The Martin Chronicles reporters are a pretty savvy, experienced bunch. Many have been covering politics at all levels for a very long time. The recent screwy turn of events over last night's Town Hall Candidate meeting brings a few things to mind.
One Facebook poster looked in to the bottom of her shot glass and oddly saw something that simply wasn't there. Then this person decided to write today:
"Why would any candidate attend a debate sponsored by a group who already recommended their pick of candidates before the debate ever happened? This Candidate Night was biased and controlled by design from the start."
We have scoured the Sensible Citizens Facebook page and website. We have read and re-read every piece of Sensible Citizen literature we could get our hands on. And do you know what? We could not find anything endorsing any candidate anywhere. We'd love to see any evidence to the contrary. But short of something being forged, we don't expect to see anything.
But as we have done before, let's go ahead and accept that Facebook posters baseless allegation. Our response? So what? Why? Because the next Villa Hills mayor and six city councilmembers will be tasked to represent and serve all of the residents, not just those who happen to agree with them.
We'll use four modern US Presidents to explain what we mean. Those four US Presidents will be Republicans Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan and Democrats Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.
First, let's look at the failed leaders. Republican Richard Nixon and Democrat Barack Obama both had-or have-a "bunker mentality". Both possessed-or possess-an attitude that it always boils down to "us versus them" on virtually every issue. In point of fact, both saw-see-people with whom they did-do-not agree as more than political adversaries. Both saw-see-people with whom the did-do-not agree as "bad" people who needed-need-to be punished.
That twisted desire to punish has placed names like Haldeman, Ehrlichman, Holder and Lerner in to the nation's historical record. Who does this sound like? You know, don't you? Of course you do? This sounds like Mike Martin. Martin has entered the names McMurtry, Bohman and Koenig in to the historical record of Villa Hills for the very same reasons.
Now, let's examine the successful leaders. Presidents Reagan and Clinton both had their share of detractors-and then some. But both never retreated to "the bunker". Neither ran from their opponents. Both reached across the political aisle and the political spectrum to accomplish very significant things.
Some of our reporters were there when Ronald Reagan forged a surprising alliance with bitter rival Thomas "Tip" O'Neill and Bill Clinton did the same with Newt Gingrich. Why did they do it? Because they knew that they had to work with those who did not agree with them to do what was best for all-not just some-of the people they had taken an oath to serve.
This is precisely why Koenig, Wischer, Hilgeford, Berger and Yost-Vaden should have attended last night's Town Hall meeting. Even if the event was sponsored by a group that is hostile to them-despite the fact that no legitimate evidence supports that wild claim. Why? Because every resident needs to know where they really stand on all of the issues. Every resident needs to know what they plan to do if they are elected. Every resident deserves the right to ask these candidates any question. Why? Because-if elected-they will be taking an oath to serve all of the residents of Villa Hills. Even those who do not agree with them. But instead, these five candidates decided to cut, run and hide.
Sure, we know what really happened. Do you want us to tell you? Sure you do. So, here's what happened.
You see, even the dim-bulb, paranoid Martin himself realizes that he is an unimpressive, talentless little troll. But, he did not want to be the only one who ran and hid from residents who wanted to ask him questions-even though it is their absolute right to do so.
So, Martin created a paranoid myth about the Sensible Citizens group-that other mindless trolls bought in to. This paranoid myth also spooked Koenig, Wischer, Hilgeford, Berger and Yost-Vaden enough that all five of them decided to deny the residents' absolute right to ask them questions. That is pathetic.
Some of these cowardly candidates will be elected on November 4. The math dictates that this is so. There is no way around that fact. Hopefully, the voters have enough respect for themselves to limit the damage they will do.
It is clearly the "bunker mentality" Martin who must go on November 4.
