Semler resignation

Although we were to be a government of the people, by the people and for the people, only the naive still believe that is true. The resignation of Frances Semler from the Kansas City parks board is just another proof that special interest groups control our representatives, even at local levels (1/23, A-1, “Semler cites mayor’s office in resignation”).

If we want a common, decent citizen with a brain to represent the interests of real people who live here, our wishes have become the exception, not the rule.

Charlie Brents
Greenwood, Mo.

All you people who think you can’t make any difference as an individual, consider Frances Semler. Without a threat, without a tirade, and without a raised fist, she single-handedly sent hundreds of people in search of another place for their conventions.

Talk about empowering a woman. There has hardly been one like this since Joan of Arc.

Note: It would be nice if The Star quit blaming Mrs. Semler and Mayor Funkhouser and put the blame where it belongs.

H.S. Bethards
Pleasant Hill

Comments

[solomon]

NMMNG,

Never said I was against the MM. Never, nowhere and no how. I have said here often that I am not for open borders or illegal immigrants having special status. I have said the current laws have not been effective and that putting them all (illegals) on a bus and sending them home is not a solution, as it is impossible.

[NoMoreMrNiceGuy]

So Sol you make a very good argument about assigment. So are you saying that any organization that does not succumb to government is mikitant? Are you okay with illegal immigration? I only ask because I do not see how if someone IS for securing our borders they would be against the MM.

[solomon]

Engineer,

I do say so, and my posts here over the months say so too. As with so many issues (or non issue to appease GCYL), there can be more than two views.

[Engineer]

solomon
If you say so. But you seemed to be supporting La Raza's position. They were attacking Mrs.Semler and you appeared to be approving the onset. If you shoot one dog in a fight you can claim just to be stopping the fight. But some might think you were helping out the other dog.

[solomon]

Good evening Engineer,

Forgive me for being crude.

Funny though, I've never urged or even voiced support for any minority organization here. The thing that happens is that if a person disagree's with a position then he is assigned to the opposition. My late father was not a Reagan fan, and I remember someone saying to him "I guess you want Carter back?" My dad responded, "Just because I don't like Reagan doesn't mean I like Carter."

[CRD]

I know I've pointed out in this blog that it's not clear that "La Raza" is accurately translated as "the race" as you use it, or that it necessarily has the racist connotation that you insist on reading into it.

http://www.lasculturas.com/aa/aa031200a.htm

[Engineer]

solomon
I was pleased with the mayor's stand when the non-issue first came up. Here at last was a piblic official who would stand up to special interest pressure tactics. I still feel that way although subsequent developments might indicate he is not as firm as it first appeared. And yes, I do think La Raza is a racist organization. What in the world else could you call and organization for set up to support one race who's slogan is "For The Race, Everything, For Outsiders, Nothing". Hard to be more racist than that. You state I am eager, in your own crude wording, to kiss the mayor's backside. However much I may support his stand in this matter I do not have your apparent eagerness to perform the act wholesale on the rears of any minority organization that comes along.

[CRD]

Nope. I said it was relevant to her being appointed. It'd be a foolish political move for Funk to have appointed her if he had known in advance of her membership in such a controversial organization.

[Marctnts]

CRD.

Like I said, her beliefs aren't relevant. What's relevant is how she chose to express her beliefs, by choosing to be a member of a controversial organization. - CRD

"I'll try this one more time. Explain to me why joing the Minutemen (a passive expression of Semler's belief against illegal immigration) has anything to with the scope of her duties on the parks board." - Marctnts

"Never said it did." - CRD

It looks to me like your statement above reflects that you do think her joining the Minutemen was relevant (i.e. had to do with) her serving on the parks board.

[CRD]

"I'll try this one more time. Explain to me why joing the Minutemen (a passive expression of Semler's belief against illegal immigration) has anything to with the scope of her duties on the parks board."

Never said it did.

[GCYL]

“Perhaps you don't, but it was forseeable that the appointment would generate controversy…” – CRD

The only thing foreseeable is many of you enjoy politics as usual, at its worst which includes a baseless cry of intolerance while justify your behavior as it’s not about being right or wrong. You insist on due diligence on a non issue and clearly you’re very keen on manufacturing non issues. Good luck with that CRD.

[GCYL]

“I'll try this one more time.” – Marctn

Honestly, CRD or crd, both, whatever, has an extensive history of not answering on topic, direct questions. Still, repeatedly posting them several times without him responding makes for good entertainment that a lot of people here enjoy. And sometimes the entertainment is priceless:

“CRD
There is torture and there is abuse. What is your definition of torture?” – Engineer

“[raising eyebrow] what's yours?”

“CRD
You are the one accusing people of torture, surely you had in mind what you were accusing them of?”

“[chuckle] Thanks, Lloyd. That was just about as illuminating as mud.” – actual dialogue | Jun 25, 2006 9:20:04 AM

[CRD]

"I doubt it. As long as you care about the city parks and you’re looking out for our best public interest, we don’t give a rat’s backside on the non issue of your personal freedom of membership applications."

Perhaps you don't, but it was forseeable that the appointment would generate controversy, so I still think it would have been politically stupid to nominate her if he'd known of the affiliation ahead of time.

