Debating debates-UPDATED
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- July
- 31
We now return you to the race for the 99th Assembly District . . . where a debate, state Assemblyman Greg Ball, R-Patterson, says, is scheduled for tomorrow.
Read his press release after the break. Following that is an RSVP from Republican John Degnan’s campaign, Ball’s opponent, explaining why he won’t be there.
UPDATE- Following that is a response from Ball on Degnan’s RSVP. In that response, Ball mentions Degnan being funded by illegal transfers of money. That’s a reference to campaign funds transferred by state Sen. Vincent Leibell, R-Patterson, to the Southeast Republican Committee, which then transferred money to Degnan. The state Board of Elections this week said those transfers were legal.
If that’s not enough, check out this blog post from the editor-in-chief and publisher of the North County News in Yorktown on how to host a debate—which the NCN is scheduled to do on Aug. 27 between Ball and Degnan.
MEDIA ADVISORY
for
FRIDAY, AUGUST 1
BALL ANNOUNCES 2nd DEBATE
This Friday evening, Assemblyman Greg Ball (R – Patterson) will once again face off against his opponent at a debate sponsored by the United Taxpayers of Yorktown. The debate will be held at the Yorktown Town Hall at 5 pm.
Yorktown Town Councilman Nick Bianco will be moderating the event. The panel will be comprised of members of the United Taxpayers of Yorktown, Westchester Center for Life, Somers Republican Club, and Northern Westchester Fish and Game Association.
This will be the second in a series of Republican primary debates. All members of the press are invited and encouraged to attend.
WHAT: United Taxpayers of Yorktown Candidates Forum
WHEN: THIS FRIDAY
August 1, 2008
5 pm
WHERE: Yorktown Town Hall
###
Now, the RSVP from Degnan’s campaign to an organizer of tomorrow’s event:
Mr. Frank,
First, allow me to thank you for the invitation to the press conference that United Taxpayers of Yorktown has been trying to pass off as a political debate. As I expressed to you the first time we spoke, there is no secret about UTY’s role in Mr. Ball’s campaign and how it was less than honest to present your group as impartial. Unfortunately, Mr. Degnan must decline as he has another obligation on Friday evening.
I held back on responding to your invitation until today, the day before the UTY Debate, in the hopes that Mr. Ball might be driven to respond to invitations he has had in hand since the first week in July. He continues to ignore repeated invitations to debate Mr. Degnan in Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess at mutually agreed upon venues moderated by undeniably impartial organizations. Apparently, the level playing field concept is unfamiliar to Mr. Ball and he has not responded – even after repeated requests. Perhaps a chicken suit is in order.
I suggest that if you wish to present the appearance of being impartial you might consider having your debate moderated by persons and/or organizations that are less involved in your candidate’s campaign. This kind of behavior goes to the credibility of your organization.
Cordially,
Denis Castelli
Press Secretary
Degnan for Assembly
Ball’s response to the above:Â
FOR RELEASE: IMMEDIATELY
July 31, 2008
DEGNAN TELLS YORKTOWN TAXPAYERS, “YOU ARE NOT IMPORTANTâ€
Yorktown voters remain puzzled on what he stands for
Seeking to avoid another embarrassing performance at a public debate, Democrat John Degnan, a candidate in the 99th Assembly district Republican primary, issued a release today refusing to appear at a candidate forum scheduled to be held at Yorktown Town Hall on July 31st.
The event, which will go on as scheduled, is to be moderated by Yorktown Councilman Nick Bianco, a member of the Conservative Party, with a panel comprised of the United Taxpayers of Yorktown (UTY), Westchester Center for Life, Putnam County Fish & Game Association and others.
In a response, State Assemblyman Greg Ball said that as the incumbent it was sad to see a candidate so unwilling to attend an issues oriented debate where the sitting incumbent will be in attendance.
Ball said, “When I was running for office, and against an opponent, I would have shown up with bells on to debate the incumbent anytime, anywhere. Degnan is unwilling to explain to the voters his liberal and extreme positions and is apparently uncomfortable sitting before a panel of local organizations, many with Republican principles at the center of their mission.â€
“What’s truly sad about Mr. Degnan’s absence is that these organizations represent the issues that are most important to many Republican primary voting residents of Yorktown—taxes, immigration, energy, senior issues, reproductive rights, and second amendment issues,†Ball said. “John Degnan, the endorsed Democratic candidate running in a Republican primary, who still has not told the public what side of the aisle he will sit on, continues to refuse to discuss the real issues. We all know he is running a negative campaign on the Democratic line and with a platform of “I Hate Greg Ballâ€, but what else do we know outside of his miserable term as the pro-illegal alien Brewster Mayor? Why is he hiding from public discourse?â€
While Degnan has been mostly silent on which issues he plans to address, how he plans to address them, and what party he plans to caucus with if elected, he has revealed that he opposes a property tax cap, that immigration is an issue best left to the Federal Government, and that abortion is “the law of the land.â€
Ball commented, “Day after day, our community is under assault by a campaign that is based on negativity and deception, funded by illegal transfers and rooted in a platform of nothing more than ‘Vote for me because I hate Greg Ball’. Mr. Degnan sends mailers attacking me personally and was booed out of the last debate for attacking my military service record. Now he refuses to show up to a debate hosted by seniors, taxpayers, veterans and sportsmen. I don’t have State Senators and developers shifting hundreds me of thousands of dollars through third party organizations, but I will continue to wage my campaign based on the issues and the local Republican machine in Putnam should wake up and see Degnan’s campaign and the money laundering as the very personification of what is wrong with Albany – Republican insiders working with Democrats in Albany and at home to turn over another solid Republican seat to Sheldon Silver.â€
Bianco, who had been invited to moderate the Yorktown debate by the UTY, is a registered Conservative. He said that he would have conducted an impartial debate, and as moderator, will adhere to strict decorum of Town Hall. Bianco will not have been part of the panel asking questions.
Responding to accusations that he was an impartial participant, Bianco commented that he planned to disclose that he carried walking petitions for Assemblyman Ball at the beginning of the event.
“The point of the debate isn’t Nick Bianco, the point is to have a debate. If Mr. Degnan does not want me to be a moderator, then I will not be the moderator.
