The end of an error
Written by Brian Wilson | | news@toledofreepress.comBy the time you’re reading this, it will be almost over: Four long, hard, grueling years of national embarrassment, local incompetence and stunted economic growth, all the result of what history may accurately record as Toledo’s Greatest Mistake, the election of Carl Finkbeiner.
What else could explain the (re-) election of a certifiable failure and nationally known joke-of-a-mayor whose sole accomplishment was as a “Trivial Pursuit” answer?
The grand exodus of jobs, businesses and people will be the indelibly tragic legacy of the man I humorously but derisively dubbed “Mayor Pantload.” Deservedly so, considering the stench of mistruths, half-truths and outright lies only a hard-wired narcissist could not only ignore, but transmogrify into “Toledo Pride” and then publicly desecrate anyone “who doesn’t believe as I do.” Even with the intense scrubbing of new ideas initiated by Mr. Clean’s long-lost twin, Mayor-elect Mike Bell, it will take considerable time for the fecal stench of the Finkbeiner Criminal Administration to fade from local, regional and national memory. How long before “Trivial Pursuit” becomes extinct?
Concurrent with the orgasmic thrill of this blessed political conclusion, post-Jan. 4 (at 5 p.m.) also marks the end of a four-year concerted effort to raise community awareness by educating voting age citizens with the 2-by-4 content of local talk radio programming at NewsTalk 1370 WSPD.(1)
The determination to effect fundamental positive change in “The Toledo Way” was carved in stone after a lengthy conversation at Clear Channel/Toledo headquarters about the same time Carl reassumed his “throne” (complete with fabled Golden Shower) on the 22nd Floor.(2) The unpleasant but necessary cure involved a double-shot of hard-core, unabashed, relentless-but-accurate daily news and commentary, along with a reenergized, reengaged business community that had long since taken shelter in the more prosperous, pristine suburbs, erroneously thinking a few miles and a county line would shield them from the malodorous winds blowing in the results of political flatulence from One Government Center.
And so it began.
Naturally, resistance was stiff. Even terminal patients are known to refuse life-sustaining medication. Such was being administered — none too gently — from the 2-by-4 within the WSPD studios. The efficacy and accuracy of the information was apparent in the soaring ratings WSPD enjoyed as the audience learned via WSPD News and talk shows, the sordid realities they were funding with their every-increasing (and unnecessary) tax burden. As they watched, friends and children left for actually greener pastures, long established businesses sported plywood windows and their beloved Toledo lapsed from vibrant to moribund — all thanks to the potent potion of aggressive ignorance, contagious apathy and a miscreant mayor summed up in denigration “Carty Gets Results.” Indeed, political subdivisions get “the government they deserve” but even the terminally clueless did not want a megalomaniac “cheerleader” shaming their home on stages big and small. And the people began to roil. They started to “get it.”
Finally, exactly 18 months ago, the business community had enough. The ever-growing Finkbeiner dung heap encompassed public interference and humiliation of Costco (which had the audacity to actually want their business to be here) to an unending litany of embarrassments: unwanted bike paths, Irongate, expulsion of the Marines, self-indulgent prize seeking, animal cruelty, verbal harassment, misogyny, racist insults, (still unresolved) lawsuits, the flagrant desecration of the First Amendment even a 10-year-old knew was wrong coupled with fiscal irresponsibly only someone with a BS in Jockstrap could achieve, moved eight men to meet and enact the plan marinating for four years in a small office on South Superior Street.
After some organizational fits and starts, the “Take Back Toledo” campaign was launched with “Recall Carty” petition signings in minus-24-degree weather in January 2009. While scandals continued and taxpayer dollars squandered, more than 45,000 signatures were gathered and submitted. Naturally, all the stops were pulled to torpedo the results. No matter. The “Take Back Toledo” campaign succeeded in banishing the scourge of Mayor Pantload from November’s mayoral election. With a patently transparent announcement, made with the giggling silliness and radiant embarrassment reminiscent of his attempt to fraudulently claim a Chamber of Commerce “Young Man of the Year” award, the self-anointed Big Cheerleader revealed his latest delusion: “I was only gonna run for one term anyway.” Carleton “S. for Brains” Finkbeiner, the Monocratic Gift that keeps on giving; Toledo’s Human Wrecking Ball of Economic Progress who, after four years, pointed (with pride) at 3rd Place Loving Cups signifying nothing, a severely shrunken population, a $40 million dollar deficit and questionable, costly, incomplete projects made possible through sinfully squandered taxpayer resources. Gratefully, in a near-Messianic transfiguration, Finkbeiner became a Limp Duck.
