Should the Sheriff be elected or appointed?
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posted by Bob at Wednesday, May 09, 2007
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40 Comments:
Ramsey County: Time to appoint, not elect, a sheriff?
Ramsey County officials are considering putting that change before voters, possibly in November 2008.
By Mary Lynn Smith, Star Tribune
Last update: May 08, 2007 – 10:53 PM
Ramsey County voters may get to decide whether their sheriff should be appointed rather than elected, a change that would make the county unique in Minnesota.
Proponents say the county's top law enforcement official should be appointed just as most city police chiefs are, in an effort to get politics out of a process that has sheriffs campaigning and asking for political contributions.
"What do you say when the sheriff comes in asking you for money?" asked Charter Commission Vice Chairman Michael Fratto. "It's a little intimidating."
But Sheriff Bob Fletcher, now in his fourth term, contends that appointed officials are as political as elected ones. And in the end, he said, the public loses because elections give residents a say in whether they like what the sheriff is doing.
Charter Commission Member Russell Miller agrees that the sheriff's position should remain elected. "It's not broken, so why change it?" he asked.
The Charter Commission asked its attorney Monday to draft a ballot proposal that would have the county manager appoint the sheriff to a four-year term, pending approval by the County Board. The commission will review the proposal in August and would be likely to hold public hearings before deciding whether to put it on the 2008 ballot.
To get on the ballot, the proposal would need at least nine votes from the 17-member commission; to go into effect, it would need to be approved by 51 percent of the voters in the referendum. It would not go into effect until after the current four-year sheriff term ends in 2011 if the question passed in 2008.
Fratto said the issue has long been debated by the Charter Commission. One of the more recent debates, he said, occurred in 1999 when Fletcher took the County Board to court because the budget increase the board had approved fell short of his request.
The board and the sheriff eventually settled on a compromise, avoiding an expensive court battle but not before each side had shelled out money for private attorneys.
"That cost the taxpayers money," said County Board Chairman Tony Bennett.
The board considered going to the Legislature to ask for repeal of the state law that allows the sheriff to challenge the board's budget decisions in court. Meanwhile, the Charter Commission looked at making the sheriff's position appointed and more accountable to the board.
Bennett said the downside of the proposal is that it would take away the voters' right to elect a sheriff. On the other hand, he said, a county manager charged with appointing a sheriff probably would have more information than the average citizen about a sheriff's qualifications said.
"Basically, anyone can run for sheriff," he said.
Mary Lynn Smith • 651-298-1550 • mlsmith@startribune.com
The last thing we need is a Sheriff who is guided by politics.
We have seen what effect a City council can have on a police dept. and it isn't good!
They don't like Fletcher cause they can't control him and can't get their DFL cronies to defeat him. This Fratto guy has just got another scheme to take control away from the citizens a give it to some beuracrat. Fletcher went out and arrested his own damn kid for the pete sake....a Sheriff with this kind of conviction wouldn't think twice about going after a crooked politician and that makes the others nervous. I have a message for this Fratto guy.....KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF OF MY SHERIFF!
Ummm, Fletcher HAS made he Sheriff's office the most political in history. Dem or GOP, the evidence is there that he has been abusive and ultra-political. Just ask our friend Nancy on here. The guy is dangereous.
12:52, I am sure you are saying these things because Sheriff Fletcher has the courage to face the facts of the allegations in the Winn homicide.
I bet you are one of those Finney supporters who would like the Sheriffs office under the control of the Democrat party.
Your little world of hide the corruption is coming to an end and this makes you nervous. NO, I don't think putting the Sheriff Dept. under the control of some politician is a good idea.
I kind of don't care about Finney either, he has hs problems. But, we are talking about rather the Law Enforcemen office should be appointed ad therefore the Commissioners are accountable.
Corrupt politics?
Fletcher doesn't file his campaign finance reports for seven years and the County Attorney refuses to do anything though, normally, t takes about one year of not filing for the prosecuting to begin. Just ask Keith Ellison.
Fletcher has made top deputies out of guys who have questionable connections to gangs and drugs. He's appointed guys who couldn't even pass the basic law enforcement test. He's promoted guys that were his friends who have no law enforcement background or education to have the power to basically take your property and life at will.
He's demoted deputies that had the audacity to call him on his bullshit.
He tried to get his girlfriend on the city council and threaten to use the sherrif's office to track down the anonymous writer of a question (that was true by the way) and punish this person. He threatened the old ladies of the League of Women Voters. His tactics cost Saint Paul an independent seat that is now held by Lee Helgen.
He has been vengeful and petty. Just like the rest of the elected officials in Saint Paul. If we had an appointment process, then maybe people will realize how important it is to pay attention to your county elected officials. If their job depended on them making a good appointment, then we'd get some substance.
Fletcher has been the poster child for overt corruption (as opposed to the behind the scenes stuff that goes on in city hall). He is the Bull Conner of our time. If you don't know who that is, look it up.
