Monday, December 19, 2011

Give this photo a caption

While we are waiting for the final nail in the coffin for the high school project tonight, I thought it would be fun to play a little game.

I will still take anonymous comments (feeling rather festive lately) to come up with captions for the following picture.

My caption is:

"Director Ostergaard, as School Board President, I am telling you that the bid opening will be December 7, as planned.  Don't believe what you hear."


There is no guarantee that I will publish everything I receive.  And it's always appreciated if you sign your name to it. 

124 comments:

Anonymous said...

“Now look here Mr. O., stop the whining please. Transparency, schmanspareny, it’s time to get the shovels in the ground!” Oh...waitress?

Anonymous said...

Can someone send this to O'Reilly's body language segment?

Anonymous said...

Please Pass the Kool-Aid.

Anonymous said...

"And then, um, I was like "no way did those bids come in low...and he was like, like, "yeah-huh!"...

Anonymous said...

Dale, I don't care if O comes before P, my name is going up first on the bronze plaque.

Anonymous said...

"Dale, get off my back, I'm the president, I answer to no one!
I know what I said and this is what I'm saying now!" That's the prerogative of being in charge!

Some back up info --

Questions About the Reorganization
I've received some questions about Dr. Steinhauer's reorganization and wanted to share some additional information here. As always, please contact me for more information on this or other topics.

Q. When will other positions impacted by the reorganization be announced?
A. Rather than waiting until the Board took action on the reorganization, Dr. Steinhauer has engaged the administration, communicated his long-term plan and identified opportunities for supervisors to move into administrative or classroom roles prior to Board action. He has, in my opinion, executed this plan thoughtfully, focused on the dignity of the individuals impacted as well as a transition plan for their responsibilities. We will continue to communicate new assignments as they become available and are approved by the Board.

Q. Is this announcement a reaction to the District's current or future budget situation?
A. Dr. Steinhauer has spent extensive time and analysis on this project since he was hired. His decision to roll out the plan next school year was made after the preliminary budget for 2011-12 was developed, prior to adoption of the Governor's recommended budget and is not calculated into that budget. More information about the budget, including the factors that did lead to 2011-12 budget with no millage impact arrived in homes yesterday and today. Once the plan is fully implemented, there will be a significant savings to the District, but more importantly, meeting its primary objective: to create the most efficient administrative structure while providing excellent curricular support.
[Gee significant savings to the district? Aren't we $2.4 million short this year?????]

Q. Will there be staffing changes within the teaching staff?
A. This reorganization provides more opportunties for our teachers to take on leadership roles in the form of department chairs and grade level facilitators. The District has no plans to furlough teachers and plans to replace each retiring teacher in 2011 unless student selection warrants.
[No we're not going to furlough teachers, we'll maybe ask some to retire.]

Q. Why now?
A. These changes aren't changes that previous superintendents haven't considered. The District's financial and academic position is solid and one that encourages intelligent risk. Our focus is naturally shifting from the work that three superintendents have done to launch the high school renovation to a focus on improving student performance through organizational effectiveness.
[Solid financial position if you ignore a big $2.4 million dollar hole!]
Posted 6th April by Josephine Posti

Anonymous said...

"Now get this straight, Ostergaard,
there is no way any of your budget committee's recommendations will be implemented....it was all for show prior to my re-election; and, now that you are no longer a board officer, none of your ideas will be seriously considered....so back off ! ".

Anonymous said...

Dale, this is a new year. There will be no more replying to stakeholders' emails. Got that?

Anonymous said...

Of course you have five votes for President. I am not working behind the scenes at all to be re-elected. You can trust me.

Anonymous said...

"Listen, I've talked to a lawyer, who said that while we can't really foresee paying ALL of our bills in the future, we are likely NOT bankrupt...at least not in a technical sense."

Anonymous said...

"I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the Board Operating Principles that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it! I would rather you just said "Thank you," and went on your way."

Anonymous said...

Dale, This Board is supporting the PSEA. Look at all the money they spent buying our Legislature's votes.

http://www.commonwealthfoundation.org/policyblog/detail/pennsylvania-union-pac-spending-topped-23-million-in-2010

Anonymous said...

