Comments on: Political People in Allentown PA http://neddonovan.com/2009/04/political-people-in-allentown-pa/ This is simply a website to keep everyone updated on what is happening in my life Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:13:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Bill http://neddonovan.com/2009/04/political-people-in-allentown-pa/#comment-189 Bill Sat, 04 Apr 2009 11:49:32 +0000 http://neddonovan.com/?p=260#comment-189 Ned - Good Synopsis of what occurred. Your dad's blog is from my perspective kind of like a cyber New England town hall. I would suggest that your fathers dedication to open discourse and the free exchange of ideas is a value that you share as well based on the way that you covered this issue. What is odd to me that these values (open discourse and the free exchange of ideas) are not more widely shared in our government system. From what I learned in grade school civics class they are the core strength of our political system. Is is also telling that many who argued walk away from this event with a greater respect for your dad. Good luck with your studies and thank you for taking the time to post on this issue. Ned -

Good Synopsis of what occurred. Your dad’s blog is from my perspective kind of like a cyber New England town hall. I would suggest that your fathers dedication to open discourse and the free exchange of ideas is a value that you share as well based on the way that you covered this issue.

What is odd to me that these values (open discourse and the free exchange of ideas) are not more widely shared in our government system. From what I learned in grade school civics class they are the core strength of our political system.

Is is also telling that many who argued walk away from this event with a greater respect for your dad.

Good luck with your studies and thank you for taking the time to post on this issue.

]]> By: chriscasey http://neddonovan.com/2009/04/political-people-in-allentown-pa/#comment-180 chriscasey Fri, 03 Apr 2009 23:00:31 +0000 http://neddonovan.com/?p=260#comment-180 Ned, you are showing wisdom beyond your years. there are many layers to the dispute between Mr. O'hare and myself, but it did get personal. It doesn't matter who started it. I will say that it has always been my belief that Mr Hershman be allowed to speak. I didn't like the rule, and I said so. I only noted that Mr. Hershman said nothing for 25 years when he sat in office and it was used against others. I do sign my name. I don't pretend to be perfect, but there are many layers to the dispute that you are fortunate to have not experienced. count yourself lucky, and never let your voice be silenced by any kind of intimidation. Ned, you are showing wisdom beyond your years. there are many layers to the dispute between Mr. O’hare and myself, but it did get personal. It doesn’t matter who started it.
I will say that it has always been my belief that Mr Hershman be allowed to speak. I didn’t like the rule, and I said so. I only noted that Mr. Hershman said nothing for 25 years when he sat in office and it was used against others.
I do sign my name. I don’t pretend to be perfect, but there are many layers to the dispute that you are fortunate to have not experienced. count yourself lucky, and never let your voice be silenced by any kind of intimidation.

]]> By: HappyStepMonster http://neddonovan.com/2009/04/political-people-in-allentown-pa/#comment-175 HappyStepMonster Fri, 03 Apr 2009 15:32:26 +0000 http://neddonovan.com/?p=260#comment-175 I could not be prouder, nor my heart be warmer, at reading the above discourse. FYI, everyone, Ned wrote a couple music-related items for the MCall when he was 15, and they were picked up by the Chicago Tribune and L.A. Times, in addition to other papers across the country. I am very proud of my family. I could not be prouder, nor my heart be warmer, at reading the above discourse.

FYI, everyone, Ned wrote a couple music-related items for the MCall when he was 15, and they were picked up by the Chicago Tribune and L.A. Times, in addition to other papers across the country.

I am very proud of my family.

]]> By: michael molovinsky http://neddonovan.com/2009/04/political-people-in-allentown-pa/#comment-172 michael molovinsky Fri, 03 Apr 2009 11:21:46 +0000 http://neddonovan.com/?p=260#comment-172 ned, i must agree with o'hare that both you and your father are rightfully proud of each other. your father's availability is a good deed for which he often gets punished. what you could not realize is that most of those anonymous and pseudo-anonymous negative comments are all from one person, a sick one indeed. best wishes, michael molovinsky ned, i must agree with o’hare that both you and your father are rightfully proud of each other. your father’s availability is a good deed for which he often gets punished. what you could not realize is that most of those anonymous and pseudo-anonymous negative comments are all from one person, a sick one indeed. best wishes, michael molovinsky