If some of you were to pop-off to Fletcher or his boys like you do the city officials, he'd have this blog shut down and Bob Johnson arrested. That's how he operates. Its not good for a Democracy.
and if all the things 2:03 says are true, how does it make it better for us to have the responsibility removed by one step so we can now look to the County Board of Commissioners to be responsible? If the voters don't like Fletcher and his shenanigans, they can throw him out. If the job was an appointment, Finney would have been the Sheriff, and that is not at all what the voters wanted.
Lets see here, 2:03 and 12:52 PM is either John Moore (RCS) or Todd Axtell (SPPD).
This is just another way to appoint another DFLer to a department head position. By doing this the county is taking away the public's choice of Sheriff and giving it to the powers that be.
If the DFL had its choice they would appoint Finney, the second most corrupt police chief St. Paul has ever had, the first being John O'Connor, 1920.
Bill "Chief" Finney used to wear Chief John O'Connor's badge with the big diamond in it around the police department. Talk about two peas in a pod.
Finney has his cronies like one individual who is a current Commander in the vice unit. This commander was seen putting up campaign signs with a convicted drug dealer. This particular drug dealer was a former cop who was convicted of copying down license numbers from undercover police cars and then running the numbers and supplying this information to his drug dealing family. This put many police officers at risk. After the feds sealed his records, this individual worked for a security company that its president is very good friends with Finney. So, what does Finney do, he hires this same drug dealer ex-cop to watch the police impound lot.
Take Aaron Foster, Finney's friend. Finney helped him cover up the Barbara Winn murder.
How about Finney's friend from the fire department who took the pictures for a police year book that was never published. Finney's friend made a bundle on selling these picture packages to the officers in violation of city regulations.
Finney, please tell the public about the gun cabinet you had built in your office for your gun collection at city expense. It took a Sgt. over a weeks time to build this. Taking him away from the street and the city paid for it.
How about the "Golden Gun" valued at over $2,500.00. Finney only paid $250.00 for it. How about the letter you had a police department secretary write to the gun company stating the value at only $250.00 so you could buy it through the St. Paul Police Gun Club. The gun club still has the records Bill and so does the ATF.
Finney how about the Get Out Of Jail free letters you gave your friends.
How about all the tape recordings you made from your office phone in the chief's office. You know the recorder you kept in the right hand drawer of your desk. Let's play the tapes to the public Finney. Did the public purchase these tapes, if so where are they Bill?
Finney, please explain the cell phone you used at city expense to make personal and business calls on. This would be interesting to hear your explanation. Also the numbers called on it would also tell a very interesting story Bill. Is Linda listening? Please tell us why she was the only law enforcement officers required to sign in at the desk. Why didn't you her to come to your office unannounced? She was just in charge of the Minnesota BCA at the time and she would have had to act in the capacity of a law enforcement officer is she were to see something. Most unlike your standard of protecting your friends, Linda would have thrown you in jail.
Next, Finney please tell the real story about how you lost your gun and badge when you were chief. Please, oh pretty please tell the public the real story as it is really very interesting.
Finney, please tell the public about the car shows and all the "Extra" stuff you demanded fellow officers to do for your benefit at city expense.
Finney, please tell the public why you let Aaron Foster take a city squad car home everyday and provided gas for this car at city expense. Why has Aaron Foster not reimbursed the city for this expense?
Finney, please tell the public about how you denied permits to carry to law abiding citizens with perfect records, but instead gave a permit to carry to Aaron Foster who you personally know beats women. Please tell the public how these women came to you and told you Aaron beat or threatened to kill them and you did nothing to protect these women.
Finney, please tell the public that after watching Aaron Foster assault Barbara Winn you failed to act in the capacity of a police officer and stop this assault. Bill you are really a small person to allow a man to hit a woman. Bill you even sold Aaron Foster a handgun after all of this.
Finney, please tell the public how after learning Aaron Foster verbally assaulted and threatened your fellow police officers, you sided with Aaron Foster and allowed him to behave this way towards your fellow police officers? Would you like to share with the public the information contained in the lawsuit that was brought against you and the city by that police officer Aaron Foster threatened. Finney, please tell the public how you lost this case big time. Not only did the city have to pay big money to the police officer, but attorney fees as well. Nice one Finney, this cost the city taxpayers lots of money. Oh, Finney I forgot, did I mention how you put a reprimand in this police officer's file without telling the officer because they had complained about Foster. Did you forget about due process? Talk about getting back at someone.
Why didn't you do anything about the gang problem in St. Paul? You delegated a low level officer to the Metro Gang Strike Force Task Force. Why was this Bill, too many of your friends involved?
I can go on here, but I am getting tired of typing. Maybe Bob can post a separate posting just for former chief of police, William "Bill, Chief, Corky" Finney and his activities while he was a St. Paul Police Officer.
Bill Finney if you think we have forgotten all the stuff you did as chief and what you allowed your friends do and get away with you are sadly mistaken.
Thank goodness we have Chief Harrington as our police chief now. Chief Harrington is one class act unlike you.
