Declare Your Independence: Vote Independent

Burger Endursed Bye Copps Adn Loyers

Lima Mayor David Berger received an endorsement this morning from 95 former employees of the Sheriff's Office, various police departments and the judicial system. It's somewhat relevant given that Berger is running against the former sheriff.

However, apparently these people cannot spell.

If you look at the picture closely, they spelled departments as deptartments and they spelled Sheriff's, as Sherrif's.

Perhaps someone should have edited the document before they turned it into an 8-foot tall sign. You would think that of those 95 lawyers and cops, one of them should be able to spell.

Or does this tell us the intelligence level of those supporting Berger?

Berger Comment Shows He Is Out Of Touch

"He truly despises the job that has been done by the Lima Police Department and that agency is much beloved by every citizen in our town."

-- Lima Mayor David Berger talking about his opponent, former Allen County Sheriff Dan Beck

What? Is he kidding? The LPD much beloved by all the residents of Lima?

Wow.

LPD officers are among some of the most unproffesional police officers with which I have ever dealt.

Berger is clearly in left field. He has lost touch with reality.

I long suspected it with his dogged quest to bring high-speed rail to Lima (as though another government-subsidized transportation system that very few would actually use would help the community), his made-up claim that he is responsible for 10,000 new and saved jobs in Lima (right), and his belief that the future of Lima lies in nanotechnology and alternative fuel sources (great for a city where only 8 percent of the population has a bachelor's degree or higher).

Berger's assertion that the city is on the right track is also evidence that Berger has lost his senses. The city has lost more than 10,000 people during his time as mayor (maybe that is where he came up with his jobs figure?).

While Dan Beck might not be the ideal candidate, he is better than the status quo.

Berger, on the other hand, has to be the poster child for term limits.

RIP Sen. Edward M. Kennedy

Rest in peace, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy.

He was often wrong, but he served his nation for more than 40 years fighting for his misguided liberal policies.

For his service, I salute him.

Another Beck YouTube video

Another campaign ad from the Dan Beck camp.

I still think he should consider a much longer video than 30 seconds. These 30-second sound bites are no better than television commercials and fail to exploit the benefits of new media.

Still, where are the Dave Berger YouTube vids?

Beck is not doing a great job exploiting new media, but he is still leaps and bounds ahead of the Berger camp.

Dan Beck campaign ad

Dan Beck released a YouTube campaign ad today.

Kind of high-tech for him. Can a Berger ad be far behind?

One stooge replacing another

Ray Magnus has withdrawn from the City Council race in November, leaving Kurt Neeper unopposed.

Seeing how that race was lose-lose for the members of the 1st Ward, I guess it doesn't really matter all that much.

While I am glad to see Magnus go, we are simply replacing one stooge for another.

Candidates forum does not bode well for Lima

Observations from tonight's candidates forum for 1st and 3rd ward candidates:

Jesse Lowe

According to my correspondent at tonight's candidates forum, Jesse Lowe only refered to himself in the 3rd person once. He is making progress. I am surprised, though, he has not come up with another pithy slogan for his campaign. Guess he is a one-hit wonder.

Ray Magnus

I found it funny that Ray Magnus thinks knocking down a few houses will inspire people to open neighborhood grocery stores. What century is he living in? I still can't figure out how he is able to run a business.

Marc Reinicke

Reinicke wants the city to have more control over people's lives. Guess he learned that while in prison. Why is he still in the race anyway? Rumor has it he has moved to Dayton and is living down there five days a week. What's the deal with that, Marc?

Sheriff ignoring Ray Magnus' residency

Lima City Councilman Ray Magnus in January 2007 (Photo by KELLI CARDINAL/The Lima News).

Dear Sheriff Dan Beck,

I know of your fondness for enforcing election laws. After all, you began an investigation into Sam Crish because you did not believe he was living in a house he owned in Allen County.

Now, if you look at this court filing (top of page 23), you will see that your buddy Ray Magnus, one of the three stooges on Lima City Council and an investor in Greater Ohio Ethanol, has listed as his address:

H. Ray Magnus
6105 McClain Road
Wapakoneta, OH 45895

 That address also happens to be the same address as his girlfriend's cat shelter.

R.I.P. Tony Snow

Tony Snow smiles as he is introduced by President Bush as his new Press Secretary in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington in this April 26, 2006, file photo. Fox News is reporting today that conservative commentator and former White House press secretary Tony Snow has died of cancer. He was 53. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, FILE)

Tony Snow died this morning. He was 53. My thoughts are with his family.

Former Bush press secretary Snow dies of cancer

By DOUGLASS K. DANIEL
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Tony Snow, a conservative writer and commentator who cheerfully sparred with reporters in the White House briefing room during a stint as President Bush's press secretary, died Saturday of colon cancer. He was 53.

"America has lost a devoted public servant and a man of character," President Bush said in a statement from Camp David, where he was spending the weekend. "It was a joy to watch Tony at the podium each day. He brought wit, grace, and a great love of country to his work."

Snow died at 2 a.m. at Georgetown University Hospital, according to former employer Fox News.

Snow, who served as the first host of the television news program "Fox News Sunday" from 1996 to 2003, would later say that in the Bush administration he was enjoying "the most exciting, intellectually aerobic job I'm ever going to have."

Read the whole story here.