Michael Davis
Jesse Diaz
                             

10/31/05  Ed Oakley's such a kidder.

But, Our Downtown Betters aren't laughing 'cause they are not getting their money's worth from Ed Oakley.  Looks like Oakley's been taking the ODB for a ride, and those guys do not have a sense of humor .

During the two years between Old Al Lipscomb's two city council cycles, a bunch of his keepers  complained about the undependability of his successor who he returned to private life as soon as he was eligible to run again.  Their complained they couldn't trust her and "At least with Al, he stayed bought."  A lot of Our Downtown Betters are now saying similar things about Ed Oakley because they can't trust him.

You can deal with someone with whom you differ when you know they have a core.  You can have an honest difference of opinion.  When someone would rather climb a tree to tell a lie when he could stand flat footed and tell the truth, you know that person cannot be trusted.

Let's take a run down memory lane using several Dallas Managed News stories and editorials from last March to the present, including a couple of Oakley's own viewpoints to get a perspective on what a moving target "truth" is for Ed Oakley. 

As you read along, Bill Blaydes and Gary Griffith are almost interchangeable with Ed Oakley.  These three guys lied to us last Spring.  As Steve Salazar's representative, I served on the Coalition for Open Government (group opposing the Blackwood proposal).  We said over and over -- turn down Blackwood because the council will draft a better "stronger mayor" charter amendment that we can vote on in November.  I sat in those meetings as did the representatives of Blaydes, Griffith and Oakley.  We all knew what our council members wanted, and we kept them current on the Coalition's doings.  The representatives for Oakley, Blaydes and Griffith were particularly active and vocal in all Coalition decisions.

We could not have put on our campaign without funding from the Citizens Council.  They wanted a better plan than Blackwood, not the status quo.  It is incredible to me that former councilman Bob Stimson (Coalition for Open Government's treasurer) is now campaigning against City Proposition 1 (stronger mayor).  Can't wait to see who's paying his fare on this round.

Not-so-Texan Blaydes, Sandra Dee Griffith and Flip Flop Oakley are all mayoral wannabe's.  It's going to be hard for any one of them to get ODB support when their ambition finally overcomes their common sense. 

What do all of them have in common besides being prevaricating politicians?  Why, it's Ray Hunt!  Griffith is in the Wick Allison, Steve Bartlett loop that owe everything they have to being in the good graces of that Son of a Bigamist.

Let's review the 2005 strong mayor saga via the Dallas Managed News:

Proposition 1: Council alternative is a step backward 12:06 AM CDT on Tuesday, April 19, 2005

For weeks, the editorial board debated how much credence to place in the City Council's promise that, if voters defeat Proposition 1 on May 7, the council will put a better strong-mayor proposal on a November ballot. All that became moot as the substance of the council's alternative took shape. ... If City Hall is a murky pond, where the mechanisms of power are hidden and the lines of accountability obscured, the council's proposal is like dumping in a fresh load of mud. Under it, the mayor would have the power to hire and fire the city manager, but the council also could fire the manager by a majority vote. ... Authors of the alternative say it is preferable to Blackwood ...

Last Winter, the DMN used its pages as campaign literature to support Blackwood.  The Editorial Page was as biased as the Board.  It looks like they were justified in their skepticism of the true intent of the city council relating to any stronger mayor charter amendment.

Below is one of two viewpoints by Flip Flop Oakley.  DallasArena.com had almost locked in on Temper Tantrum Oakley, but "Flip Flop" does truly fit the bill.