Ball has already RSVP’d to future debates sponsored by North County News-League of Women Voters debate on August 27th and the Joint Veterans Council Debate to be scheduled in early August. Furthermore, Ball has demanded a debate to be held in each town throughout the 99th, and while Degnan made a last minute decision to attend a previous Patterson debate, after his poor performance, he seems to be saying “NO†to Yorktown – the largest town in the 99th Assembly District!
The candidate forum will be held at 5 PM tomorrow and attended by Assemblyman Ball and congressional candidate Kieran Michael Lalor. John Degnan may show up last minute, assuming he does not get lost on his way to Yorktown, and that he can muster the courage.
This entry was posted
on Thursday, July 31st, 2008 at 12:31 pm by Mike Risinit.
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Forget the chicken costume; I would humbly suggest an empty suit hung over a chair if he ducks REAL debates. We all know that is all he is.
Why am I not surprised by this? Typical Greg Ball campaign tactic. He did the same thing during his initial campaign against Will Stephens. Assemblyman Stephens unknowingly attended the event at the time, which turned out to be a campaign event for Greg Ball. Good for John Degnan for not giving into Ball’s ploy. Us voters deserve a fair and balanced debate on the important issues facing us. I look forward to the debate hosted by the North County News in August.
Next Greg Ball will ask Michael Rights to moderate a debate in Southeast. Maybe Mr. Right’s will declare himself the leader of “The Illegal is Illegal Foundationâ€, obviously that would only apply to others not Greg Ball and Michael Rights. Greg Ball is a fraud and will not engage in a real debate by an organization that he does not control.
Mr. Degnan has proposed a series of debates to be held by impartial organizations and Greg Ball has refused to commit. That is because Greg Ball wants to be insulated from answering the real questions from the residents in his district.
What a bleeping Hypocrite!
Ball transferred money from a polo charity match outside Phillie and funds from smart growth PAC he started. That man has some nerve and a huge brass set!
Just google courage cup and CUEG and see what you come up with.
Greg Ball gave us Michael Rights and he wants us to believe in him, Greg Ball is a bad judge of character and a mean person. Greg Ball must be defeated.
” I don’t have State Senators and developers shifting hundreds me of thousands of dollars through third party organizations, but I will continue to wage my campaign based on the issues and the local Republican machine in Putnam should wake up and see Degnan’s campaign and the money laundering as the very personification of what is wrong with Albany – Republican insiders working with Democrats in Albany and at home to turn over another solid Republican seat to Sheldon Silver.â€
HUH! Ball had Putnam County Rep Chairman hold nearly 50 proxy votes for Ball and he still lost the county endorsement. Developers! Ball gets his money from his school buddies at Exceed Development in Illinois. Ball used to work there for @$150,000 but no one knows what he did.
HIUH! Democrats and Republicans working together!! Please say that it is so, FINALLY! Now maybe we can get something done in Albany.
Greg you are the master of deception, distortion and lies.
I know the Yorktown residents have more intelligence than to believe the Ball campaign porn. Ball does not care about you! He only cares for himself. You think he’s anti-abortion? Depends who he’s speaking to. Read ALL of his past posts. He’s jumped that fence so often he should be dizzy. He voted against funding for our veterans and our seniors. The only thing he’s voted for this whole term was to arm anyone who wants a gun with any gun they want to own.
This was never a debate, this is a Ball press release op. Ball is the one afraid to show up at an impartial debate. Will he be there for the League of Women Voters, the Plan Putnam and the VFW debates. I think not.
Degnan must be out of his mind. Insulting Nick Bianco and the UTY?
This debate will be just as fair as the last one. People from both sides of the aisle had plenty of time to ask their questions.
Degnan is SCARED of Greg Ball. It’s clear from the YouTube clips he got his butt kicked. Trying to blame this on the moderator or the UTY is silly.
It’s comical to say that “Plan Putnam” would host an impartial debate, especially compared to the UTY. However, Ball has already RSVP’d. He is not afraid to debate Degnan anywhere, any time.
The Degnan camp is really, really desperate. They have not sent out a single issues mailer yet. Its personal attack, after personal attack, after personal attack. No one knows what the guy stands for. He’s a blank slate. Even has a blank website.
Degnan will be crushed in the Republican primary. Will your whining get even worse then?
To Neuringer aka FBM
Did you notice you are the ONLY one on this message list attempting to support Ball? I would say the tide has turned and Mr. Ball will be lost at sea very soon.
Then what will you do? Suck up to David Duke? Defend Jim Jones’ legacy? Deny the Holocaust? You and your boss are sickening examples of gutter politics. Good riddance.
Bill,
You’re right it will be just as fair as the last one. The last one was a joke. It was the traveling band of Ball supporters… even the priest. To even think that it’s appropriate for the host to have carried petitions for Ball is ridiculous. I guess the North County News opinion doesn’t matter either. Probably a bunch of whiny liberals like the League of Women Voters… right?
I can’t believe that days after the Board of Elections has said that there was nothing illegal about the contribution, Ball continues to say it. I’m amazed at how the truth means absolutely nothing.
I do look forward to a true unbiased debate between the two of them, but unfortunately I don’t see this event being one of them.
This last minute announcement of Balls Campaign attention getter…calling it a Debate….what a joke. Going to be run by a group of Ball supporters and well planned to make Balls look good. NO ONE SHOULD ATTEND THIS LOSERS ATTEMPT AT A DEBATE…BECAUSE IT IS JUST A BALL EVENT.
Lets have true and real debates, well advertised in advance run by League of Woman Voters who have a very good reputation.
But Ball will try anything.
Ball will be trying every possible avenue for gaining the attention of the public and to make everyone else out there look bad. Does Ball ever self evaluate and begin to wonder why so many people are sick and tired of his same old tactics?
Mr. Degnan is smart not to attend this event on Fri. 8/1. It was drawn up at the last minute and it seems like it is a set up by Ball. Ball wants to make himself the taxpayer hero.
Now the public is getting begging emails for more money as Ball referrs to ‘every penny’ counting. He must be low on $. Check out the Campaign filings. Ball has made sure he paid himself back some big bucks over the past six months. So…sure…send your pennies to Ball to pay back himself. Sounds like champagne taste with a beer pocketbook.
Degnan seems to have dug himself into a hole on this one. The North County News debate at the Yorktown stage might have drawn fifty people at most. Now he risks having 150 PO’d senior citizens wanting an explanation for the snub.
