Normally I don't work on Sundays. Sunday is the Lord's Day ..... a day of rest!
But today I am moved to speak out about a few things that have been bothering me this past week.
Have you noticed that increasingly things seem to be upside down, topsy turvy? Up is down, down is up. Black is white and white is black. Have you noticed that actions and behaviors which are evil and shameful are too often overlooked or brushed aside instead of being confronted head on while other actions and efforts to expose the truth are attacked? Have you ever noticed that actions and behaviors which are righteously indignant (and understandably so) are "misunderstood" and criticized as mean and "nasty"? Have you ever noticed how so many people rally around, protect and even support people who should not be protected and supported while so many people seem to abandon those who should be protected and supported?
- On Thursday, 7/22, Jerry Lairmore,an elected official of Gasconade County called his colleague, Matt Penning, another elected official of Gasconade County, a "lieing son-of-a-bitch" during an official county meeting which was attended by three county employees.
- Previously, when out of earshot of other people, this same elected official (Jerry Lairmore) has called the same colleague (Matt Penning) a "dickhead", apparently attempting to goad him into a physical confrontation.
- On Thursday, 7/29, the elected public official who was called a "lieing son-of-a-bitch" on 7/22 (i.e. Matt Penning) confonted his colleague (Jerry Lairmore) during the County Commission meeting at the courthouse. No apology was offered by he who has a very foul mouth and is very disrespectful of others. Instead, Jerry Lairmore stood by his comments from the previous week.
- During this same meeting on Thursday, 7/29, John Penning, the elderly father of the elected public official who was called a "lieing son-of-a-bitch" waited patiently until the public portion of the County Commission meeting to confront the foul-mouthed, elected public official (Jerry Lairmore) and ask that he apologize publicly to the Penning family. Again, the foul-mouthed, disrespectful elected public official (Lairmore) refused to do so.
- During this same meeting, Ron Jost, the Presiding Commissioner of Gasconade County threw John Penning out of the meeting and said nothing to the foul-mouthed elected public official who called his colleague a "lieing son-of-a-bitch" during a county meeting the week before. No reprimand of the foul-mouthed, disrespectful elected public official was handed down by the Presiding Commissioner. The subject was immediately dropped when Presiding Commissioner Jost abruptly adjourned the meeting.
- Twenty-two minutes later (nearly as fast as a speeding bullet) and in his apparent zeal to slam the two Pennings, Jeff Noedel, publisher of CountyNewsLIVE.com, published a report on the County Commission meeting in which he focused on the storyline of John Penning's ejection from the County Commission meeting and Matt Penning's supposed "controversial role" on the County Commission over the county's tire purchasng program RATHER than Jerry Lairmore's foul mouth and disrespectful treatment of his colleague, Matt Penning. Why? In this article, Noedel would have you believe that BLACK is WHITE and that WHITE is BLACK. Why? In this article, Noedel quickly glosses over Lairmore's foul mouth and disrespectful treatment of Penning. Why?
- Like flies drawn to a rotting fish, CNL commenters quickly pile on with negative comments about John Penning and Matt Penning Out of eleven comments received (as of today, 8/1), only one commenter, Myron Harris, has questioned why Noedel's account of the Commission Meeting is not more fair and balanced. Some of the criticism of the Pennings comes from as far off as Shanghai. Quite remarkably, this person, a half a world away, seems to hang on every word published by Noedel. She is quite persuaded by Noedel that the Pennings are the villains in everything.. Other than a general criticism of Noedel's "journalistic" bias, not one single soul has had the moral courage to come forward to condemn Jerry Lairmore, the foul-mouthed, county bully who created all the disturbance in the first place! No one has yet to observe and comment on Noedel's CNL that Ron Jost should have reprimanded Jerry Lairmore for his unprofessional behavior during the 7/22 Road Department meeting. Why are Jerry Lairmore and Ron Jost always being "protected" by Jeff Noedel? What's their connection?
Yes, I think the world is completely topsy turvy.
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Wow! You are really stepping on some toes now!
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately in this case, there is one event that happened in an open meeting that was being recorded and the other event happened in a semi-open meeting where the County Clerk was not present and it was not being recorded. Again unfortunately, the Road Shed event is technically Hearsay while the second event is fact and on record.
ReplyDeleteWhen you look at the facts of this second event, it certainly is newsworthy to report the disrespect one elected official displayed towards the other in an open public meeting. I would think when anyone tells the Presiding Commissioner (no matter who it is) to Shut-Up in a public County meeting, it would be news and it would be right for that person to be told to leave the meeting. Imagine if anyone came to a City Council meeting and told the Mayor to Shut Up. The same thing would have happened and the person would be told to leave.
It makes it even more newsworthy when the person telling the P.C. to Shut Up is himself an elected official. If you are elected to any office, you should be expected to handle yourself in a respectful way when you are at any official public meeting (notwithstanding the first event at the Road Shed). As an elected official, you represent your constituents when you participate in a public meeting no matter what meeting that is, and no matter if you are there on official business or not. It is just a shame what this has developed into.
This whole situation just screams of a leadership void in the commission. We need a real leader in there who can take this garbage situation and turn it around. Our leaders need to be accountable for their actions and their results. I know I am not happy with the results of the current County Commission and that's why I would recommend voting for Larry Miskel. He has the leadership skills and knowledge to turn things around and get our focus back on the county and not on each other. Make sure you vote tomorrow!!
Thanks,
Brian Chorley
Brian I'm voting for Miskel to, he's the best man for the job! About one month ago CNL did a forty five minute transcript about the meeting in Drake which they called Tiregate. Why was this NEWS? Lisa wasn't there but it was still called news. I have a few things for you to check out. Is two commissioners meeting together considered a quorum? If so the meetings at Drake are county meetings. I believe in 2006 Ida Brehe told the commission that records needed to be kept at Drake. Do you believe that Roberts Rules of Order apply in county meetings? If so then why does Jost let one commissioner cuss and badger a fellow commissioner? I feel that all county meetings need to be held at the county seat. I hope you have watched the video on Hermann News. What's your opinion? I think we all agree the Dog and Pony Show must end! Martin
ReplyDeleteNormally I wouldn't agree with you but on this one I do on a point or two. First, Jerry Larimore was out of line and disrespectful towards Matt Penning. As an elected official, one should expect that Jerry Larimore behave in a manner suiting the office which he holds. I can imagine it is very difficult for Larimore to pretend to be cordial to Penning but he must. I am very disappointed that Larimore sunk to such a low level of behavior. On the other hand, I think old John Penning was way out of line telling Ron Jost to "shut up". Again, disrespectful behavior that should not be tolerated and I am glad that Jost asked him to leave. The fact that Penning is also a Hermann Alderman makes it even more dismal that he resorted to such childish tactics as telling someone to "shut up" just like a kid in elementary school. However, Jost also should have either ejected Larimore or reprimanded him when the foul words started erupting from Larimore's mouth.
ReplyDeletePerhaps things would have gotten better if Miskel would have beaten Jost but we have Jost for another few years. I wish Jost would grow a backbone and keep Larimore and all the other foul mouthed, disrespectful people in line who think they can show up at a public meeting and let loose or eject them the meeting. Someone needs to set a better example to the youth of this county and the players in this silly political game are doing a very poor job of it. I also agree that what was up is down and vice versa - whatever happened to common decency and respect for your fellow citizen? Maybe we should throw sex education out of the schools and interject a few classes aimed at manners.