The Protack Express is a Train Wreck
Oh my. I cannot believe the kind of crap that Protack gets himself into. Now it’s the issue of the unpaid staff from his last campaign. This comes after a foiled astroturfing of the local blogosphere and the failure to pay his consultants for the last campaign.
The details are really starting to crystallize over at DWA, creating a picture of Protack that is at once despised, incompetent and deceitful. He is also stupid for letting things go this far. He ignores these people’s requests for money that he owes them, then disparages them and their work and/or denies that he knows them. WTF?
The guy may have good ideas, but his execution is juvenile, at best. I think a fair question was raised at DWA, how many times does Protack’s goose need to be cooked? If nothing else, I think this gives us a taste of what a Protack Governorship would look like; confused, conflicted and likely a disgrace that will make people pine for the heady days of Minner.
Tags: Blogosphere, Delaware, Republicans
This is small change compared to a certain other candidate’s unpaid campaign debt…
W- That may be, but they seem to mollify the debtors enough to keep it from degenerating into a schoolyard name-calling contest.
Good news/bad news for Delaware Dems: It will be a long time before another GOP candidate dares challenge the Strine/Burris coalition. so Dems will be blessed/cursed with tomato-can opponents from the Chamber of Commerce for years to come.
Let me get this straight, anon — you think Alan Levin is a tomato can, but Mike Protack is a capable candidate? Would you rather they run conservative Christian values guys? If yes, then you must be a Democrat.
I think the point was that he/she thinks that the Republican machine is really going to scare away outsiders and keep delivering the same dreck that they have been serving up.
Geek is right. I was not saying Protack is the answer. But he is the question. Beating Protack does not validate Strine’s leadership.
Republicans are not going to win in Delaware by union-bashing and opposing minimum wage increases (and all the other anti-worker stuff that goes with it). That is what you sign up for when you align yourself with the Chamber of Commerce. Perhaps Levin can personally achieve some distance from those positions, but it will take some hard campaigning and a suspension of disbelief in the voters.
anon,
You have a pretty dim view of the State Chamber. The businesses there are very diverse, and they don’t sit around thinking of how to crush the working man. Levin in particular was very well liked by his employees at Happy Harry’s, if the ones I’ve heard from are any indication.
In fact, if the scuttlebutt is to be believed, some union heads are prepared to endorse Levin in General if their chosen man doesn’t win the Dem primary.
As for Republican serving up dreck, are you saying that you haven’t looked back at eight years of RAM and rethought your vote? If you haven’t, you haven’t been paying attention.
“It will be a long time before another GOP candidate dares challenge the Strine/Burris coalition.”
Why am I hearing the ‘Darth Vader’ theme music in my head when I read that?
I think that if you read my post, I take a rather dim view of RAM. But she did seem to appeal to more than the Chamber nominees.
What has the Chamber of Commerce done for Delaware lately?
Chrysler is on its way out. Is GM next?
Delaware has not attracted new business in years. They (Chamber of Commerce) have forgotten what it takes to bring new jobs to Delaware.
Also, did everyone forget what happened the last time the GOP put up a Chamber of Commerce candidate?
Levin in particular was very well liked by his employees at Happy Harry’s, if the ones I’ve heard from are any indication.
*
well, they hate him now. Walgreens corporation is a nightmare for both customer and employee alike (from what I have gathered).
Yes. I remember very well. How do you think most voters feel about their decision in 2000? Do you think they’d like that one back?
Plus, Alan Levin is without a doubt a better candidate than my father was. For a number of reasons.
You’re gonna blame the State Chamber when we have a state economic development office that is beyond awful?
Not to mention that Mike Protack doesn’t know the first thing about job creation besides what he read on a think-tank web site.
This format lacks blog authorship recognition, no? Who wrote this post?
Dave – how do you know?
DEDO under Minner is a colossal failure. They are equally to blame.
How do I know what?
How do you know what Mike does and does not know (e.g. how to create jobs)?
Because the ability to create jobs and foster the econ0my of an entire state is not the kind of thing you can pick up in a book or on a web site.
His Delacare 2008 health care plan is getting accolades from Alliance for Health Care Reform. This reform will allow Delaware businesses to be more competitive, due to lower health care costs.
That coupled with his education reform to realign the school districts to one per county, plus for Vo-Tech.
These two initiatives are a great start to revamping the Delaware economy. Once implemented job growth can be restored, because the schools will having purpose and sustainability, and the the business climate will be favorable due to lower health care costs in the region.
Plus, Alan Levin is without a doubt a better candidate than my father was.
Now that’s what I call taking one for the team.
Yeah. Uh-huh. Whatever you say.
Both of you.
Good evening everyone. I appreciate the concern but we are right on track and life is very very good. Yes, there are challenges but we expected this sort of attack and we know there wil be more.
Let me delve into 2006 a bit. The consultant you refer was not the match we needed in 2006 and our relationship was terminated. The important thing was what he said in the News Journal- he liked my work ethic and he thought my ideas would appeal to democrats, independents and republicans. I wish him the best in 2008.
Also, the Columbus Ohio firm has no outstanding balance . I can give you a letter which validates that fact.
When our campaign manager left our campaign I personally introduced him to Terry Strine and they considered him for Ferris Wharton’s campaign because at that time Ferris had no full time manager. That did not work out but I gave him a great recommendation for a pro life group for which he worked for after the primary. I would still recommend him to anyone.