Ed Oakley: Support the council proposal to keep City Hall honest and open 10:02 PM CST on Thursday, March 31, 2005

... For the past two months, I have worked days, nights and weekends with my fellow City Council members to produce a balanced alternative to the Blackwood proposal. ... Through it all we have heard some citizens voice a strong desire for change while others have not. As your City Council, we have to find a balance that serves all our constituents. ...  some of my constituents in District 3 have made it clear that they want change. Some other council members have heard the same from their districts. The question is not whether we change, but how much change and how do we achieve it?    The crux of our plan is to give the mayor the power to hire and fire the city manager. If you get nothing else from this article, please hear this loud and clear: That is a huge change at Dallas City Hall. ...  My purpose here is not to detail every change, but to make clear the solid, open process we have used, the common sense of our plan, and to issue a challenge. Or perhaps I'll call it an invitation. ... The mayor does not have to wait to have more power. She can step forward today, join with the 14 members of the council, and lead the whole city across the finish line in a November charter referendum. ... The council offers unity. The council offers balance, both big dreams and common sense. I invite the mayor and all the citizens of Dallas to join us.

Oakley wrote the language in Prop 1, and now he opposes it?  The question is not whether we change, but how much change and how do we achieve it?  Do you feel like a dork for believing all that?  Sure, you believed it!  I did, too.  Who would have thought even Ed Oakley would be so brazen as to tell an outright lie to the whole town, and a few months later say he had his fingers crossed behind his back? This is not like Oakley changed his mind.  He was the primary architect of the council's charter amendment to give the mayor more power - "a balanced alternative to the Blackwood proposal."
He should have said The question is not whether we're lying to you, but how much you'll believe and how we can justify lying when you find us out?

Council OKs chance for 2nd referendum 11:13 PM CDT on Wednesday, April 13, 2005 By EMILY RAMSHAW / The Dallas Morning News

A divided Dallas City Council passed a nonbinding resolution Wednesday to give voters a chance to strengthen mayoral power next fall, so long as they defeat the strong-mayor referendum on the May ballot.    "We're giving every citizen of this city an opportunity to say yes or no," council member Bill Blaydes said of the 11-3 vote. "We are in agreement that this is in the best interest of the city of Dallas."    But council members' proposed alternative ? which would allow the mayor to hire and fire the city manager and have final say over the selection of police and fire chiefs ? came under fire from two black council members and Dallas civil rights leaders, who argued that it doesn't do enough to protect the city's minority voices. ... Council members designed their own charter amendments in the last two months, .... They heard many of their constituents clamoring for change. But, convinced that Ms. Blackwood's proposal went too far, council members focused on crafting a viable alternative for the November ballot.    In March, all 14 council members signed a letter to The Dallas Morning News, pledging to give voters a "better" option. After several weeks of public hearings, they unveiled their plan. ... At Wednesday's meeting, the proposal got poor marks from longtime black civic leaders Marvin Crenshaw, Roy Williams and former council member and current District 8 candidate Al Lipscomb. ... Ms. Miller said she believes the current council intends to put the alternative on the November ballot. But the resolution is nonbinding, she said, and there's no telling what will happen once at least four new council members take office. ... Several council candidates held a news conference at City Hall on Wednesday, pledging to follow through on the council's plans if they are elected. ... HOW THEY VOTED ... A nonbinding resolution to place the council-crafted charter amendments on the November ballot if the strong-mayor referendum fails in May. For:  John Loza, Don Hill, Elba Garcia, Ed Oakley, Steve Salazar, Gary Griffith, Bill Blaydes, Lois Finkelman, Sandy Greyson, Mitchell Rasansky, Veletta Forsythe Lill ...

The FBI's Favorite Target Don Hill was right there with Flip Flop Oakley, Sandra Dee Griffith and Not-so-Texan Blaydes.  In all this, Blaydes is the biggest disappointment.  Many of us who supported Oakley over Dwaine Caraway had our concerns.  Oakley's a very loveable guy who gets very emotional and can weep at the drop of a hat.  An Oakley campaign supporter was caught harvesting mail-in ballots after we had made such an issue of the threat of Caraway stealing the election with harvested mail-in ballots.  I tried to convince a reporter that Ed really knew nothing about the vote harvesting effort.  I told the reporter that Ed actually cried about it.  The reporter scoffed and said "Oakley cries all the time."

