BLOOMBERG TRASHES TRISH IN ‘GAZETTE’ DEBATE, BUT WAS IT ENOUGH? … IDIOT MODERATOR SETS UP INCUMBENT JUST FINE
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, AUG. 30, 2016) —Last night, THE PLANET attended a debate between Democrat candidates for the state House: Machine candidate Tricia Farley-Bouvier, and intrepid challenger Mike Bloomberg. We didn’t fall asleep nor did we rely on toothpicks. Our shades worked just fine.
Jonathan Levine‘s The Pittsfield Gazette hosted the debate at Berkshire Community College.
Who “won?”
Bloomberg.
Was it enough? The debate was sparsely attended, the small 125-seat K-111 theater at BCC less than half full at the start, and most of those “Believers” of one side or the other. PC-TV will get an electronic audience, but how large and who among them will vote? THE PLANET predicts a painfully low turnout, which plays right into the Machine candidate’s hand.
The candidates broke little ground, although the fault lies with the woeful moderator, Larry Kratka, who “came out of retirement,” as Trish put it in an odd aside that revealed perhaps too much familiarity. Retirement? Mothballs is more like it — the ones that have been in Kratka’s mouth ever since he first said “da da.” Kratka, who can’t pronounce “cat” without it sounding like “mphfphtbc,” killed any momentum the evening could have had with the ridiculousness of his first three questions:
Q1 — “Why are you running?” Really? The most cliched’ and “colleened” question of all time? As your first launch?
Q2 — Kratka then asked about the city council’s ban on exhibiting animals in Pittsfield? Huh? You’re the moderator. You have a wealth of probing questions on huge issues, and you ask about periphery?
Q3 — By the third query, it got agonizing. Kratka asked Bloomberg and Farley-Bouvier what they thought about a ban on plastic bags!!??!! The correct answer for Bloomberg would have been, “I’m against it, Larry, because I will need one with which to suffocate you.” Trish had to love it (“I have some behavior to change when it comes to plastic bags” Painful!). Bloomberg had a great moment when he told Kratka that he and his campaign have knocked on 7,000 doors, and not one person mentioned plastic bags as a top-three issue. By the time they got through these irrelevancies, one-third of the hour was up. One could see Bloomberg justifiably chaffing at the lost opportunity. It couldn’t have worked out any better for TFB. Was Kratka stooge-ing for the Machine ? And while we’re at it, why was he so unctuously chatting up Tricia prior to the debate? It was embarrassing to see. Bloomberg wore a jacket and blue tie, Trish fire-engine red, and Kratka an outfit of cheap “wink-wink, nudge-nudge.”
Pittsfield’s Non-existent Economy? Amazingly, It Never Came UP
Amazingly, the dim moderator did not ask one question about the woeful local economy. Again, this favored the incumbent. Clearly, she didn’t want to talk about the implosion of Pittsfield’s economy while she’s been rep. Bloomberg’s best moments came when he talked about that very thing, which, unfortunately, he had to work into other responses and in his closing statement. He nailed his closing, pointing out that since TFB has been in office, Pittsfield taxes have been raised 41% and the remnants of the local economy have deteriorated into seeds and stems.
TFB, who looked tired, did not make eye contact with the audience. Bloomberg did. She stared oddly above everyone’s heads, a gesture that those fluent in body language will interpret as nervousness and a lack of conviction. The only person she stared at the entire evening was her opponent, whenever he was answering a question. Was she trying to intimidate him, or does it mean Mike Bloomberg is in her head, big time?
Bloomberg said he attended every single budget session as well as council meetings. TFB admitted she didn’t, adding she keeps in touch with the mayor, school superintendent, school committee, and councilors by — er — texting. Great. She relies on a medium favored by teen-age girls. She took few positions on meaningful issues, ducking by repeatedly mentioning “teamwork.” She appeared condescending, at times lecturing Bloomberg. She said the state doesn’t have a spending problem. It has a revenue problem. Her answer? More taxes. Bloomberg agreed. Massachusetts has a revenue problem, but “the answer is not more taxes.” Rather it’s to increase revenue by passing policies that will grow the economy. Point, set, and match — Bloomberg.
She ducked the “yes-no” question on whether Walmart is a good fit for PEDA. She said, “I’m listening to people.” Bloomberg is against the project and offered an articulate and reasoned defense of his position.
In sum, TFB texts. Bloomberg has knocked on 7,000 doors and counting. She tweets. He looks people in the eyes and talks to them. She reports to the local Big Shots, who have the plays called by Boston. He reports to ordinary citizens. In her closing statement, she brought out her usual dagger, saying “State Representative is not an entry-level position,” trying to paint him as too young and inexperienced.
