Your source for news, events, and information about Chicago's Edgewater & Andersonville neighborhoods
Monday, January 17, 2011
Bernstein & McDonough clown around
The above video features 48th Ward Aldermanic candidates Phil Bernstein and Patrick McDonough and is moderated by Michael McGann. The video was a good insight into these two individuals aldermanic race platforms and intentions, and helped me figure out who to vote for in February.
Bernstein and McDonough claim to address the issues important to the ward, but instead they spend 20+ minutes discussing the issues important to them. The majority of the video is discussing Harry Osterman, Carol Ronan, and bantering about political corruption. They don't mention any specific ways they plan to help fix the city budget or rid the city of corruption, if elected. They don't even once mention how they will work to combat crime in the 48th Ward - an issue that 60% of people voted as the most important issue to them in the Aldermanic race in our most recent poll. No mention of economic development, no mention of improving schools. In addition, they claim they are repeatedly attacked (on blogs such as this one) yet they have a "Hairy Osterman" doll and repeatedly poke fun at him and bash his political career. Pretty hypocritcal if you ask me.
In the meantime, Harry Osterman not only outlines a clear cut plan on his website about how he plans to address crime & public safety, but he has the experience doing so by spending countless hours working with the CPD, hosting community safety seminars and creating specific plans to address crime in Edgewater hot spots.
Personally, I plan to vote for the man with the experience, the man who shows his face in the community rather than an online video, the man who doesn't mock his opponents with puppets. I'm voting for Harry Osterman.
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50 comments:
Expect the rabid PB supporters to start posting their rants in 5, 4, 3, 2, ...
I have met Harry Osterman and seen him around the neighborhood. What's pathetic is your video and immature attempts to bash a well respected man of the community.
GO HARRY! There is one thing that should be pointed out. Harry is NOT going the negative rhetoric route while PB and PM seem to be focused on that. Frankly, I'm tired of ALL the political negativity and Harry not going there, is a breath of fresh air. You can "talk" all you want but this voter wants to see the candidate who "walks the talk" and Harry is that person. He DID NOT VOTE for the state tax increase! GO HARRY!
Here I've been wondering where the opponents were and where the debate is going to be about the future of the 48th ward. After witnessing this, I can see why there's been no debate.
And the blame does not appear to fall on Rep. Osterman. Sad ...
IF that was a "debate" why did Patrick McDonough introduce PB and why did McDonough give PB the floor? Isn't McDonough running as well? What kind of game are these 2 playing together? The only "clown" in the debate were these 2. Seems whatever game they were playing backfired! GO HARRY!
Osterman must be laughing at you sycophants. He must be chuckling at how a guy like him can do absolutely nothing, and be appreciated for it by his few supporters.
Towanda, watch the video as I just did: PB is extremely articulate. Why not credit him for the exceptional job he has done stating his position? Look at his website: a treasure trove of intelligent information and position statements. Why don't you admit that this guy is orders of magnitude above Osterman in IQ. And where is Osterman? Hanging around bars gladhanding everyone, and as Phil pointed out, he is doing it on taxpayers money. He has no real job. Thats what impresses you?
Carlvs: you speak of rabid PB supporters....how about the rabid "Go Harry" supporters?
And blogmaster: come on. Your comments are silly. Get with it. As much as you protest, you doth protest PB too much. And cut the crap: selling ads on your site is unclassy.
"Gladhanding," you say? I think it's called "CAMPAIGNING," and if your boys think they can campaign like they're a bad improv troupe being taped for cable access by a high school student instead of ... oh, I dunno ... CAMPAIGNING ... then maybe they should just cut themselves up and upload it on YouTube for their own amusement.
One thing's for damn sure: that won't make one block any safer. Or get them many, you know, VOTES ...