Anyone is business has to deal with vendors and contractors. Usually, things go well as was the case with us in 2006. We were able to do quite well with the odds stacked against us. After the primary I had to react to many items which in the heat of the last minute surge presented challenges but again were dealt with as quickly as I could. Generally, when there are disputes it is best to use the appropriate means in place not the News Journal. That is if you want a resolution to the problem.
The scuttle butt about union head endorsements if Carney doesn’t win is wishful thinking. I have spoken to folks within the AFLCIO who are part of the process and if Markell wins they will likely endorse him. They have told me the best I could expect is a “jump ball” with endorsements and I know that going into the race. Still, I will do quite well with union voters. If you can get admission to the A Phillip Randolph meeting on 12 Jan please attend. It will be at the Longshoremen’s Hall in South Wilmington. I will be speaking to my fellow union members.
Job growth is based on a few things government can do on a positive side but in many cases it is what they do on the negative side which must be avoided. Ridiculous things like Gross Receipts tax and senseless energy spikes plus a state government which needs to have a top down look at function, staffing and effectiveness are good starts.
I have worked for a company in Bankruptcy and that first hand perspective does the heart and mind good to know you can never shrink to profitability, you must sharpen what your ‘brand’ is and what it means to customers. As Governor our health care plan is the first thing which will help job growth because it takes businesses out of health care management and gives them cost stability. Secondly, we know making access to capital is very important and we have a plan to do just that. Thirdly, we take on the education troubles in Delaware with a very bold plan. Lastly, we have a proposal for small businesses to file a post card type of tax return with a low single rate tax so they spend time on their customers and not the Division of Revenue.
I also support the U of D’s many efforts to be the catalyst for many positive things including a Law School to help protect and strengthen our role as the Corporate Capital of America.
I have attended Chamber events where Gov. Minner has been applauded for many things. One has to ask if this praise is real or not if there is so much consternation with her performance in the business arena.
The post card issue is a non issue, they have not and do not have any attachment to me. I have offered several times to meet the anonymous folks and the misinformed ones to have you lay out your thoughts but they have always been turned down. Random comments expressed in the isolation and protection of a keyboard and computer screen mean very little.
I am a Republican who understands the voters of Delaware want something different from our party and a different kind of leader (no more insiders) or the verdict will be the same-crushing defeat. We can’t blame everything on Pres Bush as were headed for the ditch a long time ago. I know if we offer leadership on the things which matter to everyday folks we will win.
Have fun debating these thoughts. If I have time I will take a look.
I wish everyone a safe and Happy Holiday.
Yes Mike, I agree entirely: your comments expressed in the isolation and protection of a keyboard and computer screen mean very little. You have no supporters, but keep on pretending that life is very, very good. You are not fooling anyone but yourself.
So, Nancy, where do you get your information about Happy Harry’s employees hating Alan Levin?
Al – have you walked in to a Happy Harry’s lately? The employees are miserable and complain that the chain is going downhill. Service is deplorable.
And so you think that means they hate Alan Levin? Evidence, please?
As Governor it doesn’t matter how well Levin treated his employees. What matters is his influence on law affecting all workers. I’ll take the Dems on that issue, thank you.
What Alan Levin knows about job creation: expanded from 19 to 76 stores, creating hundreds of jobs.
What Mike Protack knows about job creation: jobs are easy to create if you have no intention of paying the workers.
“As Governor it doesn’t matter how well Levin treated his employees. What matters is his influence on law affecting all workers. I’ll take the Dems on that issue, thank you.”
What makes you think that?
My roo mate has a severe pulmonary disability. He used to get fanatastic service at the Suburban Plaza Happy Harry’s . It is now a complete nightmare getting prescriptions filled.
But don’t take my word for it, Mascitti, the story is all right here in black and white.
http://www.lifeinsuranceblogg.com/node/23327?PHPSESSID=a27072e16f9580ae196fd6936f7322bb
I derived my position from friends first hand accounts and anecdotal reports on the blogs and WNJ comments. WNJ linkrot leaves none of that for recovery.
from the link above:
~~
Levin said what changed his mind about selling the company was the business climate. Almost three-quarters of the company’s business was in prescriptions, and the vast majority of prescription business was reimbursements from insurance and government. And reimbursements were declining.
When Medco, the manager of the state’s pharmacy benefits, made changes in April that Happy Harry’s found onerous, his company faced losing money or state workers’ business.
“It was indicative, in my mind, of where the industry was going to go,” Levin said. The company took the Medco plan, but only after merger talks were in the works, and after every other pharmacy operating in Delaware had agreed to accept it.
Happy Harry’s made its mark in Delaware as a different kind of drugstore. It located in shopping centers instead of free-standing buildings, promoted employees from within, and stressed personal service, especially in the cosmetics aisles. The signs, with a caricature of the late founder Harry Levin, Alan’s father, are the company’s signature.
The transition has been difficult, with customers complaining about long waits, inventory shortages, and pills missing from their prescription bottles.
Great service when Levin ran it. He ran it like a machine.
I don’t understand what the problem is. The poor service of Walgreens only strengthens the argument that Alan Levin is a world-class executive. If Walgreens had taken over and nothing had changed, the argument would be that Levin didn’t really matter in the end anyway.
Great things happen when Alan Levin is involved. The Walgreens example shines a spotlight on that.
