Why is Joe Serviss in My Funny Pages?
Why in the world would Hearne Christopher treat us to Joe Serviss' thoughts on Mark Funkhouser's administration? (No link because the Star's webmasters are probably making the editorial call that the FYI editors failed to make.) Serviss was one of Kay's closest cronies, and now he's chatting with Hearne about how he would improve on Funk's mayoral performance. I happen to know and greatly enjoy Joe Serviss - he's a KC original, and a true character - but his views on Funk are neither informed nor newsworthy - not even to the minimal standards of a Hearne Christopher column.
Making it even a little more creepy is the fact that he wrote about "fantasiz[ing] about what it might be like to party like a politician in former KC Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem Joe Serviss’ bachelor boudoir" on Sunday. This is getting unhealthy.
I've personally heard Joe say some outrageously foolish things about Funk, but never thought to report on them here, partially because I like the guy too much to embarrass him. I also see no need in encouraging the Barnes camp to continue its poorly thought-out campaign against Funkhouser when they are supposed to be running against Graves. (Yes, there are Funkhouser supporters who would much prefer that Barnes defeat Graves, but everytime Glorioso or Serviss opens their mouths about Funk, our enthusiasm wilts.)
Labels: barnes, funkhouser
posted by Dan at 9/28/2007 06:27:00 AM
18 Comments:
Dan, I could not agree with you more. He was, and probably still is, a part of Barnes' circle and I believe will take any opportunity to trash Mark, and any and all of Mark's team. While in reality, the more they try to discredit Mark, the more desperate they look. This effort to keep Kay's legacy alive and well so as to get her to Washington DC, is transparent, and when the likes of Joe get in the act, it becomes even more ridiculous.
Those of us who have known him for decades, know his work at the hall. Sure, he is likeable, but he was never as significant as he likes to "fantasize" having been.
Proof positive in the fact that he makes Hearne's column so frequently....it is creepy.
Seems to me there's a whole lota fantasizing going on!
He's in your funny pages because he is a joke.
not as much as a joke as Funks first months have been.
Joe doesn't have to discredit the Funk.....Marks doing a fantastic job of it himself.
Last two anonymice:
You are oh so clever. It's funny how the anti-Funk brigade always acts like he's doing such a lousy job that they either can't criticize anything specific or they harp on trivialities, like who he appointed to a parks board . . .
Meanwhile, he gets a solid economic development policy passed unanimously, by working with some of the great people in the community and on the council - the ones who are paying attention to what is really going on.
I'm feeling confident that there's much more to come, for those of us who aren't still talking about a Parks board appointee or a car he never drove . . .
Anon at 11:09--for your information, the previous regimes were in as much or more disarray, and in the news, in their first 6 months to a year. How soon we forget.
But I will add one thing and that is, as someone who has been on both sides of the political fence and once a government employee for over 7 decades, I have never seen such venom and outright head-hunting as with Funkhouser. I think it is becoming the norm in politics. I will add to this that I believe it has as much or more to do with the media becoming more of a news generator and less of a news reporting entity. The Star and their reporters are really getting into creating the crisis de jour.
when you have been in city politics as long as Funk, in the key position he was in, you better have a 'plan' if you decide to run for Mayor. To date, nobody has seen his plan. Instead he forms committees to tell him what to do.
And Dan if most you think people that criticize Funk hate him, I guess you can include the 4 council members I talked with last night as haters. Or maybe they and the 'haters' arent punch drunk with Funk and can see his flaws in leadership and talk about them as opposed to the constant love fest you spew
Criticism is fine - I've dished some up, myself. Not everyone who criticizes him is a hater, or even wrong. But, as observed above, there are some insanely anti-Funk people out there. People like Tony attack him on a daily basis, whether there's a reason or not. Hearne Christopher dredges up Joe Serviss to toss a little negativity.
It's interesting that you complain that Mark forms committees and listens instead of imposing a "plan" (presumably one drafted by Herb Kohn and Tim Kristl). Frankly, Mark's willingness to draw people in and work the process is one of the main reasons I am so confident that his tenure is bound for greatness. The EcoDevo plan was a fantastic example - it's certainly not what he would have come up with on his own, and he will neither get nor deserve credit for imposing his ideal plan on the community. Instead, we have a plan that 12 members support, drafted by an extremely inclusive group of Kansas Citians.
I don't think most people who criticize Mark hate him - I certainly hope not! But I do think many of them do not understand what is really going on.
Dan, you should ask your council members how they feel about Funks leadership style, or lack of. Including your darling Gottstein. I talked to 4 of them Thursday night.
Dan,
We criticize Mark because we know what is going on. Don't think you, or Mark for that matter, are smarter than the ordinary folk. People dislike your, and Mark's, patternalistic attitude.
Congrats on your high-level hobnobbing, Anonymous.
Now, you encourage me to ask 4 council people what they think of the mayor's leadership style, but I have to consider why I would want to know their answer. Seems to me that it would only lead to nonsense, wouldn't it? Aren't they most likely to say whatever is popular to say at the moment, in the audience?
Do you think it takes a political genius to figure out that the political inside group you were with on Thursday has ruffled feathers? Do you think the development lawyers and political insiders who anointed Brooks have gone away and shut up? Do you think that there is any gain for a politician to staunchly defend Funk in a crowd of Brooks supporters?
Now, I'm not saying that the politicians who fed you the "Funk isn't my best friend" nonsense were lying. I'm sure each of them figures he or she would be a better mayor. It's human nature, and city council people are certainly human. Most people don't like their bosses, either, but that doesn't mean the bosses are all doing bad work.
Anonymous 6:50 - sorry, but I do think I'm smarter than the average person. If you read this page regularly, you'll see how correct I am. (Uh oh, did that sound arrogant?)
Dan, we all know where they were Thurs. night and who they were with "firing" shots at Funk. A giant pity party.
We can also pretty well figure out who the 4 were--the same old sames who go in lock step with their backs up and stand against the Mayor--no matter what the topic. It's all about a power struggle, and unfortunately less about what is best for the city.
who are the four that go lock step against Funk? Just curious
I wouldn't say that any four go against him lockstep, and I'd give them all credit for looking at issues separately and deciding them on their merits, based on how they think their constituencies are best served. That sounds ridiculously pollyanna now that I look at it, and it may be a bit of a gloss for people like Terry Riley, but I'm encouraged by things like the 12-0 EcoDevo vote.
Funk has shot himself in the foot a lot. But I think anon at 9/28/2007 1:45 PM is on the money. Car bribes and appointing vigilantes makes for good blogging and media, but I am sure that Barnes did worse in her first six months.
My new slogan is, stick with the Funk, at least he is not as bad as Kay was!
Im confused...so are there a bunch a council memebrs that everyone knows is fighting Funk any chance they get?
Joe Serviss is a bright, articulate, kind-hearted public servant and should be encouraged to help KC anyway possible. he has more common sense than all the members of the current administration.
I agree with you on the first sentence. Especially the part about helping the City.
Unfortunately, when it comes to Funk, he seems to have some sour grapes, and he wrongly agrees with your second sentence.
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