Resignation Redux

So Nick linked up my post on Top 10 CKI Tools (thanks, Nick!) and sent over some curious folks. One of whom was Chris Rosenbaum, who decided to leave a comment on the post in question. That comment, taken as a whole, made very few direct points (if you don’t make any solid points, it’s hard for someone else to prove them wrong, or so goes the logic) but the individual sentences were interesting, to say the most. So as opposed to writing some massive diatribe in my own comments, I just thought I’d call him out here on the front page for the world to see. His comments are bold and italic.

Well I guess I’m pretty glad I didn’t make this list, though I was a part of the “worst CKI board to ever hold office”
Better luck next time. I don’t think the lack of quality of the board was Chris’ fault exactly — he actually made some noble efforts but in the end it wasn’t quite enough to save that board from itself.


…and I was, ironically enough, the individual who made the motion in the House of Delegates to reopen the floor for nominations for president.
I suppose you want a cookie? What does this have to do with anything? I didn’t say that the individual members of the board had no redeeming qualities or had never done anything right… nor did I say anything about Chris as an individual. Of course, in defense of the entire board, this is what Mr. Rosenbaum has to offer us: one motion in HoD at the end of their term. BRAVO! ENCORE! Not.


Coming back to this site for the first time in many months, reading this list at first sparked a twinge of anger, then just evoked a simple smile.
And you know what, Chris? That’s the exact reaction I was aiming to get out of most folks. Some I expected just amusement and some just anger… but I figured there’d be a good subset of people in just your position. Mission Accomplished.


Over the last few months I haven’t had much contact with CKI, I’ve moved on. Evidently this process of letting go sometimes eludes people, for better or worse, but thankfully not me.
The implication here is that I’ve not “let go” and that I’ve not “moved on.” Sure, the statement itself is innocent and unimpeachable enough… but taken in context it’s not hard to spot the aim.

To answer: I’ve let go of CKI. There are events in my past that I still remember, evoke, and discuss… because they’re entertaining. I don’t get involved in local club politics. I don’t get involved in District or Int’l politics. A week or so ago a close friend wanted my advice on running for office, and it took a bit of convincing to get me to even agree to participate in such a discussion. Being “over” something doesn’t mean forgetting about it, it means no longer being invested in it. If that were not the case, Chris, you would’ve betrayed yourself a bit farther down in the comments when you start delving back into CKI politics from years ago… but I’m getting ahead of myself.


I’m not here to disagree with anything on this site, everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion; and frankly, there are many things I could possibly agree with on this site. But now I’m just straying from my point.
Because the point is to disagree or, at least, discredit the author by dancing around the topic and exposing himself to as little criticism as humanly possible. Tactics of a cowardly mind and a weak sense of integrity.


Since Pete has listed the top ten tools of CKI, I just wanted to point out an interesting irony.
For reference further along in his comments, let’s have a look at “irony” for a moment:
1a. The use of words to express something different from and often opposite to their literal meaning.
1b. An expression or utterance marked by a deliberate contrast between apparent and intended meaning.
1c. A literary style employing such contrasts for humorous or rhetorical effect.

2a. Incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs.
2b. An occurrence, result, or circumstance notable for such incongruity.


I’ll do this by allegory, through a political example that you legal experts may appreciate.
Of course, the “allegory” ends up having very little to do with law or politics… except insomuch as the characters are political figures. Nevertheless…

As I am from PA, our past governor Tom Ridge left mid-term to serve as Director of Homeland Security. A lot of people, especially those who voted for him, disliked this decision because he was the individual they elected. The same thing happened a few years prior with New Jersey, with Christine Todd Whitman taking a cabinet position mid-term. How does this relate here?
It actually doesn’t, but he’s going to give it the ol’ college try anyhow.

Well, Pete also left the board mid-term.
see: this post if you want to be a little more abreast of the actual happenings than Chris is.

As I was not there for these events, I will not comment on the stories I have heard on his reasoning.
Once again, the implication is that there are “stories” or “rumors” that suggest lest than genuine reasons for resignation. Bringing them up, however, would lead to them being summarily dismissed as silly and simply not true. Instead, Chris would prefer to leave a lingering doubt as to my motives. The integrity lacking above is still not present here, but for those who care to really understand my motives, see these posts: You Know Who You Are, Gotta Love Support, and My Resignation Letter.

For the benefit of the doubt, we’ll say it was perfectly good logic and intentions involved — I have no proof otherwise.
More off-hand suggestions of impropriety. Very classy, Chris.


However, in doing so, the list of CKI tools should include all those delegates from Buffalo who voted for them. Evidently their support and wishes for him to serve on the board didn’t come into play in the least when he made his own personal decision.
Their support and wishes didn’t do a damn bit of good when my club needed strong leadership. One would think Chris would know what it means to need to serve a club… but apparently he doesn’t. One would also assume that Chris understood that the club level is infinitely more important than the International Level. He obviously doesn’t understand that, either.


In essence, one could venture to say he wasted their VP votes. The funny thing is, come to think of it, I was one of those people who voted for him… so perhaps I should make this list after all. Happy holidays everyone.
“You big meanie! I take my vote back! I never liked you anyway!” Uh huh. Nice try, Chris. A vote for the best candidate, which I can say (in all modesty) that I was, is never a wasted vote. CKI got me for six months and Paul Agnew (an equally good CKI officer) for another six. Nothing wasted, nothing lost.

The only people who “lost” and the only people who have any sort of right to bitch are the members of Cal-Nev-Ha, most of whom probably don’t even know who I am anymore. The rest of whom I’ve already apologized to.

What you see in this comment is veiled condescension. Chris wants to make inferences and hints without coming straight out and saying anything of substance. Why? Because he knows he hasn’t a leg to stand on. His points are sloppy and their links tenuous at best. I’m not sure why he felt compelled to slop this mess around here, or what he figured it would do for him besides make him look like a fool, but I hoped it worked, whatever it was.


Chris, if you think you have something to say, have a bit of decency and just say it. Don’t prance around it like some cowardly little waste of humanity. If you believe something, say it. If you feel like anything you have to say has merit, put your name on it. If you’re going to reference a rumor, have the common courtesy to share the rumor so its truth and validity can be ascertained. If you can’t bring yourself to do those things, go on back to high school and ply your weasely little non-allegations on someone else and quit wasting my time. In short: grow a pair.