Ben Konop -- What the hell???!!!! Today: Ohio. Tomorrow: Who knows?

What's with Ben Konop and his exploration about running for Mayor of Toledo????!!!!

Back in 2004, he ran for a congressional seat in northcentral Ohio, i.e. the 4th congressional district, quite a distance from Toledo and from Lucas County. He lost that election and then he moved to Toledo, Ohio to run for Lucas County Commisioner in 2006. In his campaign for a seat on the Lucas County Board of Commissioners, he promised that if elected he would serve the full four-year term. Well, he won that seat; but now just mid-way through his elected term, he is considering making an electoral attempt to switch seats in becoming the next Mayor of the City of Toledo thereby breaking his promise.

As an interesting aside, I see from reading the various news stories of his Toledo Mayoral explorations that he has been making political campaign forays outside the City of Toledo.

What the hell? Does Ben Konop have any loyalty to any voters?? Or, does Ben Konop just wish to use voters, any and all voters, to further his own personal career choice of professional politician, as opposed to elected public servant???

Maybe, he will just up and move to another state, if it will serve his choice of occupational path.

Jim Moody, Toledo Republican Politician and Spiderman

Upon having read the story of how Toledo Mayoral candidate Jim Moody captured Toledo Mayoral candidate Keith Wilkowski's web and Wilkowski's other potential webs, I can help but wonder if Moody is the Politician Spiderman of Toledo and surrounding area.

Does Moody still have a wife living in their Sylvania, Ohio residence or has she joined him in the Toledo residence that he specifically established in order to run for Mayor of Toledo? Or, is my recollection on this matter mistaken? I'm not sure now, Hey, someone let me know --- will ya?

Gee, I wonder if Moody is a moody type of guy. What a wicked web he weaves!

Ted Strickland, Secretary of Health and Human Services

Just as the immediately preceding entry about Marcy Kaptur as Commerce Secretary, tell me that this header of Roland Hansen Commentary doesn't have a ring to it!

It's been awhile now since Tom Daschle, former United States Senator from the State of South Dakota, withdrew as President Barack Obama's nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services.

It's also been some time since all the speculations for a HHS Secretary have been bantered around.

While Kathleen Sebelius, the Governor of Kansas who just happens to be the daughter of former Ohio Governor John J. Gilligan, appears to be the new frontrunner, I say it's time to let the games begin anew. And, as with my suggestion of Marcy Kaptur for Secretary of Commerce, I say let another Ohioan replace the former nominee for the HHS spot.

Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, a former member of the United States House of Representatives, has a long established track record of public service. He has an established record on the issues that is out there for all of us to review.

I say President Barack Obama should nominate Ohio Governor Ted Strickland as Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Marcy Kaptur, Commerce Secretary

Wow, that title has a nice ring to it!

I’m sure most people have heard of the phrase “The third time is a charm.” That is the phrase I think is applicable should President Barack Obama nominate United States Representative Marcy Kaptur (D, Ohio 9th District) to be the Secretary of Commerce.

President Obama’s first attempt to fill the spot of Commerce Secretary by nominating New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson (D) fell flat on its face when Richardson withdrew himself from consideration upon the public disclosure of a grand jury investigation of alleged wrongdoing in the awarding of state governmental contracts in New Mexico.

Next out of the starting gate Senator Judd Gregg of New Hampshire never really got out of the starting gate. Apparently, the Republican Senator had a change of heart or of mind when Gregg withdrew himself from consideration citing “irresolvable differences” with the policies of the Democrat President.

That brings us to the current situation in that a third attempt is now needed to put a Commerce Secretary into place, Quite a few people have been previously mentioned by the media, all of whom would be good choices. However, as Barack Obama has stated in the past, it is time for a change in the same-old politics of Washington, D.C. That brings me to what I believe may be a novel approach. Remember NAFTA?

Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur took on the Democratic political party machine of President Bill Clinton in opposing the adoption of NAFTA and has remained a strong opponent ever since. And yet, while remaining a vocal opponent of NAFTA as well as being vocal in other areas in disagreement with whoever has been in power in Washington, Democrat or Republican, she has remained an integral part of the Democratic Party and has been an advocate of a real free-trade public policy as opposed to NAFTA that looks out for the American worker.

