Stone's Saddam Strategy
If there was one recent analogy for the way that Ald. Stone has reigned and run for re-election, it would be that of Saddam Hussein. Like Saddam, Stone posts images of himself everywhere. Like Saddam, you can't go a block without being reminded who your ruler is. Like Saddam, Stone thinks he is much beloved. And like Saddam, his inner circle continues to tell him that he is. Like Saddam, Stone rules from on high, whether it is his residence in the Towers or his office.
Stone's Saddam Strategy can be found by looking at every fence in the ward. Stone's Saddam Strategy tells us that we are "fenced in." Anywhere else throughout the city, you will find pretty fencing, pretty streets, a clean ward. Trash doesn't swurl around other wards, at least not the ones I frequent. Sometimes it feels like the 50th Ward is a prison or part of the old eastern bloc. You can't speak openly, you can't even put the sign of one of Stone's opponents out in your yard (or common area). Like Saddam, Stone's thugs are all around, on the payroll, ready to snitch.
This isn't a democracy, it's just like pre-invasion Iraq!
Stone has no other strategy than intimidation. Stone has no plans worth discussing. Stone has no future, and neither does the 50th Ward unless we rid ourselves of this tyrant.
NOTE: Stone's supporters seem unusually able to stick to the rules. Supporters from every other candidate seem able to live within them. I don't allow posts with full names, unless those people have provided their permission here. Like Saddam, Ald. Stone is extremely vindicative. You may not be killed, but you are likely to be visited from one of Stone's thugs.
posted by Jay @ 9:30 AM
25 comments
25 Comments:
Godwin's Law
As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches one.
If such a comparison ever were to be made,it would be true of Hugh, who uses the Goebbles propaganda technique of "THE BIG LIE,REPEATED OVER AND OVER" WITH HIS Serial BASHING of Ald. Stone and his family?-Hugh knows he crossed the line long ago.
This commentary seems a trifle overdone.
I've been involved in scores of campaigns over time, many against machine entities, and there is a natural tendency to demonize the opponent. More so in the past few years. Probably because it is a reality that negative advertising works.
Was I the only person who thought the drumbeat of negative TV ads last year bordered on the absurd?
These images of Stone -- "Saddam, prison-like, tyrant, thugs, communist bloc., intimidation, ruling from on-high," Come on now.
On the one hand we have Russ Stewart saying that Ald. Stone's organization is weak and atrophying and on the other hand we are presented images of a super-efficient Orwellian monolith.
Well which is it?
Fact is, Stone is a personable fellow and holds constituent meetings once or twice a week. And has there been any real evidence of intimidation?
Maybe there has been, but "clean as the driven snow" new Democrats have been known to engage in strong arm tactics, such as Schakowsky backers who strongly implied to residents of subsidized senior housing that their subsidy is contingent on a huge Democratic turnout.
One other thing -- where is the polling data? Someone's been polling. Seems if there was encouraging news for one or another of the candidates, someone would release it. Anybody know?
it's funny that you ask about intimidation, since my communications director came back from a press conference where ilana stone certainly tried to intimidate him! then there's alan crown who has often tailed our canvassers.
now i have to agree that these attempts at intimidation are not very, well, intimidating. sometimes, they border on the absurd. we actually encourage our volunteers to say hi to alan crown when they see him. he's a very nice guy! while the perception of intimidation may exist, the reality is, not so much...
TO Brewer's AC:i'm sure that Alderman Stones's AC will be happy to know you consider him a nice guy.I must set you clear on one point-NEITHER ALDERMAN STONE,ALAN CROWN,OR ANYBODY ELSE IN THE STONE CAMPAIGN BELIEVES IN INTIMIDATION, AND IF ALAN IS OUT IN THE WARD IT IS PART OF HIS MAKING HIMSELF AS AWARE AS POSSIBLE OF WHAT IS GOING ON,ON THE GROUND-I know the last thing on Alan's mind is intimidation;AS A PRODUCT OF THE 50TH WARD,BOTH PERSONALLY AND POLITICALLY,ALAN IS QUITE AT HOME ON THE STREETSOF THE WARD.
This seems to be a little extreme, the only thing that they have in common is the first letter. Even if you think stone is doing a bad job, no way he is a terrorist. That just seems bizarre
I was thinking specifically of Saddam's pre-invasion electoral campaign. That is not extreme. You could argue the point, if you don't appreciate the analogy.
Stone is old. Stone is tired. I don't think he really cares if he gets elected, but his daughter does. Methinks Stone wants to take a nap anytime he feels like it and at his age thats exactly what he should do.
Ilana should give up the dream so daddy can retire.
WOW
There are plenty of ignorant postings here. Not many people stick to the issues and most people don’t even know what they’re talking about as far as the ward services, bike path, improvements ETC. From my past experience I get better service calling the ward office than calling 311. I see people calling Stone old he may be old but Wise and Experienced. Do these three candidates opposing Stone even know what their doing?? As Stone once said they haven’t even gotten their feet wet!! Change may be good but none of the 3 candidates could fill Stones shoes. You want change go to the ward office to voice your opinion. Who knows you may have good ideas, or get your questions answered. I am ashamed to live in this ward for 50+ years and see so such hatred. May the Wise man win!!
People in the neighborhood really do not like Ilana. They talk about her like she is a demon or something! I have never talked to her so I don't know what she's like, just that people hate her. People who like Stone are saying they won't vote for him this year because they think he'll have Ilana put in his place during his next term. People don't like that. They want to choose their elected official, not have that person chosen for them. This isn't a monarchy.
Since there are Stone supporters here, maybe they can say whether it is true or not that Bernie wants to put Ilana in his place.
