Ken Dixon need to go back to moderator’s school. In addition to his losing his cool with Finch and injecting himself into the debate, when Ganim made his “I may be the future mayor” joke, Dixon replied he liked Ganim’s thinking on that subject. Where in hell is the moderator’s obligation to be impartial in that remark?
Lack of professionalism by injecting one’s own anecdotal information into the debate and favoritism toward one candidate are both inexcusable regardless of which candidates are involved.
Dixon is a professional and clearly knows better. In my opinion he went in with his own and/or the Hearst Corporation’s agenda, perhaps due to an animosity toward Finch, perhaps just to sell newspapers. In any event, Dixon’s performance left much to be desired.
Wicca, that is why your comments to me defending Moore and Gomes do not resonate. If Dixon came after Ganim or Foster it would be totally unacceptable to me and given John from Black Rock’s reputation, it would be equally disturbing. Wicca, honestly, I am shocked it was acceptable to you. You are a Foster supporter. It seems only the Foster supporters on this blog are nasty. Seriously, very very nasty!
Ken Dixon did a great job. He took Finch to task for restricting news media access to police reports, a violation of public records laws and the Freedom Of Information Act. Mayor Finch should be taken to task for that. We have a vigorous free press because of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.
Last paragraph from moderators instruction from the American Debating Society:
It cannot be over-emphasized that you should refrain from interfering in a debate any more than is absolutely necessary: the best moderator is usually the one least often heard. The slightest reprimand you give a debater is liable to influence the judges very strongly.
At the same time, remember how frustrating it is to debate when the moderator is weak, and be firm.
Your job is vitally important, but don’t let that make you feel too self-important or let power go to your head and act officiously! Above all, do your best to be fair.
I agree Dixon should take anyone to task regarding suppressing or withholding information, in print, in his professional capacity. Not as a debate moderator. Two very different roles, with two very different sets of guidelines.
John from Black Rock is absolutely right regarding Ken Dixon’s performance. It is indeed inexcusable for a moderator to behave this way. There is no gray area here.
There’s more than a little hostility toward the mayor. He knows it, his people know it. That’s why all his public appearances have been in controlled environments. He hates answering questions, especially inquiries about his failings as an elected official, a chief executive and as a man. Mr. Finch’s lack of compassion and refusal to view the world from any but a very narrow, parochial perspective is appalling. He is going to lose the primary and go on to lose the general election. His support is being eroded by the winds of change.
I did not say “Joe Ganim represents the winds of change.” Don’t put words in my mouth; that’s something Steven Auerbach would do.
The people of the city of Bridgeport are tired, sick and tired of the dirty politics that have come to define our town. A vote for either Gsnim or Finch is a vote for the dysfunctional status quo. Both are supported by different factions of a divided Democratic Town Committee, a crooked organization that has demonstrated time and time again it will stoop as low as necessary to maintain its hold on the mayor’s office and the common council. Not all of its members are shady. Go high enough and the trail will lead to one man, in this case Mario Testa.
DTC leadership is more than a little nervous; there are two strong reform-minded candidates who will uproot all the wastefulness and patronage jobs that have been doled out over the years. Bridgeport’s city government must be downsized and made to function with professionalism and responsibility to the people.
The majority of the people of the city of Bridgeport are fed up with a mayor who is almost obsessively concerned with his own job security, at the expense of the people he was elected to represent. Bill Finch’s arrogance, pomposity, spite and disdain for the less fortunate is obscene and disgusting.
My apologies, Kid. I did think that winds of change thing was a little odd. I had forgotten about a conversation we had on this topic a little while back.
It’s a boring replay. Ken Dixon’s experience didn’t help. You’re only as good as yesterday. He extracted the worst from the candidates and moderated a sometimes-confusing debate. Ganim’s bunt single was the highlight. Nobody was able to construct a good 90-second response.
It’s with a gallon-sized drink wrapped around my hand that I tell TBK this week’s debate featured two lawyers and a two-term Mayor and produced little in the way of vocal firepower. The best quote was whispered under Joe Ganim’s breath. Ken Dixon had plenty to work with. If I’d paid money for those tickets, I’d ask for a refund.
Ken Dixon need to go back to moderator’s school. In addition to his losing his cool with Finch and injecting himself into the debate, when Ganim made his “I may be the future mayor” joke, Dixon replied he liked Ganim’s thinking on that subject. Where in hell is the moderator’s obligation to be impartial in that remark?
