Kryzan vs. Powers on Hardwick
Hey, Alice, thanks for the shout-out today!
I listened to the show today and here are my quick impressions:
1. Kudos to Dr. Hardwick for hosting what I thought was a good, fair, and substantive debate. I also have to praise his unrelenting criticism of Jack Davis’ absence, but also bringing up how uncouth he was to not bother to call Hardwick to let him know he’d skip the debate, but making insane demands through the press.
2. Jon Powers did very well deflecting the War Kids criticism and explaining what the money was spent on and what the purpose of the group was. On substantive issues, there was a bit of fumfering at times and he began answering some questions with talking points, which doesn’t fly in that studio. Time is very tight on that show, and if you’re asked a direct question, a direct answer is necessary. Powers wanted to give explanations or get into more detail with some questions, but that just doesn’t work. I liked the fact that he didn’t return fire when Kryzan was critical of him, and his grasp of the big issues affecting the district was excellent. He was detailed and informative on the state of the wars in the middle east; he made a great point with respect to 9/11 – that the Bush administration had squandered an opportunity to call people to service rather than go out and shop. On energy and trade/immigration, he set forth an overview of the plans he’s already released calling for renewable sources of energy, breaking our addiction to foreign oil, and leveling the playing field for American workers and products.
3. Alice Kryzan also did very well deflecting criticism of her dealings with respect to Love Canal and her referring to the surrounding “hysteria”. She took some shots at Powers, which he was able to respond to, but I thought that her overall tone when talking about or addressing Powers was condescending and arrogant. She came across like a scold, and Powers didn’t take the bait. She was better at answering the short-answer questions than Powers was, being direct and then launching into whatever explanations she wanted to bring up afterwards. There were some puzzling comments of hers, for instance she mentioned how she had signed on to the “Responsible Plan” to end the war in Iraq, and no one else had. That implies that Powers’ plan is somehow off the mark, but she never said that or explained why it might be. When Powers gave a response to a question may have been long-winded, but was responsive nonetheless, she said she didn’t know what Powers was talking about. I did, so either she was trying to be cute or she wasn’t listening.
4. Davis’ absence really underscores the fact that he doesn’t care what people think, and doesn’t think he needs to answer anyone’s questions. His failure to pick up the phone and tell Hardwick that he wouldn’t show up reveals that he’s a rude, petty little man and it calls into question how responsive he might be, if elected, to constituent concerns.
I thought Kryzan and Powers comported themselves quite well, and I’d call it a draw between them.
One thing, though – Powers made it quite clear in many of his answers that they were crafted after soliciting, receiving, and considering input from people throughout the district. When asked about trade policy, he talked about his discussions with Delphi workers. When asked about immigration, he talked about his discussions with farmers. When asked about education, he drew upon his own experience, but also talked about what he had been hearing throughout the district. He isn’t imposing his views on anyone; instead, he’s listening to real concerns and coming up with solutions to them that he pledges to go to Washington to work for. Kryzan, on the other hand, seemed to me to have a need to be the smartest person in the room, an expert on everything. The only time a discussion with a voter was brought up arose during a question about soldiers being redeployed repeatedly to Iraq.
As usual, the big loser today was Jack Davis.
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Alan,
Thanks for these updates. I’m in the Army stationed in Hawaii, and there the Buffalo News does very little in the way of providing a full picture of the candidates. While you – by your own admission – not ‘objective media’ – your posts on the local races provide me with a lot of real information that I don’t have access to out here. (I really need to see if Hardwick’s show is podcast or streamed on the net).
At least now I won’t feel like an ignorant tool when I send in my absentee ballot.
FYI, Dave A. – The entire show is on wben.com.
Thanks for the kind words, Alan.
Hardwick – good show. hard to catch short answer “clips” when votes want to know why it’s a yes or no though. You said no rules – but you run the debate. I wanted to hear a closing comment from Powers & Kryzan and neither got a chance. I know it was because both answered questions in length – but as the moderator I believe it should’ve been better controlled.
That said – overall good radio show. It was fair. I wouldn’t go as far as call it a draw between Powers & Kryzan, I would call it a Powers win – although it wasn’t by a massive margin.
I think Alan is dead on that Powers concentrated on being the voters voice, and Alice concentrated on her wishes. The job is the US House of “Representatives” and Powers seems to understand it, so I give him the victory.
Alice seemed short sighted on Iraq. The plan she totes, as Powers pointed out, is written by a General who supports Powers. She also at one point called a story Jon shared about his personal experience with lack of body armor a “nice narrative.” As a former Marine, I am appauled at her comments. She may not like Jon Powers, but she ought to respect that he was a soldier. He experienced something that very few people have – first hand combat experience in Iraq. She tried to make up that she knows more about the subject that Powers, and clearly fails in her understanding. Instead of insult a soldier, she should have taken the subject and added her views points.
Powers stumbled with the yes/no questions, but did say he wouldn’t answer those. Not a bad idea since Davis or Lee’s camp was probably recording the session and waiting to use the information against Kryzan and Powers – although they will probably use that anyway in a twisted version. He showed a wide knowledge on subjects affecting the district and gave specific examples when needed. He does need to move away from certain talking points though.
Alice also took some of Powers talking points and simply repeated them. It was either a lack of subject knowledge, or perhaps just a pot shot at Powers – either way she showed she wasn’t above characted shots, something she claims her camp doesn’t do. Perhaps she really doesn’t understand what other people are talking about, not good for someone who wants to represent 7 counties.
