Wednesday, November 25, 2009

It's Time For Ravenstahl To Lead: Step Down, Save Your Family

Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, it's time to do the right thing. For your son. Be a hero in the young boy's life. Cement your legacy and his future now.

For Cooper's sake, step down from the city's top post immediately and focus your attentions on family matters.


It's almost always sad when a family is destroyed—no matter what ideas special interest groups might twist to fit their agenda—a child is vastly better off with a two biological parent home. This is your chance to assure that your son has not only a normal life, but an exemplary one.


Staying Mayor one day longer is self-indulgent, and wrong.


Clearly, your wife Erin is a strong, intelligent, compassionate women who—more than anyone else—assured your victory for a four-year term on November 3. Had she portrayed “the woman scorned,” Dok Harris might be salivating about his corner office on the 5th floor of the City Council building downtown. Instead, she was the dutiful best friend who assisted you in claiming your dream. It never was hers. This is assured.


Let's call a spade a spade. You are the luckiest politician this city has seen since Sophie Masloff. Had it not been for the tragic, untimely death of Bob O'Connor, you'd still be a member of city council, representing the North Side. Spouses of city councilors are anonymous (it would take significant searching to see who is married and who is single, let alone correctly name spouses), so Erin could have happily continued in her role as a neighborhood hair dresser, and now mother.


Let's step back even further. Had it not been for your well-heeled parent(s), you'd be working some non-nondescript downtown job for a third of your taxpayer salary and a thousandth of the perks. If it hadn't been for your parents, you wouldn't enjoy the pampering, there'd be no tailgate parties with military-grade SUVs and certainly no swanky trips to New York City. Their combined vested interest guided you to be the man you are today.


You won your brand-new four-year term because the symbol for Incumbent was next to your name on the ballot (and the love of your wife). In city-wide races, if you have Incumbent and Democrat next to your name, that's the equivalent of being named Pope. You only leave office on your own terms; the rubber-stamp Democratic machine never wavers. It has no conscious and the machine doesn't think. You can.


This is your opportunity to be a true leader, an exemplary father, and perhaps even a standout husband.


Your value as Boy Mayor is negligible. The city all but runs itself until a mayor frequently adds or increases taxes. People grumble, call the Mayor “brainless,” and watch businesses and neighbors alike leave. It's a thankless job, except for the perks. As a jet-setting bachelor, you'd be free to attend even more galas, balls and sports events, most on the city's dime. It isn't real.


What about Cooper?


Money and faux prestige might be lavished upon him, but there will absolutely, certainly be times in which the Mayor will be away on business and the young lad will just be pining for Dad.


Don't chose the job of Mayor over your son.


Step down today.


Instantly, top corporations in town would be bidding on your services. Continue with marriage counseling and become an advocate for Family. You will become a folk hero in a town that adores folk heroes.


You've been a placeholder Mayor. There's no evidence that you will be anything but a passable office holder. Chances are you won't be a game-breakingly horrific leader like Tom Murphy, but if your proposed college-student levy is any indication as to your effectiveness as a Mayor, the statue of Richard Caliguiri won't be razed anytime soon for your granite likeness.


Instead, become an excellent father.


This separation reeks of self-importance and selfishness. You won't be County Executive and you'll never be Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Let's get those crazy notions off the table right now.


It's been reported that you nearly quit politics over this family crisis.
You should have.


You've been compromised. Your duty is with your family. Your sacrifice is to give up this job of status for your son. Get out of the spotlight and take care of your family. Don't sever your Christian marriage and abandon your wife. Take care of your son.


The good thing is, you are very young. You can come back into politics when you are prepared to make a difference. That is obviously not now.


If you stay one more minute, you are doing a grave disservice to this city, a city that deserves better. You deserve better. Your wife and son deserve better.
Lead. Do you have it in you? Do you have the faith, the courage, the strength?
Pittsburgh loves a winner. Be a winner. Go out a winner now.