I am completely disgusted with Patrick McDonough and Philip Bernstein. I called their organizations and they said Harry Osterman refuses to debate after numerous requests. Harry Osterman is not afraid of these two bullies and playground brutes. Patrick McDonough has a million dollar summerhouse in Wisconsin. Why the heck does this goof want to run for office? Bernstein talks like a genius, Harry talks to us at our level! Harry may have got all his family on the gov. payroll, but does that make him bad? I think we need some debates where Harry Osterman can show these two guys who runs this community. I think Phil is impling Harry is a drunk, a few drinks with friends is NOT a drunk.
Many of The Harry Osterman supporters are really upset in Edgewater, they are really mad. I still cannot believe two grow men like Bernstein and McDonough would pull a stunt like this. This is stunning in breath and scope. I might change my mind and vote for Stephen. Stephen knows how to keep his cheeks clean.
Truth Squad, I have watched that so called "debate" as well as all the other videos. If PB is "orders of magnitude above Osterman in IQ" than answer me this. Why did PB ALLOW McDonough(and his alias) to put a Howdy Doody Doll in a chair and LET McDonough "pretend" it was Harry? That seems like a direct blow to PB's IQ for ALLOWING this kindergarden show to go on! If he weren't so negative about everything Edgewater and would have put a stop to the Howdy Doody Show, he might be credible. If he didn't call people names(voters) and block them from contacting him (voters) he might be credible. Sadly, He doesn't seem to learn lessons OR what the constituents of Edgewater want.
GO HARRY!
Wow - if this video doesn't define "shoot in foot" I dont know what does.
Who in their right mind would vote for either of these guys? Clearly they're the dummy dolls here.
I am sure HO appreciates the hair. When you have a campaign based on anger and attacks on a whole community, i.e. Edgewater Intelligencer and attacking HO whereever you go does not make for a campaign strategy. You have Patrick yelling incoherently at 3 meetings and just publically attacking HO. I have not heard HO publically attack anyone at any meeting. This campaign strategy is one for the books it does not make for votes, people run and they can't seem to get this. How sad that this video is even out there. It is sophmoric, mean spirited, unproductive and goes into the history book. Why should HO debate this man anyhow? PB and Patrick can whine all they want, but they never go anywhere in public, sit behind a computer or camera and complain. Once this campaign is over they will click away in anger on EI or Chicago Clout and we will all be fodder for this junk.
They do not have solutions, only anger. HO has solutions, not anger.
I wonder if Osterman will have any challengers.
Come on people. Do you really think Osterman is saying anything at all? You people really just perpetuate the same old insider politics. What you don't understand is these insiders are laughing at you. They are getting the fruits of their insider actions, you are getting nothing but pats on the back.
You have stated over and over again that Osterman is great. But what you have never stated is exactly what his accomplishments are. What has he done in 11 years as a state rep? what has he done for the neighborhood? Stop crime? Hell no, all he does is speak in ways you love, but there's no real performance.
Like I said before, he is laughing at you people. Laughing. Laughing. Laughing. And you people are so dopey you don't see it. These people wouldn't give you the time of day. And you simply don't see it.
So keep attacking PB. Has he ever attacked you dopes? No, from what I read he attacks the political hacks in this ward. And yet you attack him. Ignorance in action.
Whether PB HAS attacked any of us "dopes..is quite debatable. We tried on this blog several months ago to list Harry's accomplishments in the ward, You simply argued about them. See, here's the deal, PB said he doesn't "attack individual" people..on his EI site many "individual" names are front & center. He outed my partner and me BUT when I asked you PB supporters to do it, you grew mysteriously quiet. If you want to be credible, than step to the plate. If you want to be credible, than stop with the "kindergarden videos" and lastly, if you want to be credible, than stop hiding behind this blog and those ridiculous videos. UNTIL you do that, NO ONE IS LISTENING and NO ONE is willing to continue the negative rhetoric you seem to want to engage in. Sorry if the "dopes" in Harry's corner don't want to "play" with you. GO HARRY!
