Well said, well said!!!

Mike

until the last few years, the blade had a large stable of very talented writers and so while the publisher was even then behaving in this manner, at least the paper had journalistic value. now, with the writing staff reduced to a hand-full of people and few of them with any tenure, the paper appears to be reduced to merely vendetta journalism. rather than reporting news, the blade is creating news and inserting their bias into it – a sad state for a paper and a family that really has done so much for the toledo area.

the people i know in pittsburgh say the block family doesn’t insert themselves into the news there – there are too many bigger players there than them and they would be humilated and ostracized if they tried – we are, by default, the playground they chose to bully upon.

we need a venue for a public discussion of this problem – we need an institution like the university or an out of town outlet like abc’s nightline or the newshour to do a townhall type meeting to find a solution to this. this issue really is integral with the larger problems afflicting the city – the budget problems based on faulty city employee contracts, non-existent economic development, water issues, townships, etc.

I have known many elected and appointed government officials in my entire 62 years of life spent living and working in Toledo and Sylvania. Most are Democrats, since I am a lifelong Democrat. I have known a few who were extremely self-centered and crass. Most, however, see their participation in government service as a calling — as a way to pay back our community for giving them the opportunity for a good education and a good life.

When The Blade wantonly attacks such well-motivated, talented, competent people — and I’m using Lynn Olman as an example, both because I don’t really know him personally, and because I disagree with most of his political views — The Blade severely wounds this community. Fewer and fewer talented people want to enter the local political arena. Going into politics invites harsh criticism regardless of other conditions. But, in the Toledo area, when one enters into electoral politics, one also has to ask a qusetion of oneself: Do I want to kowtow to The Blade, or do I want to risk an unfair vicious, personal attack if I anger The Blade’s publisher or editors?

I have never before seen Lynn Olman smeared the way he has been during the CRP events. Any political transgressions he committed were certainly minor and similar to what others did. He may not be a saint, but, then, are any of us?

Now, I have to add, that some posters on this and other local blogs also get quite vivious in their attacks on local elected officials, but they are not running the only daily newspaper in town!! That’s a huge difference!

The Blade has destroyed many careers of upstanding public servants. How many excellent Toledo-area citizens have shrunk from government service for this very reason? That, we’ll never know!

The Blade should be about building up the cadre of individuals who want make the severe, personal sacrifice of entering the public arena. This is not to mean that extreme misdeeds like those done by Tom Noe or Bob McClosky should be unreported or glossed over. But these are the exceptions, not the rule. Most of the time the vicious attacks upon public officials are based only upon disagreeing with The Blade!! Heaven forbid, you should challenge someone JR considers to be a personal friend!!

Gee! Thanks Mr. M., but I don’t live my life that way.

So, I’ll just take being right.

Perhaps, someday, honesty will overcome “looking good.”

BTW, courageous dissing Brian Schwartz. Gosh, Mr. M when you’re in charge, may I work for you? Please?

He just like anyone is welcome as long as the rules are followed. I realize some have suggested it’s threatening in nature, but? I’m not worried about it.

It reminds me of Brian Schwartz wile serving Carty. You can be right all you want, but you have identified yourself and are constantly arguing, you can’t come out looking good. People know who you are, but we have no idea who most other people are on here.

What threat? The only threat I’ve read here is your consistent harping about trying to get people to unsubscribe. Hence, my earlier expression of your immaturity.

Does it frighten you to take personal responsibility for your name-calling?

If so, then your life must be miserable.

Happy New Year!

Why don’t you, zimmy, join me and reveal who you are?

Then, we’ll see who can handle the heat for it.

Additionally, Lisa assured me that you were warned about personal attacks here.

I could care less about you you think you know, or your opinions regarding me or the newspaper.

At least I have the courage to stand up and express myself using my real name,

And maybe I will be requested to either not post or post a certain way by my superiors.

Why don’t you, zimmy, join me and reveal who you are?

Then, we’ll see who can handle the heat for it.