I would associate mysefl with the remarks of Dennis Lange - a chuckle. I wouldn't worry about this. File this under...NOT HAPPENING.
posted by daveschulz at 12:29 P.M. EST on Tue Feb 28, 2006 #
“The person who’s chairman has to pretty much get along with anybody … I’m not sure people would return his phone calls.”
No - what the GOP in Toledo needs is a leader who can do the job and build a local base. I wonder how many votes the local party got for Rob in the last election. Probablly ZERO - they don't know how to campaign for local canidates or grow, recruit and train their base of voters.
If he wants the job and thinks he can do a good job I am for it. It can't be any worse that what they have right now. There is no effective leadership at all among the local party.
posted by Toledolaw05 at 01:53 P.M. EST on Tue Feb 28, 2006 #
I actually blogged about this on Liberal Common Sense because I thought Larry's comments were kind of...direct?
I also am not sure I agree with leadership being to blame for all of the problems, especially related to Michael Goulding's signature problems. Or Larry changing his mind. I don't know how much behind the scenes talking went on over that issue but it would seem even if there was a permanent chair the same thing could have happened.
I do have to say though that I like this picture of Jon better than the one the Blade used:
http://www.thestain.net/home.cfm
:-)
posted by psyche777 at 03:06 P.M. EST on Tue Feb 28, 2006 #
I have interviewed Jon before, and while he is an earnest and likeable person, I cannot see how the GOP could choose him for county chair. A few thoughts:
1. Jon comes across as a little flaky and unconventional due to his careers in rock music and entertainment reporting. While those qualities are fine for grass roots work, or the more nefarious party operative duties, I don't think he would be able to garner the sort of respect that a chair needs.
2. He is too close to the Joe Kidd - Bernadette Noe war that sparked Coingate, Dieboldgate, Fritzgate, and all the other scandals that rocked the local party. The next chair should be someone a million miles from all of that mess.
3. There is still bad blood between he and Kaczala (despite the public denials). Larry is one of the few local GOP figures not tainted by Noe connections, and as such he commands a lot of power right now. No way in hell he would let Stainbrook have that job without a fight.
4. Finally - what qualifications does he have? Answer: not many beyond four losing political campaigns and a decade or more of grunt work. He has little experience leading an organization (unless The Stain counts as an organization).
posted by historymike at 03:13 P.M. EST on Tue Feb 28, 2006 #
3. I think Larry's comment as quoted in the Blade proves that one. However his last minute change of mind did create some problems for the party. That and Goulding's signature issues. I'm sure he'll get enough write ins to be able to go on to the General though.
:-)
posted by psyche777 at 03:30 P.M. EST on Tue Feb 28, 2006 #
A good friend of mine played in The Stain, and I attended several of their shows around town back in the mid to late 90s. I ran the video equipment, so plenty of documented evidence exists showing Stainbrook's leadership along with a few other unmentionables related to haning out at places like Frankie's. We had a lot of pre and post concert footage of various crowd members. Miss Trixy, the Fire Breather, free beer. Good times. Except it was my friend's video camera, so I don't have the proof.
We even got video of the policeman giving me a ticket after I got pulled over while driving my friend's Jeep after a show. It's so stupid that you can't turn left at Front and Main while on Main facing the skyline. And the cop showed me how stupid it was. The Stain was a punk band, and that night my friend's face was painted up in some kind of scary, deranged, KISS-like manner. Perfect for being pulled over by the police.
The best part was seeing some of the bands that played before or after The Stain. Example: Labor Day Eve, 1995, at The Main Event, The Stain opened for a band I had not heard of. It was Korn. My buddy left after The Stain show, but I said I was going to hang around and see what this band Korn was about. Oh man. That was one wild and most excellent show. Still one of my favorite concerts because it was in a small setting. I was standing up near the stage off to the side.
Actually, I wound up jammed against the wall, trying to avoid the violent mosh pit that exploded after Korn opened with the first song off their first CD. I think some pros from Detroit were there because they were literally beating the hell out of each other. It was awesome. Before Korn really got going in their first song, several in the crowd were like me, not knowing what to expect because everyone was standing around nice and still until the lead singer started with "Are you ready!" Then look out. Some of the crowd, mainly girls, dispersed, streaming out the two exits when the mosh pit started up. That's when I got pushed up against the wall, and I stayed there for the entire show. As much as I wanted to jump into that mess, I remembered I had a brand new computer systems job to go back to in a couple of days, and I didn't feel like testing out the company's extended medical leave.