Actually what 2:03 shows us is that when you have to chose from two crooks, all you get is a crook. A public selection process would have forced the Commissioners to look into a pool of candidates and judge them on their law enforcement skills, not how they've built favors with a party or group (labor, NRA, etc). It works well in every other appointed position.
Just imagine the equivilant of Bill Dahn and Sharon Anderson running for Sheriff. That's what we have now, a choice between those who are politically entrenched and can raise money instead of those who are most qualified through their profession.
4:22 PM
The difference between Bob Fletcher and Bill Finney is like night and day. I am not talking about skin color either.
Hey 4:20!
Fletcher lost all 100 precincts in Saint Paul. Those two guys you named don't even live there so, someone else must not like your boss Fletcher either. I beleive the writer doesn't like or much for Finney since he stated that both are corrupt and proved the point that public is not getting the best law enforcement has to offer when it has to go through this political crap.
Finney wouldn't have gotten appointed either. Harrington is popular and competent enough to be the top choice or even someone like republican commissioner Tony Bennett who used to be a cop and US Marshall.
4:20 goes a long way to show that Finney is a mess but, misses the point that Finney lost and Fletcher is the sheriff. As Sheriff, Fletcher had the violations stated in 2:03 posting.
Its this blind allegience that comes with politics that we can do without.
This proposal can only happen if a majority of voters in the county (the same one that elected Fletcher four times!) decides that THEY are ready for the Sheriff's position to be appointed. Rather you like Finney or Fletcher,how can you argue that's a bad idea in 'A Democracy'?
By the way, Harrington was appointed.
Didn't the cops take Nancy's house after she refused to be a narc? Wasn't Harrington the Cheif and Fletcher the Sheriff at the time their goons were running their game on Nancy?
Ask yourself, why did Nancy's boyfriend NOT support his boss, Bob Fletcher?
Fletcher's "Dysfunctions" are more compatible with the public than Finney's are. Niether of them ever claimed to be perfect.
Dear 4:45 PM
If my memory is correct, Finney lost the election and Fletcher won. Yes, Fletcher may have lost some precincts in Ramsey County, but he won the election. Sort of like loosing some battles, but winning the war.
Finney won mostly in St. Paul because St. Paul is a DFL city that is controlled by Democrats who only vote the DFL line and do not care if their candidate is a crook.
Finney was reappointed chief in 1998, but there were many concerns about his ability to lead the police department. One former deputy chief even came forward with many issues that were investigated by the city council. There were many major concerns about Finney. Many very shady things were happening
Jim Reiter who was on the city council at the time demanded and got approval by the city council for a survey of the police department to assess Finney's ability to lead the police department. This survey brought out many serious concerns about Finney's fitness for office.
The city council that was all DFL at the time could not afford not to reappoint Finney or they would face a major voter backlash from the black community.
The city council failed to do the right thing and took the easy road and looked the other way to Finney's poor leadership and major indiscretions.
The next mayor, Mayor Randy Kelly saw Finney for what he really was. Why do you think Finney quit after two terms as police chief, Kelly was not going to reappoint him? Mayor Kelly did what the city council could did not do or was unwilling to do. Kelly held Finney accountable for his actions.
The problem with a one party towns like St. Paul and Minneapolis is you have people like Finney who are less than honest, but that does not matter as they are reelected time after time because they are a member of the DFL.
I know many good DFLers and they are also ashamed at Finney's actions. Finney needs to be in jail cell along with Foster.
A vote for DFL is a vote for corruption and crime.
And a vote for a Republican is better? Not according to the arrests and lies coming out of their Congress in the last six years. DFLers may be screwing things up locally but, on a national level, republicans are being ran out of office and arrested and charged with corruption faster than you can blame Bill Clinton.
12:07 A. M. stated:
"DFLers may be screwing things up locally but, on a national level, republicans are being ran out of office and arrested and charged with corruption faster than you can blame Bill Clinton."
This off topic and your facts are not correct. Between 1992-2000 how many special prosecutors were there? Do you remember Whitewater etc... Please let’s not forget the blue dress, but I digress. The behaviors exhibited by some members of both parties have been a disgrace to their office. If you were to look back at history you will see not one party has a lock on appropriate behavior while they are in office. Just one point I have to make here, Bill Clinton sure knew how to party.
So back to the thread about should the Sheriff be elected of appointed?
It is interesting the Charter Commission Chairman pushing this change is the famous Michael Fratto, a hardcore Democrat who is a major poster on E-Democracy.
Tony Bennett, a Ramsey County Board Member said the downside of the proposal is that it would take away the voters' right to elect a sheriff. On the other hand, he said, a county manager charged with appointing a sheriff probably would have more information than the average citizen about a sheriff's qualifications said.
Now I call that statement a sitting on the fence statement.
