Editor-In-Chief
HARLINGEN, Texas - It's all about the friends you keep. That's what they say about politics, the friends being the ones who help you win or the ones who help you lose. Good politicians know that. The winning ones learn quickly; the losers never learn.
Rio Grande Valley residents, as ever-hopeful a lot as history has ever recorded, know a few who take repeated stabs at gaining election, but never get over the hump, never get their moment in the lights, their reward for daring to spurt-forth a dream carrying public service as its singular aim.
He seems to have a few good ideas for the comnunity, but he can't seem to bridge from political gadfly to elected official. Is it the friends he keeps? That's a question without a clear answer at present. But one thing is certain: his friendship with rabble-rousing blogger Tony Chapa, shown in photo at right, cannot possibly help. Does Benton not see that? Chapa, a local high school graduate with a flair for the obvious, has been concentrating on being the town naysayer for months. If it isn't the donuts, it's the cops. If it isn't the city commission, it's the commission's agenda. If it isn't his lack of reader comments, it's his lack of writing skills. If it isn't Chapa attacking the editor of this blog, it's Chapa attacking the editor of any other blog!
It's clear: Both Benton and Chapa crave attention, and they do it at the expense of their reputations.
But while Chapa, unemployed at present, has only the operation of an obscure blog to worry about, Benton might do well to think about his future in city politics. Is it the right thing to do, to associate with a nattering nabob of negativism? Does he actually believe that he gets positive traction with local voters by calling people "fools" and "clowns," as he did yesterday, when posting a story (we're being wildly liberal by labeling it a "story") on Chapa's dead blog? That stuff you post on the Internet is there forever, ready for someone to pluck it and sling it back at you at the opportune time. Lawyers love it. Is that Benton's political style, this well-known and hated slash-and-burn approach that helps no one get anywhere? A thoughtful observer would say, "No."
Experienced politicians know how to deflect criticism with grace. Benton does not seem to have that talent. Instead of responding to whatever pains him with an intelligent retort, he seems to favor the counterpunch to the kidney. There appears to be a little Joe Frazier in Mssr. Benton, which would be good in a bruising political tussle against a sharp opponent. But to merely throw punches in the middle of a rolling cantina brawl masquerading as a blog paints him as a rank amateur, someone to worry and wonder about.
We won't tell him what to do, but clear-thinking heads would suggest to Benton that he step aside and re-assess his political future, find a way to stand on his own two legs. He failed in his last run at the city's mayorship. He nonetheless has been Mr. Foghorn on a variety of business issues affecting Harlingen lately, posting however-shallow commentaries on every blog that will accept his submissions. His foot is in the door, his words sort of speaking of an interest in helping solve local problems.
But, it too is clear that he fails miserably in reading the lay of the land when he aligns himself with the under-achieving crowd...
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15 comments:
Benton only thinks he's a player. he's not and never will be in Harlingen. That's a fact, Jack. He talks and writes as if he's being paid by the word, but it's nonsense mostly. City leaders see him as a joke. Not going anywhere.
Nice story. Don't know the guy, but he sounds like a bad politician. Maybe he just had a bad day.
benton would befriend anyone to write his stuff. it never makes sense cause he doesn't do the research. Just wants to stay in the news.
there's a resemblance between chapete and benton! Wow!
ALL:...We want to inject the thought that Kenneth Benton is likely a good citizen of Harlingen. Our story does not seek to destroy him. It just poses the needed question of whether he will remain a viable candidate for elected office... - Editor
Mr. Editor, you have no need to apologize to anyone. Benton's future will be decided by the voters. All politicians should be treated like dirt until they do something for the community they serve. BENTON is not an official yet, so he gets a pass. But the Tribune is right in askling the hard questions. Thankz.
this is what makes the Trib the best blog around. what other blog would write this story? Chapaneco? Get real! Not Jerry Deal either. benton is a player only in his head. Pobre sonador.
That molester is going to rot in hell! Throw him in the tank and throw the key away. No shame for any man who would do this to young girls. It's time we hanged one of these abusers.
Damned right about the accused molester on the sidebar. If he did it he should hang. Enough of this alrfeady!
If you look closely at the molester, it seems like his problem is not bad hair but more that somebody squeezed his head between two flat boards. Too bad it didn't cure his twisted mind.
IS that what Chapa loks like. pobre vato. se le paso la mano de lo feo a su creador. Feo!!!! feo ese loco.
Hit it right on the head, paz. Anyone who hangs with Chapa will be like Chapete. Benton is a college graduate hanging out with a droput. that tells all I need to know. thanks.
Say DPM, your comment to TCs blog directed to me was deleted. It pissed me off because it happened immediately after I had posted a response. But I'm going along with it. It reminds me of my old job. Where many times my work was ignored because some "supervisor" thought best of it. I'm sure I've already told you that I'm retired from ICE, right? I'm not a geezer like Deal or even TC, although I don't know how old TC really is. Even though he does act like some kind of senior citizen. But by the photo on his blog, I'm either just a few years younger or around the same age. I'm 55. Anyway, I'm going to stick by TC for the time being. But it is conceivable that I may lose it and go totally against him. We'll see. Oh, and DPM, no hard feelings, alright?
Jake.
If BENTON IS SMART he has posted his last story with Chapete. we'll see how much a worthy candidate he will be next time he runs. the editor is right. The internet is like a freakin' library. Get serious, kenneth.
Agree with your comments, Ken Benton, is not taken serious in city politics. His ideas are so far out, they are out of the playing field.
Sorry Ken, no one likes Chapa and the people who affiliate with him. Drop him, like a bad apple, Kingy Kanute did.
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