The poster who refers to Stone's age is practicing the RAWEST form of BIGOTRY against BERNARD STONE,who works longer days than two people,each half his age.a thirty second conversation with BERNY STONE is all one needs to see that the ALDERMAN's thought processes are better than most,to include all ages.So stop this ANTI-SENIOR BIGOTRY,DIRECTED AT STONE,BUT TRULY DIRECTED AT ALL PERSONS WHOSE MATURITY AND EXPERIENCE ARE VALUED BY OUR SOCIETY .
Whatever happend to capsman and bernie's favorite nephew or whatever his name is?
Where are they to defend their beloved patriarch?
There is no doubt that Stone's organization has atrophied over the past decade. I know of a number of people who have left his organization.
The Illinois Committee for Honest Government, in our Endorsement Guide issued on Sunday, noted that "incumbent Bernard Stone is clearly showing the signs of age. Even many of his past supporters realize that, ourselves included. There is no doubt in our minds that should Stone be re-elected, it would be just a question of time before Stone resigned in favor of his totally unqualified daughter. The 50th Ward does not need to repeat the saga of the Strogers. Our choice is businessman Salman Aftab, who has pledged to reject the aldermanic pay increase. In fact, Aftab has pledged to donated 25% of his salary to charities based in his ward. This is a man who understands the meaning of public service."
As for the other two candidates, Brewer's election must be avoided at all costs. Brewer is the candidate of those who would extend to the 50th Ward the effects of the political cancer that has plagued the adjacent 49th Ward for years. The ward I grew up in does not need a Joe Moore clone.
The other candidate in the race strikes us as someone who would soon do the mayor's bidding once elected.
This entry JS is an insult. Comparing anyone to Saddam is slander.
Now referring to the Alderman campaign workers as thugs is a personal insult to me.
JS, I do more volunteer work in the community in one year than most people do in a lifetime. I have won awards for my service and I dont mean political service.
What do you do aside from insulting people via blogging all day?
If I am a thug that must make you a coward period
A careful reading would show that I did not compare Stone to Saddam, but Stone's campaign tactics to Saddam's. I appreciate your charity work although I despise Stone's (and Saddam's) tactics. I do my fair share of volunteer work. But you knew that.
Bernie Stone can barely walk and falls asleep in meetings.
It is public knowledge he is going to put in his dysfunctional daugther.
Too much development and development money and taxes are too high
There needs to be a change
I like that Salman Aftab wants
PROPERTY TAX REDUCTION
NO PAY RAISE
and
TERM LIMITS
It is time for reform and a change in leadership.
The last poster is dysfuntional if he/she thinks aftab is fit for anything.In this election aftab is roadside clutter-static on an am radio.
Comparing Stone and Saddam in anyway is demeaning and insulting. I could compare Stone's opponents to worse but that is stooping to their levels.
Js you say tha Stone has nothing to talk about however all of his opposition are able to do is talk about that they can do it better but dont say how... Like education and overcrowding. Stone talks and acts as well. Like the new school hich will be built at Northshore and Whipple with money from the TIFF's. Naisy, Greg ans other just yack , yack, yack.
So
Talk is cheap. The problem with Ald. Stone is not that he talks about what needs to be done, but that it takes so long for him to do anything. How long has he been talking about the new school at Whipple and North Shore?
Time for someone who can accomplish what needs to be done, not for more talk. Let's retire Stone; then he can talk all he wants!
JS... Stone talk about how long it takes to getthings done because he tells the truth. Unlike Naisy and Greg, he wont BS you on if or when it will get done.
The school has taken so long because of Funding. The State did not come through so the TIFF was used. So if you thing Alderman Brewer, Dolar or anyone else can just decide and it will happen.. it wont.
I like to hear har details from the Yackers. Aside from that I got more news for you.. I seethat Mr. Brewer on hiswebsite is saying now that all the streets in the ward were snow plowed because Stone is up for re-election time.
Once again yack, yack yack. Plowing is done the same way every snow storm at the direction of the Commissioner of Streets and Sanitation. Not the Alderman. However I am sure Greg will be out there with a snow shovel after every snow storm if he is elected.
Let's elect an alderman that doesn't take decades to accomplish something!
Stone has the connection and influence in city goverment to get things done. It would take Naisy, Greg andthe other guy four years just to get their feet wet. However I sure from all of the yack, yack, yack, they will get a sore throat.
> Stone has the connection and influence in city goverment to get things done.
What has Stone done?
Stone has save Thillins Stadium. I sure the cubs or S and C Electrical would have donated $750,000 if first year Alderman Brewer ask them?
Stone has managed to secure TIFF Funding for a new school at North Shore and Whipple. and Lincoln Village, say has your street been paved in the last 10 years?
Stone help secure private contacts to raise funds for the West Rogers Park After School Program at Boone School and help clear up red tape from the State of Illinois on reimburstment.
Stone help a crime victim identify the home of the criminal by opening his office doors at 9 AM on a sunday morning so a citizen and one of his staff members go through voter registration lists to find the address of the criminal and then got the [police to act after there has been no police action for a week.
Stone has stopped commercial development on the west side of Kezdie South of Touhy.
Stone has supported the building of Knapp center and also donated to the Jewish Children Bureau in its construction which has helped hundreds of troubled youth which cover all walks of life.
You want me to keep going , as I can go longer than the energizer bunny.
What has Brewer Done?? If you believe him delayed the building of a much needed parking lot by Devon and Rockwell for about 6 months. What has Naisey done but yack yack yack and I have no idea what the other canidate has done but send out two mailers.
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