The Observation Deck

Jim O'Bryan wrote:kate

I figure you only tell people that don't care, so there is little fallout.

so does that mean my voice has no value on the deck? wow I really misunderstood this whole digital fence dealy.

that being said I do believe Fitz can get his act together again in the future.

I agree that Fitz had very little chance to win.

However, I think his political career is dead meat going forward.

This drivers license thing is far more damaging than garden variety scandals such as adultery or bribery.
The average citizen doesn't like "normal" scandals....but at least the average citizen understands the motive for those. Sex and money have been great motivators for over 6,000 years, and they will continue to be so going forward.

This Drivers License thing makes Fitz seem just plain weird.
Noone can explain his motive.
Why would anyone NOT get a drivers license?

Was he terrified of the parking cones?
Does he enjoy going over to Puritas (or wherever) every six months to sit in a dank BMV with a bunch of 16 year olds?
Did he ever get a license in Indiana?

There are also other strange things that people wonder:
How can anyone be in the FBI and not have a license? I don't remember Scully or Mulder ever needing to hitch a ride.

In the political world, to be "Weird" is a much deadlier than to be corrupt.

In addition, as Bret pointed out, the hubris of ignoring the law while campaigning to be the chief officer of the state is completely galling to many people.

To further bury his career, Fitz will be painted as the man who destroyed the statewide Democratic ticket. He will have many, many powerful enemies within the party.

He may want to take a hint from the Jackson Five song and get "Goin' Back to Indiana".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0F_041ncqg0

Michael Deneen wrote:I agree that Fitz had very little chance to win.
However, I think his political career is dead meat going forward.

To further bury his career, Fitz will be painted as the man who destroyed the statewide Democratic ticket. He will have many, many powerful enemies within the party.

He may want to take a hint from the Jackson Five song and get "Goin' Back to Indiana".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0F_041ncqg0

Mike

Not just Fitz, but Lakewood has been painted as the crew that let this happen.

I was talking with a person working hard for the legalization of Marijuana in Ohio. I met
him earlier this year when he was going to submit an article. He said Columbus was
outraged at how any city could let this happen. He was screaming at me across the Root
Cafe. "What kind of F#$%#@ Up City would allow anyone to drive without a license.
Possibly the lamest group of city officials anywhere, a true laughing stock..."

Needles to say I cut him off trashing the good people of Lakewood, but that was pure
politics from Columbus, and he was mad, and he didn't even almost blame Ed. He
blamed the system that allowed"this fool" to grow and gain power.

Which could be very true. most of City Hall with the exception of Jenn Pae, and staff are
Ed FitzGerald hires or appointments, and now we know Ed had ZERO attnetion for detail
or thinking things through. Is it any wonder City Hall is falling down everyday?

.

A quick and partial review of the deck shows only one person who says he feels that all the people at city hall are at fault for not checking that Fitzgerald did or did not have a valid driver's license. I didn't count the sock puppets that poster cites as feeling that way because none of them seems to have a name, and I would guess them to be fictitious. But that poster posts so frequently that it might appear that he is a crowd unto himself, seeking revenge on all the people at city hall who have it in for him.

I'm not going to dig into this any further. I have soured on the Lakewood Observer since you killed my budgie.

Will Brown wrote:A quick and partial review of the deck shows only one person who says he feels that all the people at city hall are at fault for not checking that Fitzgerald did or did not have a valid driver's license. I didn't count the sock puppets that poster cites as feeling that way because none of them seems to have a name, and I would guess them to be fictitious.

Norm Roulet, of Real Neo, one of the more active political sites in Northern Ohio.

Just back from Colorado, Norm and his crew have been working out of Columbus and at
the Root. Go in, ask for Norm, ask him what he thinks about the election. The Barristas
can point him out. Just ask, "Norm from Real Neo? What is your take on the elections..."
Prepare to sit down, and here him go one, and his people chime in.

I would guess, that no one should check a person's driver's license before giving them a
company car? Would you not think that "elected" officials should go through the same
questionnaire as appointments?

No parrots...

Mildly good news for Lakewood:

Based on what I've seen of statewide media coverage, FitzGerald is not closely identified with Lakewood.
Given the fact that Lakewood never really embraced him, it seems appropriate.

In most media he is usually referred to as "Cuyahoga County Executive".
When out-of-town media mentions his experience, they tend to say "former suburban Mayor".