The position of Sheriff should remain elected and not appointed. The comparison between a city form of government and county form of government is like apples and oranges. The public should always have a say in who their top law enforcement officer is. If I had my way, the position of county manager would also be elected and not appointed. If you take a look at the mess that is happening in the city of Maplewood with their city manager and mayor you would be amazed. The city manager was appointed at 2:00 in the morning and this was not posted on the agenda. This was pushed through in the middle of the night. You all think Bob’s blog here is good (and it is good), you should go to Maplewood Voices at http://www.barkbay.com/voices/summary.asp and see what has been going on in Maplewood. Talk about crooks running the show, Maplewood has all the makings of a good movie and it is close to St. Paul.
The public needs to decide whom the county Sheriff is and I would add the position of county manager as well.
Who wants to help start the petition?
Hitler, Brush, St.Paul, Ramsey County say No More Free Speech.
No more Free Elections.
No More Freedom of choice.
Freedom ended, with a wave of a pen.
NO MORE?
5:21am
138 Reagan administration officials had been convicted, had been indicted, or had been the subject of official investigations for official misconduct and/or criminal violations. In terms of number of officials involved, the record of his administration was the worst ever.
Despite the fact that the President and first lady, and many members of the Clinton administration were charged with crimes, their accusers fell flat on their faces when they had to prove their trumped up charges in court almost every time, because there was no credible evidence or witnesses to justify the charges brought by their Republican enemies and touted by their countless friends in the mainstream media.
I thought we'd talk facts here.
As to your other issue, I would suggest that we look at other counties in the country and see how having either all of the County Offices elected would be more acountable (Treasurer, Elections Cheif, Manager, Auditor, Sheriff, Coroner, Recorder of Deeds and so forth) or more political offices for the dominant party.
The practice of moving to a manager/council system has proven to be most effective and efficient.
However, its not Fratto or the DFL that will decide but, everyone in Ramsey County when they vote. Thi question will be answered at the ballot box by the voters. So like you all seem to be advocating, the voters will decide and who the hell is Fletcher to say that we ca't make that decision?
Dear 12:45 P. M.
There were 247 Clinton administration officials who had had been either convicted or they had been indicted, or had been the subject of official investigations for official misconduct and/or criminal violations. In terms of number of officials involved, the record of his administration was the worst ever.
Show me your sources and I will show you mine. Mine are from the US Department of Justice and Special Prosecutor's office.
It is east to just throw out figures, you DFLer's do this all time. You are starting to believe yourselves. You spin and spin and now you do not even know what is up or down.
Finney is a crook.
Finney's friends sold drugs to children and he did nothing to stop it. Gee Finney was also on the School Board. Let's see him run again for the school board. Sort of like the fox in the hen house.
What about Finney's friend Foster and how Finney covered up for Foster.
This change from an elected to an appointed sheriff is coming from the DFL because their boy lost the election. The DFL wants to control everything and this is just another way to consolidate power. Fratto is just doing the dirty work for the DFL. If you think otherwise you are mistaken.
Bob, this postedalready submitted this on another thread today. Are we now just crossposting the same thing over and over.
All of the people of Ramsey County will make the decision on appointed or elected. Not the DFL.
4:34, Everything started here on this thread and bleed into the latest post at the top of the front page.
I can only imagine the poster had a lot to say and didn't want to repeat himself or herself twice.
By the end of his term, 138 Reagan administration officials had been convicted, had been indicted, or had been the subject of official investigations for official misconduct and/or criminal violations. In terms of number of officials involved, the record of his administration was the worst ever. I repeat, the number of officials involved is the highest ever. It's actually about sixth whenit comes to worst administrations and corruption. The first four are Republicans and number is a certain Southern Democrat that was impeached in the 19th century.
James Watt, Reagan's Secretary of the Interior was indicted on 41 felony counts for using connections at the Department of Housing and Urban Development to help his private clients seek federal funds for housing projects in Maryland, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Watt conceded that he had received $500,000 from clients who were granted very favorable housing contracts after he had intervened on their behalf. In testifying before a House committee Watt said: "That's what they offered and it sounded like a lot of money to me, and we settled on it." Watt was eventually sentenced to five years in prison and 500 hours of community service.
Although not convicted, Edwin Meese III, resigned as Reagan's Attorney General after having been the subject of investigations by the United States Office of the Independent Counsel on two occasions (Wedtech and Iran-Contra), during the 3 short years he was in office.
E. Bob Wallach, close friend and law classmate of Attorney General Edwin Meese, was sentenced to six years in prison and fined $250,000 in connection with the Wedtech influence-peddling scandal.
Lyn Nofziger--Convicted on charges of illegal lobbying of White House in Wedtech scandal.
Michael Deaver received three years' probation and was fined one hundred thousand dollars after being convicted for lying to a congressional subcommittee and a federal grand jury about his lobbying activities after leaving the White House.
The Iran-Contra scandal. In June, 1984, at a National Security Council meeting, CIA Director Casey urged President Reagan to seek third-party aid for the Nicaraguan contras. Secretary of State Schultz warned that it would be an "impeachable offense" if the U.S. government acted as conduit for such secret funding. But that didn't stop them. That same day, Oliver North was seeking third-party aid for the contras. But Reagan, the "teflon President" avoided serious charges or impeachment.
