It's been a year of hard ball politics

One year ago today, on a lark, I assumed the allonym William H. Seward to post a comment on Honest Abe's blog. I read about the blog in Jim Purcell's column in The Courier. I chose Seward because he, Presidents Lincoln's and Andrew Johnson's Secretary of State, tried to avoid the civil war before becoming a strong supporter of it.

That simple comment:

William H Seward said...
The Courier article about Abe was the best thing
published in The Courier since Handlin challenged Uncle Joe. Last weeks
Keansburg piece wasn't bad either, a good piece of journalism for a change on
Jim's part.

Hopefully the sting of the boss losing last spring is
wearing off and Jim and Jackie will get back to publishing news instead of
vendettas

Saturday, January 14, 2006 3:35:00 PM



lead to several days of banter between me and Purcell, during which Jim made several failing attempts to "out me", introduced "air bathing" into our lexicon (to his almost immediate chagrin) and challenged me to a modern day duel, a boxing match.

Sadly, the boxing match never happened, as Jim would not accept my conditions:

JIM_PURCELL said...
Say Bill:

Seeing as you're so community-minded...here's a suggestion (since you're having so much fun with the "air bath" thing). How about you and I have a charity sporting event for Deborah or perhaps Middletown Helps Its Own or something like that. We can do something that would be striking... and maybe a little different. Maybe we could do something that neither of us have done before... like, say...boxing. That's pretty fun to watch for the crowd. And, since you're having so much fun with me and my physical condition, then it shouldn't be too much of a problem for yo uto decide about.

I have a friend, Buddy Amato, in West Keansburg, who has the insurance and a dojo (complete with a ring and equipment...if you like) and we can sell tickets and raise a few bucks for our favorite causes (for me, I'd probably donate whatever to Keansburg Pop Warner). Heck, I know that someone like yourself (probably strapping and very athletic) will probably have a lot of fun and walk away with a great big "W"...right? Not to mention the satisfaction of proving something very decisive.

If you want to wear a mask...feel free...I promise not to look. I mean, we're talking about a controlled, referee'd charity event. Surely, since you've been laughing so hard at the "air bath" thing that should be no big deal. Or, I guess, you might want to hide your "secret identity" a little more closely? Maybe you don't want to show up because someone might recognize you. I'd understand. So, still laughing "Billy"?

I'm game if you are "Bill." So, you name the time, I got the place and there's a lot of kids out there that can benefit from you walking away with some charity money. You know what...just to kick things off...I'll pledge $200 of my own money. I mean, it's not a lot, but for a guy like you that should be pocket change.

Think about it and give me a buzz. Can't wait to hear from you, Mr. Secretary. Remember, good causes deserve our best efforts...right?

Thursday, January 19, 2006 9:46:00 PM


William H Seward said...
Jim,

For someone who throws insults around as much as you do, its ironic that you are so sensitive to my jeering. I suggest you tone down the insults and now you want to throw punches!

Sorry if you were offended by my "worse visual" comment, but it wasn't meant to poke fun at your physical condition. Even if you were a hunk, you've got to admit that you and I in a circle jerk is a worse visual image than either you or Ben Franklin taking an air bath.

I accept your challenge, but a need some time to train, and for the weather to break because I suggest that we do this in the true Olympian tradition and in honour of air baths, naked.

Between us we could probably get the permits to do so out at Sandy Hook. The potential money we could raise would be much greater if we did it this way, especially if you promoted the event in your paper.

I'd be surprised if each member of the Middletown Township Committee didn't donate $1000 each. Peter Carton would probably donate $10,000.

This could be a really unifying event. Fred Nieman, Bill Dowd and Vic Scudary would all be united behind us. Both Judy Stanley-Coleman and Jim Wassell would contribute. Judge Coleman could be the referee. I won't even wear a mask and I don't care if you look.

Terry and Serena could take turns holding the cards between rounds, assuming we last beyond one round.

You could have Director Bill be in your corner. I'll try to get Jennifer or Amy. I think I'd fight harder for Jen, but Amy would be more motivated to inspire me.

Like you said, good causes deserve our best efforts, so if we are going to do this, lets make sure we raise as much as possible. If you accept my conditions I'll match your personal contribution 10-1 and you can choose which charities get the money.

Give me a call. I'm closer than you think. One of your staff met me face to face this month. If you call me today I'll give $200 to Keansburg Pop Warner.

Friday, January 20, 2006 8:59:00 AM


This was just too much fun. Even though I didn't know a blog from an RSS feed ( I still don't know what an RSS feed is) I was hooked and had a new hobby.

Since that time, Jim and I have developed a healthy respect and admiration for each other. While many Republicans have an unhealthy despise for Jim, there is no question he has insight and that often his predictions prove prophetic. In his editorial about Abe that lead me here Jim said:

"Abe seems generally optimistic about the club, as do the majority of the site's users, but the county chairman, Fred Niemann, and the little group around him can only keep up the façade of critical tolerance for so long, in my opinion. And, I must admit I am just waiting for the day when one of the "grand high muckety mucks" in the new party hierarchy snaps and says or does something extremely crazy or weird on full display for their core constituency. I think it's more a matter of "when" and not "if." "

That was two months before Chairman Fred Niemann made headlines by calling the GOP bloggers al-Qaeda at an Affiliated Dinner.

In June, while commenting on the Chairman's race, Jim said:

Adam has a point of view. He plays on a team. He's a good person. But his point of view isn't populist. Carton, Kyrillos, Alfieri and Co. will play a big role in making the decisions for the GOP and, consequently, the county. If that is what people want then i think it's harkening back to Dowd and the days when candidates were picked in Judy Stanley's living room by eight people or so.


Six months later, we have an unelected and unidentified(officially) screening committee.

I started blogging here at moremonmouthmusings, long before I had any understanding of how the software works, because I was concerned that my banter with Jim was beginning to dominate Abe's blog, and that Abe might cut us off and/or delete the banter.

Far from a folly and much to my amazement, my writing started to have influence in County and State affairs, on both sides of the aisle. I couldn't believe it when a Freeholder candidate was using my endorsement as campaign material at Lincoln Day. When Fred referred to Abe and me as terrorists and the APP printed it, though not naming the blogs, traffic exploded.

Today this blog has between 200 and 500 page loads everday. Over 50% of the visitors are repeat visitors. The blog is read in Washington, Trenton and Freehold daily. Newspaper reporters and editors stop in, as do bankers, lawyers and corporate executives. More importantly, in my view, rank and file Republican, Democrat and Independent voters of Monmouth County check in and contribute.

Thank you to my readers and commenters. To the extent that this blog is relevent is because of you. Despite the fact that I sometimes wish that there was a 12 step program for bloggers, this experience has enriched my life this year.

Apologies to those who have been accused of being me, and for the stress and threats to your livlihood those accusations have created.

Special thanks to Jackie Corley, "Teddy Roosevelt", Terence Wall, "Elephants not Donkeys", Michael Borg, Adam Puharic, Anna Little, Sue Veitengruber, Sharon Migliaccio, Tommy DeSeno and "Lisa."

Thanks to Fred and Dan for all the content, traffic, and for inspiring the Monmouth County Seward Authority; Kramer Hall, Fred Laden, Mr. Whipple, Bob Hope, Voo doo Airbather, Everyone Loves Anna, and a few others I have forgotten about.

To O Ima-bin Fishin thanks for the hardest laugh of the year and for everything else you provide.

To Honest Abe and Jim Purcell, thank you for inspiring the musings of an active and concerned resident of Monmouth County, for different reasons.