75 Responses to:
CANDIDATE SHOWS TRUE COLORS

# 1. 10/26/06 12:20 AM
It's called senility. Or Alzheimer's, or dementia. Or just plain laziness. Maybe he missed his nap. Only thing worse than a blowhard is an old fart blowhard. Oh well, that's politics. Wonder what it was like for the employees that worked for him. What does he really want? What is his hidden agenda? Maybe he forgot his meds. Or his Ensure. Or his diapers. He definitely seems like a goof.

# 2. 10/26/06 12:27 AM by Rick - Arlington, VA
Wow, Bob. On the 24th I sarcastically said "Go, Jack Davis, go" because of my contempt for how the GOP has defecated on its base, but having read today's column I'm beside myself. I hope Davis loses royally. I wish I was still a Rochester resident so that I could vote against the dickweed, but alas, I'll have to vote for Jim "I'm gonna earmark the $#it out of that" Moran instead.

Great poll today! I usually carry a Victorinox Swiss Army Cybertool 34 at work and a Cybertool 41 when I'm off work or on Fridays when I'm allowed to wear jeans. I also found a locking Wegner with a serrated blade that I'm fond of and carry often (often with the Cybertools, actually), and I sent a few of those to my relatives in Rochester. Care to tell us what you carry?

Editor's Note: i carry a ka-bar model 3000 one-hand-opening knife with a pocket clip, and a camillus yelo jaket stockman. if i had more pockets, i'd carry more knives. both knives, by the way, were made in the great state of new york.

# 3. 10/26/06 12:28 AM by Bill - slc
Bob, now you have a case against him.

# 4. 10/26/06 12:30 AM by Rick - Arlington, VA
Sorry, Bob, typo in my last comment. I meant I'd be voting AGAINST Moran. Now pardon me while I go find a hole to go crawl into.

Sheesh.

# 5. 10/26/06 12:32 AM by CW - Williamson, NY
This comment is a response to the poll:

I remember being in class in Livonia when I was young, and many of the other guys were farm boys who came to school after chores like milking the cows. One of the boys was at his desk sharpening his pencil with his pocket knife. The teacher saw it and criticized him for being too lazy to get up and go over to the pencil sharpener. I remember thinking about how the guy had been up and doing chores long before the teacher got out of bed.

Our Scoutmaster told us we should ALWAYS have our scout knife with us because you never knew when you could need it, since it was a very versatile tool. "Be Prepared!"

With it you could, for example, make a makeshift tourniquet, break out a car window for escape, make trail markers to prevent getting lost, extract slivers, and yes, sharpen your pencil.

Editor's Note: sadly, if a scout took his knife to school today he'd be arrested and expelled.

# 6. 10/26/06 12:39 AM by Steve - Livonia
Ok, Davis is an arrogant boob. But his ignorance of the towns in his district illustrate another issue. The way congressional districts are drawn is just plain stupid. They are drawn is such distorted ways solely for the purposes of keeping incumbents in office. The term "Gerrymander" in fact was coined when one of New York's own, Eldrige Gerry, drew a district so misshapen that it looked like a salamander. His colleagues called it a Gerrymander.

The practice has become commonplace, and there's not really a lot the voters can do about it. Sadly, the consequences are that we get people trying to represent us who live so far away that they have no idea what our local issues, culture, and history are like.

Editor's Note: not applicable here. davis is a buffalo guy, dansville is close enough to buffalo that the average person knows its name and has probably driven through a few times.

# 7. 10/26/06 12:40 AM by Steven Anderson - The Place,Utah
Talk about FAT CAT Democrat's!

Send him off to enjoy his million's! Off your dime.

What a nasty old fool!

Don't be his fool by giving him office.

Out on his moneyed Kiester!

# 8. 10/26/06 1:13 AM by Jeffery - Bountiful
It is my understanding that Thomas Jefferson allowed the "common man", to visit him at the, "White House". A little knock on the door and the visitor was in.

It appears that arrogance abounds in the political realm, too much money, too much power, granted by we, the American people.

When an election comes around, we, the people, matter, preceding the election, we, the people, matter not.