At the Korn show, Stainbrook was one of several Staff or Security people who were hunched down up on stage, lining the front of the stage, throwing people back into the crowd. So Jon is for a strong defense.
The Stain was good for their "humor." I remember the one show where Jon brought up a homeless guy on stage for some reason, and Jon handed him a giant joint. I suppose it was fake, but who knows? Anway, a week or so later, that homeless guy was in the paper, arrested for something. Jon made t-shirts with the homeless guy's face on the front along with the word "Banned." That was a name of one of their songs. It was a funny shirt. I wished I would have bought one. So Jon cares about the plight of the homeless, and he supports universal health care.
So in other words, hell yeah, make Stainbrook the local GOP leader. If anything, the meetings should be fun. Just beware of the dude with the video camera.
posted by jr at 05:15 P.M. EST on Tue Feb 28, 2006 #
Frankies... Jon at the door hooking us up with drinks & waiving the cover charge... good times!
I remember thinking back then that Jon was very flaky, but had a heart of gold. Let's just say I never thought I'd see him become a frontrunner for anything GOP. Never judge a book by it's cover, right?
posted by gotoledogo at 05:26 P.M. EST on Tue Feb 28, 2006 #
I was not trying to slam Stainbrook; as a matter of fact, I think he is pretty cool.
My point was not to interject my personal take on Jon, but rather to assess how he will be viewed by the local GOP.
I can wish for a poet in the White House, a painter in the governor's chair, and a musician on City Council, but the odds of any of these happening are pretty slim.
Then again, a WWF wrestler is governor of Minnesota...
posted by historymike at 06:20 P.M. EST on Tue Feb 28, 2006 #
I consider myself to be "in the know" of local political leaders, but honestly have not heard of Stainbrook. Of course, perhaps I am not "in the know" as I think I am.
posted by lloyd at 06:55 P.M. EST on Tue Feb 28, 2006 #
Then again, a WWF wrestler is governor of Minnesota.
Was.
And there's the Governator.
And the last story I heard was that the GOP out there wasn't happy with him, and was going to run MEL GIBSON against him.
Someone needs to phone Jerry Springer and beg him to run for something here in Ohio. We should send him to Congress. CSPAN ratings would go through the roof.
posted by anonymouscoward at 07:03 P.M. EST on Tue Feb 28, 2006 #
Lloyd, use yourself as a good barometer. You are right on target.
posted by soboredbytoledo at 09:24 P.M. EST on Tue Feb 28, 2006 #
I have been involved for 3 years now and I do not recall meeting him. I think a big negative will be he worked on the Kerry presidential campaign (if the Blade was right). This would probably be the worst for a prospective GOP chair. I was shocked at the article this morning and how much of a presence it had.
posted by chrismyers at 10:17 P.M. EST on Tue Feb 28, 2006 #
Stain's a friend of Block's.
posted by CrankyEastSider at 10:30 P.M. EST on Tue Feb 28, 2006 #
Yes, very close indeed. The story didn't do himself too well noting that he worked on Kerry's campaign. Yikes....
posted by daveschulz at 10:43 P.M. EST on Tue Feb 28, 2006 #
Great comments - thanks for your feedback. I don't think Jon would be good as a chair for the party. He has recently put his hat in the ring helping out some, but honestly, I would like to see him, or anyone else that wants to lead the party be there for more of the grunt work that needs to be done. I think it is ridiculous for anyone to expect to come in and lead a party after being absent from so much. Although I have spent little time with him, he does seem like a nice person - so I don't wish to knock him. My only advise is if you wish to pursue a position, maybe pursuing it through "The Blade" is not the best option...
posted by alexandra at 12:29 A.M. EST on Wed Mar 01, 2006 #
jr, you're rekindling fond memories for me. My first mosh pit was at the Bijou. (or whetever the hell they may have called it at the time) One summer night, my friend Mike and I were walking past and saw Filter was playing so we decided to go in. Before I knew it, we were in the middle of the pit... in sandals. My toenails didn't fare so well but I'm big enough to take care of myself. Ever since then, I've always moshed wearing sandals.
posted by photodan at 09:58 A.M. EST on Wed Mar 01, 2006 #
I remember seeing Block at Frankies I am sure he & Jon go way back lol
Historymike, I didn't see your post as an attack, FWIW.