I agree that HH was a great company, lookee at how happy Levin was in 1997
NEWARK, Del. – While the rapid pace of consolidation taking place in the chain drug industry worries many local and regional chains, that’s not the case at Happy Harry’s Discount Drug Stores. Asked whether he is concerned about the prospect of chain drug retailing evolving into an industry of just, say, three giant players, chairman, president and chief executive officer Alan Levin quips, “No, because it will be Walgreens, Rite Aid and us.”
Indeed, Levin sees the industry’s current case of consolidation fever as an opportunity for his chain rather than a threat. No matter what the big chains playing the merger game might say to the contrary, digesting large acquisitions diverts energy, resources and focus from the day-to-day business of running their stores, he insists. And that, says Levin, is an opportunity he plans to exploit.
Happy Harry’s is a chain of 33 stores operating mostly in Delaware, with a few outlets in southeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey. Last year the company opened two stores, both in Delaware, and it plans to add five more in 1997.
The chain…
http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:jRDGxEFtsbgJ:www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-291243_ITM+alan+levin+walgreens+happy+harry%27s+service+problems&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=29&gl=us
yeah Dave, unless you happen to think that the freakin pharmacy wars are a good thing for health care service or not. If people are of a mind that Levin sold out, they will not think that is a quality we want in state leadership.
This is what I mean by pharmacy wars:
When I lived in Meadowood on Kirkwood Hwy, we had a Caldwells Pharmacy. Its gone, and the “new” Happy Harry’s is being built in the same shopping center. We have Walgreens and CVS down here in the Keys. CVS bought Eckards, did I spell that right? Whats interesting is that when they build a new store the other company builds a new one right across the street. I don’t get it, seem like a strange way to do business.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=144×673
I know about it first hand trying to keep a Walgreens from tearing out a portion of the Aiken’s Tavern Historic District for a drive through pharmacy in Glasgow. There were already 4 pharmacies in a one mile radius. Luckily the public outcry kept Walgreens from pursuing that travesty.
“When Medco, the manager of the state’s pharmacy benefits, made changes in April that Happy Harry’s found onerous, his company faced losing money or state workers’ business.”
A skilled manager would have adapted and found a way to make money under the new rules. Why can all the other drugstores now make money under the new rules but Levin couldn’t?
Nancy,
Author link is fixed.
“Why can all the other drugstores now make money under the new rules but Levin couldn’t?”
Because they operate in many other states and can leverage economies of scale where Happy Harry’s couldn’t.
“A skilled manager would have adapted and found a way to make money under the new rules.”
While the single largest (by far) customer you have is asking you to lose money for the opportunity to serve them? Please.
When the consumers link Alan Levin to the sale of Happy Harry’s and the current decline of the store – he is cooked.
If by chance Alan Levin gets to the general election, the loss for Alan Levin will be worse than that of Jan Ting. 20-25%.
Consumers are a powerful bloc when it comes time to vote. Alan Levin is responsible for one thing – selling Happy Harry’s to Walgreens. He should have picked a better fit for Delaware. He the first train to cash in his fortune and sold out the employees and Delaware.
Jason — You’ll forgive me if I don’t accept your prediction. While you’re entitled to your opinion, you’re out of your freakin’ mind.
Why don’t you focus on getting Mike over the 5,000 vote/20% mark in the primary, because I’ll be doing everything in my power to see that he gets as few votes as possible.
While I agree that Levin will lose in the general election, I think Protack is cooked in the primary (and would be in the general election, too). Really, we are talking about who is going to captain the Titanic into port after the iceberg has been hit. Whoever it is isn’t going to get to see New York anyway.
Oh yeah Jason is Protack’s biggest fan and number one supporter. It is true that yes the selling of HH looks bad but its not as big as you may think. Levin has a stellar record and unfortunately for you and MP this and his contributions to carper and biden are not enough to knock him out. Can’t prove it today but time will tell and you will see that he has much to offer and educated voters will look past all of that and into the future.
Because, Jason and Mike, who really cares about contributions to biden and carper, if anything he can work across the aisle. Furthermore do you really think Markell and Carney will be running attack adds about how Levin sold HIS business and WALGREENS f*ckd it up? About how HH was runned efficiently and how he was such an amazing CEO and then sold it and WALGREENS messed it up?
It seems that Mike’s number one issue with Levin right now is that he’s supported incumbant legislators from the other party. This contrasts with the statement he made months ago on FSP, where he said he would have done the same out of obligation to his employees.
To try to make him look bad because his stores got worse AFTER he left doesn’t fly.
Wonderful, Nancy, but it’s not what I asked for. I know about the problems with the changeover. Now show me any evidence that, as Jason the Benighted says, people will act on this by voting against Alan Levin.
Don’t bother; there isn’t any. It’s your assertion, and his. You ought to be worried about who your fellow travelers are here. Your facts are fine; it’s your interpretation I find unconvincing.
Speaking of fellow travelers, you really ought to be more aware of the company you’re keeping. Astroturfing is a corporate Republican trick. If you support Protack, should I take it that you endorse this tactic as well?
This is no longer ‘changeover’ yet the problems have not been resolved.
There is also the problem of the ugly block strip malls Levin stuck us with in his expansion preparation for selling out. I wonder how much money Levin and co. spend on county pols.
I will have to go and google astroturfing as pertains to campaigns and get back to you. Meanwhile, I am getting a chuckle out of your pathetic attempts to camp us with Protack . heh.
Because I don’t like Levin I like Protack?
Everything is black and white in Mascittiville.
This is no longer ‘changeover’ yet the problems have not been resolved.
