Op-ed by Peter Children –
It is Monday and once more I am compelled to response to my good friend John Skipper’s Monday column. I was hoping I wouldn’t have had to but seeing that I am included in the vast array of innuendoes and outright low blows, here then is my response.
First off I did say Eric’s wife should inject air into his arm but it was only a metaphoric form of wishful thinking….no one actually thinks I would wish this poor soul to be dead…tormented as he is they might want to put a 24 hour watch on him. I care about Eric; I think he should seek help for his problems. I want to see him cured of his sickness and addiction. I am sure he is quite capable of doing what I suggested to himself seeing he is falling like a rock in the polls; getting help might be his only chance now. I am sure having a medically trained person in the house over seeing things helps.
Once more my friend John distorts the truth with fiction. He accuses Matt Marquardt with personal attacks; it’s time to listen, and listen closely. When you seek public office you must agree with any and all parts that come with it. One of the hardest parts is facing the truth. Whatever Matt Marquardt may or many not have written was done so in careful consideration ….it was the truth. Just how the reader perceives it is a totally different thing.
John says these four elected “public servants” – Mayor Bookmeyer, Scott Tornquist, Travis Hickey and Janet Solberg – want to remain hidden from the very people who put them into office, that they want their record to speak for them. I could buy into that, I would not want to defend their record of punishing the people of Mason City, either. I am not going to go through the miserable stress these people created in various city departments and neighborhoods. Threatening 11 families with the loss of their jobs during the holiday season, Hickey poking his nose into the Fire & Ambulance Department as if he knew what he was doing, stealing the investments of the Forest Park residents. And it ended up how everyone else already knew….he didn’t know squat and is incompetent.
The only thing these four incumbents fail to realize is that unwelcome ingredient in this casserole they are trying to serve this city….and that is the truth.
Think for a moment; what if NIT were not here, and your only source of news was John Skipper. You would be dumber for having read him. Now, we can use him to write lies for the elite and then NIT can prove his words are lies. It’s pretty easy to do, you see it everyday here, that’s why you come back over and over. There was a time when the local paper decided for you, you were never part of the mix that makes up a real community until 2010 when NIT burst onto the scene.
Now things are different, there is another voice present here, one that focuses on the truth, the whole truth, sometimes the brutal, ugly truth. Mayor Bookmeyer tried valiantly to destroy NIT and cut you off, going after NIT’s revenue and reputation like a cancer. He knew he had the Globe in his pocket, but there was this one beacon of light out there killing him like sunshine kills a vampire.
Ask yourself, why do you think this man along with his accomplices are hiding? Do you or do you not feel there is a staggering, rotten smell associated with this group? Finally, ask yourself if you are ready to do something positive about it….by voting.
Peter Children
I think PC is the biggest thing going for the incumbents. Thank you Peter.
@Reggie (Red)-I think the Incumbents are flaming cowards and are afraid to debate the new candidates. Bookie is scared to death of having to answer questions from the public. Instead he send out a mailer so no one can give the views. That is a coward and I think you know it.
There would have been no personal attacks at the debates. The attacks have been leveled at the incumbents because of their absence. That really angers people and the worst comes out.
I believe if the candidates would have squared off with each other they would all have come away with more respect for each other.
Just saying!
…aside from all the nasty rhetoric, here and around the town, one question has never been answered for me and that question is quite simple: If the members of the present council are so proud of their accomplishments and believe the future of Mason City is on the right track…then why do they think so little of their ability to defend their actions? I, for one, would shout down any attempt by either the incumbents or the challengers to use personal attacks towards any candidate during a debate. Allowing such attacks during a debate are rude and demeaning…but only by those who aren’t smart enough to be civil, or someone not searching for real answers!
Peter, what concrete actual infraction has the “group” committed?
Oh, I think I know – they’ve decided not to show up at a “debate”. One has to ask the other question, would this really be a debate or the continuation of ongoing character assassinations?
Given the tenor of your repeated “op-eds” I would say the latter.
If those who seek to unseat the incumbents would actually cite concrete examples of council’s actions that the voters did not support and what the challengers would do to correct them you might get some traction.
I for one am very tired of the personal attacks and think you demean the entire process. No wonder people decline to run for office when clowns like you continue to throw rocks instead of addressing real issues.
Skipper and that whole Globb bunch they always protect there friends. And there friends are enemies of the people you better believe. Bookmeyer. Urdahl. The Chamber. The Corrider. I seen last week the Globb runs another crock of Nazi shit wrote by Gary Blodgett. People, take your town back vote Max and Matt get rid of the enemy.
Gary Blodgett is a nazi, who would of known. How could I of been so stupid all those times I voted for a nazi. Time for you to grow up, do not make dumb comments like that.
@ whatever your right your stupid, you did vote for a Nazi you fool.
Max said at the debate at the Prime & Wine, “You know, there’s one thing people don’t like about me, BUT THINK, how many things don’t you like about Eric Bookmeyer.” That spoke volumes to the crowd. Well done Max.
The prime ought to thank max for asking everyone to make that list. It’s so long that the folks in the audience are still there writing everything down.
Even lovers of Bookmeyer, most business owners that is, HAVE GOT to see the down side to his judgement?! Please tell us you do, at least that. Stay blinded with a little power or pull and some bucks for now but say you “GET IT” about the no show people we hired to govern all of us.
Just not right.
I agree it is a calculated risk to not appear at a debate but I think they,The Mayor et al, figure most, if not all,the people have already made up their mind about who to vote for.
Hey Skipper how you doin hahahah
Just curious, what kind of napkin are you?