Getting back to the selection of a Secretary of Commerce, I say now is the time to get it done right! President Obama tried a Democratic male Governor from a Southwest state, who happened to be Hispanic. He tried a Republican male Senator from an Eastern state. Now, he should try an outspoken, citizen-advocate, experienced Democratic Congresswoman from a Great Lakes state, who doesn’t hesitate to publicly disagree while at the same time who will work toward a solution that is in the best interests of the United States of America.

I say Marcy Kaptur is the right person for Secretary of Commerce.

Sign Of The Times: "death to the Jews"

Yes, indeed, anti-Semitism is alive and thriving. Hey, don't believe me, huh?!.
Well then, perhaps you need to read the news story in which it is reported that a Jewish synagogue was ransacked, its walls painted with the words "death to the Jews" and Torah scrolls thrown to the floor with some of them being damaged. Click and read the news report:
Synagogue attack adds to fears in Venezuela

Yes, indeed. This is not something new and it isn't an isolated incident found only in one country. This type of thing and other similar incidents take place throughout the world today and have been occurring for thousands of years. And people wonder why Israel takes such a strong stance when threatened with the continuing onslaught of rockets, suicide bombers, and other terrorist actions. Hrumph!

As the son of a Danish Luthern father and a Russian Jewish mother, I myself grew up in an anti-Semitic atmospere in Toledo, Ohio where I was jumped on more than one occasion by not just one other boy but by groups of boys calling things such as "half-breed Jew" and "dirty Jew" and "Christ killer" and the list goes on and on. I grew up being an accomplished street fighter and folks who knew me back then can attest that I did not tolerate or run from the anti-Semites. There were many other incidents of anti-Semitic happenings throughout my youth in the elementary, junior high, and senior high schools that I attended in the Washington Local School District and also occurred in my West Toledo neighborhood. The same crap continued in the workplace and community life during my adulthood and have continued on throughout my entire life even to this day in my twilight years, including in the 55+ community in which I have a winter home.

Now, many people may say that the type of things that I have experienced do not happen anymore in the United States of America. How naive of them. My grandsons have been exeriencing the very same things in their Bedford, Michigan schools. It has now reached the point of causing much distress for them and their parents.

And people wonder why I am "sensitive" about such things as when I hear them use the phrase of "jewed down" on price or "got jewed" or "this is a Christian nation" or some other such thing.

'Nuff said --- for now.

Holy Moley, Holy See!

I am at a lack of words, but perhaps Holy Moley will suffice as I think of the brouhaha associated with some of the more recent actions of the Holy See.

You see, there is a sea of controversy.

I wrote about the subject of the controversy over at Roland's Ramblings in my entry Richard Williamson, Roman Catholic Bishop.

I had the now-apparently mistaken impression that the whole thing had run it's course. That is, until a moment ago when I read Reuters Blogs: Faith World: Vatican orders Williamson recant after calling case closed.

Now, what do you think of that?

Political Dynasty: Good or Bad?

Not long ago, I encountered a gentleman (?) who had some strong feelings against political dynasties in the United States. I have no real knowledge of this individual other than the fact that he is an educator who was attending the annual conference of the Assocition of Educational Service Agencies this past December. I was sitting at a large round table at a conference general session that was preceded by a luncheon with my group from Lucas County Ohio. During lunch and prior to the general session itself, I was having a conversation with them about the possibility Caroline Kennedy becoming a United States Senator when this fellow who was also at the same large table interjected with his thoughts. He voiced his very strong feelings and I responded that the only "qualifications" to be a United States Senator involved age, citizenship, and residency; and, the fact that someone may be related to others in elective office has no relevency. He didn't like my response and refused to look at me for the rest of the time we were in that luncheon session. Oh, well!

Around that same time, I had a similar conversation with a friend of mine who voiced the same concerns as the fellow at the AESA conference. With two different yet similar conversations taking place at nearly the same time, I started to be a bit more astute and realized many people share the same concern. Hmmmmm, says I to myself.

