"Obama's got the wind at his back"
Ever since President Obama announced to the nation that U.S. forces found and
killed Osama bin Laden, the President has been pitch perfect. At ground zero,
the President did not milk the moment of his triumph. He paid silent tribute to
the victims of 9/11 and to the "courage and capability" of the brave Navy SEALs
who carried out the nation's will.
The conflicting stories about the mission resulted from National Security
Advisor Thomas E. Donilon being corrected by CIA Director Leon Panetta. In
addition, it appears that the mission all along, despite assertions to the
contrary, was to kill bin Laden, not capture him. Who cares? This is a side
show, ultimately inconsequential and irrelevant. Bin Laden was a mass killer.
As President Obama said, "The death of bin Laden marks the most significant
achievement to date in our nation's effort to defeat Al Qaeda."
The decision not to release photos was the correct one. We don't parade around
with heads on sticks.
President Obama and his team have led with wisdom and courage.
After months of detailed planning, the decision - "It's a go" was fraught with
peril. Not an easy decision for our Commander in Chief. How fortunate we are to
have such a thoughtful, measured, decisive, and cool center of command. John
Brennan, U.S. Counter-Terrorisom Chief, characterized the mission as, "one of
the...gutsiest calls of any president in recent memory."
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, who has served eight Commanders in Chief,
stated, "This was the perfect fusion of intelligence analysis and military
operation... the most courageous call I have ever seen a President make."
From most all accounts, President Obama has
the respect and support of the entire nation for his bold, and triumphant
action.
Historian Douglas Brinkley states, "throughout history there have been pivot
points for presidents, from Truman's Berlin Airlift in 1948 to Bush after
9/11...Americans have always liked Obama, but they never knew whether he was a
real commander in chief. Now they do."
President Obama should leverage the ovation to regain control of the national
conversation and achieve two major goals.
[1] End the Afghan war. Bin Laden was in a suburban mansion in the military
town, Abbottabad, Pakistan not in a cave in Afghanistan.
[2] Bring the Federal budget deficits and overall debt under control by cutting
spending (including the Pentagon,) reforming the tax code, and restructuring
social benefits. On this front, he has reason and mathematics on his side. The
job doesn't get done by cutting spending alone. Add to this the necessity to
invest in education, infrastructure, and energy to insure tomorrow's jobs and a
winning future for America.
President Obama has the platform and a citizenry who are now listening to him.
Can he harness the unity and pride to confront the many challenges we face? His
intellectual rigor is an enormous asset. He has proved he is both tough and
smart. Common sense is on his side too.
Richard O. Schwab was formerly associate head of school and middle school head,
Cincinnati Country Day School. He is also neighborhood team leader, Glendale
Organizing For America Community Team (www.gofact.blogspot.com).
Richard O. Schwab
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Richard Schwab's Article Gets Prominent Placement This Week
Check out the Tri-County Press back page of section one, in your driveway today (if you live in the Glendale area). Or search this GOFACT site for the word "Tea Party" or other likely words, for the entire article.
The article's impact is more factual than opinion, and leads to the conclusion that Mayor Hubbard believes the Tea Party violated the terms of Glendale's permission as to where to hold their April 15th gathering, whereby they invited the entire county and afterwards claimed that 300-plus attended.
The article's impact is more factual than opinion, and leads to the conclusion that Mayor Hubbard believes the Tea Party violated the terms of Glendale's permission as to where to hold their April 15th gathering, whereby they invited the entire county and afterwards claimed that 300-plus attended.
Richard Schwab Writes -- Soverign Citizens and the Tea Party
"Sovereign Citizens' threat to cops and country"
A shocking show. Sovereign Citizens, an increasingly concerning segment of the population for law enforcement, were the subject of a segment on CBS' May 15 "60 Minutes."
The segment featured an interview with West Memphis Chief of Police Bob Paudert, whose son, Brandon was killed, with fellow Officer Bill Evans during a traffic stop, by Sovereign Citizen Jerry Kane and his son, Joe.
Sovereign Citizens are anti-government extremists who don't pay taxes, ignore requirements like Social Security cards and driver licenses, and have no regard for the police or courts.
The FBI lists them as a top domestic terror threat. With a sluggish economy and the mortgage crisis, their ranks are growing. An estimated 300,000 consider themselves Sovereign.
In the simplest form, Sovereign Citizens believe they are above the law.