Casper Weinberger was Secretary of Defense during Iran-Contra. In June 1992 he was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of concealing from congressional investigators and prosecutors thousands of pages of his handwritten notes. The personal memoirs taken during high level meetings, detailed events in 1985 and 1986 involving the Iran-Contra affair. Weinberger claimed he was being unfairly prosecuted because he would not provide information incriminating Ronald Reagan. Weinberger was scheduled to go on trial January 5, 1993, where the contents of his notes would have come to light and may have implicated other, unindicted conspirators. While Weinberger was never directly linked to the covert operations phase of the Iran-Contra affair, he is believed to have been involved in the cover-up of the ensuing scandal. According to Special Prosecutor Lawrence Walsh, Weinberger's notes contain evidence of a conspiracy among the highest ranking Reagan Administration officials to lie to congress and the American public. Some of the notes are believed to have evidence against then Vice-President George Bush who pardoned Weinberger to keep him from going to trial.
Raymond Donovan, Secretary of Labor indicted for defrauding the New York City Transit Authority of $7.4. million.
{ Republicans will point out that Donovan was acquitted. And that really matters in Donovan's case, because he was a Republican. But it didn't matter for Clinton or any of his cabinet, most all of whom were acquitted, because they were Democrats!}
Elliott Abrams was appointed by President Reagan in 1985 to head the State Department's Latin American Bureau. He was closely linked with ex-White House aide Lt. Col. Oliver North's covert movement to aid the Contras. Working for North, Abrams coordinated inter-agency support for the contras and helped solicit illegal funding from foreign powers as well as domestic contributors. Abrams agreed to cooperate with Iran-Contra investigators and pled guilty to two charges reduced to misdemeanors. He was sentenced in 1991 to two years probation and 100 hours of community service but was pardoned by President George Bush.
Robert C. McFarlane was appointed Ronald Reagan's National Security Advisor in October 1983 and become well-known as a champion of the MX missile program in his role as White House liaison to congress. In 1984, Mc Farlane initiated the review of U.S. policy towards Iran that led directly to the arms for hostages deal. He also supervised early National Security Council efforts to support the Contras. Shortly after the Iran-Contra scandal was revealed in early 1987, McFarlane took an overdose of the tranquilizer Valium in an attempt to end his life. In his own words: "What really drove me to despair was a sense of having failed the country." McFarlane pled guilty to four misdemeanors and was sentenced to two years probation and 200 hours of community service. He was also fined $20,000. He received a blanket pardon from President George Bush.
Oliver North--Convicted of falsifying and destroying documents, accepting an illegal gratuity, and aiding and abetting the obstruction of Congress. Conviction overturned on appeal due to legal technicalities.
John Poindexter, Reagan's national security advisor, --guilty of five criminal counts involving conspiracy to mislead Congress, obstructing congressional inquiries, lying to lawmakers, used "high national security" to mask deceit and wrong-doing.
Richard Secord pleaded guilty to a felony charge of lying to Congress over Iran-Contra.
Alan D. Fiers was the Chief of the Central Intelligence Agency's Central American Task Force. Fiers pled guilty in 1991 to two counts of withholding information from congress about Oliver North's activities and the diversion of Iran arms sale money to aid the Contras. He was sentenced to one year of probation and 100 hours of community service. Fiers agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in exchange for having his felonies reduced to misdemeanors and his testimony gave a boost to the long standing criminal investigation of Lawrence Walsh, Special Prosecutor. Fiers testified that he and three CIA colleagues knew by mid-1986 that profits from the TOW and HAWK missile sales to Iran were being diverted to the Contras months before it became public knowledge. Alan Fiers received a blanket pardon for his crimes from President Bush.
Clair George was Chief of the CIA's Division of Covert Operations under President Reagan. In August 1992 a hung jury led U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth to declare a mistrial in the case of Clair George who was accused of concealing from Congress his knowledge of the Iran-Contra affair. George had been named by Alan Fiers when Fiers turned state's evidence for Lawrence Walsh's investigation. In a second trial on charges of perjury, false statements and obstruction of justice, George was convicted of lying to two congressional committees in 1986. George faced a maximum five year federal prison sentence and a $20,000 fine for each of the two convictions. Jurors cleared George of five other charges including two counts of lying to a federal grand jury. Those charges would have carried a mandatory 10 months in prison upon conviction. Clair George received a blanket pardon for his crimes from President George Bush.
Duane R. (Dewey) Clarridge was head of the CIA's Western European Division under President Reagan. He was indicted on November 29, 1991 for lying to congress and to the Tower Commission that investigated Iran- Contra. Clarridge was charged with five counts of perjury and two counts of making false statements for covering up his knowledge of a November 25, 1985 shipment of HAWK missiles to Iran. Clarridge was also suspected of diverting to the Contras weapons that were originally intended for the Afghan mujahaddeen guerrillas. Clarridge received a blanket pardon for his crimes on Christmas Eve 1992 from President George Bush.