There is also the problem of the ugly block strip malls Levin stuck us with in his expansion preparation for selling out. I wonder how much money Levin and co. spend on county pols.
I will have to go and google astroturfing as pertains to campaigns and get back to you. Meanwhile, I am getting a chuckle out of your pathetic attempts to camp us with Protack . heh.
In Mascittiville I detest Levin therefore I love Protack?
Everything is black and white in Mascittiville.
oops, this system is sticky as glue….it just told me that I was posting too fast and seemingly stopped the publishing process. Guess not.
Al make it clear that it is Jason O’Neill.
Not jason330. I’m a fan of Protack in so much as he helps the Democrat.
This is an anecdote and not data….but I was at a holiday party this weekend where I knew all of 2 people in a room of 20 or so. I walked up on the end of a rant by a woman who was going on about Happy Harry’s really screwing up her prescriptions. The conversation veered off to how horrible Happy Harry’s was in general now that they were owned by Walgreens and one guy wondered who would try to destroy the store by making that sale.
I piped up then and noted to the group that Alan Levin sold them to Walgreens and he may run for governor. The entire group just groaned, with a couple saying a variant on never voting for the guy who screwed up Happy Harry’s.
As I said, this is one anecdote, not proof of anything, but as someone who is not native to this place, the problems of Happy Harry’s seems to be more of a pervasive theme than I frankly care about (there are, after all, more drugstores than Walgreens). But a clever campaign manager would likely try to find out how deep that dissatisfaction might be.
Right, Nancy. Ignore the question. You’re good at that. Where do you get the notion that Walgreen’s f-up of HH’s will turn into dislike of Levin? Simple question. Where’s your answer?
I’ll save you the trouble of Googling, Nancy. Astroturfing refers to falsely creating the image of grass-roots support. But never mind. You just keep trolling for Protack.
“I wonder how much money Levin and co. spend on county pols.”
Quick, Nancy, turn this into a rant about Paul Clark and Chris Coons. Be sure to blame them for your inability to save the farm.
Hey Nancy, are you going to use this class warfare line if Levin ends up running against Markell? If so, how? Or are you just against all candidates who have more money than you do?
By the way, Nancy, work on your reading comprehension. I asked if you supported the tactic. And I phrased it as a question. Black and white? Heh, in your brilliant language. Try learning to read for comprehension. There are some good remedial programs available online.
Another question: How exactly is Alan Levin responsible for the fact that the changeover has happened but the problems have not been resolved? He’s out of there; why is Walgreen’s ineptitude his fault? And why do you hate Levin — other than the fact that he has more money than you, I mean.
O’Neill says, “If by chance Alan Levin gets to the general election, the loss for Alan Levin will be worse than that of Jan Ting. 20-25%. ”
That’s a bet I’d be happy to take for any amount you’d like to wager.
I wonder, Jason O., how badly you think your hero would lose. I’m also willing to bet that he would not equal Jan Ting’s 29%.
I’ll take both of those bets as well.
Al your exactly right, Nancy just doesn’t like Levin because he has $$$, and if thats the case she should not like Markell either, the Nextel kid has already emptied millions of his own personal money into his campaign.
As for casandra’s anecdote it is good conversation and definitely valid. But really those people were only so upset because they loved HH, and they need to realize the same man who “destroyed” it is the same man who made it.
Actually, there is an argument to be made that the man who destroyed it is the son of the man who made it.
Granted, I think it is just one red herring in this campaign of red herrings
I mean you can say that but really how could you? Because AL took it to the next level. Harry got it off and running, levin bought the business for market price from his family, and then expanded it by nearly 80%. So for those customers complaining about how could one man destroy it, i would put money on it they were shopping in stores created by Alan not Harry.
I don’t know if that’s why Nancy doesn’t like him. But she did say that she “hated” Levin. Pretty strong stuff. Nancy’s big issue is overdevelopment, or at least it used to be. Maybe she’s buying to the Protack trolls’ nonsense that because he opened drug stores in strip malls, he was behind Delaware’s development. It’s an argument that conveniently overlooks the fact that if one chain had ignored the new construction, another would have filled the slots — but then, many progressive arguments are based not on how the world works, but how they think it should work.
Happy Harry’s was already “the largest drugstore chain in Delaware and soon grew to number 76 stores.” So that makes me think that he had a winner already, which he grew. I suppose a case could be made that Delaware is another winner that Alan can expand and then sell to the highest bidder.
Is that the point?
He took over when the company had 17 stores, IIRC. His father created something special, and Alan took over and turned into something completely different and equally remarkable.
You guys can try to invent and expand on talking points, but you’re missing one thing — people know this guy.
Maybe not by his name, but when they make the connection to HH, they light up. Nearly everyone I’ve talked to has had that reaction.
I’m not inventing anything. I’m just contributing to a discussion on a post that I created. Please don’t try to assign motives to my injections of facts. It was the largest drug chain in DE at the time of Harry’s death. If he doubled the size, good for him.
I’m just not sure how that applies to governing the State. Minner had a successful towing company before she became Governor. Is it just the cash that he brings to the race?
What cracks me up is the Protack strategy here. He’s attacking a successful businessman for being successful. Nobody has yet explained to me how this is a winning strategy in a Republican primary. The Delaware GOP has two major sources of strength — upstaters with money and downstaters with gripes about how the upstaters run everything and aren’t socially conservative enough.
