ceelo2's Blog

I remember the morning that I woke up and read the breaking story of the " Text Message Scandal."  It started out as most mornings.  I rolled over about 8 or so to the smell of fresh coffee brewing in my kitchen.  I set the coffee maker instead of an alarm clock. The aroma wafting through the air around a few corners and making it's way to my bedroom is the way I choose to rise and shine.  I did my usual morning ritual.  Bathroom, quick walk through the house, open the blinds and then turn on my computer.  I go into the kitchen to make my first cup of coffee.  By the time I make it back to my desk the computer is up and humming.  I sit down with coffee in hand and click on Freep.com. Little did I know that morning that life for me would change and seemingly at this point never be the same.

I can't remember the title of the first headline, but whatever it was it grabbed my attention. I never read the heavy stuff right off the bat in the morning. Normally I check the weather or a few of the columnist. I do however remember thinking that it was probably another political story telling the exploits of Kilpatrick. I also remember quite vividly that the first couple of lines had me reeling.  Right off the cuff I felt this would be different. This was a big deal.  When sex and politics rear their heads in the same story, you know you have something big!

I should mention at this point that I don't live in Detroit and I hadn't watched the full scope of coverage of the trial in which defendant Kilpatrick and Beatty perjured themselves. I'd catch the evening news and get the days details.  I do remember seeing Kilpatricks face on the news vowing to appeal once the city lost the case. I was living out of state when Kilpatrick was elected and had moved back to a suburban community in Michigan in the spring of 2005. I had no idea who Tamara Green was and had no inkling of Manoogian parties or EPU security force. Now I should also tell you that I was born in Detroit.  Right there at Herman Kiefer. I went to elementary school with Ella Mae Bully. I recall reading that she had made police chief while I was living out of state.  I felt proud.  A neighborhood home girl had made good! I had no idea....

So on the fateful morning that my life changed, most of the specific sordid details and accusations of firings and lies and adultery were all new to me and the more I read the more I started to realize that this was not just a passing story.  This was something that would change the face of Detroit forever.  I remember being angry at what Kilpatrick and Beatty had done to the officers. Christine Beatty rolling her rather large eyes was replayed over and over that day on the news. I remember reading the text messages and feeling bad for Carlita Kilpatrick, the mayors poor wife. I was glued to the television by noon.  Between the Freep.com on the computer and the television I didn't get a stitch of work done that first couple of days.

 I recall how he ran off and hid like a scared little boy. Showing up in Florida.  Florida? Ok man what the heck's up here?  I kept thinking that if he had nothing to hide and if he could "maybe" explain to the public that a mistake was made it may blow over.  Well, not blow over but maybe it's not as bad as it appears. My first real anger came when he was photographed  skulking in the dark behind the gates of the mansion when he finally returned to Detroit from Florida. Cars coming and going at the mansion those first days.  His handlers getting his story straight. However nothing to this day makes me as sick as the news conference in the church. sitting there with Carlita. The corners of his mouth caked and dry. Attempting to solicit sympathy for his wrongs.  They say the eyes don't lie.  His eyes portrayed insincerity to me.  His eyes showed me a boy in a big man size body. His eyes show weakness. Carlita sitting beside him like she would breathe fire at any moment. By then I had read of the alleged assault on Ms. Green by Carlita.  So she was no longer a victim, but just another wife that took her anger out on the wrong party.

I knew at this point I was being affected.  Coming into my house each evening and going straight to the computer for a new tidbit of "The Scandal."  Every conversation with friends and family had some mention of "The Scandal."  Finding myself becoming angry at the indifference of my Detroit friends who seemed to not care that their mayor was a crooked crook that was lying and deceiving them from every angle.  The thought that he had something to do with the death of Ms. Green is enough for me to wish very bad things to befall him. I found myself worrying about the retired clerk that had come forward with information on the Green police report and assault.  My maternal instincts made my blood boil each time I saw the Ms. Greens beautiful children and thought how they will never feel their mothers embrace. They would one day read all of the ugly things that were being said about her and how she was shot down like a wild animal.  Yes.  the affect on me was real and taking a chunk out of happy go lucky spirit.

 I found myself sitting at my computer for hours posting and arguing my point.  Attending the first rally on the day of the State of The City Address was the day that I knew I need to get a grip.  I drove downtown alone with the thought of a fully organized rally. Attended by other concerned citizens that were fully committed and intent on running this hood out of office.  Instead I found maybe 60 or 70 people at the most.  I still felt proud that I walked the walk. After the rally I recall thinking that "whoa", now you Ms. suburbanite cutie pie are down here on Woodward and what ever street alone and it's dusk.  You parked 4 blocks away and now you have to walk past all of these transients, drunks and druggies to make it back to your vehicle and your safe little community.  Are you insane? The people that are directly affected don't seem to care and you are willing to risk life and limb and they didn't even bother to show up!

I made it home that evening just in time to hear Kilpatricks tirade at the end of the speech.  I thought to myself that he is simply a fool.  I thought about all of those people that had strode past me in the snow on their way into the Opera house while I walked the picket line.  The smug looks on their faces as if I was beneath them.  "Get out of the way you little people." " We're off to see the  Wizard."   I was angry! How dare you sheep!

Still at that point I, nor anyone in the public had any idea how bad it was really going to get and how the entire state would be touched and shaken by this administrations crimes. Here we are some 3 months later and it has become a powder keg.  We know it's going to blow and we sit and wait.  Not because we are gluttons for drama. It's because now we know many many more details. It's got to blow. It's inevitable.

The past week has been the hardest on me. The details that have come out are hard to read and yet hard not to read.  The worst part to me, a rational , hardworking, respectful and intelligent open minded woman, is that he won't go.  He refuses to take his punishment like a man and let the city out of his grip.  I feel the pain and anger of the fellow Michiganians as well as others who are posting on the various stories. There is insight. There is anger. There is loathing. There is racism. There is pain. There is frustration. There is hatred. There are conspiracy theories. There are jokes. There are revelations.  There is networking on solutions.

I want to tune out. I want to have something else to think about when I wake up each morning. I want to stop hurting over my beloved Detroit.  I want the city to get about the business of cleaning up this mess and trying to get a fresh start. If there is any good to come out of this entire mess is my hope that lessons will be learned to those that are in power to use the checks and balances that are a part of your job description. I hope the City Council is ashamed for having the wool pulled over their eyes. I hope the voters know who to keep out of office in the next election. You useless space takers know who you are !  You absolute spectacles know who you are!

I, like so many others frequented Greektown, Fishbones and Tom's Oyster Bar as some of my favorites. This time of year my girlfriends and me love going to downtown Detroit. Not now.  Not until this mayor is history!  I suppose thats whenmost of us can finally tune Kwame out. At this point I am now tuning off my television and my computer after a short while of reading and listening, but how do I tune out my mind? It's troubled and there is only one thing to ease my mind at this point. I need to see The mayor pay for his crimes against the city of Detroit.