Local: That’s funny, I don’t look Catholic
Apparently, a commenter on this Peoria Journal Star article on the appointment of Henry Holling as interim Peoria City Manager doesn’t think much of me or members of the Peoria City Council who share a certain religion:
The leadership that voted him in should be challenged next election. But at least the Pundit has someone with deep pockets to buy him pizza and beer at Whitey’s, so one formerly in opposition is now singing the same tune as the Catholic contingent that is running eveyone else out of town.
The comment is signed “Peorian,” and it links to an email address: scooterpony@sbcglobal.net. More on this later in the post. It’s worth it waiting for.
This is my reply:
Peorian (AKA “scooterpony@sbcglobal.net”): First off,
my name is Billy Dennis. Walk up and introduce yourself sometime.Second: I usually buy my own pizza. I have been known to swipe a slice from Gary Sandberg when he isn’t looking.
Third: I will concede that Whitey’s pizza is good enough that a slice theoretically could be considered a bribe. Nevertheless, I resent the implication that I can be bribed so cheaply. Make no mistake: I can be bought, but my price is in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, which means the return on investment for the bribe giver would not be very good. But if you see me driving around town in a new Cadillac while [wearing a] fur coat, you will know my price has been met. End sarcasm.
Fourth: Gee, I thought the Lebanese Mafia ran Peoria politics, not the Catholic Cabal. End sarcasm.
Fifth: Why I merit a mention in this post is beyond me, since I’m not Catholic.
Folks: I am committed to the idea that people who post anonymously on my blog have the right to remain anonymous. I do NOT have that obligation toward people who post on other forums. And I would suggest that anyone who wants to remain anonymous MIGHT want to not use an email address that they’ve used to on Websites that carry their name. You see, there’s this little thing called Google. It took about 2 seconds to discover this site that tells us that “scooterpony@sbcglobal.net” is the email address for a person named Jo Stowell.
And who is Jo Stowell? None other than the wife of Peoria School Board member Jim Stowell (the contact telephone numbers listed on both sites match, so that’s confirmation it’s the same Jo Stowell).
I’ve mentioned Jim Stowell before on this site. Most recently, I wrote that I didn’t think much of his attempt to try to squeeze a bigger contribution from the city for the construction of a new Glen Oak School. You see, Mr. Stowell was the member of the school board who was meeting with City Council member Robert Manning over the issue of what the city would contribute to the project.
Since the school district pretty much accepted what the city was willing to offer, it can be assumed that Manning came out ahead at the bargaining table. Manning, a Spalding High School graduate, is presumably a member of the “Catholic contingent that is running everyone else out of town.”
So who really wrote this comment? The email address is via their ISP, so it’s probably one the whole family could use. That means the “Catholic contingent” comment could be from Jim, Jo or (theoretically) one of their kids. The Stowell family are members of the First Federated Church, which is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. and the United Church of Christ. But far be it for me to link my opinion of his tenure on the school board with either of these two great religions. That would be wrong.
Billy Dennis is a former reporter and editor at small daily and weekly newspapers in Illinois and Missouri. He comments on media, news and politics. He also owns and operates 
That “feature” on the JS Web site, in which one can just click on a poster’s name and get his e-mail address, strikes me as rather odd. I didn’t realize it existed until I has posted several comments there (under a different name). I have no problem with the Journal Star (my longtime employer and source of all my worldly possessions and most of my friends) knowing who I am. But, let’s face it, some pretty wacky people post there, and I don’t want them sending me e-mail.
YIKES…Billy, Not sure what to think of this post.
Seems like quite a case of situational ethics (or perhaps more appropriately it should be called situational principles). Either you believe in anonymity and free speech or you don’t. I don’t think you can draw the line based upon where the comment is posted (your blog or another blog) nor based on the comment content (with the except of legal libel, threats, etc.).
Peo Proud: I think Billy is subscribing to the old proverb, “Revenge is a dish best served cold.”