Bernstein made a very loud and powerful statement. McDonough did seem to have soom fun. After watching this a couple of more times, Harry looks like the fool. These guys all need to debate. I wonder if HO's gladhandlers will allow that?
Oh come on Harold. You watched this 30 minute video a "couple of times". You have to be as brain dead as that dummie.
PB and PMc have done as little as possible. From the beginning, voters sign petitions to get candidates on the ballot in the 48th ward approximately 165 signatures are needed, PB an PMc got maybe 165-200, HO went out and got 4,000. showing the man is willing to go the extra distance, while going to Springfield and raising 3 young children. HO is trying to be everywhere and reach as many folks as he can, PB/PMc don't care to reach anyone - PB/PMc don't call people to ask for support HO does. In other words, P/PMc feel they should get your vote simple because they are running.
Unlike the seeming deadbeats who do 95% of the idiotic commenting on this site, I think that PB and PM have jobs. What does Osterman have? A part time position which he has held the past 11 years. Get that, a PART TIME job for the past 11 years.
Going to Springfield is a PART TIME job. Raising Children? You are congratulating him for raising children and working a part time job? Thats why he's a great politician?
And if you want to see an idiotic video, watch Chicago Clout where Osterman is asked a simple question about how many of his relatives are on the city payroll. He can't answer it and finally says 2.
So you people want a guy elected who has a part time job for 11 years, who raises his children and who has 2 family members on the city payroll. And you talk smack about PB?
Luckily, from what I hear, PB is making real inroads with the silent, intelligent majority. Won't you be shocked when he wins. Your worlds will come crashing down.
Sorry Truth squad, but I'm making calls for Harry and you are way wrong. Overwhelmingly for Harry and you no why as well as anyone. You can call us names like "dopes" "deadbeats" and our "idiotic comments" all you want. YOU are the one creating a negative atmosphere and that negativity reflects on PB. You do him a disservice. That's all you got but negativity. Would be nice if YOU came out from your "mask" on this blog and admitted who YOU really are. PB MIGHT have some nice solutions but until YOU & PB stop with the negativity, again I say, neither YOU or PB will be heard. Sometimes a "part time" job isn't really part time. Much more time goes into that "part time" job than is seen or recorded. Many "after hours" are put in. You should know that. Calls are being made, trips to Springfield sometime require over night stays, meetings are held AFTER hours. "Part Time" is just a description for a postion that often requires FULL TIME work. How would you know anyway? OH, and let's talk about NOT addressing some of the statements made in these comments. Seems that's what you do best..AVOID the real issues.
GO HARRY!
Truth Squad: no one has ever said HO is great, no one is great. And there should be term limits to the office, we can only hope that he does not lose his determination once he has been in for several years and begins the entitlement stage of these offices.
I'm imagining a tearful Mary Tyler Moore type character sobbing these responses.... HILARIOUS!
Tell "Hairy" to grow some and keep his word about debate! (that IS what this video is about after all) Sure...now you'll say there some sissy type excuse why he won't debate. Get real.
Harry is an empty suit, and he's just another one of these people in public office sucking our state and city DRY.
Wake up you fools! This guy has never had a real job in his life! And do you know why? Because he's NOT CAPABLE!
He has ZERO educational credentials, ZERO work experience and he's part of the corrupt machine!!!
THAT is who YOU put in office around here, incapable empty suit fools.....so pile on your fools. You deserve this crap if you vote for Osterman.
Truth Squad, while you mention that HO currently has TWO family members on the city payroll, you don't mention another interesting fact.
Harry also has FAMILY as voting board members on 501(c)(3) organizations here in the 48th Ward. (real estate development corporations) Those are organizations that are 48th ward DELEGATES (which means they can vote upon zoning and planning) and that means clout.