If aimed at Ganim, the barbs would have likely not have garnered the vocal opposition they did. I was fine with it. 🙂
Lack of professionalism by injecting one’s own anecdotal information into the debate and favoritism toward one candidate are both inexcusable regardless of which candidates are involved.
Dixon is a professional and clearly knows better. In my opinion he went in with his own and/or the Hearst Corporation’s agenda, perhaps due to an animosity toward Finch, perhaps just to sell newspapers. In any event, Dixon’s performance left much to be desired.
Time now to move on and get back to real work.
Have a good evening, Wicca. 🙂
Wicca, that is why your comments to me defending Moore and Gomes do not resonate. If Dixon came after Ganim or Foster it would be totally unacceptable to me and given John from Black Rock’s reputation, it would be equally disturbing. Wicca, honestly, I am shocked it was acceptable to you. You are a Foster supporter. It seems only the Foster supporters on this blog are nasty. Seriously, very very nasty!
While most political observers study the forest, I only care about the trees.
(wink)
Ken Dixon did a great job. He took Finch to task for restricting news media access to police reports, a violation of public records laws and the Freedom Of Information Act. Mayor Finch should be taken to task for that. We have a vigorous free press because of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.
Last paragraph from moderators instruction from the American Debating Society:
It cannot be over-emphasized that you should refrain from interfering in a debate any more than is absolutely necessary: the best moderator is usually the one least often heard. The slightest reprimand you give a debater is liable to influence the judges very strongly.
At the same time, remember how frustrating it is to debate when the moderator is weak, and be firm.
Your job is vitally important, but don’t let that make you feel too self-important or let power go to your head and act officiously! Above all, do your best to be fair.
I agree Dixon should take anyone to task regarding suppressing or withholding information, in print, in his professional capacity. Not as a debate moderator. Two very different roles, with two very different sets of guidelines.
John from Black Rock is absolutely right regarding Ken Dixon’s performance. It is indeed inexcusable for a moderator to behave this way. There is no gray area here.
There’s more than a little hostility toward the mayor. He knows it, his people know it. That’s why all his public appearances have been in controlled environments. He hates answering questions, especially inquiries about his failings as an elected official, a chief executive and as a man. Mr. Finch’s lack of compassion and refusal to view the world from any but a very narrow, parochial perspective is appalling. He is going to lose the primary and go on to lose the general election. His support is being eroded by the winds of change.
Amen.
Joe Ganim represents “the winds of change?!” You might make a case for MJF, but Joe Ganim as “the winds of change” just doesn’t cut it.
I did not say “Joe Ganim represents the winds of change.” Don’t put words in my mouth; that’s something Steven Auerbach would do.
The people of the city of Bridgeport are tired, sick and tired of the dirty politics that have come to define our town. A vote for either Gsnim or Finch is a vote for the dysfunctional status quo. Both are supported by different factions of a divided Democratic Town Committee, a crooked organization that has demonstrated time and time again it will stoop as low as necessary to maintain its hold on the mayor’s office and the common council. Not all of its members are shady. Go high enough and the trail will lead to one man, in this case Mario Testa.
DTC leadership is more than a little nervous; there are two strong reform-minded candidates who will uproot all the wastefulness and patronage jobs that have been doled out over the years. Bridgeport’s city government must be downsized and made to function with professionalism and responsibility to the people.
The majority of the people of the city of Bridgeport are fed up with a mayor who is almost obsessively concerned with his own job security, at the expense of the people he was elected to represent. Bill Finch’s arrogance, pomposity, spite and disdain for the less fortunate is obscene and disgusting.
My apologies, Kid. I did think that winds of change thing was a little odd. I had forgotten about a conversation we had on this topic a little while back.
It’s a boring replay. Ken Dixon’s experience didn’t help. You’re only as good as yesterday. He extracted the worst from the candidates and moderated a sometimes-confusing debate. Ganim’s bunt single was the highlight. Nobody was able to construct a good 90-second response.
Go crawl back under your rock, booze boy. It ain’t happy hour just yet.
It’s with a gallon-sized drink wrapped around my hand that I tell TBK this week’s debate featured two lawyers and a two-term Mayor and produced little in the way of vocal firepower. The best quote was whispered under Joe Ganim’s breath. Ken Dixon had plenty to work with. If I’d paid money for those tickets, I’d ask for a refund.
Ken Dixon = Moderator on the verge. Totally unprofessional, rude and non-objective. How did he get that gig, anyway?