OKC Mayor Race 2014

[tomokc]

That's what i think, if he was really concerned about his kids, then he would bow out and the records would stay shut. We'll see what kind of judgement he really has.

This isn't about the kids. It was never about the kids, and it never will be about the kids.

[Edgar]

This is exactly right! Your are lucky to be accepted if you have smoked a little weed. You wouldn't even get a chance to make it to the physical if you had done anything more. OKC PD is one of the best departments in the country, they invest a ton of money in each recruit, they have a background investigator do an extensive check on you. Not to mention the lie detector test, which I'm pretty confident that ES couldn't pass.

This has been my argument from day one, how can the FOP support a candidate who could not pass the background check to become an officer. Our officers deserve better out of our FOP than that. I promise you they endorsed ES because they are still bitter over MAPS3.

They're probably tired of Cornett blowing smoke up their collective arse to get their vote. Mick has vigorously advocated the chamber projects, and not much else. The Clarence Thomas of the 'shoe.

[Edgar]

I agree. Mike is a legend - someone I greatly admire.

A legendary intolerant regressive- did you read his review of Shadid's kick off at the Farmer's Market? Lock the doors, the unclean are on the loose. Also thought MAPS a stupid idea remember.

[warreng88]

A legendary intolerant regressive- did you read his review of Shadid's kick off at the Farmer's Market? Lock the doors, the unclean are on the loose. Also thought MAPS a stupid idea remember.

So did my father-in-law but now he says he was wrong. What's your point?

[warreng88]

They're probably tired of Cornett blowing smoke up their collective arse to get their vote. Mick has vigorously advocated the chamber projects, and not much else. The Clarence Thomas of the 'shoe.

Can't wait to see the reaction to this gem.

[Bellaboo]

They're probably tired of Cornett blowing smoke up their collective arse to get their vote. Mick has vigorously advocated the chamber projects, and not much else. The Clarence Thomas of the 'shoe.

Edgar,

Not sure i've ever seen anyone come up with as much crap as you do....you make me laugh.

Don't you understand you are not helping the ES cause one bit ?

On edit - how about using 'swarthy' again.... that's another classic.

[warreng88]

They're probably tired of Cornett blowing smoke up their collective arse to get their vote. Mick has vigorously advocated the chamber projects, and not much else. The Clarence Thomas of the 'shoe.

Do you know what the Chamber of Commerce does?

[kevinpate]

bumped thread

Hmmm, new thread name? bumpED thread

[Midtowner]

A legendary intolerant regressive- did you read his review of Shadid's kick off at the Farmer's Market? Lock the doors, the unclean are on the loose. Also thought MAPS a stupid idea remember.

The unclean?

What?

[Midtowner]

They're probably tired of Cornett blowing smoke up their collective arse to get their vote. Mick has vigorously advocated the chamber projects, and not much else. The Clarence Thomas of the 'shoe.

Oh yeah? BWARRRRRGH

two can play at this game.

[SoonerDave]

Think that release by the FOP sounds like a stop-gap until whatever relevant procedures are in place for pulling the endorsement can be followed. I can't fathom you'd release something like that, then not pull the endorsement completely based on...what...something Shadid would say that would make their objections/his behavior suddenly palatable? If there were even a thought of that, I can't imagine they'd go to the trouble of issuing a statement like this.

I think the broader wisdom is that anyone who might prefer an alternative to Cornett (for whatever reason), and initially found it (to whatever degree) in Shadid's campaign (if only notionally), are now tripping over themselves as they flee...perhaps back to Cornett, or to a neutral corner.

The real tragedy in Shadid's delusional campaign is that if someone had some legit alternatives or ideas to put out there, this bozo has killed the goose for it. Think everyone is already tired of this mayor's race, and that's saying a lot for an OKC municipal race

[Jim Kyle]

Perhaps we should modify the city charter to include an additional entry on the ballot for each and every municipal office: "None of the above." And provide that in the event "None of the above" polls the most votes, declare that office vacant until the next scheduled election. It just might bring out a few changes in the look of our elections...

[soonerguru]

What a weird article. He has a press conference with his ex wife and he rails against the Oklahoman, even though the Oklahoman has not published details from his divorce file, the Gazette has. Then he drags his daughter into it. And it's accompanied by a creepy photo.

