Tainted by Kwame?

**rb336** · November-20-09, 09:02 AM

Has all this Kwame BS had any affect on how you feel about those highly regarded Detroit figures like Dan Gilbert, Peter Karmanos and Roger Penske?

They all have plummeted in my level of respect

**Detroitej72** · November-20-09, 09:26 AM

I thought it was interesting that Mike Illitch wasn't on that list, especially with all the supposed preferred treatment folks around here say he got from Kwame.

**johnsmith** · November-20-09, 09:34 AM

Has all this Kwame BS had any affect on how you feel about those highly regarded Detroit figures like Dan Gilbert, Peter Karmanos and Roger Penske?

Without a doubt, and the affect is to the extreme negative. Although my respect for Karmanos already dropped like a turd in a toilet bowl back when he gave Kwame a so-called "job."

**detroitbred** · November-20-09, 09:47 AM

Absolutley no respect for any of them, and I am especially disappointed in Roger Penske. I always had the impression he was a straight up kind guy. Not so apparently. But I guess the beauty of being a rich businessman in this area is that you don't give a rat's ass about what the "little people" think of you. They should be ashamed of themselves, tho I'm sure they are not.

**Detroitnerd** · November-20-09, 10:46 AM

Originally Posted by detroitbred

Absolutley no respect for any of them, and I am especially disappointed in Roger Penske. I always had the impression he was a straight up kind guy. Not so apparently. But I guess the beauty of being a rich businessman in this area is that you don't give a rat's ass about what the "little people" think of you. They should be ashamed of themselves, tho I'm sure they are not.

Ever since they laid down the concrete pad on Belle Isle, my estimation of Penske has dropped considerably. Now here's another reason.

Isn't it clear to everybody how Detroit works? The powerful get what they want. Men run around with cash in bags. "Gifts" magically become "personal loans" become "my wife's property." You scratch my back, I scratch yours.

But leave your car at the meter one nanosecond too long and that's a fine. Put your garbage container out a half-hour too early and that's a fine. Enjoy garbage pickup? Pay more for it!

We need some serious activism. Either that, or to merge the 40-odd municipalities into one big one so that nonsense won't fly anymore.

**jackie5275** · November-20-09, 11:31 AM

Originally Posted by Detroitnerd

We need some serious activism. Either that, or to merge the 40-odd municipalities into one big one so that nonsense won't fly anymore.

Well, the risk you run with merging is the flip side. The nonsense will increase 40-odd times.

**Detroitnerd** · November-20-09, 11:37 AM

Originally Posted by jackie5275

Well, the risk you run with merging is the flip side. The nonsense will increase 40-odd times.

Only if certain people keep trying to move out to 55 Mile Road. How well has that worked for the region? We need real regionalism.

**Lowell** · November-20-09, 11:47 AM

Very disappointing. I hope against hope that it was only the altruism they profess of getting him out of the way because they are significant players in downtown Detroit's recovery. I hope that involvement continues. But unfortunately it smells very bad and the damage is done.

**OriginalG313** · November-20-09, 01:10 PM

Originally Posted by Lowell

Very disappointing. I hope against hope that it was only the altruism they profess of getting him out of the way because they are significant players in downtown Detroit's recovery. I hope that involvement continues. But unfortunately it smells very bad and the damage is done.

They should have paid his restitution. Then worked out a plan for him to pay them back. The citizens would have been done with him and they would have to deal with him. The prosecutor should put his employer on the stand and ask why his pay was cut. I would think a new person would start at a lower pay and then receive bonus' or higher pay. His pay cut is his argument for not paying the 6k a month.

Buy American · November-20-09, 01:59 PM

thug KK did the crime, now he has to pay for it. Why should others pay his restitution? Paying them back would be a joke...he never "signed" a promissory note for the "loans" he already received!
If these four or five contributors would do that, thug KK only gets a slap on the wrist and goes on living the high life [[not that he's not doing that now).