The fact that we don’t see many Pro-Ball comments here confirms that A) not many conservative Republicans read the Journal News and B) Ball’s staff & volunteers are busy doing what they should be doing: campaigning.
If Degnan’s people spent less time on lohud and more time on actually running a race, he might not have needed that $50k from Senator Leibell.
Now… get back to work.
The truth of the matter is that Greg Ball is low on money and he is very low on volunteers. Greg Ball has been found out to be a fraud and his ship is sinking.
That last so-called debate was a joke. It was comprised of all Greg Ball fanatics, including the priest. Look at Ball’s website…...the priest goes to his fundraisers, and so did every member of the board of that Respect Life Society. So Ball fooled no one.
This latest charade is just that: A CHARADE. Degnan is doing exactly right in ignoring this ban of Ball-Bags called United Taxpayers of Yorktown. Sort of like CUEG and Courage Cup: it’s all a fraud. UTY is just a continuation of that fraud. And the fraud started the day Ball applied for the Air Force Academy.
Hey Neuringer…..I saw Greg Ball’s DD214 in the Putnam County Press. A big thank you to Don Hall for having the interity that Ball is lacking. I saw that DD214. WHAT A DISGRACE!!!!! UNCLE SAM PAID A MILLION DOLLARS FOR THIS SORT OF FAILURE? HE DID NOTHING IN THE MILITARY, AND HIS DD214 PROVES IT. ALSO, IT STATES THAT HE DISCHARGED FOR MISCELLANEOUS REASONS. THAT’S NOT WHAT MINE SAYS, MATTY.
When Ball loses this election, who gets custody of Matt Neuringer?
That’s right, Neuringer, Degnan is doing mailings that point out the background of Greg Ball, the failed former 1st LT. If pointing out Ball’s background is negative, it’s proably because Ball’s background is negative, with holes like swiss cheese. His DD214 is a disgrace. NO WONDER WHY GREG BALL REFUSES TO RELEASE HIS DD214; HE’S EMBARASSED ABOUT HIS MILITARY SERVICE. AFTER VIEWING HIS DD214, I’D BE EMBARASSED AS WELL. NOW I UNDERSTAND WHY 95% OF PUTNAM’S VETERANS DON’T CONSIDER GREG BALL A VETERAN. HE’S A WEAK SISTER.
GREG BALL IS JUST ABOUT OUT OF MONEY, HIS VOLUNTEER BASE HAS SHRUNK TO ALMOST NOTHING, NOBODY BELIEVES HIM, AND HIS STRATEGY FROM 2 YEARS AGO AINT WORKING ANYMORE. HE’S ON THE ROPES, ABOUT TO FALL, GETTING HIT BY ROUNDHOUSES RIGHT IN THE FACE. HIS CAMPAIGN IS IN RUINS. HE’S DOWN TO DOING WHAT HE’S DOING NOW: STAGING PHONY DEBATES WITH HIS TRAVELING CIRCUS AND PRETENDING IT’S A REAL DEBATE.
THE REAL LOSER HERE IN ALL OF THIS IS GREG BALL, NO MATTER WHAT. YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, GREG THINKS HE’S PRESIDENTIAL MATERIAL, HE HAS A PLAN TO GET TO THE WHITE HOUSE. HIS SERVICE AT THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY WAS NOTHING MORE THAN GETTING A GOOD SCHOOL TO PUT ON HIS RESUME; HE REALLY DIDN’T CARE HOW PATHETIC HIS ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE WAS (SEE HIS DD214). HE JUST WNTED THAT DEGREE FROM THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY TO IMPRESS EVERYONE. HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE PAST THE ASSEMBLYMAN STAGE ALREADY. HIS ORIGINAL PLAN WAS TO DO 2 YEARS IN THE ASSEMBLY, BECOME THE CONGRESSMAN, TAKE ON SCHUMER, AIM FOR THE WHITE HOUSE. HE WASN’T SUPPOSED TO HAVE SO MUCH TROUBLE AS AN ASSEMBLYMAN. HECK, HE DIDN’T SCAM A SCHOLARSHIP FROM UNCLE SAM AT THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY JUST TO BE AN ASSEMBLYMAN, A LOWLY ASSEMBLYMAN. HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE PAST THIS STAGE ALREADY. BUT HE GOT TRIPPED UP. PEOPLE GOT WISE TO WHO AND WHAT HE REALLY IS, RIGHT HERE IN PUTNAM COUNTY. SO NOW GREGORY ROBERT BALL REALIZES THAT HIS POLITICAL CAREER IS IN RUINS, DESTROYED, AND GOING NOWHERE. AT BEST HE’LL BE STUCK AS A LOWLY ASSEMBLYMAN, AT BEST. HE’LL NEVER MOVE PAST ASSEMBLYMAN. AND THIS FACT IS KILLING HIM. HIS LIFE-LONG HOPES AND DREAMS OF BEING A SUCESSFUL POLITICIAN ARE SHATTERED.
Say it isn’t so! What will become of me?
Shucks, I can’t get anything right.
WHY ISN’T GREG BALL DOING MAILINGS WITH THE MS-13 TAG IN THE BACKGROUND? WITH ALL THE CREW STANDING THERE WITH TOUGH GUY LOOKS ON THEIR FACES. THE SAME MS-1 TAG THAT THEY WROTE.
CHARADE’S OVER…...
HAS NEURINGER ANNOUNCED YET HIS INTENTION TO RUN FOR BREWSTER TRUSTEE? HAS YEE ANNOUNCED HIS INTENTION TO RUN FOR SHERIFF? HAS MANGIERI ANNOUNCED HIS INTENTION TO RUN FOR TRUSTEE?
This does not seem like a legitimate debate to me. Debates are supposed to be held by impartial organizations and moderated by an impartial third-party.
If the UTY President and many of its members have been campaigning for Mr. Ball or against Mr. Degnan that makes the organization biased. Couple that with the fact that the selected moderator, Nick Bianco, carried petitions for Mr. Ball and you’ve got yourself a real problem with impartiality.
How the UTY and Mr. Bianco did not recognize this I don’t know.
I would love to see Mr. Ball and Mr. Degnan debate. But I want to see a real debate, not some pro-Ball forum where Mr. Degnan happens to be present as punching bag.