One day, a man of the people will arise, one who will be capable of taking back our government on behalf of the American people.

He will then find his every move monitored by our government via spy satellite and cameras on every corner.

At the proper time, our government will then connect the man of the people to terrorist activity. The man of the people will then find himself behind bars without a fair trial, problem solved.

Oh what a wonderful world........, every thing's going their way.

# 9. 10/26/06 3:48 AM by On Golden Pond - Henrietta, NY
Jack Davis is a political idiot. I will vote against him. BUT.. I'm really upset about Khul ... his PR people are REALLY idiots. The ad on TV comes out with a MASSA headline ... the first thing that people see ... to say what he (Massa) has done wrong. Why don't those people realize that what they see first is what they remember? The name in big letters!

I'd fire the whole staff. Kuhl will lose because he has dumbos doing his ad campaigns on TV. Wanna bet? I'll still vote for Kuhl, but I doubt if he'll win ... and I'll blame it on his PR staff. If I'm wrong I'll be the first to eat crow and apologize.

Editor's Note: massa is a nutcake, but the kuhl ads have been pretty loopy.

# 10. 10/26/06 4:27 AM
I don't know if it's true, but it seems to me that the political season had gotten to an all-time low in its smarminess. Politicians who can't be bothered to pronounce a town's name properly, not to mention take the time to visit the people they hope will vote for them. Politicians who look for the sleaziest information they can possibly find to discredit their opponent. Politicians withholding information until it suits their agenda, and then accusing the opposite party of not acting on a situation more quickly. The whole election process is making me sick, this year; more so than in the past. Every time a candidate makes an accusation, my instinct is to vote for their opponent just on general principle. And that's no way to vote.

# 11. 10/26/06 5:17 AM by hunter - e. bethany, ny
Can-an-dog-wa who? So, don't necessarily vote for Reynolds, but against Davis.

# 12. 10/26/06 5:23 AM by SB - Honeoye
Has Massa mangled the name of any towns as well? BTW: Upon correction, Jack Davis would likely spell it as Dan$ville...

Editor's Note: exactly how many new york winters does massa have under his belt?

# 13. 10/26/06 5:30 AM by jim wilson - New York
bob How are you going to celibrate the 2800 dead child killed in the illegal war? Where are the weapons of mass destructions?

Editor's Note: unfortunately, we're not using weapons of mass destruction against our enemies over there

# 14. 10/26/06 5:39 AM by Brian
We're long past the point of having representational government. Davis just wears it on his sleeve more than others. To him and many in government, WE work for THEM, which is exactly opposite to the way it should be.

# 15. 10/26/06 6:29 AM by Leon - Muncie, In
The governor of Indiana is Mitch Daniels. On his quest to become governor he got a motor home and for a whole year before the elections he set a goal to visit every community in Indiana. (of course his visits made the papers and were reported on the news every evening) He met with anyone or any group who would come out when he came to their town. I think he gained 20 pounds tasting every food brought into various carry ins. It was his personal involvement and effort to meet voters as well as the values he expressed that won him the election. Why would anyone vote for someone based on a 30 second sound bite?

# 16. 10/26/06 6:44 AM
As we learned from your column, it doesn't matter whether Jack Davis campaigns or knows place names. He will be nothing more than a "D" in the tally.

# 17. 10/26/06 6:47 AM by Leisha - East Rochester, NY
Jack Davis In fact,is an alien programmed to destroy the world

(Selective cut & paste from 13WHAM news)

As for the pole: I carry a double-bladed battle axe

# 18. 10/26/06 6:48 AM by Lorette
I too find Davis to be an unfortunate candidate for many reasons. However, to keep trotting out his money seems hypocritical coming from this audience. Hasn't the Republican party always celebrated corporate fat cats? To turn around now and hold his wealth against him is typical of this election season. Theres a lot more to complain about which wouldn't reek of hypocrisy. Even the ads keep chanting "millionaire" Jack Davis. Hell, if he wasn't running for anything, he would be touted as a perfect example of the American Dream.

# 19. 10/26/06 6:56 AM
The anti-Reynolds ads must set a new low for campaign sliminess. They dredged up a horrible picture of him and accuse him of everything short of having sex with his mother. Knowing nothing about either candidate, I am voting for Reynolds because his opponent runs such vile ads.

