The Observation Deck

Gary,

My point was I tried. I know many other people who tried. Getting answers wasn't as easy as you are making it seem. You can only ask questions if someone is listening to you.
The point is moot now as she has been elected.

that is correct Gary....

Stephen, please explain the point of your post. If it's a slam on me or your disagreeing with what I said, please, don't be so cryptic. I'm a big boy. I can take it.

Ed Dickson wrote:Stephen, please explain the point of your post. If it's a slam on me or your disagreeing with what I said, please, don't be so cryptic. I'm a big boy. I can take it.

Ed, I was just trying to be funny..

Stephen,

You don't have to try to be funny...you just are.

jennifer scott wrote:Stephen,

You don't have to try to be funny...you just are.

Stephen Eisel wrote:

jennifer scott wrote:Stephen,

You don't have to try to be funny...you just are.

I almost Youtubed the Good Fellas “funny how” scene but there’s some foul language which would be inappropriate here


Seriously though, Nina Turner bucked the party line and did what she felt was right. She showed she’s capable of thinking for herself and not cowering to the Machine. For that she deserves credit. Having said that, I don’t know enough about her to form an opinion on whether she’s qualified to be the County Executive.

There’s my two cents....for now.

Charlie, so are you saying our mayor "cowered to the machine?" He was a pretty vocal opponent of Issue 6.

David Anderson wrote:I was prompted to enter this topic because Ryan, a man who wants to lead our great city, labeled Ohio State Representative Nina Turner's possible selection to Cuyahoga County's top post as an affirmative action “token” something or other. That post he made is and remains complete garbage and he should offer an immediate apology.

The racial balancing act is quite common in local Democrat party politics. One local judge who was seeking election to a higher level was told that the party wanted a black to fill that seat.

Peter Lawson Jones was selected as the Democratic candidate for County Commissioner because the party wanted a black person as a County Commissioner. He turned out to be the the most (only) prudent and competent of the three County Commissioners.

I guess I'll have to start refering to the Two Stooge act instead of the Three Stooge act at the commissioners office.

Ms. Turner (aka Aunt Jemima) is taking a lot of heat for her support of Issue 6. I think in her case the default assumption is that she thought it was the right thing to do.

The most laughable objection to her support of issue 6 came from George Forbes who said issue 6 offered nothing to support inner city schools. Where did that come from?

The most laughable support line for Ms Turner came from the Plain Dealer which talked about reformers like Mike White and Councilman Jeff Johnston being opposed by the black power structure. Mike White left town one step ahead of the FBI and Johnston was jailed on corruption charges.

Ryan Patrick Demro wrote:Charlie, so are you saying our mayor "cowered to the machine?" He was a pretty vocal opponent of Issue 6.

Yes, the mayor was vocal against issue 6. However, I don’t think he cowered to the machine. Many of his arguments were ones that I had up until about a month before the election: people are corrupt not the system, let’s not rush into anything, etc.

Then I saw issue 5 for what it really is...a smoke screen. Then I heard about how democrat secretary of state Brunner was playing ballot games by putting the democrat county commissioner's issue before the real reform issue.

Stay with the status quo or throw the bums out. Voting yes on 6 was a no brainer.

Bill Call wrote:The racial balancing act is quite common in local Democrat party politics.

Is Michael Steele part of the Republican party balancing act? It’s not like he’s had stellar political career or longevity to earn the chairman position.

Bill Call wrote:The most laughable objection to her support of issue 6 came from George Forbes who said issue 6 offered nothing to support inner city schools. Where did that come from?

I read Forbes comments and it’s almost like he expected to barter for support of 6.

The cartoon is no more unfair to black people than what she did to black people in not securing some type of concern or something in return for the kids in school, he said.

Charlie,

You hit it on the head. Michael Steele is a token (in my opinion, I have to clarify for David). I am not making any apologies for that assertion either. Ken Blackwell came very close to winning that seat and would have been a much more vocal and effective voice for the party. Michael Steele was the "safe" black choice. The reality of it all was that Ken Blackwell was the best choice, and he just happened to be black.

By the way, just to remind everyone, this thread is about Ed running for County Executive and how there are far more qualified candidates. Let me pose this question since we are delving into the subject of race, let's add ethnicity. How does Ed fare in a Democratic Primary where you can guarantee he won't be the only Irish Democrat? We know Tim McCormack is probably going to run. He is far better known and respected by both sides of the aisle countywide. I would venture to guess that Ed flames out in the primary. Remember, Mike Skindell cleaned the floor with him in the race for State Rep.

Bill -

There are certainly degrees of qualifications but substance must be present. Peter Lawson Jones was an elected member of the Ohio House of Representatives when he was picked to fill Jane Campbell's commissioner seat. He has also been re-elected to that position and is a double Harvard graduate.

Ryan -

As far as the consideration of Ken Blackwell as chair of the RNC, the fact is he finished a distant fifth out of five in the first four rounds of voting then withdrew. So, if "very close to winning that seat" you mean he came in fifth out of 300,000,000 Americans, well, then, I agree.

Candidate Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5 Round 6
Michael Steele 46 48 51 60 79 91
Katon Dawson 28 29 34 62 69 77
Saul Anuzis 22 24 24 31 20 Withdrew
Ken Blackwell 20 19 15 15 Withdrew
Mike Duncan 52 48 44 Withdrew

I believe Blackwell lost because he is too conservative and the Republican party has no room for conservatives.

Ryan -

Your reputation suggests that you take on direct questions. So, again, please defend your assertions that certain folks (Turner and, now, Steele) are affirmative action picks and "tokens."

David, maybe another time or another day. This thread is about Ed Fitz running for County Executive.