Good move on the part of Mr. Degnan by not attending, but skip out on a legitimate debate and you’ll be making a real big mistake.
HAS YEE ANOUNCED TO THE WORLD THAT, IF HE WINS HIS RACE FOR SHERIFF, AND BALL LOSES HIS ASSEMBLY RACE, THAT HE’LL APPOINT GREG BALL UNDERSHERIFF?
I THOUGHT BALL WAS SMARTER THAN THAT, TAKING ON SENATOR LEIBELL. WHAT A FOOL. COMPARED TO LEIBELL, BALL IS A RANK AMATEUR.
AND A FAILED FORMER FIRST LT.
MR. MEYER,
STOP SPEAKING LOGICALLY, WILL YOU PLEASE? THIS IS GREG BALL WE’RE TALKING ABOUT HERE. BALL, AND MATTHEW NEURINGER.
WHEN BALL GOES DOWN FOR THE COUNT, WHO WILL GET CUSTODY OF MATTHEW?
Greg Ball made a fatal error when he engaged Senator Leibell. Senator Leibell is one of the most respected and dedicated elected officials this area has ever had. Greg Ball just committed political suicide. Senator Vincent Leibell is the cream of the crop and Greg Ball has bitten off more then he can chew. Once the Conservatives and the Republicans see that Greg Ball has insulted and lied about good Senator, Ball will lose much of the limited support he has left in those parties.
John Degnan is preparing now to be our next Assemblyman from the 99th Assembly District.
Failed Former Air Force 1st. LT., we get your point. You don’t much care for Mr. Ball, but please stop clogging the blog with your rant.
I happen to agree with you but it eventually becomes overkill. And you should consider signing your real name. Cowards post anonymously.
Half of the pro-Ball posts are probably Mr. Ball himself along with Mr. Neuringer.
Half of the pro-Degnan posts are probably Mr. Degnan himself along with his campaign workers.
We don’t know because so few people post using their real name.
And I agree with JB, attacking Mr. Leibell was stupid on the part of Mr. Ball. It was stupid when Mr. Ball attacked him last May/June, it was stupid when he attacked him last Fall, and it’s stupid now.
Mr. Leibell is one of the most popular figures in the Hudson Valley, including all of the 99th state assembly district. He can probably heavily influence a Republican Primary.
Mr. Ball is not invincible and he should be careful about what enemies he’s making.
Mr. Ball has made a huge mistake by going after Senator Leibell, a man who is loved in the Lower Hudson Valley and in the 99th Assembly District. Mr. Ball is doing some serious damage to his campaign and self. I am sure John Degnan smiles every time Mr. Ball makes a bad comment about Senator Leibell. Mr. Ball should be a paid consultant for the Degnan campaign, keep talking Mr. Ball, you are digging a deeper hole every day. With your comments about Senator Leibell and your hand picked and supported Supervisor of Southeast Mr. Right you are really on a role. Are you going to man up and admit you made a big mistake in running Mr. Rights as your candidate to become the Supervisor of Southeast? Have you denounced Mr. Rights for breaking the law twice? Isn’t illegal, illegal? Mr. Ball, you are the reason Southeast is becoming a joke to the rest of the county.
Vinny THINKS he is one of the most popular figures in the Hudson Valley—Ball still received more votes within the 99th district then our “beloved” Senator, though.
If Vinny really was as popular as he perceives, he would have not had to have bought off the local Democrats by bankrolling John Degnan in order to stop from Mike Kaplowitz from running again.
It’s blatantly obvious. Ball is a freshman incumbent. The most vulnerable type of incumbent. The Democrats know this and that’s why they approached Vinny. If Vinny REALLY cared about the Republican party, he’d be giving money to other candidates as well.
What about the other assembly candidates in Vinny’s district? Marc Molinaro? Who was begging for cash in June? $0. Bill Gouldman? First person to challenge Sandra Galef in a decade? $100. Anthony Pilla? $0.
Only one person in Vinny’s district is getting any of this money, and its for Vinny’s benefit, no one elses.
Has given a cent to any of the other State Senators who are in tight reelection races? No. Keeping the majority isn’t that important when you have a no compete agreement and an open invitation to change parties.
Anthony Bazzo is right, Vinny should just throw in the towel, switch parties, and be done with it—this is probably why he hasn’t given money to any other Senators. Parties don’t matter that much at the local level any way.
His cushy no-compete agreement, a la Mike Spano, has not fooled me.
just like Bruce Apar THINKS he is still relevant. NCN, circulation down to 6,300… OUCH!
southeast becoming a joke? no, degnan took care of that over the past ten years by refusing to clean up Brewster.
leibell is supporting plenty of republicans assembly candidates. anthony pilla is not running in any of senate district 40, makes no sense for leibell to get involved in that race. bill goldman is a challenger who has not proven himself to be credible. he has not raised the funds needed to defeat galef. leibell has a good working relationship with her and he would be doing his constituents a disservice to pick a fight for a candidate that isn’t ultimately going to succeed, with or without his support. assemblymen marc molinaro and joel miller are getting support from leibell and they are all very close friends. sen. saland is also helping these republican assemblyman out in their re-election bids. and ball is being opposed by leibell not for petty nonsense as suggested but because ball has been in constant attack mode since his election in 2006. he tries to build himself up at the expense of others. his hyper-grandstanding over an innocuous .5% sales tax increase was unnecessary and almost forced putnam county to increase property taxes by 66%. luckily, assemblywoman galef and sen. leibell stepped up to the plate a did the right thing, supporting the lesser of two evils. but ball didn’t care because he wasn’t truly concerned about taxes. if he was, he would have negotiated like statesman or at least saved his temper tantrum for private meetings. but it was all about grand-standing and building himself up at the expense of others. so he viciously attacked fellow republicans on the legislature, he attacked fellow republicans county executive bob bondi and sen. leibell and sheriff don smith. ball has no party loyalty. he’s only been a registered republican for 3 years. if putnam were a democratic county and the most polarizing political issue was, say, abortion.. . you can bet your lucky stars ball would be a registered democrat running as a staunch pro-choicer. there’s no principles with this guy. the voters are starting to realize this and they’re going to toss him out on his rear this september.
I’m really getting tired of this typical “Ballshit” of attacking the working press for doing their job.
