09/21/11 Brave Women And Men Are Standing In Harm's Way In Afghanistan And Iraq, Facing Bullets, And Budkins Can't Stand In A Room & Answer Questions

THE DEBATE ABOUT THE DEBATES IN GREENWICH

I always have like debates.

I've never liked to debate about debates.

If the Greenwich Town Clerk Carmella Budkins can't handle a simple interaction with the opponent, how is she they going to handle the continued pressures of office?"

Maybe Ms. Budkins has been there a bit too long.

Greenwich residents deserve the direct, face-to-face confrontation on the issues that a local serious debate provides.

We've got women and men, like my son, standing in harm's way in Afghanistan and Iraq, facing bullets and land mines, and Ms. Budkins certainly can stand in a room and answer questions and discuss the issues.

I am sorry but this is wrong on so many levels.

First Selectman Peter Tesei has always received kudos from both sides of the aisle for his willingness to always engage with the opposition during an election.

Personally, I would advised Greenwich Town Clerk Carmella Budkis to get out of this debate over debates and join the nonpartisan political forums that focus on the issues Greenwich that voters are really concerned about.

Carmella whole attitude has became has stupid political move that hurts the Republican party, because she has caused voter to focus on her campaign tactics.

The Town Clerks race has became a meta-campaign -- a campaign about the campaign -- and that's never good for the town of Greenwich or the local Republican party.

Ms. Budkins should want her campaign to be about the voters.

Greenwich homeowners deserve a full and frank airing of the issues.

Everyone is asking,"Why is Ms. Budkins afraid to debate Mr. Ng.

Mr. Ng has focused on how to make the town clerks office more efficient and transparent.

Personally, I do not that think that Ms. Budkins is not a good debater.

Perhaps it is just that she can't defend the fact that her office has not kept up with the times.

I guess if I had that record as Town clerk, I wouldn't want to defend it either.

Look how Paul Curtis at at Greenwich Community Television (Channel 79) has kept up to date, ,you can watch all of the town meetings on live your iPad or on your android phone the next morning as you take the train into work.

http://gctv.greenwich.org/node/80

How cool and transparent is that?

Paul Curtis would never ever, be afraid to debate and defend his long held RTM seat, because he strongly believes that town officials should be held accountable Greenwich voters.

Ms. Budkins wants voters to take 45 minutes out of their day and vote for her on election day, but she can't find 45 minutes to be held accountable in a nonpartisan public debate.

Something is wrong here and Greenwich deserves better than this dirty trick from Carmella Budkins.

Greenwich Roundup

Shame, Shame, Shame On Greenwich Town Clerk Carmella C. Budkins For Refusing To Debate - Greenwich Deserves Better Than This!!!!

http://greenwichroundup.blogspot.com/2011/09/092011-for-immediate-press-release.html

greenwichroundup.blogspot.com

· · Share · 14 hours ago near Greenwich

• • 

    Greenwich Roundup

    The Greenwich Time Might Not Be Aware That Carmella Budkins Is Afraid To Debate In Front Of The Voters Of Greenwich Connecticut
    
    But The Topix News Website, Which Is Owned By The McClatchy Newspaper Company, The Tribune And Gannett Media Co...See More

    Shame, Shame, Shame On Greenwich Town Clerk Carmella C. Budkins For Refusing To Debate - Topix

    www.topix.com

    Town Clerk Carmella C. Budkins cannot commit 45 minutes to a debate held by a bipartisan committee, even though they proposed a few different dates.

    13 hours ago · ·
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    Andrew Melillo What is there to debate? Mrs Budkins has dutifully and with great care and skill performed her job in the past. Merits not words are needed, I vote for Budkins. This attack is a shameful and distastefully artful attempt to skew perception and fraud voters' understanding. I vote for the candidate with Proven Experience.

    8 hours ago · · 1 person
  • 

    Greenwich Roundup

    Dear Andrew,
    
    I was putting my support behind Ms. Budkins. As I said above I like Carmella. She handled a DBA statement for another business I have, gave me the paper work to run for the RTM and swore me in when I served on the RTM.
    
    But, I am quickly losing respect for her now that I have discovered that she is refusing to participate in a 45 minute nonpartisan debate.
    
    As a reporter my curiosity starts to go up, when I hear that a town official is refusing to debate and be held accountable.
    
    I am an independent and do not blindly support one party or the other. I vote on the merits of each person.
    
    As you can see from my blog I support Carmella's running mate Peter Tesei's bid for first selectman.
    
    And I must say that I am very disappointed in Carmella.
    
    Carmella's arrogant stance that she will not debate, has only made me take a closer look at challenger who says he wants to modernize the clerks office and make it more accessible and accountable to town residents.
    
    sincerely,
    
    Brian

    7 hours ago ·
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    Andrew Melillo

    Brian,
    
    I respect the grievance you take with Ms. Budkins not wanting to debate, but that does not equate to her pushing aside accountability. She is always accountable to her actions As town clerk, and her merits should be the primary focus to her qualifications for office.
    
