Great Mayor Dishonored Because Of Name
By Wyatt Earp | February 11, 2011
Fort Wayne, Indiana will throw an iconic former mayor under the bus because the current government doesn’t want to feel uncomfortable. Isn’t that nice?
A former Indiana mayor who won four terms in the 1930s and 1950s is proving less popular with modern-day city leaders, who say they probably won’t name a new government center for him because of the jokes his moniker could inspire.
Harry Baals is the runaway favorite in online voting to name the new building in Fort Wayne, but Deputy Mayor Beth Malloy said that probably won’t be enough to put the name of the city’s longest-tenured mayor on the center. (H/T – GroovyVic)
I can see the headline now: “Harry Baals Shaved Off Ballot.”
In all seriousness, this is a pretty despicable decision by the mayor’s office. Baals is an iconic mayor, but he is going to be slighted because the current government isn’t mature enough to listen to the people and make the right decision.
Topics: Evil = Funny | 16 Comments »
Harry Baals would be a nice addition to government today.
Really, do we think that the people voting are mature? Online voting isn’t being done by Gramma Edith who remembers all the nice things Harry Baals did for Fort Wayne. It’s everyone thinking “I am SO getting a picture of the building that says ‘Harry Baals’!! AWESOME! Cheezburger Network here I come!”
I say they do it. Put Harry Baals all over the building, dangit. And a big statue out front too!
Two dudes I worked with top this. There names, hand to god, were Dick Sacks and Isaic Hunt.
CLASSIC
“
Close, but MSNBC went with
“Scratch Harry Baals off list…”
JT – Nah, he had integrity, and there’s no place for that in politics today.
Sally Anne – A big status of Harry Baals. Where do I donate?
Dr. Evil – Oh, that’s brilliant! And a product of very bad parenting.
Veeshir – Wow, that’s actually pretty funny.
Me thinks Harry is a victim of political correctness.
They could call it the H.W. Baals building, or the Harry W. Baals Center. He was a republican who was elected four consecutive times, all during the FDR era, when Republicans were supposedly hated to near extinction. Then he got elected again in the 1950s. I think some people are just uncomfortable with his party affiliation.
Two words… Political Correctness…
It’s because his first name is Harry. I blame this whole Brazilian waxing craze.
My childhood dentist’s name was Dr. Getzoff.
When I was growing up, there was a woman in my town named Ada Ball.
Sounds like the current mayor has no Baals at all.
Rick – And evil parents.
Mr. M – Probably a little of both. But adding the middle initial seems like a reasonable compromise to me.
Old NFO – It’s a damned travesty. The people of Fort Wayne shouldn’t stand for it.
John D – Wash and wax, two bits!
Mrs. Crankipants – Let’s hope he never put you under. I always giggle when KYW 1060′s Harry Johnson broadcasts the news.
JT – Thankfully, she didn’t choke on it!
Robert B. – Agreed. And a great man gets slighted because of it.
Had a company commander back at Fort Benning in the earlie 60′s named Harry N. Balls, and he had a pair too. Made 50 parachute jumps in one day just to qualify for a badge he needed for promotion. He was a dammed good co. too.
tjbbpgobIII – 50 in a day? That’s hardcore!
Further proof politicians from my neighboring county have no balls of their own!