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James Thomas's avatar

Let's talk about all these "vacant positions" where "no one has volunteered", let's have a real discussion on the "issue".... I've been told to my face I have been blackballed. The reasons were I spoke up and I am not from here, double not allowed. "Not good enough to serve", "prove myself" was the words used.... for vacant open positions, AKA no one is better than me.

Local groups (Beyond AF who was welcoming and kind.... till it wasn't [AF has some good folks in it but the culture just wasn't a good fit].. I was invited to one group to "prove myself"....)

Local government (I put my name in for a vacant seat in my township, that was 3 months and 7+ letters of rec. ago...., one of the planning commission members said to me "we need more people to step up".... AKA you are rejected)

.......I'm not even part of any group to make instant adversaries (Like La rue being a "democrat", or Penny and her "activism", Hendee "the radical").

I can't imagine my experience is in any way individual or special.... Seems par for the course.

Mayor Pro tem has done better about this than any I've seen locally but.... It's a deep community/county wide issue and its causing a lot of contention in the taxpayers not included.

Those in the club have the reins so tight their hands are bleeding.... this tells me they've no idea how to handle a (the) lead.

Doesn't matter the club, everyone seems to have a death grip....

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Jeff King's avatar

That's true, and Mackie called Paladino out on lying about who had applied for a board. And Paladino admitted to that in front of council (---"fair enough"). He claimed 5 had applied for the compensation commission... when in fact 6 did. (queued to 2:00:55)

https://www.youtube.com/live/KXaiLtUt_gA?si=nDXmbO_Q-E_sk3vH&t=7255

It's clearly his right, as mayor, to appoint or ignore anyone he wants. He made it clear he had some personal issues with Daniel LaRue, at the last meeting.

https://www.facebook.com/carson.cooley.382677/videos/2437245973306302

Indeed, what Bentley was quoted here as saying:

---“As reluctant as I am to come to Mayor Pro Tem’s defense again. . . I think the reason it’s stacked with his cronies is that he’s out there beating the bushes and telling people to apply for these positions.”

which is spot on. Now it's unfortunate to get an overabundance of one viewpoint or background on the board... by ProTem's own admission he was trying to avoid a board entirely full of those with an education background... which is exactly what you ended up with.

https://youtu.be/NGyqiBkxScw?si=Hmt8n-3_EF05wyCF

However, to me, what isn't acceptable to anyone is dishonestly. I was a Paladino fan up until that point and even regularly had e-mail dialogs with him. But he lost me then, simply because trust is important.

James, these are little people. Yet I know the feeling... I got railroaded off the Airport Board when I questioned all these massive grants... that were unneeded. But do they control you or you control them? You live in a county that for some reason thinks it's "conservative", yet is mired in poverty and the city itself is a company town. You deserve better and you aren't going to change anything.

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Clovis's avatar

When you say "these are little people," to whom are you referring? We ask because your post is mostly about Paladino, but then turns at the end to your Airport troubles.

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Jeff King's avatar

Your root article is mostly about a Paladino appointment. But my close (little people) was over all. "You", the local establishment, college, Hillsdale Twp... whatever James is concerned about. Time suckers. circle jerkers and those lost in grudges and their emotions. The recommendation was to him, not you, and had to do with life and moving on, not really this blog. I just hated to see him in a rut, "tilting at Windmills" so to speak. This is a continuation of many dialogs we've had in the past.

I could say the same thing to "you", and be sincere and genuine. At the risk of giving you too much credit, you're a big fish in a small pond. Don't get too comfortable. But you'll eventually figure it out. Just don't take a job with the college when you graduate, and you'll be fine. Good luck.

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James Thomas's avatar

LOL my 13 year old son is taller than him.... that's was a good one, nicely played-BURN....

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Jeff King's avatar

Well... no, I wasn't burning anyone, but I guess I can see how that might appear that way. LOL.

By "little people" I really meant those wrapped up in their own emotional issues... unable to see the big picture.. to take control of their lives.... forever playing the victim and expressing their power by suppressing others.

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James Thomas's avatar

My bad, that was supposed to be a reply to Clovis.

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Jeff King's avatar

No problem. Best I clarified anyways as not what I meant by “little people”.

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James Thomas's avatar

Personally and I've said this to Josh.... I don't understand the or any dishonesty, its unnecessary for his goals as I can see them. Maybe just a reflex to avoid largely unnecessary confrontation? He is so young, he has time to change and tweek little things. But I agree any "two faced" optics or any dishonesty especially about trivial things is really unnecessary.

I have to be candid, I personally like Josh. It may cloud my opinions.