Shadid defiant in face of potential divorce doc ruling | Red Dirt Report

[boitoirich]

The divorce record thing needs to stop. We are electing a mayor -- not an ex-husband. There are enough issues to discuss that actually impact the direction of this city -- transit, MAPS, and development chief among them. Let's try to get back to the issues and make informed decisions that move Oklahoma City in the right direction.

FWIW I have not decided who to support next year. No one's perfect, but at least among this chat group here I would expect to see more civil discourse and less tabloid-style distraction.

[kevinpate]

But, But, But, the OKC voters will be choosing between two ex husbands. The challenger is doing what challengers often do ... make themselves attractive to low information voters as early as possible. often once a LIV makes up his or her mind, the decision is locked in and anything that might impact that decision is fairly easily dismissed. To an LIV, hey, the guy bucks the establishment and even his ex thinks he's ok. that's so rare he must be a real vehicle for change.

Every time a mind shuts, a challenger gets new feathers on his or her wings.

[SoonerDave]

The divorce record thing needs to stop. We are electing a mayor -- not an ex-husband. There are enough issues to discuss that actually impact the direction of this city -- transit, MAPS, and development chief among them. Let's try to get back to the issues and make informed decisions that move Oklahoma City in the right direction.

FWIW I have not decided who to support next year. No one's perfect, but at least among this chat group here I would expect to see more civil discourse and less tabloid-style distraction.

The divorce issue, in and of itself, isn't particularly germane to his ability to be a mayor. The use of cocaine, LSD, possibly even while he was practicing medicine (?), or alleged evidence of him engaging in physical abuse of a spouse is absolutely germane - to his character. It bothers me when such things are dismissed as irrelevant when they are clearly character issues.

Now, in reality, none of this affects my decision - he had already done plenty to convince me he's laughably unqualified even to be a dog catcher - but as is evidenced in this thread, he has his sycophants, and so the discussions persist.

I, personally, think this race is over - Shadid looks worse and worse every time he opens his mouth at this point, even to the extent of trying to seem sympathetic in some oddball way of drawing his daughter into the fray (which is just, well, odd). And I can't help but chuckle at the fact that he's trying to blame the Oklahoman for his problems.

Either way, I think Cornett does himself a great service every time he simply chooses not to engage in any aspect of the Ed Circus. If there's a tabloid aspect to this, Shadid has no one but himself to blame.

[betts]

What a weird article. He has a press conference with his ex wife and he rails against the Oklahoman, even though the Oklahoman has not published details from his divorce file, the Gazette has. Then he drags his daughter into it. And it's accompanied by a creepy photo.

Shadid defiant in face of potential divorce doc ruling | Red Dirt Report

His daughter whom he supposedly wanted to protect from all this information. He'll even use her in his desperate attempt to win this election. This just reiterates what kind of human being this guy is. It's kind of sad, actually. We've seen prior examples of his lack of scruples in the political sphere, but if he truly wanted to protect his daughter he should have stayed a private citizen and kept his past hidden. Or at least kept her out of the limelight. She has to deal with all of this at school now.

And all of this again demonstrates that this man is seriously lacking in common sense. If I wanted to run for mayor or any major public office, the first thing I would do is privately reflect on my life to see if I really wanted it to see the light of day. We can mourn the lack of privacy given an elected official, but most of us are smart enough to know there's a real risk one's dirty laundry will be out for all to see. And I surely wouldn't say I was seeking transparency for the office if I desired opacity for my actions. Last, If I still decided to risk it, I would be scrupulously honest as a politician, build political bridges and come clean at the start of my first campaign, hoping my stellar behavior in office would show people I'd changed. Major fail there too.

[Just the facts]

“Today, I am asking the people of Oklahoma City for your forgiveness just as I have asked God for the same,” Shadid said. “I am grateful for the gift of redemption and the opportunity to atone for my past.” - See more at: Shadid defiant in face of potential divorce doc ruling | Red Dirt Report

This is at least 3 years too late. You see, this is why you should always start with the truth. You end up having to use it anyhow but now you have all the baggage that went with the years of hiding it, withholding information, and eventually lying to try and keep it covered up (and sadly, the distortions and double speak have to continue because everything is screwed up now).

[Edgar]

Here's an instructive Mick microcosm, controlling and secretive. A little transparency is in order.
Branding Fail? | News OK

[betts]

Like Ed's been transparent? I'll take secrecy over dishonesty any day. Or would you describe hiding coke use as secrecy? Come to think of it, I'll take secrecy over secrecy plus dishonesty anyday. I think it's a dumb name for the boulevard. Lots of people do. I don't think Mick's perfect, but he won't make us a national joke. We've got pretty good data showing he'll leave OKC a dramatically better city than he found it.

