Not all of you, just *him*
-
- August
- 7
When you work on a campaign, you have to remember there are cameras everywhere, as John Degnan learned this week.
Marcela Rojas reports: “A Republican committee supporting incumbent state Assemblyman Greg Ball, R-Patterson, is calling on his opponent, John Degnan to apologize for his
press secretary’s “vulgar and uncivilized behavior” on the campaign trail.
“The Republican Assembly Campaign Committee released a photo of Degnan’s press secretary, Denis Castelli, giving the finger at a recent press conference. The photo was taken by Southeast Councilman Dwight Yee (who supports Ball’s candidacy) and the committee alleges that Castelli was flipping the bird to residents.
“Castelli vehemently denied the charge, saying the gesture was directed at Yee.
“Castelli said that prior to the start of the press conference in which Degnan called on Ball to speak on Southeast Supervisor’s second DWI arrest, the cameraman asked everyone to turn off their cell phones. Yee, Castelli said, proceeded to make a call and when Castelli told him to get off, Yee gave him a “Chesire cat” grin. The action prompted Castelli to raise his middle finger at Yee, he said.”
Here’s the photo in question:
Read more about this on lohud.com and The Journal News tomorrow.
This entry was posted
on Thursday, August 7th, 2008 at 11:33 am by Liz Anderson.
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People need to keep their kool…no matter what games the Ball camp tries. People should know by now that Balls Camp will try to intimidate and get people agitated. Mr. Yee should have stayed off his phone and the other man should not have given the finger.
Both men were wrong.
Now Ball will use this to the fullest…..Of course, Ball would never get caught using foul language, he would do it on the sly.
Both men were indeed wrong, but Yee, Rights and Ball – they specialize in getting under people’s skin. They do this so that they can play “gotcha” games like this.
This is a negative reflection on Degnan, just like Michael Rights drinking and driving for the second time is a reflection on Ball.
If I were Ball, I would rather have Castelli as a crony than Michael Rights.
Still, an apology is in order.
Anyone wants to see Ball in action should go to Youtube where you can see him and hear him threaten a person and ask the same person if they were molested as a child. Greg Ball will lower himself to any level to win an election. The middle finger incident is no major deal when you think about Greg Ball’s “Right hand man”, Michael Rights getting 2 DWI’s in 13 months. Stop it folks, everyone knows Greg Ball and his team conduct themselves like low life’s.
The cookie is beginning to crumble…
First, they didn’t take the Pawling Committee..
Then, they lost the Conservative line…
Then Westchester stood firm and they lost the Westchester GOP nomination…
Then they lost the Independence line…
Then Degnan was caught renting to a child rapist…
Then they were caught in an illegal $52k transfer…
Then they did a poll and found Degnan 62 points behind….
Gee, having a DWI supervisor as your pal or a guy who flips the bird.
Hard choice? I think not.
Amazing how the Ball camp continues the hypocrisy. Condemn everyone else for being “wrong” but defend your cronies. What morons.
Folks, Ball supported Rights to clean up Brewster. Not to drink and drive. If I know Greg Ball he is probably very mad at Rights..very. I would’t want to be in rights’ shoes..forget the cops – ball is tough.
Oh..and YoeYo…you forgot the rest of the story..
Then Degnan cracks in a debate attacks a senior, attacks Greg Ball’s military service, and admits coordinating with a thir party.
Then the Se GOp Chair, Sant, admits to “coordinating” on transferring large sums of money “with strings attached”.
And now Vinny has to be wondering why he jumped in bed with the same loons has has been keeping at a distance for 30 years.
And when Degnan loses..who will be blamed? Senor Leibell. And all of his former enemies, now friends of convenience, will realize that the once powerful Leibell (the one they have always hated) is destined for the biggest belly flop New York has ever seen…
...Putnam County is about to be a feeding frenzy
if he is not careful.
There is still time Admiral….wake up…wake up…
The Senator is showing his fear of having a young good looking guy waiting in the wings. He shouldn’t fear greg, he should embrace him.
Cut your losses Senator!
Sure..Im out of the district, but why is this Repub Senator working with Democrats and helping a pro abort, pro illega alien, pscyhopath be elected…? Anyone have answers??
pointed at residents???
i was at the press conference, all the residents were behind degnan in full support.
yee was standing with michael rights watching the press conference. also standing and watching was jn reporter mike risinit, a camerman and his assistant, and two other guys who were wearing suits. i’m assuming they were staff.
residents? nonsense.
the gesture was aimed at yee and maybe rights. they deserved it.
and to confirm with what denis said, i was also standing behind degnan and i saw yee next to the camera speaking very loudly and rudely during the filming. yee was trying to disrupt the press conference. it was evident to anyone who was there.
one would assume that the senator is supporting john degnan because he received the republican committee endorsement in putnam county. the senator is supporting what he believes to be best for the district he represents, the senaator understnads that greg ball is a lousy assembl;yman and he gets nothing done, i am sure the senator would rather have a person in office who he can work with and he believes has the best interest of all the people. ball is an extremist who forsters fear and intimidation. i will be with the senator on this one.
