newsobserver.com projects - Derry Schmidt - Comments

Re: Easley's office looking into DOT rehiring

Isaac136 — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 20:41:28 -0400

The Governor's office has no business interferring with who is hired or fired. NONE. Just what do you think "looking into" means? You mean they're going to second-guess the judge and jury?

Oh you really think a newspaper would say "Easley's office is silent on the rehiring of a racist." The norm is that the governor's office doesn't "look into" whether a judge and jury knew what they were doing.

This is not over-scrutinizing, and this isn't about the Democrats. But let's say it is. Whose fault is it if the Democrats are getting bad press lately?

Easley's behavior stinks. To hell with the Democrats if they can't keep their house in order.

Re: Easley's office looking into DOT rehiring

scharrison — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 20:04:20 -0400

I was really just using the story as a platform for a joke, but...okay, from what I've read, Easley's office had nothing to do with the guy being fired, they're just looking into his "rehiring". Considering the fact that the Secretary of Transportation was appointed by and answers to the Governor, as does the Office of Administrative Hearings, I'm not sure I see how the Governor is being out of line by "looking into" this.

Frankly, since this story was made public and hit the papers, what do you think would happen if the Governor said or did nothing?

"Easley's office is silent on the rehiring of a racist."

I'm not real happy with some of the things our Governor has (and has not) done, but to over-scrutinize everything he says or does, at this current time, is more about damaging the Democratic Party in an election year than it is about monitoring our public servants.

Re: Easley's office looking into DOT rehiring

Isaac136 — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 18:41:54 -0400

Don't miss my point, there, Scharrison. The point is not whether this guy is a good or a bad guy; the point is that there is a legally established process for how people get fired, and it doesn't include the govenor's office or his PR department.

Also bear in mind that just because you read something in the paper doesn't mean that every allegation is rock solid, or that you have a complete picture.

Sounded to me like the guy was a real kook, and, based on what we all read in the papers, I'd say he was a menace to himself and others, but again, the determination as to whether he violated the law or whether the driver's allegations were borne out by evidence or whether he otherwise deserved to lose his job are not made by newspaper readers --- and they aren't supposed to be made by the governor or his PR office either.

Re: Easley's office looking into DOT rehiring

scharrison — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 12:19:30 -0400

"The driver testified that Schmidt cursed at her, uttered a racial slur and bumped her with his car."

Oh, yeah. That's what we need in the Department of Transportation: an engineer who believes using your car to bump somebody is an acceptable argument method. ;/

I bet he drives a Dodge Ram...

Re: Easley's office looking into DOT rehiring

Isaac136 — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 22:29:55 -0400

Yup, here we have Gov. Easley, who thinks nothing of taking a plane to Jesse Helms' funeral (why was a plane necessary for the governor - whose residence is Raleigh?), wanting to show us how "principled" he is by questioning an employee's right to question his firing.

I don't know what the story is behind this guy who got fired after showing his behind in an altercation with a bus-driver, but what I do know is that Easley is all about Easley, and he sure as hell doesn't give a rat's behind about state employees who are routinely asked (by the governor's office) to circumvent the ordinary process of our state laws when it comes to hiring or firing his particular favorites.

I read about the altercation and thought what a complete jerk this guy must be, yet was comfortable with the idea that the evidence was what it was and that legal challenges were available to this guy if he had the case to make.

But OMG, I forgot that this was Easley's state. If he thinks it suits his image, he can make a few phone calls and make some sweet arrangements and "POOF" fergit about the legal processes that are in place. After all, EASLEY has an image in need of polishing.

But ya know, I've been watching Hizzoner for a while now, and can't help but notice that if there's a question about authority and a state employee, and the authority in question happens to be a fat cat donor to Easley coffers, why these little issues about who is right and wrong are easily resolved.

Ain't it funny how that works? If Mr. "I don't wanna lower them flags" Eason had only had the forsight to donate a few thousand dollars to Easley's campaigns of the past eight years, I reckon there's have been some flags flying at full mast on the day of Ole Jesse's funeral.

Re: Easley's office looking into DOT rehiring

FloydTurbo — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 21:46:22 -0400

Lord Mike picks the darnedest issues to "look into" .... don't he.

Re: Easley's office looking into DOT rehiring

dianadarling — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 19:00:16 -0400

Well the governor wants to interfere in personnel matters again. He had the state trooper fired without due process. You can argue that he should have been fired, but there are personnel policies in place for a reason and should be followed. Now, those policies have been followed for Mr. Schmidt, and Mr. Easley wants to circumvent those, too.

Oh, just like getting around the regular policy for raises and nepotism for his wife.