I also resent thug KK throwing out the race card again in his interview a few weeks ago with the Nation of Islam newspaper. He's using it to gain support [[in his own mind), yet everyone that has helped him, from lawyers to personal loans have been almost exclusively white. What's wrong with the man?

**softailrider** · November-21-09, 05:34 AM

Originally Posted by Buy American

thug KK did the crime, now he has to pay for it. Why should others pay his restitution? Paying them back would be a joke...he never "signed" a promissory note for the "loans" he already received!
If these four or five contributors would do that, thug KK only gets a slap on the wrist and goes on living the high life [[not that he's not doing that now).

I also resent thug KK throwing out the race card again in his interview a few weeks ago with the Nation of Islam newspaper. He's using it to gain support [[in his own mind), yet everyone that has helped him, from lawyers to personal loans have been almost exclusively white. What's wrong with the man?

To me that last sentence is the million dollar question. Why does he need to bring all this attention on himself AGAIN? Did he really have to lease a friggen mansion down there in Texas that he had to know was going to draw the ire of the authorities.

Blarf · November-21-09, 06:25 AM

It can't be confirmed, but rumor has it Kwame's protection is structured the same way as organized crime members were back in the day, when the Italians had influence in politics.

There are so many layers to get though, it almost seems impossible. All it would take it one slip-up, and one loophole, and he'd be screwed Al Capone style.

Unfortunately it seems Kwame has powerful friends, and we all know they aren't going to nail him with anything. He's probably going to live it up better than most of us could ever dream of.

**Gannon** · November-20-09, 02:08 PM

To answer the OP's original question, nah...but they are ALL tainted by their own greed.

It is all the same shit they choose to wallow in, we merely get the stink.

bartock · November-20-09, 02:55 PM

Originally Posted by Gannon

To answer the OP's original question, nah...but they are ALL tainted by their own greed.

It is all the same shit they choose to wallow in, we merely get the stink.

They are, and I wonder how this will affect them. Penske...there is nothing really to boycott and I'm sure he'll be allright. Nothing has happened to Karmanos, despite all of his questionable dealings, again probably because Compuware is not really an individual-based company.

You have to believe that these "gentlemen," unlike Kwame, were smart enough to keep things within the technical letter of the law. Unfortunate.

Even more unfortunate...Dan Gilbert starting his gambling empire in Ohio. After promising to build in downtown [[and after his wonderful and ethical company brokered so many great mortgages...boy do I miss that Hall guy on my radio and television every five minutes), he is now leasing space from Compuware. Given this economy, that's understandable, but long-term I think Gilbert will bail in favor of some other rusty town in a more corruptable climate in that state just south of here.

**gnome** · November-20-09, 11:08 PM

The Penske Automotive group operates 374 dealerships around the world. He operates the north American dealerships for SmartCars. For the most part, if you see a SmartCar, someone bought it from Rodger.

In addition to 374 dealerships he owns Penske racing along with truck leasing, I believe an international chain of oil lubrication salons and the left testicle of the former Mayor. If anyone would like to express their disregard for me Penske, it would be very easy.

Peter K... this year Mrs. Gnome and I decided we would not do the Race For the Cure, because he was involved. Petty? yep

**babeeblumer** · November-22-09, 07:49 PM

...and karmanos [[intentional lower case- needs to be brought down to size) has the nerve to represent himself as a promoter of all that is Michigan Made during prime ad time this afternoon.

Money money money money. For shame.

dfunkycity · November-22-09, 08:14 PM

Tainted by Kwame? Nonsense Kwame was the best thing that ever happened to the city,

**rb336** · November-23-09, 09:00 AM

That unnamed guy who loaned Kwame $1000s -- any bets that it is Manny?

**babeeblumer** · November-23-09, 06:24 PM

to Manny's credit, he wasn't afraid of a paper trail and wrote a real check to his young friend's family. I'd guess pk. Thousand here or there...just a few coins from beneath the couch cushions.

The 4 "anonymous" investors want to own the region of SE MI [[& maybe Ohio) , not maintain or refurbish the city itself. Any of them live in Wayne county? They're here for benefit of their own businesses and no more.