Ball uses the press as a bullhorn for his lies. Recently they’ve caught on and have stopped doing that.
In fact, the Journal News, North County News, and Putnam County Courier have all taken Ball to task on their respective editorial pages for his blatant lies and dirty campaigning.
His response? Attack the newspapers as being biased.
OK, let’s review: When the newspapers repeat Ball’s lies he’s happy and the paper is a ‘good’ paper. When they call him out on his lies, the paper is a ‘rag’ and is politically motivated.
As a retired TV news producer I resent Ball’s view of the press as his own personal smear tool. He’s not entitled to control what reporters write although I’m confident he thinks he is.
As a North Salem resident and 99 district assembly voter I really resent Ball lying to the public.
Time for him to go!
People and a Warning to the Candidates: You are invited to attend the Hosted Putnam County League of Women Voters Debate, This will be moderated by the Westcheste League of Women Voters. WE are the most respected “nuetral” group of Orgnazined,Professional Women and we take no BS! Come and witness THE Debate of and in our History thus far…you will not be dissapointed and you will experience a Debate where there is no hidden agenda, Any Candidate Propagranda will not be tolerated to incldue groups formed to come before hand to try and persuade the outcome of the Debate. This type of Campaining never works at a Debate and any consideration of a “gain” for votes is out of the question. This advise is a Warning to the Candidate. Do not come with your “groupies” You know you will have a supporter by the time the day is called to VOTE. Our DEBATE is August 27th. Our League has worked very hard through the years and knows what is acceptable and not. Our Moderator is a skilled person who does not tolerate any nonsense. This debate will be held according to the rules and regulations to ensure that all voters get a very clear pictures as to each Candidates Platforms and Strengths. The best Candidate after this Debate will be the one sent to Albany to represent the 99th District. We are Women who are a mix of all Parties…and somehow we are all able to work together for the good of the community in which we serve. It is our hope that the next Election puts in a Candidate who will serve us best in Albany. Enough of the bickering and the Fabrications. Come to the LWV Debate and find out for yourself who you should choose and what lever to pull in the voting booth. Both Degnan and Ball should not come to the debate to out wit one another or talk about past “garbage” we the voters are not interested at all in that. We all read the newspapers. The Candidates are to prove to the the Voter who is best qualifed, who has the ability to truly work across the aile. A clear record and history of change as well as accomplishments.This is the time to prove your worth and your ability to bring about change and make a difference in the lives of the 99th. Do not bring a bunch of “groupies” we all know who they are anyway from past debates and it was pointless and useless. Some of us have attended the other debate and we know which people to look out for and who belongs and supports who. We want Candidates and real men to act like Leaders not a person who picks up their toys and leaves the sandbox. Enough is enough vote for your candidate of choice who has the common sense and proven ability to get things done. Do not come to hear more lies and promises, Come to the LWV Debate to get a DEBATE. I am a Member of the Putnam League of Women Voters and several other across the aile groups and Organizations. I am a Leader and know what it takes to send a Leader to Albany. Come, listen and decide. Be prepared for an excellent Debate. I look forward to seeing you there.
MR. MEYER,
JUST PUTTING A NAME DOESN’T MEAN IT’S LEGIT. A PERSON WHO PRETENDS TO USE A REAL NAME IS A FRAUD, AND WE HAVE ENOUGH FRAUDS IN THE 99TH AD.
JOKER, THE REAL JOKE IS ON US. BALL THE JOKER SCAMMED THE AIR FORCE INTO PROVIDING HIM WITH A FREE EDUCATION, AND BALL GAVE BACK NOTHING IN RETURN. JUST LOOK AT HIS DD214; ONE YEAR AS A RECRUITER AND TWO AS A PROTOCOL OFFICER? YEAH SURE, UNCLE SAM GOT HIS MONEY’S WORTH. BALL PERFORMED DISGRACEFULLY ON ACTIVE DUTY, AND IT’S STILL A MYSTERY HOW SOMEONE IN HIS POSITION NEVER DEPLOYED, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF TWO GROUND WARS. VERY FEW, AND I MEAN VERY FEW, SERVICE PEOPLE WHO SERVED FROM 2001-2004 AVOIDED IRAQ OR AFGHANISTAN. VERY FEW. HE LEARNED OF A TRANSFER, AND HE OPTED OUT FOR MISCELLANEOUS REASONS.
FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS BALL HAS DONE NOTHING, AND I MEAN NOTHING, TO HELP THE VILLAGE OF BREWSTER. MAYOR DEGNAN, IN WHAT LIMITED CAPACITY HE COULD, DID MORE THAN ANYONE HAS EVER DONE. HE STARTED THE BREWSTER PD, SOMETHING BALL HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH. HE SIGNED UP THE BREWSTER PD FOR 287G TRAINING LONG BEFORE BALL EVEN ARRIVED ON THE SCENE WITH HIS CAMERA AND HIS COURT JESTER MATTHEW NEURINGER. HE INITIATED ALL THE HOME INSPECTIONS THAT WE SEE TODAY, EVEN THE ONE THAT RIGHTS AND YEE RECENTLY MADE A SILLY MAILER OUT OF. THE ONLY THING I CAN GATHER OUT OF THAT IS IT WAS YEE’S OPENING SALVO IN HIS QUEST FOR SHERIFF. YEE RAN FOR TOWN BOARD JUST TO GET HIMSELF NAME RECOGNITION FOR THE 2009 SHERIFF’S RACE, NOT TO SERVE THE PEOPLE. HE’S A USER AND A MANIPULATOR, JUST LIKE GREG BALL.
EVERYONE HAS FIGURED OUT GREG BALL: THE PRESS, THE PEOPLE, THOSE WHO VOLUNTEER ON CAMPAIGNS, THOSE WHO DONATE TO CAMPAIGNS, AND THE AVERAGE FOLK. BALL WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IN CONGRESS BY NOW, EYEING SENATOR SCHUMER’S SEAT, ON HIS WAY TO THE WHITE HOUSE. ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION WAS HIS BATTLE CRY. HE THOUGHT HE COULD SCREAM AND YELL, AND NOT HAVE TO PRODUCE RESULTS, BECAUSE HE WAS NEVER INTENDING TO BE IN ANY ONE OFFICE TOO LONG. BUT HIS POLITICAL CAREER HAS DE-RAILED.
