Hey Scott, Do You Want To Talk About Politics?

[Jim O'Bryan]

Scott

I hope you understand where I am coming from. It seems senseless to start campaigning
for anything right now. I am personally sick of what is quickly becoming a never ending
election cycle. Aren't you sick of it? Obama gets sworn in and the next day we are hearing
who is running against him in 4 years. Mike Summers gets sworn in in January and given
nearly 3 months to perform miracles, and someone is supposed to be so outraged at his
performance, or has such a better plan they need to file and call him out right now?

AS for announcing, as of last week, NO ONE had completed the steps necessary for what I
personally would consider ready to run. I believe Matt Markling is the only person that has
actually filled, has all of his signatures approved, and be IN THE RACE. So without anything
official, all we have is a lot of talk.

So I am pretty sure I have a pretty solid record here on what my feelings are about many
of the issues facing this city. If you are not clear on something ask. I have no problem,
answering any and all questions coming my way. And I love to talk about the city and the
direction it is headed, or in.

.

[Scott Meeson]

Scott

I hope you understand where I am coming from. It seems senseless to start campaigning
for anything right now. I am personally sick of what is quickly becoming a never ending
election cycle. Aren't you sick of it? Obama gets sworn in and the next day we are hearing
who is running against him in 4 years. Mike Summers gets sworn in in January and given
nearly 3 months to perform miracles, and someone is supposed to be so outraged at his
performance, or has such a better plan they need to file and call him out right now?

AS for announcing, as of last week, NO ONE had completed the steps necessary for what I
personally would consider ready to run. I believe Matt Markling is the only person that has
actually filled, has all of his signatures approved, and be IN THE RACE. So without anything
official, all we have is a lot of talk.

So I am pretty sure I have a pretty solid record here on what my feelings are about many
of the issues facing this city. If you are not clear on something ask. I have no problem,
answering any and all questions coming my way. And I love to talk about the city and the
direction it is headed, or in.

.

Jim,

I have read and absorbed what you have written. Personally, I don't think we've had a never ending election cycle here in Lakewood. Outraged at Mike Summers performance? Really haven't detected that. As a matter of fact, I think he's doing a fine job as Mayor, the city has some good momentum in my opinion. Wouldn't you agree that Mike Summers is a very viable candidate? That his name is a much more recognized name in the arena of public service and politics in this city-as compared to you? Really, who the hell are you? You publish a newspaper and post many of your ideas/opinions on this website. How does the vast public(VOTERS!) in this city know and view Jim O'Bryan? If you were serious,believed in yourself, and all the postings you have made over the years...you would get your butt in this race,spread your message, and let the people judge just how much they value your thought process/ideas. After all, we are talking about the top job in this city.


Respectfully,

Scott Meeson

[Jim O'Bryan]

Scott

I hope you understand where I am coming from. It seems senseless to start campaigning
for anything right now. I am personally sick of what is quickly becoming a never ending
election cycle. Aren't you sick of it? Obama gets sworn in and the next day we are hearing
who is running against him in 4 years. Mike Summers gets sworn in in January and given
nearly 3 months to perform miracles, and someone is supposed to be so outraged at his
performance, or has such a better plan they need to file and call him out right now?

AS for announcing, as of last week, NO ONE had completed the steps necessary for what I
personally would consider ready to run. I believe Matt Markling is the only person that has
actually filled, has all of his signatures approved, and be IN THE RACE. So without anything
official, all we have is a lot of talk.

So I am pretty sure I have a pretty solid record here on what my feelings are about many
of the issues facing this city. If you are not clear on something ask. I have no problem,
answering any and all questions coming my way. And I love to talk about the city and the
direction it is headed, or in.

.