These are votes over and above the regular block club votes. Want more "clout" AND to be able to stack the deck with double, even triple votes? Start a delegate organization! (HO and his buddies are completely wired in to this scam) You find that multiple of these people have multiple votes on the Zoning and Planning committee votes. (totally unethical)
Harry IS part of a very very corrupt machine.
Oh....and Harry's wife voted for him in the "independent voters association's" endorsement of him! Oh....there's no collusion or corruption there either!! Harry and his wife are "independent" voters, on what planet???
I love it when people accuse others of name-calling while name-calling and insulting all the way around. Edgewater Intelligencer is nothing but an attack, from the all caps font to its refusal to accept responses. I've been looking forward to an actual RACE to get excited about, and unfortunately these two guys refuse to honestly engage in an honest debate. It's all about lobbing invective at Osterman for no apparent reason except I think they just like to do it.
The losers are the 48th Ward - and Osterman, the only serious candidate standing, who could've become a better Alderman with honest brokers and serious competitors.
Joe, the only thing Osterman is "serious" about is getting his next meal ticket. What else can the guy do but be a political system machine leech? (the invectives fit very well)
BTW... Harry is a hypocrite! He gives money to the Catholic church and showers in their holy water!
Last time I checked, the Catholic Church said that being homosexual was an abomination. He's very active at the local parish here and even uses the Catholic school system. It would seem that he wants to propagate those Catholic teachings. He's very active in the Church, for sure.
So is he lying to his god/church or the gay community?
Here we go AGAIN with the Truth Squad(Patrick McDonough) SWIFT Elementary(John Redell) and bears6033(maybe PB?) I'm waiting for "Judith Emile" to show up next! Haven't we been through this before? You 3 can come on here and trash Harry all you want, it's won't change a THING! You can call us names and trash us, it won't change a THING! We have "been there done that" with you 3, it didn't change anything than and it won't now. Your anger, sore loser attitude and vicious attacks of the people of Edgewater have made you all, but in particular, Phil Bernstein, not credible, unheard and null & void. You cannot attack a community and than EXPECT that community to vote for YOU! That would than make us "idiots".
GO HARRY!
can an alderman have a liquor license in Chicago? will Phil be willing to sell his businesses by May 2011? Has he made any efforts to do that?
Harry's children attend Peirce School. What are the other candidates offering to do to support our local public schools? Have they even visited any of the schools? Patrick McDonough's kids live in DES PLAINES. (While he maintains an empty apartment on Catalpa where he claims to live. I've lived around the corner from his building for 17 years and have never seen him.) PB's answer is to provide vouchers to go to private schools. How is that supporting our public schools? The public schools in the 48th Ward have made tremendous gains in the past 10 years. My children have attended our neighborhood public school and we love it. These other candidates would not know that because they have not bothered to visit the schools.
This Bernstein guy has a liquor store or bar? Is it in Edgewater?
Let me know so I know NOT to patronize this guy's business. He clearly wants to put his personal agenda ahead of what is best for the 48th.
6063whatever jumps now jumps the line from invective to what could very well be slander ... If you can produce any evidence whatsoever of personal corruption, be my guest - but man up and do it with your name on it instead of an Internet alias. It's easy to be so sleazy and anonymous.
Will Osterman be a good alderman? I don't know, but the only place I've heard any hints of corruption is with the anonymous bomb-throwers on this board. And you support candidates who talk to puppets.
Not exactly a vote of credibility for you, AFAIC ...
DorothyParker007; GLAD you brought that up because according to the Liquor License eligibility web site, this is what I found;
Any elected public official of local government, or any non-elected law enforcing official or law enforcement employee who has jurisdiction in the City of Chicago;
So your question is valid in asking PB IF he will be selling his business. Seems IF he got elected, HE CAN NOT HOLD A LIQUOR LICENSE! HMMM, where does PB go from here? Answer the question, have one of the 3 pals answer or, like they usually do, avoid the question??!
Towanda,
Interesting news, but you should have made it clear in the 1st paragraph that this was from the list of classes PROHIBITED from holding a Liquor License.
