Did you hear Supervisor Bonnie Neely is holding a fundraiser for her re-election campaign in Sacramento? It’s true. And now the anti-Bonnies are making like Joe Biden and saying hey, this is a BFD.
Feathers have been so ruffled over the affair that a group of locals are going all tea party on the Bonster and following her to California’s capitol to protest the festivities.
In a flurry of emails announcing the protest, one would-be protester compared the fundraiser to the failed campaign by Massachusetts Democrat Martha Coakley who lost a US Senate race to Republican Scott Brown. Kinda underscores the widespread notion that Neely challenger Virginia Bass is the Republican favorite in Dem clothing.
“It didn’t work too well for her and we need to make sure Neely has the same results,” spits the email.
The protest is being organized by Board of Supervisors gadfly Chuck Ciancio, Cutten resident.
I knew you would wait, till you had your own special spin.
And, yes, I believe Heraldo supported Measure T.
thank you fred. i was just going to ask heraldo a question that he won’t answer, how does bonnie going to sac to fund raise jive with her opposition to measure t?
when politicians adamantly oppose things and then flip their moral opposition, for whatever the reason heraldo, they lose their credibility. i would have admired bonnie if she would have stuck to her guns in her opposition of measure t instead of running out and begging for money like the rest of the politicians.
Yeah, Measure T, a measure that never passed, never became law is the reason that someone who supported it should now obey the non-existent restrictions.
I mean, how dare she tap into a state-wide network of support for her re-election campaign, that’s … that’s playing POLITICS!!1!11!1!1!
Remember dear citizens, the wise words of our newest patriots … “Tea bag the liberal Dems before they tea bag you!
Refer to Hank Sims’ response to Fred on this very issue at the North Coast Journal Blogthing. If you can’t understand that simple analogy, you are too simple to be discussing politics.
You’re criticizing a woman who changed her political affiliation from Republican to Democrat for flip-flopping?
Hank even criticized Bon Bon for this Sac fund raiser.
He didn’t criticize her. He said, “As we’ve said before, this year’s Fourth District Supervisor race is in large part a statewide election played out on local turf, given Neely’s chairmanship of the California Coastal Commission, and so far Neely has raised a substantial amount of money from outside the county.”
And then later he said it was legitimate to raise eyebrows over how much she is raising from outside the area. There are lots of people outside the area who want to keep her on the CCC which requires that she be supervisor. It’s not surprising that they donate to her campaign.
The Bass & Leonard campaigns should film her leaving town as she seeks contributions from everybody else because her own constituients won’t support her.
She might even place third in the primary !
Ah, in PJ’s mind, that is praising her.
It was NEITHER, Cap. He explained why this race isn’t just about Humboldt County. It isn’t just about Humboldt County for many large donors to oust her either. They want her off the CCC. The out of the area people who are donating to her want her on the CCC.
Personally, it is a mad world that is willing to keep her on for 24 years. But no, that can’t possibility enter your mind that a politician has been on for too long.
Remember, politicians, like diapers need to be changed often, and for the same reason.
Trite.
Change for the sake of change isn’t very conservative, Cap. Do you think she is senile? Alzheimer’s setting in? How long a politician serves is up to the voters unless there are term limits. If the majority think she has been “on for too long,” they’ll replace her; but these pathetic attempts to smear her with a false hypocrite label isn’t going to work except with the people who are doing the smearing and you guys weren’t ever going to vote for her anyway.
Diapers are changed because they are dirty. Are you implying that Neely is dirty, Cap? Don’t you think if she were for sale Arkley would already have his name tattooed on her soul like the rest of his lackeys?
you are so transparent pj. you would support anything and defend it as long as it said it was against arkley.
the problem, pj, is part of bon bon’s appeal is that she sells herself as being willing to stand up to big bizz and the monster that is arkley. yet, she is taking large amounts of money from people who are out of the area and are just like arkley in that they are business people looking out for their own interests. that’s how bon bon and all politicians get their money. she is a hypocrite because she says she’s above that, she opposes arkley and his tactics of paying to get his people elected, she opposes measure t, and then she goes and plays the game like everyone else. that is a hypocritical.
David? Kaitlyn? What’s your take?
The end justifies the means when it fits Bonnie current agenda.
Like I said, Hank Sims explains why Neely taking outside contributions isn’t hypocrisy. Your apparent inability to understand his simple analogy is either disingenuous or you are hopelessly clueless.
This weeks Pathetic Attempt at Spin:
Although Measure T was overturned and is not the law, anyone who supported it should abide by the limits that *would* have been in place had it not been overturned — while those who didn’t support Measure T are free to raise as much as they want from whomever they want.
Yup, believe it or not, that’s the argument that is supposed to add votes for Virginia (or maybe even Jeff), and subtract votes from Bonnie. Good luck with that.
I’m SURE that’s what the district’s voters are most concerned about, the “inside baseball” spin of how there really should be a double-standard for fundraising, and if there isn’t a double-standard, then that’s unfair. Aside from the obvious illogic of the argument, there’s the plain fact that no one much cares about that kind of whining. Voters want substance, not spin. If all you’ve got is spin, you’re going down.
pj, when you post links to other people’s website to reference what they have already said, i don’t read it. continuously referring to hank somebody’s analogy to illustrate my simplicity shows that you have too much time on your hands. i’m at work and not supposed to be on the computer. thus, i’m not going to go through research to try and figure out what your point is. that doesn’t make me simple, it makes you boring.
reasonable (is that you bill o’reilly and your no spin zone): in the past, i protested heavily against the clubbing of baby seals. i went so far as to be outspoken in my support of a bill to outlaw the clubbing of baby seals. when this bill failed and killing baby seals continued to be legal, i got on a plane, flew to iceland, and participated in the slaughter of baby seals. am i a hypocrite?
