Wake up Sun TzuTalk about a Broken Arrow incident. For the folks not familiar with this military term, it means among other things an accidental or unexplained nuclear detonation. If you read Sun Tzu’s rant on 7-21-08 you witnessed a Broken Arrow. Sun Tzu, you need to unbutton your top button and get some air. You’re taking yourself and this Sheriff’s race far to serious. After reading your blog, I couldn’t help but wonder who would quote a published Chinese general from 500 BC and use his name for a pseudonym. I’ve concluded you’re either a military history buff (possible but not likely) or an infantry veteran who rightfully considers himself a warrior. My money is on the latter. For those who don’t know or don’t care to check, the book this Chinese general authored is “The Art of War’’ which just so happens to be on the US Marine Corp reading list for Sergeants, 2nd Lieutenants and Warrant Officers as well as the Army read list for Field-Grade Officers, CW4-CW5, and Senior NCOs. Given the choices of possible candidates at the CCSO, once again my money says Sun Tzu served his country with great pride in the United States Marine Corps. Two Marines immediately come to mind; one is on the command staff (Warrant Officer) and the other is in operations. One has a lot more to lose on August 26th then the other. I have an opinion who it is and if you’re still reading this then you too know who I think it is. Like the Sheriff’s race, draw your own conclusions and decide for yourself. If I’m wrong (again possible but not likely) then I apologize to both warriors. To err is human. I haven’t read every posting regarding the Sheriff’s race, but enough has been written on the subject to back up a toilet. And from the smell of Sun Tzu’s posting, I’d say it’s time to call a plumber. I don’t recall anybody blistering Sheriff Beseler the way you’ve attacked Mike Taylor. I ask you, could you display any more anger and hatred in your posting? I don’t intend to defend Mike Taylor; he is big boy and can handle himself. Nor do I intend to dissect every rant of yours for that would put people to sleep and I’m not going to talk about blunders and crime stats. I’m going to address issues that are important me as a member of the Sheriff’s Office. You say you’re a member of the FOP and the FOP doesn’t speak for you nor the men and women of the Sheriff’s Office. I beg to differ. Not withstanding, members are free to cast their ballot anyway they like when they vote in the primary; but, they, (you/me) are a part of a larger entity that voted overwhelmingly to endorse a candidate other than Sheriff Beseler. You, like every other member, had an opportunity to cast a vote for endorsement. Your guy lost and now its sour grapes and you want to bash the FOP and its members. You cast your vote how you see fit, but the FOP does speak for its members, the men and women of the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Beseler had an opportunity to secure the endorsement of the FOP, but instead sealed his fate in December 2007 when some short sighted and misguided agency personnel collected enough signatures to force a vote in an attempt to decertify the union. Many of these are misguided opportunists who felt the squeeze of having their pay raises held hostage would run over their own mothers if it would advance their careers. In a memo from Sheriff Beseler, dated 9-14-07, he talked about a 2007-2008 negotiated agreement with the union stating, “No such agreement is in place for the 2007-2008 fiscal year and until one is reached, I am not legally able to unilaterally impose wage increases for these employees.” I interpret the phrase “Not legally able” to mean “prohibited by law”. So, did the law change between the time the Sheriff issued the memo and the day after the failed attempt to decertify the union, or when he contacted the FOP president and offered to sign a memo of understanding. I ask you Sun Tzu which part of the last paragraph is a lie. Quote me some ancient Chinese warrior proverb that will enlighten me. In the same memo the Sheriff stated, “The union’s main thrust is to protect employees who are subject to discipline or dismissal for misconduct or poor performance. The vast majority of employees who do a great job every day will never need this protection.“ After the last election, we saw an example of the Sheriff’s discipline policy under the guise of manpower realignment when he put two street supervisors in time out and reassigned them to the Corrections Division for their conduct during the last campaign season. Again Sun Tzu, I ask you which part of this paragraph is a lie. Enlighten me with another quote that indicates Fairness and Caring on the part of the Sheriff. Answer me this Sun Tzu; what does it say about our Sheriff, who waited 3.5 years to appoint an Under Sheriff and then tell everyone present during the appointment ceremony that he under estimated the scope of running the Sheriff’s Office. Was it a coincidence the appointment came during an election year with the Sheriff’s bid for re-election at full speed? What masterstroke of timing. I was in the room and can read between the lines, thank you very much. The questions are actually rhetorical Sun Tzu. I’ve seen enough the last 3.5 years for me to know its time for a change. Yes it’s true, I would vote for Donald Duck if he was the only candidate running against Sheriff Beseler, but he isn’t. Bean counters are a dime a dozen. I, like many others in the agency, want to be led by a bonafide crime fighter and Mike Taylor appears to have the tools. I’m willing to give him a chance and if I/we are wrong about Mike Taylor, there is always another election in four years. Submitted by ProLEO on Thu, 07/24/2008 - 11:21pm.
You are right ST, but if the request takes as long as the last one the FOP requested the election will be long over, and besides the average citizen could not afford what YOU charged the FOP. People are talking about ...Here are the recent blog postings with the most comments. |
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Welcome to the fray Motivated! You have absolutely no idea of how thrilled I was to read your commentary. Motivated, I just shrilled like a little school girl, I did. I am just glad the missus was not around to hear or she may have thought I had taken leave of my senses. You just absolutely made my day. My mirth will become apparent later.
Motivated, the only thing I am angry about is the distortions and misrepresentations, there is no hatred whatsoever and I do not think this race can be taken too seriously. I doubt either candidate believes it can be taken too seriously either.