So so sad to watch the Senator’s campaign fall apart because it is run by a bunch of nuts and angry people..I told Vinnie I would run Degnan’s campaign..we would have won! But he wanted to work with the Democrats…now you see!
Isn’t the bigger question how exactly, does some hack living in Albany, begin to know ANYTHING about John Degnan or the problems faced by the Village of Brewster? The press release, which is not posted here but is on 10509 message board, was written by Adam D. Kramer, of the Assembly Republican Campaign Committee out of Albany. All quotes in the release are attributed to him. I would ask him to explain his assertions and give proof to his outrageous claims that John Degnan made Brewster a safe haven for illegals. Has this kid ever been to Brewster? Or Putnam County? Just more garbage from the Ball campaign and more proof that Ball is just as much an Albany insider as every other member of the Legislature. So much for all politics is local.
Mr. Degnan should move on and get down to what the taxpayers need. Ball has done nothing but talk for TWO YEARS. Mr. Degnan should show us some plans that may have some impact. Balls recordings are the same as two years ago.
Ball has signs supporting TAX CAP. Well people, read this cap info. It gives school district permission to RAISE TAXES UP TO 4%. District that do not need 4% will build in other expenses. PLUS…special ed, transportation and capital projects are separate. Add them on and you will have a bigger tax increase than ever.
Mr. Degnan should examine this and hope that there are other plans already on the table in Albany that can be supported for the poor taxpayers. Ball is promoting the cap because it sounds good…wrong.
Mr. Degnan need to be surrounded by some people that can push his campaign to a win. These antics of yee disturbing the press conference and this man giving the finger were not acceptable.
Move on and up Mr. Degnan and get your campaign on the right track so we can dump loser Ball. PLEASE.
A note from your sponsors: Castelli just called to say a commenter on this site was pretending to be him. The comment has been deleted.
Please behave, folks, ok?
How could Mr. Yee be on the phone and take a picture at the same time? Also is Mr. yee was yelling then I feel others would be looking in his direction as well. From what you can see is that it is only this disgusting looking mad giving Mr. Yee the finger… I don’t live in that district anymore but I like to keep up on what is going on.. and the biggest reason I left was BECAUSE OF BREWSTER… it’s disgusting and so is Mr. Degnan and anyone who agrees with that mans pathetic mind
It’s clear his story doesn’t check out.. watch this and see why!!!
Very disingenuous of Castelli to say that this happened before the press conference.
Degnan’s own video confirms that this took place AFTER Degnan and town clerk Ruth Mazzei went to the podium to speak. At no time during the video is Dwight Yee attempting to disrupt their press conference.
All the evidence one needs is in the photo at failedbrewstermayor.com—clearly, everyone is looking at John Degnan except Castelli, who was interrupting the conference to flip off Dwight for taking pictures. It’s even bleeped out of Degnan’s video.
Hmm?! This same, crude Castelli (poster child for the slogan “Get the fat out of Government”)mere days ago was so busy rubbernecking in front of Assemblyman Ball’s District Office (don’t count chickens, John and Lynne)with Degnan & Dem. Chairwoman Eckardt in tow that this paragon of morality & safety rear-ended another car! (Incidentally, Mr. Rights has hit no one…ever.) No new article on that. No breathalyzer for this far more serious incident than driving with brights a country road at night! No news articles from so called investigative reporters questioning why the Southeast Republican Committee endorsed, Senator Leibell mega dollars-showered candidate proud holder of the ultra liberalm WORKING FAMILIES LINE who ran as Democrat for Supervisor is spending hours and hours just days shy of the REPUBLICAN PRIMARY with Dem. Chair Eckardt! No questions about why Senator Leibell in a chamber poised to flip Democrat once again has no Democratic challenger in the November election. Can anyone say: “BACK ROOM DEAL WITH LIBERAL DEMOCRATS TO STAY IN POWER”????????
Previous poster has a list of all the bad things about Degnan.
It was inappropriate for the finger to be used as it vulgar. The man doing that should learn to control his anger. Maybe Mr. Degnan needs to find an alternate representative so this does not happen again. But, look at Ball, he keeps that Little Matt kid who has offended some poeple with foul language too…but Ball keep s him.