They must be playing to the Limbautomized Fox News crowd which thinks Palin makes sense.
And the above spin was brought to you by the letters S and O. That is Sacramento and Outside (Humboldt).
Voters, you know the actual ones with in her district, and doing the voting, gave bon bon the two thumbs down, when it comes to supplying her with election money. you know LOCALS.
“in the past, i protested heavily against the clubbing of baby seals. i went so far as to be outspoken in my support of a bill to outlaw the clubbing of baby seals. when this bill failed and killing baby seals continued to be legal, i got on a plane, flew to iceland, and participated in the slaughter of baby seals. am i a hypocrite?”
FYI, When selecting an analogy, it helps if the analogy describes a situation similar to the situation you are analyzing. Your analogy is invalid. Try again.
“in the past, i (substitute bon bon for “i”) protested heavily against the clubbing of baby seals” (substitute local election finance reform for “clubbing of baby seals”). “i went so far as to be outspoken in my support of a bill to outlaw (measure t) the clubbing of baby seals (substitute local election finance reform for “clubbing of baby seals”). “when the bill failed” (measure t), “i got on a plane and slaughtered a bunch of baby seals” (sub that sentence for went to Sac and got a bunch of money from people just like arkley who have different names and live in bigger towns).
the analogy works perfectly. you say you are against something and for a bill that will outlaw it, and when that bill doesn’t pass, you take advantage of the very thing you professed to be against. you may think that is ethical, however, i do not.
Speaker, you are probably the only regular poster here who doesn’t know who Hank Sims is. He is the editor of the North Coast Journal. I posted his direct quote on this issue above. He used a football analogy in that a coach doesn’t think field goals should be worth 3 points, only 2 so it would take 4 field goals to trump one touchdown, but the other coaches don’t agree to change the rules. Is he a hypocrite for accepting 3 points for a field goal when he thinks they are only worth 2? Do you understand that Measure T was never about only one side not accepting outside donations, but all sides?
Well, you’re welcome to your opinion, but I think your “clubbing baby seals” analogy is quite a reach and the idea promoted by Bonnie’s opponents that she should unilaterally disarm is both nonsensical and self-serving.
Here’s a different analogy, and one I think is better suited to the actual case we’re discussing:
You and an opponent are about to engage in a duel. You are both holding pistols. You propose that the two of you should instead stick to fisticuffs to settle the dispute, and you state that you’d rather not use a gun, but your opponent declines and wants to use the pistols. Are you a hypocrite if you decide to defend yourself with the pistol?
Bonnie is not trying to walk on water or attain sainthood. She is running for re-election. It is legal to get money from outside of the area. She is going outside of the area for funds. I see no problem.
The bashers hurrying down there to picket are also not breaking the law. I see no problem.
This is a test of the emergency broadcast system – to get a feel for the next level of politics….
Jeffrey Lytle
McKinleyville – 5th District
Cap, have you ever held a job for 24 years? Just askin’. Is it OK for Robbie to spend a half mil or more in South Dakota to defeat a sitting Senator but it is not OK for Bonnie to accept contributions from outside her district but within the state of California? (She does serve on a statewide commission, like it or not.) Measure T is a dead issue. Get over it.
Clubbing baby seals??? Got anything better? Sheesh! Perhaps issues?
Sorry, but “clubbing a baby seal” ISN’T analgous to “fund raising in a competitive election”.
In the first case, the seal group are being acted by another group, in the second case there’s only one group, candidates competing with each other.
A better analogy would be a baby seal promotes that all the seals should join together and conduct peace negotiations with the hunters. When the other seals reject that proposal the promoter seal is then morally obligated to negotiate alone.
“Robbie” won’t be spending that kind of money anymore, I don’t believe.
That’s beside the point, though. The real issue is – like in most any election – determining who best represents your point of view. On this blog, as in “real life” people don’t agree. I personally appreciate the debate, but wonder if people are really going to win anyone over to the “other side” in a forum that is generally visited by people who have strong points of view.
Just saying…the arguments are interesting but probably not going to change any opinions or outcomes.
I heard that Bonnie flew down there on Arklee’s private jet. Now that needs to be looked into!
5:53 Two wrongs do make a right? How many people do you know who have held a job 24 years? 20+ years in the military is all that is needed to retire.
Bon Bon is more like a fat person, getting off a weight watchers diet at an all you can eat buffet with these outside funds.
Live report from Bonnie’s soirée: No protesters to be found. Just people having a good time at the event.
So, let me get this straight- all you Bonnie bashers were vehemently against Measure T, which passed, then fought it in court and had it overturned. Now that your feared opponent is following the rules YOU FOUGHT FOR, you cry like babies.
Typical conservative bullshit
hypocrite: a person who professes beliefs and opinions that he or she does not hold in order to conceal his or her real feelings or motives
wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
Hypocrisy is the act of pretending to have beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that one does not actually have. …
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypocrite
vote local control!
lol baby seals and field goals… I think we have a new sport brewing!!
Chuck Ciancio has been fuming ever since clear cut logging was declared environmentally destructive
I also think there is a level of hypocrisy which we all possess, in which we believe something, but are incapable of actually doing anything about it, so we do nothing. Sort of like the football analogy that keeps being brought up. Like we think pulp mills and logging are bad, but we are using paper and forest products like everyone else.