That is my main observation and concern "tunnel vision" because everyone talks like you, thinks like you and so on.... That's when SUPER STUPID happens historically. It's always good to have at least one "asshole" who "Jack Mc Clain's" shit up and asking all the questions and votes all the nos. At worst it keeps everyone on their toes.

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Jeff King's avatar

Jack McClain is an acquired taste. I’m hooked.

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Robert Martin's avatar

Jeff - do you think you yourself are ever going to be able to move on? Genuine question. Please don't say that you have in fact moved on - it's obvious you haven't.

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Jeff King's avatar

??? Move on from what? The friends I made in Hillsdale while living there? Life? Dialog? Or just the entertainment factor? Be specific and be prepared to support your argument. You do realize, I could instead be using a fake profile, and you'd never know who I was. But I chose not to.

And the bigger question would be... of what concern is it to you? Obviously the answer to your question is likely no, but at least give me something to work with beyond hurt feelings.

See that is what I don't understand about you trolls here and on the associated FB page. Because I have no idea who you are. It's one thing to make an argument, and agree or disagree, your group seems able to do that. But you just fall so flat on your face when challenged or debated.

The sad thing is we agree on so much, but execution and owning your words matter.

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Robert Martin's avatar

Jeff, first off, please don't try to ingratiate yourself with us.

"The sad thing is we agree on so much." No. Please stop. You're insulting me. I'm offended that you would suggest that "we agree on so much."

"What concern of it is to you?" Sorry to have touched a nerve there, Jeff.

My concern is that I don't like pedantic annoying people. Especially ones that lack self-respect and love to gossip with psychotic cat ladies. I wish you had the confidence to engage with the arguments being offered. Instead, like a womanly schoolmaster, you tsk tsk from far away in Delaware (or wherever you are). Your jealousy of the HCR is painful to watch. What makes it worse is your constant self-credentialling.

"As a sophomore in high school, I had a typing speed of 140 WPM."

"I have an IQ of 145."

"I was the editor of my high school newspaper."

"During COVID I changed my LinkedIn profile picture and now I make hundreds of thousands of dollars."

Great job Jeff, very impressive. Please tell us more.

I'm sorry things didn't work out for you the way you hoped when you were in Hillsdale. You probably deserved better. Why you aren't able to move on is only something you know. We can't help you. I can't imagine it's good for you to continue to spend ANY time online (I know you don't think it's that much) arguing with people hundreds of miles away about the town you used to live in. If you do continue, however, don't expect to behave in this way and not get any pushback.

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Jeff King's avatar

---"Us"? Yeah, no, I'm NOT trying to ingrate myself with that.

"You'd be surprised" is exactly that. Or am I wrong in thinking "you" support Constitutionally limited goverment and fiscal restraint?

---"My concern is that I don't like pedantic annoying people."

That statement makes me want to stay. Or did you miss the part where I said there was a significant entertainment element here for me? Thanks for playing.

---"I wish you had the confidence to engage with the arguments being offered. "

I'm happy to. What's your argument other then your anonymous feelings are hurting?

---"What makes it worse is your constant self-credentialling."

Not at all, in this example to follow, it was to express I spend much less time then the author, a "Mark Murphy" attributed to me. Plus I enjoy it

----""As a sophomore in high school, I had a typing speed of 140 WPM.""

See that is disingenuous, the quote marks. Not what I said. I said 100WPM

"I have an IQ of 145."

Haven't tested recently, but that was correct at the time. Marcy had a pretty high IQ as well.

---""During COVID I changed my LinkedIn profile picture and now I make hundreds of thousands of dollars."

Huh? I mean, there are tidbits of facts there, enough to show me you seem to be fixated on me, and I get under your skin, but not what I actually said. For someone nearing middle age, your retention isn't very good. I've been at 6 figures for over 20 years, well before covid. What I think you might be referring to on LinkedIn, is when I told someone I took off every job off my resume before 2000 and removed dates from my education. And then interest went though the roof.

---"I'm sorry things didn't work out for you the way you hoped when you were in Hillsdale. You probably deserved better. "

Life is a journey. Thanks for the thoughts, you do as well.

---"We can't help you.

?? I don't recall asking your collective for any help. Nor do I need it. Doing perfectly fine, indeed I'm impressing even myself how much hand wringing I can cause, as you said, 100's of miles away. Must be hitting some nerves.

---"If you do continue, however, don't expect to behave in this way and not get any pushback.

Really? Sounds like a threat to me. As I've already told you before, you aren't a good poker player, and I doubt you're covering your IP address as well as you think you are. I'm happy to leave it where I did... it was a warning, but you've got real assets at stake. The attorney wanted your house.

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Robert Martin's avatar

Good stuff, Jeff.

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