Huzzah. Huzzah.
Thanks to the resolute “Take Back Toledo” committee — Tom Schlachter, Brian McMahon, James Hartung, Sanford Lubin, Ed Nagle and Andy Stuart — seven men who cared so much about Toledo and its future, they invested their time, risked their reputations, friendships, business — and lost, in some cases — in order to shake up and wake up the citizenry to the missed opportunities that, if realized, would have Toledo flourishing as it should, if not for the corruption and ineptitude of the Finkbeiner Gang of Criminal Idiots. I am proud to have been numbered among them.
Thanks to Toledo Free Press and its immediate, unrelenting support for the First Amendment and recognition of our ongoing efforts to change and stay the new course.
Most of all, thanks to you citizens and voters, the TBT Volunteers, readers, listeners, the new activists who made 2009 the year Toledo turned around and, with the election of Mike Bell, now faces a future commensurate with its bodacious potential. It’s over. And it’s just beginning.
Brian Wilson is program director and news director of WSPD 1370 AM. E-mail him at Brian@WSPD.com.
1. In the analogy, lazy, reluctant mule only returns to his plowing chores when the local veterinarian smacks it in the head with a 2-by-4, initially shocking the farmer who was expecting a more genteel solution. The vet explained he first had to get the mule’s attention. In our story, WSPD is the 2-by-4; I played the role of the Vet. Guess which part you played. (Hint: not the farmer).
2 On holidays, The Great He would invite local riff-raff to actually visit the Inner Sanctum of the Most Holy to glimpse His Domain from his superior vantage point, as he daily cast his demented gaze down upon the fools who had re-elected him, despite his infamous record of violence, misogyny and projectile coffee cups.
Tags: Brian Wilson, Carty Finkbeiner
Leftist at the Yellow Blade, told everyone that the homuncule that is FINKENSTINE, “had changed “, before his last coronation as Mayor. They failed to mention that the CHANGE, was for the WORST ! This sawed off effeminate runt , took hold of Mayoral power here in Little Detroit, and directly steered businesses and citizens away as if we were in some Third World toilet , on fire ! He wasn’t the only one by no means…Kapturd, Gerken,Isenberg, etc. are to be included in this exodus. Toledo, has definately been branded by radical liberal policies and the results are horrendous . Sadly, this madness is now at the State and Federal levels…a venal virus that KILLS FREEDOMS ! BIG TIME ! 2010 , cannot come soon enough !
This comment was posted on December 24th, 2009 at 11:33 amOh, ” end of an error “… that title will have me smiling ALL DAY BABEEEE !! “end of an ERROR ” One GIGANTIC ERROR , indeed ! Thank you so much Bri ! Merry Christmas, to you and yours !
This comment was posted on December 24th, 2009 at 11:39 amWill the review of Mayor Elect Bell, be so gentiel, if he does not succeed as quickly as people would like, or suggests to raise taxes at a time of job loss, home loss, income tax loss?
Raising taxes or fees on an already strapped populace should raise the ire level, quite a bit.
This comment was posted on December 24th, 2009 at 6:50 pmA lackluster mayor, Jack Ford, made Carty’s third term as mayor possible. Fordand Finkbeiner have done their share of wrecking this city. This should have been enough for our business leaders in Toledo to get us back the city manager form of government.
This comment was posted on December 25th, 2009 at 7:56 pmBrian, you’re starting to remind me of the little girl on the playground who keeps hitting the little boy with her book bag. I haven’t seen this kind of sexual tension masquerading as animosity since they canceled Moonlighting.
It’s a thin line between love and hate, baby.