So some, will oppose any mill/logging even while potentially preventing good things from happening. They hate Bonnie so much cause they view her as someone who is preventing things. Its not surprising that they rely on the “Lobotomized Fox News crowd ” just as the left will tap the ‘idealistic yuppie Move-On crowd”.
Some of you are missing the whole point, especially the Bonnie defenders:
If she would of just accepted the money from out of the area via snail mail, some of us could have rightfully had fun with her hypocrisy (as I would have and am doing now), but that would be considered par for the course for supposed Measure T supporters.
She went beyond that. She actually held a fundraiser hundreds of miles away- seeking funds from people, and powers that be, from across the state.
At least Mr. Esquan had at least some problem with it. The rest of you are just as big of hypocrites as Bonnie is. How you can defend this is beyond me. Plain Jane seems to be the worst offender.
I thought about it and I understand it now, in regards Hank Sims’ analogy: Now that it’s legal, she can do whatever she wants, and she has.
Still, aside from her hypocrisy, and lack of principle, the analogy applied to this over at the NCJ Blogthing still applies:
This is no different that a candidate for Eureka City Council having a fundraiser in Fortuna. What would that candidate’s pitch be?
How about “Get me elected and I’ll do my best to make sure no Home Depot, or WalMart, comes to Eureka. Then Fortuna can have them”.
That’s what’s happening here? Do you want Fortuna voters deciding what happens in Eureka?
Bonnie is doing one of two things with this over 100 mile away fundraiser: She’s either so arrogant that she feels comfortable with going outside the county, physically, for fund raising, or she’s scared to death she might lose.
I suspect it’s the latter, although I think she’s being paranoid since she has two opponents. The two candidates will likely give Bonnie the majority.
Really pathetic watching the lefties defending this.
I just received an email about another protest tomorrow at 11:45 at the Eureka courthouse. Be there! Go local and keep the SoCal special interests from buying a Humboldt election.
This could be a great year for the Measure T proponents to gain public support for campaign finance reform. Judging from the response to Bonnies Sacramento scam Kaitlin might even get a broad based coalition to back her if the proposal was really fair.
Poor Fred isn’t even able to understand sports analogies. Simple doesn’t come close to describing him.
Fred if you now understand Hanks analogy you would not be calling Bonnie a hypocrite. Hank gave you a sports analogy Fred, an easy ground ball of logic. Work with it some more. See what you come up with.
Are you upset cause you were not invited on the basher bus?
I don’t care who it is. This kind of sell out to the highest bidder hundreds of miles from Humboldt is not okay.
Supposedly, Bonnie, Virginia, and Jeff are all Democrats. Why can’t the party or the Central Committee put a limit on contributions? We need limits on either individuals or entire campaigns. Something has to be done.
Lest you think Bonnie gets all her money outside the county, I assure you that there are many of us ‘small donors’ from right here as well. Many of us are ‘under the radar’ because we can’t afford to donate over $99. As to Sacramento, maybe Andrew can fill us in on the details. Is it ONLY for Bonnie or are others invlved in a general fundraising? On what basis are attendees invited (beyond having healthy wallets)? Do some of them have connections, family, business interests, or maybe are Humboldt State Alums? There are a thousand reasons people give to politicians. Ask the questions before you start shooting.
So Bonnie has been on the Board for 24 years. So why is this a bad thing? If I went to a heart doctor, do I want a newbie or one with vast experience? Any job reqires learning. I don’t say others can’t learn it but if the only reason you’re anti-Bonnie is that she’s learned how to do her job, Then I hope you’ll never do business with anyone over 30. Bonnie does her job with grace, competance, and knowledge born from her experience. We rarely get a chance to include someone with those credentials on our governing bodies. Her opponents have experience ignoring crashing budgets (VB & JL), quitting their posts of responsibility (VB), and creating fluff (nice fluff, but fluff nonetheless) like skateboard parks (JL). They’ve both been more intent on giving the zoo $700,000 than on saving our police and fire departments. Where are your priorities?
If I need brain surgery, I want a qualified, knowledgeable, experienced doctor, not a wanna be nurse or a wouod be orderly.
That’s a “would-be orderly”. Sorry.
Raising campaign funds from willing donors is not “selling out” to any bidder. Neely is raising funds where she can, from whom she can because she can due to her years on the CCC. It’s great fun watching all the Measure T opponents crying like babies because she is following the rules they said were fair. Talk about hypocrisy!!!!
Shameless behavior here from Bonnie, as well as her supporters.
Nice post A-Nony-Mouse. I too am concerned about the budget and those failing to understand what no money means. The Zoo is nice but without our police department everything will suffer. I have seen a nice improvement in my neighborhood because of their very effective POP program and I would hate to loose the ground we have gained.
I also worry that if the Zoo is not reduced while we have some funds the results will be more disastrous for the animals. If cost reductions are planned there will be more options.
If Measure T is a “dead issue” then why is it used to this day as a cudgel to purge the local Green Party of anyone who doesn’t subscribe to the extremist agenda of Democracy Unlimited?
Measure T divided this community and (according to the North Coast Journal) “ruptured the local Green Party.” It’s use today is most evident when it comes to the left eating its own and playing their usual exclusionary games.