Jo, $2,303,667 in PSEA Legislative contribution should not stop us from educating students properly. We really should close a school.

Anonymous said...

You have the luxury of not knowing what I know: that Mr. Cannon's failed election, while tragic, probably saved the school. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves the Board! You don't want the truth, because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on this Board! You need me on this Board!!!!

Anonymous said...

"I entered an arm wrestling tournament.... now, you see this arm, Mr. Ostergard? I can't extend it anymore, because I made it to the semifinals and this big Chinaman took me riiiiiiiiiiight over....."

Anonymous said...

The truth? You can't handle the truth!

Anonymous said...

"Josie, there are all kinds of numbers in the bid, you know. Good numbers, bad ones, large, small, and the chances that these bozos got the exact numbers...it's a hundred to one...a hundred to one. Now I'm not saying that this is not a real bid. It probably is, Josie, it probably is. It's non-union, it's extremely rare for these parts. But the fact is that the numbers on this bid are different from the numbers on the budget. I just...I wanna be sure. You wanna be sure. We all want to be sure, OK???"

Anonymous said...

"Dale, If you can't be in athletics, at least be an athletic supporter."

Anonymous said...

"Dale, you want another chance? You stop sending me information, and start getting me some."

Anonymous said...

"Boy, you're new meat. You're gonna have to shape up fast and hard for this Board. We got rules here. In order to learn 'em, you gotta do more work with your ears than with your mouth."

Anonymous said...

"Who put this thing together? Me, that's who! Who do I trust? Me!"

Anonymous said...

Your blog is mean spirited and misguided and those are the kind of comments that you hoped for when you posted this picture. of course that is why you allowed anon comments like mine.
This post does nothing constructive.

Anonymous said...

"Dale, when you say plan for tomorrow, are you saying like... tomorrow or t-o-o-m-a-r-r-o-o-h-h?"

Anonymous said...

"Dale, forget about the way it used to be. This is not a damn democracy! We are in a state of emergency and my word is law!"

Anonymous said...

"...and that reminds me of the heady days of Walton and Hoffman, when the world trembled at the sound of our microphones. Well, they will tremble again - at the sound of our silence. The order is - engage the silent mike!!!"

Anonymous said...

Anon 6:00 pm, this column appeared in the Washington Post. Though it is mainly about religious humor I think it applies as well to local politics.

Good humor is constructive, not destructive

Max Carter in WASHINGTON POST JUNE 14, 2011
[Director of Friends Center, Guilford College - Max Carter recorded Friends minister, he serves on the Board of the American Friends Service Committee and the Advisory Board of the Earlham School of Religion.]


If we can pull it off, humor should be respectful even while being critical, should not play into hurtful and even dangerous prejudices, and should provide opportunity for innocent entertainment and even instruction. No one should be pun-ished for our limited o-pun-ions.

And all humor should be, in the best of all possible worlds, wordplays! [to which I agree - I'm still laughing over Anon 6:03!]

Anonymous said...

Anon 6:00:

Disagree - political cartoons have been around forever.

Thanks for the therapeutic laughter, Elaine. Too bad it will fade fast when the municipal and school district tax increases are planned over the next weeks. Given the municipal situation it looks like a bummer millage increase is on the way to our doors. Hope you will bring us the status as soon as you have it.

Bah Humbug!

Anonymous said...

Anon 3:28,

Q. Why now?
A. These changes aren't changes that previous superintendents haven't considered. The District's FINANCIAL and academic POSITION IS SOLID… Posted 6th April by Josephine Posti

Three letters - Wow.

Anonymous said...

Elaine, some of these comments are indeed funny, but please spare me the posts about how the Board ignores you or doesn't answer your emails.

Lebo Citizens said...

No can do. The silence started way before this blog did.
Elaine

Anonymous said...

Posti can't convince her own brother.

Anonymous said...

Dr. Sable wanted to reorganize the supervisors too and look what happened to her. I guess the board at the time thought we could afford all those supervisors and the buy-out of the best superintendent we have ever had.

Anonymous said...

Just call me Mr. go along to get along.

Anonymous said...

Mrs. Posti says “Dale we have to show that the board is united on this issue.” Dale says “Why.” Mrs. Posti says “Because Mrs. Walton said so.”

