Tony Rucker, Dwayne Wilkins: For want of a Nail

I happen to be looking at one of the comments in Old Doc’s blog. It was a comment by Dwayne Wilkins, Tony Rucker’s campaign manager (putative?) and it got me thinking.

‘…We spend way too much time fighting over little stuff, when we really need to spend time on the big stuff…’

To my mind it is disingenuous when someone says, .‘We spend way too much time fighting over little stuff, when we really need to spend time on the big stuff…’  Every experienced business person that I know knows, it’s the little stuff that counts, it’s the little stuff that can put you out of business, it’s the little stuff can mean the difference between a profit and loss, it’s the little stuff, a blood clot, that can kill you and it’s the little stuff that can mean the difference between a happy customer and a lawsuit. It's the little stuff that is really hard.

A lot of us are old enough to remember the Challenger disaster.  It happen, as the Physicist Richard Feynman showed, because management ignored the little stuff. So don’t ever say ‘We spend way too much time fighting over little stuff, when we really need to spend time on the big stuff…’ because the little stuff can come back and bite you in the ass. The Devil is in the details.

‘For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.’

Let’s not let this be the fate of Plainfield.

Assemblyman Jerry Green: Out for Campaign Blood?

In a less than tepid defense of his had picked candidate and of his own accomplishments, Assembly Gerald (aka Jerry) Green open the 2011 Primary Season. Here are excerpts from Chairman Green’s blog post of April 12th in quotes with my comments:

‘…so I find it very odd that from the beginning; they have a problem with me supporting Tony Rucker as the candidate for this year’s Primary race…‘

Jerry, So Tony Rucker is your hand-picked candidate?

‘…Now that I am using the same process, in every comment in which she (Council Woman Williams) references the City Committee, she wants to make me sound like a dictator. I guess in her mind, the rules change when they are convenient to her…’

Then you don’t mind the public seeing the video of your behavior at the meeting before last?

‘…So I feel that it is very unfair to be critical of Tony Rucker, because I feel he is the best candidate for the second ward….’

Critical judgment is crucial in deciding if Tony Rucker is qualified to serve as a council person or should we take your word for it?

‘…He made it very clear to me that he will not be a rubber stamper, and that he is running to make life better for ALL of the residents of Plainfield, including the second ward. He made no promises to me, and I made no promises to him…’

So did the 3 council members you claim to have in your pocket.

‘…I knew I was making the right decision by supporting a new face, a person with new ideas, and a person who wants the best for the City of Plainfield….’ 

What ideas?

‘…Already, some of the negative comments that have been said lead me into the next issue in which I would like to bring clarification. Number one, when I mention the Prosecutor, I have taken to him numerous letters and blog comments that I felt had crossed the line, and some have been investigated, but none of them crossed the line…’

What about your ad hominen attacks on citizens of Plainfield?

‘…Already, I see council members spending more time talking about investigation. Whether it is the $20,000 the Mayor spent, or other issues I feel are minor when compared to this year’s budget…’

You do agree that Plainfield has a right to know if someone broke the law?

‘So I would like the City of Plainfield to wake up today and hold their elected officials accountable to the millions of dollars the City will lose in this year’s budget. ‘

Does that include Jerry Green who bills himself as the 3^rd most powerful man in Trenton?

‘Just recently, we lost millions of dollars in education funding, and are on the brink of losing millions in transportation funding…’

Dude, my man, you Jerry Green cast the deciding vote to end Abbot funding and assured the people of Plainfield that it would have no impact. Aren’t you being just a little hypocritical?

Chairman Green the people of Plainfield are not stupid. Times have changed when will you?