In Camera Obscura
Uh-Oh. I almost fell into the trap, didn't I? For one post and a couple of comments, I took my eye off the ball. I got so sidetracked responding to the Walter thing that I forgot one of the reasons his election was engineered. He's not only there to do the bidding of others, putting up a front of stentorian smog, giving the appearance of gravitas whilst saying absolutely nothing, he's there to draw fire.
Just as his out-sized physicality and vocal timbre obscure his Escher-like communication skills, his very presence as president exists to obscure those who really run things.
But Walter is there for target practice, so easy to hit, so lampoon-able, much easier than Tolis. (I only made fun of the former presidents' sometimes inpenetrable accent in private. That was too politically incorrect for even me to do in print).
On reflection, CHCA president-selection does have a pattern. Someone with some sort of surface attribute of what the gullible intrepret as CLASS. Maxine and her Southern Charm and clerical background, Tolis and his Continental (albeit the island outpost of) flair, and now Walter and his Foghorn Leghorn sound and fury signifying......Huh?-What did he say?
At least Maxine spun her own webs. No Dina in the prompter box needed for her. And by the way, where the hell IS Maxine? I hope my first scalp is running her game on someone who deserves it. Ah, Maxine-Bernie Madoff crossed with Blanche DuBois.
So anyway, I have spent too much time parrying with, and writing about Walter, but as you can see, he's like potato chips, so hard to resist. So W.S., I will now focus on the real movers behind your election and the CHCA. So many fronts, so many back rooms.
A final note for you however. You're not a bad guy. You just got so desparate for some semblence of stature, somewhere, that you took the only job that was offered. History is littered with similar stories. They usually end up with someone saying that they only followed orders. But I guess you're used to that by now. Ask Lady MacBethstein about it, or is she too busy "kvelling"? (Ask her what that means).
Ed (God, I'm a stinker - but they deserve it) Feldman
Labels: CHCA Board, Chestnut Hill
posted by Ed Feldman at 6/07/2009 03:01:00 PM
7 Comments:
Anybody remember when and why Sullivan was bought in? McCarthy brought him in to defend the new president's ignorance of CHCA bylaws and procedure. They were buddies from OMC (Our Mother of Consolation Catholic Church) and the Democrat party committee. McCarthy made a mistake because he didn't need that protection and his actions were, for the most part, in the best interest of the community. God save us from Catholic Democrats. In 1962 Kennedy killed the US steel industry by forcing it to concede to a union demand for 13 weeks paid vacation. Bye bye Bethlehem Steel. Hello Sands Casino. I love that The Sands hung their new sign on one of industry's largest cranes. Anybody been there? Is it worth the trip?
Oh,Brother!
Jeremiade: You're against me because I'm a Catholic? a Democrat? or just a "Catholic Democrat?" Now how dumb is that!
Maurice McCarthy was a friend of mine. Not just from OMC. Not just from Democratic politics. A real friend. And a smart capable guy. He knew CHCA Bylaws and Roberts Rules and how to run a meeting, and didn't need me to tell him. (It was two decades before Maurice that I was parliamentary advisor to President Judy Thomas.)
Ed Feldman: At least you wrote I'm not a bad guy. Actually I'm a pretty good guy. And very much my own guy. Not here to do the bidding of anyone. Just let anyone try it.
The Board elected me to provide leadership. I will. JUST WATCH ME. No Foghorn Leghorn, Ed, belching resonant tones signifying nothing that no one can really understand. (Sorry Ed, no such easy target for your lampooning.) JUST HEAR ME.
No, Im not here to draw fire away from anyone else. But the buck does stop here. Great! And I take responsibility for my Administration.
I ran because I wanted the job. I led my own campaign. Many helped. Most of them people you don't even know. A few, people you don't like. Tough!
It's an honor. And a responsibility I take very seriously.
But I'm hardly "desperate for some semblance of stature." I came with my ego and my "stature" fully intact, as they would have been win or lose. At 70, as much of an honor as this be, it's scarcely the capstone of my life.
No, I'm here to lead and to accomplish things for our comminity, not to be a target for you or anyone. But if you must aim at me, shoot straight.
Did you ever hear about the issues? Try talking about them. Or is that just not as much fun for an overgrown "attention child?" Are we all of us just recreation for you? (All of us imperfect neighbors just trying to accomplish things).
But if you must aim at me, leave my wife out of it. And your ethnic slur at her isn't made OK because you're Jewish too.
Walt Sullivan: I'm not against you...should I be?
Jeremiade: Thanks. If I misunderstood you, I'm now pleased that you aren't against me. No, I'm not paranoid. I can think of no reason why people should be against me in my efforts to give real leadership to the CHCA. All I ask is that people give me a little time to show that we in the CHCA are moving in the right direction.
I hope you are given a chance. I'll give you two challenges that you have power to achieve. First, never let the people of Chestnut Hill who attend board meetings sit and wait. Attend to the issues they came for first and never enter an executive session while they just sit. Second, call the attack dogs off the Local. The Editor and his staff have the credentials and education to publish an award winning paper (as Joel Hoffman recently demonstrated). Mazzaccaro and Lear have also proven that over the years.
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