Anonymous said...

Mrs. Posti..."look Dale if you don't stop asking questions you won't be invited to my New Year's Eve Party."

Anonymous said...

From the district website.
"The Mt. Lebanon School Board awarded bids for the construction of the high school project at the December 19, 2011, School Board meeting in a unanimous vote of 9-0. P. J. Dick Inc., the project construction manager, estimated bids for the project at $93,424,000. The total of the lowest base bids was $87,876,977—5.9% below estimates. The low bidder for general construction was Nello Construction of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at $49,137,000. The following companies were awarded bids for the project:..."

Apparently, Ms. P made Mr. O an offer he couldn't refuse.

Anonymous said...

The paper I just handed to you Dale, are totally my original thoughts. Or did I read it somewhere? Since I hand out so many pieces of paper, I may inadvertently forget to tell you that it is someone else's work.

Anonymous said...

Two hard working volunteers working hard for our community - It is too bad a small minority of our community members continue to berate them.

Anonymous said...

I am embarassed I ever signed the petetion to put a spending cap on the high school project. The mean-spirited, fanatical and downright ill-informed views of the citizens who signed the petetion and comment on this blog do not align with my personal beliefs. I have spoken to a handful of people who signed the petetion who now regret their signature. We all feel misled by the handlers of the petetion, yet it is our own fault we signed without knowing the facts first. Our children and our commmunity will benefit from the high school. Yes, taxes will go up, but how can one live in a community like Mt. Lebanon and expect taxes to remain stagnant?

I would prefer to remain anonymous for as long as my name is associated with the petetion. Thank you.

Lebo Citizens said...

Gee, Anon 1:05 PM, I wish you would have identified yourself. I have been asking for volunteers to record meetings, and no one seems to have the time. What are you doing this evening? Would you be able to record the municipal meeting? I could use the break. It is really hard to get into the spirit of the Holidays when you know taxes are skyrocketing all around you.

Also, I want to take this opportunity to thank those who stepped forward to try to knock some sense into the staff and Board. I was only in it for two years, but there are many who were in it for the long haul.

BTW, two hardworking volunteers in the picture, but only one was berated. There is a message there, doncha think?

Elaine

Anonymous said...

Anonymous 1:59

The handful of those you know who now regret having signed the petition probably feel that way because they were most likely chastised in some way for not marching along.

This community wanted to set a budget, something the board has never done. Most responsible people live that way.

You are living in a dream world. The project is going to be a financial disaster for this community. And you mentioned about taxes “remain stagnant”? Were you here last year for the 10.5% increase? Do you call that stagnant?

People like you will always remain anonymous because you are partly responsible for heading down this path with all your uninformed pie in the sky perspective, but it’s all about you.

What a crying shame the lack of judgment or economic understanding by this misguided leadership called a school board. The commissioners appear to be in the same camp as a rule. There is no hope for rational decisions now.

Our residents struggling with financial uncertainty will soon have to deal with the chronic stress that comes along with escalating financial pressure. Maybe you could anonymously drop off some kind of support to your neighbors in need in the future.

Good luck everyone, it’s going to be tough sledding with no chance for economic recovery here. Turn out the lights, Lebo. It’s time to go home.

Anonymous said...

Even the Posti-Gazette gets it, read paragraph 5:

Outlook bleak for next year's state budget
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
By Laura Olson, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
HARRISBURG -- The state's budget secretary has outlined a bleak picture for the upcoming fiscal year, projecting during a briefing today that the commonwealth will be searching for at least $750 million in cuts to balance next year's spending plan.

A still-weak economy and an unemployment rate of nearly 8 percent are contributing to what will likely be a $500 million revenue shortfall for the current year, Budget Secretary Charles Zogby told reporters.

He added that the estimate is "an optimistic scenario," and that the Corbett administration is planning for a much larger loss of funds.

Part of that planning will include "freezing" some of the dollars that agencies were planning to spend during the remaining six months of the fiscal year. Mr. Zogby said those reductions, expected to be announced next week, will vary from department to department.

