March 2, 2009
Raise Your Hand If You're a Democrat But Voted Republican Twice Recently.
That's right Ron Littlefield, longtime democrat, you keep your hand up. You voted for Republicans in the past two primary elections, didn't you?
The most important coalition for political success that Ron put together in his first run for mayor in 2005 was inner city blacks. Inner city black voters have generally supported the democratic candidate, whoever that is since, well always. I think those voters would be surprised to learn that Ron Littlefield voted Republican in the 2006 Senate and 2008 presidential primaries.
Honestly, it's hard to figure why he did that, but the bottom line is that in both circumstances Ron Littlefield could have voted for an African American Democrat but chose to vote for a white Republican. Now I believe that a person should vote for whomever they chose, but if you are the leader of your political party (as a mayor is in a city of our size), you're kind of expected to vote for your own party. Right Ron?
If you don't believe me, check the public voting records.
Comments to: worstmayorever@aol.com
Posted by Billy Blades at 10:01 PM
In Summary: Because What Goes Around Comes Around.
Back in May of 2007, Herman Wang of the Chattanooga Times Free Press wanted to ask me some questions via email. Only a tiny fraction of that ended up in the story. I'm printing our convo here for the first time because I've gotten a lot of email from new readers (because of the current mayoral campaign, no doubt) who don't understand why I'm doing this. It's a bit long, and some of it is dated by subsequent events, but nevertheless it tells a lot about why this site is here. This is that interview, pretty much verbatim:
Herman Wang: Why did you start this site?
Billy Blades: I think I'll let my first blog entry dated August 8, 2005, stand as the answer to that question. I print it, slightly truncated, below. You're welcome to read the whole thing in the WorstMayorEver.com archives:
Reason D'etre
Why? Why this blog? Why is Ron Littlefield the Worst Mayor Ever?
Is it because Ron Littlefield ran the sleaziest campaign in our city's history?Is it because he put a push poll in the field that accused a happily married, heterosexual woman of being a lesbian? (Not that there's anything wrong with that.)
Is it because he made a deal with a (recently indicted) state senator to trade the support of his political machine for a job for his daughter?
Oh, speaking of vote trading, how about when Ron Littlefield approached his recently eliminated opponent Dan Johnson--a man diametrically opposed to him politically--and promised, and delivered, a cushy job at City Hall for his support in the run-off election?
Or is it the heinous character assassination he committed on our city's most active and responsible citizens--each and every one of them being his mental and moral superior--to create a false divide amongst a populace that is, sadly, so easily divided?
Yes. And what's even more irksome is that after all his backroom deals and Good Old Boy maneuvering, he's done so freaking little! There was actually something in the paper last week heralding our mayor for the smoothing of a bump on a bridge. I was apoplectic. He drags us through all that muck and that's all we get?!? Think about it--what has this guy done? But seriously, do you remember the flurry of activity when Builder Bob took office? Same thing with Kinsey. Committee's appointed, initiative's announced, projects underway, etc. This guy--crickets chirp. So yes, I'm indignant about all of that and that is why I've started this blog.No doubt about it--Ron Littlefield: Worst. Mayor. Ever.
HW: What did the mayor do from the start that had you pegging him as "worst mayor ever" just days into his administration?
BB: Well, the timing in your question is not accurate. My first post came four months into his administration, (Inauguration day-April 18, 2005, first post-August 8, 2005) but I take your meaning. This wasn't the beginning of Ron Littlefield's political career in Chattanooga and six months of sleazy campaigning on his part had me well primed. I happen to believe that the political process doesn't have to be an exercise in character slaughter and venality. I believe that two honest, well-intentioned people can contend for the same office without resorting to electoral barbarism. Obviously, I live in a dream world that no longer exists.
As I've stated several times on worstmayorever.com, I've only mirrored the tactics Ron Littlefield and his henchmen (and women) used during the (2005) mayoral campaign. The things he did to win were successful, but they have consequences. I think of this site as an extremely drawn-out act of justice. I think most people miss the 'Colbert Report' aspect of this site.
But that's just what got it started. If it was just about the campaign, I could have stopped at the first post. But the longer this administration goes on the worse it gets. The recycling boondoggle still baffles me. I'm sure Ron thought the Homeless Hilton was a slam-dunk for him, but he's has managed to create a situation that a savvy opponent will likely use to cause him a lot of problems in a campaign. If I were that opponent, I'd put a poll in the field asking people to rank certain citywide services against a state of the art homeless shelter. The citizens are, after all, paying for one or the other.
HW: You obviously have some contacts within city government. Are you a current or former city employee?
BB: I think that's made pretty clear on the site, but I guess I can be more clear: Yes.
HW: What's your real identity?
BB: We're in the blogosphere, baby! I'm Billy Blades. Billy Blades doesn't exist outside of this context.
HW: What kind of reaction have you gotten to your site? Mostly positive? Negative? Threats?
BB: That has been very surprising to me, because frankly, I love a good fight. However, I've only received one negative email. Or rather, three negative emails from one person. I've received hundreds and hundreds of positive emails; an unambiguous landslide of support.