Editor's Note: i'm not a doctor, but i wonder if reynolds' sweating problem might not be medical, or have something to do with a medication. i wonder if showing the picture of the man having a diaphoretic episode isn't mocking a medical condition.

# 20. 10/26/06 6:59 AM
My pocket knife is a LL Bean-issue Swiss knife with a nail file, toothpick, tweezers, blade, and teeny-tiny scissors. It has a red and white edelweiss on it.

Yes, I'm a girl. But that thing has been darn useful.

# 21. 10/26/06 7:03 AM by albert - livonia ny
for me its a little simple logic: A Davis win will better the chances of a Democrat congress which would represent me better than the present Republican one.

Editor's Note: to be honest, that is the only rationale for voting for him. if you are a democrat, and feel good about a democrat congress, then davis is the right vote. if not, he's not.

# 22. 10/26/06 7:07 AM by ron - kenmore, ny
I suspect Jack couldn't find, or pronounce Chili, Nunda, Scio, or Almond, all of which have at least one signal light and 50 people. (I'd guess the latter two are in Kuhl Kountry.)

Cuurently carrying a Western lockback, CS blade w/pheasant engraving. Western was owned by Camillus, before they shut down.

# 23. 10/26/06 7:18 AM by Rachel in Rochester
Jack Davis is busy -- with his business, a private business that creates real jobs for New Yorkers. He understands that it's the private sector that creates jobs, not the government. Reynolds is the ultimate fat cat politician -- constantly raising funds for his party, glad handing, bringing in big guns to campaign for him because he knows he's losing to Davis. It's businessmen like Davis who should be running this country, not politicians like Reynolds and Kuhl.

Editor's Note: yes, a private business, dear democrats, which has spent decades keeping union workers out.

# 24. 10/26/06 7:20 AM by Mr Mojo - here,there,no where
Excellent Bob. Who is this silver fox anyway, and what has he done? What a nut job recluse. He probably doesn't know who George Eastman was. It's that mental midget syndrome , so many people have ,but usually no one as old as he.

# 25. 10/26/06 7:23 AM by MIKE
Jack Davi

# 26. 10/26/06 7:30 AM by J. Bailey - Macedon NY
I dunno - talk about being nitpicky. Just because Davis is a Democratic millionare doesn't mean he's any dumber than a Republican millionare. I guess it's an absolute crime to be a Democratic millionare but it's quite ok to be a Republican millionare - after all - there's a heck of a lot more of them around...

They're all pricks.

Editor's Note: nothing wrong with being rich. trying to use your money to buy political office, i'll never like. the issue here is not money, the issue is somebody too arrogant to get out and meet the people.

# 27. 10/26/06 7:34 AM by h
"It just doesn't seem to be efficient to get in the car and drive to the election booth, go down, vote for JackS Davis and turn around and drive back."

OOPS!

I think I found that "S" we were looking for..

# 28. 10/26/06 7:43 AM by Chuck - Penfield
Bob,

Your article is the ad that should be running against this looser, not the "I won't do anything about social security" one that the Republicans are currently running.

How long will it take the Republican party to realize that they won't win by sounding or acting more like Democrats than the Democrats?

Editor's Note: i probably am an idiot, but the ad campaigns of both tom reynolds and randy kuhl seem to have been put together by morons. i'm sure they've done their focus groups and data mining and all that, but i still think they're crap that puts people off and fails to make straightforward, convincing arguments.

# 29. 10/26/06 7:46 AM by rg - lyons, ny
on the poll question, a Stanley utility knife - the best tool for cutting net wrap and plastic off of round bales of hay.

Davis is a buffoon for essentially trying to run as a republican on the democratic ticket - which also speaks volumes about his integrity. The same could be said about Massa who also claims conservative values and beliefs but 'anything to get elected'.

hope Kuhl, Reynolds and Walsh all get back in.

Editor's Note: massa is a shrill, big-city, liberal democrat who somehow decided new york's southern tier was a place he could con the people into sending him to congress. if he loses, i bet he moves away almost immediately. he came here to run for congress and he will leave when he's unsuccessful.