Rather it was she who came off as the immature one.
Bloomberg wants it more, but will that be enough? With miserable turnout, she wins. If by some miracle the electorate gets energized and comes out in unexpected numbers on Sept. 8, he pulls off the upset.
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“Politicians only display creative thinking when making excuses after they get caught doing something illegal.” — Alfred E. Neuman
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
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Pittsfield’s depressed local economy is at rock bottom. It can’t get any worse! Whoever is the next Pittsfield State Rep. & State Senator can’t do any worse because Pittsfield has just lost hundreds of jobs with the departure of Sabic Plastics to Houston, Texas. If Tricia Farley Bouvier wins another term, she will have to answer for the financing of the new Taconic High School project in the face of Pittsfield politics inability to continue to raise municipal taxes by $6 million per year + a $12 million per year capital budget without a Proposition 2.5 override. Pittsfield’s economy has tanked and its public finances are at the point of insolvency!
It would take a miracle, not Mike Bloomberg, to turn the tide of Pittsfield’s downward spiral!
If you think Pittsfield is bad you should spend some time in Winsted CT
what is going on in Winsted CT?
Most of the Taconic jobs are going to firms from Worcester-East. Workers will be travelling in from those areas every day. Gas stations and package stores will be seeing a boost but enough to justify the 120 million cost?
That is very interesting. Getting jobs for these firms may be the real reason we are building a school.
Oh, am I being suspicious? I am from Pittsfield. Shouldn’t I be suspicious?
Moderators like Kratka is one reason for a low turn out.
I really enjoyed this story and it sure capsulizes Tricia. Speaking of plastic, could she be more plastic? More mold-able? More discard-able? Much like the plastic bags that won’t biodegrade in the dump she should be banned, never to be seen again.
She represents everything that strips democratic representation from the people. She is in office to make her life better, not ours.
There is little motivation to show up at this election, but just so I can vote against her does it for me.
Does it for me too. Voting is more important than ever. Why don’t people get that?
Patty Bouvier WANTS this …what will it look like to the Clinton campaign if she loses.She is trying to go to Washington.She needs ward 4 to launch her new career. She is a wreck…..Im voting Bloomberg and will throw him out in 2 years if needed.
This is where it starts…..If Bouvier wins we are wasting our time….Is our Mayor back from vacation….Mayor Tyer is really loving the job as Pittsfield Royalty….120k to do 1 city council meeting…..go back to Lenox
Many new positions in the Pittsfield schools….Yon loves new positions.Mrs Behnke assistant got a 20k raise….Behnke went from 85k to 120k….she and her teacher husband pulling 200k plus from Pittsfield…..you think shes willing to pay 200 more in taxes every year….School committee can’t stop spending and the mayor won’t do it…..Where does Barry take this city financially.
TYER made a quantum leap in taxes this year…..they are all addicted to cash…so are drug dealers.They need us to say no and we won’t do it.
Meant to get this in yesterday. One of the firefighters being hired has an OUI conviction. I thought you needed a clean drivers licence for a civil service job? Also Mr. Conyers has a black father and white mother.
I’m sure young Conyers needs to know that as he fights the fires?
Kratka was excellent at moderating Parades. Dbates, not so much.
He should stick to spinning the moldy oldies.
Why did he ask a bunch of questions that would only apply to candidates for city council?
Really?
I watched both debates last night.
Mr. Bloomberg won, TFB wins the election.
Mr. Hinds won, he wins the election.
I’ll vote for Bloomberg although not happy about his anti-Walmart stance, but TFB just has to go. Plastic bags and circus animals are way down on my list of concerns. All the school people will be out in force to vote for TFB, one of their chief money makers, so unless voter turnout is high, we will be stuck with her again.
A Super Walmart project needs to go forward in this area despite what any local politician says. Myself and many others signed a petition for it. What the people want needs to start mattering in this area.
I disagree with TFB’s support of legislation for the VMT, drivers licenses for illegal immigrants, special privileges for transgenders, and her rabid pushing for the new Taconic school and the BIC. She is fiscally irresponsible, a hypocrite for sending her kids to the Lenox schools, and now appears arrogant & entitled to her position as state rep. Throw her out, people! I’m voting for Bloomberg!