Once upon a time Mike Protack went after the social conservatives — nobody on the blogosphere seems to remember it, but he started out as an anti-abortion candidate. Indeed, those campaign workers he stiffed came not from the Republican mainstream but its social-conservative wing. But he doesn’t run that way anymore, leaving me to wonder how he’s supposed to appeal to that group (perhaps he intends to do it stealthily, by direct mail only). And he’s actively pissing off the folks in Hockessin, Greenville and Brandywine who are socially moderate but vote GOP because it’s in their economic interest.
So tell us, Jason O., who’s the target audience for this twaddle? The folks who are supporting you on the blogs aren’t Republicans, they’re Democrats who are afraid of Alan Levin. So those aren’t votes. Do you think there are enough Republicans in Kent and Sussex with class resentment issues to actually outweigh the moderate, business-oriented Republicans? Can you steer me to registration numbers that would back it up?
Oh, I forgot to add, life is very, very good.
“It was the largest drug chain in DE at the time of Harry’s death. If he doubled the size, good for him.”
He didn’t. He quadrupled it.
“I’m just not sure how that applies to governing the State. Minner had a successful towing company before she became Governor. Is it just the cash that he brings to the race?”
It’s because of statements like this that I understand why you’re a Democrat, despite you having the largest amount of normalcy of the DL crew.
I’ll give somebody else a chance to respond to your point before I do.
Whatever this topic is getting old. Point is the man is qualified. You don’t have to like him, he may have more money than you, but regardless if he announces he is the most qualified candidate in the field. Protack doesn’t count. Minner is Carney’s personal idol, and Markell is a career politician dying to be governor. We need a qualified proven succesful business man to bring this state to where it needs to be. A candidate that has made tough decisions in his life that have effected people and can be ready to make them again. That’s what really sets Levin apart from the rest of the guys.
“Markell is a career politician dying to be governor.”
Did you just fall out of the sky? Markell made a fortune in the telecom industry. He’s just as much a successful businessman as Alan Levin. If you didn’t know that, shame on you. If you did, shame on you.
And if anyone can post anything showing a decision made by Protack, Markell, or Carney, a decision SOLEY made by them that had a serious effect on thousands of people please show me and post it asap.
I knew that, look at my post prior
“and if thats the case she should not like Markell either, the Nextel kid has already emptied millions of his own personal money into his campaign.”
He’s a politician now
Did markell really coin the term nextel, does anyone really know?
So, just to get this straight, any business person who runs for another office before running for governor is a “politician” and therefore not qualified? And anyone who wasn’t owner and CEO of said business is likewise unqualified?
If that’s the case, should I assume this is the first time you will ever cast a vote in the Delaware governor’s race?
By the way, the criterion you cited actually plays into what the trolls are saying. The decision Alan Levin made that had the greatest effect on the greatest number of lives was selling the business. As you might have noticed, that has not affected most of those involved for the better.
As I said, if you knew about Markell’s business record and ignored it for the “reasons” you gave above, shame on you.
Good play there, Al.
Dave, I’ll take the bait here. There are a number of differences between executives in business and executives in the public sphere. If you own a company, you can do whatever you like to achieve your goals. Your goals are simple, make more money. Sure you can add stores, please customers, etc. But the end result is to make people part with their money for a product or service that you deliver.
Being a public-sector executive involves a lot of wiggle-room, a lot of politicking, a lot of soft skills. Perhaps Levin has these things. But it is not a simple one-to-one relationship as you and Mingtown make it out to be. Goerge Bush ran lots of businesses and so did a lot of unsuccessful politicians.
Shame on me then, i jumped the gun. But did markell ever call the shots over there? Was he in charge? Based on what I know he was not. And Levin’s biggest decision may not have effected people for the better yet, but from a business point of view it was a decision he had to make and made and never looked back. That may have been the biggest of all decisions but its not like he never made descisions prior to that effected his entire work force, a workforce that for the part cared and liked levin.
“As I said, if you knew about Markell’s business record and ignored it for the “reasons” you gave above, shame on you.
Al — Markell’s business “record” ain’t all it’s cracked up to be. But we’ll save that for the minute chance that he’s still around for the general.
“Goerge Bush ran lots of businesses and so did a lot of unsuccessful politicians.”
George Bush didn’t run a whole lot of successful businesses, IIRC.
“So, just to get this straight, any business person who runs for another office before running for governor is a “politician” and therefore not qualified? And anyone who wasn’t owner and CEO of said business is likewise unqualified? ”
I didn’t say Markell is not qualified. The only one NOT qualified is Protack. I stated, and maybe i could have stated it better, is that Levin in my eyes is the most qualified. And AL I think you feel the same way. If you didn’t then why would you be responsible for nearly 25% of these posts, other than you hate Protack and can’t stand Nancy.
And still no one has posted anything showing us a decision made solely by any of the other fine gentelman that want the responsibility of running this state. A good decision or bad one I dont care just anything that shows they have some balls.
Mingtown, I do not think Alan Levin is necessarily the best candidate. My decision will be based, in large part, on the candidates’ respective job-creation plans and their commitment to change in state agencies. I think Markell has a slight edge at this point because he has worked in both business and government, while Alan has executive experience only in business, not elective office. But it’s only a slight advantage; treasurer isn’t exactly the greatest challenge in state government.
Dave, you ought to know better than to make this election about which man was the better business executive. That’s a moot point. If your post indicates you have negative information designed to smear Markell, then you hardly have a moral case to complain about the smears about Levin that the Protack camp is trotting out.