Environmental Protection Agency's favoritism toward polluters. Assistant administrator unduly influenced by chemical industry lobbyists. Another administrator resigned after pressuring employees to tone down a critical report on a chemical company accused of illegal pollution in Michigan. The deputy chief of federal activities was accused of compiling an interagency "hit" or "enemies" list, like those kept in the Nixon Watergate period, singling out career employees to be hired, fired or promoted according to political beliefs.
Anne Gorscuh Burford resigned amid accusations she politically manipulated the Superfund money.
Rita Lavelle was fired after accusing a senior EPA official of "systematically alienating the business community." She was later indicted, tried and convicted of lying to Congress and served three months of a six-month prison sentence. After an extensive investigation, in August 1984, a House of Representatives subcommittee concluded that top-level EPA appointees by Reagan for three years "violated their public trust by disregarding the public health and the environment, manipulating the Superfund program for political purposes, engaging in unethical conduct and participating in other abuses.".
Neglected nuclear safety. A critical situation involving nuclear safety had been allowed to develop during the Reagan era. Immense sums, estimated at 200 billion or more, would be required in the 1990s to replace and make safe America's neglected, aging, deteriorating, and dangerous nuclear facilities.
Savings & Loan Bail-out. Hundreds of billions of dollars were needed to bail out savings and loan institutions that either had failed during the deregulation frenzy of the eighties or were in danger of bankruptcy.
Reckless airline deregulation. Deregulation of airline industry took too broad a sweep, endangering public safety.
Additionally:
Richard Allen, National Security adviser resigned amid controversy over an honorarium he received for arranging an interview with Nancy Reagan.
Richard Beggs, chief administrator at NASA was indicted for defrauding the government while an executive at General Dynamics.
Guy Flake, Deputy Secretary of Commerce, resigned after allegations of a conflict of interest in contract negotiations.
Louis Glutfrida, Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency resigned amid allegations of misuses of government property.
Edwin Gray, Chairman of the Federal Home Loan Bank was charged with illegally repaying himself and his wife $26,000 in travel costs.
Max Hugel, CIA chief of covert operations who resigned after allegations of fraudulent financial dealings.
Carlos Campbell, Assistant Secretary of Commerce resigned over charges of awarding federal grants to his personal friends' firms.
John Fedders, chief of enforcement for the Securities and Exchange Commission resigned over charges of beating his wife.
Arthur Hayes, Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration resigned over illegal travel reimbursements.
J. Lynn Helms, chief of the Federal Aviation Administration resigned over a grand jury investigation of illegal business activities.
Marjory Mecklenburg, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Resources resigned over irregularities on her travel vouchers.
Robert Nimmo, head of the Veterans Administration resigned when a report criticized him for improper use of government funds.
J. William Petro, U.S. Attorney fired and fined for tipping off an acquaintance about a forthcoming Grand Jury investigation.
Thomas C. Reed, White House counselor and National Security Council adviser resigned and paid a $427,000 fine for stock market insider trading.
Emanuel Savas, Assistant Secretary of HUD resigned over assigning staff members to work on government time on a book that guilty to expense account fraud and accepting kickbacks on government contracts.
Charles Wick, Director of the U.S. Information Agency investigated for taping conversations with public officials without their approval.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Two types of problems typified the ethical misconduct cases of the Reagan years, and both had heavy consequences to citizens everywhere. One stemmed from ideology and deregulatory impulses run amok; the other, from classic corruption on a grand scale.
* The Pentagon procurement scandal, which resulted from the Republicans' enormous infusion of money too quickly into the Defense Department after the lean Carter years .
* Massive fraud and mismanagement in the Department of Housing and Urban Development throughout Reagan's eight years. These were finally documented in congressional hearings in spring 1989, after Reagan left office. Cost the taxpayers billions of dollars in losses. What made this scandal most shameful was that Reagan's' friends and fixers profited at the expense of the poor, the very people HUD and the federal government were pledged to assist through low-income housing. . .
Despite their many public lies about the matter, it was eventually proven that the Sales of weapons to Iran, followed by illegal financial support of the Central American Contras were carried out with the knowledge of, among others, President Ronald Reagan, Vice President George Bush, Secretary of State George P. Shultz, Secretary of Defense Caspar W. Weinberger, Director of Central Intelligence William J. Casey, and national security advisers Robert C. McFarlane and John M. Poindexter. Of these officials, only Weinberger and Shultz dissented from the policy decision. Weinberger eventually acquiesced and ordered the Department of Defense to provide the necessary arms. Large volumes of highly relevant, contemporaneously created documents were systematically and willfully withheld from investigators by several Reagan Administration officials in an attempt to cover up the administration's extensive corruption.
Bob,
I thought this thread line was on the election of appointment of the Ramsey County Sheriff.
The poster at 8:31 AM today totally missed the thread topic. Can you remove this post, as it has nothing to do with the sheriff being elected or appointed?
