How the Bhalla Obsession Derailed Tim & Raia

Ramos devours Occhipinti's campaign

Once again, Beth Mason and her chief political operative, 'Finboy' Barracato, have driven a campaign into the ground.  Once again, a campaign was hijacked by their maniacal obsession to turn a member of our community into a pariah, destroy their reputation and make them unemployable.  Such attacks lack a political objective; they are purely personal.

Last year it was yours truly starring in a Nazi Truck video, in the BoE race.  This year it's Ravi Bhalla, starring in Mason newsletters,  press releases, a City Council resolution,and a full-on marketing effort.

These tactics fail because they 'preach to the choir' and only serve to galvanize Reform.  This year, they have accomplished more. Because WHO is the biggest beneficiary in the relentless pursuit to trash Bhalla? 

Ruben Ramos. 

One Hoboken's failures seem to have moved Ramos into second place, and wrecked Frank Raia.

How?  One Hoboken's chief political strategist, Finboy Barracato, once again forgot that campaigns are about winning elections and not using the boss's money to bash his enemies.

The One Hoboken 'brain trust' was in fact, focused on the Ravi- jihad: resolutions, newsletters, seeking publicity for his Ravi-obsession.   The only press release they have issued was the Peyton Letter, an attack on a football legend.

One Hoboken has not issued a single press release critical of Ramos!

Not one!  Raia's paying a reported $1,000/week to a PR person for.... what?   Apparently to do nothing while Ruben leapfrogs over Occhipinti and 'Finboy' Barracato is waging war on Bhalla.

And Raia?  Out to lunch.

GA will continue to believe that One Hoboken has been infiltrated by Ramos, who has effectively suppressed ALL criticism of Ruben and fanned the silly, counter-productive jihad against Bhalla. 

More 'fuel' to my belief: Al Sullivan writes in his column this week that Occhipinti backed out of a cable tv debate because Zimmer declined and he would face Ramos alone.  Occhipinti declined a chance to go head-to-head with Ruben?  WHO told him to do that?  Even the cable producer, Pat O'Meila, called Occhipinti's decision  a "failed opportunity".

Of course!

And who is living with Occhipinti?  His PR person.  She didn't persuade Tim he should appear and challenge Ramos?  Unless she did the opposite.  See what I mean?  Holy MOLEy.

One Hoboken's refusal to campaign against Ramos plus the inordinate amount of energy and resources directed at whacking Bhalla (Finboy's obsession) has driven Occhipinti into Siberia, and with him Frank Raia.

GA read the Raia letter in the Hoboken Reporter.  Holy cow. Another 'communications' disaster.  Who let that go to print?  Holy MOLEy.

Remember, when Occhipinti entered the race it chopped the ABZs  (Anyone But Zimmer) cleanly in two.

Now Tim's lackluster effort to campaign against Ruben for his lousy record on Hoboken City Council, his mom's patronage job- the first one cut by the Hoboken Fiscal Monitor, late Judy Tripodi- his double-dipping on a full time teacher's salary while he's in Trenton... Tim's FAILURE to campaign against Ruben and to oust any MOLES.... well look what's happened.

A third place Occhipinti wrecks his political viability in the future. A third place Ruben does the same.

Ruben recognized that and is running a professional campaign, dirty and devious.  Timmy is simply running dirty.  Dirt doesn't win. If it did, Beth Mason would be mayor, and Move Forward would be on the BoE.  GA hears Russo is the brains behind Ramos.

As a Reformer, GA is disappointed that Timmy rolled over and played 'dead' and is getting stomped by Ramos.  We are where we started: a two-way race with Ramos.  Don't take anything for granted, peeps.

We must GET OUT THE VOTE for Zimmer, Bhalla, Mello and Doyle.

Meanwhile, will Tim's trouncing wake up Mason and will she finally ditch the crazies?  She has invested plenty of resources in this race for Timmy.  Her chief political strategist seems to have fucked that up, once again.  That fish is a political bad-luck charm.

GA hasn't read the Ravi-drivel in the Hoboken Reporter yet.  I glanced at it- it appears to be written in he said-she said fashion, instead of the Reporter's taking the conclusive evidence that Bhalla has done nothing wrong and writing the piece THAT way.  Instead, publishing this he-said she said crap on fallacious ethics charges by a heavy ad buyer ON THE EVE OF AN ELECTION is out and out yellow journalism.

SHAME ON THE HOBOKEN REPORTER for doing BETH MASON"S BIDDING ON THE EVE OF AN ELECTION.

 Lies and Obsession