Seems Unhinged
I wish I had some insight to offer about today's Council action, purporting to extend Cauthen's contract. Seems illegal to me, and it certainly seems like bad judgment. Seems like some people went way out of their way to be ugly today. Seems like they focused a whole lot more on vitriol and vengeance than on the good of the city.
I hope things aren't what they seem.
Labels: city council, funkhouser, kansas city, mayor
posted by Dan at 12/13/2007 07:23:00 PM
43 Comments:
we should ask Mammy what she thinks
Yeah, seems like if the mayor does something completely counter to the council's wishes, and keeps them out of the loop on it, and then makes a big announcement about the City Manager being let go with them finding out about it from the KC Buzz Blog -- he kind of opened himself up to this. At this point they're all acting like children...it's a bit embarrassing.
Brent - I agree with your second sentence.
Yes Dan, The Big Lug and Gloria seem unhinged. They've been looking that way since they got elected.
You have the nerve to call critics of Funk and Gloria unhinged - especially after Funk's behavior towards the rest of city council and his defense of his pathetic wife?
Funk and Gloria through their misbehavior have ensured that the city manager will outlast them.
Do you get that?
You have a ton of nerve, Dan. You're misguided, so badly.
But keep on defending those two Dan.
You're standing pretty much alone.
Mainstream -
I'd much rather be alone and right, than anywhere near you. You've earned your bad reputation here, and continue to do so.
Read a little more carefully. Have I said that Mark's handling of things on Monday was wise? Of course not. But that does not make today's behavior by people like Coe any less hateful. And it certainly does not make giving Cauthen a contract any more wise.
Keep up the ambiguous and overly legalistic clarifications regarding your defense of Funk and Gloria.
You can focus on Carol Coe.
I'll focus on the 9 city council members that just stuffed Funk's arrogant, disrespectful tactics right back down his throat.
I've got a bad reputation Dan for calling bullshit on your mean-spirited attacks against anyone who criticizes Funk AND Gloria.
And a few other people who count themselves your brethren at the CCP.
You, Dan, are not going to get away with casting aspersions and defenses, and then hiding behind legalitic interpretations of how you chose to phrase things to create - for yourself- plausible deniability.
Oh, and Dan, I'll focus on the fact that I don't want Wayne Cauthen managing the people that work for the City of Kansas City. And that Funk and Gloria, the people you're defending, are enabling him.
And Dan, keep on focusing on Carol Coe to defend Gloria's inept behavior.
You're race-baiting, Dan, to achieve your debating objective.
(I'm not implying you're racist. And, the Squitiro family isn't racist, either, they just haven't lived in a diverse environment - that's why they're so inept. Funk and Gloria aren't racist, and I know that you aren't eiher.)
Read this carefully Dan: who cares about your meaningless clarifications when in the end, you're defending reprehensible conduct?
This isn't a courtroom, Pal, so spare us you're legalistic clarifications.
You're right, XO. No sense in arguing with a proven liar. I know I haven't defended any reprehensible conduct, and so does any other reader.
Wayne's new contract takes effect in 10 days, and they have the votes already to overide Funk's veto.
And the only way to stop it is a LAWSUIT that's going to cost us money and go against supermajority wishes of the council.
Amazing.
No, I meant tag. As in I'm completely off topic and tagging you with a meaningless blog meme.
http://hipsubwg.blogspot.com/2007/12/twilight-zone-moment-meme.html#links
You know, Dan, the last few times when you haven't had the information or arguments to throw back at me, you've resorted to name calling and character assasination.
That's a proven tactic, especially within, amoung and between members of the CCP, so I understand totally.
Nice.
Dan, you word your posts and your arguments like you are the lawyer that you are.
God bless ya.
Kids about to commandeer the rest of this short evening, but I thought I would at least part with this thought:
Dan is the chief defender of the strangest couple to come into or across KC politics - evar.
Tag. You're it!!!
Yeah, Dan, stop using words that mean what you say! Truthiness is much more exciting and fun. When Mainstream makes shit up and puts words in your mouth, it's much more exciting than your stubborn insistence on accuracy and truth.
XO's comment no. 2 was the best one I've seen on a KC political post lately. Perfect lighthearted timing! :)
XO's always great.
All of the people that spoke today from what I heard spoke their own truth - what they thought about the actions of the Mayor and his wife. I'm not sure what is unhinged. But I haven't read the transcript or all of the individual comments that were made at that meeting.
Come on now Dan. You can't honestly say that that Funk doesn't deserve some of this by completely undermining the council. I'm not saying the council's actions are justified, just that Funk does deserve some of this. It was well earned.
And Carol Coe needs to go away...the sooner the better.
Do you think all nine of the council members were exercising bad judgment?
I guess they'll be having crow at the Squitiro-e household for Christmas. Yummy. Or should I say yumm-e?
Brent -
I'm not saying that at all. I think the Cauthen situation was poorly handled, and, if I were on the council, I'd be angry. But I know in my heart of hearts that I would be smart enough to express my anger in a manner less destructive to the city than what the gang of 9 did.
Final anonymous - yes, I do think the 9 are all guilty of foolish behavior. I can understand being provoked, but their response was of a level I would expect from someone like, well, Carol Coe.
Too slow in my typing - my comments for anonymous were in response to Anonymous 9:55.
But that does not make today's behavior by people like Coe any less hateful.
Count me on the outside... what does Coe have to do with this?