He declined to speculate on whether local public schools may see further cuts when Gov. Tom Corbett unveils his budget plan on Feb. 7, but did say the mandated increases in debt payments, pension costs and welfare spending will make any program increases difficult.

"While many folks thought that the budget that we just came through was a difficult one -- and it was, I don't think any of us take any pleasure in what needed to be done to bring that into balance -- but in many respects, [next year] is going to be an even more difficult challenge," Mr. Zogby said.

"All of the easy things, the low-hanging fruit, as I like to say, has been picked."

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11354/1198166-100.stm#ixzz1h6ldvVeV

Anonymous said...

I was amazed by Anon 1:05 PM's remarks, since I know of NO ONE who regrets signing the petition. In fact, many people wish they had done more to stop the speeding train wreck that has now left the ML train station.
I also find it amazing that today's newspapers contain news of our big spending here, as well as stories about the Federal Reserve sacking employees and selling its building Downtown and stocks/banks dropping sharply yesterday. But then I guess we don't have to worry about the economy since we live in Lebo.
It's about time people understand this community does not exist in a vacuum. Look around at neighboring towns---many with gracious housing and desirable neighborhoods--and see what has happened to them. Here are some examples:
*Dormont, formed in 1909, is now part of a consolidated school district.
*Carnegie, formed in 1894, is now part of a consolidated school district.
*Crafton, incorporated in 1882, is now part of a consolidated school district.
*Rosslyn Farms, formed in 1902, is now part of a consolidated school district.
*Scott, formed in 1861, is now part of a consolidated school district.
*Bridgeville, formed in 1901, is now part of a consolidated school district.
Baldwin Township, formed in 1884, is now part of a consolidated school district.
Whitehall Borough, formed in 1948, is now part of a consolidated school district.
I could go on and on, but I won't. Do you get it yet, Anon 1:05?
This project is about vanity and snobbery and it will cost us all big time.

Maddie Miller

Anonymous said...

Dear "I would prefer to remain anonymous for as long as my name is associated with the petition."

Is are you really are ashamed of signing the petition, why don't you sign your name and say so. You coward, you just want it both ways.

John Ewing

Anonymous said...

How can an anonymous person be embarrassed?

Anonymous said...

Here's a captian:

"Can you believe my brother ended up spending $5000 more than he took in for his campaign? Now he's in the red. And he RAN on FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY!"

I only bring Jim Cannon into this because he's the person who took the picture you used in this post. I guess he knew how much you'd like it. How immature. How bitter you both must be.

I broke my boycott of this blog when I heard about this post. I had to witness it for myself.

Ms Gillen, it's your blog and you have a right to put on it anything you like. I don't have to go on it (and I won't ever again after I hit "send"). But if I was driving down the road and saw a truck spewing garbage all over my community, I'd feel compelled to ask the driver to stop.


I'm going away now. Have at it.

Rob Gardner

Lebo Citizens said...

Anon 1:59, interesting that you waited almost two years to admit that you shouldn't have signed the "petetion." Were you waiting until the bids were awarded and you could be aligned with the "winning" side, or did you have a vision last night?
I am curious as to why you waste your time reading this blog.

If you learn anything from this blog, you should stand up for what you believe is right, knowing that there will be people trying to knock you down every step of the way.
Elaine

Lebo Citizens said...

Rob,
So good to hear from you finally, even though Maidenform is one of my most loyal readers.
Merry Christmas, Rob.
Elaine

James Cannon said...

I'm calling shenanigans on the anonymous author regarding their alleged shame over signing the petition and their alleged lack of understanding of the issue.
First, if one were to actually believe this is a real person and real petition signatory, then one could point out the inconsistency of said author signing their name with one st of convictions yey resorting to anonymity when taking the opposite position. In essence, the author is still giving tacit approval to the petition.
On the other hand, if one were to stay rooted in reality, one would realize this posting is obviously from a member of the school board cabal. Why, given what just transpired, would someone take the time to post their regret for standing on the "losing" side of the issue? Secondly, if you read the poorly written post, you'll notice how it conveniently underscored what the board will be announcing down the road--the spending "cap" doesn't really exist. What a sad and silly attempt.

Anonymous said...

