Robert Grey never saw coming when it got into the race as he failed to understand the real politics of Richmond. Poor Grey, he forgot the basic rules of Richmond politics. The reason the McCain-Gilmore-Pantele forces are united to stop Dwight Jones, and why Robert Grey has been roped into being part of the stop-Jones coalition.
By Paul Goldman, for the blog
Poor Robert Grey, he never saw it coming, neither did his mother, a super lady, such a terrific person and as I have said, that is one reason we need a Women's Monument to Richmond's women on Monument Avenue, to recognize the great contributions of the city's women. But in Richmond, is it really a surprise that I have gotten more calls from around the country from people who read about my proposal than from women in Richmond !
Robert Grey just never got it. As I I said in my endorsement of Dwight Jones, you don't need to be a rocket scientist to understand the basic laws of political physics here in Richmond. Or if you prefer, Bob Dylan said that you didn't need to be a weatherman to know which way the wind was blowing.
How many times can a man turn his head and pretend that he just doesn't see?
Robert Grey found out the answer this morning.
Two years ago, the RTD thought Bill Pantele's record and involvements were of such little moment that they urged voters to kick him off City Council. That's right: they backed his opponent saying that Bill didn't get it and his performance didn't merit your vote. They urged voters to vote for the proverbial anyone-but-Pantele candidate, a virtual unknown.
But back then, Bill had not, as Francis Ford Coppola might have said, "made his bones" with those that Dr. Crupi discussed in his report.
Remember the great opening scene in Godfather 1, when we are first introduced to Brando's character and Tom Hagen? It is in many respects, the most important scene in the movie. The undertaker had come to seek the help and blessing of the Godfather.
What a scene.
But to be fair to Bill, he has only done in the last few years what the legendary henchman of Boss Tweed's gang, George Washington Plunkett, predicted would happen.
Bill understood what Robert did not.
So now, Robert Grey, as predicted here, has been relegated to the role he has been chosen to take, as Bill Pantele's tag-team Tonto, assigned this role in the anti-Jones tag team by the usual suspects.
So it comes as no surprise to me that in entire RTD editorial endorsing Bill, THEY DO NOT MENTION ONE ACHIEVEMENT OF HIS.
NOT ONE!
They do not mention a single problem he has solved.
They say that it is "clear to us that Pantele is best suited to become a problem-solving mayor."
Yet the RTD says: "Pantele's tenure on the council means he already has identified the problems facing Richmond -- and they are legion -- and knows which lever to pull (or whom to call) to start making fixes. He recognizes the city's strengths and how to build on them." .
Say what? If the problems are legion, and Bill has been on City Council for 7 years, and yet the RTD can not cite a single achievement in solving any of these problems, what is really going on here?
"We believe Pantele can advance Wilder's call to treat taxpayers' money with more respect" says the RTD.
Say what? According to the Mayor, Mr. Pantele has been the most wasteful city councilman of them all! According to the Mayor, because of Bill's failure to follow the law, the Mayor says we have a $6 MILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT in the city budget!
So how can Bill "advance Wilder's call" when Wilder is saying that Bill is the reason we are going backward!?
But the most amazing RTD statement is this one: "Pantele has battled often with Wilder, which proves he can play in the big leagues."
Say what?
This is one for the record books. Why would bickering with Doug Wilder qualify anyone for the big leagues whatever that is suppose to mean.
SO WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON HERE?
Since the RTD seems to feel that Doug Wilder can help define the answer, let me leave you with one of the Mayor's favorite political sayings [cleaned-up], which I am quite sure Bill Pantele has heard before:
Even Ray Charles can see what his really happening here.
Because I like Robert and so greatly respect his mother Barbara, it does sadden me to know that they probably didn't see it until they read this morning's RTD editorial.
But he is stuck now, knowing that he is being used by the McCain-Gilmore-Pantele forces to stop Dwight Jones from becoming the Mayor.
Robert has a lot to offer Richmond, and hopefully he will get his chance in the future.
But he has now learned the brutal truth at the political physics of Richmond and why some of us have been working so hard for years to change it.
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