Marion Barry. DCU implications?

[Beaker]

Isn't Barry an advocate of DCU's stadium plans at Poplar Point? If he gets removed from his council position (that's a big IF), is there a known replacement and if so, is that person pro-stadium? IIRC, didn't Barry switch sides on the stadium plans from con to pro? Could the coke in his system a couple of months ago have been supplied by KP as lubricant to change his coke-addled mind? Enquiring minds want to know (and have too much time on their hands in the off-season).

[fatbastard]

I was going to point you to the existing thread on this - with a less stupid title - but it seems to have vanished from the list ..........

........ where's the damn 'how are the mods doing' poll, they just dropped a grade ......

[spidergoose]

You realize that coke and crack aren't the same thing, right?

[fatbastard]

You realize that coke and crack aren't the same thing, right?sure they are, sorta - at least as far as testing for it goes. You can have coke without crack, but you can't have crack without coke ...

[MikeLastort2]

Can the moderators please get rid of this thread?

[MeridianFC]

I've altered the title. The subject matter is appropriate, go forward with that.

[Section106]

I don't think Barry's disease will have a negative impact on United's stadium. His constituency knew of his troubles when they elected him. I think once Congress passes the land swap bill that we'll see real progress on the stadium. We're playing the waiting game.

As to Barry's addiction, I hope we can all see that it is disease and not some failing of character. I know first hand how hard it is to beat addiction. I'm a recovered alcoholic. We should pray for Mr Barry as addiction is a serious, life threatening disease.

[seahawkdad]

Amen, Section106.

[Doctor Woo]

I'm a recovered alcoholic. We should pray for Mr Barry as addiction is a serious, life threatening disease.

Will kindly fix your quote to "recovered and recovering". To me the life threatened is not just loss of life, but moreover the surrender of one's life's time to slavery to a substance (caffeine excluded).;)

[Beaker]

I've altered the title. The subject matter is appropriate, go forward with that. Thanks for the title change. I apologize for being crass...I was only trying (awkwardly) to be funny and on topic. I'm afraid I only succeeded at one of them. Of course addiction is a terrible societal problem, and I don't look down on an addict just because they're an addict. However, an addict with money, connections, power and a reason to change who won't or can't, doesn't have my sympathy. The real point of my post is that if the powers that be decide to actually punish Barry for his multiple legal infractions (don't forget the 6 years of not filing tax returns), then the power may shift on the DC council regarding DCU's SSS. I hope everything works out well for DCU, Barry and his district.

[Eastern Bear]

Ride on Beaker. Addiction may be a disease, but Barry's still a deadbeat when it comes to taxes. It pisses me off that I pay my taxes every year and worry that I got everything right when this guy skips out and get off with a slap on the wrist. If it were me skipping out on taxes or caught w/ drugs I am certain I would not get off as easy as this guy. The way people on this board defend Barry is disturbing...

[John L]

Barry's presence or absence isn't the game breaker here - Its Congress, and whether or not Poplar Point (and other fed land holdings around the country) can be handed over directly to DC (and other local governments) - Barry was only a minor contributor to the Poplar Point community plans - Yes, he coulda been a real pain in the a$$ if he had wanted to, but he won't really be missed in this debate all that much - DC United and Payne in particular had already pretty much side-stepped him by going directly to the people and community groups in Anacostia and by already having a well-thought out, mixed use development plan for the stadium with apartments, light commercia, recreationa, etc

[Metrogo]

As to Barry's addiction, I hope we can all see that it is disease and not some failing of character. I know first hand how hard it is to beat addiction. I'm a recovered alcoholic. We should pray for Mr Barry as addiction is a serious, life threatening disease.

I take a look see on here to get some info on DC's stadium, and I have to read this crap?

Good lord. Christ. Can't people take any responsibility for their actions? Sometimes I drink too much. When I do it makes me tired, sick, and generally useless for at least 18 hours. I'm not going to blame it on something or someone else.

I'm not being judgmental. If you drink too much, or take too much crack, it's your fault.

[Bootsy Collins]

I take a look see on here to get some info on DC's stadium, and I have to read this crap?

Good lord. Christ. Can't people take any responsibility for their actions? Sometimes I drink too much. When I do it makes me tired, sick, and generally useless for at least 18 hours. I'm not going to blame it on something or someone else.