They are angry with authority and want to be free of legal restraints.
Sovereign Citizens believe the government has moved away from the fundamental principles on which this nation was built. They are motivated to re establish the limits of limited government. To re establish these limits, they have resorted to extreme violence targeted at police and judges.
Alfred Adask, Sovereign Citizen "guru" states, "We have a right to keep and bear arms to shoot our own politicians...to shoot police, Members of Congress, Senators... the President."
Sovereign Citizens believe in the illegitimacy of the Constitution's 14th Amendment - where the government justifies restrictions on individual liberty in the name of national security. There has been serious talk lately in some states , most notably Arizona, that suggests a desire to repeal the 14th Amendment. On this issue, it appears the Sovereign Citizens and members of the right-wing share common ground.
According to those who pay attention to writings on social networks where the Tea Party hangs out, you will see quite a few so called TP activists talking about the government being unconstitutional, taxes are evil, laws don't apply to them, people are sovereign, etc. And, this is coming from people identified as Sovereign Citizens who have infiltrated the Tea Party to push their agenda and recruit. To see the Tea Party and Sovereign Citizens blur together check out http://donmashakshennepincountymnfreepress.blogspot.com/2009/06/sovereign-citizens-as-our-founding.html
According to a Center internationally known for fighting hate, teaching tolerance, seeking justice, and monitoring the activities of extremist hate groups, the Tea Party is actually helping to strengthen the white supremacist movement in America, and has helped to re energized some specific hate groups that were on the verge of extinction.
What do you get when you mix libertarianism with right-wing extremism, all juiced up with the populism of the Tea Party movement? Well, one of the outcomes is the rise of the Sovereign Citizens.
As things stand in the country today, on a political spectrum, Sovereign Citizen adherents are only a few steps farther to the right than the Tea Party movement itself.
Richard O. Schwab was formerly associate head of school and middle school head, Cincinnati Country Day School. He is also neighborhood team leader, Glendale Organizing For America Community Team (www.gofact.blogspot.com)
A shocking show. Sovereign Citizens, an increasingly concerning segment of the population for law enforcement, were the subject of a segment on CBS' May 15 "60 Minutes."
The segment featured an interview with West Memphis Chief of Police Bob Paudert, whose son, Brandon was killed, with fellow Officer Bill Evans during a traffic stop, by Sovereign Citizen Jerry Kane and his son, Joe.
Sovereign Citizens are anti-government extremists who don't pay taxes, ignore requirements like Social Security cards and driver licenses, and have no regard for the police or courts.
The FBI lists them as a top domestic terror threat. With a sluggish economy and the mortgage crisis, their ranks are growing. An estimated 300,000 consider themselves Sovereign.
In the simplest form, Sovereign Citizens believe they are above the law.
They are angry with authority and want to be free of legal restraints.
Sovereign Citizens believe the government has moved away from the fundamental principles on which this nation was built. They are motivated to re establish the limits of limited government. To re establish these limits, they have resorted to extreme violence targeted at police and judges.
Alfred Adask, Sovereign Citizen "guru" states, "We have a right to keep and bear arms to shoot our own politicians...to shoot police, Members of Congress, Senators... the President."
Sovereign Citizens believe in the illegitimacy of the Constitution's 14th Amendment - where the government justifies restrictions on individual liberty in the name of national security. There has been serious talk lately in some states , most notably Arizona, that suggests a desire to repeal the 14th Amendment. On this issue, it appears the Sovereign Citizens and members of the right-wing share common ground.
According to those who pay attention to writings on social networks where the Tea Party hangs out, you will see quite a few so called TP activists talking about the government being unconstitutional, taxes are evil, laws don't apply to them, people are sovereign, etc. And, this is coming from people identified as Sovereign Citizens who have infiltrated the Tea Party to push their agenda and recruit. To see the Tea Party and Sovereign Citizens blur together check out http://donmashakshennepincountymnfreepress.blogspot.com/2009/06/sovereign-citizens-as-our-founding.html
According to a Center internationally known for fighting hate, teaching tolerance, seeking justice, and monitoring the activities of extremist hate groups, the Tea Party is actually helping to strengthen the white supremacist movement in America, and has helped to re energized some specific hate groups that were on the verge of extinction.
What do you get when you mix libertarianism with right-wing extremism, all juiced up with the populism of the Tea Party movement? Well, one of the outcomes is the rise of the Sovereign Citizens.