I missed the part of the article that said he worked on the Kerry campaign. GOP needs a rock, not a rocker.
photodan, my first mosh pit was a 9inch nails concert, I got sucked in and some big man plucked us out. that was scary! first and last mosh pit!
posted by gotoledogo at 12:04 P.M. EST on Wed Mar 01, 2006 #
Block wasn't at Frankies to see Jon. He was there to soak up some of that great Eastside culture, and to breathe in some of that refined (er, refinery) air.
posted by CrankyEastSider at 12:10 P.M. EST on Wed Mar 01, 2006 #
Isn't "daveschultz" the same Dave Schulz running against Jon and others for State Central Committee?
"Republican State Central Committee District 11: Republicans John Birmingham of Toledo, William Jennings of Toledo, Dave Schulz of Toledo, and Jon Stainbrook of Toledo."
For me, when I evaluate what someone has said, I always look at their motives.
posted by sofarright at 12:27 P.M. EST on Wed Mar 01, 2006 #
Sofarright, which part should we look at when evaluating Daven's comment -- his agreement with my statement that Jon and Block are friends (something that I consider a plus for someone in politics, and didn't mean in a negative way when I wrote it) or the part about the Kerry campaign? That's a genuine question, by the way. I'm just not sure what you meant and would like to understand.
I didn't know Jon worked on Kerry's campaign. If that's true, it surprises me. I missed the Blade article, so don't know what was written about that.
posted by CrankyEastSider at 12:45 P.M. EST on Wed Mar 01, 2006 #
My motives are to A) win re-election and to B) affect positive chanage in our party, ie. leadership that can do the heavy lifting of removing the Noe taint from our party and restoring confidence in our supporters and donors. A good does of tough love is in order to restore faith in the local party. This must be done to begin rebuilding our finances and grassroots.
posted by daveschulz at 12:50 P.M. EST on Wed Mar 01, 2006 #
Yes, always analyze motives, but it seems to me Dave was just stating opinion.
As far as JRB goes, Stainbrook has some drop-dead funny anecdotes about the journalist-kingmaker and sometimes-local loon. Ask him about them sometime; I'm not going to repeat them and have the Blade threaten to sue me again. I've got better things to do.
posted by historymike at 12:50 P.M. EST on Wed Mar 01, 2006 #
Dave, do you see Jon as having the Noe taint on him?
posted by CrankyEastSider at 12:52 P.M. EST on Wed Mar 01, 2006 #
But historymike, being sued by The Blade is a badge of honor. Go for it.
posted by CrankyEastSider at 12:55 P.M. EST on Wed Mar 01, 2006 #
Cranky, no not particularly. Though the endorsement of Joe Kidd who has Noe "closeness", until he turned Tom in on the Bush money laundering (what goes around comes around) is interesting to say the least. I more speak to the image of the party in relation to our donors and supporters. Gravitas is needed.
posted by daveschulz at 01:12 P.M. EST on Wed Mar 01, 2006 #
No, Jon fell out of favor with the Noes a while back, C.E.S.
He is friends with Joe Kidd, and Kidd and Bernadette had a major falling out in late 2003 - early 2004.
Plus, Jon was more of an operative than a "player." He did the grunt work and the thankless jobs for the party. I think that he feels that the Noes screwed him over for a couple of positions because he was Kidd's friend, the routine non-elected jobs that are often dished out to loyal campaign workers.
Some of this also goes back to his primary campaign against Larry Kaczala; Jon underestimated how pissed people would be that he challenged Kaczala.
Had Coingate not broken, we may have witnessed a Republican "A" Team and "B" team like the Dems. Lots of bad blood all around by these factions.
Of course, had Coingate not broken the party would still be controlled by the Noes, so maybe there wouldn't have been a major split.
posted by historymike at 02:30 P.M. EST on Wed Mar 01, 2006 #
As far as JRB goes, Stainbrook has some drop-dead funny anecdotes about the journalist-kingmaker and sometimes-local loon. Ask him about them sometime; I'm not going to repeat them and have the Blade threaten to sue me again. I've got better things to do
why do you think I refrained from sharing my stories?? Historymike you are very funny!
posted by gotoledogo at 04:16 P.M. EST on Wed Mar 01, 2006 #
Dave-Thanks for being honest in your response It is now clear that your primary motive is selfishness by listing "winning re-election" first and the party secondary.
Since I have been involved in the party, I have always heard that Jon Stainbrook is the only real "grassroots" the party has ever had. I used to laugh with my friends that he was some kind of republican urban legend. What other area republicans leave their cocktail parties and go out and do, as historymike says, "grunt work and thankles jobs", get nothing in return, and still love the party?
