Thursday, August 24, 2006
The Posse Speaks - Butt-Kissing All Around
Today the Daily Pilot Forum page was an Allan Mansoor love
fest. Two thirds of the page was absorbed by commentaries by
members of the mayor's posse, Planning Commissioner Jim Fisler
and Mayor Pro Tem Eric Bever, both of whom sang the praises of
our young jailer/mayor and denigrated Councilwoman Linda Dixon
for her recent commentary condemning Mansoor.
Then, as if to add the cherry on the top of the sundae, Laguna Beach Minutebabe Eileen Garcia provided yet another bit of Mansoor butt-kissing - as if we needed more!
Jim (I'm-a-realtor-here-in-town) Fisler used his column inches to defend his benefactor and fellow Westside Improver, Mansoor, by taking the Daily Pilot to task for printing critical comments and stating, "Reading your paper, it appears that there is more outrage at our fine mayor than at the criminal and the crime. I stand with Mansoor." Of course you would think that, Jim. You apparently think the political opportunism and callous insensitivity displayed by our young jailer/mayor is just fine and dandy.
Fisler goes on to attack the group that forms the core of Return to Reason and individuals identified with that group. He earmarked several of the outstanding former leaders of this city, accusing them of wanting to return the city to simpler times. Well, Jim, I think you're probably right. I think they would prefer to return this city to a time when we didn't have gang related murders on our city streets. This is happening on Mansoor's watch, my friend, induced by his actions and policies. Who wouldn't want to change that?
Mansoor's buddy, Eric (L'il) Bever, continues the attack on the Daily Pilot in his commentary printed side-by-side with Fisler's. It seems like an usual tack to take, spitting in the face of the organization that provides the forum for your comments. By the way, Eric, I thought you didn't read the Daily Pilot any more. How would you know what appears on the pages? Your comments seem more than a little hypocritical to me.
Reading Bever's commentary was akin to watching a clown on a unicycle, juggling while peddling back and forth. Bever changed direction more times than a sock in the washing machine, all the while juggling the truth and managing to honk that little horn at the same time.
These two pieces of literary legerdemain by Mansoor's water carriers attempt to deflect attention from the facts. Among those facts are that our young jailer/mayor has followed a path with his actions and pronouncements that have turned this city's image from one of a vibrant, cosmopolitan "City of the Arts" into the poster child for intolerance and a laughingstock in Orange County. Under Mansoor's "leadership" an environment of intolerance and bigotry has evolved, which has encouraged outside extremist organizations to descend on our town, trying to influence our political process. He has been embraced by those extremists as their savior and returned that affection publicly. By doing so he has brought shame to our city.
Mansoor has demonstrated that there are no depths to which he won't stoop to gain re-election. His opportunistic use of the dead and wounded victims of the recent shootings as pawns in his campaign is despicable and unforgivable. No matter how his boot-lickers try to twist the facts, the truth is the truth. Although Fisler and Bever use the facts as balloons, twisting and bending them to make giraffes and dogs, they remain facts regardless of the distortion applied to them.
Both Fisler and Bever indicate that the majority of Costa Mesa residents support the mayor. Well, I guess we'll find out in November. I, for one, think the voters of this city will be smart enough to see through all this subterfuge and see the real Allan Mansoor for what he has become - a misguided, easily-influenced pawn of the radical right.
Also, last night we had a chance to watch his anointed running mate, Parks and Recreation Commission Chair Wendy Leece, in action. I'm trying to remember when I've seen a more disappointing lack of leadership on display in our city. Last night, during a long and contentious debate about temporary lights for playing fields in our city, she completely lost control of the proceedings. She permitted some speakers, with whom she apparently felt a sympathetic bond, to speak well beyond their allotted time. She allowed members of the audience to inject themselves into the debate by speaking from their seats. If she were a man you would describe her as a wimp! She permitted the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting to degenerate into a virtual Tupperware party, with chatter going on all the time.
As if that wasn't bad enough, she and fellow commissioner Mark Harris shared whispered comments back and forth throughout the meeting. I found myself wondering if that was a Brown Act violation. I do know that while they were whispering between themselves they sure couldn't follow the comments by other commissioners and speakers. At the very least, their actions were disrespectful.
And Leece continues to demonstrate a lack of understanding of procedures and policies by which she is supposed to operate that commission's activities. She certainly doesn't demonstrate any of the skills necessary to be an effective city council member. It appears to me that she may think that all she has to do is grab onto Mansoor's belt and hold on tight. If he's re-elected, using a mountain of outside money, she will likely be swept into office with him. What a sad day for this city that would be.
Speaking of which, I find myself wondering about the long-term affects of Mansoor and Leece winning seats in November. They will be in a position to appoint members of the Planning and Parks and Recreation commissions. It's logical to assume they would appoint many of their cronies from the Westside Improver mob. Talk about scraping the bottom of the intellectual gene pool of this city! With those folks in charge on those commissions it would be like watching the Tea Party scene from Alice in Wonderland. Should that occur, I wouldn't be surprised at anything they might pull. Heck, they might even try to resurrect Bull Connors and appoint him as police chief.
Here's something to think about... Your Neighbor as Planning Commission chairman! The only worse scenario I can imagine would be him seated on the city council! We know he has pull, because he was appointed to a city committee which determines how to dole out the Community Development Block Grant funds until he resigned earlier this year when the light of day was shined on his activities. Since he claims responsibility for getting Mansoor elected the first time around, there's no reason to expect he won't end up in a position of even more power if Mansoor and Leece are elected. This kind of stuff could happen with a low turn-out, mid-term election and a lazy electorate that votes with their emotions instead of their brains.