[SoonerDave]

Here's an instructive Mick microcosm, controlling and secretive. A little transparency is in order.
Branding Fail? | News OK

Ed! You did it! You found the innuendo-laden archetype of masterful, controlling skullduggery that should persuade OKC voters to dump Cornett and run to the ex-doc who may be alleged to have used hallucinogenic drugs while working on patients in his medical practice.

Man, I'm so glad we finally unearthed this undeniably shocking story. I can see the new campaign slogans now - "Give Me Boulevards Or Give Me Shadid!"

:facepalm:

[Jeepnokc]

Here's an instructive Mick microcosm, controlling and secretive. A little transparency is in order.
Branding Fail? | News OK

Cheap attempt to divert attention. I read the article. Quoting Steve's article, Mick "felt quite comfortable insisting he had a command on all matters involving city branding" Seems pretty transparent. Nowhere does it suggest that he tried to hide the fact that he made the decision. May not agree on the name and may seem a little controlling but I don't expect our elected officials to put every item of city business to a city wide vote. I expect them to take control and lead.

Can you explain to me how this was secretive? Of course you won't as you have done nothing on this thread except throw crap out and then refuse to answer anytime, strike that....every time, someone has challenged you on the facts.

[tomokc]

I don't feel like last night's reference to his daughter was over the line or hypocritical. From the RDR story:

“Last night, my 12-year-old daughter asked me why the newspaper was doing this and I tried to explain that it was because they wanted me to stop fighting the way decisions are made,” Shadid said. “She responded, ‘So keep fighting.’”

He added that he plans to follow his daughter’s encouraging words and continue to fight because, he said, “I want both her and the people of Oklahoma City to know that nothing will stop us from fighting and on March 4th, we will win.”

Although I believe that Shadid is using his children as "human shields" to prevent the unsealing of his divorce file, I don't think that it's improper for him to paraphrase a daughter's support of her father's run for political office.

[SoonerDave]

I don't feel like last night's reference to his daughter was over the line or hypocritical. From the RDR story:

“Last night, my 12-year-old daughter asked me why the newspaper was doing this and I tried to explain that it was because they wanted me to stop fighting the way decisions are made,” Shadid said. “She responded, ‘So keep fighting.’”

He added that he plans to follow his daughter’s encouraging words and continue to fight because, he said, “I want both her and the people of Oklahoma City to know that nothing will stop us from fighting and on March 4th, we will win.”

Although I believe that Shadid is using his children as "human shields" to prevent the unsealing of his divorce file, I don't think that it's improper for him to paraphrase a daughter's support of her father's run for political office.

I certainly understand your point, but from my little knothole I don't think he can say the divorce matters were sealed "to protect my children," then turn around and leverage a statement from one of those same "children" as a rationale for continuing what looks like a crashing-and-burning campaign in the vein of some sort of martyr. He's proven to be many things, but martyr in my book isn't one of them.

I guess, from the broader perspective, I wish he would realize he's just plain unelectable now, and just bow out and move on. It isn't a race anymore; it's like looking at the debris of a car wreck - you don't want to look, but you look anyway. I'd have to believe our resident Ed troll Edgar (and I'm still not convinced it isn't Shadid himself) wouldn't even suggest the guy can pull much support now, let alone holds a practical, realistic chance as a challenger, so what's the point beyond worsening existing wounds? I mean, yeah, its one thing to champion presumably underserved causes, but its another to go all Clark Griswold and keep trying to put bubble gum in a hemorrhaging dam.

[tomokc]

I certainly understand your point, but from my little knothole I don't think you can say the divorce matters were sealed "to protect my children," then turn around and leverage a statement from one of those same "children" as a rationale for continuing what looks like a crashing-and-burning campaign in the vein of some sort of martyr. He's proven to be many things, but martyr in my book isn't one of them.

I think he's trying to portray the Oklahoman as an evil organization that makes little girls cry, while holding himself out to be the man of the people.

This isn't about the Oklahoma having a vendetta against Shadid (although they might), this is about the public's right to know the entire story of one who seeks to be a public servant. The Oklahoman is simply the organization that formally requested the records. The Gazette didn't do that, nor did any involved Web sites such as Red Dirt or TLO.