My God! – reading just part of this made me want to get a baby seal and kick it through the goal posts and get 4 freaking points. Strange logic streached 5 ways. The people in Sack of tomatoes don’t vote in the 4th district. She can get money from Nigeria for all I care, but she can’t raise $$ right here in the city by the bay? WTF
Who said she can’t raise money here? She is raising here and is also raising money there.
Bonnie won’t unilaterally follow non-existant rules that her opponents didn’t think were fair in the first place, and now they think that’s not fair. Yup, that makes perfect sense to me!
;)
So now oldphart sets the standard at $$$ only from the 4th district voters? I guess you will be voting for no one. Wait, you don’t even live in the forth, so you shouldn’t even have an opinion.
Cute to listen to Fred and Capdiamont, two foam-flecked farts. “They’re coming to take me away, ha ha!”
as The Reasonable Anonymous so eloquently put it, “the idea that Bonnie should unilaterally disarm is both nonsensical and self-serving.”
End of story.
Have I missed the press conference where Virginia and/or Jeff have agreed to refuse out-of-county donations?
Or are their supporters demanding that Bonnie refuse to accept the same kind of donations that their own candidates are happy to accept? ‘Cuz that seems a bit, ahem, hypocritical, doesn’t it?
Let’s get back to the issue of Virginia and Jeff ignoring the crashing budgets of the City of Eureka over their eight years in office.
Now they want a promotion?
In stark contrast, Bonnie has ably captained the budget of the county over her 24 years in office, while Jeff and Virginia have managed to ignore Eureka’s insolvency while its deficits grow more and more apocalyptic. Now Virginia and Jeff are trying to sweep under the carpet the fact that they are annually giving the zoo $700,000 and the Chamber of Commerce $100,000 (to throw banquets for itself), while cutting the police and fire departments.
If you want some meat instead of the creampuff that’s being discussed above, that’s the real story.
Politics isn’t surgery, let alone brain surgery. Bon bon, has enough “experience” to solve all our problems. Except, she hasn’t.
Awww, Bonnie hasn’t solved all your problems? Sad. And Virginia will? That’s one thing I always think about the city of Eureka — problem-free.
Jane wrote”Neely is raising funds where she can, from whom she can because she can due to her years on the CCC.”
And it is a big mistake for her to believe that if she does.She has no need to fish for outside financial support to fund her campaign.Bonnie makes plenty enough money to not need it.She actually hasn’t served on the CCC for all that long has she?
It would have been a much better decision for her to stay here and bang on doors and if she really needs the financial help,to ask then.
She should have spent the day and evening doing what she could do to get as many possible debates set up as she could,and finding what time she could to meet with her constituents and defend her record,and to let them know how much better she can represent them compared to her challengers.
She’s running a horrible campaign at this point,and it could easily cost her.I won’t even get into any sort hypocrisy thing,as it doesn’t matter,as voters here resoundingly are dismayed by outside influence in local elections as evidenced by the passing of Measure T,the Gallegos recall attempt and to lesser extents a few of the Harbor District seats.
Wake up Bonnie!!Shitcan the ideas that you need an outside influence to win this race and bring yourself to your constituents and let them know exactly why you need to be reelected.
First off Hank Sims (a nice enough fellow) is only one voice and not the voice of humboldt county. He is also very liberal and often very wrong in his journalistic choices. He is at other times insightful. He is not a sage to be adhered to. Looking clearly at this issue, Bonnie looks terrible.
Another one who can’t understand either the sports analogy or the duel analogy, both logical and relevant and neither of which require a political litmus test to understand. Fair is everyone plays by the same rules, agreed upon in advance. That’s what Bonnie is doing but her detractors are actually whining that she doesn’t follow stricter rules than her opponents. HILARIOUS!
Bonnie looks reasonable. She is raising money. Like Virginia. And Jeff.
For the foam-flecked right, this is a sin. Unfortunately, here on Heraldo, no one is willing to suffer their conceit.
Too bad.
But measure T wasn’t fair. It treated different organizations with different rules, depending on whether or not they were corporations, or unions. Thus it was easily struck down.
Bon bon is far from being limited by measure t, but is the #1 pig in the outsider money trough.
I’ll second that opinion of Sims. Look at who pays the bills at the NCJ and then it becomes so clear.
This does look terrible for Bonnie, but I don’t expect that much of her constituents will ever find out or care, and therefore it will probably not make a difference on election day. The decision was certainly a calculated risk because money buys you everything in politics.
On issues like this it becomes glaringly obvious that the conservative “base” in the Humboldt County blogosphere is incapable of logical thought processes. We all drink the same water so it must be brain bleaching from Fox and Co.
On issues like this it becomes glaringly obvious that PJ will drink any kool-aid served to her.
On issues like this it becomes glaringly obvious that the Bonnie bashers have nothing good to say about Virginia.
zzzzzzzzzz
On issues like this it becomes glaringly obvious that Cap camps out on the Herald all day. He might be “snoozing” but both eyes are glued to the screen. Look at the timing of that first comment! Just 4 minutes after it went live! Go get ‘em, tiger!
you are still missing the most biggest elephant in the room re: this “innocent sacramento fundraiser”
the host is a national lobbying firm based in sacramento holding a $2,000 a pop fundraiser for neely. The big question is why is this out of town Sacto lobbying firm trying to get it’s hands on our little local supe race?? and what will they expect of neely when they hand over this very large chunk of $$?
RSS, is one of those new fangled things you know?
A more fair campaign finance control?
Or was it twitter?
Are you sure it wasn’t Fred, with only 2 min behind me?