At the beginning of my tirade, I made a request. I asked anyone to give me one good reason to withdraw my support from Sheriff Beseler. So far, no one, including you, has even attempted to give me a reason. I again make that same request and I again make that same pledge. If anyone can show me where Sheriff Beseler has damaged the integrity of his office, I will immediately withdraw my support and vigorously support Mike Taylor. That, to me, is a very simply challenge that any Taylor supporter should be able meet.
No Motivated, it is not sour grapes at all. The fact that the FOP has endorsed Mike Taylor does not bother me. Let us be perfectly clear about one thing Motivated; nowhere, NOWHERE, did I bash the FRATERNAL lodge nor would I ever bash the FRATERNAL Order of Police. What I did was, point out Mike Taylor’s misrepresentation and since you brought it up; I will point it out again here. Yes, Lodge 104 does speak for its members but Lodge 104 speaks for Lodge 104 and its members alone. It does not speak for the entire Sheriff’s Office. Yes, Lodge 104 members are PART OF the Sheriff’s Office but by no means are they THE Sheriff’s Office. GET IT? Probably not.
Oh yes, and I did point out that the few members that are ram roding that lodge right now will ostracize anyone that does not go along with the UNION plan. Just ask the very members you lambasted regarding the vote. Actually, you made my point for me, quite well. Good show Motivated. The UNION purports to protect the rights of its members but when several of its members chose to exercise their rights, contrary to the UNION’S desires, they were ostracized. How did you describe them Motivated? Let us see; “short sighted” “misguided” “misguided opportunists” “would run over their own mothers if it would advance their careers”. My, my Motivated, what harsh language directed at your “BROTHERS” and for what; for EXERCISING THEIR RIGHT the very right that the UNION purports to protect? You are absolutely correct Motivated, there were several Fraternal Order of Police BROTHERS that did not like the way the UNION was representing them and they exercised their right to bring it to a vote and for exercising that right they paid a very dear price. Poetically, you might call theirs the ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. They counted the cost and were willing to stand up for THEIR RIGHTS and for the sake of other likeminded members that were afraid to for fear of exactly what happened to those few that were brave enough to STAND UP. That Motivated, is certainly something you and the gang can hang on your collective trophy wall.
Now folks, that is a true example of Broken Arrow. (that’s one of those “among other things” meanings of the term)
Citizens, VOTERS, I could not possibly provide you with a better example of exactly why the Clay County Sheriff’s Office DOES NOT need to be managed by someone BOUGHT and PAID FOR by the UNION. Let me add this, not for one second am I saying that the FRATERNAL Order of Police did this. It was those UNION RAMRODS and their minions that demand what they call their rights and wantonly excoriate Sheriff Beseler when he will not kowtow to them, yet will trample the rights of those that are supposed to be their BROTHERS for simply disagreeing and exercising their rights. Sad, is it not?
Remember VOTERS, those same members that endorsed and are so viperously supporting Mike Taylor are the same members that treated people that were supposed to be their BROTHERS so scornfully and it is those same members that will be in power if Mike Taylor is elected. I ask you, is that what Clay County wants in a Sheriff’s administration? Imagine, if they will treat their own in such a manner?
Regarding Sheriff Beseler’s memorandum of 9-14-07, no, the law did not change and here again, you and those like you who try to twist it around to portray Sheriff Beseler as the villain, err. By the way, folks, these memorandums are public record and you can get copies of them by simply requesting them. I have a better idea, Motivated, since you are so familiar with them I would think that you probably have copies. Why don’t you post them so everyone can read for themselves EXACTLY what was written. I will point out two things though, again they are available upon request, it was the FOP labor council staff representative that wrote a memorandum to Sheriff Beseler on 9-30-07 that states, “Please accept this correspondence as a formal request to negotiate a successor agreement to our Memorandum of Understanding which was signed on October 4, 2006.” I don’t know Motivated, looks to me that the FOP went to the Sheriff, not the other way around. That same representative admitted in writing that the Sheriff COULD NOT unilaterally grant a pay raise for 07-08.
Regarding your question of which part of your paragraph was a lie and your request for me to quote a Chinese warrior proverb to enlighten you; all you have to do is read all of the correspondence and you will have answered the question for yourself if any part of your paragraph was a lie and at the same time, you may enlighten yourself. I seriously doubt anything I say could possibly bring you enlightenment.
By the way, for anyone interested, if Motivated refuses to post the memorandums I am sure they are available upon request from other sources.
Let me add this, I doubt that I am as mature and wise as Motivated and just as he is, I too am human and subject to error. So, Motivated, I encourage you to post the correspondence for everyone’s review. If I have erred and someone can pinpoint that error, I will be the first to admit it and plead for forgiveness.
In your commentary, you asked me to comment on two street supervisors being reassigned due to their conduct and asked me which part of your paragraph is a lie. I am afraid I cannot address that issue Motivated because I do not have the Sheriff’s mind nor can I speak for him. Why not address that question directly to Sheriff Beseler? I am sure he can address it. Be careful what you ask for though. I am not dodging the issue; I simply cannot speak to it.
I am not sure what your point is regarding Sheriff Beseler’s decision to appoint an Under Sheriff. He plainly stated in his promotion memorandum that election year demands are going to increase.
I am not sure why you would even dream to call Sheriff Beseler a bean counter. However, just as you stated regarding Mike Taylor, Sheriff Beseler’s credentials speak for themselves.
In closing, I apologize for the length of this but I made it only as long as necessary to address the issues that Motivated brought up.
Again, I want to warmly and whole-heartedly thank Motivated for his commentary and again, my challenge stands, unanswered
That alone should speak volumes.
Opportunities multiply as they are seized
Sun Tzu