Davis’ failure to show up will hurt him. I’ve seen comments of people saying “he’s leading in the polls he doesn’t need to show up.” That is a nice wish for Davis, but there really isn’t any accurate polling data in the district – unless Davis only asked Mullen, Rivera, and Vaughan, because then he’d have 100% support. Only none of those men can vote in the district. I believe Harwick was appropriate in his response to continually point out Mr. Davis left his seat empty and only answered though the media. It shows the type of campaign he is running. He claims he wants clean campaigns – yet seems to have the dirtiest one in NY-26.
The Buffalo News article today seemed like Davis and Kryzan kept trying to keep the War Kids issue alive, but it showed Powers in a positive light and re-iterated his facts and showed the other camps are distorting them for their own benefit. Typical campaign stuff as always.
I think Alice showed she can take off the gloves, and at this point seems a better candidate than Davis by far, but a little shy of Powers.
I missed the show. I was hoping I would see an accurate portrayal of Jon and Alice’s performance. I don’t need to hear more “Jon is the next coming” or “Alice is a loon”. Could someone constructively critique both of these people without being so damned bias?
@Ghost of Ellis:
Before commenting, try reading the post.
If you claim to have read the post before commenting, then learn English.
If you claim to know English, get your eyes checked.
If you claim to have good eyesight, then there’s very little I can do but point & laugh.
For me the highlight was when Jon Powers said that Gen. Eaton is endorsing him on Tuesday. That was so demonstrative of the type of support Jon Powers’ campaign has and Kryzan’s lacks.
Kryzan spoke in a lawyerly tone devoid of passion whereas Jon spoke with the voice of a man who is out there amongst the voters listening to their concerns and incorporating them into the conversation, driving the policies. It showed Powers’ campaign is By The People.
That’s a lot of words, what is this? Mark’s Friggin?
I’m gonna go ahead without reading and guess that you mad the following assertions:
1.) Davis was a dick for not showing up
2.) Powers did as well, if not better, than expected as he is a man of the people
3.) Kryzan was alright, but Jon was better. Also, she’s annoying and condescending due to her being a “lifelong Democrat”
4.) You circled back around to say what a dick Davis was for not showing up
How’d I do?
Jerri Kaisers’s demonstration of confirmation bias is something I would certainly take into the voting booth with me if I were undecided. Shocking that she feels Powers came off as just shy of the son of God.
Chris glad to see you feel Powers is the best candidate.
You did it Alan. You proved my point. Your bias is clear. As is Jerri’s bias. I immediately disregarded your poignant analysis, seeing as you can’t seem to allow an independent thought to crawl through your skull. Why else would I go to the comments and ask for someone to give me a fair interpretation?
@Ghost of Ellis – of course I’m biased. I’ve been a solid supporter of Powers’ since July 2007. Why would today be any different?
But I did offer up an honest assessment of the debate I heard. I didn’t even give Powers a win on this, but called it a draw.
Instead, you summarized what I wrote as “Jon is the next coming” or “Alice is a loon”.
So, it was quite obvious that you hadn’t read the post, and you just confirmed it, so take your comment and shove it up your ass until you _do_ bother to read the post.
It’s ok Ellis – you post crap all over at other blogs, and your bias is spewed through your comments as well. What is your “unbiased” opinion: that Alice was amazing and totally rocked it?
Give me a break. Ellis, smarten up a bit – Hudson is already a big enough idiot for all of us.
Alan – I finally had a chance to go to WBEN and listen to the debate myself. I will concede that most of your post is a fair portrayal of the debate. And I will tell you what changed my opinion. I figured that the Davis criticism came from you. After hearing Hardwick go past the level of the journalistic requirement to explain Jack’s absence, I thought he went too far lamenting the snub. It reflected in the post that way and skewed my ability to take the post at face value.
Well that explains where Jackson Smiles disappeared to. Since you want my unbiased opinion, Mr. Gerken, here it is – I don’t think any of these three have earned or deserve the vote of any person in WNY. Jack tells you he wants to represent WNY his way. Jon has raised money to represent WNY Pelosi-Reid-Rangel’s way. And Alice just plans to not be either of them. This helps no one in WNY.
The House of Representatives is just that, a representative democracy. Your Congressperson should be going to Washington to represent what the majority of citizens of the district want and need. These three just don’t get that.
Ghost – If that’s what you believe, then we are all in trouble because Chris Lee is no better. All he cares about is lining his own pockets with millions of dollars and doesn’t care where those millions come from. It could even be a company that sold out America to the Chinese.
I am Chris Lee and I’m running for Congress because I’m bored.
I don’t think I have given any opinion on Chris Lee yet, but I’ll bet he isn’t going to make more money by being in Congress. If it was about being rich, elected office is not the way to go.
Chris, my point was that Powers’ answers were prefaced quite often by “I just met with this group,” indicating that Powers is the one candidate in this race who is actually listening to all groups, from farmers, teachers, nurses, veterans, small business owners, auto workers, etc., etc. I know because I’ve followed him to many of these meetings.
I can’t support Kryzan because I don’t agree with her environmental credentials, for starters. I also did not like her seeming acceptance of Bush’s “go shopping” solution for the days after 9/11. She also has very little support.
I can’t support Davis because he is not a true Democrat and his overall conduct during this campaign is troubling, to say the least.
I can easily support Jon Powers because I agree with his policies, which are very specific and listed on his website (www.powersforcongress.com), I admire his incredible work ethic, and I feel he truly will represent the voters’ interests in WNY.