As things stand in the country today, on a political spectrum, Sovereign Citizen adherents are only a few steps farther to the right than the Tea Party movement itself.
Richard O. Schwab was formerly associate head of school and middle school head, Cincinnati Country Day School. He is also neighborhood team leader, Glendale Organizing For America Community Team (www.gofact.blogspot.com)
Democrat Captures House Seat in Special Election in Upstate NY!
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/25/nyregion/democrat-capture-house-seat-in-special-election.html?hp
Democrats scored an upset in one of New York’s most conservative Congressional districts on Tuesday, dealing a blow to the national Republican Party in a race that largely turned on the party’s plan to overhaul Medicare.
Brendan Bannon for The New York Times
Jane Corwin, the Republican candidate, delivered her concession speech at her campaign headquarters after losing Tuesday's special election.
The results set off elation among Democrats and soul-searching among Republicans, who questioned whether they should rethink their party’s commitment to the Medicare plan, which appears to have become a liability heading into the 2012 elections.
Two months ago, the Democrat, Kathy Hochul, was considered an all-but-certain loser in the race against the Republican, Jane Corwin. But Ms. Hochul seized on the Republican’s embrace of the proposal from Representative Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin, to overhaul Medicare, and she never let up.
On Tuesday, she captured 47 percent of the vote to Ms. Corwin’s 43 percent, according to unofficial results. A Tea Party candidate, Jack Davis, had 9 percent.
Voters, who turned out in strikingly large numbers for a special election, said they trusted Ms. Hochul, the county clerk of Erie County, to protect Medicare.
“I have almost always voted the party line,” said Gloria Bolender, a Republican from Clarence who is caring for her 80-year-old mother. “This is the second time in my life I’ve voted against my party.”
Pat Gillick, a Republican from East Amherst, who also cast a ballot for Ms. Hochul, said, “The privatization of Medicare scares me.”
The district, which stretches from Buffalo to Rochester, has been in Republican hands for four decades, producing influential figures like Representative Jack Kemp and siding with Carl P. Paladino, a Republican, over Andrew M. Cuomo in the governor’s race last year.
The campaign drew intense interest, with both major parties in Washington and their allies flooding the district with radio and television advertising. Total spending exceeded $6 million.
Of course, there are limits to how much broader meaning can be extrapolated from a special election, which can be shaped by local dynamics and personalities.
Still, on Tuesday, Republicans were examining the results and debating how the party lost the seat, despite outspending the Democrats.
Some Republicans suggested that it would be oversimplifying to attribute the results to a single issue, saying that Ms. Corwin proved a less nimble and ultimately less appealing candidate than Ms. Hochul, who campaigned energetically and with great focus. When Medicare erupted in the race, Ms. Corwin, a wealthy former Wall Street analyst, was knocked off balance and struggled to respond.
In the closing hours of the race, Ms. Corwin admitted as much, saying about her rival’s attacks: “When she started making these comments, I thought, ‘This is so outrageous no one would ever believe it.’ Apparently some people did.”
Others cited the presence of the third candidate, Mr. Davis, who ran on the Tea Party line after failing to win the Republican nomination. He not only drew conservative support away from Ms. Corwin, but also turned his aggressive attacks on her in the end, contributing to her high negative numbers.
On the other hand, Ms. Hochul maintained a positive image conveying a homespun quality, speaking with a Buffalo accent, connecting naturally with voters.
In her victory speech Tuesday night, she noted that her mother and father, who have retired to Florida, were making phone calls to voters on her behalf for months.
“I was talking to voters as far away as Dansville, and they said, ‘You know, I was talking to your mother,’ ” she said. “And I know that you don’t say no to my mother.”
Party luminaries like former President Bill Clinton recorded phone calls for Ms. Hochul’s campaign, and on Tuesday evening Ms. Hochul was fielding congratulatory messages from Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and others.
As the clerk of Erie County, she oversees the automobile bureau, which issue driver’s licenses; Ms. Hochul gained prominence in 2008 when she challenged former Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s plan to issue licenses to illegal immigrants.
“I remember when she was in the auto bureau in Buffalo, she did a lot with the license plates,” said Jim Van Wagner, a Republican and former auto worker from Albion, adding, “She’s a good one.”
Still, given the makeup of the district, one of four in the state that John McCain carried in 2008, Republicans said they needed to understand if they had misread the public.
