OKC Mayor Race 2014

[betts]

Regardless, that's precisely what's wrong with debates. The skill of the debater and their ability to waltz around the hard questions makes it pretty worthless as a way to analyze a candidate. What they say when campaigning is pretty worthless as well, as has been clearly demonstrated in this case. That's why I think observed behavior is the best thing you can use. I've been to multiple city council meetings and watched a lot more on video. I've heard their campaign messages. That's what I've used to make my decisions.

Mick is a great speaker. I just heard him speak last night. I do not believe he is "afraid" of debating Ed from that standpoint. He has a much more polished delivery style which would come across well. But talking to Ed is like trying to catch mercury (hope none of the rest of you get my reference...we did some stupid things as kids). He switches topic in the middle of a discussion, in non sequitur fashion. I can see him throwing out accusations that are not part of the question and then moving on, leaving Mick to either defend himself and not answer the question or answer the question and not defend himself, given the time constraints of a debate. Then there is his obvious willingness to lie if it suits his purpose. I wouldn't debate him either. Show us what you've accomplished Ed, tell us your precise plans without a debate.

[Dubya61]

I think conventional wisdom is that debates accomplish very little (or at least, nothing positive). Most skilled politicians carefully talk around the issues to spout their talking points anyway. Most in the audience (in person and electronically) walk away with the same mindset they walked in with. Not sure what the value of a debate is. I still want to see an interview in the news papers (preferably with the questions that betts posed above). Maybe I'm not doing my homework like I should, but I couldn't tell you what either are "for" (although any incumbent has an easy answer to that) and I'm increasingly having trouble knowing what the (main) challenger is against, except the incumbent.

[CaptDave]

Don't forget the chamber junta...

[kevinpate]

Without a doubt, Mick is more skilled in that department than Ed.

I agree. While Cornett is not my mayor, he does seem far more skilled than a certain councilman/candidate at not blatantly ignoring/forgetting/bypassing promises he already made to voters. I believe there are many voters in OKC who would consider this a sign of Cornett's true character. Of course they might also consider the challenger's apparent lack of skill, effort or even any apparent concern in the area as a sign of his character as well.

[kevinpate]

I realize many in the metro are citified folk, and perhaps have been their entire lives. As a small towner and country lane and field lover until adulthood, a strong popular mayor not debating a challenger with known character issues and an apparent penchant for saying X and doing Y makes a lot of sense to me.

Lay down with dawgs, ya get fleas.

No upside for this incumbent to do a debate with this challenger that I can see.

[DoctorTaco]

Honestly I think a debate would help Mick. Shadid has proven again and again he is unable to conceal his vitriolic dislike of Cornett, and that would surely come out at the debate in a counter-productive way.

[Bellaboo]

Honestly I think a debate would help Mick. Shadid has proven again and again he is unable to conceal his vitriolic dislike of Cornett, and that would surely come out at the debate in a counter-productive way.

Personally, I think Mick would tear him apart.......Shadid has told too many bald face lies to perform well in a debate.

[betts]

Behold, Ed Shadid's campaign strategy: The Tricks of Fox?s Trade | The New York Observer

Haha, you're right!

[betts]

I've got a new set of questions. Answer them and we need no debate. 1. What are the three main things you would like to accomplish during your four years in office? If any of your goals require funding, what will they cost and where will you get the money? How sure are you that you can the money?

[Laramie]

I'm pretty thrilled that Mayor is not going to waste his time with somebody like Ed. Basically giving him any time at all simply elevates Ed's gaseous rhetoric. After he has demonstrated to the people who worked so hard to help him get elected in his Ward 2 campaign his willingness to stab them in their back (not to mention the general voting public) and outright lie about his positions, why should we believe anything that he might say or pledge in a debate?


A debate in my mind is absolutely meaningless with somebody like Ed.

You couldn't have said that any better, Urban Pioneer--meaningless!

What's there to debate with Ed? A guy whose platform is as fragile as a cheap block of styrofoam--he has nothing to offer.

Ed debating Mick wouldn't mean a thing--it would be like a mosquito pushing a train.

"Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.

[boscorama]

I don't get why some entity hasn't invited the four candidates to debate. Is that not how these things happen?

[Bellaboo]

Saw a 'Stick with Mick' commercial tonight. Very well and professionally done.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l60zmRK3jJ8

[Laramie]

I don't get why some entity hasn't invited the four candidates to debate. Is that not how these things happen?

National elections would draw attention, yes--it would work. Televising a candidates' quartet debate for a local mayor election would be dismal.