It's time for the electorate of Costa Mesa to wake up and realize what a crock the mayor and his pals are trying to force-feed you. Your silence is deafening.
12:02 pm pdt
Then, as if to add the cherry on the top of the sundae, Laguna Beach Minutebabe Eileen Garcia provided yet another bit of Mansoor butt-kissing - as if we needed more!
Jim (I'm-a-realtor-here-in-town) Fisler used his column inches to defend his benefactor and fellow Westside Improver, Mansoor, by taking the Daily Pilot to task for printing critical comments and stating, "Reading your paper, it appears that there is more outrage at our fine mayor than at the criminal and the crime. I stand with Mansoor." Of course you would think that, Jim. You apparently think the political opportunism and callous insensitivity displayed by our young jailer/mayor is just fine and dandy.
Fisler goes on to attack the group that forms the core of Return to Reason and individuals identified with that group. He earmarked several of the outstanding former leaders of this city, accusing them of wanting to return the city to simpler times. Well, Jim, I think you're probably right. I think they would prefer to return this city to a time when we didn't have gang related murders on our city streets. This is happening on Mansoor's watch, my friend, induced by his actions and policies. Who wouldn't want to change that?
Mansoor's buddy, Eric (L'il) Bever, continues the attack on the Daily Pilot in his commentary printed side-by-side with Fisler's. It seems like an usual tack to take, spitting in the face of the organization that provides the forum for your comments. By the way, Eric, I thought you didn't read the Daily Pilot any more. How would you know what appears on the pages? Your comments seem more than a little hypocritical to me.
Reading Bever's commentary was akin to watching a clown on a unicycle, juggling while peddling back and forth. Bever changed direction more times than a sock in the washing machine, all the while juggling the truth and managing to honk that little horn at the same time.
These two pieces of literary legerdemain by Mansoor's water carriers attempt to deflect attention from the facts. Among those facts are that our young jailer/mayor has followed a path with his actions and pronouncements that have turned this city's image from one of a vibrant, cosmopolitan "City of the Arts" into the poster child for intolerance and a laughingstock in Orange County. Under Mansoor's "leadership" an environment of intolerance and bigotry has evolved, which has encouraged outside extremist organizations to descend on our town, trying to influence our political process. He has been embraced by those extremists as their savior and returned that affection publicly. By doing so he has brought shame to our city.
Mansoor has demonstrated that there are no depths to which he won't stoop to gain re-election. His opportunistic use of the dead and wounded victims of the recent shootings as pawns in his campaign is despicable and unforgivable. No matter how his boot-lickers try to twist the facts, the truth is the truth. Although Fisler and Bever use the facts as balloons, twisting and bending them to make giraffes and dogs, they remain facts regardless of the distortion applied to them.
Both Fisler and Bever indicate that the majority of Costa Mesa residents support the mayor. Well, I guess we'll find out in November. I, for one, think the voters of this city will be smart enough to see through all this subterfuge and see the real Allan Mansoor for what he has become - a misguided, easily-influenced pawn of the radical right.
Also, last night we had a chance to watch his anointed running mate, Parks and Recreation Commission Chair Wendy Leece, in action. I'm trying to remember when I've seen a more disappointing lack of leadership on display in our city. Last night, during a long and contentious debate about temporary lights for playing fields in our city, she completely lost control of the proceedings. She permitted some speakers, with whom she apparently felt a sympathetic bond, to speak well beyond their allotted time. She allowed members of the audience to inject themselves into the debate by speaking from their seats. If she were a man you would describe her as a wimp! She permitted the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting to degenerate into a virtual Tupperware party, with chatter going on all the time.
As if that wasn't bad enough, she and fellow commissioner Mark Harris shared whispered comments back and forth throughout the meeting. I found myself wondering if that was a Brown Act violation. I do know that while they were whispering between themselves they sure couldn't follow the comments by other commissioners and speakers. At the very least, their actions were disrespectful.
And Leece continues to demonstrate a lack of understanding of procedures and policies by which she is supposed to operate that commission's activities. She certainly doesn't demonstrate any of the skills necessary to be an effective city council member. It appears to me that she may think that all she has to do is grab onto Mansoor's belt and hold on tight. If he's re-elected, using a mountain of outside money, she will likely be swept into office with him. What a sad day for this city that would be.
Speaking of which, I find myself wondering about the long-term affects of Mansoor and Leece winning seats in November. They will be in a position to appoint members of the Planning and Parks and Recreation commissions. It's logical to assume they would appoint many of their cronies from the Westside Improver mob. Talk about scraping the bottom of the intellectual gene pool of this city! With those folks in charge on those commissions it would be like watching the Tea Party scene from Alice in Wonderland. Should that occur, I wouldn't be surprised at anything they might pull. Heck, they might even try to resurrect Bull Connors and appoint him as police chief.
Here's something to think about... Your Neighbor as Planning Commission chairman! The only worse scenario I can imagine would be him seated on the city council! We know he has pull, because he was appointed to a city committee which determines how to dole out the Community Development Block Grant funds until he resigned earlier this year when the light of day was shined on his activities. Since he claims responsibility for getting Mansoor elected the first time around, there's no reason to expect he won't end up in a position of even more power if Mansoor and Leece are elected. This kind of stuff could happen with a low turn-out, mid-term election and a lazy electorate that votes with their emotions instead of their brains.
It's time for the electorate of Costa Mesa to wake up and realize what a crock the mayor and his pals are trying to force-feed you. Your silence is deafening.
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