# 30. 10/26/06 8:00 AM by Dave - Hilton NY
I am naked with out my knife. I use it for everything. Mostly for cleaning my nails and tighting my eyeglass screws. My brother in-law in Wash. DC doesn't like it. Says I am looking for a problem. I showed him that I could sharpen the edge of a credit card by rubbing a dime on it. Try it you can cut steak with it.

Editor's Note: roger that, snake doctor.

# 31. 10/26/06 8:04 AM by Mike - Penn Yan
To #13

Vietnam 55,000 dead in a war we ultimately lost. The United States does not have the collective backbone anymore to win a war and lament but accept the loss of our brave soldiers. IN Korea we sacrificed a huge number of soldiers but we did not win. The first Gulf War was fast and successful but we did not crush Saddam and therefore did not win. Instead we like to contain dictators and watch while they set off nuclear bomb tests or drop poison gas on people.

We won WWII because we had a lot less partisanship and complaining. We crushed Hitler and we should be glad we did. We crushed Japan and then became friends with them. A vote for Democrats is a vote for losing yet another armed conflict. A vote for Democrats will be a signal to the terrorists that once again we do not have the backbone to win. The Democratic response to terrorism will be just that a response after we are attacked. They just don't get it. John Kerry still thinks this is a law enforcement problem not a war. Let's elect some people with a backbone that know the names of the towns they represent and are willing to demonstrate leadership in the difficult decisions they make. No CUT AND RUN Massa, Davis, Pelosi, Clinton...!

# 32. 10/26/06 8:19 AM by Big Bill Blossom
Bob,I carry a Zippo,2 inch locking blade pocket knife.It was made in Bradford, PA, and is capable of gutting out a deer, skinning out a road killed gray fox, or peeling an apple. The trick is to keep it finely honed and ready for action. The old timers I used to work with called them "jack knives" and woe to the man who couldn't produce a sharp one from his pocket on demand.

Editor's Note: the zippo/case museum is well worth a trip to bradford. you have an excellent knife.

# 33. 10/26/06 8:21 AM by PHIL - SOUTH WEDGE NY
AMEN BOB! RIGHT ON BROTHER! THIS ARTICLE IS RIGHT ON! IF HE DOES NOT EVEN KNOW THE NAME OF THE TOWN HOW CAN HE REPRESENT US. DOOM ON HIM! 121

# 34. 10/26/06 8:26 AM by Mark
Anybody but a Republican this time.

We have to send a message.

# 35. 10/26/06 8:32 AM by Job - West Falls, NY
LONSBERRY POLL Do you carry a pocket knife?

No, I'm just happy to see you.

# 36. 10/26/06 8:35 AM by Ron
Agreed, but it's not like Hillary will come out to see ANYBODY about ANYTHING. It needs to be a good photo op and a means of allowing her to look heroic. It is the Clinton style to take credit for things they had nothing to do with, such as the economy of the 90's.

Editor's Note: actually, much as i oppose her philosophically, and much as she is not as out there as other politicians, she actually does talk to and meet with a fair number of people.

# 37. 10/26/06 8:38 AM by tk
#34 Right on.

What's worse - a fatcat millionaire being honest - even though it's not what we want to hear or an arrogant creep who doesn't feel he needs to take care of others - only his ass. IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE. LET'S DO IT. CAN'T WAIT TIL IT'S DONE.

# 38. 10/26/06 8:41 AM by AJ - Walworth, NY
Nothing worse than a pompous ass who believes his (or her) time is my valuable than someone else's.

I have walked out of doctor's offices when they are an hour (or less) late, and know they will be, and don't honor my time by being honest with me or offering me to reschedule.

I do not tolerate being treated in a dismissive manner by anyone.

If listening to his voters and would-be- constituents is NOT worth his time, why would anyone think that actually going to the House and voting would be?

Upstate NY needs and deserves some one better.

And I carry an ittybitty fake Swiss Army knife with wooden sides and my name on it that I got in Williamsburg. It's no defense weapon, didn't want one. But it has a file and knife and scissors and is OK. Sometime I will get a real Swiss Army knife again with tweezers and toothpick. Then I will be ready for all the emergencies I face. Nothing worse than a rough nail, a loose string on your shirt or broccoli between your teeth!!