Hey Reggie: Im thinkin the napkin is a Tampon.
@Reggie-I think not showing up for the debates will hurt the three council incumbents more than it will hurt the mayor. This just shows that the three council incumbents cannot think for themselves. This just proves they do what the mayor tells them to do. Not the kind of elected officials I want representing me. If they can’t think for themselves,make their own decisions and are just puppets of the mayor then I can’t vote for them. Vote for people that can think for themselves Vote Max,Matt Jodi and Leonard.
How do you know it was the Mayor’s idea.? Maybe it was the others and the Mayor went along with it.
The only thing this mayor goes along with is “Let’s have another round!”
“First off I did say Eric’s wife should inject air into his arm but it was only a metaphoric form of wishful thinking” Keep writing Peter, you will be the one to sink Matt’s ship if he is not elected.As Jim Zabel use to say”I love it, I love it, I love it.”
Hey Reggie: A friend of mine has been closely monitoring Peters comments, particularly the written suggestion that the wife of a public official murder him by lethal injection. Childrens’ comments may well constitute grounds for an investigation and subsequent criminal charges. Metaphorically speaking is no defense.
Bookmeyer will definitly try and get revenge after this election. silly me – he will be a private citizen again.
As long as Bookmeyer is a public official, he’s fair game if what it written is the truth. After he leaves office you won’t see Children ever mention his name again. He can be passed out in the srtreet and piss his pants and Children won’t care.
Don’t worry Bookmeyer has already talked with lawyers, but if there were a trial a ton of shit would come out that could result in a divorce and Children isn’t married so you’d know who would get dumped; Children would make sure the maid got on the stand.
@ Anon I have often wondered about that. I know if Peter said that about the President, he would have had secret service agents at his door within hours.I’m glad others think that his comment is/was way beyond rational,not fair and maybe criminal.
Criticize his behavior, poor decisions, pissy management style, statues and all the other stuff is perfectly within bounds. But to encourage his murder is way over the top. I know first hand that special agents in Des Moines and Omaha have Peter on their radar. Back off Pete.
Pete aint scared on them. Way to ignorant to care. He would flee to the country to China if things got to hot. The only question is why he cares so much one way or the other. I agree with some of his assesstments but not his over the top, cold hatred of the another human. 8 days or so and we find out where the election lands. Excited for a little Change in Mason City.
Peter is great friends with Obama and his wife Michelle. He gave them a ton of money and got invited to the inauguration as a result but didn’t go.
Soooooo, just wondering, Where does the FREEDOM OF SPEECH thing fit in then??????
If I were an incumbent I would be embarressed by the endoresment since it was based on zero fact. The media could of asked a little harder questions, drilled down a little more, had the sitting mayor explain himself and why they would not take questions from the Public who elected them in the first place. Oh wait silly me. The mayor could care less about the public, but he does have time to attend a meet and greet at Joan Gassaway’s house with Robin Anderson in attendence. Time for the elite, but no time for the public
Silly me Skipper will some day retire and when he looks upon his accomplishments he will have the grand honor that the only paper that would hire him is rated second from the bottom in the state of Iowa. What else do you have to say. Better sharpen your pencil silly me because Matt’s on the way weather you or beermeyer and his cronies like it or not.
Whether you like the incumbents or their opponents all should participate in the debates that is part of the American political system that exposes them to the voters where they can hear them in person, talk to them before or after the debates and by chance get to ask a honest and fair question and get a fair answer. By the incumbents not taking part, it is a sad comment on each elected official and how they feel about there opponents and the voters of this city. And with all the contested races the Globe Gazette does not endorse at least “one” non-elected official for this years elections is also kind of strange.
Just my take.
Let’s hear from you & post if you’re UNHAPPY with the incumbents NOT showing up at the forums?
Let them know you want them to attend TONIGHT… they all read this!
I WILL NOT VOTE FOR ANYONE OF ANY PARTY WHO DOESNT WANT TO GO TO A DEBATE. SO ALL U CRONNIES IN OFFICE NOW, START TO CLEAN OUT YOUR DESK DRAWER.
I HEARD SKIPPER DOESNT HAVE A CAR OR DRIVE. THAT HE TRIED AND TRIED TO PASS THE DRIVING TEST BUT COULDNT.
This is uncalled for do you not see the man’s glasses? I am no fan of skipper but this statement was in poor taste
Skipper should just retire and ride off into the sunset peacefully.
Hmmm. He could ride the red-hare express.
It will surely be interesting how much the people really pay attention to the attitudes of our current councils true colors. They are sure arrogant!!!
I’m not exactly excited about all the candidates, however, looking at the lessor of the 2 evils and have to admit that a change is sure necessary and the new candidates at least care about the little guys & not the wealthy of this town.
So, that said: I’m voting out the incumbents! Good Luck MAX, MATT, JODI & LEONARD
Not sure if it’s true or not but heard skipper was once a boxer. Well, he’s fightin hard for the Red-hared King. I think it was Matt or maybe Peter who wrote not long ago that since 2009 when John Skipper anointed Eric Bookmeyer the next coming of JFK, they are undeniably tied together forever. You cannot distinguish between the two anymore. With every story in the community of Eric drinking too much, stumbling out of this bar or that, picking on this person or that person, Skipper goes down with the Bookmeyer ship. Skipper thinks that if he lies and lies and covers for Eric, maybe somehow the truth never gets a foothold, Eric gets re-elected, NIT goes under, and Skipper’s life can get back on track. Well, John, it don’t look good right now, but keep strappin on those boxing gloves and going toe to toe with NIT if you have it in you. We’ll see what the people think in about a week.