Jim,

I have read and absorbed what you have written. Personally, I don't think we've had a never ending election cycle here in Lakewood. Outraged at Mike Summers performance? Really haven't detected that. As a matter of fact, I think he's doing a fine job as Mayor, the city has some good momentum in my opinion. Wouldn't you agree that Mike Summers is a very viable candidate? That his name is a much more recognized name in the arena of public service and politics in this city-as compared to you? Really, who the hell are you? You publish a newspaper and post many of your ideas/opinions on this website. How does the vast public(VOTERS!) in this city know and view Jim O'Bryan? If you were serious,believed in yourself, and all the postings you have made over the years...you would get your butt in this race,spread your message, and let the people judge just how much they value your thought process/ideas. After all, we are talking about the top job in this city.


Respectfully,

Scott Meeson

Scott

I agree with some of the top 2/3rds of your post.

And you are certainly entitled to the bottom third.

But let's talk...

There is rumored to be waaay north of $150,000 available to run for mayor depending on
who you talk to. There are rumors of $10,000 - $35,000 for school board being available
and that money can go either way to mayor of board candidates.

Behind a person you and I are both thinking has not done a terrible job. So conventional
wisdom would mean a person has to raise $200,000 and walk on water, if they run a
conventional campaign, right down to hire professional handlers. That would strike me
as insane, and should disqualify anyone running against that kind of might.

At the end of the day I think we want a mayor that has some grasp of reality. Right?

Now here is another very serious question we must each ask ourselves, and it is all so
very clear, with no mixing of the message.

Does it make any sense to go against "the hand picked replacement" for that County Executive? Now you go back in and add, we both think he is OK, and he might have
$200,000+ to spend, and the support of all unions, and organizations because the
County Executive told them too. Do you really want to vote against that? What alone
run against it? And let's say You wanted to. Do you outspend them?

Would it even be wise for Lakewood residents and businesses to sever that relationship?

Like it or not, the pathway to the mayor's office goes through County offices. Or you better
have a damn good plan or reason why not.

Would you not agree.

.

[Betsy Voinovich]

But let's talk...

There is rumored to be waaay north of $150,000 available to run for mayor depending on
who you talk to. There are rumors of $10,000 - $35,000 for school board being available
and that money can go either way to mayor of board candidates.

Behind a person you and I are both thinking has not done a terrible job. So conventional
wisdom would mean a person has to raise $200,000 and walk on water, if they run a
conventional campaign, right down to hire professional handlers. That would strike me
as insane, and should disqualify anyone running against that kind of might.

At the end of the day I think we want a mayor that has some grasp of reality. Right?

Now here is another very serious question we must each ask ourselves, and it is all so
very clear, with no mixing of the message.

Does it make any sense to go against "the hand picked replacement" for that County Executive? Now you go back in and add, we both think he is OK, and he might have
$200,000+ to spend, and the support of all unions, and organizations because the
County Executive told them too. Do you really want to vote against that? What alone
run against it? And let's say You wanted to. Do you outspend them?

Would it even be wise for Lakewood residents and businesses to sever that relationship?

Like it or not, the pathway to the mayor's office goes through County offices. Or you better
have a damn good plan or reason why not.

Would you not agree.

.

Wow that's depressing. Meet the new boss same as the old boss indeed. Or maybe it's more like:

"Bow down before the one you serve, you're going to get what you deserve."

from "Head Like A Hole" by Nine Inch Nails. In the 1990's!
I believe that was written in Lakewood? Maybe Cleveland.

Thank God it's the 21st century and conventional wisdom has gotten us right to where we are now-- maybe some 21st century wisdom would be welcome.

We're all people here. Parents with children, neighbors, etc. We all have hearts and brains. We all want things to be good. All of us, in Lakewood, in the County, even in the State of Ohio. We are blessed in our little livable town that we can literally all talk to each other. We're that close to each other. Many people are paying attention here, many people care, many people want the best for each other.

Big money buys you big TV time right? And we all know that candidates say very meaningful things in their TV spots. And those big colorful cardboard things they put in your door. Also quite successful in spurring real conversation about what a city like ours needs, heading into an uncertain future.

Anything is possible with real communication. Here we have that ability. It turns out that it is the coolest city in the country. We don't need to believe the hype, we have the real thing. All we need to do is talk to each other, and we do that all the time.