Elaine, what I've learned from this blog is that if you state an opinion anonymously that goes against the general opinion of this blog, you are criticized by anonymous people for not have the guts to sign your name to that opinion. Hard to follow isn't it?

Whether you agree with someone's opinion or not is one thing, but to suggest anonymously that the opinion is worthless because it has no name attached to it is ironic (and childish) at best.

Some of the most consistent and strong opinions on this blog are from anonymous posters. The threads with the most comments are the ones in which you allow anonymous comments. So why on earth does it make sense to critique a comment merely on the basis that no name is attached?

Dave Franklin

Anonymous said...

Rob,

Did you notice the Board was sitting in the DARK when they made spending decisions on the HS last night? Oh, the irony!

John Ewing

Anonymous said...

Just in case any of the foks out there were wondering (or complaining) about some of the blog entries -- some of the funny ones were modified quotes from movies.

I do not apologize for any of them, and it sure made me laugh as I put them into the context of the photo! I truly meant no real harm to either party, other than to make some obvious points.

You'll have some more fun if you guess the movies/characters...

Anonymous said...

O.K. - I'll bite. One of the movie characters was Marine Colonel Jessup, played by Jack Nicholson, in "A Few Good Men."

James Cannon said...

Mr. Gardner,

I have never met you but suspect you would fit the exact image I have in my mind. Since you used the words "bitter" and "immature" in your post, I ask--where or when did you speak out against the inflammatory letter about me that circulated prior to the primary election, passed on in part by your former running mate? It's entirely possible that I missed your criticism of the similarly insidious email that made its rounds prior to the general election, also circulated by your former running mate. The tone and content of both documents would most certainly qualify as "bitter" and "immature".
I'll submit to you the same suggestion I would to anyone else lamenting the "mean" tone of the blog. And this is also consistent with the current school board's attitude that if you can't afford to live here, then move (I mean, let's just forget about public debate, history, etc). Here it is, Mr. Gardner: if you don't like what you read here, stop reading it. Really, it is that simple.

Anonymous said...

There are a couple of Jaws quotes in there!

Lebo Citizens said...

Dave, I can follow what you are saying. I was hoping to give board members an opportunity to open up without being chastised for it. But that didn't happen. Now, we get those who got their way rubbing our noses in it. We were fear mongering before and now we strong armed people into signing the "petetion." Yes, spell check, I know that is wrong. So part of the community got their way and they are still giving us crap. You won, folks. We worked our butts off too, but only school board directors are the hardworking volunteers.
Unbelievable.
Elaine

Anonymous said...

Here is the problem: the Board is comprIsed by folks who have no experience or real ability to manage the kinds of problems that our district currently faces. Putting aside the merits of the new HS for a moment, it doesn't require a whole lot of maturity and common sense to realize that undertaking that kind of obligation in the midst such financial problems -- is just plain crazy. Any sane person with a household budget understands this. Yet the Board members do not. It's remarkable, really.

A decade from now? The HS project might make sense.
A lot of sense.

Now it just creates disrespect and fear among the more careful people in the community.




It's this obvious

Anonymous said...

Rob Gardner - Here’s a concept you and your ilk don’t understand. Since you brought it up, I lurked the report too. Mr. Cannon obviously put his own resources into his election campaign rather than hitting up the rest of the community for the dough. After all, it was HIS election.

How refreshing that someone would step forward and not expect everybody to pony up on his behalf, or refuse to perform until he had the financial deck carefully stacked through careful planning and manipulation until he saw his way clear to pass the buck to everyone else. (Can you spell “referendum avoidance” and Act 1 exception, sports wanting their goodies for free??)

That’s humble and honorable where I come from.

Anonymous said...

"Look, I want your vote on the asbestos contract!!!!!"

Lebo Citizens said...

The quotes written on Dec.19 @ 5:12 and 5:22 came from A Few Good Men. I AM having fun with this. I just Google certain phrases and they pop up. It is like looking for plagiarism on a certain person's blog.
Thanks for the laughs. I desperately need them.
Elaine

Anonymous said...

"I know it's ugly, but you should see the budget!"

Anonymous said...

Does no one else see what I see? Is Jo flicking off the residents of our community or just the person behind the camera??

Anonymous said...

just the residents who don't agree with her.

