Stuck On Stupid...
Radio Blogger reports that Lt. Gen. Russel Honore has developed a new term to be used when talking to the press. In response to a reporter’s question the General said “You are stuck on stupid.” The General hit the nail right on the head.
On September 18, 2005, the Opinion page of the Marysville-Yuba City Appeal Democrat (A/D) called for the resignation of the elected County Auditor-Controller. This is a paper that believes in its First Amendment rights but has now decided that you are guilty until proven innocent. The Opinion also suggests that some elected positions are subordinate to other elected positions. The A/D is clearly stuck on stupid.
It is clear that the A/D has taken the reported District Attorney Adams statement that the auditor "is a mere clerk of the Board of Supervisors" as fact. I wonder does the A/D believe that DA Adams is merely a clerk of the Board of Supervisors? The cited Opinion provides a reasonable basis to support such a position.
The Opinion provides a timeline for March 8. In that timeline we find “4 p.m. – Adams and an investigator go to Stark’s office, where Adams provides Stark copies of laws concerning payment of employees.” Where is County Counsel Ronald Erickson in this timeline? It is apparent that the Board of Supervisors sent out their clerk, DA Adams, and his assistant, in an effort to intimidate the elected County Auditor.
The Opinion gets one point correct. “What we have here is not a failure to communicate, there were e-mails and discussions galore. What we have here, instead, is division and distrust.” How does the Board of Supervisors handle this problem? They direct the “independent grand jury” get involved. The grand jury, as does the A/D, further diminishes the independence of the elected Auditor and increases the power of the Board of Supervisors with the following statement “We also found that the Auditor-Controller does not follow the instructions of the Board of Supervisors. Instead he operates independently, even when given direct orders to do a specific task.” It is clear that the grand jury and the Opinion editors have failed to read the government codes that provide for the powers of the elected County Auditor.
The Opinion editors believe that since the County Auditor and Board of Supervisors can’t get along the County Auditor should resign. Was there ever a thought about demanding members of the Board of Supervisors resign? Of course not!
In calling for his resignation, the A/D states “It might not be the happy ending he wants, but this isn’t Hollywood. For the good of the county, and even himself, he should clean out his desk and walk away, secure in the knowledge that he fought for open government and held true to his principles to the end.” It is clear that the Opinion editors are “Stuck On Stupid”.
If Mr. Stark walks away he will have abandoned his principles. If Mr. Stark walks away he is allowing the closed government that the Board of Supervisors and A/D advocates to flourish unabated.
Back to the opening. In America people are innocent until proven guilty. The fact that the grand jury issued indictments does not make Mr. Stark guilty. In fact, these indictments are myopic and could open the flood gates to an uncontrolled management and Boards of Supervisors throughout the State of California. Could you imagine the Governor bypassing the Legislature to write and approve his own laws? That is what the Appeal Democrat is advocating in their Opinion.
Finally, the IT issue is simply another example of the perversion of the OMB A-87 debate. This is about money and not about services. This is about power and not about the public. The Sutter County Board of Supervisors have waived any requirement to comply with even the basic requirements of documenting expenses so that they can garner more power and put that power in the unelected CAO.
I can only wonder what the Appeal Democrat and the Board of Supervisors will say when 12 citizens of Sutter County hear the evidence and find that the Auditor is not guilty. Will the Board of Supervisors fire the DA for failing to remove the thorn from their side?
This document is certified as “Bull Free” by Bullfighter.
On September 18, 2005, the Opinion page of the Marysville-Yuba City Appeal Democrat (A/D) called for the resignation of the elected County Auditor-Controller. This is a paper that believes in its First Amendment rights but has now decided that you are guilty until proven innocent. The Opinion also suggests that some elected positions are subordinate to other elected positions. The A/D is clearly stuck on stupid.
It is clear that the A/D has taken the reported District Attorney Adams statement that the auditor "is a mere clerk of the Board of Supervisors" as fact. I wonder does the A/D believe that DA Adams is merely a clerk of the Board of Supervisors? The cited Opinion provides a reasonable basis to support such a position.
The Opinion provides a timeline for March 8. In that timeline we find “4 p.m. – Adams and an investigator go to Stark’s office, where Adams provides Stark copies of laws concerning payment of employees.” Where is County Counsel Ronald Erickson in this timeline? It is apparent that the Board of Supervisors sent out their clerk, DA Adams, and his assistant, in an effort to intimidate the elected County Auditor.
The Opinion gets one point correct. “What we have here is not a failure to communicate, there were e-mails and discussions galore. What we have here, instead, is division and distrust.” How does the Board of Supervisors handle this problem? They direct the “independent grand jury” get involved. The grand jury, as does the A/D, further diminishes the independence of the elected Auditor and increases the power of the Board of Supervisors with the following statement “We also found that the Auditor-Controller does not follow the instructions of the Board of Supervisors. Instead he operates independently, even when given direct orders to do a specific task.” It is clear that the grand jury and the Opinion editors have failed to read the government codes that provide for the powers of the elected County Auditor.
The Opinion editors believe that since the County Auditor and Board of Supervisors can’t get along the County Auditor should resign. Was there ever a thought about demanding members of the Board of Supervisors resign? Of course not!
In calling for his resignation, the A/D states “It might not be the happy ending he wants, but this isn’t Hollywood. For the good of the county, and even himself, he should clean out his desk and walk away, secure in the knowledge that he fought for open government and held true to his principles to the end.” It is clear that the Opinion editors are “Stuck On Stupid”.
If Mr. Stark walks away he will have abandoned his principles. If Mr. Stark walks away he is allowing the closed government that the Board of Supervisors and A/D advocates to flourish unabated.
Back to the opening. In America people are innocent until proven guilty. The fact that the grand jury issued indictments does not make Mr. Stark guilty. In fact, these indictments are myopic and could open the flood gates to an uncontrolled management and Boards of Supervisors throughout the State of California. Could you imagine the Governor bypassing the Legislature to write and approve his own laws? That is what the Appeal Democrat is advocating in their Opinion.
Finally, the IT issue is simply another example of the perversion of the OMB A-87 debate. This is about money and not about services. This is about power and not about the public. The Sutter County Board of Supervisors have waived any requirement to comply with even the basic requirements of documenting expenses so that they can garner more power and put that power in the unelected CAO.
I can only wonder what the Appeal Democrat and the Board of Supervisors will say when 12 citizens of Sutter County hear the evidence and find that the Auditor is not guilty. Will the Board of Supervisors fire the DA for failing to remove the thorn from their side?
This document is certified as “Bull Free” by Bullfighter.
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