IT’S OVER, MATTHEW NEURINGER. TIME FOR YOU TO START THINKING ABOUT GOING BACK TO SCHOOL AND GETTING A REAL JOB AND WORKING FOR A LIVING (FOLLOWING PEOPLE IN PARKING LOTS AND SUPERMARKET AISLES IS NOT REAL WORK.)
Sounds as though there are two events being discussed. One organized by Ball Camp, called a debate to be held Aug.1. The event moderators are all Ball people and this last minute Ball campaign event is NOT a debate that the public would learn from, unless you want to hear Ball talk. The other debate seems to be from the North County News on Aug. 27 with the NCN the organizer. This too is somewhat sketchy. Doesn’t the NCN editor support ball big time? That’s what we hear.
Let have well organized debates, using a group like the League of Woman Voters who have run debates in the past, doing a great job. There have been three supposedly proposed to Ball and Degnan and rumor has it that Ball does not want to attend a legitimate debate.
Also previous poster says Neuringer should go back to school and get a real job. Why when he can get paid on the STATES payroll and do campaign work on our taxpayer dollar and get health benefits too.
Over the years, we see candidates for various elected positions and there is always gossip good and bad about all candidates. But in all our years, we have never seen such garbage as the past two years. Ball seems to thrive on bad things and only claims good things if he says he did it. But then again, can not really find those good things that were ever completed, just talk.
We are getting sick of this. This will be the first time to not vote registered party if Ball wins the primary. Will then vote democratic.
Balls can not brainwash everyone with his act. He should go into acting.
Ball called our last assemblyman a “professional politician†and a “good old boy†who voted 90% of the time with Sheldon Silver the Democrat Speaker of the Assembly. Ball knew those accusations to be lies, but also was aware the local press could be relied upon not to check the facts on his predecessors voting records. Ball by his aggressive campaign of lies replaced the great representation the district had in Willis Stephens, Jr..
Here is what the district had before Ball went to Albany.
Will Stephens was the Minority Pro Tempore, the second in command of the Republican leadership, and director of floor operations for the minority. He is a skilled attorney, who wrote, personally, much of the legislation that the minority introduced on the floor of the Assembly. He was not a “professional politician†as Ball accused, but was a successful attorney in private practice. Stephens had previously been counsel to the majority in the New York State Senate, and as such was directly responsible for policy and the drafting of legislation related to i t. Stephens, a home owner, is married with three children, and was well aware of the tax burden working families in the district were facing and continue to face. He fought for property tax relief, and was successful in doing so. As second in command in the Assembly minority, Stephens was able to negotiate with the leadership of the majority, and in being a position to do so, advanced Republican legislation and principles. One has to understand that Democrat assembly members out number Republicans by 2-1, of the 150 assembly seats only 42 are Republican. What influence the 99th had at the time that Stephens was the assemblyman was totally lost when Ball defeated him.
Here is what the district got in electing Ball:
Ball now is a “professional politicianâ€; it is his only job, and he is a backbencher. Ball is totally disliked on both sides of the isle, by Republican and Democrat alike. He spent the prior two years to his election working for Exceed International. But even though he was employed full time as an executive of the company, he was able to knock on “10,000†doors running for the job he now holds. It appears that he received a full time salary from the company, but spent most of his time running for election to the assembly. Nice work if you can get it. Sounds like an illegal campaign contribution to me, but then again I may be naïve. Remember he ran the campaign for those two years while being employed by Exceed. He was all over the district, at every event, at every occasion, at “10,000†doors. When did he have time to work for Exceed? What did he do for Exceed? What projects did he direct? What revenues and contracts did he produce for the company? His campaign literature was devoid of such minor things.
Ball states in his current campaign literature that he was sponsor of 17 pieces of legislation that passed during his first term in the assembly. That is easily verifiable, and again he relies on a compliant press to not verify his claims. If one checks, in fact, far less has been passed with his name on it. If a search is run, one will quickly see, that Ball only has 8 pieces of legislation with his name on them. 3 pieces contain every assembly members name as co-sponsor( Democrat and Republican), and 5 pieces of legislation were DEMOCRAT introduced bills. In the minority, and a first term backbencher, Ball is totally ineffectual. His claims are preposterous and foolish, and he relies on an uninformed public to believe him, and a compliant local press to not do their homework.
To the voters of the 99th A.D. please do not repeat the mistake of 2006. Turn Ball out of office. Elect Degnan!
Greg Ball: Passed 8 pieces (0 prime) of Legislation in his first term.
Willis Stephens: Passed 4 pieces (0 prime) of Legislation in his first term.
And the great Vinny Leibell: passed.. ZERO. A big fat goose egg as a freshman. Way to go Mr. Popularity.
Source: New York Red Book
Comments: I’d rather have an ineffectual backbencher then an empty suite whose just there to steer contracts to friends & family members. It stands to reason that you would strike out at a real maverick conservative reformer. You are part of the failed Putnam patronage machine.
Didn’t Mr. Ball go to work for this developement company with the plans of redoing the entire Village of Brewster? Part of his getting elected was to then get officials elected in Brewster that could be manipulated so this Exceed would beable to come in? That was why we figured Exceed kept Ball on the payroll…to get elected. Then there was the rumor that someone in Exceed was very displeased with Ball and has separated from him. But this may just be rumors as are much of the stories around Ball. Never know what to believe anynore.
What is the “Follow the 10509 and find out?”
Can someone explain what that is?
10509 is the group that most of us wingnuts come here from. I think he meant that you can match the timestamps here to there and see who everyone actually is (BILL, MATT, KEN)
Putnam County League of Women Voters Debate could be a bad bet for John Degnan, this group was put together by two supporters of Greg Ball, Lori Ford and Jennifer Maher, both are in the Ball camp. This could be another debate set up against Degnan, Ball does have flunkies out there doing his dirty work.
To: Follow the 10509 and findout
So, you at least admit Ball’s campaign literature is basically lies. “17 pieces of legislation passed in first term”.
