# Kwame just resign please **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 26, 2008, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kwame-just-resign-please/442798 "2008-03-26T15:29:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Amazingrace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8edcca/32.png) [@Amazingrace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazingrace)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2008, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kwame-just-resign-please/442798/21 "2008-03-26T19:18:54Z")
[QUOTE=Guinastasia] He did WHAT? In what context? [/QUOTE] [Here’s a news article that contextualizes it.](http://www.wxyz.com/news/story.aspx?content_id=553cf1d1-1f53-4daf-8e8f-0fa68dbae493) He was given a second chance that he didn’t deserve, and he blew it. As a soon to be young professional in the state of Michigan, I am staying the hell away from the east side of the state and plan on having my career in Grand Rapids. I want to be able to live and work in a city, and Detroit won’t let me do that. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2008, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kwame-just-resign-please/442798/22 "2008-03-26T19:22:59Z")
[QUOTE=Guinastasia] He did WHAT? In what context? [/QUOTE] His SoC address was a few weeks after the whole text message scandal broke. He spent the first hour or so doing what a mayor should do in a SoC: talk about the city, the accomplishments, the plans, etc. But then, after all that, he “went off script,” and started talking about how he’s been called a nigger more in the past 30 days than he has in his entire life, and how there’s this “lynch mob” mentality against him and his family from the media and white suburbs, yadda yadda blah. Here’s a clip: [http://youtube.com/watch?v=om5DeKqOxSE&feature=related](http://youtube.com/watch?v=om5DeKqOxSE&feature=related) The reaction you hear from his speech is coming from the invite-only crowd of 1,500 of his closest supporters. Democracy, my ass. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveroptic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiveroptic/32/8257_2.png) [@Fiveroptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveroptic)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2008, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kwame-just-resign-please/442798/23 "2008-03-26T19:27:35Z")
Ah, so he’s already blamed race for his current bullshit. Well then. I can exhale. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2008, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kwame-just-resign-please/442798/24 "2008-03-26T19:34:07Z")
Because Detroit is a depressed, miserable, hopeless shithole. And Depressed, miserable, hopeless, shitholes become full of really pissed off people. Kwame has followed the lead of Coleman Young by race baiting the angry people to consolidate his power while screwing the city in everyway possible. Every time he gets caught he just claims Whitey is making up lies to bring the black man down again. He has very effectively made it “us” against “them(any black people against him are of course Uncle Tom’s and therefore them)” There just is no way to PC race out of the discussion, it’s the core of the matter. People won’t stop suuporting him, because they will never believe any of it because “they are always out to get us” ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2008, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kwame-just-resign-please/442798/25 "2008-03-26T19:42:48Z")
[QUOTE=gonzomax] I do not believe that he can govern any more. [/QUOTE] Of course he can’t. Who could govern **Detroit?!** It only makes Baghdad look like Geneva! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2008, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kwame-just-resign-please/442798/26 "2008-03-26T21:44:40Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] Of course he can’t. Who could govern **Detroit?!** It only makes Baghdad look like Geneva! 😉 [/QUOTE] Really, Baghdad and Geneva? Really? Because that’s a remarkably ignorant comment, unless you drew this comparison from your time living in Detroit. Surely you wouldn’t make such a comment w/o firsthand knowledge, right? I agree **wolfman** , Detroiters are desperate for hope and improvement in their city government. But it’s like someone drowning and being tossed a rope dipped in shit. They’re still going to grab it, they don’t want to drown. They’ll worry about getting the shit off their hands later. I’d personally love to see the office of mayor eliminated and the city run by a council. Those of you who live in areas where the jobs haven’t been wiped out, the schools have thrived and corruption is unique, please appreciate and enjoy what you have. Where the jobs go, the people go and with them go the tax base and there’s no changing that. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Dave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/46a35a/32.png) [@Great\_Dave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Dave)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2008, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kwame-just-resign-please/442798/27 "2008-03-26T23:52:23Z")
[QUOTE=Amazingrace] [Here’s a news article that contextualizes it.](http://www.wxyz.com/news/story.aspx?content_id=553cf1d1-1f53-4daf-8e8f-0fa68dbae493) He was given a second chance that he didn’t deserve, and he blew it. As a soon to be young professional in the state of Michigan, I am staying the hell away from the east side of the state and plan on having my career in Grand Rapids. I want to be able to live and work in a city, and Detroit won’t let me do that. [/QUOTE] Well, c’mon over. GR is in the middle of an amazing transformation, and now is a great time to get in on it. Are you originally from the Eastside? It seems to me that there is a huge blind spot most east siders have where GR should be. Or maybe it’s just the assholes in my wife’s family. And there’s no chance in hell that something like this happening over here. First of all, I’m having a hard time getting the image of George Heartwell having an affair. The contrast between the two mayors is quite stark. The political and social pressures that would arise would be tremendous. And while there shouldn’t be any racial tension in the whole affair, as much as Kwame likes to claim, hoping that it;s some sort of get of jail free card if he can somewhow spin it that way, But, as Jack Lessenberry said the other day, Everything in Detroit is about race. Surely, it must be the most racist area in the north, and probably in the country. The tension between the races has been used to political end for too long, and stupid cracks like the one above by BrainGlutton aren’t helping. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kwame-just-resign-please/442798/28 "2008-03-27T01:01:27Z")