[GCYL]

Posted by: CRD | Jan 24, 2008 4:43:24 PM

Posted by: crd | Jan 24, 2008 3:14:36 PM

Any ideas on the all lower case, then all upper case?

[GCYL]

“Such extremist standards will stop you from expressing any of your personal beliefs too crd."

“I doubt it.” – crd

Expressed like a true hypocrite. Sorry CRD but you don’t get to set a different standard for yourself.

“However, it might make me an unpalatable candidate for a political appointment if I choose to express those beliefs by joining a controversial organization, based on forseeable negative reaction to my appointment.” - CRD

I doubt it. As long as you care about the city parks and you’re looking out for our best public interest, we don’t give a rat’s backside on the non issue of your personal freedom of membership applications. Thanks in large part to us non progressive people, I for see no negative reaction to your political appointment to the city park’s board based entirely on personal expression on organizational memberships.

[Marctnts]

CRD,

I'd like to get a reaction to my newsflash post. While the NRA may not be as "controversial" as the Minutemen, I'm sure that the gun control crowd would have as much of a problem with their beliefs as La Raza has with the Minutemen's.

I'll try this one more time. Explain to me why joing the Minutemen (a passive expression of Semler's belief against illegal immigration) has anything to with the scope of her duties on the parks board. Further, please explain why a foreseeable negative reaction by any part of Funk's constituency because of an unrelated issue should be the sole reason for not making the appointment.

[CRD]

"Such extremist standards will stop you from expressing any of your personal beliefs too crd."

I doubt it. However, it might make me an unpalatable candidate for a political appointment if I choose to express those beliefs by joining a controversial organization, based on forseeable negative reaction to my appointment.

[GCYL]

“It's about whether a person's beliefs (or their passive actions in support of those beliefs, such as joining an organization) have any relevance to her ability to serve on a park's board, whose purpose has nothing to do with the belief you disagree with.

ANTI-ILLEGAL-IMMIGRATION = WHAT ABOUT PARKS?” - Marctnts

Ouch, a direct question to crd. crd has a well documented record of not answering on topic and direct questions.

You’ve made valid points Marctnts. It’s quite simple really, it’s not about Semler’s personal freedom of choice, it’s all about minority opinion on what is racially or ethnically intolerant and Semler has been found guilty.

[Marctnts]

Newsflash:

Stan Harris, director of the KCMO Public Works Department, has been found to be a member of the National Rifle Association. His membership was discovered by the Kansas City Star and reported to the public as part of a 27-part expose on the workings of Mayor Funkhowser's administration.

John Doe, president of the Brady Campaign Against Gun Violence, has announced that due to Mr. Harris' membership in the NRA the Brady Campaign has cancelled their annual convention in Kansas City.

When questioned by the star about why he would allow a member of the NRA to serve in his adminsitration, Mayor Funkhowser responded by saying, "I didn't think his membership in the NRA would adversly affect his ability to maintain our streets and bridges."

Sometimes it takes looking at a situation a little differently to see the absurdity of it.

[GCYL]

“Like I said, her beliefs aren't relevant. What's relevant is how she chose to express her beliefs, by choosing to be a member of a controversial organization.” – crd

Wow, it doesn’t matter what you believe unless you express your belief in a fashion I’ve judge as offending. Such extremist standards will stop you from expressing any of your personal beliefs too crd. The extreme intolerance of diversity from progressives has always amazed me.

Once again the expression of beliefs is a non issue as it relates to the city park’s board.

[Marctnts]

CRD,

Incorrect and dishonest on your part. It not about her beliefs, or her expression of those beliefs (by the joining of a particular organization). It's about whether a person's beliefs (or their passive actions in support of those beliefs, such as joining an organization) have any relevance to her ability to serve on a park's board, whose purpose has nothing to do with the belief you disagree with.

ANTI-ILLEGAL-IMMIGRATION = WHAT ABOUT PARKS?

[CRD]

"Further, even if you interpret the Minutemen's beliefs as racially intolerant, you haven't addressed their relevance to someone serving on the park's board."

Like I said, her beliefs aren't relevant. What's relevant is how she chose to express her beliefs, by choosing to be a member of a controversial organization.

[solomon]

GC,

I don't see my saying that I know the people here on this blog as "demeaning or belittling". If it is i pologize to anyone offended.

[Marctnts]

CRD,

"Oh please. It's not about her "immigration beliefs" -- it's about her association with a group that a significant number of folks, whether rightly or wrongly, see as racially or ethnically intolerant." - CRD

...BECAUSE OF THEIR IMMIGRATION BELIEFS.
You forgot the natural end of your assertion. What, exactly, have people used to intrepret the Minutemen's policies as racially intolerant. The answer is the policy itself, thus, their beliefs on immigration.

Further, even if you interpret the Minutemen's beliefs as racially intolerant, you haven't addressed their relevance to someone serving on the park's board. That, I believe, is the issue of this discussion.

[GCYL]

“Oh please. It's not about her "immigration beliefs" -- it's about her association with a group that a significant number of folks, whether rightly or wrongly, see as racially or ethnically intolerant.” - crd

Oh please indeed. It’s not about whether we’re right or wrong, is all about our personal opinion on what is racially or ethnically intolerant to us. I’m shocked, just shocked at crd’s honesty.

We say our feelings are hurt. The Funkman must pay.

Such a pathetic display of politics at its worst. Good luck with that crd.