]]> By: Bernie O'Hare http://neddonovan.com/2009/04/political-people-in-allentown-pa/#comment-166 Bernie O'Hare Fri, 03 Apr 2009 01:57:35 +0000 http://neddonovan.com/?p=260#comment-166 Ned, During the course of my debate w/ your dad, I at one point noted he had lost my support. But as I reflect on the exchanges, I support him now more than ever. He is the one council member I could reach. He was interested enough to state the other side of the question. I actually ended up gaining respect for your dad. And as you agree with me, I have a reporter friend at a local paper who agrees with your dad. I spent a good hour today arguing with her, too. But don't tell your dad a member of the press agrees with him. It will go to his head. You mention that you are proud of your father, as you should be. He is the most responsive city official I've ever seen. But let me take this one step further and suggest that your father should be very proud of you as well. The way you presented this situation totally blows me away. As far as the slings and arrows are concerned, they come w/ the turf. The price of strong opinion is criticism, and not all of it is respectful. I will ask your dad if I may link to your blog. But I want your permission, too. If I write about what you wrote, it might attract some comments from some of the people you condemn. On the other hand, I loved a son's perspective. It was quite touching. I hope that I may have an opportunity to meet you in perso one day. Ned,

During the course of my debate w/ your dad, I at one point noted he had lost my support. But as I reflect on the exchanges, I support him now more than ever. He is the one council member I could reach. He was interested enough to state the other side of the question. I actually ended up gaining respect for your dad.

And as you agree with me, I have a reporter friend at a local paper who agrees with your dad. I spent a good hour today arguing with her, too. But don’t tell your dad a member of the press agrees with him. It will go to his head.

You mention that you are proud of your father, as you should be. He is the most responsive city official I’ve ever seen. But let me take this one step further and suggest that your father should be very proud of you as well. The way you presented this situation totally blows me away.

As far as the slings and arrows are concerned, they come w/ the turf.
The price of strong opinion is criticism, and not all of it is respectful.

I will ask your dad if I may link to your blog. But I want your permission, too. If I write about what you wrote, it might attract some comments from some of the people you condemn. On the other hand, I loved a son’s perspective. It was quite touching.

I hope that I may have an opportunity to meet you in perso one day.

]]> By: Bernie O'Hare http://neddonovan.com/2009/04/political-people-in-allentown-pa/#comment-165 Bernie O'Hare Fri, 03 Apr 2009 01:46:56 +0000 http://neddonovan.com/?p=260#comment-165 Ned, your Dad was kind enough to send me a link to your blog. You say your proud of your father, but honestly, he is the one who should be proud of you. I was fearful that you mighgt think my criticism of your father was personal and am relieved to see it is not. If truth be told, your father is the most accessible member of city council and goes to great lengths to respond to everyone, even pains in the ass like me. I'll confess that I'm a Sunshine Act purist so I hope you'll forgive my harsh criticism of your dad. At some point in this debate, I said that I felt he had gone back on his promise of open government and inclusion. But the fact that he was actually responding to me proves I was wrong about that, and I regret making that statement. He an I will in all likelihood continue to disagree on some issues, but I think Allentown citizens are lucky to have someone like him in office. I would like to note your blog entry to my readers and will ask your dad if it is OK with him. But I'd also like it to be OK w/ you, too. You make some great points. As far as the criticism of me is concerned, I've been blogging long enough to be used to it. Your dad and I did have a great public debate, anmd I thank him for that. Ned, your Dad was kind enough to send me a link to your blog. You say your proud of your father, but honestly, he is the one who should be proud of you. I was fearful that you mighgt think my criticism of your father was personal and am relieved to see it is not.

If truth be told, your father is the most accessible member of city council and goes to great lengths to respond to everyone, even pains in the ass like me. I’ll confess that I’m a Sunshine Act purist so I hope you’ll forgive my harsh criticism of your dad.

At some point in this debate, I said that I felt he had gone back on his promise of open government and inclusion. But the fact that he was actually responding to me proves I was wrong about that, and I regret making that statement.

He an I will in all likelihood continue to disagree on some issues, but I think Allentown citizens are lucky to have someone like him in office.

I would like to note your blog entry to my readers and will ask your dad if it is OK with him. But I’d also like it to be OK w/ you, too. You make some great points.

As far as the criticism of me is concerned, I’ve been blogging long enough to be used to it.

Your dad and I did have a great public debate, anmd I thank him for that.

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