Remind me to never piss you off…
Normally, I don’t give a flying rat’s ass abut anonymous. But the commenter (someone in the Stowell household) decided to question my ethics AND express some anti-Catholic sentiment. All I did was hover my house pointer over the name “Peorian” and saw the email address. I thought to myself: “Certainly no one could have been so dumb to make a bigoted statement using a real email address.” It turned out someone WAS that dumb.
And yes, C.J. and Diane, I was POed. And I wouldn’t have done it has the perp NOT been someone who is in the public eye. I think voters have a right to know if the people they are voting for might be bigots.
C.J. – good quote.
Though we should also remember:
“Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice†and
“Throw moderation to the winds, and the greatest pleasures bring the greatest painsâ€
I just checked the Journal Star’s article to which you linked to see if anyone else posted any follow-up comments. All the comments have been deleted.
That’s OK. I’ve got it saved to my computer for future reference.
The Stowells are players. Which ever of them was posting this comment was attempting to throw slime on the Peoria City Council and myself. The attempt was to do it anonymously. The the posters own actions, an easily identifiable email address was used. I have no sympathies.
I can get past the image of Billy riding around in Peoria in a Cadillac wearing a fur coat. Don’t picture it too long. It may mess with your head.
I meant I can’t get past the image. Can’t. Man, I need more coffee.
Billy, that is absolutely hilarious! Nice detective work.
Yeah, I’m a regular Sherlock Holmes.\
Heh. Google.
Busted!!
Well probably… but..
You see, the Journal Star doesn’t verify e-mail addresses. Anyone can put any email address they like. There is no login or registration. There is no visible IP address associated with their comments. It isn’t quite a slam dunk for Sherlock Holmes.
The JSEB uses a woman’s name with a Peoria address. No way to find her in the phone book? Why not, if you put a personal attack to the Journal and the print it, you should hafve the right to know who is making the personal attack on you.
I’m not afraid to use my name on anything I say. Just read my blogs.
Of the nearly 500 blogs I’ve written I only took two down and one was my personal position to the city council about a recent hiring by the city.
I support whoever they hire as long as they do the job description and do it well.
Wow. To think that such a bigoted statement was made either by a member of the Dist #150 BOE or a member of his household is unsettling. Elected members of a public school district board of education hold a position of trust and are, in effect, responsible for shaping the ethical behaviors and minds of our children. Can this city tolerate a BOE member who practices bigotry or allows it to flourish in his home? Don’t the children of Peoria face enough challenges without adding this to the list?
It is time to wake up Peoria and demand a change. This behavior is not in the best interest of our children or our community.
By the way, you CAN tell a devout Roman Catholic by looks. At least I can (and no, not just on Ash Wednesday).
It is really easy.
(Disclaimer: I was raised Catholic and still refer to myself as such, although I am very lapsed.)
The Peoria City Council meets on Tuesdays.
Anon E. Mouse… I’m still waiting for the punchline…
There is no punchline. It is true.
It was a logic puzzle I heard during Junior High – I have remembered it ever since.
Anyone can do it.
You are introduced to two men dressed identically. You know they are both ministers, but you also know that only ONE is Catholic. How do you know which one to address as “Father”?
By which one is holding hands with an alter boy?
BJ – why you gotta go and be a hater?
You guys are terrible. No Anon, How do you tell?
Look at their shoes.
The one of the Catholic’s shoes will be more creased from genuflecting.
[...] reported on it here, but don’t bother looking it it on the PJS site. The offending remark and my reply have been [...]
Billy knows the old tricks, it seems.
Heh, this wouldn’t happen to be the same uber-fascist troll who goes by the name “Peorian” and spams the place with links to the Matt Drudge website, is it?
In either case, way to go!
[...] heard, though a second party who cited two sources, that District 150 School Board member Jim Stowell has apologized to other school board members and to the Peoria City Council for the message that [...]
[...] of the Peoria City Council apologizing for any hurt feelings resulting from using the words “Catholic contingent” in a comment made on the Peoria Journal Star Website. *** [...]
[...] we’re quite familiar here with Jim Stowell here at Peoria Pundit. He’s in no position to lecture anyone, let alone concerned parents, about [...]