This comment was posted on December 27th, 2009 at 11:03 amAfter reading this piece it became obvious that the writer has serious emotional issues. I s it coincidence or by choice that writer happened to find himself in a smaller radio market than where he came from? You would think at this holiday time in this economy and in the spirit of Christmas he could have bid Carty a more civil farewell. Do they offer anger management at WSPD?
This comment was posted on December 28th, 2009 at 12:01 amI’m with america on this one. you are weirdly obsessed. we all get it. carty was a bad mayor. move on.
as an asidr, just started tuning in to WSPD recently and WOW your drivel is boring. they must be really hard up for talent to have you on there. i gave it 3 days and i’m tuned back into FM.
This comment was posted on December 28th, 2009 at 1:43 amWOWEE !! Toledo , has it’s own toilet bowl lickers and hardily approve of it’s complete and total destruction by their own miserable and criminal political party !? Well, edification by liberals, is a very slooooow process indeed…these posters above no doubt had to repeat MANY ,MANY classes in school. The above Tidy Bowl emulators would no doubt vote for FINKENSTINE, again. Now, exactly how intelligent is that ?! And Brian, some how get’s grief for their pathetic voting patterns ? AMAZING VAPIDNESS and these folks want that PRINTED , for all to read ?! Shame and liberals know, no bounds !
This comment was posted on December 28th, 2009 at 11:41 amWell, Brian may be a bit “obsessed” with getting rid of Carty, but it was certainly needed, and he was not alone. Plus, balance that against the “obsession” of the Blockheads, unions, and welfare kings/queens with making sure they bleed Toledo dry. I’d say it more than evens out.
This comment was posted on December 28th, 2009 at 11:50 amI see coononomics is alive and well in the virtual world of the uninformed. Many an informed poster knows that WSPD supported Carty in his last bid for mayor. The past year has been a WSPD mayorial distraction of epic proportion. Could any mayor perform in this ratings driven hatemongering? Will the WSPD endorsed Mayor Elect Mike Bell be the savior of Toledo? Or will he too succumb to ratings? We’ll see!
This comment was posted on December 28th, 2009 at 9:49 pmI see that the Demonrat politics ,is not only corrupt ,their bed pan duty boyz, don’t recognize just how mucked up these TAX and WASTE jackasses have inflicted their destruction onto Toledo! How many Fortune 500 companies were headquartered here in Little Detroit, before Kapturd invaded ? And, how many are there now ?! You ostrich brained insentient zeroes do not see COMPLETE economic FAILURE ,because your heads are immersed in RADICAL LEFTIST MUCK ! Where’s Champion, O-I, O-C, AP Parts, Doehler,Dana,Gerity-Schultz, B & B Box, Beverage Equipment,etc.? No answer from the ZERO ANWSERS crowd worth a spit…GUARANTEED !!
This comment was posted on December 30th, 2009 at 11:27 amThey all went south braniac thanks to nafta. Go ahead hang it on Kaptur if it makes you feel good. CORPORATE GREED is why they are no longer here.Well maybe Kaptur didn’t bring home enough pork or should that be CORPORATE WELFARE.
Reaganomics started us down the road to COMPLETE economic FAILURE. He wanted to make sure that class distinction didn’t become too blurred. The middle class was becoming too large and expecting the same privileges as you silver spooners. With middle class income throttled who had money to spend? The only way to improve the bottom line was to get someone to work for a fish head and a bowl of rice. Now there is even less taxpayer money for the economies health. Go gag yourself on your spoon,maybe you’ll derive some sort of auto-erotic pleasure from it.
This comment was posted on December 31st, 2009 at 9:27 pmAnd I’m an undereducated lower middle class turd,no nothing,Zero Answer kinda guy
This comment was posted on December 31st, 2009 at 9:34 pmMR you KO the COON! Exactly, Reaganomics destroyed the Middle Class. Marcy had seen the writing-on-the-wall long ago but still spoke her mind while the criminal class politicos and their corporate benefactors stole our country leaving us with a useless shell of what once was. And yet the band plays on blaming each other with silly partisan BS that only serves to distract the populous and make a few talk show hosts rich.