Candidates both need to clean up their act and run better campaigns.
Ball comes off looking like the Super Dude with no trash in his closets. But that is not true either.
this campaign is sickening.
John should FIRE THIS MAN. I’m sorry. I want to get rid of Ball, but as a citizen, YOU DON’T FLIP OFF A TOWN COUNCILMAN, and politically, YOU DON’T FLIP OFF SOMEONE HOLDING A CAMERA.
I’m starting to worry about how our campaign is being run. I went by to offer to volunteer yesterday mid-day: the office way empty.
I was at the Patterson parade, there were SO MANY MORE BALL STICKERS/SIGNS there, and JOHN LEFT EARLY.
Come on!
The great Hayek would have proofread before distributing. So, in deference to the excellent who enrich & admonish, an edit is in order:
“This same, crude Castelli (poster child for the slogan “Get the fat out of government”)mere days ago was so busy rubbernecking in front of Assemblyman Ball’s District Office with Degnan & Dem. Chairwoman Eckardt in tow (Ah, don’t count those chickens, John and Lynne!)that this paragon of morality & safety rear-ended another car. (Incidentally, Mr. Rights has hit no one…ever.) Ms. Rojas and Mr. Riznit, we can’t seem to find any headlines. And there were no deputies waiting in the wings to administer a breathalyzer for this infraction, more serious by far than driving with bright lights on a country road at night. We also seem to be missing the articles by so-called investigative reporters musing over why Degnan, the proud holder of the ultra-liberal Working Families line (whose stated top priority is to shift the NY Senate to the Democrats)and last year’s Democratic candidate for Southeast Supervisor, was endorsed by the Southeast Republican Committee. Could it be that the Southeast Committee, which has been ignored and slighted by Senator Leibell for years until now, was soon to be lavished with thousands of campaign dollars from Senator Leibell, but only so long as the Committee restricted use to Degnan & others equally opposed to Assemblyman Ball? No “investigative” reporter has expressed any puzzlement about the fact that Degnan, a so-called Republican candidate, continues to spend hours and hours with Dem. Chair Eckardt just days shy of the Republican Primary. And the “investigators” seem unable to synthesize facts & write no articles expressing curiosity (in light of the foregoing) over why Senator Leibell (member of a chamber poised at any moment to flip to a Democratic majority )once again has no challenger for his seat. Can anyone say: “BACK ROOM DEAL WITH LIBERAL DEMOCRATS TO STAY IN POWER”????????
you mean the patterson parade that was so important degnan decided to skip the yorktown debate?
degnan supporters were outnumbered 200:20, which is probably similar to the margin ball will take in his primary victory.
ball stayed there to shake hands well into the night. john was in his car the moment the last float went by with plenty of daylight left.
if they think vinny is going to buy this for them, and money is no object, its going to be a rude awakening
And by the way Mr. Degnan, before you hold a press conference in which you sanctimoniously and hypocritically lecture Mr. Ball about morality and character in order to film your lies for the purpose of running them over and over on a public access channel & for the purpose of generating other campaign materials funded by Senator Leibell’s 30 pieces of silver, shouldn’t you come clean about your and your Democratic pal, Chairwoman Eckardt’s, “alleged” receipt of stolen goods from TEAM SOS? Ah, there is upright character at work! You and Ms. Eckardt are keenly aware that her emails (sent from midfarm@bestweb.net and Ms. Eckardt’s other midfarm email) appear to directly implicate both of you in a scheme with Rob DiFrancesco (another poster child for getting the fat out of government) in a scheme to accept stolen materials worth thousands of dollars. Ms. Eckardt even advised how to cover up the fact that you all were in contact with each other (styling her subject matter to Mr. DiFrancesco as “I think I am in Love”). By contrast Supervisor Rights has accepted responsibility for his actions and is paying the penalty the law exacts. Neither Mr. Degnan nor Ms. Eckardt have done so, much less, admitted any wrongdoing. Mr. Ball does not endorse illegality of any kind. The illegals in Brewster under Mr. Degnan’s mayorality not only did not bear the penalty of the law, they were welcomed by Mr. Degnan in defiance of our county’s laws. Mr. Degnan, Ms. Eckardt, Ms. Mazzi (also a poster child for the need to eliminate the excess from government) may engage in verbal, street corner shell games disguised as legitimate political campaigning but voters correctly perceive those charades for exactly what they are.
Previous poster – are you claiming to have read other people’s emails? Sounds as though you have.