Oakley may be lead liar in this position reversal, but Sandra Dee Griffith and Not-so-Texan Blaydes agreed to support "the council-crafted charter amendments".  As I said, Blaydes is the biggest disappointment at every level on the council.  He promised to fight against ward politics and vote his conscience.  That lasted about 3 weeks.  He's as bad as Alan Walne about stating all the reasons to do one thing and then voting the other way, but Alan Walne was honest and usually kept his word when he said he would do something. 

Texans are known for telling tall tales in jest, but Bill Blaydes tells big lies in dead earnest.

No one expected anything other than the weakling that we already knew Sandra Dee Griffith to be.  From handing out huge tax abatements to a buddy to remodel the multi-million dollar house he already owned to stepping out of the room on important votes, Sandra Dee has lived up to our low expectations.

Ed Oakley is very big on pay back.  Mayor Miller endorsed Mark Housewright over Oakley and former School Board Trustee Roxan Staff over Sandra Dee two years earlier.  Mayor Miller endorsed me over Steve Salazar, but that's the difference in the three councilmen.  Councilman Salazar accepts politics and put her endorsement aside to work with Mayor Miller for the good of his district and the city.  For people like Sandra Dee, Not-so-Texan Blaydes and Flip Flop Oakley, winning a council seat is all about helping themselves and a few close buddies.  The rest of us get to pay the bills.

Here are some excerpts from Oakley's second DMN viewpoint AFTER the election.  He was on a high because his side beat Laura Miller.  Rather than showing some graciousness and an ounce of character, Flip Flop had a great time rubbing the election outcome in the Mayor's face.

Ed Oakley: A charter plan voters can be proud of 12:02 AM CDT on Friday, May 13, 2005

The Dallas City Council made a commitment to the voters of this city. We pledged that if they would join us in defeating the Blackwood charter proposal, we would offer an alternative in November. We will fulfill that promise.    The following are specific reasons our proposal is better than the Blackwood proposal: ... The more the Blackwood proposal was studied, the more its flaws stood out. It simply needed work. Our proposal will be fully vetted by the city attorney and will be carefully considered so that it smoothes out wrinkles in the charter. ... Our proposal will provide for more effective and efficient city government, which is what citizens really want. ...  The council pledged to put an alternative before the voters in November.  ...

Isn't that amazing?  We pledged that if they would join us in defeating the Blackwood charter proposal, we would offer an alternative in November. We will fulfill that promise.  Wasn't it silly of anyone to assume the architect of the council's alternative to Blackwood's proposal would support his own proposal?  The ODB are not happy.  When they aren't happy, we get DMN editorials like this one.

So this is what's written between Oakley's lines 04:55 AM CST on Sunday, October 30, 2005

Anyone who wonders why politicians rank down there with journalists and car salesmen in public trust need only track Ed Oakley's moistened-finger-in-the-breeze positions on strengthening the mayor's powers. ...  He and 13 other council members signed a letter in March published on our Viewpoints page ? the "Statement of Change" ? that detailed Blackwood's flaws but pledged something better, if only voters would give them the chance by rejecting Blackwood.    In April, Mr. Oakley even wrote an op-ed column for Viewpoints arguing for the defeat of Blackwood but encouraging Mayor Laura Miller to join her 14 colleagues "and lead the whole city across the finish line in a November charter referendum. Not only will the mayor have more power, but the entire city will brim with energy and purpose because we will be united."    Voters did as Mr. Oakley asked, overwhelmingly rejecting Blackwood. And Mr. Oakley, as promised, helped write a less-strong alternative that voters will consider Nov. 8. ... In August, Mr. Oakley disclosed that he hadn't any plans to campaign for his amendment. That was unsettling. After all, he had told the editorial board back in the spring that he didn't see any reason he wouldn't campaign for it.    Then this past week, he told Dallas Morning News reporters that not only won't he campaign for the amendment, he'll actually campaign against it.    His rationale? His "constituents" had spoken with their defeat of Blackwood. ... The flip-flop at this point is bad enough. But it gets worse. ... Why are you reconsidering your own amendment? we asked him in a phone interview. Did Blackwood put a gun to the council's head? ... Well, Mr. Oakley, would your charter amendment improve governance in Dallas?    "Hmm. That's a good question," he said. "I hadn't thought about it in those terms." ... And, finally, "No." Anyone feeling a little snookered today?