    Wanting to modernize the office is a feasible option, and who better to do that than the person who knows all the ins and outs of the current office? The debate is an arbitrary issue in the grand scheme of the entire argument of accountability and qualifications for the position.
    
    I say lets vote Ms. Budkins and then push for modernization of the office. She is a much more qualified person to help the process of upgrading the office than someone completely new and blind to the entire operation.
    
    We must push for great ideas, but we must seek the most efficient ways to go about implementing them.
    
    -Andrew Melillo

    7 hours ago ·
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    Greenwich Roundup

    Dear Andrew,
    
    You got to set standards, and be willing to be held accountable if you want to hold public office and serve the town.
    
    As I said above, I am originality from the show me state of Missouri, home of "Give em Hell Harry Truman" who said,"If you can't stand the heat, then get the hell out of the kitchen."
    
    I support first selectman Peter Tesei, who has agreed to not one, but multiple debates with his challenger.
    
    Mr. Tesei is not afraid of his record and is willing to be held accountable.
    
    I don't know how Mr. Tesei's running mate Ms. Budkins can expect support from myself or others in town if she will not even agree to one debate.
    
    Call me crazy, but this Jew says,"Something is not kosher here."
    
    I have never supported, or never will support a candidate who refuses to be held accountable or debate.
    
    Ms. Budkins has been very well compensated by the homeowners of Greenwich and will receive a top tier retirement package funded by taxpayers of Greenwich.
    
    The least Ms. Budkins could do is take 45 minutes to be held accountable in a debate.
    
    If she really cared about Greenwich and was really proud of her record she would agree to all three of the debates.
    
    It is a very sad thing when a politician starts to think they are entitled to their position.
    
    All Ms. Budkins is doing is causing independents like myself to take a closer look at her challenger.
    
    sincerely,
    
    Brian

    7 hours ago ·
  • 

    Andrew Melillo

    All valid points, but it is not feasible to link a 45 minute debate to accountability. We cannot succumb to determining qualifications for office based upon oratory ability and rather should look at candidates based on their effective merits.
    
    Modernize the office? Good idea, but do so with the person who will know how to do that best.
    
    Debating for 45 minutes is not shunning away from accountability, they are not interdependent whatsoever. Merits, record of experience, these are the items that should be at the forefront of this election for Town Clerk.
    
    There is not sense of entitlement. Ms. Budkins has done her job so successfully for years that her abilities should already be well known at this point. Anything else is a false skew of perception toward the voters of Greenwich.
    
    The argument of accountability in regards to the debate "misunderstanding" should be pushing independent candidates to take a closer look at the Actual qualifications of each candidate, and the uncertain motives of attempting to link government accountability with a 45 minute debate scheduled in one point in time.

    7 hours ago ·
  • 

    Andrew Melillo I love the great state of Missouri, but I remind my honorable friend of the Greenwich Roundup, that Truman rose into politics by the most dishonorable means. Careful how you portray your politics, it might be tainted by the actions of questionable figures you wish not to associate with.

    7 hours ago ·
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    Greenwich Roundup

    Tu Shay Andrew, on Give em Hell Harry.
    
    But you seem to be blinded by party politics.
    
    That's why I am an independent.
    
    I vote for the person and not the party.
    
    And I need as much information as possible to make the best possible decision. That's why nonpartisan debates are critical in the selection process for so many independents like myself.
    
    As I said above ....
    
    I have never supported, or never will support a candidate who refuses to be held accountable or debate.
    
    Some people, feel comfortable voting a straight Republican or Democratic ticket. I don't.
    
    Far too many people have died on battlefields, so that I can vote in free and open elections.
    
    I take my responsibility seriously and need free and open debates to make an intelligent decision.
    
    My son who is a Sargent in the United States Army and survived three IED attacks in Iraq, did not put himself in harms way for politicians who refuse to debate and be held accountable.
    
    As I said above, I have lost a lot of respect for Carmella.
    
    Was Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Truman, Kennedy Reagan, Bush ever afraid to debate
    
    Shame, Shame, Shame on any politician that refuses to debate and be held accountable to the taxpayers.

    6 hours ago ·
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    Andrew Melillo

    Many thanks to your Son's service to the United States. Their sacrifices are appreciated everyday, at least on this end.
    
    I am loyal to my Party yes, but if there is a candidate that is not fit, then I will say so as well. Ms. Budkins, is qualified and accountable like all others, a debate is another story; however how long can we beat a dead horse?
    
    As for Truman, well I am sure he was forever thankful for people such as Tom Pendergast and the rest....
    
    Good talking to you, take care.

    6 hours ago · · 1 person
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    Greenwich Roundup

    Dear Andrew,
    
    I would just add.
    
    There are few traditions more central to political campaigns than debates between the candidates. In the biggest races, they're nationally televised events that journalists, pundits, activists, and the public eagerly anticipate and relentlessly cover.
    