(more on NYT page)
Democrats scored an upset in one of New York’s most conservative Congressional districts on Tuesday, dealing a blow to the national Republican Party in a race that largely turned on the party’s plan to overhaul Medicare.
Brendan Bannon for The New York Times
Jane Corwin, the Republican candidate, delivered her concession speech at her campaign headquarters after losing Tuesday's special election.
The results set off elation among Democrats and soul-searching among Republicans, who questioned whether they should rethink their party’s commitment to the Medicare plan, which appears to have become a liability heading into the 2012 elections.
Two months ago, the Democrat, Kathy Hochul, was considered an all-but-certain loser in the race against the Republican, Jane Corwin. But Ms. Hochul seized on the Republican’s embrace of the proposal from Representative Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin, to overhaul Medicare, and she never let up.
On Tuesday, she captured 47 percent of the vote to Ms. Corwin’s 43 percent, according to unofficial results. A Tea Party candidate, Jack Davis, had 9 percent.
Voters, who turned out in strikingly large numbers for a special election, said they trusted Ms. Hochul, the county clerk of Erie County, to protect Medicare.
“I have almost always voted the party line,” said Gloria Bolender, a Republican from Clarence who is caring for her 80-year-old mother. “This is the second time in my life I’ve voted against my party.”
Pat Gillick, a Republican from East Amherst, who also cast a ballot for Ms. Hochul, said, “The privatization of Medicare scares me.”
The district, which stretches from Buffalo to Rochester, has been in Republican hands for four decades, producing influential figures like Representative Jack Kemp and siding with Carl P. Paladino, a Republican, over Andrew M. Cuomo in the governor’s race last year.
The campaign drew intense interest, with both major parties in Washington and their allies flooding the district with radio and television advertising. Total spending exceeded $6 million.
Of course, there are limits to how much broader meaning can be extrapolated from a special election, which can be shaped by local dynamics and personalities.
Still, on Tuesday, Republicans were examining the results and debating how the party lost the seat, despite outspending the Democrats.
Some Republicans suggested that it would be oversimplifying to attribute the results to a single issue, saying that Ms. Corwin proved a less nimble and ultimately less appealing candidate than Ms. Hochul, who campaigned energetically and with great focus. When Medicare erupted in the race, Ms. Corwin, a wealthy former Wall Street analyst, was knocked off balance and struggled to respond.
In the closing hours of the race, Ms. Corwin admitted as much, saying about her rival’s attacks: “When she started making these comments, I thought, ‘This is so outrageous no one would ever believe it.’ Apparently some people did.”
Others cited the presence of the third candidate, Mr. Davis, who ran on the Tea Party line after failing to win the Republican nomination. He not only drew conservative support away from Ms. Corwin, but also turned his aggressive attacks on her in the end, contributing to her high negative numbers.
On the other hand, Ms. Hochul maintained a positive image conveying a homespun quality, speaking with a Buffalo accent, connecting naturally with voters.
In her victory speech Tuesday night, she noted that her mother and father, who have retired to Florida, were making phone calls to voters on her behalf for months.
“I was talking to voters as far away as Dansville, and they said, ‘You know, I was talking to your mother,’ ” she said. “And I know that you don’t say no to my mother.”
Party luminaries like former President Bill Clinton recorded phone calls for Ms. Hochul’s campaign, and on Tuesday evening Ms. Hochul was fielding congratulatory messages from Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and others.
As the clerk of Erie County, she oversees the automobile bureau, which issue driver’s licenses; Ms. Hochul gained prominence in 2008 when she challenged former Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s plan to issue licenses to illegal immigrants.
“I remember when she was in the auto bureau in Buffalo, she did a lot with the license plates,” said Jim Van Wagner, a Republican and former auto worker from Albion, adding, “She’s a good one.”
Still, given the makeup of the district, one of four in the state that John McCain carried in 2008, Republicans said they needed to understand if they had misread the public.
(more on NYT page)
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Richard Schwab Writes
This in the Community Press:
"The 'gang of six' is dedicated to progress over partisanship"
The big lie: too much government spending caused the great recession and cutting spending alone will get us out of our fiscal mess.
As a nation we need to be firmly committed to long-term debt reduction, but we need to rein it in responsibly.