# 39. 10/26/06 8:42 AM by dave - penfield, NY
Easy to say when you live in Mont Morres.

# 40. 10/26/06 8:44 AM
Eh, I think yer rootin and tootin a losing argument there Bobby. The 30 or 40 who will turn out to meet Davis in Danville speaks volumns about election "yawning" by the American electorate. Hey, why are only 30 or 40 turning out to see the candidate? Why ain't it 300 to 400 as it should be? Aren't the voting populace sending a message of keep it on TV where we ain't got to get off our fat, rich arses to come out and see you? We voters want to watch our Wheel of Fortune or Everybody Loves Raymond at 7pm not sit on a hard chair in a nearly empty meeting hall to meet a danged lyin' politico.

Editor's Note: the 30 or 40 are the core supporters who are going to be energized by meeting the candidate and go out and carry his message to their neighbors and friends. unless you don't show up. in which case half of them say "screw you" and take down your lawn sign.

# 41. 10/26/06 8:45 AM by Chris - spencerport, ny
Re: pocket knife poll. Answer is yes, but not as much as I used to. I'm always worried about being somewhere, like my kids school, and having it on me. It's probably ok to take to cub scout meetings. But what if the meeting is at school? I don't want to end up in Gitmo over a pocket knife. An interesting follow-up poll would be: When you were a kid, did you ever mistakenly take a pocket knife to school?

That happened to me a lot. I lived next door to a WWII vet who kind became kind of like a replacement grandfather. He taught me how to fish, make a slingshot from innter-tubes, shoot straight, etc.. He was always giving me stuff, including about a dozen pocket knives. I'll have to go look through mom's attic and see if I can find them.

Editor's Note: my friends and i carried jack knives to school every day, so did the teachers.

# 42. 10/26/06 8:45 AM by roy b. - swain,ny
bob, you should do your homework before you say something that is not true. From what I was told The Foster-Wheeler plant is not empty! It is being used for the locomotive industry. Check it out! I used to carry a Schrade until I broke the blade. I did have a Marine combat survival knife and broke that too. I now carry a 36" crowbar with a Stanley utility knife taped to it. Haven't broke that....yet.

Editor's Note: it was empty last week when i drove by

# 43. 10/26/06 9:08 AM by Mario - Brockport
When the chips are down, the democrats blame America and bend us over and tell us to grab our ankles.

NO THANKS !!!

# 44. 10/26/06 9:15 AM by Paul Martin - Rochester, New York
Jack Davis's on words should be enough for no one to ever vote for him. He is the perfect example of a politician who cares less for the voter. I'm sure there will be those who will vote for him. I just wish that for once people would listen to what he has to say. His words speak for themself.

# 45. 10/26/06 9:15 AM by Tim - Rochester, NY
Did you every consider that "not wanting" to meet potential constituents is code word for "not ambulatory"?

Editor's Note: 1. it didn't stop f.d.r. or max cleland. 2. he can walk fine, at least he could the last time i saw him.

# 46. 10/26/06 9:25 AM
what's up with: SO-SHA-SEC-KER-ITY????

arrghhh!

# 47. 10/26/06 9:27 AM by Thomas - Rochester, Ny
Sounds like Davis is tired of just being a millionaire and wants a little power to go along with all that cash. He doesn't care about western NY, he only cares about himself.

And I bet he doesn't carry a pocket knife. I carry a Gerber or a Remington UMC.

# 48. 10/26/06 9:38 AM by TK - Rochester
Ill vote for Davis just so i can watch Reynolds cry like a little girl when he loses..

# 49. 10/26/06 9:40 AM by Wife and mother
And how, exactly, do we explain the boys' fascination with pocket knives?

Editor's Note: a desire to do something more with their lives than watch oprah and worry over their swollen ankles.

# 50. 10/26/06 10:13 AM by Patrick - Syracuse, NY
The very first jacknife I had came out of a gumball machine at Fay's Drugs. Not sharp at all, but could you imagine that in a gumball machine today?

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