As those who haven’t been under a rock for the last couple months know, Salisbury’s city elections came to a yawning conclusion (for the most part) earlier this week. At the moment the only two people remaining on pins and needles are Cynthia Polk and Shanie Shields. After Shields led on Election Night, absentee balloting has thus far turned the tables and placed Polk in the driver’s seat by one vote with still a handful to be counted – a flat-out tie is a definite possibility.
But that rivalry is nowhere near as bitter as a couple I’ve observed over the last week. Let’s begin with the pitched disagreement here on this very website featuring “Outraged Richard” against a diverse coalition of commentors who really don’t care who Jim Ireton sleeps with either. In fact, as long as Jim isn’t going to make himself into an example of a gay mayor (as opposed to a mayor who happens to be gay) then I see no issue with that for 95% of the population. My objections to Ireton are strictly policy-based although I reserve the right to comment if he makes his lifestyle choice a political issue.
Aside from “Outraged Richard”, I think the issue pretty much stayed where it belonged – in the closet, as it were. But I’m certain this statement will draw more comment on both sides – good for readership I suppose!
Now, whether the recent uneasy truce between Jonathan Taylor (aka the Salisbury Grinch as in Views of a Salisbury Grinch) and Joe Albero of Salisbury News will hold or not probably depends on the seconds, thirds, and so on in their duel. We ended up making the rivalry a thorny side issue in all three electoral races, with Taylor favoring Gary Comegys, Shanie Shields, and Muir Boda while Albero backed Jim Ireton, Cynthia Polk, and Debbie Campbell.
Depending on how the District 1 race turns out Albero may go 3-for-3 but longtime readers of the local blogs may recall how disheartened people were with Louise Smith (who had pretty much unanimous backing from the local bloggers.) So Joe shouldn’t count his chickens before they hatch because Polk could be the next example of a vote in favor of those Albero detests.
Perhaps a legitimate question can be asked regarding what happens next with both websites. Taylor wants to change his direction and focus on the good within Salisbury but that will be a turnoff to those who expect him to counter what they consider the overreaching by Albero on certain topics, and this redirection will likely be greeted with a great deal of skepticism by those on Joe’s side, particularly G.A. Harrison of Delmarva Dealings.
And then you have Albero and his numerous co-contributors, along with the sycophants who slavishly support whatever he says. The question can be asked whether his enemies list – a grouping which seems to dwindle with each passing day as the political winds shift – will become too small to keep Joe’s site interesting. After all, one can only read so many police reports and public service announcements before wishing for red meat, and let’s face it – Barrie Parsons Tilghman was a major source of protein for Joe and his readership.
For someone like that, there always needs to be a foil; an archenemy to unite one’s purpose. Mine is big government, unfortunately that particular devil of mine isn’t going anywhere soon. Aside from the occasional Harrison article, one thing Salisbury News generally lacks is good political commentary. But Joe rarely lacks for an enemy – I’ve even come in handy a time or two along with pretty much every other blogger who’s not a contributor of his.
Most troubling amongst all the conflict is the ease with which both men stepped into the realm of making it about family. Personally I don’t care who went first, neither needed to go there. And to be perfectly frank I’m of the belief that the truce isn’t going to last very long because there’s too many anonymous commentors who like nothing better to stir up trouble and have an axe to grind against either Taylor or Albero.
While Joe tends to dismiss what I do and the reach I have, he forgets that I’ve been at this longer and have a pretty good memory of what’s come before on the local website scene. There’s been a number of what I dub “anti-Albero” sites and thus far Joe has outlasted them, in part because he has a larger enemy (and likely deeper pockets too.)
So if Taylor is no longer the bogeyman and Barrie Tilghman is out of the political picture, who becomes the enemy Joe craves? At the same time, can Taylor resist the frequent opportunities for cheap shots?
If either want to get the respect each thinks they deserve, then both Joe and Jonathan need to achieve a much higher level of discourse than they’ve shown over the last several months. Only time will tell who blinks first in this contest of wills.
There is always the possibility that Ireton will turn out to be another Louise Smith or at least not the saviour that Albero has made him out to be. Mark my words, the first time Jim does something that Joe doesn’t agree with, Joe will start trashing him like he has with others. Joe will make it out to be a grand conspiracy against him by Tilghman, Webster, Gordy, See, et al.
Here are a couple of $25,000 questions:
1) If Jim Ireton doesn’t fire Chief Webster, who goes ballistic first?
2) If Jim Ireton appoints Bill Gordy the new Chief of the Salisbury Fire Department, who goes ballistic first?
Good stuff Michael..I agree with everything you said.
What I find totally disgusting is the insider information Ms. Campbell affords Mr. Albero. Open Government should be the goal but by giving some of this info to Albero and allowing him to twist it to suit his slanderous needs is borderline criminal in my opinion.