I'm not being judgmental. If you drink too much, or take too much crack, it's your fault.
I'm not sure where you're coming from in this, since I don't think anyone in this thread is saying otherwise. I just went back and looked at the posts in this thread again, and I just don't see that.

Feeling compassion for someone in a tough situation is not the same as saying they bear no responsibility for getting themselves into that situation. It is possible to recognize that people who, through their own bad choices, have put themselves in terrible situations, have the responsibility for what's happened to them, and yet still feel compassion and pity for them.

There are people I have loved dearly who have suffered a lot because of choices they made; and I recognized that they had no one to blame but themselves for those choices, and yet I still felt sorry for them.

[b1968k]

The real point of my post is that if the powers that be decide to actually punish Barry for his multiple legal infractions (don't forget the 6 years of not filing tax returns), then the power may shift on the DC council regarding DCU's SSS. I hope everything works out well for DCU, Barry and his district.

Barry took the drug test as part of a plea deal on the tax charges. They are misdemeanor charges and so I don't think Barry will end up serving any time - though I'm not entirely sure.

It is up to Barry to resign or his constituents to recall him and I don't really see either happening. As much corruption as there was in DC government under Mayor Barry, I don't think anyone ever accused Barry of enriching himself. The man is not rich and ran for council to have a paying job. I don't see him giving that up.

[Metrogo]

I'm not sure where you're coming from in this, since I don't think anyone in this thread is saying otherwise. I just went back and looked at the posts in this thread again, and I just don't see that.

Feeling compassion for someone in a tough situation is not the same as saying they bear no responsibility for getting themselves into that situation. It is possible to recognize that people who, through their own bad choices, have put themselves in terrible situations, have the responsibility for what's happened to them, and yet still feel compassion and pity for them.

There are people I have loved dearly who have suffered a lot because of choices they made; and I recognized that they had no one to blame but themselves for those choices, and yet I still felt sorry for them.

If it's a disease, then you're not to blame.

[MattMathai]

If it's a disease, then you're not to blame.

Yes, and no. The disease is unusually high susceptibility to intoxicants. That's just the luck of the draw, and nobody could be held to blame for it. However, the disease doesn't put the bottle or pipe in your hands. There's still an element of choice in play.

[Bootsy Collins]

If it's a disease, then you're not to blame.
Saying that someone has a disease is not the same thing as saying that they bear no responsibility for choices that brought them that disease -- if it's the kind of disease that comes about that way, as a result of choices one makes. I've had two members of my immediate family -- my mom and my sister -- that knew the risks of smoking, smoked like chimneys anyway, and ended up dead from cancer caused by their smoking. Both would have been the first to tell you that they bore responsibility for their becoming ill. They were not blameless for their illness; but that realization did not stop me from feeling compassionately for them.

[mcontento]

I don't think Barry's disease will have a negative impact on United's stadium. His constituency knew of his troubles when they elected him. I think once Congress passes the land swap bill that we'll see real progress on the stadium. We're playing the waiting game.

Saying it is a disease makes it look like he is a victim, but in truth he is a victim of only his own stupidity and weakness. I understand the desire by some who think our stadium rests on being politically correct not to bash Barry, but enough of the "no responsibility" for your own actions crap.

[ZoomZip]

Barry's presence or absence isn't the game breaker here - Its Congress, and whether or not Poplar Point (and other fed land holdings around the country) can be handed over directly to DC (and other local governments) - Barry was only a minor contributor to the Poplar Point community plans - Yes, he coulda been a real pain in the a$$ if he had wanted to, but he won't really be missed in this debate all that much - DC United and Payne in particular had already pretty much side-stepped him by going directly to the people and community groups in Anacostia and by already having a well-thought out, mixed use development plan for the stadium with apartments, light commercia, recreationa, etc

Barry's presence, or lack thereof, does have implications in that he wasn't looking to be an impediment. He could have opposed to score political points by opposing the Poplar Point, but instead he got what he wanted and was going to stay quiet. If there is a power vacuum, and a Barry foe steps in (like a certain Reverend), then perhaps there's an issue of "I'm against it because Barry was for it". And that could be a problem.