I didn't want anyone to miss this classy post by unsuccessful City Council contender Richard Scarola:
Say what you will, like me or not, I really don't care. I ran a campaign on what I believed in and 1,059 people voted for what I believed in. Thank you to all of them and congratulations to the candidates that got elected.
What disturbed me most is how this blog attacked Terry Parker. Shame on the conservatives that attacked him because we are supposed to be above that and shame on anyone else to comment on what their "perception" is. He was one of the few democrats that was truly gracious towards me and all I can say is God forbid that you have a child born with a neurological disorder or some sort of handicap. You are a disgusting lot to tease and insult him about whatever his problems may be. At least he had the intestinal fortitude to stand up and fight for what he believed in. Right or wrong, you attack him on that, not the way he carries himself or speaks. I am embarassed for those of you that criticized him relentlessly and then go to church on Sunday and pretend to be of God. Each and every one of you (including conservatives) that slandered him really should step up, print your name and offer an apology. If this is politics in this town, then I can see why nobody chooses to become involved. For those of you that might have a handicap or know someone with a handicap, shame on you, walk a mile in that man's shoes before you can even appreciate what he has been through. Self-righteous pompeous asses, you should be discusted with yourselves for calling someone out like that. I hope you don't live your lives like that on a daily basis.
What disturbed me most is how this blog attacked Terry Parker. Shame on the conservatives that attacked him because we are supposed to be above that and shame on anyone else to comment on what their "perception" is. He was one of the few democrats that was truly gracious towards me and all I can say is God forbid that you have a child born with a neurological disorder or some sort of handicap. You are a disgusting lot to tease and insult him about whatever his problems may be. At least he had the intestinal fortitude to stand up and fight for what he believed in. Right or wrong, you attack him on that, not the way he carries himself or speaks. I am embarassed for those of you that criticized him relentlessly and then go to church on Sunday and pretend to be of God. Each and every one of you (including conservatives) that slandered him really should step up, print your name and offer an apology. If this is politics in this town, then I can see why nobody chooses to become involved. For those of you that might have a handicap or know someone with a handicap, shame on you, walk a mile in that man's shoes before you can even appreciate what he has been through. Self-righteous pompeous asses, you should be discusted with yourselves for calling someone out like that. I hope you don't live your lives like that on a daily basis.
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
50 comments:
Steve, you let those comments go through, so you must have thought that they were OK.
I never thought they were OK. But I'm loathe to censor comments about a candidate during a campaign.
Well Said Mr. Scarola
Thank you Mr. Scarola.
I have yet to have the oppurtunity to meet you Mr.Scarola,but I will say I couldn't improve on your remarks.You are "dead on."
another thank you...that's a class comment
Others on other posts have said what you said, Rick. I totally agree. Steve, sometimes you have to do what's right with regard to what is said about a person especially someone as nice AND intelligent as Mr. Parker. You should have censored the comments. Even though he was a candidate, the comments were extremely inappropriate and they should not be left just because he is a candidate. Why should any candidate be subjected to that kind of disgusting verbiage? It's a reminder of what happened to Ms. Zoppo on the front of the Press a couple years ago. You may be loathe to censor those hideous comments but I am loathe to read them!
you speak as though you are an extremely devout person, Mr. Scrola, but yet you place your signs on property that belongs to the city, especially on election day, knowing that we have an ordinance that forbids you to do so. And since you obviously read what's posted on Steve's blog, you certainly knew all along that it was not right yet you continued to do it. i would call that hypocritical.
i do agree with you on one issue and that is Mr. Parker. it's a shame that some people are so shallow and will judge others by the way they speak or if they have a disfigurement or anything else that doesn't make them appear "normal" in our society. it's disgusting!
Mr. Scarola, you are a man of honor and integrity.
Well said, and that is the way politics is in this town. It's disgusting and no one is going to change.
I have know Terry Parker for only a few years and during those few years have found him very very concerned with Bristols welfare and he has worked tirelessly for the citizens of Bristol. Mr. Scarola has hit the nail right on the head. These shameful people
don't deserve Terry but he will keep forging ahead for them.