For example, this well-written analysis from a University of Cincinnati professor and former Strickland speech writer doesn't even mention Lakewood.

https://medium.com/@nivenpolitics/10-le ... f1bc6062a6

We've been very lucky that his train wreck has not gotten coverage from the national media.
Frankly, it should have....it is by far the worst major campaign I have ever seen.
It's a case study that could be used in Political Science classes for generations.

Michael

More good news. Today's Lakewood Observer is one of a couple papers in the state to get
both Ed FitzGerald, and Governor John Kasich to answer questions in a debate format.

Get them today, online and in print!

.

I'm surprised there haven't been any comments on the Cleveland Traffic Camera issue.

It's interesting how the issue is lining up.
I figured suburban Republicans would rally support to eliminate the cameras...not only for faster driving, but as a means to shut off a revenue source for government.
I assumed that Cleveland officials would counter with a "pro-safety" message in defense of the cameras.

However, today on the radio I heard a Pro-Camera commercial featuring George Voinovich. (Frank Jackson was also in the ad, and they were both pushing the "safety" angle, so I was partially right).
On the other side, muckraking leftist radical Roldo Bartimole came out against the cameras in his latest column.

I'm curious to see how this vote goes....it might be the closest local election of the evening.

The most interesting election?

The most important election?

County Executive.

The voters are set to elect party hack Armond Budish. Budish is a party apparatchik who will continue the downtown only development model that does so much damage to the County.

His election will signal the end of the so called reform movement. What will follow? That's the interesting part.

Think of Jimmy Demora and Tim Hagan on steroids.

Mike

Traffic Cameras will get voted down.

Bill Call wrote:The most interesting election?

The most important election?

County Executive.

The voters are set to elect party hack Armond Budish. Budish is a party apparatchik who will continue the downtown only development model that does so much damage to the County.

His election will signal the end of the so called reform movement. What will follow? That's the interesting part.

Think of Jimmy Demora and Tim Hagan on steroids.

Bill

There are a couple things that are very interesting creating a perfect storm in the city,
county, state and country. Though it can be seen easiest on local and county levels.

Politicians are tired of residents, come to us only at election time. With the massive cuts
to the system over the years of Rs running on cutting the budget and Ds trying to show
they can make more cuts in the budget, have left a system that can only react to problems,
not actually plan and solve problems. So any contact with residents is usually filled with
how is it put by them "whiners."

On the other hand you have business, and an overly powerful Cleveland Foundation, funded
by businesses that are more than happy to slip[ into the french maid outfit and give
business anything they want. After all, businesses take them to ball games (thought they
have to pay $8.00 out of their own pocket for a $1,000 night at the game.), take them
out to lunch, do everything that is asked of them, and become longtime friends and donors.

This is why, everyone has throwing out the residents in favor of Commercial Economic
Development.

So yes expect more of the same no matter who is in office.

.

I know we were kicking back and forth about how the city had NOTHING to do with Mayor
Ed FitzGerald dricing without a license. Last week I was at the fire station taking photos and
noticed this on the back wall where everyone can see it.



Everyone in the building that might need to drive driver's license number and birth date
ie date of expiration on the wall. This way people can tell other people, hey your license is
up next week.... Police use a different system. Had someone, anyone asked Ed for his info
to add to the list...

It's called management.

.

Me, I am watching the Governor's Race --- In Texas.

Why you ask -- that is where I will be living in 2015.

Anybody want to buy a house on the north side of Lake Ave and you get a great seat for the 4th of July Parade and even the fireworks!

It appears as if no door hanger or paper clip will make the difference in the governors race. What is that saying about big fish, small pond. Of course make sure you have a fishing license, those Rangers don't screw around

Greetings from TN- where we just voted to allow residents to buy wine at the grocery store. Bottoms up!

I have to admit I giggled a little bit at FitzGerald's attempt to run for Governor. I guess the JFK posters in the Mayor's office didn't help. Them Irish gals sure have a way of putting a man in his place, don't they?

Wow, was I wrong about the traffic camera issue...it won by a 3-1 margin.
Jackson and Voinovich ran a lousy campaign on that one.

Voinovich also wasted his time promoting Ken Lanci 2.0.
I wonder if "Scene" magazine will get any flack for its front page sellout? Probably not.

Fitzy lost by 31 points and lost Cuyahoga County.
This should be the end of his political career, at least in Ohio.

Kasich won the battle, but lost the war.
Scott Walker's re-election eliminated him from viable 2016 Presidential contention.
There isn't room in the field for both of them, and the Koch Brothers want Walker.