Where's Dave Bing?

**daddeeo** · May-03-09, 08:46 AM

Dave Bing has missed several events recently. A youth group and a WJR interview. Is this just because Jesse Jackson came to Detroit to endorse him?
Jesse might be seen as an outsider and a "hired gun" to get Dave over the finish line. If nothing else, it shows Bing has scheduling problems already and perhaps he can't handle the job.
What's your take on his no shows so close to the election?

**RO_Resident** · May-03-09, 08:59 AM

I saw Bing pressing the flesh at Eastern Market on Saturday.

**Vantanna** · May-03-09, 09:01 AM

Doesn't speak well for Mr. Bing. Not sure how much credibility Rev. Jackson has anymore either.

dexterferry · May-03-09, 10:06 AM

is anyone else weirded out by all the cockrel shills on detroityes recently?

**Homer** · May-03-09, 10:26 AM

Shills?
Supporter here.

dexterferry · May-03-09, 10:46 AM

it's one thing to be a supporter. it's another thing to come on here and offer up some unsubstantiated and unflattering info on Bing for "discussion."

**firstandten** · May-03-09, 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by dexterferry

it's one thing to be a supporter. it's another thing to come on here and offer up some unsubstantiated and unflattering info on Bing for "discussion."

What are you refering to ?

The no shows ? That might be unflattering but I don't think thats unsubstantiated, and understanding Mr. Jackson he may be a "hired gun" after all he's here for the NAACP dinner and the connection between that Mr. Anthony and the Famie Lou Hamer PAC makes sense.

**Fnemecek** · May-03-09, 10:46 AM

Originally Posted by dexterferry

is anyone else weirded out by all the cockrel shills on detroityes recently?

Yes.

Homer:
The difference between a supporter and a shill is that a shill doesn't worry about logical consistency.

When people criticize Dave Bing for not disclosing those who are advising him on a possible transition, but ignore the fact that Ken Cockrel also had a similar group of advisers last year that he refused to name, they are acting as shills.
When people attempt to blame Kwame Kilpatrick's special contracts for "friends and family", but forget to mention that Ken Cockrel voted to approve those contracts while he was President of the City Council, they are acting as shills.
When people blame Ken Cockrel's lack of accomplishments on the City's budget problems, but ignore the fact that the City Council - under Mr. Cockrel's presidency - is responsible for approving said budget, they are acting as shills.

If anyone wants to argue that the mini-stations that Mr. Cockrel opened are so great that we should overlook every other short-coming that he has, then he or she can rightfully call themselves supporters. The others tend to run into shill territory.

**Prodigal_Son** · May-03-09, 12:29 PM

Originally Posted by Fnemecek

Yes.

Homer:
The difference between a supporter and a shill is that a shill doesn't worry about logical consistency.

When people criticize Dave Bing for not disclosing those who are advising him on a possible transition, but ignore the fact that Ken Cockrel also had a similar group of advisers last year that he refused to name, they are acting as shills.
When people attempt to blame Kwame Kilpatrick's special contracts for "friends and family", but forget to mention that Ken Cockrel voted to approve those contracts while he was President of the City Council, they are acting as shills.
When people blame Ken Cockrel's lack of accomplishments on the City's budget problems, but ignore the fact that the City Council - under Mr. Cockrel's presidency - is responsible for approving said budget, they are acting as shills.

If anyone wants to argue that the mini-stations that Mr. Cockrel opened are so great that we should overlook every other short-coming that he has, then he or she can rightfully call themselves supporters. The others tend to run into shill territory.

I don't recall Cockrel claiming he held an MBA that was purely fictional. Bing might make a better mayor than Cockrel, but I find it very hard to defend Bing's integrity.

Am I a shill now?

**daddeeo** · May-03-09, 12:41 PM

It will be interesting to see what kind of turn out there is for this election. I don't think it makes much difference who wins either.
With the budget in such a mess, there isn't any money for doing much of anything.
The best the winner can do is provide some moral leadership and get the finances under control.

**Fnemecek** · May-03-09, 02:03 PM

Originally Posted by Prodigal_Son

I don't recall Cockrel claiming he held an MBA that was purely fictional. Bing might make a better mayor than Cockrel, but I find it very hard to defend Bing's integrity.

Am I a shill now?

I don't recall Mr. Bing signing an affidavit; swearing under oath that he did not owe any campaign fines when he actually owed more than $40,000. Let's just say that both candidates have had instances of selective memory.

As for which candidate would make a better mayor, we know that Mr. Cockrel has been in office for 8 months. The best he has been able to do in that time was open a few mini-stations. That's pretty lame, in my opinion.

Mr. Bing is admittedly a roll of the dice. If Mr. Cockrel had accomplished something meaningful during his 8 months in office - or if he had done a better job on the City Council - then I'd be far more inclined to let him stay in office. However, when the City's needs are as great as they currently are and Mr. Cockrel's job performance is as low as it is, I believe the only sane course of action is roll the dice on the new guy.

Wost case scenario: he turns out to be just as useless as Mr. Cockrel currently is. In which case, we can replace him with someone else in November.