So in a thread about bashing bon bon, we have to say nice things about X other candidate? What is the punishment if we don’t? Put on the rack? Cat-o-nine tails? Bamboo up the fingernails?
How about firing squad? I know….. how about the Mythbuster tested growing bamboo through the body?
don’t you mean, Chuck Ciancio, grand jury member? HumCPR has made a joke of the grand jury. Not to mention Peter Hannaford as its secretary!
there is nothing good to say about Virginia, unless it’s Dave Tyson you’re asking. well, she is awfully “nice”…but that’s about it, isn’t it. How’s that City of Eureka budget coming along, Virginia???
How’s the County budget coming along, Anon?
The County is in good fiscal shape, A Non A Me. Thanks for asking.
“So in a thread about bashing bon bon, we have to say nice things about X other candidate?”
If you want voters to believe that your candidate can do a better job,then yes,especially since your side is the subject of the thread.
How is one who comes to this blog looking for information about candidates supposed to believe that Virginia or Jeff are better suited than Bonnie at handling financial endeavors at the county level when under their palms at the city level,it’s funds have deteriorated and put the city into a financial mess?Will you at least respond to that question,Cap?
Should Neely be condemned for such flagrant influence-peddling? Absolutely.
Does showing up Neely’s obvious faults in this matter excuse Bass and Leonard’s behavior in blocking the true ward system, ranked choice voting and any sort of campaign finance limits in Eureka? Absolutely not.
They all suck. That’s the point. There are no “progressives” in this race. If anything, this merely demonstrates the bankruptcy of the local left, and of Neely’s fake left backers like Heraldo.
So lets see, this thread started about bon bon protesters going down to Sac. According to AB, that didn’t happen. Did the emails really happen? Maybe it was a ruse to get H to post something about bon bon opposition, or to flush H out? Run H!!!!
Mresquan, I don’t have a candidate. That part is undecided.
mresquan, bon bon may be the best candidate. however, she’s a hypocrite and for pointing that out on this site you get labeled conservative and/or simple. i am neither. most of the bon bon supporters on this site, from what i’ve read, support bon bon not on issues, but on the principal that she is against big bizz (ie arkley). then, like a hypocrite, she goes and panders to big bizz and big money in sac. i think that should be acknowledged by all people (except plain jane who is comparable to newt gingrich with her political flexibility). that doesn’t mean she isn’t the best candidate. it does mean, however, that our best candidate may be a two-faced, hypocrite like most politicians.
cap, your opinions are well-reasoned and i agree with most of what you are saying. it’s nice to hear someone thinking for themselves and not parroting heraldo’s ultra-liberal line whether or not it makes sense. it’s okay to disagree with people even if they are liberal. it doesn’t make you conservative. it means you are an independent thinker. when your opinions never cross political lines, as most on this site rarely do, you are not thinking for yourself.
Bon Bon Bon Bon Bon Bon Bon Bon. Now I can be called an independent thinker, too.
What goes up must come down
spinning wheel got to go round
Talking about your troubles it’s a crying sin
Ride a painted pony
Let the spinning wheel spin
You got no money, and you, you got no home
Spinning wheel all alone
Talking about your troubles and you, you never learn
Ride a painted pony
let the spinning wheel turn
Did you find a directing sign
on the straight and narrow highway?
Would you mind a reflecting sign
Just let it shine within your mind
And show you the colours that are real
Someone is waiting just for you
spinning wheel is spinning true
Drop all your troubles, by the river side
Catch a painted pony
On the spinning wheel ride
Ah, does that irritate you, using Bon bon?
One thing is clear, the “Bon Bon” bashers are language challenged. Now there’s one who thinks fund raising is influence peddling. How can you have an honest discussion with people who don’t know the meaning of the words they use?
And PJ is still drinking the kool-aide.
Cap is such an original and independent thinker! Bon-Bon, kool-aid, blah blah blah blah blah. Trying to have a discussion with you above the playground level is impossible.
sorry, had to stoop to your level.
pfft!
Perhaps the problem is that all three candidates are so mediocre. And Neely ISN’T a liberal.
I love the experience bit, except there is no way to get experience, except by doing the job. It is like the youth trying to get a job, sorry kid not enough experience.
90k a year, because she plays well with others in the sandbox? Why do we pay our supervisors so much? Cut it in half.
Maybe she did the Sac thing, not for local purposes, but to get a political job in Sac?
Cap, what would you credit as Virginia Bass’s most notable achievements during her time on the Council and as Mayor?
He’ll have to check in with the Mirror before he can answer you, Senior. They are busy doing the “anyone but Bon Bon” rant because their candidates don’t have any positives to tout.
But what about the Bus-o-Bashers? Did they ever show up? Did they get lost? Are they all wearing the same sweat shirts?
Maybe, like the Hutaree nuts, they turned around due to bad weather?
Andrew Bird posted above in the thread:
“Live report from Bonnie’s soirée: No protesters to be found. Just people having a good time at the event.”
I have an idea, lets create a local politic reality show. All the candidates will live a huge decked-out victorian by the bay. each week they will compete in some ridiculous challenges which earns them points, or maybe immunity vote someone off survival style. The winner/last one standing at the end of the season gets the job. First week; baby seal football!!!
I suspect that if Virginia’s husband had a full time job at a Sacramento law firm, she would be having a fundraiser there as well. Being well connected in the legal community offers good potential for solid fund raising. What is the big deal?
I bet that reality show would get big ratings. However, I think that the dueling politicos scenario not only makes a better analogy for unilateral disarmament in campaign fundraising, it would also make for a pretty gripping reality show.