This comment was posted on January 4th, 2010 at 2:54 amDear Mr & Mrs. Kapturd, I expected an answer, not one without merit . NAFTA, lowered tariffs on hundreds of products between the countries involved. Therefore, lowering the COST to consumers. Hmmm, putting more money into the pockets of consumers is WRONG ?! How do you Dims, think like that ?! Cognition like that is utterly and completely STUPID !! Ronald Reagan, lowered taxes which produced so much income to the Treasury, Demonrats went giddy spending it on college educations for prison lifers, medical care for illegal aliens, abortions , ACORN donations , etc. and other idiotic spending that didn’t help out ONE AMERICAN at all in the long term. Ronald Regan , also lowered tax rates from a high of 70 % down to 32 %. Can you imagine paying a 70% TAX on your income, a law that the Demonrats had passed ?! Sounds like slavery to the wastefull spending by profligate Demonrats to me. Since neither of you hopeless zeroes couldn’t answer as to WHY , there used to be 10+ Fortune 500 companies in Little Detroit,when Kapturd invaded, where as, there is only 1 now…I take it that you approve of local Demonrats economic destruction of a once prosperous city ! I’ve heard of more stupid things in my life however, not for a long, long, LONG, TIME !! Now, Mr. & Mrs. Kapturd, your turn to retort as to why AGAIN, Toledo , has citizens fleeing, businesses following, infrastructure neglected and crumbling, and criminal pols who enrich themsleves as Toledo, FIZZLES !! Try to be a little smarter this time….
This comment was posted on January 4th, 2010 at 10:47 amOOOOPS, I forgot about Toledo’s horrible, unionized and very dangerous public schools…all ran ( RUINED ) by Demonrats, and their hand puppets on the far radical left. Anything worth mentioning from you two brilliant posters on that topic ? Or, are you also happy with how Dims have poisoned our schools as well as totally ruined the business enviroment ?! I await breathlessly, your very learned response.
This comment was posted on January 4th, 2010 at 11:02 amLet’s try again…how many Fortune 500 companies were there in Toledo, before Kapturd and her cronies above INVADED Little Detroit ? And, how many are there now ?! Mr. & Mrs. Kapturd , above have no idea at all…too bad …dimwits know so little . NAFTA, lowered costs on thousands of products lowering costs to consumers. And you zeroes DON’T LIKE THAT ??!! Ohio’s exports to Mexico are up 65 % and our exports to Canada, are up 35 %, dur to NAFTA,and you screamers buy into Kapturd’s scat ?! No wonder Toledo , is doing so poorly…look at it’s citizens who vote for criminal pols who DRIVE OUT BUSINESSES !! AMAZING IDIOCY!!
This comment was posted on January 4th, 2010 at 3:12 pmA question for the moderator, if you please.
What does any of the recent commentary have to do with the out going Mayor?
Seems that some have or are still drifting.
This comment was posted on January 5th, 2010 at 3:27 pmIf moderators cut comments that drifted from the main topics on these threads, there would be very few threads to comment on. Having said that, the moderator will start policing with a greater eye to keeping things on track.
This comment was posted on January 5th, 2010 at 4:03 pmDear N.C., The connection in my posts is simple and clear. Demonrats, whether it’s Finkenstine, Kapturd , Fedor, Strickland , or ObaMao…have all taken FREEDOMS , away from every one of us via punitive TAXES, insane REGULATIONS, backwards ECONOMIC sense , a senseless ENERGY policy ( there are 16,00 employees in the Dept. of Energy ?!) , not to mention their cut, surrender ,and run away FAST foreign policy. This is the TIE in my threads…others are spitting in the bloody wind and do not see what is PLAINLY before there own lying eyes !! REMEMBER : Carty , changed and, send more money to the Dims, they need your money more than you ever will, just ask THEM !!
This comment was posted on January 6th, 2010 at 10:54 amJust one word for ya TY… decaf.