The good news is the "gang of six" in the U.S. Senate say they are nearing consensus on a big debt-reduction package. The heroes are Democrat Mark Warner (Virginia) and Republican Saxby Chambliss (Georgia.) They are joined by four Senate veterans of the President's bipartisan National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. Democrats Dick Durbin (Illinois,) Kent Conrad (North Dakota) and Republicans Mike Crapo (Idaho,) Tom Coburn (Oklahoma) have the courage to exhibit bipartisanship.
This is a sign of the strength of the center at a time when we are so distracted by the angry rants and political car crashes of extremists. The "gang of six" is helping us focus on constructive conversation and solutions.
In recent weeks, we've seen heated debates in Congress over cuts to domestic discretionary spending (12% of the total budget) with government shut downs looming. This is a most difficult and counter productive approach since it doesn't get the job done, is harmful to the truly disadvantaged, and risks disrupting the fragile economic recovery. Bending the long-term cost curve with entitlement and tax reform would do far more to reduce the deficit and debt.
Martin Feldstein, Ronald Reagan's former Chief Economic Advisor, stated, "If you want to cut wasteful spending in the federal budget, the first place to go is to cut all the subsidies that are delivered through the tax code." There are 1 trillion a year of tax breaks in the code - that's more than Medicare and Medicaid cost combined.
Most politicians act like they would rather fear-monger and point fingers. That's why it is a very good sign six Senators are acting like adults and are preparing to put the principles of the President's bipartisan Deficit Commission into legislative language.
The Preamble of the final report of the Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform states, "Throughout our nation’s history, Americans have found the courage to do right by our children’s future. Deep down, every American knows we face a moment of truth once again. We cannot play games or put off hard choices any longer. Without regard to party, we have a patriotic duty to keep the promise of America to give our children and grandchildren a better life.
Our challenge is clear and inescapable: America cannot be great if we go broke...The American people are counting on us to put politics aside, pull together not pull apart, and agree on a plan to live within our means and make America strong for the long haul...
The problem is real. The solution will be painful. There is no easy way out. Everything must be on the table...
Over the course of our deliberations, the urgency of our mission has become all the more."
Richard O. Schwab was formerly associate head and middle school head, Cincinnati Country Day School. He is also neighborhood team leader, Glendale Organizing For America Community Team (www.gofact.blogspot .com) Richard O. Schwab
"The 'gang of six' is dedicated to progress over partisanship"
The big lie: too much government spending caused the great recession and cutting spending alone will get us out of our fiscal mess.
As a nation we need to be firmly committed to long-term debt reduction, but we need to rein it in responsibly.
The good news is the "gang of six" in the U.S. Senate say they are nearing consensus on a big debt-reduction package. The heroes are Democrat Mark Warner (Virginia) and Republican Saxby Chambliss (Georgia.) They are joined by four Senate veterans of the President's bipartisan National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. Democrats Dick Durbin (Illinois,) Kent Conrad (North Dakota) and Republicans Mike Crapo (Idaho,) Tom Coburn (Oklahoma) have the courage to exhibit bipartisanship.
This is a sign of the strength of the center at a time when we are so distracted by the angry rants and political car crashes of extremists. The "gang of six" is helping us focus on constructive conversation and solutions.
In recent weeks, we've seen heated debates in Congress over cuts to domestic discretionary spending (12% of the total budget) with government shut downs looming. This is a most difficult and counter productive approach since it doesn't get the job done, is harmful to the truly disadvantaged, and risks disrupting the fragile economic recovery. Bending the long-term cost curve with entitlement and tax reform would do far more to reduce the deficit and debt.
Martin Feldstein, Ronald Reagan's former Chief Economic Advisor, stated, "If you want to cut wasteful spending in the federal budget, the first place to go is to cut all the subsidies that are delivered through the tax code." There are 1 trillion a year of tax breaks in the code - that's more than Medicare and Medicaid cost combined.
Most politicians act like they would rather fear-monger and point fingers. That's why it is a very good sign six Senators are acting like adults and are preparing to put the principles of the President's bipartisan Deficit Commission into legislative language.
The Preamble of the final report of the Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform states, "Throughout our nation’s history, Americans have found the courage to do right by our children’s future. Deep down, every American knows we face a moment of truth once again. We cannot play games or put off hard choices any longer. Without regard to party, we have a patriotic duty to keep the promise of America to give our children and grandchildren a better life.
