base. Moreover, your question about the new Council members' "courage" is completely off-target and off-color, to say the least. If this is your version of journalistic probing, you really need to spend some time in a journalism classroom: the first rule is GET THE FACTS, FIRST!!!
You already acknowledge that John Linder and Portia West are community activists, but then miss your own point in questioning their courage. That's already been shown, an abundant number of times. Or else they wouldn't be so widely recognized as community leaders.
The very best commentaries are based on good reportage, and the opinions developed are based on that reportage. Making bizarre allegations like the one you're making with graphics about state Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland, without even a claim of factual basis, is not only irresponsible, it's legally dangerous.
In the interest of disclosure, I grew up in Chester and Councilman-elect Linder is my cousin. I've known Portia since we were kids, though I've never had a close relationship with her.
And if you were wondering, I'm a professional journalist with 34 years' experience in the field. I've sat on Editorial Boards, written signed columns, and served as top editor on several publications. I'm writing because you are trammeling the very rules of the journalism you purport to uphold, and it is high time you learned the basis of the reportage you're trying to project.
Garland L. Thompson

[Rob Harper]

Though provoking.

"and we are not saved..."