I get a lot of emails from people whom Ron has pissed off and they want me to write a post about how he built landfills in north Georgia for his own financial benefit or something like that. You'd be surprised the number of well-known people who email me. They are very interesting and many are howlingly funny. The amazing thing is that people write to me and identify themselves and completely trust me not to reveal their identity. Obviously, I never have. I guess they see through the sarcasm of my site and they trust Billy Blades. I personally know at least 60% of the e-mailers from work, civic involvement or nightspots in Chattanooga, but I never reveal myself to them. I've built quite a network of informants, but I don't use all the info I receive.
It's very interesting to me to contemplate the psychological implications of the whole thing. I'll get an e-mail from someone deep inside City Hall, and I'll think, "Are you crazy?! Why would you risk exposure?" Chattanoogans are very disheartened at how bad Ron has proved to be as our city's leader. But the arrogance of his staff has really galvanized people against the Littlefield administration. Really nice, sweet people have been very offended by how arrogant Littlefield staffers are. I used to get mostly angry emails about Ron's power-tripping, but now, it's mostly people who are saddened about how poorly he represents Chattanooga in the wider world.
It really is quite sad to think about the progress we aren't making. The ideas not being conceived. But then I remember that Missy has created a Web site to bring art to the masses and I rest easy about the state of things in East Lake.
HW: Any candidates you have in mind for the 2009 mayoral election?
BB: Yes. There is someone who I think could mount a credible campaign and is a particularly honest and good person. But I think that if I name that person, it will just give Ron's attack machine someone to point it's guns at and start blasting before things even get going.[That person did not end up in the race, btw. BB] Honest and good people don't seem to fare well in our civic process, and I can't recommend it to anyone. I've thought a bit about the upcoming campaign and I don't think I will endorse anyone, because I don't want to be a negative for him or her. I suspect blogging about Ron Littlefield will be my contribution to whoever runs against him. Of course, his or her supporters are welcome to purchase Littlefield: Worst Mayor Ever t-shirts from my Web site! I don't make a penny, but they're just so good lookin'!
HW: Is there anything Littlefield can do at this point that would make him redeemable in your eyes?
BB: Well, that's a bit heavy. I mean, I assume you mean redeem his political career and not his life. Ron Littlefield is a man who's in over his head. He just doesn't have greatness in him. He's not a man who has achieved great things because of his strong vision or brilliant ideas, like his recent predecessors. That's not a crime--many people are ordinary. And honestly, I think that Ron wants to do great things. The fact that his ability lags behind his ambition is what causes him to behave badly and pursue bad ideas. I don't think anyone expected him to be a Bob Corker. People of that energy don't come along very often. But I do think they expected him to keep the momentum of progress in Chattanooga moving forward, and they were led to that expectation by his campaign promises.
No honest person that knows anything about civic process and city building can say that Ron Littlefield has improved Chattanooga. He's so concerned about matching Senator Corker's legacy that he's blown through half of his term and we only have a fashion magazine and a time capsule to show for it. Oh, that's right you guys did the magazine with Missy. Make a little room on a shelf for the award you're sure to win for that one.
But in this question, I think you mean can Ron do something that will placate me and make me close down this blog. No. Ron can't un-smear reputations and he can't un-tell the Big Lie (I refer specifically to his canard about the Power Structure and it's mysterious, puppetmaster-like control of our lives).
However, if you mean, can Ron do right by the citizens of this city--yes, absolutely. Just get something done! He seems to think he needs to be a religious leader or civic guru. Just do something already! Sadly, he's burned the bridges to the people who could help him move our city forward. Unlike previous mayors, Ron Littlefield can't call our city's best and brightest into his office and seek advice or partnerships.
Did you see Mayor Corker when he was making his presentations around the city to raise money for the waterfront? Corker reached out and made some really big requests and the city answered in a big way. Ron Littlefield has spit in the face of all the people who get involved in the big projects that last for generations. That resource does not exist for him. He got what he wanted when he was elected, but it was at the cost of the tools a mayor needs to be successful in office--to the detriment of all of us.
HW: Are there any positives to Littlefield's administration so far?
BB: Didn't you hear? We got a new traffic light. Hang on, I'll dig up the press release. Also, he fired MichMich--that was a step in the right direction. Seriously, I hope that he does something good for our libraries. But here again, he's muffed it from the start. Our libraries need to be made vital to young people and he appointed a commission of W.W.II vets. It's not about the card catalog anymore. We need some twenty-somethings on that panel to bring fresh ideas about what will make a library a community information and communication hub in the future.
HW: What's your assessment of the administrations of Corker, Kinsey and Roberts?
BB: Corker: Best. Mayor. Ever.
Kinsey: Smartest. Mayor. Ever.
Roberts: Kindest. Mayor. Ever.
Berry: First. Mayor. Ever.
HW: How long have you lived in Chattanooga?
BB: I grew up here.
Comments to:
Posted by Billy Blades at 8:27 AM