Do you have any rules to stay at least a little on topic? In reading 8:31's post there is nothing that talks about the election or appointment of the Ramsey County Sheriff. This distracts from the value of the thread topic.
Bob can you help out here?
Actually 8:31 is answering 5:21am. And, Bob stated hsi position earler. Bob, would have to delete (censor) abotu five posts to please you.
You should have piped up when this turned to the Clinton stuff- or even Democrats versus Republicans. But, with Bob and gan being Republicans, they'll let it go until you smack down their hero or mention Bush/Iraq/Cheney.
1:45, I am a registered Libertarian.
Really Bob?
You do know in Minnesota we don't register to political paries like other states don't you?
You can vote Dem or Rep or Ind or Green on Primary Day and no one asks you to register (in some states you declare your party- or register, and they hand you the ballot with only your party candidates on it).
So how long hve you been a registered Libertarian, and how much did the guy on the corner charge you for 'registration'.
Dear 10:38 PM
This sounds like a SPEDer. How much did Tim or Rick pay you topost this?
What Bob stated was he is a Libertarian.
What amazes me is the DFL can get so literal when they want to be, but when one of their own makes an opps they brush it off.
Say how is Ted Mondale doing after his arrest for DUI? Was he smoking at the bar when he left?
What does this have to do with the topic, "I don't know."
Please stay on the thread of should the Sheriff be elected or appointed and avoid personal attacts towards our moderator (I got this from SPED).
On SPIF when the moderator makes a mistake or mis statement they apologize and offer a correction. On this blog, everyone else is held accountable except the moderator and any Right leaning thoughts rather they be on topic o not.
It's a town hall forum only for those who think like the majority on here. Anyone else can sit back ge attacked. Pfft!
What has Ted Mondale to do with this? He got caught, he said he did it and will do whatever the court decides. He said this the day he was pulled over.
Since he lives in Hennepin County, I doubt if he was smoking at the bar. It all smoke-free.
I see this is going to be Dem vs Rep. If we are going to leave saint paul I want to know how Mark Olson is doing. Is he still a sitting legislature after beating his wife? Why haven't the double standard repulicans kicked him out of the caucus? I guess when you're OK with an admitted sex offender in your caucus (Dick Borrell)? Ahh, those family values
8:29 and 8:55 AM
I am not sure what you are smoking this early in the morning, but Tim W. and Michelle F. were some of the worst moderators for SPED.
Biased and following the DFL line.
Bob is at least fair and allows all people to speak even though they can not stay on topic.
Not let’s get back to the topic of should the Sheriff be elected or appointed.
Tried of all this DFL whining.
Hey, let's not forget Al Ortwig, a St. Paul School Board Member and endorsed by the DFL and Stonewall DFL who was caught watching child porn on a public library computer last month.
That is the person I want looking after my kids.
Take Jay Benanav's mistress who trashed his city council office and it was covered up by the DFL. No charges were ever pressed even though many DFL staffers who work for city council members witnessed it. This trashing of Jay’s office destroyed city property. We taxpayers paid to have his office repaired, but the mistress did not have to pay. Jay got a pass, talk about family values at their best. Why did Jay’s wife ever stay married to him is a wonder.
How about city council member Dave Thune smoking in his city council office. I thought there was a law against this activity in a public building (no smoking in a public building), but it does not apply to elected officials who want to impose their brand of socialism through banning everything for our own good.
10:38
I am a registered LIBERTARIAN LIKE I SAID.
I encourage others to REGISTER!
http://www.growthelp.org/register.htm
https://ssl.capwiz.com/congressorg/e4/nvra/?action=form&state=
The truth always prevails here..
Bob, nice try. When talking about being a registered this or that, it has a specific meaning and that meaning doesn't apply in Minnesota due to our open election laws.
I afraid that peopleo n here have no use for correction, or intellect if its not laced with profanities against:
1. DFL
2. SPIF
3. City Council
4. Saint Paul Electeds and public employees
5. Bill Finney
6. Code Enforcement
7. Chuck Repke
Even when the moderator tried to educate you pinheads on the n-word, it turned into a devolving rabid anti- all the above shout fest.
Bob claims to be a libertarian yet, I look at his links and they lead to the Republican blogs and hate pages. I guess he's a libertarian when the Republicans poll numbers drop below 40%.
While Ortwig hasn't been charged with anything, Republican Dick Borrel was charged with sexual assault on the girlfriend of his nephew. He then went on to get the Republican endorsement and win a seat in the House of Representatives just a few years ago. That's class.
Then there's Mark Olson from Big Lake. The Republican House member was arrested for kicking the shit out of his wife. Did our Minnesota Republicans denounce him or remove him from their caucus- NO! They gave him a standing ovation when he returned from jail.
And, Steve Sviggum voting for huge ethonol subsidies which went right to his families bank accounts.
And Governor Pawlenty who hold the record in Minnesota for the biggest fine ever for cheating during the election. The second biggest was also picked by him the second time he ran.
There's not enough space to fill in here the shit that Norm Coleman has done to the city and now the country.