Anonymous said...

Regardless of which one you support, I'm glad we don't have to stomach the sibling rivalry on the Board.

Anonymous said...

Anon. 10:22 BOTH. She feels tha same way about the community as she does the photographer.

Anonymous said...

Anon 1:41 we're all glad you're so financially fixed that you can afford to avoid hearing both 2 sides of a very expensive story!

Anonymous said...

Mrs. Posti says Dale It is not information we share. Dale says but we are a public school. Mrs. Posti says Dale I already answered your question.

PA American Water inspection reports are not public records. See the video at this link regarding her comments about fire hydrants that don't work and you will get a sense as to how the school district is getting around approving right to know requests.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvCElnnz6fQ

Anonymous said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7J7cSRKIJM&feature=related

Pennsylvania American Water doesn't know where their pipes are and they keep digging in the wrong spot causing one neighborhood problems. The video tells all. The neighbors don't this PA American Water knows what they are doing.

Anonymous said...

According to Josephine Posti, Pennsylvania American Water Company is privately held.
Why is it listed on the NYSE as ticker AWK?
David Huston

Anonymous said...

From the American Water website:


What is the difference between a publicly owned and a privately owned system?

Public systems are owned and operated by the cities or towns they service and are under the management of the mayor or other elected officials. Private systems, ranging from small cooperative associations that provide service to as few as a dozen families to large corporations that own several water service companies, are operated, and sometimes owned, by private-sector companies. Whether public or private, all water utilities must abide by the strict water quality standards established by the EPA, as well and state and local regulations.

Anonymous said...

Dale, we have orders you a new set of rose colored glasses. Your first set don't seem to be working. We are also upping your kool-aid dosage, to see if that will help

Anonymous said...

"Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn!"

Anonymous said...

"Now Dale, you and I both know that it’s not really about all those silly things like facts, budgets or even just what is in this pig-in-a-poke of a multimillion-dollar project. The public relations aspect of this thing is the trump card. If I can convince folks that their water quality really is exceptional in spite of the yucky taste and color, I surely can keep a lid on this thing. That’s why I am the President and you’re not."

Anonymous said...

“The point is, Dale, that greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right, greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge has marked the upward surge of mankind. And greed, you mark my words, will not only save the project, but that other malfunctioning community called Mt. Lebanon.”

Anonymous said...

“Look, Dale … I can see you’re really upset about this … I honestly think you ought to sit down calmly … take a stress pill and think things over … I know I’ve made some very poor decisions recently, but I can give you my complete assurance that my work will be back to normal.”

Anonymous said...

“So you gotta ask yourself this question: ‘Do I feel lucky?’ Well, do ya, punk?”

Anonymous said...

“You ask me if I have a God complex? Let me tell you something: I am God.”

Anonymous said...

“I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody. Instead of a bum. Which is what I am. Let’s face it.”

Anonymous said...

“You think I’m licked? You all think I’m licked? Well I’m not licked! And I’m going to stay right here for this lost cause!”

Anonymous said...

"Dale, welcome to the School Board. The first rule of the School Board is: You do not talk to the stakeholders. The second rule of the School Board is: You do NOT talk to the stakeholders.”

Lebo Citizens said...

Here is an obvious one.
"If we build it, they will come."

Anonymous said...

"Dale, dont test me. A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti."

Anonymous said...

"Four-thousand restaurants in the downtown area, I pick the one my brother goes to."

Anonymous said...

"Dale, do you know what it's like to fall in the mud and get kicked, in the head, by an iron boot? Of course you don't--no one does--that never happens."

Anonymous said...

Josie: I'm rapidly becoming a big underground success in this town.

Dale: Gee, in another twenty-five years you'll be able to shake their hands in broad daylight.

Anonymous said...

“If God did not want this school, he would not have made sheep.”

Anonymous said...

"Elaine Cappucci is right, psychotic, but absolutely right! We gotta take these blog bastards. Now, we could fight 'em with conventional weapons, that could take years, and cost millions of lives. No, in this case, I think we have to go all out. I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture, be done on somebody's part."

Anonymous said...

"I think if I really apply myself I could be a totally changed person by the time we finish lunch."