You also say in your post “Mr. Ball does not endorse illegality of any kind.” How does that explain that a campaign manager working for Ball is on the State Payroll. Last many of us knew, that is a violation. Does the campaign manager do his work while taxpayers pay him? Is that not an ‘illegality?” Seems like a conflict of interest to work as an aid for Ball and do Legislative work while running a campaign. OH…that’s right…he does the campaign work only at night??? Then how could this campaign manager be seen around at all these political events????
Just curious.
At the beginning of this game, a bizarre blood oath was sworn between the vanguard of the Putnam GOP (Vinny Leibell, Dennis Sant, Will Stephens) and hard left communist symphathizers (Eckardt, Castelli) to stack the deck in John Degnan’s favor.
They delt him pocket aces. Greg Ball received a seven deuce.
But despite all their dirty campaigning and illegal fundraising, the flop came 7-7-2. It was over before it began.
But Degnan’s campaign, in its arrogance, bet the turn. Eight. The river came—another eight.
Greg Ball flopped his full house. Degnan took Aces & Eights-the dead man’s hand and played right into Greg Ball.
Degnan’s pathetic $300 filing today (plus another $42k) is just one more nail in the coffin.
It was over before it began.
FRIENDS OF JOHN DEGNAN FOR ASSEMBLY
2008 32 Day Pre Primary Report Summary Page
Opening Balance $4,022.47
Contributions $1,475.00
PATHETIC!
As opposed to Ball’s SIXTY THOUSAND DOLLARS IN THE WHOLE FILING today.
As opposed to Ball’s SIXTY THOUSAND DOLLARS IN THE HOLE FILING today.
Outstanding liabilities:
$79,537.05
Ball still raised 16x in contributions what Degnan did.
Way to lie in your apology, Denis, saying it was from a camera phone. The photo data clearly shows its from a Canon PowerShot SD750, 1/636 sec., F/4.9, 17 mm, 1/640 sec. exposure.
How does it feel to be down 70 points IN YOUR OWN POLL?
He was noticeably absent from Ball’s attempt to crash something good happening in the Village.
Trouble in paradise?
Maybe little Matty had to stay in the Assembly Office in brewster to pretend he was earning his STATE PAY CHECK FOR WORKING IN THE ASSEMBLY OFFICE….and not out campaigning for Ball on our dime. total unethical. He told one person he was a ‘political director’
Maybe he has some insight?
Ball obviously still has some residents fooled into believing that he cares about their problems. We all know the real source of his funds has dried up. That’s why most in the know is running from him.
Again, we are invaded by the Ball Robo Calls on our day off, Saturday. Cant answer them anymore and listen to the same old garbage.
Not fun having our private time invaded by Ball same old &$%#.
Ball is sending letters asking for any pennies…so he really must need $ to keep up his campaign with those robo calls.
Above poster stated exactly what kind of camera took the picture. So that must be the mysterious photographer.
At all events Ball has his camera people and if a person attends any campaign even, bring your compact video…maybe you will get a picture of Ball doing something….
He’s begging for pennies because the sugar daddy cut him off. Poor Greggy better practice… “would you like fries with that?”
“picture of Ball doing something”
LMAO… Ball hasn’t done anything for us yet.
Ball only “does” for himself.
WHO is Balls sugar daddy that cut him off?????????????????????
michael rights
vinny leibell
greg ball needs to grow up. today he staged a little stunt in front of john degnan’s campaign headquarters in mahopac. he had 2 people dressed up in costumes waving moronic signs.
not only was this a childish waste of time but ball also needs to be really careful about those he associates with. the person who was taking the pictures of these morons in their costumes was really white trash—cursing up a storm “f-you john degnan and f-ing this and f-ing that” being screamed out at passing cars. oh, and no less than 3 cigarettes butts were thrown into the street by the ball supporters. what a nice way to support mahopac’s beautification…
grow up and clean up your act.
Probably had that little weasel Neuringer in a suit…probably ‘suited’ him well. I hope the Deagan Camp got some film footage so they can show the #$%@ that Ball does. This is a typical Ball stunt and people need to know that Ball will spend more time campaigning and doing this than going up to Albany and working with other members on the School Tax Issues.
Ball is a loser
ball is indeed a baby. when he doesn’t get his way he acts out like a spoiled child.
the voters of the 99th should spank him this year.
enough really is enough.
Illegal is Illegal has been stated here and lots of other information that may just be a rumor or two. But in every rumor, there is always a bit of truth. If the Campaign Manager is being paid by the State of New York and doing campaign work, that is a serious ethic issue for the local Assemblyman.
John responds to “epicenter of crime” comments on Brewster.