Jim had plans on the new direction that SPD needs to go. Webster could possibly “turn over a new leaf” and embrace the new agenda, or he can pack his bags and leave. But trust me on this, there is going to be big changes at the police department.
Word on the street is Bill Gordy wants to sell his assets and move to FL. He is not particularily qualified for the job of chief, since has never been a career firefighter. There are much better choices for chief within the ranks. The IAFF has been a big supporter of Jim’s, so I expect he will have plenty of good advice on who to pick.
jcinsby: As I recall at one point Joe claimed he’d washed his hands of Jim Ireton’s campaign for some reason, I think it was back before the holidays. But the old saying goes, “the enemy of your enemy is your friend” and once it became apparent the election would come down to Jim vs. Gary Joe’s choice was made for him in his mind.
CG: We all know those answers – but $50k divided by “83 readers” isn’t all that much after tax.
WG: I appreciate that. I’m not going to go so far as to claim I have a “silent majority” but neither am I going to let one person dictate what I write or who I speak to.
PR: I don’t care regarding the information (after all, we bloggers like to have those tidbits), but it would be nice if Debbie took notice of what the uses were. Naturally it’s in her interest to advance her agenda and certainly she has the interests of the city at heart but if someone is being wrongfully tarred she should step up in defense of that person. Maybe she does that with Joe in private for all I know, though. (And don’t get the wrong idea with that last statement, I know it’s coming and I wasn’t going anywhere near there.)
Zazu: While I have differences with Jim on many fronts, I do wish him success in reducing crime. If Chief Webster is on board with Jim’s agenda for the department that’s great, if not then we probably need new blood. As for Chief Gordy, I don’t blame him a bit for wanting to retire provided he has the assets and wherewithal to do so comfortably – more power to him.
Besides, Florida is nice, that’s where my folks live. I think I’d rather retire here but I still have awhile to ponder that aspect of life!
Monomike:
It was anything but a “yawning conclusion,” with Campbell beating Boda almost 2 to 1 and Ireton trouncing Comegys.
And the mud and slime about Ireton’s personal life was not absent (your metaphor is offensive, by the way). The Comegys crowd used tactics as dirty and mean-spirited as those of Andy Harris in the First District race last year.
POPROCKS- I assume the “inside info” you are referring to is the non-confidential info about the WWTP not working, after a gazillion dollars being spent on it. The bottom line is that MSM would have never taken that info and ran with it. Get it on Sby News, and the Barrie’s gonna complain about it, and then we’ll hear about it from the MSM in some shape or form. I don’t falt Debbie for using Joe’s blog as a tool to meet her goals. You have to play the hand you are dealt.
Agreed about Bill Gordy. The man has megabucks and is getting older. Why in the world would he want the headache of being the Chief of ANY fire dept.?
TP: It was a yawning conclusion in that there was no suspense in the outcome. As far as the metaphor, I didn’t see it as offensive because it’s a commonly used one.
The “mud and slime” about Jim’s personal life may not have been absent but it was ignored.
Michael,
What do you mean “there was no suspense in the outcome?” Ireton winning was a HUGE upset! Do you have any idea how much moneyy the Comegys camp poured into this? Believe me, if you saw those guys on Tuesday they were CERTAIN they were going to win. It was awesome to be aprt of defeating the entrenched powers of Salisbury.
Jim won by roughly the same margin as the primary, and as I noted actually outperformed my expectations. So there really wasn’t much suspense at all past the first two to three precincts.
Besides, unless you are a minor-party or write-in candidate you always go in thinking you’ll win, at least publicly. Would anyone run to lose? I know I don’t.
Joe is a liar.
He has attacked my 13 year old girl on his blog!
AND he has attacked my WIFE on his blog!
With posts and HIS comments.
He followed my kids at Baseball games and my son at the mall and took pictures of them.
Then last week, he stalked me about my cars and then when he realized the vehicle was not even mine and belong to his friends at Bruces Billiars. NOTHING. He just took the post down. You didn’t hear… “His car is illegal! It should be towed.” Selective isn’t he. (And the Sherriffs Office did come by and look at my vehicles at Joes request)
The Grinch is giving Joe just a small part of what he has given us. In fact the whole reason Joe started up on me was that he thought I made a comment on Johnathons post. Something he accused me of and then found out he was wrong.
I have tried to reason with Joe but the simple fact is he is thief and a LIAR. I have come to the realization that he thrives on being in the spot light negative or not. I have made a point to stay away from business and people he has become freinds with because he will take an honest open discussion and twist it to his own INSANE belief.
The worst thing is Joe will make a comment he “knows” is true. Then when he finds out it was wrong. He never admits it. He is Just a NUTCASE. And if anyone wants the proof I GOT IT! Just come by and see me.