I do not understand why people are so opposed to what they call political dynasties, i.e. members in the same extended family who are acitive in American politics or government. No one seems to have a problem with family dynasties in the medical profession, or the legal profession, or in factory work, or in teaching, or in denistry, or in construction trades, or in skilled trades, etc., etc., etc. Elective office and government positions are jobs in the public service. What's wrong with that? Why are family members who share a common interest and common careers in public service any different than family members who do likewise in the private sector? Why do people treat this topic the way that they do? I can't figure it out. Elective positions are elected; if the person isn't doing the job, that person may be removed by recall or simply not be re-elected. Problem solved. After all, the voting majority does indeed have the final say. Then there is the situation of family members who work for the government. If someone employed in the government sector is not performing satisfactorily, that person is subject to corrective action, including dismissal if warranted. Again, problem solved.

Recently, I read the Washingington Post piece Dynasties in Decline by Op-Ed columnist David S. Broder and it seems quite poignant.

I also read Political Dynasties: An American Tradition from Brookings which I also fond to be very interesting.

Oh, by the way, there's a piece over at Wikipedia entitled List of United States political families that you might wish to explore.

We have in the United States of America a system of checks and balances and we have a voting box that is a regular occurence. Quite frankly, I think political dynasties are A-OK.

I imagine many folks disagree with me. I sure would like to know the logical reasoning of their disagreement.

Help Wanted: City of Toledo Mayor; Toledo City Council

Preface:
Some time ago, I made a futile attempt to stir up the interest of Toledoans in seeking good candidates for Mayor of Toledo. I did so on an interactive web site that is billed as a "site dedicated to breaking news and political discussion of Toledo and Northwest Ohio." Apparently the majority of folks using that site are, for the most part, just moaners and groaners who get their jollies by making moronic comments rather than substantive contributions to political dilogue. Hey, don't take my word for it, click and read the message thread Toledo Mayor in 2009.
That SwampBubbles web site along with another site called Toledo Talk, both of which I had been a frequent participant, became pretty well useless as far as I am concerned in that many people possting there were trolling flamers who just made stupid and snide or belittling comments while remaining behind a cloak of anonymity. Consequently, I stopped visiting those two sites and ceased being a participant. Unfortunately, pretty much the same type of thing has transpired with a very popular Toledo political blog in which I had also been an active participant. Now-a-days, I pretty much just stay away from making comments on that site, as well.
All this is just a lead-in to the entry I am making below.

Roland Hansen Commentary is now seeking applications from candidates for the position of Mayor of Toledo and for the position of at-large representative to Toledo City Council.

Persons who are interested in being candidates for these positions may apply online within this help wanted posting simply by responding in the comments section below.

If you are interested in any of these positions and if you have a website that you would like to have featured on Roland Hansen Commentary with a link to that website, just let me know. As a previous candidate for elective office, I know all too well how difficult it is to receive media exposure.

For purposes of full disclosure, you should be aware that I reserve the right to comment on any candidate and may indeed endorse and promote candidates whom I favor.

Now then, are there any takers?

Blame the Messenger: Israel, Gaza, Palestine, Me?

Those who know me know that I do not care much for forwarded e-mails, but every now and again something peeks my interest.

Recently, I received a political cartoon about the Israel, Gaza, Palestine conflict which I in return played messenger by forwarding it to several people who I thought would also find it interesting. Of course, I sent it with my e-mail account that uses my name. Why not? After all, I am not one to hide behind anonymity and I accept responsibilty for my actions and my words.

Apparently, several people did find that political cartoon to be interesting, as well as controversial. I have received a several e-mails in return regarding that cartoon with a variety of responses running pro, con, and in-between.

Heck, my messenger status even made it over into Liberal Common Sense with the entry I don't think this defines "honesty" by a long shot...

If you go over to that entry by Lisa Renee, you will be able to see the cartoon itself along with some interesting commentary. And so the saga continues........

Another Holocaust? Another Silent Pope?

It is with awe and wonder that I hear and read so many comments from people about the current situation with Israel and Gaza.

A recent comment I have read seems quite poignant. It is the Rowsey Blog entry entitled The Mess in the Middle East.

Some people are claiming that Israel is perpetuating a holocaust on Arab Islamists. Others are just as adament in professing that Israel has a right to defend itself in preventing another Holocaust.

It was The Holocaust that has resulted with the phrase Never Again being more than just a phrase.

The silence of the Pope back then has never truly been explained, at least not to my satisfaction. With that in mind, I cannot help but wonder why the current Pope seems to be following the established past practice of the Roman Catholic Church with his silence and seemingly indifference to the current situation.