By the way, I’m not crazy about any of the candidates, nor am I happy about any of them raising a lot of money out-of-county. I just think that the demand by Virginia’s supporters that Bonnie should unilaterally disarm is transparently self-serving and without logical basis.
Now if Virginia had voluntarily agreed to not take any out-of-county money herself, then she’d be in a position to challenge Bonnie to join her in making that pledge. But as it stands, her supporters are left complaining because Bonnie has been more successful at gathering the same kind of donations that Virginia’s campaign is willing to take (her campaign just hasn’t been as successful in raising those out-of-area contributions).
“What is the big deal?”
Bonnie is using political connections that Jeff and Virginia don’t have. It’s not fair, it’s not fair, it’s NOT FAIR! (stomping feet for emphasis)
Bolithio & Reasonable, Jeff would want a skateboard competition, Virginia a bake-off and Bonnie a political debate so it won’t work.
Uh, cap, you do realize that it isn’t “we pay,” they set their own salaries. In a normal business, one might be more cautious as jacking up salaries might hurt the growth of the company. But since the only thing the county sells us is bullshit, that risk doesn’t apply.
Bonnie is using political connections that Jeff and Virginia don’t have. It’s not fair, it’s not fair, it’s NOT FAIR! (stomping feet for emphasis)
so jane, this is the problem with politics though right? Lets forget about the stupid angst and preschool emotions that these races foster, and try to examine our system we always say we want to change. Who cares if its fair. The point is that its all about a stacked deck. We will never see any real change as long as its about political connections and scratching backs. This “they do it too” discussion is way below all of us.
If this was turned the other way around, the other group would likely rely on equally desperate tactics. I wish that local politics would inspire more third or non-party success, but we dont have that. Why? They dont have the political connections of the esteemed politicians such as bonnie. That group – the ones who are connected (both parties) – are in the business of staying in business – this why they spend millions of dollars each year to continue to, and we poor idealistic suckers continue to bankroll them. Its no surprise that significant amount of would-be voters result to apathy and don’t vote.
As a strong supporter of Measure T and the current attempt to amend the constitution to disallow corporate campaign contributions, I agree, Bolithio. However, the system is the way it is and one candidate limiting their acceptance of contributions because other candidates CAN’T get them isn’t the way any political system works. These are the same people who screamed that Measure T was limiting the free speech of corporations and Measure T, btw, never limited outside the county contributions by individuals. Furthermore, these same rightists are whining about open campaign contributions while they are funding Neely attack ads which benefit Bass and Leonard but B & L don’t have to take responsibility for their content or the money as contributions. Talk about hypocrisy!
Instead of all this bullcrap, how about a list of the top ten real, concrete positive accomplishments from each candidate?
All three have been on legislative bodies (County Board of Supervisors, Eureka City Council). Each candidate actively participated in designing, campaigning for and passing various ordinances and creating or altering or removing various programs.
So, their 10 proudest accomplishments…let’s see ‘em.
Bonnie…
Virginia…
Jeff…
Supporters, please list what you believe are the most important accomplishments of your chosen candidate.
from country mouse:
“Let’s get back to the issue of Virginia and Jeff ignoring the crashing budgets of the City of Eureka over their eight years in office.
Now they want a promotion?
In stark contrast, Bonnie has ably captained the budget of the county over her 24 years in office, while Jeff and Virginia have managed to ignore Eureka’s insolvency while its deficits grow more and more apocalyptic. Now Virginia and Jeff are trying to sweep under the carpet the fact that they are annually giving the zoo $700,000 and the Chamber of Commerce $100,000 (to throw banquets for itself), while cutting the police and fire departments.”
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
BUllSEYE!
Neely:
1. Humboldt County budget is one of the healthiest in the state, certainly better than the City of Eureka or the State.
2. Humboldt County Library.
3. Her work on the CCC to protect our environment.
4. 24 years experience.
I may think of more as the days goes on.
OK, that’s a start. But I’m gonna have to call a technical foul on #4. 24 years of experience is an attribute, but not a concrete accomplishment. And #’s 1-3 could use a bit more detail, especially #3. Perhaps you or someone else could give some examples of important decisions made or programs enacted, things that Bonnie took the lead on during her time on the CCC?
Or maybe it IS better to just go with “top ten reasons to vote for…” That opens it up to not only accomplishments, but also attributes/qualifications, and also concrete promises for the future. And who am I to say that concrete accomplishments are the ONLY criteria for voting? Actually, when you add qualifications and concrete promises, it should be easy for all the candidates to name AT LEAST 10 items, and if they can’t, well that would be rather telling, don’t you think?
I think getting re-elected over and over IS an accomplishment, especially with all the opposition she has.
Okay, I hear you Jane, and I don’t want to get too bogged down here over how broad a definition of “accomplishments” we want to use, let me just say that what I had in mind was concrete policy accomplishments, from the point of view of the voters.
But anyway, I’m glad to see a broader list of “top ten reasons to vote for (candidate X),” including the fact that they have Y number of years of experience doing Z.
At least now we’re talking about what most voters would want to know: what they have done and what do they propose to do in the future.
Hope to see some lists from supporters of Virginia and Jeff also. Have to get off the computer now, but I’ll be back later to check in.
Of course people can put whatever they want on their lists (this ain’t MY blog!), but my suggestion is the more concrete the better.
I saw a sign that convinced me: the right person for the job.
I think my eyesight is going bad tho as I couldn’t read who the fuck that is.