Contrary to all of the people who sit behind their computers talking about what should be done, Jon is out in the world doing things. When I finally met him, he struck me as somewhat cocky, but after speaking with him for a while, I realized that he was just confident, direct, and genuinely wanted to help people and the party. I was impressed with his enthusiasm, willingness to help people, and love for the party despite all the wrongdoing that has tarnished it.
The fact that he is in a band is pretty irrevelant, but suffice it say, it takes courage and energy to put yourself out there purely for the sake of entertainment. This party needs someone with that kind of energy to rebuild it.
I ran into him while moving party headquarters when a bunch of supporters from school cancelled and other members of the party were "too busy". When he found out the party had no help, Jon quickly coordinated and motivated a group of people to get the job done. I also heard he gathered a slew of workers for the BOE when certain republicans (whose names I will not mention) failed to come through with the workers they had promised the BOE. In my opinion, he came through for the party and unselfishly wants to help the party become respectable again.
Jon must have done somany thankless jobs for the party, becuase of his love for the party not himself. It appears that Jon's actions are similar to Shulz's motives, with one exception. Jon Stainbrook doesn't put himself first, he puts the party first.
Sorry Dave, but I didn't see you do any heavy lifting during the move, nor have I observed or heard about any of your grassroots efforts.
CrankyEastSider- I was referring to Shulz's comment "I would associate mysefl with the remarks of Dennis Lange - a chuckle. I wouldn't worry about this. File this under...NOT HAPPENING."
posted by sofarright at 04:27 P.M. EST on Wed Mar 01, 2006 #
I didn't take part in the move because I didn't know about it but that's beside the point. I will tell you about my grassroots experience starting in 1999:
Wichowski treasurer and hardworking volunteer, Berling(s) for Judge, Kuhlman for Judge, Sarantou for Council, Susan Meek treasurer, Tim Brown for Wood County Commissioner, Thurber for Clerk of Courts, Gene Hagedorn for Oregon City Council, Judge Lanzinger, Kaczala for Congress (raised $$$ and facilitated endorsement). I founded the Log Cabin Republicans chapter here which provided volunteers and helped fund newspaper ads for candidates such as Brown, Lanzinger, Perz, Carter, Bhaer & Kaczala in Lucas and Wood Counties. Heck back in 2001, Maggie Thurber highlighted my hard work for many candidates making many of our victories that night possible in her victory speech for Clerk. Not to mention recently holding McCloskey accountable for his misdeeds.
posted by daveschulz at 04:48 P.M. EST on Wed Mar 01, 2006 #
I thought most everyone knew that Dave was running for re-election to the District 11 seat. It's not like it was a big secret. I'd also point out the fact that he posts under his own name? Makes him pretty credible. It's kind of hard to judge what a person's motives might be when they show up anonymous, especially when they joined today and only have two comments. First impression would be you are someone who doesn't like Dave yet does Jon yet not enough to be public about it.
:-)
posted by psyche777 at 05:21 P.M. EST on Wed Mar 01, 2006 #
I know its intentionally not a big secret that he is running for re-electon, but who watches state central committeee races? I know its not a big secret that Dave is your friend and "a personal favorite of LCS, Dave Schulz of Toledo."
I thought a blog was an opportunity for all of us to openly and freely express our opinions and viewpoints...call it the way we see it. So please, try not to insult my intelligence. The manner in which I was made aware of the blog was when I did a random search about Jon Stainbrook's running for GOP chairmanship in The Blade. Some friends I ran into a the Queen Sancha's Ball last night at the Mansion View told me about the article, so I had to comment.
And again, thanks for sticking up for Dave. I think I get it. I understand he's your friend, but I stick by what I said about Jon Stainbrook, because he isn't here to defend himself. Until today, I never even heard of Dave, nor had any of my friends, so I guess all the controversy you and Dave stirred up today worked out good for you.
;)
posted by sofarright at 06:42 P.M. EST on Wed Mar 01, 2006 #
It's obvious Jon is your friend nor have I hidden that I support Dave on a lot of things too.
But I have been here for a while so people know that about me. Nor am I anonymous. You are perfectly welcome to do that, most people do, but I tend to not place as much credibility to someone who "appears" until I get to know more about what little can be determined from their postings.
As I stated, that's my first impression. To me if you really believe in something or someone enough you don't have a problem with people knowing who you are.
I'd also point out that I have this really strange habit of sticking up for people even if I don't support them if I think they are right. I'm funny like that. Who knows if you stick around that could very well happen at some point.
:-)
posted by psyche777 at 06:51 P.M. EST on Wed Mar 01, 2006 #
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