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Do you really think that Luke would just turn over the keys to his office to Doug Shields?

"Trapper" Tom Leturgey said...

It isn't ideal, no, but Bill Peduto isn't President of Pittsburgh City Council.

Luke Ravenstahl, who pretty much duped voters by not telling them this information, is not a leader.

Anonymous said...

Ahem!!

Anonymous said...

Luke hasn't changed. He is still immature. He chose politics over his wife and child. What does that say for him as a man?

Anonymous said...

I hope that Luke reads this. Outstanding! Actually, this should be published in the post-gazette and tribune review so that everyone can read it!!!

Anonymous said...

As long as Shields is in the Presidency seat it would never happen. And as long as Luke is in office he isn't quitting.

"Trapper" Tom Leturgey said...

I'm challenging his manhood, his character, his principles.

I realize he'll do the easy thing and coast in a position he has no business occupying. And his son will suffer immeasurably.

Anonymous said...

This is the most intelligent post ever written on this blog.

Thanks Tom.

AND you are 110% correct.

But empty morals and a disrespect for family values and taxpayers of this city, well, you know what his choice will be...its simply a reflection of city council and the state of the Pittsburgh D controlled machine.

"Trapper" Tom Leturgey said...

Thanks, Anonymous. I appreciate the compliment. Feel free to use your name...I'd like to know who my supporters are! :-)

Mark Rauterkus said...

Hi Tom and others. Thanks for keeping the blog alive while I was with my family in the UK for the last week.

Heard the news when I had time to check the P-G site, just once in the week. No PC on this trip. Feeling lighter is fun.

Can't argue with the whole family slant.

But, I ask -- what is the exit strategy?

To be sure, to resign and spend more time with the family is one thing. But, and to serve in a different capacity as XYZ would be fitting too -- in Luke's case.

Executive director of the Tiger Wood's fan club is not the kind of exit strategy I'm grasping for at this juncture.

But, to lead the 2011 exibition for a new Heinz History Center demonstration, or to be an interface with the Steelworkers Union on a national grassroots project or to ..........

Ideas welcome. Give a sliver of something else to the guy beyond the family reason.

Perhaps he could land at QED in the wake of the departure of George Miles / community advocate of corp giving. ???

Anonymous said...

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Mark Rauterkus said...

OR, he could be named as the next head football coach at Notre Dame.

Really, an job on the coaching staff would do.

Just catching up on old tweets.

Anonymous said...

Well said. Unfortunately, Luke is a pol descended from pols, and he's looking out for Numero Uno. Family be damned.

Another black eye for the 'Burgh.

Anonymous said...

He should just get a job with one of the unions he patronizes. The ones that have dug a deep hole for all of us.

Mark - he's not worth of being a coach.

And Mark, take some tips from Tom's post. Its consice, not wishy washy, no videos, music, run on rants. And it takes a direct position, with clear logic.

The family - the downfall of the "family" unit is a HUGE factor of why this country is in the shape its in.

monk said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

Much as I would like to see him go, only the mayor knows what his family situation is like and if resigning would help him to address it.

Mark Rauterkus said...

Once crap is placed here, it will be scrubbed by the blogmasters.

Mr. monk, be clean, and not pathetic.

monk said...

Lets try this, Mark...

I believe it is ridiculous for anyone to believe that this post and subsequent comments has anything to do with concern for family.

It is what it is, the exploitation of a very personal situation...

(saved this response in event this comment is deemed inapproprate)


monk

Mark Rauterkus said...

Better post Mr. monk.

You can believe anything you want to believe.

You'd be wrong to paint with such a big brush. And, you'd also be on thin ice on your beliefs in terms of a measurement of concerns for the family.

Mark Rauterkus said...

Bram put a pointer to this blog post on his blog. Thanks.

But, just to be clear, the author of the blog post was not me, Mark Rauterkus. Rather is was from 'running mate' Tom L. Tom and some others have posting abilities here.

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