Here's the link to page containing the list of all the prohibited classes:
http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/bacp/supp_info/liquor_license_eligibility.html
Carlvs, sorry about that, you're right. Thank you for highlighting that:)
It's under "Liquor License eligibility" #17 on the list of people who CAN NOT have a liquor license. If you're checking it out. I put in under "keyword" "eligibility" It's easier to find:)
You people are laughable. To date I have not heard one word, not one word about the attributes of Osterman. About his accomplishments as a state rep. Not one word. Why? Isn't there anything you dopes can think of that you can point to in terms of his accomplishments? Pathetic.
But, you dopes have plenty of time to attack PB: about everything. No you are trying to attack his business. You have no class. But at least he has a business. What does Osterman have? A baby stroller?
Towanda: what is your real name? Come on, tell us all. You are so worried about everyone else, how about you? Spit it out.
Truth Squad...been there done that:) Stop playing games. You do it, I already have BECAUSE I have NOTHING to hide..how'bout you???
Personal attacks and insults will NOT be tolerated.
We all have differences of opinions, but if you cannot share your opinion like a cililized adult, your comments will be REMOVED.
Can't the 3 of you just be nice or is bashing, anger and name calling part of your make up? You made the video PM for all to see and since we all have opinions and are free to express them, you should respect the right to those opinions WITHOUT trashing the person or their opinion. Just move on. Whether PB has great ideas is not the issue here and those ideas get clouded over by the remarks made by you, Truth squad, Swift Elementary and bears6033. Don't you get that? We are not listening because the anger is deafening.
so if PB can not have a liguor license wouldnt he have to sell the business prior to Feb 22? and lets say he signs it over to his wife, would that be fair to presume that is like getting a minority contract by signing up the old lady, but really the man is running the operation? would that not be corruption at its peak?
truth squad: I didn't attack PB I asked a simple question. Your confusing how you respond. I'm not from Chicago and haven't lived here long, but it seems that you can't answer a easy question without a bearing your fangs. If you are whats considered "having class", then your right I have none.
So Mr. Administrator:
If your rule is that insulting comments and personal attacks will be removed, I think you will find that 99% of the comments here will have to be removed.
From day one, I have never seen such a collection of hateful comments about PB from that rag tag handful of commenters who monopolize this site, and really degrade it.
Your "civilized" commenters talked about PB's wife, dog, business and now they are worried about his liquor license and his business.
Go Harry is all they can say, over and over again. But, I will ask one last time, PLEASE, JUST HUMOR ME AND TELL ME ONE TANGIBLE ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT GO HARRY CAN PUT ON HIS RECORD IN 11 YEARS IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
Go Harry: you sound like a bunch of morons.
Patrick,
Point me to the specific post(s) you are referencing. I see no other personal attacks in this thread such as the vulgar, insulting, and deeming post that was removed.
Jeremy, you need to get your act together here and check it out yourself.
Kris Klimek made up a story about PB getting his job from his dad. (PB's dad didn't even live in the USA at the time and had nothing to do with it....hello?)
Kris Klimek made up a story about PB getting two federal pensions. (not even remotely true.)
Kris Klimek made commentary about PB's mental state and his alleged "anger".
Kris Klimek was not the only one making these outlandish claims!
It was documented early on and it was re-documented how HO's supporters were making personal attacks upon PB.
YOU said nothing Jeremy!
There were some other wild accusations made about PB by others here. These were the general accusations:
* woman beater
* alcoholic
* ageist
* homophobe
* hates children
* HO supporters have made insults have been made about his WIFE
* HO supporters have made insults have been about his dog
* HO supporters have tried to besmirch his business and discourages commerce with him
NOW JEREMY, YOU HAVE TO ADMIT THAT THOSE WERE SOME PRETTY EGREGIOUS AND LIBELOUS CLAIMS....AND YOU ALLOWED THEM.