Of course, your ability to predict elections outside your home county is highly suspect, and you established with the Christian campaign and your comments afterwards that you will say whatever you need to say during the campaign, then tell the “truth” afterwards. Your take on Carney-Markell should be taken with, oh, a couple of tons of salt — first because you’d rather face Carney than Markell, who has all of Levin’s advantages plus a D after his name, and second because your experience has been colored by having your ass handed to you in the 14th Senate race.
God damn Al’s on fire…and I’m loving every effing second of it!!!!!
Good evening everyone,
The banter is quite lively here.
The “business experience” part of the equation for qualification for Governor is an interesting one. There is no need for any candidate to have extensive business experience or for that matter advanced education. Gov Minner proved that fact in 2000 by a large margin.
Folks do want to know that your values and experiences match their own because most people make decisions on an emotional level not as part of a rational step by step process.
Back to the decsions part of the post. As a Marine Officer I was Executive Officer of recruiting station which covered three states and had 44 offices with 65 recruiters and we produced over 1,000 new recruits a year plus 15-20 new officers. It was very challenging to say the least but it was fun to find the best to serve. Our recruiting totals were called our “mission” not our job.
The more current and important part of decision making is my current position as an airline Captain. I am responsible for somewhere between 50,000 – 80,000 lives a year and if I make a bad decision all the marketing and sales efforts in the world do not matter much. It is a pass/fail existence which many take for granted but few know that Captains must “sign” for the airplane every flight and are held responsible for everything on the flight. When there is an incident no one else is held responsible-only the Captain.
Last week during the severe storm in the Northeast is a prime example. We had severe weather (icing and heavy snow) and the airplane I was given had a maintenance deficiency which our operations people tried to bypass but I insisted the problem be fixed and it was. My copilot was very new and had never flown in icing or snow let alone been deiced. We launched to New York(the first airplane to leave for NYC in 5 hours) and landed on a snow covered runway at night with a 15 knot crosswind on a runway which is surrrounded by water. The decision for what flap setting, braking choices and go no choice rested with me and me alone. As one person above said, “I call the shots” on passengers, maintenance, weather and many other things and while I don’t look back I do weigh the consequences very well whether I am going down a runway at 150 mph or traveling 8 miles a minute.
Safety and security are the number one things people look for in a job like Governor not making sales goals or keping a balance sheet. Voters expect you to lead the state not “run it”.
My office has a great view at 35,000 feet or at sea level
PS- Jack Markell doesn’t deserve the attacks above.
Have a great holiday.
It’s that Seasonal Affected Disorder he has.
“If your post indicates you have negative information designed to smear Markell,”
It’s always a “smear” when they don’t like hearing the truth they wish stayed hidden. Do you ever hear the other side say, “Oh. Gee. You know, that was a fair, impartial review of my record and I commend them for bringing it to light?”
“you established with the Christian campaign and your comments afterwards that you will say whatever you need to say during the campaign, then tell the “truth” afterwards.”
I’m afraid you’re going to have to prove that charge, Mr. Emotional.
“second because your experience has been colored by having your ass handed to you in the 14th Senate race.”
I always learn more from the losses than from the wins. And since I’ve had plenty of both, I’ve learned a lot.
Stay pleasant.
Lets just all bow down and kiss Daves big ass. What a know it all.
Very easy, Dave. First you talked about what a great candidate Christian was, then you had your ass handed to you and when people called you a loser you responded that she never had a prayer. What, you’ve forgotten already?
Mike, give it up. We all take responsibility for lives in our care every time we drive our kids somewhere. According to the “marketing” of your bosses, you’re a lot safer up there than we are down here. Get over yourself. Piloting experience has less than zero to do with running anything. Hell, you don’t even get credit for running a campaign effectively, since you don’t even have any full-time staff.
Oh, and as for the smear, out with it, Dave. “I’ve got a secret but I won’t reveal it yet” is a classic bullshitter’s game, and you’re not much of a bullshitter (see Christian, Joanne campaign). You’ve been far more effective when you’ve been honest (see Atkins, John).
Took the words right out of my mouth, everyday i think he loses it more and more
By the way, Dave, if what you learned in the 14th was that it’s impossible for you to beat the big, bad union people from out of state, I would argue you haven’t learned much of anything useful at all. As I said, your read on upstate politics leaves a lot to be desired.
Hee hee hee Al Mascitti is rantin’ and roilin’ on my fucking shit~!
Dood, get a grip.
Al Mascittiville is the new Hubicon!!!! YO
~
I hate Levin because he exemplifies all that the GOPerheads stand for. This is not about who is or isn’t rich, darling (and you too mingy), but rather about exploitation and undue influences. If I gave a fuck about money I’d be working.
But Boy Howdy, left up to you Al, our state would continue on the crash course its on now -to hell. County politics is chock full of corruption, if you want some information about what is really going on, get off of that ass and hit some meetings. The NCC Civic League for starters. (the farm isn’t ‘lost’ by the way, not that you give a flying fuck about Delaware heritage, huh big Al or leastways not from the tenor of your commentary.
DAYUMMMMMMMM I must be doing something right. I remember the good old days when Jason literally begged Al to comment on DE Lib. Now there’s a scattershot of of his shit.
OK, here goes.
#53 As for the ‘HH sellout, Walgreen sucks’ factor,
Cassandra offered a picture of how these real-time anecdotes will sit on voters’ minds when they think of Levin, if not from direct experience.