A sword is not a dagger, a sword can stab and slice.
10:51 AM
We also have done our opposition research. Scott Walker of the Republican party is the new Sheriff in town. You have no idea what is planned for St. Paul DFLers. Take a look at what happened to the Highland District Council and Gayle Summers.
Yes, the all one party is over in St. Paul and Minneapolis. These one party towns are in for a good house cleaning. This is a good thing as the public gains, and the crooks go to jail.
Crooks like Finney and Foster would not have been given the pass had there been equal representation on the city council.
Your smear campaign against anyone who opposes the DFL has worked in the past, but the public sees this for what it really is.
10:45,
This is off topic but here goes.I must respond to your comments about me.
I think if you take a poll you will find most Libertarians support Republican candidates.
And it is true we don't have to register for a party here in this state. However, the registration is symbolic and registering for the Libertarian Party gets you on their mailer list which will keep you informed of what is going on in the Libertarian Party.
As for ALL Republican blogs and alleged hate pages linked here. I think Grace Kelly of "mnblue" and Martin Owings may have an issue with you on that one.
You do make a good point, my links are for the most part conservative blogs. I will link some liberal blogs. I'd be happy to link any site you request of me. I want this forum to be inclusive of everyone regardless of party affiliation.
I'd like to see more folks from the left participating in A Democracy.
HATE LINKS- I don't have any hate sites linked. What links do you consider hate links?
10:45, you are a regular here! I even know who you are. Whether you want to admit it or not you are a member here and I am very happy to have you take the time to express your veiws.:-)
I really would like to see Corky come here and say all this stuff isn't true. I'd like to hear from Sheriff Fletcher.
I intend to inform Bob and Corky of this thread. If there is slanderous information here I want it addressed.
We can start a new topic if someone request it, and hope it doesn't deteriorate into a slug fest of insults and off topic comments.
Bob, you're really trying to tell me that you support the Republicans because you beleive in a party that is for individual freedoms and minding our business? Let me list off the ways the Republicans, or so-called Conservatives have screwed up that philosophy:
1. Iraq Invasion
http://www.progressiveaustin.org/lp_iraq.htm
http://www.lp.org/yourturn/archives/000259.shtml
You get the picture, its a bad deal.
2. These Republicn neo-cons
http://www.lputah.org/node/17
3. Patriot Act?
http://www.lp.org/media/article_152.shtml
4. 9/11
http://www.lp.org/yourturn/archives/000607.shtml
Libertarians versus Republicans
http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=6862
Swiftee, and Brodkorb over at MDE are staunch Republicans, not principled Conservatives. While they tell you what and who you should be against, the mention nothing about what to stand for. Libertarians have always been about what to stand for. Though I disagree with their philosophy, I tip my hat to their consistent integrity that doesn't change with whomever occupies the White House. Those links are the opposite of that.
Plus, you don't even have a link to the Libertarian National site or their blog, or Congressman Ron Paul's blog or website.
You're off your game on this one. I smell a republican looking for cover.
Second, you don't know who I am. You may think you do and sometime when I'm in Saint Paul I may come meet you but, I'm 100% sure you're off on this one. Care to take a guess?
The Finney and Fletcher thing is old news. Republicans like Fletcher and turn a blind eye to his accusations and blame Finney, AND rip on Finney. Finney's guys rarely read these blogs (though they're on SPIF so that may be where the A democracy hatred comes from) so its one sided. I have seen Nancy O pointed to a few times and she's been pretty quiet. That's telling. Her boyfriend has to deal with Bob and if the accusations are true, she needs to stay out of it or Bob will have him working the night shift in lock-up.
Read through Tom Swiftee Swift's blog and if you can't see hate in there then, you probably think that Rosie O'Donnell is a hot skinny chick.
10:21 said-
Bob, you're really trying to tell me that you support the Republicans because you believe in a party that is for individual freedoms and minding our business?
Bob said-
I support the Republican Party because they closely represent my moral foundations. I would consistently vote Libertarian except I firmly believe for a number of reasons third party's are ineffective.
I was appalled by the immoralities of the Clinton's, and the violations of civil rights by Janet Reno. I believe our President should set the highest moral standards as an example to the citizens of this country.Frankly I am also appalled by the sexual indiscretions of local politicians also.
I am a firm believer in capitalism and it seems the Democratic Party would be better named the Socialist Party. Soon 50% of all our wages will be Uncle Sam's. I believe this was an issue of the Revolutionary War.
10:21 said-
though they're on SPIF so that may be where the A democracy hatred comes from) so its one sided.
Bob said- I find this statement laughably funny :-)! The hatred if you chose to use this word, I prefer disgust, is due in part because of the means SPIF used to silence many of the voices who participate here.
E Democracy is one sided in the sense that powerful conservative voices are silenced through the use of the forum management. I encourage opposition, SPIF does not want powerful voices opposing the CLIC at their forum.
As for a guess who you are. I believe you are a Ramsey County Deputy Sheriff and I will leave it at that. :-)
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