Who would ever have thought the DMN would help DallasArena.com nickname a councilmember?  The DMN's "flip flop" is better than DallasArena.com's "temper tantrum".  Does this mean Flip Flop Oakley has national aspirations beyond his plan to run for Mayor of Dallas?  Sadly, Ed Oakley is a smart guy, but his ruthlessness and vengefulness have been his undoing. 

It's one thing to snooker your friends and get back at your enemies, it's a whole other broom in Dallas to snooker Our Downtown Betters and the DMN.  You and I may be snickering  at this turn of events, but the ODB and the DMN get Oakley's joke, and they aren't laughing.

Flip Flop Oakley and his backers best forget any citywide races because the ODB and the DMN have long memories. 

		The DMN's Emily Ramshaw has a wonderful way with words.  "Fourteen vowed", "Nine signed" and "some of the Dallas City Council members who designed the proposal are switching sides."  She nails Flip Flop, Blaydes and Sandra Dee for the two-faced liars their own actions have proven them to be.

Strong mayor supporters change tune Dallas: Some on council withdraw support; critics suspect a political ploy Saturday, October 29, 2005 by EMILY RAMSHAW / The Dallas Morning News

Fourteen vowed to put it on the ballot.     Nine signed on to campaign for it.     But in the days leading up to next week's referendum to increase mayoral power, some of the Dallas City Council members who designed the proposal are switching sides.    Both Ed Oakley and Bill Blaydes have lent their names to Working Together for Dallas, the political action committee leading the effort to defeat the measure.    Gary Griffith is leaning that way.    And Dr. Elba Garcia, who wouldn't reveal how she's going to vote, said her constituents have concerns about the measure and she won't campaign for it. ... Critics suggest these council members never intended to vote for Proposition 1 ? it was a political ploy, they say, to get voters to defeat May's "too-strong" mayor referendum. ... "The very thought of [Ms. Miller] having that authority is something I can't stomach," Mr. Blaydes said. "I am totally reversing my opinion." ... The council members intentionally crafted the measure to go into effect in 2007 after Ms. Miller's first full term ends. ... This spring, while Ms. Miller campaigned for May's strong mayor election, council members huddled around the horseshoe crafting an alternative. Defeat strong mayor, they promised their constituents, and we'll put a better compromise on the November ballot. ... This month, nine city council members endorsed Proposition 1 on campaign literature, including Mr. Blaydes, Dr. Garcia and Mr. Griffith. Mr. Oakley, lead architect of the measure, said he was waiting to hear from his constituents before he took a stand. ... On Thursday, Mr. Blaydes made a similar decision and sent an e-mailed his constituents, informing them of his change of heart. And on Friday, Mr. Griffith said that his support for the measure was wavering and that he was leaning toward voting against it. ... Ms. Miller isn't sure the council members ever planned to vote for the measure. They designed the proposal "in the heat of the moment," she said, when "the strong mayor campaign was under way and voters were demanding change." ... "There's a sense ... that the council members were simply trying to defeat the strong mayor proposal back in May, and that they said whatever needed to be said to defeat it," Southern Methodist University political scientist Cal Jillson said. ... Former City Council member Alan Walne, the co-chair of the stronger mayor campaign, said the Hunt ordeal may have irritated some voters ? and some council members. But he doesn't expect it to change the outcome on Election Day. ... Those representatives changing their minds at the eleventh hour are making decisions "from a political perspective," he said, "and not from a rational perspective of what's best for the city." ... But council member Ron Natinsky said the measure is a necessary step in the right direction ? and ought to pass now.    "The council did vote for it," he said. "If you make a commitment that you're going to do it ..."

Think about what we have at City Hall and who are opposing Proposition 1 for a stronger mayor.  Do you really want to take the advice of the likes of these guys? 