And besides, in your own words you seem satisfied with my premise: “The decision Alan Levin made that had the greatest effect on the greatest number of lives was selling the business. As you might have noticed, that has not affected most of those involved for the better.”
~
Did you just fall out of the sky?
Good one Al, it applies to you for sure.
Levin’s biggest decision may not have effected people for the better yet, but from a business point of view it was a decision he had to make and made and never looked back.
*
Mingy, this is just silly. Levin took big biz principals of grow* merge * sell out to the highest bidder. Has that been good for America? I say no.
He didn’t HAVE TO SELL. But did he plan it out very deliberately. He knew that through an expansion of the business , HH would attrack offers in the ongoing pharmacy wars that were well known to anyone paying the least bit of attention through the last couple of decades. (something that Mascittiville just can’t get his head around).
Another corporate war going on locally is the gas station war. It is a territorial takeover mindset.
Levin knew that if he sweetened HH by growing the territory he would get some lucrative nibbles.
You people may get to know me one day. I could give a rats ass about money. D’oh.
“County politics is chock full of corruption…”
That one, i see, is backed up by your usual
amount of evidence…none. Again, you’re at these meetings, you have a blog — where is all this corruption you claim exists? When have you posted about it? My job is hosting a radio show, not digging up crap because you want me to. Do your own work. Maybe then you’ll accomplish something. Hasn’t happened yet, has it? Maybe your buddy, race-baiting Jea Street, will help you out there. Let me know when you find something.
“I hate Levin because he exemplifies all that the GOPerheads stand for.”
How on earth would you know what he exemplifies or stands for? Your ignorance knows no bounds, does it?
“left up to you Al, our state would continue on the crash course its on now -to hell.”
Riiiight. Like you’d have clue where the state is headed. You’re truly pathetic, dear. You should get a life.
“if you want some information about what is really going on, get off of that ass and hit some meetings. The NCC Civic League for starters.” What in God’s name for? I spent years going to meetings. The next thing anyone learns about corruption at one will be the first. My evidence? You haven’t posted anything about it that I’ve seen. Who’s full of hot air again?
“the farm isn’t ‘lost’ by the way, not that you give a flying fuck about Delaware heritage, huh big Al or leastways not from the tenor of your commentary.”
Ah, once again we see a prime example of the Willing grace and class. That’s a different tune than you were singing when I was writing about it, dearie.
“This is not about who is or isn’t rich, darling, but rather about exploitation and undue influences. If I gave a fuck about money I’d be working.”
Don’t you mean if you had any skills you’d be working? If you don’t care about money, why on earth do you consider my “high income zip code” some sort of insult? No job, but I’M lazy? You sure there aren’t balls under that skirt? Because that takes some huge ones, along with a complete inability to understand irony.
Wow. Another brilliant display of your ignorance.
“Levin took big biz principals of grow* merge * sell out to the highest bidder. Has that been good for America? I say no.”
Get a job, you lazy shit, before you start telling other people how to do theirs.
“He didn’t HAVE TO SELL.”
Again, who the fuck are you to tell people what to do with their businesses? What the fuck have you ever done?
” But did he plan it out very deliberately.”
Another evidence-free bag of shit. Are you on Ex-Lax?
“He knew that through an expansion of the business , HH would attrack offers in the ongoing pharmacy wars that were well known to anyone paying the least bit of attention through the last couple of decades. (something that Mascittiville just can’t get his head around). ”
So you think he should have stayed small and gotten steamrollered by national chains. What tells you this, the business sense you’ve honed by sitting on your ass? I was under the impression you were just an asshole. I’m starting to think you’re actually insane.
“Another corporate war going on locally is the gas station war. It is a territorial takeover mindset”
Wow. What insight. You should rename your blog “Stating the Obvious.” Or maybe “Stating the Obvious Incoherently.”
He didn’t HAVE TO SELL. But did he plan it out very deliberately. He knew that through an expansion of the business , HH would attrack offers in the ongoing pharmacy wars that were well known to anyone paying the least bit of attention through the last couple of decades. (something that Mascittiville just can’t get his head around
–
I mean what do you want from the guy?
It was privately run family company and maybe he wanted to do other things in life. Lets face it you can’t just quit that job the same way you quit others.
Other than that all I can tell you is that this shit happens sometimes. Its called running a successful business. It’s actually what most business type people strive to do.
In the end he made the decision to sell and it was his decision to make, and I’m sure none of us here will ever know 100% why. All we do know is that he did a hell of job running it, and its a shame the merger didn’t go as smoothly as people would have liked.
Well, Al if you insist on running this forevah I am right here with you. This IS the work I do Al. You haven’t figured that out yet? You come here for fun?
County corruption – I broke the story that their comp plan implementation meetings were being held illegally. What, you didn’t catch that?
Before you make a bigger ass out of yourself: reL’Riiiight. Like you’d have clue where the state is headed. – try opening up the paper and weep at the sad state of the state report today. Didn’t see that one coming Albert? Wassa matta loosing your touch? As if you ever had one.
more here
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071218/ap_on_re_us/state_finances;_ylt=Arsuhbf63vjNfHNnWht84J2s0NUE
You went to meetings as a journalist not as someone who did any fucking thing about anything. Shit. Yours interest was financially impelled not civic-minded. There is plenty going on that will be coming out very soon. The county is now putting law together that you all in your hill country will not like. You might want to stick your nose in and see for yourself.