[10 Cities with Highest Percentage of African Americans | Infoplease](http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0884135.html) soon we will elect another mayor. I hope he is more like Dennis Archer. A little dignity goes a long way. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kwame-just-resign-please/442798/29 "2008-03-27T01:14:21Z")
[QUOTE=Nawth Chucka] Really, Baghdad and Geneva? Really? Because that’s a remarkably ignorant comment, unless you drew this comparison from your time living in Detroit. Surely you wouldn’t make such a comment w/o firsthand knowledge, right? [/QUOTE] I was thinking Beirut, myself. But God knows I can’t make any comment, even based upon _prima facie_ evidence, without having first-hand knowledge. Things like [this](http://www.cityrating.com/citycrime.asp?city=Detroit&state=MI) obviously do not count, because I haven’t seen them firsthand. Therefore, they do not exist. And Oceania has always been at war with Eastasia, and these are not the droids you’re looking for. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Dave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/46a35a/32.png) [@Great\_Dave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Dave)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kwame-just-resign-please/442798/30 "2008-03-27T01:24:46Z")
I don’t think that Nawth Chucka was denying that Detroit is a violent place, just that the analogy of Detroit making Baghdad look like Geneva is somewhat misleading. From what I’ve heard about all three places, I am inclined more towards Nawth Chucka and less towards BG. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kwame-just-resign-please/442798/31 "2008-03-27T02:56:07Z")
[QUOTE=Airman Doors, USAF] I was thinking Beirut, myself. But God knows I can’t make any comment, even based upon _prima facie_ evidence, without having first-hand knowledge. Things like [this](http://www.cityrating.com/citycrime.asp?city=Detroit&state=MI) obviously do not count, because I haven’t seen them firsthand. Therefore, they do not exist. And Oceania has always been at war with Eastasia, and these are not the droids you’re looking for. [/QUOTE] I wasn’t asking for your opinion, Airman. I was looking for more information on \*\*BrainGlutton’s \*\* generalization and what it’s based on. The one statistic you found doesn’t explain the behavior of a city or a group of people or a religion. Or are you saying that statistic shows Detroiters are criminals? **BrainGlutton** , what \*\*does \*\* your Detroit experience consist of? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kwame-just-resign-please/442798/32 "2008-03-27T03:05:31Z")
Sooner or later we will hear the phrase, “That bitch, she set me up.” [/Marion Barry] ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kwame-just-resign-please/442798/33 "2008-03-27T03:10:05Z")
See, that’s the thing. The reference was obvious. Geneva, the city of peace. Baghdad, compared favorably to it. It’s a sort of connect the dots thing. Of course it was hyperbolic, as was my comment. But he was absolutely making a comment on Detroit’s reputation for crime and violence, which is borne out in the crime statistics. Perhaps I am missing the point. It wouldn’t be the first time. But I really, really doubt it. ---
**Author:** ![spifflog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kwame-just-resign-please/442798/34 "2008-03-27T15:37:04Z")
[QUOTE=Cervaise] Why is there always a dead stripper? [/QUOTE] Actually, its the cover-up _and_ the dead stripper that gets 'ya. Every time. ---
**Author:** ![zut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zut/32/2875_2.png) [@zut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zut)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kwame-just-resign-please/442798/35 "2008-03-27T16:55:01Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Of course he can’t. Who could govern **Detroit?!** It only makes Baghdad look like Geneva! 😉 Some of us are awfully tired of the “Detroit? It’s a shithole! Ha ha!” comments. It ceases being amusing about the tenth time you hear it, winkie smile or no. Yeah, yeah, Detroit has problems, not the least of which is the current mayor. Thanks for being a dick about it, though. [QUOTE=Airman Doors, USAF] See, that’s the thing. The reference was obvious. Geneva, the city of peace. Baghdad, compared favorably to it. It’s a sort of connect the dots thing. Of course it was hyperbolic, as was my comment. But he was absolutely making a comment on Detroit’s reputation for crime and violence, which is borne out in the crime statistics. [/QUOTE] You were also being a fucking asshole about it. But, hey, my comment is hyperbolic, so no harm, no foul. ---
**Author:** ![Velma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/85e7bf/32.png) [@Velma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velma)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kwame-just-resign-please/442798/36 "2008-03-27T19:03:36Z")
[QUOTE=Amazingrace] [Here’s a news article that contextualizes it.](http://www.wxyz.com/news/story.aspx?content_id=553cf1d1-1f53-4daf-8e8f-0fa68dbae493) He was given a second chance that he didn’t deserve, and he blew it. As a soon to be young professional in the state of Michigan, I am staying the hell away from the east side of the state and plan on having my career in Grand Rapids. I want to be able to live and work in a city, and Detroit won’t let me do that. [/QUOTE] We welcome all those who flee the east 🙂 Come, share in our bounty and experience having the water on the other side of you. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Dave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/46a35a/32.png) [@Great\_Dave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Dave)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kwame-just-resign-please/442798/37 "2008-03-27T19:15:59Z")
[QUOTE=Velma] We welcome all those who flee the east 🙂 Come, share in our bounty and experience having the water on the other side of you. [/QUOTE] Yeah, you get sunsets over the lake, with beautiful sand beaches. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kwame-just-resign-please/442798/38 "2008-03-27T20:27:58Z")
[QUOTE=Velma] We welcome all those who flee the east 🙂 Come, share in our bounty and experience having the water on the other side of you. [/QUOTE] Wanna talk about “lake effect snow”? Thought not. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Velma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/85e7bf/32.png) [@Velma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velma)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kwame-just-resign-please/442798/39 "2008-03-27T20:31:34Z")
[QUOTE=wring] Wanna talk about “lake effect snow”? Thought not. 😉 [/QUOTE] wait…you all know about that? Who blabbed? ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kwame-just-resign-please/442798/40 "2008-03-27T20:36:05Z")
I live in Lansing. We get your leftovers. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kwame-just-resign-please/442798.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kwame-just-resign-please/442798.md?page=3)