NO insults of any kind toward HO supporters happened until AFTER the REPEATED, over and over again, libelous claims made toward PB could no longer be tolerated.
Jeremy, you are a hypocrite because you allowed this to go on and now you want to act holier than thou.
Clean up your act before you start getting self righteous!
And Kris, you are a shameful individual.
Why does Pat McD make fun of HO supporters? It is easy consider this sort of decorum.
6033Bears - I again ask you to point to the specific posts. I do not have the time to go back and read the hundreds of comments on this blog.
In the post you wrote at 12:50AM this morning that I deleted you used insults, vulgar and demeened someone's physical disability. Speaking of hypocrites...I stand by my right to remove such garbage.
making ridiculous claims against a candidate is not right, but you two are incorrect if you think that personally attacking another commenter on this blog is the same thing.
I agree that these crazy statements about PB are ridiculous and unfounded as are comments about HO. These are public figures and can deal with random comments from people posting on a blog.
However when you use vulgar language and personally insult someone's disability that is a completely different thing. If you can't see the distinction then I really feel sorry for you.
don't get me wrong, i'll be the first to report a post if it went completely beyond the bounds of what is acceptable. calling for a deletion of posts criticizing PB while you yourself criticize HO seems absurd and hypocritical.
TruthSquad -
I'm not an HO-for-alderman supporter at this time and as such felt the need to check his vote on the recent tax increase. I was ready to fire off an incensed letter to the man until I saw he voted against party lines and against the increase. So that's one "accomplishment" (maybe?) he can put in his hat?
I don't recall seeing this on this blog - and half the commenters probably won't bother reading them before posting their typical responses - but the candidate's answers to the Tribune questionnaires are posted here:
Tribune Link
There are thoughtful and developed answers from Bernstein and Osterman, a less detailed response from Chereska, and nothing posted from McDonough or Arteaga. They are worth the read.
The candidates D2's are also being posted (hat tip to the UU blog).
Illinois.gov link
Hadn't seen anything from Bernstein, McDonough, Arteaga, or Chereska as of this post, but as I understand it the state's system gets backlogged on filing days.
driftin thank you for a thoughtful and constructive post. This is great, now everyone can read what seems to be an unbiased questionnaire.
These are some good questions and answers from both sides, it really helps to lay out some issues and how the candidates approach them. For example I note HO pointing to public safety and crime as a primary concern, while it looks like PB's main focus is on financial stability. Both just causes, it'll be interesting how the ward looks and feels when it comes time to vote.
I had the dubious pleasure of reading 6033bears comment this morning. In my opinion, the level of vileness made it more than appropriate for the moderator to remove it. Quite frankly, I would have banned him completely from this site.
All those comments by 6033bears, Truthsquad (has there ever been a more misleading avatar?), SwiftElementary et. al really speak for themselves. Like Bernstein and McDonough in the video, they show the emotional and intellectual maturity of 12 year olds. Who in their right mind would vote for any of them?
At this point, the question is not whether Osterman is a good candidate. Instead it is about keeping sociopaths like Bernstein and McDonough away from any real influence in the ward. People who display such obvious inability to control their temper should not be allowed to make decisions that affect all of us.
6033Bears on 1/19 makes some very hateful comments about the Catholic Church that should be removed. If the same comments were made about Islam we would all be attacked. Why are Catholics fair game?
I happen to know that Harry was very instrumental in the State Legislature in passage of the Civil Unions Bill. Nobody is claiming he is Greg Harris and nobody said that he took the lead. BUT HE WAS ONE OF THE LEADERS. His campaign chair and co-chair are Gay and Lesbian. He has a Gay staff person on his legislative staff. Those Mr. Truth Squad are positive things that our State Representative Osterman has done in the legislature. The Civil Unions Bill passed this session but our State Representative has worked on GLBTQ RIGHTS in many ways for many years.
OK John Redell, attack me. Call me a dope.
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