Even if the voters are foolish enough to re-elect Ball, he will continue to be ineffectual, and that is for one basic reason, he has alienated everyone in the legislature. If he can’t work with people within his own party, how can you or anyone else expect him to get anything meaningful done. It’s common sense. Seniority through years spent in the legislature does not give power, the ability to work within and without your party is what brings responsibility, through key positions on committee’s and assignments in the party leadership. Ball has an inability to forge relationships. He will remain a backbencher forever, because of his giant ego and lack of the foundation of trust one needs within the party. Will Stephens built that trust early in his legislative career, which is how he got to #2 in party leadership within 12 years. Ball could be there 30 and he would remain a backbencher.
Now fill us all in on your statement:
“I’d rather have an ineffectual backbencher then an empty suite whose just there to steer contracts to friends & family members”
Care to name names? Care to make specific accusations with your name attached?
Oh, and by the way, an ineffectual backbencher is by definition an “empty suit”.
Greg Ball and Michael Rights are collectively destroying Southeast and Putnam County.
Greg Ball and Michael Rights are collectively destroying Southeast and Putnam County.
Greg Ball and Michael Rights are collectively destroying Southeast and Putnam County.
Greg Ball and Michael Rights are collectively destroying Southeast and Putnam County.
Greg Ball and Michael Rights are collectively destroying Southeast and Putnam County.
Greg Ball and Michael Rights are collectively destroying Southeast and Putnam County.
Need I say more?
Did you happen to see Greg Ball’s DD214? No wonder why he has refused to release it. It’s an absolut disgrace. One look at it and you can see the guy was a weak sister, a skater, someone who conned his way along without any heavy lifting.
Greg Ball received a GENERAL DISCHARGE UNDER HONORABLE CONDITIONS. He never deployed to Iraq, while most everyone else was serving multiple deployments. How did Greg Ball avoid such service? And why would he even want to avoid such service in a time of war? Isn’t that the place you feel the need to be in a time of war? Leading troops? Or scamming money out of Courage Cup?
The United States (translation: YOU, the TAXPAYER) really got cheated when it gave Ball a free scholarship to the Air Force Academy. A complete waste of money.
General Discharges are not good. If this is true, he has some answering to do.
Frankly, I have been bored with this ongoing pro-anti Ball nonsense. But, my eyes lit up when I read the previous poster stating that Ball received a General Discharge Under Honorable Conditions. This is shaky stuff. If this is why he has been less than forthcoming about his military service, an enormous red flag has been raised in front of my eyes. When I served in the military, this designation was anathema and embarrassing. What’s the truth?
Why is General Discharge raising a red flag? What are the usual reasons for discharge other than ‘general’ ??? The more we read about Ball and the military, it is probably a good thing he is not out there defending our wonderful country.
It’s very clear why Ball to this day does not release his DD214, even in the face of all these questions. It was printed in the Putnam County Press. And it’s there for all the world to see. It’s no wonder he’s embarassed. He only served 60% of his time, contrary to what he claimed. His service as a student in the Air Force Academy did not count toward his 5 year active duty commitment, contrary to what he claimed. His medals that he received aren’t worthy of the Boy Scouts. In the Scouts at least the medals are earned. Two of the three medals awarded were gven to every single officer who happened to be on active duty. He did nothing to specifically earn it. The one that was directed to him, the one he touts foolishly at debates like the last one, was a medal for setting up a conference. SETTING UP A CONFERENCE, while we are fighting a war on two fronts. He should have declined the medal, but he knew that one day it would add to his political career.
As far as discharges go, he wasn’t scheduled to get out. The reasons for leaving clearly state “REASONS FOR LEAVING: MISCELLANEOUS/General. The TYPE of discharge is General. It’s a General Discharge under Honorable conditions. That means something is wrong with his service, seriously wrong. All veterans should look at their DD214 and see that their DD214’s don’t say that. It doesn’t say MISCELLANEOUS where it asks why you got out of the military.
Greg Ball could have avoided all this stuff by just coming out in the beginning and stating whatever problems he had in the Air Force. He’s absolutely nuts if he thinks for one second that he’s going to attack people the way he does, and not have his military service looked in to. If he uses the military as a basis of his entire persona, then we have a right to know everything about that service, especially if we paid for his education.
I have a very strong feeling that more will be coming out the closer we get to the Primary.
I saw the Putnam Press Piece. Ball gave them his DD-214, and that is a known anti-Ball paper so he can’t be that embarrassed.
Ball did not receive a general discharge as the above poster claims.
He received an honorable discharge. The discharge code was MND, reasons for leaving were Miscellaneous/General.
This is not the same as a “General discharge”.
As the consultant has previously pointed out John can only hurt himself by repeating the wrong information, and failed air force Lt. has the wrong information.
Also, Ball is a member of the American Legion. You can only join with an honorable separation.
You can’t join AMVETS or the VFW with general, OTH, or dishonorable—if Ball had not received an honorable discharge, it would have been news a long time ago. This is not some new discovery, it’s just confusion over the wording from a non-veteran.
But as a Ball-detractor/vet its still clear he was honorably discharged.
Ball was discharged for MISCELLANEOUS REASONS.
Ball received a GENERAL DISCHARGE UNDER HONORABLE CONDITIONS.
A General discharge under HONORABLE CONDITIONS is not an HONORABLE DISCHARGE.
Ball did not provide his DD214 to the Putnam County Press.
Ball did not honor his 5 year active duty commitment, no matter how hard you try to claim otherwise.
Ball was discharged suddenly.
Ball’s service was right in the middle of a war, a war on two fronts, yet they let him go early.
Ball served his first year as a ROTC Recruiter at a small college, YET NOWHERE DOES HE EVER DIVULGE THIS. HE SIMPLY STATES HE WAS IN WASHINGTON DC AS A PROTOCOL OFFICER.
Why didn’t Greg Ball want people to know he served at Saint Joseph’s College?
Did something happen at Saint Joseph’s College that he doesn’t want people to know about?
Was he asked to leave Sint Joseph’s College? If so, why?
Why was brand new 2nd LT. Ball permitted to serve his first year as a Recruiter?
How many of his fellow classmates were allowed to serve as recruiters?
Was someone trying to protect him? If so, why?
Why has Ball given 8 different reasons as to why he got out early? Why the embarassment?
REASONS FOR DISCHARGE: G-E-N-E-R-A-L.
Read the DD-214 in the Putnam Press. Ball did not receive a General Discharge under honorable conditions. He receive an Honorable Discharge.