Finkbeiner tried. He loved Toledo and took risks attempting to turn Toledo around. If you’re blaming him for Toledo’s economic state of affairs, you’re apparently not paying attention because every city in the Great Lakes region is suffering. Check out the vacant stores in Downtown Ann Arbor, for instance. Evenb cities heavily subsidized by State employment and investment – Columbus, Indianapolis, Madison, Lansing, are in trouble. Mike Bell might have a different approach, but his task is considerable given the fact that Toledo is in decline, as is the Great Lakes ever since the end of World War 2. Mayor Ford snoozed through his term, Carty Finkbeiner put in long hours, demanded people to be accountable, and attracted more investment than invective. Too many Toledoans (like Ty Coon) tend to crush innovators, attack change-makers and predict the very worst because they’ve spent their entire life in a Toledo that has never recovered from the Great Depression. It’s a sad state of affairs and it can drain one of life and ambition. Here’s a thought… stop bitching and start to suggest solutions. Any idiot can identify a problem, a truely wise person can identify solutions. No, Ty… the “solution” is not elect all Republicans. That won’t do. Tell us exactly anyone in office should do to help Toledo. Otherwise… you’re just embarrasing yourself and boring the heck out of us.
This comment was posted on January 6th, 2010 at 7:41 pmTY Buffoon Thank You for reminding me how small and insignificant I am. So as not to offend NC,I will save further comments until a more appropriate topic is explored. Your sardonic name calling is getting rather boring anyway.
This comment was posted on January 6th, 2010 at 8:18 pmDear Mr. & Mrs. Kapturd, and Planzero, Odd responses again defending politicians who are completely and totally to blame for our areas woe’s. You blind folks led by the ignorant are as puzzling to rationale as anything. The blame above mentions ALL Demonrats at ALL levels of Governance…it’s PLAIN and CLEARLY STATED so. Why not have all R’s or I’s , as politicians ?! We’ve had ALL Demonrats and look what’s that attained…citizens fleeing, businesses following, infrastructure neglected and crumbling, horrible schools, etc. Which R or I , is to blame for that ? A question you complete zeroes do not EVEN attempt to answer. And, I’m the one who needs advise from dissolute posters like you ?! I am laughing at your tedium and am perplexed at the answers NEVER , EVER coming from folks who are soley to blame for voting for Internationally known reprobates ! The answers to growth in this area are ALSO explained above for you blind devotees of ridicule…don’t you posters know how to read ?! SO FOR ONE LAST ATTEMPT: how many Fortune 500 companies were in Little Detroit , before Kapturd invaded and, how many are there NOW !! I will never post here again for the correct answer !! Now, post to Kapturd requesting a TAX INCREASE for yourselves ONLY !!
This comment was posted on January 7th, 2010 at 11:01 amNC
In my experience when someone (like Ty Coon) reverts to juvenile name calling, they’ve run out of ideas. They’ve lost the arguement. They’re intellectually bankrupt.
TY
Sorry about the big words. You should have stayed in school. Now go shovel the snow off the roof of your single-wide before the fake wood paneling in your living room starts to buckle.
Love and kisses.
This comment was posted on January 7th, 2010 at 11:32 amOne other point for you insipid Demonrat posters. When you vote for Kapturd , and the rest of that crowd. Are you ever told what she ( or they ) is going to do ? I ask this because, she never, ever stated she is going to raise taxes on pop because of the sugar content is harmful to her obese constituents .And yet, she has ! Nor , does she EVER state in her campaign that she is going to raise income taxes, energy / fuel taxes, payroll taxes, estate taxes, internet taxes, phone taxes ,TAXES and MORE TAXES and, yet she always votes for them ! Therefore, who is LYING the MOST ? Kapturd, for never mentioning her designs on AmeriKa or, you folks , for not letting others KNOW about her schemes !? I await BRILLIANCE ,from one of you fellow travelers…
This comment was posted on January 7th, 2010 at 11:37 amMR
Right on, brother.