Our challenge is clear and inescapable: America cannot be great if we go broke...The American people are counting on us to put politics aside, pull together not pull apart, and agree on a plan to live within our means and make America strong for the long haul...
The problem is real. The solution will be painful. There is no easy way out. Everything must be on the table...
Over the course of our deliberations, the urgency of our mission has become all the more."
Richard O. Schwab was formerly associate head and middle school head, Cincinnati Country Day School. He is also neighborhood team leader, Glendale Organizing For America Community Team (www.gofact.blogspot .com) Richard O. Schwab
"The King's Speech" Reveals Tea Party Violated Agreement
Glendale resident Marilyn Wall addressed the Glendale Village Council at its May 2 meeting. She said, “The Glendale Tea Party’s request for permission to hold an April 15 rally in the Village Square was initially turned down by the mayor (reported in the March 17 minutes of the Glendale Village Council’s Finance Committee.)
Richard Schwab • Community Press guest columnist
Marilyn asked, “Why was this decision reversed?”
The following is a transcription of the cable broadcast of the mayor’s response. Glendale resident Kristina Strom produced the transcript. She indicated, “I made no changes in terms of syntax; just eliminated ‘ums’ and ‘ahs’ and that sort of thing.”
Mayor Joe Hubbard: “I will make a very quick response to that. We do not deny the village facilities to residents of the village. They requested that the square be closed. I refused to allow the square to be closed because of the businesses. It’s a busy night for the businesses in Glendale at that time and their request was denied. We came to a compromise where the residents, or the participants, were to be in front of the bank (ed note: bank is off the square toward Sharon) – they talked to the bank and got approved – and in the parking lot next to the running shop. (ed note: running shop faces Sharon and is also not on the square).
“When they set the stage up, they set it up facing a different direction (ed note: they set it up in front of the administration building on the square and facing out on the square) than what was anticipated, but it was up and they couldn’t have, they couldn’t change it fast enough to have it that night. They were allowed to have some people on the square and we kept police there to keep the traffic open. And that’s … I don’t have anything more to add than that. There were no meetings, and no votes. It was my decision, my decision alone. I worked with the police chief to keep the square open. If other, if other, if the Democratic Party wanted to have something in the square we would do it the same way we did on this one.
“We don’t, we will not shut down the square for traffic during those times, but we’re not gonna deny the facilities of the village to the residents. Now we would have much preferred it be in a park because that’s less obtrusive to the village, but that wasn’t to be the particular case. That’s all I have to offer, and that’s it.”
Marilyn indicated that she had provided an information request in her packet. Mayor Hubbard replied, “There isn’t much. We have, we have a few emails, and that’s about it.” Papers were shuffled about and conversation ensued until the information request was identified. One council member injected, “Maybe this is something the solicitor should look at first?” Mayor Hubbard disagreed, “She has a right to ask for public records, and that’s OK. We’ll do that.”
The mayor of Glendale has stated that the Tea Party violated the terms of its agreement and possibly the law.
This is a very special legal area dealing with free speech and assembly.
The mayor’s so-called ground rules – implicitly shoe-horning 300 to 500 individuals into the parking lot by the shoe store – are preposterous, calling for a Friday night spilling out into the state road of Sharon Road!
What if Glendale had a theater that seated 100 and the Tea Party wanted to pack it with 10,000 people? That would be criminal.
This all comes about (in part) because Glendale has become a destination Square.
In a strong-mayor system we can so easily be “had” by unwritten weasel-wording.
Richard O. Schwab was formerly associate head of school and middle school head, Cincinnati Country Day School. He is also team leader, Glendale Organizing For America Community Team (www.gofact.blogspot.com).
Richard Schwab • Community Press guest columnist
Marilyn asked, “Why was this decision reversed?”
The following is a transcription of the cable broadcast of the mayor’s response. Glendale resident Kristina Strom produced the transcript. She indicated, “I made no changes in terms of syntax; just eliminated ‘ums’ and ‘ahs’ and that sort of thing.”
Mayor Joe Hubbard: “I will make a very quick response to that. We do not deny the village facilities to residents of the village. They requested that the square be closed. I refused to allow the square to be closed because of the businesses. It’s a busy night for the businesses in Glendale at that time and their request was denied. We came to a compromise where the residents, or the participants, were to be in front of the bank (ed note: bank is off the square toward Sharon) – they talked to the bank and got approved – and in the parking lot next to the running shop. (ed note: running shop faces Sharon and is also not on the square).
