The World According to Oatney

Ragsdale: Guilty of something

Today we learn from Betty Bean via Terry Frank just how hateful and vendictive Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale can be.

“Quite frankly, I was surprised,” Cawood said. “He just wanted to tell me his side of things – there was no pressure. Dr. Stewart made very few comments and only when asked.”Cawood said Ragsdale told him he was preparing a document to refute Harber’s claims and that an investigation “would embarrass people.”

Let's get this straight-Mike Ragsdale is a liar and he is apparently a vengeful, vendictive human being. Why do I say this? Because no matter what the results of any investigation might be at this point-even if an investigation does clear his name-he is lying like Pinocchio when he says that he "welcomes" an investigation. Mike Ragsdale is less interested in clearing his own name and more interested in taking other people down. That is usually the reaction of corrupt administrations when the legitimacy of their government is brought into question. Knowing this, it forces us to ask: Even if Mike Ragsdale is innocent in the Harber affair, what is he guilty of? He is guilty of something, and we can almost pin that much down...because he is acting guilty.

“I saw the mayor and Mark standing outside the pastor’s office like they were leaving. The mayor told me he didn’t miss dealing with zonings, and we left it at that. Then, Mark and I met across the street at Ingle’s and he filled me in. I was shocked that he (Ragsdale) wouldn’t want to clear his name.”Lambert said he is expecting his commission colleagues to support his call for an investigation.“I’m really expecting a unanimous vote. I would think that the only people who would oppose it would be someone who thought the mayor was guilty and wanted to sweep it under the rug – or someone who’d rather see him smeared and tarnished by never-ending gossip and innuendo.“I’m really surprised that Mayor Ragsdale is lobbying against this. There is a dark cloud on county government, and I want to lift it. And clear his good name.”

At this point, the notion of whether Mayor Ragsdale has a good name is very much in doubt. The willingness to smear the good names of other people is a common reaction of people who are losing their own good name.

I would urge all good Republicans and conservatives to run away from Mike Ragsdale as far and as fast as they can. Regardless of the outcome of this investigation, he is nothing but trouble-an albatross around the necks of many good people.

Labels: Local politics

posted by Deacon David Oatney @ 9:27 AM