Posted on 09/05/2004 1:36:00 PM PDT by Cableguy
When I was in the political polling business, my boss, Peter Hart, used to say, "He who frames the issues tends to determine the outcome of the election." In his Thursday night speech at the Republican National Convention, George W. Bush framed the issues in a magisterial address that sent him a long way toward winning the general election and that sent him some smaller distance toward effective governance in a second term.
[snip to the end]
But the wind may be at his back. For months, old media have been shaping the news in ways designed to hurt Bush's chances. Yet old media could not squelch the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth story, and Bush now has the megaphone of the presidency in his hand. True, many people are still seething with hatred of Bush: You could see them in the streets of New York. But consider last week's Florida primaries to pick Senate candidates: More Republicans turned out than in the Democratic primary, even though they're outnumbered by registered Democrats. Enthusiasm for George W. Bush ("you know where I stand") may be greater than for John Kerry ("I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it"). I gave the Democrats a B, a good grade, for their convention. I give the Republicans an A.
(Excerpt) Read more at usnews.com ...
Sorry to hear that you don't get a decent salary. I don't want to invade your privacy, but perhaps you could inform us as to what the average NYC police salary is these days, what benefits you get and don't get, how long you have to work before you get retirement.
I am sure that a lot of people here would like to know.
Thank you for your hard work during the convention.
GOOD WORK! NYPD proved to be in top form. Hope at least you got double pay for the extra hours and hope the union negotiations prove lucrative.
Top pay is a little under $55,000 IIRC, and you don't even come close to it until your fifth year. Probably the best benefit is unlimited sick, but if you're out more than a few days a year you can basically forget about getting into any specialised unit. We have 20 year retirement at 50% and good health plans to choose from, and I get 20 days vacation and will get 27 eventually. The downside is that all the deaprtments around us are making a lot more. Nassau and Suffolk counties (Long Island) are making almost double with a much better work schedule and working conditions. We're not asking to be paid like the Beverly Hills PD. Its just that the cost of living and taxes here (and real estate) are out of control. Buying a home around here is difficult at best, and I can't even afford to live where I grew up (a formerly middle class neighborhood). We find it outrageous that the city has benefited so much financially from the drop in crime over the last decade but wants us to work 10 more days a year to increase our productivity (more time to bang decent people with summonses) in return for a 5% raise. Productivity to me is the unheard of crime level we've reached despite being handed a ton of counterterrorism responsibilities. I don't think I even need to explain to you what we deal with as far as our "customers" and the liberals that run this disaster of a city.
Guys are voting with their feet and getting out of here. I actually know one that will be headed out your way to Phoenix.
I understood that school janitors get about twice as much in NYC. Am I far off?
We did ok I guess. I think we kowtowed to the protestors too much, but thats what the city wanted. They were emboldened by the kid glove treatment, and our guys started to get hurt because of it. Restraint was a higher priority to the Mayor than a few hurt cops and the delegates that were harassed and incovenienced.
I'm not really sure. I do know that the city tries very hard to stick to a pattern with all the unions. So basically some union representing paper pushers takes a bad deal (because they are already paid competitively for their line of work) and the city expects to jam it down the throat of the cops and firemen. While I respect their right to make their own deal, they don't take the chances that we do.
I can't tell you how many guys I see sleepwalking into work coming from their second jobs. Its just wrong.
The Dems may not win with the anarcho-deviate voters - but they for sure won't win w/o them. The problem is that the sight of them offends ayone within shouting distance of decency...
I was at the convention and was impressed by the professonalism of the NYPD, especially under the stressful circumstances with every out of town (as well in town) political group converging on the city.
He's VERY liberal on most issues though. He did do a good job with the convention, but I was not happy with him as mayor.
I'm glad you thought we did a good job, and I hope you enjoyed your time here.
We had a lot of balls in the air, but big events are our specialty!
I wasn't fond of him when he first got in, but he is turning out better than expected to me. I suppose I'm also biased as I dread the idea of gifford miller getting anywhere near the mayor's office. Miller has a new scheme that involves the city chipping in $5 for every $1 of campaign money raised. I noted that he was also lapping up free publicity by participating in demonstrations last week. Seems like a tireless self promoter.
Again, though, kudos to Metrosexual Mike for being a great host for the convention.
Yeah, he did have a weird nanny fixation about the smoking. Here's a link to a story about the Gifford Miller campaign fund scheme. This seems like an outrageous waste of money.
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nypost/20040824/lo_nypost/newbillwouldtriplecampaignmatche
Such a transparent power grab doesn't bode well if he did get elected. Article says there are public hearings next month. Might be worth going to.
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