I had the same reaction to that sign, Mr. Nice. I squinted and tried to see who it was for. But I didn’t care enough to go in for a closer look. Obviously one of the candidates has never heard of Name Recognition and the fact that it’s one of the biggest factors in electoral success. Putting your name in tiny print at the bottom of the sign, and a huge slogan at the top, is pretty silly.
Remember the Energizer Bunny ads? (For all I know, they’re still on, but I don’t watch TV commercials any more.) They won some big advertising prize when they first came out, but the word “Energizer” wasn’t prominent enough and when people were surveyed, they remembered the ad, but most recalled it as the “Duracell Bunny.” Doh! (slapping forehead) Well, the Energizer folks learned their lesson, and made the Energizer name more prominent in the ads, and made other Energizer vs. Duracell ads specifically to differentiate themselves from their rival. Anyway, the tiny-named mystery candidate in Eureka may want to take notice of all this.
Bass and Leonard accomplishments?
I thought that was the EverReady bunny.
Exactly.
Bonnie Neely never endorsed Measure T, which is why Dave and Kaitlin put a Richard Marks sign in their yard four years ago.
Jeff has a long list of accomplishments, PJ just conveniently dismisses the reality that in his 8 years Jeff has done a great deal to improve Eureka. His support is strong, and growing and your hateful comments can’t diminish that fact.
Cathi 1:32.
How about listing Jeff’s top 10 accomplishments and/or top ten reasons to vote for Jeff? I know his leadership on the skatepark is one. List some more, if you would…
re: anon 1:00 pm’s comments — can anyone confirm whether that’s true? It seems doubtful to me, but I don’t know for sure, so if someone who has the facts can clarify, that would be great.
When I used to live in Tweak Town, I thought that DU house had the block all sewed up since they looked hood rich compared to the neighbors with a big fence and scraggy looking girls coming and going all the time. I thought they musta supplied those folks two blocks west and their rivals six blocks south and two more blocks west from that… then I realized it was just a bunch of political people. Disappointing.
Hateful? What is hateful about posting in defense of Bonnie’s fund raising and her accomplishments? Is Cathi one of those who believes if you don’t support someone you hate them?
Clearly, a candidate’s accomplishments and failures should be front and center. You can’t effectively play in a corrupt system without some stink rubbing-off, and this system is corrupt.
Bonnie has many accomplishments and her detractors have great trouble listing her failures. Virginia memorizes public speaker’s names very well, but owes part of her early success to the FPPC’s inability to quickly investigate her unreported flights on Arkley’s jet. I watched her vote to further delay the long-delinquent assessment of Humboldt County’s rural housing needs, she exhibited a very poor understanding of the process, and neither Virginia nor Jeff helped Larry Glass pull the city budget off the consent calender in March, 2008! Criticism of both these candidate’s fiscal responsibilities in Eureka is legitimate.
Leonard’s lone-fight to sell Eureka’s only community garden, his failure to allow citizens to vote on a true ward system, his manipulation of the Water Board’s Marina Center SIRAP Q & A at the Warfinger…are all evidence of questionable ability to represent the public interest, as well as, both Leonard and Bass’ blind support for even more poverty-wage big boxes in Eureka.
Maybe with Heraldo’s assistance we can delve deeper into details that reveal candidate’s voting history, and exactly where they stand on current issues, or how they interpret their own leadership history.
Otherwise, these candidate’s will be pleased by another election season limited to candidate press-releases dutifully posted by local “media”.
There’s little wonder why so many potential voters aren’t even registered.
Apparently Cathi misses the sweetness and light over at the Mirror where she usually posts her drivel.
really pj. cathi likes leonard so you belittle her post. i was reading through the comments today and you are really negative, overly critical, and not the least bit funny. get a sense of humor and quit taking yourself so seriously. maybe even take a breather from this site and go catch some sun rays every once in awhile.
cathi, i don’t know much about leonard but i love seeing the kids using the skating park and he seems like a good guy. i was there a couple weeks ago and there was close to thirty kids skating and having fun.
bonnie’s been in office for 24 years. you listed four accomplishments. 2 of those were simply the length of her service and her membership to an appointed, not elected, council. if these are two of her top four accomplishments from one of her most outspoken supporters, then has she really accomplished that much?
Your bias has blinded you, Speaker. She said I was being hateful when I hadn’t said a single word negative about her boy, Leonard. I wasn’t belittling her for liking Leonard but for misrepresenting my posts and for being a hypocrite – over here posting about people hating on Leonard when she posts over at the Mirror without a single word of complaint for all the over-the-top Neely bashing. You are just like her, Speaker.
For the record, Speaker. Neely’s accomplishments include doing what her constituents want so she was re-elected, being so highly regarded that she was recommended for and appointed to the CCC by a Republican Gov, and elected by fellow members to Chair the CCC. It takes a certain level of intellect to get my humor so your inability to understand it isn’t surprising. So go get blown – away by the wind.
Cap, Cap, Cap, breathe into a paper bag. Bonnie is not Satan and the world will not end when she is re-elected. By the way, a 20 year military retirement has no way to be compared to “X” years of civil service. Sorry, been there, done that. Want the T-Shirt?
If Bonnie raised all her campaign money at the Ingomar Club you fools would find a (silly/stupid) way to blog against that as well.
Plain Jane – You Go Girl !!!
Oh, God, PJ, get off the Bonnie rah rah and get real.