		The FBI's Favorite Target Don Hill had plans to run for Mayor, but that was before he hooked up with D'Angelo Lee and his babes in crime.  He puts on a good bluff, but Don Hill's days in public office are numbered.   Unfortunately for him, he's too smart to plead dumb about his shady doings at City Hall, but he's not half as smart as we thought.
		Shakedown Leo Chaney had plans to run for Congress or at least get back on the DISD payrooll (can't say 'get back his old DISD job' because he really didn't have a job description or duties, just picked up a check at our expense).  His opponents will have a lot of fun itemizing all of his shakedown deals.   Wish someone would itemize where the Smirnoff money went from his first successful shakedown.
		Flip Flop Oakley best forget his plans to run for Mayor.  Shouldn't be too hard for him since he seems to have a memory problem.  Like his problems remembering whether he has conflicts of interest regarding his Trinity Project area holdings.  It's no wonder he can't remember writing two DMN Viewpoints where he told us to trust him and the council to deliver a better stronger mayor proposal.  He's got a great memory when it comes to retaliation.
		Not-so-Texan Blaydes has let a little power go to his head.  He was not elected citywide.  He wasn't even elected district wide.  He was elected by the Lake Highlands Mafia, and they certainly are not happy with him.  Former Councilwoman Donna Halstead who runs the Dallas Citizens Council (ODB) is the reigning queen of Lake Highlands with her successor former Councilman Alan Walne a close second in popularity.  They are both supporting Proposition 1 and clearly not happy with their handpicked successor on the council.  Don't be surprised if they find an opponent for Bill Blaydes in 2007.
		What can you say about Sandra Dee Griffith?  There's just no there - there!  What a complete wimp!  If the guy ever had an original thought, it died of loneliness.  He's the favorite Republican among Dallas County Democrats because they know he and Nate Crain and Pete Sessions are taking the GOP Party down the tubes.  If he didn't have a council vote, there would be no reason to even mention him because Sandra Dee Griffith is just taking up space at the Horse Show.

These losers think they have Mayor Miller in a boiling cauldron.  They are so busy laughing and slapping each other on the back they haven't noticed the fire licking at their own boots. 

If you are going to play with the big boys, you better keep your seasons straight. These losers put all their eggs in Ray Hunt's Easter basket, and he's going to give them away to the next trick or treaters.  A handful of ambitious council members are a dime a dozen to Ray Hunt.  He's been buying them off for years.

If you are considering voting against Proposition 1, think about who you are hooking up with.  The stronger mayor provisions will not even take effect until June, 2007.  If Laura Miller is not re-elected, she will never have those powers to use or abuse. 

If Proposition 1 does not pass, we will have more of the same.  Small minded, ambitious politicians using their office to feather their nests, retaliate against political foes and raise our taxes while they cut property taxes for Millionaires and Billionaires.

The Mayor is elected citywide.  The little nickel and dime council members opposing Proposition 1 only have to win over a small, connected group in their districts to win their elections.  They make it very clear that we need a stronger mayor. 

I agree with Alan Walne's comments in Ramshaw's story:   Those representatives changing their minds at the eleventh hour are making decisions "from a political perspective," he said, "and not from a rational perspective of what's best for the city."

Not-so-Texan, Flip Flop and Sandra Dee gave their word to do one thing, but Ray Hunt wants them to do something else.  Guess which is more important to Blaydes, Griffith and Oakley - their word and integrity or the wants of that Son of a Bigamist? 

Most on Flip Flop Oakley's opposition campaign were also on the Coalition for Open Government.  The Coalition asked you to turn down Blackwood's proposal, so we could have a better proposal on the ballot for November.  There was more than implied support for a stronger mayor proposition.  There was an outright commitment. 

Not-so-Texan Blaydes, Sandra Dee Griffith and Flip Flop Oakley were part of the Coalition.  They have proved themselves to be public liars.  You can't trust any of them.  I'm putting money on a small bet that their opposition campaign is funded directly or indirectly by Ray Hunt.

VOTE YES FOR PROPOSITION 1.

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