The reasons were miscellaneous/general, from what I have heard it was part of Rumsfeld’s restructuring—nothing out of the ordinary. However that is not a General Discharge. Stop saying it is. It’s getting to the point where you’re making us look bad with the swiftboating.
I am voting for John Degnan, and the rest of your points are valid, but distorting the discharge is wrong. Please, take it from an OIF vet, you are hurting us more then you are helping us.
There is no need to lie and resort to negative attacks to get our guy elected. Ball is as negative as they come, lets not lower ourselves his level.
In the Putnam Times, it says he received an HONORABLE DISCHARGE. On the DD-214, in the same article, it confirms this.
The article raises no questions about Ball’s service, and says nothing negative about it. Let’s put this to rest.
This is how Ball works. He sends anonymous letters out questioning his service, and then plays the victim card. He did it in the primary against Will Stephens and it worked. He did it again recently against Degnan, and produced one of the “letters” at that sideshow Duh-bate in Putnam Lake. I think the voters in the know are now aware of this phony tactic. Best to stick to the issues, and, verifiably point out all his lies. He wrecked a highly effective assemblyman’s career by his underhanded tactics and lies. Let’s not let him get away with it again this campaign season.
Vote Degnan!
Ball is manipulating the voting public and many people are blinded by Balls smooth talk.
I’m mystified why Ball is rarely attacked here for his political views; seems always to be ad-hominems. I never heard of this guy before this blog. Y’all have made him famous (or infamous) in this small world of type.
BALLS POLITICAL VIEWS? THAT IS A MYSTERY TO MANY. HE CHANGES HIS TALK DEPENDING ON WHO HE IS SPEAKING TOO. ONE THING WE KNOW IS BALL IS POWER HUNGRY AND WANTS TO MOVE UP THE POLITICAL LADDER QUICKLY, REGARDLESS HOW HE DOES IT.
To: smartporpoise
Some of us believe that the ends do not justify the means. In Balls case, it goes to character. Dishonest behavior should not be rewarded in any walk of life, especially politics/public service. I may agree with him on the second amendment, or to some degree, on illegal immigration, but I put my state, and my country, above my party. I will take an honest Democrat over a dishonest Republican any day of the week. Ball has demonstrated he will stop at nothing to get what he wants for himself, he lies, distorts, and disparages honest hard working public servants. In his effort to further his vile political life, he has begun to assemble a political machine in the Town of Southeast. Anyone who opposes him, he calls “corrupt” or an “old guard”. Ball and his cronies blame the decline of the village of Brewster on his opponent John Degnan, the former mayor of short tenure. The village has been in decline for 30-40 years, as have many small towns across our nation. If one were to look critically at why these declines have occurred, one would have to come to the conclusion that it is the result of far reaching changes in our society. Main Street cannot compete with the shopping malls, big box retailers, and housing developments that have been built over the last 30 years or so. As to the illegal immigrants on the streets of Brewster, there exists one very large reason they have come, and that is the train station. Ease of transportation, at low cost, to jobsites, up and down the line, is highly attractive. In addition, let us not forget the cost of housing is far cheaper in suburban towns like Brewster, than to the south in Westchester or the city for that matter. If you have any more questions, fire away.
Sounds like Brewster was sold out to developers, at the expense of, and ruining its once bucolic gifts, if I’m reading you right. Why did they pick Brewster? Are the taxes low in recompense? Not that this is mitigates everything, but at least That SHOULD be the case. Did previous political administrations have a nefarious hand in this? Has illegal immigration exploded the cost of services, (schools, police, etc.?) or do most of the day laborers come in and leave by train at the end of the day? What are the answers to these problems, say you got rid of Ball and his “machine?” Do the majority of voters actually think that he can accomplish anything positive, or are they caught up simply in the anti-immigration issue? So long as he focuses on that single issue, do they not care a whit about his personality or his obfuscations? If he puts so much focus on his military background, one would think that he would be fair game to be questioned on it and forced to come clean on it once and for all. What will Degnan accomplish that Ball and his group can’t, or is he simply pandering to the “good conscience” cabal with no plan other than status-quo? Excuse the admitted ignorance inherent in all these questions.
Illegal immigrants did not just pick Brewster. As other poster said, ease of travel with trains…and that includes many towns up and down both the Harlem and Hudson River train towns. For example, look at Mt. Kisco, they have had horrible experiences with illegal laborers worse than Brewster. Patterson and Pawling, north of brewster, is also growing in illegal immigrant laborers. Immigration and day laborer problems in not new, but becoming difficult for little towns to deal with. Ball has jumped on Brewster as he worked for a company that was going to do urban renewal in the Village of Brewster and from what I can find out, if Ball was elected, he would work to get others of like mind elected than move on urban developement. Lots of money to be made.
To: smartporpoise
You might have misunderstood what I was trying to impart. Mia culpa. The societal changes that have occurred made Brewster and many of the towns “Somers Republican” mentions ripe for illegals to take root. No one regime is at fault, people’s lifestyles and economics have changed from the 1950’s and 1960’s and the population has grown. Efficiency and low cost rule the day. Look at the mall that we have today in Danbury, CT and shopping centers in Carmel, NY. That is where the consumer shops in the area, not in downtown Brewster, there is no parking for one. I could go on.
But I would like to address what Somers Republican brought up:
I think that the project for Brewster’s renewal that Ball proposed in the period before he was first elected was a ruse. It was a way to make him look legitimate as a real estate developer. The firm he was employed by, Exceed, was NEVER licensed to business in the state of New York. It had no projects in the area, etc. What Ball did was have some slick CAD software and built a mock up of what Brewster might look like. For someone with the software and some experience it is very easy to do. Do you see where I am going with this? Phony from the start. “Look at me, I am successful and I bring fresh ideas!” As soon as Ball was elected, Exceed’s office in Pawling closed down. It provided a nice front for his run at political office. The success as a real estate developer was a manufactured persona, and it worked. Unfortunately, lies in politics work, as evidenced by Ball’s ability to get elected in the first place.
Flip floppin’ Degnan, sat on a wall
An on primary day he had a great fall
And all Vinny’s money, and all Eckardt’s men
Couldn’t put the campaign together again
There once was a man named Ball.
Who thought he stood proud and tall.
But once he got elected
His constituents he then defected.
Now we are waiting for Ball to Fall.
The first poem was better.