I consider Terry a caretaker of our city and a friend.
Dave Herens
Mr. Scarola has more class in his pinky than Mad Dog and the rest of the gang put together. Too bad he did win. Class is something this group is sorely lacking.
Once agian a real gentleman. Mr. Scarola certainly has shown great initegrity by what he has said.It is my honor to say i know this man and am glad to call him my neighbor here in Bristol. SEMPER FI Richard
When is Mr. Scarola running for a higher office? We need somebody with that kind of moral compass at the top.
Amen to everything he said, and I think it applies to every miserable coward who has ever said anything disparaging or hateful behind the "anonymous" cop-out, on this blog and all others.
As someone who commented on another post by Mr. Scarola being in poor taste, let me retract that statement and offer my apologies.
Well said sir.
Looks to me like Scarola is sucking up the the Dems hoping to get move votes in two years.
I didn't know Marines are a__ kissers.
Scarola couldn't get into city hall by winning an election so now he's trying to get in by sucking up to the Democrats. Scarola sounds like the self-righteous one to me. Also it sounds like he's feeling sorry for himself.
If someone has a "a neurological disorder" then that person shouldn't be sitting on the city council, nor should they be nominated. What were the local Democrats thinking? This is serious stuff, not a high school election or a social club. If Mills didn't win (an anomoly in Bristol), then Parker be making important decisions that apparently (according to Scarola) he doesn't have the apptitude for.
Geez! With all this praise and adoration, maybe someone should submit Rick's name for sainthood. Strike while the iron is hot! :o)
8:38 a.m poster: why are you blaming the council for the comments made by some idiotic conservative? The council has nothing to do with his/her comments. This is just another opportunity for people like you to say disparaging remarks about the council. It is deplorable. I agree with several of the other posters. The statements that scarola stated here were already made under the listing of all the winners this year. to be frank, I feel that this is just a way for him to suck up so in two years when election time rolls around he can say he is an honorable man and stuck up for Mr. Parker who is nothing but a gentleman and can, I'm sure, defend himself. let's not go overboard on the accolades really.
11/3 posting by collins "Ward Wins Easily" blog posting:
posters who already spoke against concerned conservative:
11/4 12:19 p.m., 1:25 p.m., 5:36 p.m., 6:28 p.m.
11/5: 7:31 a.m.
11/6 7:21 a.m.; 11:43 a.m.
we're all thinking it and some of us have spoken on it already. I think Mr. Scarola is taking advantage of the comments that were posted previously and grandstanding . he's no more a man of "honor and integrity" than any one of the previous posters. They just chose not to write a whole self-serving about it. There are other reasons behind his posting and they have nothing to do with Mr. Parker and everything to do with a run at re-election in two years, I'm sorry to say.
While I agree with the position that Scarola took, I have to ask: "where was he when the comments were being made and the election had not yet been decided"?
Steve:
I don't see calling people "Self-righteous pompeous asses" (sic) who should be "discusted" (sic) like Scarola did as "classy". But perhaps you and I are just from different classes?
Also I don't see that any "called out" Parker on anything. What's Scarola talking about?
There have been harsh attacks on a lot of people involved in politics on this blog. Parker was hardly attacked "relentlessly" as Scarola claims.
I also never really saw Parkey "stand up and fight for what he believed in". What was that, Perhaps it was the agenda that protected his job at the state and his wife's at city hall? Good for HIM.
Actually I see this as some kind of post-loss-traamatic thing for Mr. Scarola (a guy who ran a pretty lousy campaign). Let's hope his hopes for higher office ended this year.
Rick never said
Mills was not qualified idiot. Can you not believe that someone actually has feelings and compassion for others? What happened with Parker was wrong! How dare you say Parker doesn't have the apptitude for making decisions. That is total BS and you are disgusting. I hope the public sees what they elected.
So now you attack Scarola??? I guess you didn't get the message.
