NY-9: Debate Blow-By-Blow

(photo unabashedly stolen from the Twitter feed of Colin Campbell's "The Brooklyn Politics" Call a cop, pal!)

The Dems didn't see it comin', but I think they now know that they have a BIG fight on their hands in the Special Election to decide the next represenative from the 9th Congressional District.

The match-up in Kew Gardens between Dem-Machine politician/place-holder David "The 'Stache!" Weprin and Bob Turner opened with what some likened to a "color war" with young Dem "volunteers" (who mostly looked more like Dem staffers than anything else) clashing with supporters of Bob Turner, many of whom were constituents living within the 9th CD.

While I'm sure you'll read some real debate analysis from your usual news sources, I wanted to give you a quick feel for the event - because this was indeed an event. From dueling signs to shouting, chanting, political arguments, noisemakers, whistles, clapping... the streets were alive with the sounds of politics. It was feisty. And it was fun - especially to see many a Dem unnerved by the competition's (a.k.a., us) pugnacious refusal to back down.

Who would've thunkit? The Dems' "coronation" of a place-holder for a "dead" district has turned into a knockdown-drag out!

I'm happy to report that the Turner supporters - we underdog upstarts - gave as good as they got from the monolith that is the Dem "machine". A tip of the cap to all of you who showed up to fight the good fight!

***

Now for the main event: To be sure, Bob Turner is the "Rocky" in this story, folks. He's the guy "the experts" have counted out and his opponent overlooked. And "the 'Stache!" is the anointed one. Much like another "anointed one" sitting in the White House now (well, not now. He's actually sitting in Martha's Vineyard). And at this debate, Turner "bloodied" the favorite.

It started with a few jabs:

"I'm a businessman, not a politician."

"I like to consider myself a citizen candidate."

Then, some shots with a little more mustard behind 'em:

"This is the most ridiculous and irresponsible government I've ever seen."

"I'm not a party person and the party doesn't have anything I want or need."

Then, some combos start flying in "the 'Stache's!" direction:

(Weprin is)"tainted by the system" (of politics) "and that's why he has to go"

"There aren't enough millionaires and billionaires" (to tax our ways out of economic problems)"

And to end it up, more than a few shots that brought the crowd to it's feet:

(On unemployment extensions) "When is enough, enough? There's a point & I think we've reached it."

"I'd repeal Obamacare."

"You need someone with the political courage to tell you the truth."

"If you want political nonsense or to hide from the truth, there's your man." (pointing at "the 'Stache!")

Granted, this is a partisan take of the night's events (after all, this IS Brooklyn GOP Radio, right?) but I think you get the point. There's a lot for Republicans and independents - and yes, even you conservative Dems out there - to get excited about.

In NY-9, a fight broke out at a coronation. Next round. Ding-Ding.