A local election for mayor; what local network would be interested? You couldn't pay me to watch a political version of Taming of the Shrew..

"Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.

[zookeeper]

National elections would draw attention, yes--it would work. Televising a candidates' quartet debate for a local mayor election would be dismal.

A local election for mayor; what local network would be interested? You couldn't pay me to watch a political version of Taming of the Shrew..

That may be true, until you think of the television programming they would be interrupting. Talk about dismal. I think an hour every four years for a mayoral candidates debate would not deliver too big a blow to great American television.

[betts]

I've posted this elsewhere and it refers to presidential debates but I think it's applicable here. The author first says that debates rarely change anyone's mind. He goes on to say: "Debates test one thing: the ability to quickly respond to questions of numbing complexity that are impossible to answer in the time available. They put a premium on being fast and clever but don't say much about how smart a candidate is. Nor are they meant to, in part because being smart, in an academic sense, is not essential to be president -- as many have demonstrated. At their best, debates test a candidate's coolness under pressure and ability to articulate some thought at least vaguely connected to the question while convincing the viewers that he or she is both personable and serious."

In other words, it's not worth much.

[trousers]

Check your mail. New mailer from the Shadid campaign. I guess scare tactics are the current MO.

[bradh]

Didn't that guy see mailers don't work? See Gary Marrs campaign.

[ljbab728]

Check your mail. New mailer from the Shadid campaign. I guess scare tactics are the current MO.

Saw that and glanced it over before quickly depositing it in the normal file reserved for his mailers.

[zookeeper]

I must admit, THIS surprises me. 10 Reasons Why I'll Vote for Ed Shadid by Sam Bowman Former Ward 2 Councilman Sam Bowman endorses Shadid for Mayor.

[catch22]

Yes but all of that is talk. Pure talk.

I would be the first to admit, Ed is a great talker.

Unfortunately his walking has not matched up with his talking. On just about every issue. That is unacceptable to me.

If he had a proven record of walking how he talks, I'd have a silly ED profile pic on my Facebook. My friends would think I had erectile dysfunction. But, here we are in 2014, planet Earth... He hasn't been truthful of his past, and his voting record and city council diatribes have not been a good witness to how he talks.

My vote is with Mick. He is proven, I don't agree with the man on every issue, but I at least know he has a predictable track record of delivering.

[betts]

I didn't know it, but was told that Sam Bowman is a member of the Green Party. So, that would explain it. They think alike. And, he hasn't been on Council with Ed so he hasn't seen him in action, I'm guessing. He probably doesn't know about all the behind the scenes stuff either. Sam is a good person, I think, and means well, but I believe he is completely off base here.

So, to counter, I'm listing a reason I'm voting for Mick every day until the election on my facebook page and on twitter

[CaptDave]

*** Levity Break ***

And now for something completely different....well, not really. It is the Red Dirt Report, so it is amusing even if it does wander into Kernland. Mayor Mick really gets Joe Sarge's dander up; over what exactly I'm still not quite sure though. If nothing else, this mayor's race has proven politics definitely creates very strange bedfellows - not that there is anything wrong with that. (And I was able to work in a Monty Python AND Seinfeld reference!)

Cornett a liar and hypocrite, alleges underdog mayoral candidate | Red Dirt Report

Sarge and Ed, if this is the best you've got, please stop wasting everyone's time.

*** I now return you to your regularly scheduled campaign follies ***

[warreng88]

*** Levity Break ***

And now for something completely different....well, not really. It is the Red Dirt Report, so it is amusing even if it does wander into Kernland. Mayor Mick really gets Joe Sarge's dander up; over what exactly I'm still not quite sure though. If nothing else, this mayor's race has proven politics definitely creates very strange bedfellows - not that there is anything wrong with that. (And I was able to work in a Monty Python AND Seinfeld reference!)

Cornett a liar and hypocrite, alleges underdog mayoral candidate | Red Dirt Report

Sarge and Ed, if this is the best you've got, please stop wasting everyone's time.

*** I now return you to your regularly scheduled campaign follies ***

Wow, what an absolute piece of trash. I'll never get that five minutes of my life back...

[CaptDave]

Wow, what an absolute piece of trash. I'll never get that five minutes of my life back...

Ha! Indeed - that's why I had to share it. Needed others to partake in my misery.

I didn't take Joe Sarge for a Nissan Cube driver though. - not exactly sure what I expected though. That is the most interesting thing I learned from the article.

[betts]

I've heard Joe Sarge at Council meetings so think I'll be skipping that article.