So I think I've finally figured out
where American voters went
wrong.
We put a gentleman in theWhite
House.
We elected a man who believed
that, like him, others whowere sent
to Washington D.C. had a genuine
spirit of public service and took
their responsibility to their various
constituencies seriously.
We've all been cruelly disap-
pointed.
We elected an intelligent,
thoughtful leader who believed
that he could cooperate and negoti-
ate our way out of the financial
quagmire left to him to manage
after our country was duped into
entering two wars and our banking
industry and financial fatcats
allowed to run wild at the public
expense.
Well, that ain't about to happen,
as we've all seen repeatedly. There
is no intelligent exchange of ideas
where only ambition for reelection,
unexamined loyalties and greed
motivate those with whom one is
forced to negotiate.
He is opposed by members of
the same political party who
caused the mess, now determined
to perpetuate the financial crisis
under the guise of “stopping the
out-of-control-spending” as a
means of getting one of their own
back in the oval office. Come on,
really?Really?
Out of control spending? The
budget would balance very nicely if
we weren't spending billions every
month on two unwinnable and
unpopular wars that are perpetuat-
ing an image of us as bullies
throughout theworld.
Most thinking people, including
the sensible and rational governor
of Illinois, one of the smartest
Republicans I've encountered,
know that our President is being
thwarted at every turn by his own
good intentions and lack of bare-
knuckled political infighting expe-
rience.
Let's face it, compared to our
former president, Obama is way
out front in the intelligence quo-
tient. But when it comes to imple-
menting his decisions and taking
the steps necessary to put his poli-
cies in place,
he's apparently
way out of his
league. A col-
league of mine reminded me that
Mr. Bush faced opposition from a
Democratic Congress, too, but still
managed to manipulate them into
bowing to his will in nearly every
situation. Yep, he sure did, but
Bush had Karl Rove and Dick
Cheney running point for him and
these two, better known as the twin
spawn of Satan and Medusa, are
considered the most devious,
A
SSOCIATED
N
EWSPAPERS OF
M
ICHIGAN
P
AGE
6
October 6, 2011
Sunday
will be
‘chili’ day
The prevalence of disappointment in and acceptance of
misconduct by those charged with the public trust has
become commonplace in our environment these days.
Even the most jaded and misanthropic were taken aback,
however, at the criminal charges leveled at the former
Romulus police chief, his wife, and five detectives last week.
The charges, which came after nearly three years of investiga-
tion by the Michigan State Police, assisted by the Federal
Bureau of Investigation, sent ripples through the entire area,
because, in part, of the salacious nature of the charges and
the level of trust thesemen allegedly violated.
They are charged with misappropriating drug forfeiture
money and using it to pay for prostitutes, marijuana, alcohol
and in the case of the former chief, a Westland tanning salon.
Rumors have been swirling for literally years about the con-
duct of this “special investigations unit,” but therewas no offi-
cial comment until the arrests were made and the charges
made public.
A few days before the arrests, and only 48 hours or so after
the former chief resigned, Mayor Alan Lambert, a former
police officer, hiredRobert Dickerson as the newchief.
He's amanwith a jobnobody could envy.
Whether Lambert explained the situation, offering
Dickerson some forewarning, only the two of them know, but
here's a guy who has to change the perception of an entire
community about the men and women charged with keeping
themsafe and protecting them fromwrongdoers. No easy task
when the state police claim those are the very people who
have been victimizing themfor years.
But Dickerson has kept his professional demeanor,
answered questions posed to him in a polite, but assertive,
manner, andpresents an attitudewe have to admire.
At the first official meeting of the city council members fol-
lowing the public arrests and charges, Dickerson told the
uneasy and sometimes critical audience members that they
needed to remember that these were not the acts of the
Romulus Police Department, they were the acts of some indi-
vidualswithin that department.
He told the assembled crowd of residents, news people
and city officials that he had gone through the department
andwas pleasedwithwhat he found.
He said the department was full of dedicated, professional
officers who uphold the law and that these acts were an aber-
ration, not the usual or expected conduct in the department.
Frankly, we believe him and we admire his approach to
what has to be an enormous and difficult job. Dickerson not
only has to win the confidence of the remaining officers, but
of the entire community on their behalf. He has to rebuild the
faith of the residents, and other officials, in the department
and in the conduct of every officer he supervises.
Every act of every officer will now be the subject of incred-
ible scrutiny by residents and other city officials. To say the
reputation of this department is tarnished by the charges
made public is amilddescription, at best.
Every act of every officer will now
be the subject of incredible scrutiny
by residents and other city officials.
”
Let's face it, compared to
our former president, Obama is way
out front in the intelligence quotient.
”
Romulus chief must restore public trust
This Sunday morning, many
will be awakened by the sound of
motorcycles, lots of motorcycles,
riding through the area on the way
to downtownPlymouth.
Others will have to get up early
to 'hotfoot' it downtown to begin
preparing the special and secret
recipes for chili they hope will be
one of the prizewinners.
Every year, organizer Annette
Horn seems to add something new
to the Great Lakes Chili Cook-off
event, which has individuals, busi-
nesses and local restaurants all
competing to be named as the best
chili maker in the city. The ama-
teurs are actually in a different cat-
egory and as part of the Great
Lakes Chili Cook-off are vying for
the honor off moving up to the
state and national levels of compe-
tition. This year, two national
champions will be on hand, too,
although prohibited from compet-
ing this year in their specialty, chili
verde, the husband andwife cham-
pionswill be cooking up red chili.
It's a day of fun and people flock
to enjoy taste after taste of chili
prepared by some of the best cooks
around and some prepared by
novices who only know how to
make their competition entry.
Samples can be had for $1 and
bowls are available for purchase,
and after all the expenses are paid,
the money goes to charity. This
year, the Penrickton School for
Blind Children and Western
Wayne Habitat for Humanity will
benefit from the event. The cyclists
are on hand to have their bikes
judged as one of the best in show
in about 17 different categories
and there is a Hottest Dog in the
Coolest City contest for costumed
canines in the park.
It's an event as diverse as the
city, and entire area, and every bit
as much fun. The atmosphere,
from the costumed chili makers in
their 'explosive' booths to the
Politics is no place for a gentleman
See
Chief
, page 7
See
Politics
, page 7
See
Chili
, page 7
Letters
Public invited to meeting
To the editor:
I'll showmine if you show yours-
Civil War relatives, of course. Five
of mine served in the Union army:
one of three brothers went missing
on the battlefield, one relative sur-
vived three-months in a prison
camp, and another is survived by
his diary, while a great-grandmoth-
er accompanied her enlisted hus-
band. What about your family?
The public is invited to attend
free of charge the meeting of the
Northville Genealogical Society to
share Civil War-related stories and
view artifacts. The presentations
will take a variety of forms, but all
will encourage informal discus-
sions and information sharing.
Members will participate, and the
public is encouraged to join in. The
1:15 p.m. meeting will be held on
Sunday, Oct. 9, at the Northville
District Library, 212 West Cady, in
Northville.
Individual help on genealogy is
offered by Society members in the
Local History
Room at the Northville District
Library on Monday afternoons 1-3
p.m. and also by appointment. For
more information call Suzanne
Monaghan at 734-243-7866 or check
the web
site at
www.rootsweb.com/~mings.
SuzanneMonaghan,
NorthvilleGenealogical Society