Steve,keep doing the good work that you do on a daily basis.Mr.Parker is a person that believes in himself and I hope he keeps believing.My Father told me years ago.Believe in Yourself then it does not matter what people say about you.Be true to that belief and you will be fine.
So people are trying to say these comments about Parkers cognitive ability changed the result of the election? OK, this is the sore losers blog?
The thing with this statement by Scarola is that he made a (perhaps) impulisve post on the blog but Collins decided to make a story about it to slam one who critiqued him (Collins).
In other words Collins is using Scarola's comments as a weapon against someone who dared challenge him.
I believe this was directed at the comments made by a class-less human being that posts under the tag Concerned Conservative. He owes Mr. Parker an apology but you will never see one because he never thinks he is wrong. A true bad apple if you've ever seen one.
WE ARE SO IMPRESSED HE WAS A MARINE . WAS HE A FIGHTING VETERAN OR JUST ANOTHER WANTABE THE REAL VETERANS REALLY FOUGHT FOR US. NOT PUT THERE TIME IN RESERVES SO THEY CAN SAY THEY ARE VETERANS. HAPPY VETERANS DAY TO THE REAL VETERANS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
Mr. Scarola,
I take issue with your defense of Mr. Parker. Being a newcomer to Bristol polictics, I have stood in the background of the last few elections to evaluate the process and outcomes of the municipal elections.
In a previous election, I overheard Mr. Parker eloquently spewing barbs at the opposition, not to their political beliefs, but character assasinations. Does not appear to me there is a handicap evaluation of Mr. Parker
that I can see.
Don't just point out conservatives. I worked the polls for the GOP on Tuesday and the group of Dems holding signs made jokes quite a few times, then said"oh, but he really is a good guy" then laughed more.
Mr. Scarola forgets one thing while i say good for him to say what he said in defense of Mr. Parker, he should remember his own party not only downplayed Mr. Parker but said he was no real competition because of the way he talked which portrayed him as bumbling. Mr Scarola should be careful with the company he keeps
Scarola,
Why not also defend all those who are made fun of on this blog? If it's not good to say one thing for one person, why then is it good to say something about someone else?
Sucking up will not get you elected. What will get you elected is listening to those who tried to help, instead of running around like a loose cannon!
bla bla bla what ever.
All I say is thank goodness Terry Parker and Allan Marko lost.
The person who said something about Richards signs on city property in response to his well written comment on this blog is obviously one of the ones who did some bashing. You should seek spiritual guidence if all you got out of his letter was an anger about signs. I saw many signs on city property. I feel bad for you and your lack of compassion.
Someone asked if Scarola was an active Marine. Mr. Scarola served 2 active tours and was the leader of his platoon, yes he was in battle. I think you are confused. It was the other candidate who was in the reserves and never actually served in combat. Do your homework please.
does it matter if scarola saw active battle? does that make him a better or more capable person because he did? Anyone, and I mean anyone, who serves in our armed forces, whether having seen combat or not, deserves our praise for even wanting to put themselves in harm's way for our freedom. it disgusts me that some people feel that because one person saw combat and the other didn't means they are less of a veteran and shouldn't call themselves a veteran. all soldiers are trained to serve and protect. it is not up to them whether or not they are thrust into the middle of a conflict. is a military doctor less of a soldier because they didn't fight on the front lines? i'm sure everyone who has or is in the military will tell you they are proud of everyone who decides to serve and you should be, too.
I usually do not take part in blogging, but someone told me about this issue, so I checked it out.To the anonymous-Since when is defending someone who was cruelly mocked "sucking up", as you so eloquently put it? And while I'm sure there may be a Marine or two out there that IS an a___kisser, this Marine is not. What he is, is a straight talking, hard working, honorable man who served his country and defended YOUR right to openly spew your venom on a blog.Well, I guess it's not really open when you won't sign your name. I was taught that if you won't back up your words with your name, then they were not worh saying or writing. Thank you Mr. Scarola for your service to our country and for wanting to help our city. Good Luck in 2011!