No, Actually Al, you wrote one piece on the farm and Clark called you out in a flash and you sucked right up to him. I remember thinking what a putz you were about the whole thing. Clark shut your entire game down with one call. Chick chick chick chick!!!!
I have got plenty of skills. I have worked all of my life. You can try as long as you like to keep this up honey! I have you pegged but good.
You still haven’t told me who passed on those lies about me which you put out on the intertubes. And you haven’t rebutted that your rating suck, so there you have. Good job as long as they’ll keep ya.
I have plenty of work to do Al. I volunteer my time for the most part. I don’t want or need a job. Try again. I doubt that you will find anything but a hardworking sincere person here, should you care to look. But you’d rather slime on me. This thread won’t exactly bring you any glory when people who know me get a look at it. I imagine a few of them are going to have some sharp words for you.
Mingy said that Levin Had to sell so I countered that contention. No mystery there. He sold because he could make out like a bandit. You might as well take a few minutes and read these comments before you shoot off.
If you read the 1997 article above, you’ll find ‘evidence cause he says right there that he is planning deliberately to take advantage of the pharmacy wars a way back then. Al, really. Speak out of your ass if you must but please step off a bit, ya stanking up the place, dude.
Can’t you even try to be consistent? If the gas station wars are so clearly obvious, why can’t you see the pharmacy wars?
Didn’t you say that your wife used to babysit Levin? I thought I heard that coming out of the radio one day. If so that would explain your current level of insanity on the subject. Protective of the guy. Does he need a widdle blankie?
The state is in big trouble. To deny it here indicates that this is just an exercise for you to try kick me around. You aren’t reading through what is here. You aren’t doing anything constructive but I’ll play your game.
We’ll probably hit the 300 comment mark before the week is out.
“weep at the sad state of the state report today.”
It’s called a DEFAC report.
“If the gas station wars are so clearly obvious, why can’t you see the pharmacy wars?”
Everybody saw them, moron. Only you would make it some sort of moral litmus test over whether the guy sells his business.
“You went to meetings as a journalist not as someone who did any fucking thing about anything. ”
Oh. My. God. You just figured this out? As a journalist, I wasn’t permitted to join anything. I wasn’t allowed to have a bumper sticker on my car. My only outlet was my choice of topics to write about. If you think you can do better elsewhere, by all means do so.
“First you talked about what a great candidate Christian was, then you had your ass handed to you and when people called you a loser you responded that she never had a prayer. What, you’ve forgotten already?”
Both statements are still 100% true. No Republican candidate had a chance to beat Ennis in that race, but Joanne Christian is still one of the finest people I’ve ever met. People are always going to call me a loser when I lose. If I cared what uninformed, anonymous people thought, it would be a different story.
“By the way, Dave, if what you learned in the 14th was that it’s impossible for you to beat the big, bad union people from out of state, I would argue you haven’t learned much of anything useful at all.”
It’s very difficult to beat the big, bad union people in a 3:2 Democrat district in a special election where they can converge on on spot for one day. A general election is a far different story, but since you know everything already, I don’t need to explain.
“If I cared what uninformed, anonymous people thought, it would be a different story. “
I’m hurt, Dave.
You should be RickJ. You are the lowest class of human — an anonymous poster who criticizes Mike Protack. Remember that.
I rolled out of bed this morning and stepped on one of my kid’s toys and cursed your name as the cause of all misfortune in the world.
Dave, my interest in this race is to see BOTH parties nominate their best candidates. I don’t believe that you, as a Republican operative, have the same goal. I’m not saying you’re a loser. I’m saying you’re overestimating the effect of the out-of-state union people, and that your read on the Democratic primary is self-serving. That’s all.
Nancy, it’s not my game. I reiterate: YOU made an ad hominem attack against ME to trigger this — you accused me of being a “bandwagon jumper,” a charge I still can’t figure out.
It occurs to me that one of your big gripes — the fact that I’m nice to people I don’t necessarily like — is actually a case of projection on your part. I met you what, three years ago? We’ve spoken on the air dozens of times, and you never once let on that you had any problem with me. So I find it curious that you’re so upset with my on-air demeanor. You need some help.
My read on the primary is my read on the primary, and it is an opinion that is shared by many, many people. When you have a primary where fewer than 50,000 people vote, the effect of those unions and those firehouse Dixiecrats will be enormous.
I remember in the 2006 election they had twenty 12-passenger vans that disappeared into the city to knock-and-drag voters to the polls. Efforts like that by the unions will be for Carney in the 2008 primary.
Al, his read (and mine) on the Dem primary is borne out from years of experience. Markell is marketed as a progressive outsider of the Carper-Minner-Carney cabal, and while that gets tons of traction among people who give a damn (for example, those who reads political blogs year round), the vast majority of voters don’t care. The organization of the union GOTV effort, especially during a primary, is more important. The Republicans found this out in 2006, when instead of getting their people to the polls, they tried to discourage the Protackians. Big mistake, as Protack basically held his numbers from 2004 (with a moderate gain), while the established candidate didn’t recieve 1/4 of the support of the 2004 gubernatiorial candidate.
What this should mean is that despite all the sound and fury we read on this and other websites, we need to remember that these posts are all done by about twenty people – 15 if you consolidate the Protack fans by IP address – and even if we all agreed and each grabbed ten people, those union folks would run us over with their busloads.
Al, this all started because of how you were attacking Protack. You didn’t notice that, huh.
My point about going to meetings is that YOU DON’T go NOW. Yet you yack as if you know what’s going on. That’s all.