More video of Payne's greatest hits

[10th.District.Voter]

Rice and Payne on backroom dealmaking in NJ CD-10 - YouTube

Rice and Payne on backroom dealmaking in NJ CD-10 - YouTube

No Child Left Behind - May we leave Don Payne Jr instead? - YouTube

No Child Left Behind - May we leave Don Payne Jr instead? - YouTube

I've been asked why I dislike Donald Payne. I don't. I've met him and he seems quite nice, even jolly, the kind of guy with whom I'd love to have a beer.

I just don't want to have that beer while he is sitting in the House of Representatives. Listen to them. Which one would you want arguing for you in Congress?

Payne's dad was a decades-long congressman, his uncle was a state assemblyman, his cousin runs the Democratic Party in the County... He's never once stood on his own two feet.
I'd be embarrassed to call him my congressman. He can hardly convey thought. The People deserve better... or do we?

[5Reasons]

Originally Posted by 10th.District.Voter

Rice and Payne on backroom dealmaking in NJ CD-10 - YouTube

No Child Left Behind - May we leave Don Payne Jr instead? - YouTube

I've been asked why I dislike Donald Payne. I don't. I've met him and he seems quite nice, even jolly, the kind of guy with whom I'd love to have a beer.

I just don't want to have that beer while he is sitting in the House of Representatives. Listen to them. Which one would you want arguing for you in Congress?

Payne's dad was a decades-long congressman, his uncle was a state assemblyman, his cousin runs the Democratic Party in the County... He's never once stood on his own two feet.
I'd be embarrassed to call him my congressman. He can hardly convey thought. The People deserve better... or do we?

Your point has been made, Rice is a far more knowledgable candidate and is better prepared for Congress. There is no one that would have EVER argued that point. But since when have these elections EVER been about merit? Or knowledge? Or results? I mean, don't get me wrong, I hope Payne underperforms tomorrow so that the question of the hegemony of the EC Dems is put up for debate, but I just don't see where Rice or Gill has reached critical mass to even be competitive. By tomorrow evening, we will all find out, but I just don't see it happening. It's called a machine for a reason. And when machines fall - about once every 30 years - there's usually a sign of it coming. I just don't see or feel those signs at this point. I wish the challengers, Gill and Rice, well nonetheless.

For Payne, the issue isn't whether he will win (my guess is that he's probably a 95% Vegas Odds Favorite), but whether he can get to 60%. If he can, intellectually limited or not, then he has a lifetime job. If he gets under 50% and still wins, then he will have to work for the forseeable future, especially if the Dems throw him overboard in a couple of years.

For Rice and Gill, I suspect they are about to learn the severe limitations of upward mobility playing the Newark/urban politics game. Simply stated, there are few tickets out of Newark. So, in effect, either you get to rule a downtrodden area, or you have to get a real job. It's disappointing, but that is the price you pay when you dumb down the politics. It's good for job security; bad for advancement.

[10th.District.Voter]

Originally Posted by 5Reasons

Your point has been made, Rice is a far more knowledgable candidate and is better prepared for Congress. There is no one that would have EVER argued that point. But since when have these elections EVER been about merit? Or knowledge? Or results?

Call me an idealist but for me this election is about faith: faith that the people of the 10th District will escape the plantation that is the Essex County Democratic machine; faith that we will stop choosing the lesser intellect when faced with better options; faith that Payne's blubbering non-answers to every question will disqualify him in the minds of the voters. I have faith that my vote will mean something.

[5Reasons]

Originally Posted by 10th.District.Voter

Call me an idealist but for me this election is about faith: faith that the people of the 10th District will escape the plantation that is the Essex County Democratic machine; faith that we will stop choosing the lesser intellect when faced with better options; faith that Payne's blubbering non-answers to every question will disqualify him in the minds of the voters. I have faith that my vote will mean something.

Yep, you're an idealist. The world needs more of you that's for sure. I suspect that realism will win out - as it usually does. There is one central theme for Newark and politics over the last 50 years that has NEVER been challenged: Politics will always find a way of letting you down. I'm sorry to say that, but that's the truth. Every now and then, someone will come along and spark a flint of hope (e.g. Ken Gibson, Sharpe James, Rice Sr., Gayle, Ras & Booker), and each time, the structure that is seems to win out.

Best of luck to you. I will try to read the results tomorrow evening from Atlantic City (I have a presentation at a convention on Wednesday)

[Miss Tam-Tam]

Political machines are favored in environments of low voter turnout. Add a dash of overcast weather with rain and some thunderstorms, and tomorrow Payne Junior is your man. The most important day for people to "take to the streets" is on election day. No vote. No voice. Status quo continues.

[brotherderek]

all over,do the people win?

[10th.District.Voter]

All we can do is be the change we want to see in the world. I am going to vote tomorrow and I am going to get as many of my friends to go to the polls. And I can hope that some of the conscientious people of Newark Speaks will do the same.

I'm as cynical as the next person. But what choice do we have? We can wallow in misery and cynicism or we can fight that battle 100 times for that 1 victory out of 100 that we can hang our hopes on. That is why I'm going to the polls tomorrow.