She is also against allowing any more charter schools. She does not want any competition for her cash cow for everybody in the public school system. The Pittsfield Public school budget is the ever flowing Pinata for special interests. Over 100 million dollars worth of gravy flowing in all directions. EVERY YEAR FOR ETERNITY. Some of it you can track some of it seems to spill out recklessly. And she (and especially her handlers) do not want this chest of gold to be split with anyone else. Even if it means many kids will get a shitty education. It is “for the kids” (but not really) is it Trish?
I hope everyone going to the polls knows what Question 2 is all about and votes accordingly.
Now Michael, when you get to be a big boy maybe you can do what I do…
What did Ben Downing do before the senate? Did he serve on the city council? Wasn’t he younger than Bloomberg when he was first elected?
Bloomberg should have said, the only plastic of concern was the plastic credit card the state uses issued by the taxpayers that is maxed out.
Bloomberg is nothing more than a nuisance canidate put up by the Bianchi/Mazzeo naysayer’s. All you have to do is speak to the child once, and you will here the smartest person in the world….just ask him.
Some chucklehead wrote a letter to the Eagle about how incredibly awesome Trish is. There were so many superlatives that I expected to the last line to say Trish was the second coming of Christ.
Actually the letter reads like Tricia talks so maybe she wrote it herself.
Every vote counts ! And in the Pitts, who counts them and where they are counted and how they are processed, transported, and tallied also counts, as well as absentee storage,application and rejection.
If the truth was only made public !
follow up from yesterday: all the signs on Wahconah Park have been removed. The power of the Valenti Blog flexes its muscle once again !!!
Drove by today. No signs! Somebody got word about illegalities. Thats second one for Hinds breaking the law. Lost count on Tricia. Thanks Planet.
Watched the debate. Mike Bloomberg all the way. Trish looks like shes mailing it in. Looks panicky to me.
In my opinion Farley-Bouvier is a ladder climber who needs to be defeated before she can get any further up the political chain. Even if Bloomberg doesn’t win, she may have a hard time against Connell, who I think would be a much better rep. Pittsfield has lost too many jobs of late and is danger of going the way of cities across the USA, ie bankruptcy. The Mrs. and I will be moving in the next few years. Who needs this?
I am for Bloomberg I’ve had enough of Trisha. She has come up with no legislation or programs that I can go along with.
Whoever gets their vote out will win. Let’s hope Bloomy has his team making phone calls.
Voting Bloombergm Trish looks to be in a fog.
So that’s what the F in TFB stands for.
Representative Bloomberg is destined for greatness.People are lucky to have this overly qualified candidate and now is his time……Vote Bloomberg….now is the time to get rid of WHEN
Bouvier will never be heard of again if elected….its her own fault…she bit the hand that fed her .
Dan is this still your blog or has The School Committee taken over?
God save the Queen! More Blight last night.
We could be making some dough out at the Blight Fire seen at J B Paper. Sell Hot Dogs or something, the crowds are huge, who would have thought the mayors non blight effort would become ameconomic engine.
Wow tough questions from Larry Katka, another good one is Teo’s or the Hot Dog Ranch for the best hot dogs. Thanks for helping us make up our minds though it was a coin toss for sure.
Did he ask if Miller Light tasted great or was less filling?
Mike Bloomberg will be a spark for the city caught up in banning circus animals, plastic bags, cigaret sales, styrofoam cups and other such issues that the leaders approve in their infinite wisdom to “lower taxes and provide jobs.” Amazing how someone “so young” ( Bloomberg ) can know so much without expertise in “collaborating” and texting. If Bouvier didn’t collaborate so much and actually got her 25 pieces of legislation passed, Pittsfield’s hurting economy would be blessed and improved with such gems as busting jay walkers, regulating storage units and getting eye drops. It is much easier to brag when you “collaborate” by riding on other’s coat tails and taking credit for their efforts. That’s how it works and sure has helped Pittsfield. If only Ms. Bouvier stopped posing for pictures and cutting ribbons so much, she could take the time to enroll in an intro economics course to understand what she hasn’t done for her district. Yes she says her job is not an entry level one and for her thirty years of alleged experience, she sure has most of us fooled. We do need thank you her for those taxes that will pay for two new buildings: an innovation center lacking tenants and already $3 million short and a school that will teach grocery bagging and customer greeting at a new Super Walmart.
A paper or plastic question would at least have been relevant as our fine city officials will soon be tasked with another planet saving decision regarding those sinful plastic bags.
TFB is just a poser…a candidate who only poses for photo ops.
She has never been a doer…I used to see her running the track down a Clapp Park….we can see how far that got her. She never stuck it out to succeed…didn’t put in the time…no pain, no gain.
She is just a poser.