Betsy Voinovich

[Jim O'Bryan]

Wow that's depressing. Meet the new boss same as the old boss indeed. Or maybe it's more like:

"Bow down before the one you serve, you're going to get what you deserve."

from "Head Like A Hole" by Nine Inch Nails. In the 1990's!
I believe that was written in Lakewood? Maybe Cleveland.

Thank God it's the 21st century and conventional wisdom has gotten us right to where we are now-- maybe some 21st century wisdom would be welcome.

Betsy

Depressing? Only to those who do not believe Mike is capable, or that jumping feet first
into the regional movement is not for you. There are some people that are giddy over
this status quo, and commitment to falling into line.

The question I asked, is probably one of the most serious questions everyone needs to ask
themselves when voting.

Ed FitzGerald, a Lakewood resident and democrat, a man that does not beat around the
bush, and takes politics very seriously looked out into the Masonic Auditorium and said, "I
want to see Mike Summers win by a landslide." If there is one thing I know of Ed, I can
take him at his word he wears his heart, and party on his sleeve.

Depressing? This is what politics, business, religion, life is all about. Relationships, and how
we interact within them. Your father used it as well as anyone, trying to work both sides of
an aisle for what he thought was right. And just like local politics,your father liked working
with some and without some. Your father raised campaigning money, and most candidates
today have to, and those people will always have the ear. This is not depressing, it is how
the game is played.

Depressing? Democrats, which I am registered as, had a power lock on the
county. It went from a highly corrupt, we find out regime, into a clean sleek fiscally
responsible county government. Is that bad? Now this will anger my supporters in this
theoretical effort. I was at Matt Markling for Lakewood fundraiser last night, and it was
a packed house and I spoke with many people, most asked if I was running. I asked each
one, "Do you think Mike has been a good mayor?" 100% said yes. It would seem many
are not depressed.

Make no mistake, this county influence runs through council, right down into the
school board race. Ed and many others want, no need, Lakewood to be part of the new
county government, the new regional enterprise zone. The CLE+ that can compete head
to head with the like of many third world countries, even when added together.

As I said, while it bothers some, others are smiling. The Regional Movement has spent
billions helping us to understand why it is so good for us and to us. This money donated
by concerned businesses that feared we might not understand just how important it is
for us residents to support their Regional efforts. We are extremely lucky for. I am
not sure the residents could have raised the billions needed to educate ourselves on
the facts of regionalism.

Go out, enjoy the Sunday, walk in our parks, walk Detroit and Madison, take in the
Lakewood lifestyle. October and November will be here soon enough.



.

[Betsy Voinovich]

Wow that's depressing. Meet the new boss same as the old boss indeed. Or maybe it's more like:

"Bow down before the one you serve, you're going to get what you deserve."

from "Head Like A Hole" by Nine Inch Nails. In the 1990's!
I believe that was written in Lakewood? Maybe Cleveland.

Thank God it's the 21st century and conventional wisdom has gotten us right to where we are now-- maybe some 21st century wisdom would be welcome.

Betsy

Depressing? Only to those who do not believe Mike is capable, or that jumping feet first
into the regional movement is not for you. There are some people that are giddy over
this status quo, and commitment to falling into line.



Jim

It's likely that this song was written when Trent Reznor was living between Clifton and Baltic on W. 108th (with Tom) -- and playing at the Phantasy in Lakewood. I'm sure he would be happy that his song could be inspirational to the city of Lakewood in our time of need.

Maybe I'll respond to the things you said about my father later.

Time to dance.

Betsy Voinovich

.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Scott

Nice meeting you last night and talking about politics.

Not sure what others were talking about, but thanks for taking the time.


.

[David Lay]

from "Head Like A Hole" by Nine Inch Nails. In the 1990's!
I believe that was written in Lakewood? Maybe Cleveland.

Not to veer too much off-thread, but Trent Reznor lived in Ohio City during the Pretty Hate Machine era, though their first shows were played at the Phantasy...