The only reason I pointed out the fact that Scolrola served in battle is because it stated in this blog that he was not a true veteran. Before you post you should look at the blog and know what you are repying to.
Of course "it matters" whether a soldier has been in combat or not. There's a reason for battlefield promotions and it isn't just because of a shortage of senior noncoms and junior officers. The question is, does it matter to the job at hand. If the job is serving on a committee (e.g. the city council), probably not.
If military service and combat was the criteria, why did Obama get elected and McCain didn't.
Serving in office is not necessarily enhanced by ones military service.
In reality, unless someone ducked serving their country when called, it certainly should not be an issue.
I am a veteran, and war played havoc with my family, so I do have some awareness of the situation.
Ironically, I don't think Scarola, who I would not vote for, brought up the issue other than to list it as part of his background, as do all other candidates.
Steve, where did I find this?....
"Every citizen may freely speak, write and publish his sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that liberty."
I would think that the word "CENSOR" would be TABOO in your vocabulary.
To Ms. Shur: I'm sorry, but I don't agree with your skewed view, which is what I think it is. I do believe his posting at such a late hour to defend parker was a ploy to try to garner more votes in two years. However, I think people will see this for what it is. If he really wanted to defend parker, he would have done it when it first happened which was right after the debates but of course he couldn't do that because then he would have been seen as standing up for a Dem. so he waits until a republican decides to attack him AFTER the election to stand up for him thus he is perceived to be "an honest man with integrity" instead of a turncoat. why not defend him initially? that would have been political suicide. I'm not saying he is not an honorable man with integrity but i think every one of the candidates are (including Kate) and he, to me, doesn't deserve more accolades than anyone else. this whole thing is ridiculous!
3:28 a.m. - Government censorship is taboo in my world. But that doesn't mean every publisher has to let everyone say whatever they like on his blog or in his newspaper or on his radio station or whatever. It only means YOU have a right to have a blog, a newspaper or other venue to say what you like.
To those concerned:
First off, I posted this as a blog response under the Colapietro story congratulating the candidates that ran. I did not intend for this to be a main blog story as it did. Steve thought it was a good post and turned it into a story. Thank you sincerely Steve.
Second, at this point in time I am not sure that I want to run for city council again. I most likely will and I am going to work hard at learning the issues that are affecting this town even better. My comments were directed at a certain few bloggers, concerning their inane,nit-picking comments and the Terry Parker comments were those that sent me over the edge.
Thank you to those who posted kind comments about what I said and thank the First Ammendment to the rest of you that can't seem to find anything other than its alterior motives or a conspiracy when someone says something nice.
I will never pander for a Democratic vote in this town nor will I pander for a Republican vote. Nor will I "kiss-up" to any heirchy, Holy trinity or puppet masters as some of you claim. I vote my conscience and my beliefs. Thank you to the 1,059 voters that believed in me.
Rich,
Hope you learned why most people do not use their name on here: no matter the message, they become the issue.
Sad but true.
if you weren't pandering, then why did you put how many people voted for you? it has nothing to do with your original posting not to mention the fact posted your original comment on the discussion forum. if you wanted it to go away, you wouldn't keep bringing it up. Sorry, rich, but I think you are pandering.
I think it's necessary to clarify that Terry Parker does NOT have a cognative disorder. He had a neurological condition that causes him to have the speech impediment and other physical handicaps. He is NOT cognatively challenged. He is smarter and more capable that the majority of the people that you will find in this world.
My 12 year old knows better than to be mean and pick on people with disabilities. You people who choose to make fun of Terry's speech are ignorant and cause me to be embarassed to be from this town.
rich, you should know by now that posting on these blogs is not in your best interest. none of the councilmen post on here, because they know they are going to get chewed up and spit out except for cockayne who toots his own horn as much as possible. my advice is stay away unless you want to continue to be bombarded by arm chair critics.
10:27 AM, You're fooling yourself if you think the other councilmen don't post on here. They do it anonymously, but they're probably the majority of the bloggers.
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