“When they set the stage up, they set it up facing a different direction (ed note: they set it up in front of the administration building on the square and facing out on the square) than what was anticipated, but it was up and they couldn’t have, they couldn’t change it fast enough to have it that night. They were allowed to have some people on the square and we kept police there to keep the traffic open. And that’s … I don’t have anything more to add than that. There were no meetings, and no votes. It was my decision, my decision alone. I worked with the police chief to keep the square open. If other, if other, if the Democratic Party wanted to have something in the square we would do it the same way we did on this one.
“We don’t, we will not shut down the square for traffic during those times, but we’re not gonna deny the facilities of the village to the residents. Now we would have much preferred it be in a park because that’s less obtrusive to the village, but that wasn’t to be the particular case. That’s all I have to offer, and that’s it.”
Marilyn indicated that she had provided an information request in her packet. Mayor Hubbard replied, “There isn’t much. We have, we have a few emails, and that’s about it.” Papers were shuffled about and conversation ensued until the information request was identified. One council member injected, “Maybe this is something the solicitor should look at first?” Mayor Hubbard disagreed, “She has a right to ask for public records, and that’s OK. We’ll do that.”
The mayor of Glendale has stated that the Tea Party violated the terms of its agreement and possibly the law.
This is a very special legal area dealing with free speech and assembly.
The mayor’s so-called ground rules – implicitly shoe-horning 300 to 500 individuals into the parking lot by the shoe store – are preposterous, calling for a Friday night spilling out into the state road of Sharon Road!
What if Glendale had a theater that seated 100 and the Tea Party wanted to pack it with 10,000 people? That would be criminal.
This all comes about (in part) because Glendale has become a destination Square.
In a strong-mayor system we can so easily be “had” by unwritten weasel-wording.
Richard O. Schwab was formerly associate head of school and middle school head, Cincinnati Country Day School. He is also team leader, Glendale Organizing For America Community Team (www.gofact.blogspot.com).
Monday, May 16, 2011
Paul Breidenbach Comments on Richard Schwab's Editorial
Tea party should focus on finding solutions
8:56 am, May 14, 2011
Written by Letters Editor
91Comments
In response to my friends and neighbors Dan Regenold, Mike Burnham and Bob Galbraith, who organized the Tea Party Meeting on the Glendale Square on April 15: Freedom of speech is one of the things that makes America great, but do we really want the square turned into a staging ground for political campaigns and demonstrations? The Tea Party’s folksy simplistic economic views have already taken over the Republican Party and Fox News, so expressing them on the square doesn’t add much to the public discourse. And the basic idea that citizens are self-sufficient individuals with no mutual obligations and no need for a federal government is bizarrely out of place in a small village, on a square recently renovated with federal stimulus dollars, in front of a building with a plaque proclaiming that it was built with estate tax money. It would not be difficult to fill the square with teachers and other public employees who could point out the incongruity of GE paying no income tax while the local school district lays off teachers, or of a governor imposing austerity after leaving his job with Lehman Bros., a firm that helped wreck the economy. We have the freedom to do that, but our energies might be better spent finding solutions that benefit us all, not just the “successful” among us.
Paul Breidenbach
Glendale
8:56 am, May 14, 2011
Written by Letters Editor
91Comments
In response to my friends and neighbors Dan Regenold, Mike Burnham and Bob Galbraith, who organized the Tea Party Meeting on the Glendale Square on April 15: Freedom of speech is one of the things that makes America great, but do we really want the square turned into a staging ground for political campaigns and demonstrations? The Tea Party’s folksy simplistic economic views have already taken over the Republican Party and Fox News, so expressing them on the square doesn’t add much to the public discourse. And the basic idea that citizens are self-sufficient individuals with no mutual obligations and no need for a federal government is bizarrely out of place in a small village, on a square recently renovated with federal stimulus dollars, in front of a building with a plaque proclaiming that it was built with estate tax money. It would not be difficult to fill the square with teachers and other public employees who could point out the incongruity of GE paying no income tax while the local school district lays off teachers, or of a governor imposing austerity after leaving his job with Lehman Bros., a firm that helped wreck the economy. We have the freedom to do that, but our energies might be better spent finding solutions that benefit us all, not just the “successful” among us.
Paul Breidenbach
Glendale
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)