Anonymous said...

Somebody has to do a capital campaign and raise a fist full of dimes.

Anonymous said...

"Listen to me, mister. You're my knight in shining armor. Don't you forget it. You're going to get back on that horse, and I'm going to be right behind you, holding on tight, and away we're gonna go, go, go!"

Anonymous said...

"Well, here's another nice mess you've gotten me into."

Anonymous said...

"I don't have to take this abuse from you. I've got hundreds of people dying to abuse me."

Anonymous said...

"I never liked you. You know why? You don't curse. I don't trust a man who doesn't curse.

Anonymous said...

"Dale, I don't have a friggin' clue what a blown fiber-optic cable is or what the hell it does!
Tim wants one and thats good enough for me!"

Anonymous said...

Allss right, Dale, here's da ploy we're gonna use. I don't think da public knows abaht this. It's called 'incidental punishment' after da bids are accepted.

Anonymous said...

Jo, as you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behavior. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to become.

Anonymous said...

Jo: "Dale, I just don't understand! Why is everyone picking on me, I'm just trying to do whats best for the district?"

Dale: "Maybe if you hadn't tried to embarrass and take down a volunteering resident in your letter to The Almanac you wouldn't be such a target. I'd say turnabout is fair play!"

Anonymous said...

Dale: "Jo, your behavior only makes sense if we think about your motives”

Anonymous said...

Jo, "To know what people really think, pay regard to what they do, rather than what they say."
Rene Descartes

Anonymous said...

And we care about the small people. I hear comments sometimes that board members don’t care. But that is not the case in MTL. We care about the small people.

Anonymous said...

A modern democracy is a tyranny whose borders are undefined; one discovers how far one can go only by traveling in a straight line until one is stopped.

Anonymous said...

All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.

Anonymous said...

Audiences are always better pleased with a smart retort, some joke or epigram, than with any amount of reasoning.

Anonymous said...

Dale: “Jo, women can rationalize anything. Take elections, they'll unleash a bloodbath at the expense of school board candidates. Compared to that, the foreclosure of a few homes is trivial. “

Anonymous said...

If we do not hang together, we shall surely hang separately.

Anonymous said...

Gee, it sure looks like Jo Posti has one public relations problem on her hands. Isn't this her area of expertise?

Could it really be that "what goes around comes around"?

Anonymous said...

Dale: Jo, The candidates may not remember what you said but they will remember your behavior!

Anonymous said...

Dale: "I don't remember who said it but, 'You may fool all the people some of the time, you can even fool some of the people all of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all the time.'”

Jo: "Hun?"

Anonymous said...

The candidates will always remember what Josephine Posti communicated, especially because she didn't care about the other people she hurt by her actions.

Anonymous said...

It is curious how often you humans manage to obtain that which you do not want.

Anonymous said...

You know, you worry too much. In fact, everybody worries too much.

Anonymous said...

Being president is like running a cemetery: you've got a lot of people under you and nobody's listening.

Anonymous said...

Government always finds a need for whatever money it gets.

Anonymous said...

I trust no one, not even myself.

Anonymous said...

A dictatorship would be a heck of a lot easier, there's no question about it.

Anonymous said...

A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.

Anonymous said...

The point to remember is that what the government gives it must first take away.

Anonymous said...

‪”Anonymous‬ said...
And we care about the small people. I hear comments sometimes that board members don’t care. But that is not the case in MTL. We care about the small people.
December 22, 2011 9:13 PM”

and to complete their statement...

“Except for those pesky petition signors who just won’t go along…”

Anonymous said...

Dale, let's talk. People see you as respectful, compassionate, thoughtful, smart, community oriented and genuinely a good guy.

How do you do it?

Anonymous said...

Tim and I spend considerable time think long and hard about what this District needs, then work even harder to get it, is it our fault people don't know what they need or even want it?

Anonymous said...

Was it not Mr. Spock who said "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the small?"

Anonymous said...

Mrs Posti says "Look Dale you can be school board president next time." "It's still my turn."

Anonymous said...

Mrs. Posti says "There will be no rifle range in the new high school because I don't like guns."

Anonymous said...

Merry Christmas, Dale!