Sorry - didn't mean to play insider - she's one of the community members who exercised her right to lecture the Mayor. By all means, she had the right to do so, but I found it galling that anyone has to listen to her say anything about anything.
anyone notice that channel 2 has been of the air all night. Maybe Gloria pulled the plug
http://kansascity.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=1526
Gloria has to realize that she was elected to be mayor for all of Kansas City, even those living on the black side of town.
Seriously, how wise is it to piss off a large chunk of your population?
Did anyone else notice when Gloria stopped posting the mayor's priorities at the end of her newsletter?
That first one's looking a bit rusty.
Dan the response from council was in a proportional response to what the mayor did earlier this week, which appeared personal and vindictive. Once again, Funkhouser is more concerned with settling old scores than running the city.
After Mark's failed power play on Monday I really think it is time for him to leave, and I am sure Gloria will not be asked to stay on if he does. Mark is not up to this job. This was more than a screw up, this was a well-earned defeat.
You are entitled to your thoughts, Porchie. Good luck in finding anyone who cares what they are.
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I saw the short clip where Funk said he never made quick decisions without thinking things throughor something to that effect.It does not appear he thought out how to handle this issue . What should have been a tactful changing of the City Manager position, has turned in to another mess. I would be even more critical if I had not just heard that Carol Coe was in the mix.
Pot meet kettle.
What is the CCP?
(judy, CCP is a democratic political organization - it stands for the Committee for County Progress)
I agree with PorchPundit.
There may have been a time that I would have said this was salvagable situation; that it was a learning moment.
With just about anyone else, this situation is repairable.
I don't think Funk is willing to relegate Gloria to a minor role in his administration and I don't think Funk is willing to make the compromises and actions necessary to unite himself with more of the council.
And the council is more distanced than ever from Funk because of his purposefful misleading tactics.
It's hard to be an optimist.
You're right, Dan, yesterday's wolf pack was one of the most unhinged displays of morally corrupt loudmouths I've ever seen. Mark out-classed them all, sitting quietly and listening without striking back.
Classy? He looked like he was about to blow a gasket during the whole mess. He has painted himself into a corner but he doesn't have a clue how to get out. He later stated that it was out of bounds to bring his wife into the situation - HE is the one who installed her in an office on the 29th floor. HE is the one ultimately responsible for her behavior and the money it's going to cost to fight the EEOC complaint against her, but he will NEVER admit that.
Dan's Neighbor -
Looking like you're going to blow a gasket but maintaining control of yourself is a whole lot classier than what the screamers did, and a whole lot smarter than what the council did.
I agree Mark should not have wound up in that situation, but, on Thursday, he outclassed his critics.
And yet Wayne Cauthen's managed to outclass the whole lot.
And as for Funk-ee being "classy" yesterday, given his choices -- taking his licks or making himself look like an even bigger jerk than he already appears -- even the smartest man in KC finally figured out the right political move.
The council action brought forward by Ed Ford was a direct response to the unilateral decision by the mayor. The mayor did not act in good faith. He tried to switch tactics by saying that it was only his opinion that he was expressing, not an action that he had taken. Not true. He tried to get Cauthen gone. A sentiment I agree with, but not in this cavalier manner. Deb Hermann was left holding a smelly bag by trying to put the best light on the Mayor's ill informed action. The council's hand was forced. They had to check the renegade steps of this poor administration. Lesson learned Mayor? I hope so. You do have the skills needed on the financial side of running the City. Step back and regroup.
Direct response, sure. Just like lighting the building on fire would have been a direct response. Or defecating on the floor would have been a direct response. Anything they did would have been a direct response.
But why did they need to have a direct STUPID response?
What gets lost in all of this is Funk reversing himslef on Bannister. Heck the CVB has gone public saying they do not support TIF for any more hotels unless it is for the 1000 convention hotel they want and after making the initial correct decision, Funk flip flops and goes with a Super TIF to build a 250 room hotel within the development. Wow.
Cant imagine Yael liking that
Dan, I read your blog everyday and appreciate it as I am not very different than you on many issues. But, come on man. Are you seriously going to continue to defend the mayor on issues like this? I understand you are friends with him, but why put your rep on the line on issues that you know he is wrong on, when it's obvious that he only cares about two people: Mark and Gloria
"The gang of 9" ? You're better than that. The mayor is 100% messing up.
Aleks -
Point out where I defended the Mayor on the Monday Manager Mess-up, and I'll be happy to explain it. But, if you can't find a defense, I'd suggest that your concern about my "rep" being on the line might be misplaced.
Dan,
You mentioned that his move was not wise. However, instead of elaborating on what wasn't wise and what you would've done differently, you quickly jump into bashing this so called "gang of 9" and also bashing people that spoke in front of the mayor.
If you don't take his side 100% you dance around disagreeing with him, and usually immediately jump into bashing his opponents; which to me is a political way of defending the guy and his wife.
I would like for you to discuss your thoughts on these errors in detail with no dance. Just give it to him as if he were to ask you behind closed doors your opinion.
I say this because I believe we stand close to each other on most issues, except on this mayor. In fact, most Democrats stand with you on many issues, except with the mayor. Your thoughts would be interesting to see, being that the only other people standing with him are Deb Hermann, Bill Skaggs and Russ Johnson. And we all know why that is.
Aleks -
So, in other words, you claimed I had defended the Mayor's actions, but then realized you were absolutely wrong.
Now you want me to write an essay to your order on a topic you choose.
Would you like fries with that? Is there anything else I can do for you? Are your shoulders sore from typing? Backrub, maybe?
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