    In Greenwich Connecticut, they're community gatherings where residents are able to get to know their would-be leaders.
    
    It is a shame that in gentile Greenwich this have gotten so bad that we have to debate about debates.
    
    Ms. Budkins is probably a bit shocked that she has made headlines this election season for either refusing to debate or to participating in such forums.
    
    She was probably counting on the lazy reporters at the Greenwich Time not to care one bit about the town.
    
    That's why the joke around town is that the Greenwich Time is printed in the basement of Town Hall and edited by the First Selectman.
    
    One other blogger in town refers to the Hearst owned newspaper as the "Yellowich Time" for this very reason.
    
    Refusing to debate is a tired but traditional tactic employed by almost every political incumbent in American politics,
    
    The standard scenario: (1) Challenger calls on incumbent to mulitple debates; (2) incumbent claims busy schedule serving voters they represent; (3) challenger keeps pressure on suggesting incumbent is afraid to show up; (4) incumbent finally agrees to single debate held on a night and time that is difficult for the local paper to cover; and (5) incumbent wins reelection.
    
    We can only hope that voters have become hip enough to the game that they demand their Greenwich representatives debate early and often.
    
    It ain't the law, but it sure as hell ought to be an obligation.
    
    Personally, I think having debates is always good.
    
    There are few potentially unscripted moments in a campaign, and I think people ought to know.
    
    I understand when you don't want to give credence to your opponent, blah blah blah, but I think that's really kind of dumb for a local politican like Ms. Budkins.
    
    You know, the truth is, Ms. Budkins is an incumbent?
    
    If Ms. Budkins feels that she is in trouble.
    
    Then she ought to be able to go out there and defend herself.
    
    So I always like debates.
    
    I've never liked to debate about debates.
    
    If the Ms. Budkins can't handle a simple interaction with the opponent, how is she they going to handle the continued pressures of office?"
    
    Maybe Ms. Budkins has been there a bit too long.
    
    Greenwich residents deserve the direct, face-to-face confrontation on the issues that a local serious debate provides.
    
    We've got women and men, like my son, standing in harm's way in Afghanistan and Iraq, facing bullets and land mines, and Ms. Budkins certainly can stand in a room and answer questions and discuss the issues.
    
    I am sorry but this is wrong on so many levels.
    
    Maybe Stephen Ng should bring a cardboard cut out of Ms. Budkins to all of the debates that First Selectman Peter Tesei and Mr. John Blankley have agreed to.
    
    Maybe, Ms. Budkins can get a friend, relative or Republican political operative to debate for her.
    
    I remember last year seeing a California race where Democrat Ray Lutz and Libertarian Mike Benoit went on a hunger strike to protest Rep. Duncan Hunter's refusal to engage with them in a series of debates.
    
    Maybe Mr. Ng should go on a hunger strike too.
    
    Like Carmella and myself, Mr. Ng could afford to lose a few pounds.
    
    First Selectman Peter Tesei has always received kudos from both sides of the aisle for his willingness to always engage with the opposition during an election.
    
    Personally, I would advised Greenwich Town Clerk Carmella Budkis to get out of this debate over debates and join the nonpartisan political forums that focus on the issues Greenwich that voters are really concerned about.
    
    Carmella whole attitude has became has stupid political move that hurts the Republican party, because she has caused voter to focus on her campaign tactics.
    
    The Town Clerks race has became a meta-campaign -- a campaign about the campaign -- and that's never good for the town of Greenwich or the local Republican party.
    
    Ms. Budkins should want her campaign to be about the voters.
    
    Greenwich homeowners deserve a full and frank airing of the issues.
    
    Everyone is asking,"Why is Ms. Budkins afraid to debate Mr. Ng.
    
    Mr. Ng has focused on how to make the town clerks office more efficient and transparent.
    
    Personally, I do not that think that Ms. Budkins is not a good debater.
    
    Perhaps it is just that she can't defend the fact that her office has not kept up with the times.
    
    I guess if I had that record as Town clerk, I wouldn't want to defend it either.
    
    Look how Paul Curtis at at Greenwich Community Television (Channel 79) has kept up to date, ,you can watch all of the town meetings on live your iPad or on your android phone the next morning as you take the train into work.
    
    http://gctv.greenwich.org/node/80
    
    How cool and transparent is that?
    
    Paul Curtis would never ever, be afraid to debate and defend his long held RTM seat, because he strongly believes that town officials should be held accountable Greenwich voters.
    
    Ms. Budkins wants voters to take 45 minutes out of their day and vote for her on election day, but she can't find 45 minutes to be held accountable in a nonpartisan public debate.
    
    Something is wrong here and Greenwich deserves better than this.

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    gctv.greenwich.org

    Greenwich Community Television, our local government access channel, has expanded it's broadcast reach to a second video provider. Verizon FiOS video service now carries GCTV programs on Verizon FiOS channel 24 as well as Cablevision channel 79.