This comment was posted on January 7th, 2010 at 11:37 amDear Mr. Kapturd, What a shame it is to bore you ,I hardly read the scat you and other insipid posters post, it is 3rd grade scat and,it just AIN’T worth it… EVER ! You insipid posters do not recognize complete FAILURE and I , Brian, and others are some how to blame ?! Dissolute,and insane voters like you are the cause of our problems and you project BLAME onto those who have NO POWER to raise taxes, NO POWER to waste money on showers, etc., NO POWER to regulate businesses out of this area , and NO POWER other than to speak out against what you weirdo’s EMBRACE !! Now, exactly, what are you going to do to change THAT ? Whine and moan like menstrual cranks , some MORE ?!
This comment was posted on January 7th, 2010 at 1:15 pmDear Planzero, Describing someone as I do, isn’t name calling . The apparant difference escapes you and, that is obvious. Now, for the 4th time, How many Fortune 500 companies called Toledo, their home before Kapturd, invaded? And, how many are there now ! Hey,you and Mr. Kapturd’s , slings and arrows are more like spit wads and paper airplanes…call the union to get better retorts…you need help in debating.
This comment was posted on January 7th, 2010 at 2:07 pmTY…
You always this cool under pressure?
Man… do yourself a favor.
Stay in the shallow end. You’re in way over your head. The more you post with all those misspelled words, CAPITAL LETTERS, and lame nicknames, the more it become apparent that you should get back on your meds, go buy yourself a clue, or return to your asylum.
Buddy, you’re a lost cause.
You still have not offered a single solid solution. Zip. Zilch. Loef. Zero.
And I know why… because you’re just not the sharpest knife in the drawer, are you? This is all just a little too confusing to you, isn’t it? You’re like an unfrozen cave man just barely grasping with the complexities, demands and responsibilities of modern like.
I can read your pain. It must really hurt to be so stupid.
I pity you.
This comment was posted on January 8th, 2010 at 3:46 pmTY…
You always this cool under pressure?
Man… do yourself a favor.
Stay in the shallow end. You’re in way over your head. The more you post with all those misspelled words, CAPITAL LETTERS, and lame nicknames, the more it becomes apparent that you should get back on your meds, go buy yourself a clue, or return to your asylum.
Buddy, you’re a lost cause.
You still have not offered a single solid solution. Zip. Zilch. Loef. Zero.
And I know why… because you’re just not the sharpest knife in the drawer, are you? This is all just a little too confusing to you, isn’t it? You’re like an unfrozen cave man just barely grasping with the complexities, demands and responsibilities of modern life.
I can read your pain. It must really hurt to be so stupid.
I pity you.
This comment was posted on January 8th, 2010 at 3:49 pmOh… I’m done posting in response to you, Ty Cobb. Therefore (now stay with me here kiddo, this is going to be hard to grasp…) any response you provide… well… I won’t be reading it. Life’s too short to waste on low brows like you.
Tootles sweetheart.
Enjoy what remains of your miserable, angry, gloomy, confusing life.
Hugs and kisses!
(Do I hear a keyboard being pounded?)
This comment was posted on January 8th, 2010 at 3:55 pmThe Defenders of Finkenstine, are a confounding and contentious lot. They defend him with absolute madness as they ignore the ruins around them and us. To answer simple questions perplexes them into frothing , spitting nonsense as exhibited above. Demonrats, have sent hundreds of businesses fleeing from Little Detroit,and zeroes try to rescue their own pathetic voting patterns and the criminals they elect with idiocy beyond human comprehension. And syntax errors by me is somehow worse than that ?! As planzero flies around in rarified liberal air, his gaped mouth accumulates so many insects, oxygen to his brain is depleted causing blindness to ruination by Dims, ignorance to the reason Why , and drivel to pour from his mouth. Liberalism, is afterall…a mortal disease.
This comment was posted on January 11th, 2010 at 11:33 amFor the 5th time, how many Fortune 500 companies called Little Detroit HOME, when Kapturd invaded and wreaked total DESTRUCTION ( along with Carlton, Sandy, Bob, Theresa , etc. ) and, how many call Toledo, home NOW ? Let’s see just how fantastically stupid Mr & Mrs. Kapturd and planzero, flip out over this request ! Lunar shot freakazoid , psychotic, is my guess.
This comment was posted on January 11th, 2010 at 2:46 pm