This is a thread ABOUT Bonnie, A Non. When you stop bashing her constantly at the vile mirror you can come over here and criticize people for praising her, you idiotic hypocrite.
“”It takes a certain level of intellect to get my humor so your inability to understand it isn’t surprising.”"
lol wow
So lets see here, for consulting work, bon bon spends many thousands of dollars outside Humboldt. Yet the “evil” group spends it’s money inside Humboldt. Does Bon bon really not like the locals, or just needs that much help?
link
Gee how long has Murl Harpham worked for the EPD? Is Cap calling for his ouster?
I read congratulatory newspaper articles all the time about how some local public or private employee/businessowner has been doing their task for more than 30(or 40) years, like its a wonderful thing. Why would those articles appear if its really such a bad thing?
Bonnie’s greatest accomplishment is her day to day governance of our County in a professional, civil, and competent manner backed up by experience, knowledge, and good judgment.
I will check back in later to post my lists for Virginia and Jeff. But there will be very few accomplishments, but it will be easy to come up with at least ten fuck-ups each.
“…you idiotic hypocrite”.
Nice PJ…way to go making it personal again. Why do you do it? You make plenty of fair points, but the attacks are not helping your game.
A good campaign or political strategist never alienates potential voters with personal attacks and negativity; they save that for the opponent. Make your points respectfully or the only people who are going to read your posts are the sheep.
Jane is personally attacked on these threads all the time. Don’t complain when she bites back.
I have two issues that 4:04 summary, TOL2.
(1) Bonnie doesn’t do “day to day governance” of the county. That’s done by county staff and supervised by Department Heads.
(2) I’m not sure too many residents would agree that the county bureaucracy operates in a professional and competent manner. For example, the recent code enforcement debacle, the byzantine machinations and glacial pace of the Planning Department and the General Plan Update, and the generally surly demeanor of too many of the front-line clerks and receptionists with the various county departments.
[The problem, of course, is that neither of the other two candidates look to be any better, and could very well be much worse.]
So, Crappy, today’s Hobson’s Choice is Bonnie
“not liking the locals”
or
“just needs that much help”?
No. Sit. Stay.
So far, it looks like supporters of each of the candidates can hurl insults at each other, but might be having a little trouble coming up with a Top Ten Reasons to Vote for ___________. So far, we’ve got 4 reasons listed for Bonnie, none for any of the other candidates? Well, I’ll check back later.
Point taken, Steak ‘n Eggs; but when responding to a personal attack it’s just natural to go there. I will try to limit my honest (if rude)”personal attacks” in response. Some of these posters are just so lacking in sense that it’s hard to be patient with them.
I have a feeling folks would have no trouble coming up with Top Ten Reasons to Vote AGAINST _________. But the positive accomplishments seem to be harder to come by, for some reason…
Did anybody else see the Anti-Bonnie Bozos at the courthouse today? I’m so convinced now.
“Jane is personally attacked on these threads all the time. Don’t complain when she bites back.”
It’s funny that there is never a word said about those attacks, not that it’s necessary. I’m fully capable of defending myself and my opinions. Now I’ll have a glass of that liberal colored kool-aid.
I defend you with my delete button more often than I wish was necessary.
Really? I guess I didn’t notice deleted posts. Thanks, I think.
The worst ones never see the light of day.
And do you do the same for HiFi and Capadimont? Not that I agree with them, but I’ve seen some nasty stuff hurled their way as well.
If I have it hasn’t happened for some time. Jane is the subject of a particular kind of nastiness that is hurled with a memorable frequency.
But feel free to complain about useless comments that do nothing for the discussion and add only insults.
Overall, I think you do a good job, Heraldo.
Certainly, I could not moderate a blog and add relevant, interesting content the way you do on a continuous basis.
I don’t know if it’s because we don’t see the deleted posts, or that its that Jane is easy to pick out, as she posts under her pseudonoym, but it does seem that although she gives as much as she gets (no offense intended, pj).
Jane engages in heated discussion about local issues which is a main feature of this blog. People come here looking for it every day. I appreciate her interest and participation.
If any of her comments have warranted deletion it’s been too long ago to remember.
The degree of nastiness would mostly disappear if she posted under “Anonymous” or, perhaps, “Jim Bob.” But she doesn’t so I’m happy to scrap the garbage comments.
I don’t write on blogs but I want to say first that…Plain Jane…you scare me! You are so one sighted that there is no way to argue or reason with you. I also want to say that I think Bonnie Neely leaving the area to get heavy contributions to her election for a county seat is wrong. Maybe if she is running for a seat again on the Coastal Commission, it would be OK. The seat she is applying for is a county seat. Voters in Humboldt should be supporting her, like her candidates only have Humboldt supporters. But it sounds to me like her support in HC has run its course, having no recognizable results. I may be stupid and naive ( oh and you will definitely let me know that) but there is something about this that smells like rotten fish.
We’ll see on election day. Local developer money doesn’t represent the entire community no matter how they spin it.
A one sighted woman is very scary! How many sighted are you?
Pseudonyms, monikers, anonymouses, etc…, interesting that every so often, this idea of identification comes back around the horn. Nastiness by certain posters is, well……predictable. In fact, after so many posters, threads, discussions, etc… one can “learn” about certain posters in enough of a fashion to be able to “speculate” as to who that poster is. In Fact, journalist Durant from T-S was going to get a “pay-off” contest started here shortly. Hmmm, ought to be interesting stuff for inquiring minds.
Question is: are people ready for some political surprises?
Jeffrey Lytle
McKinleyville – 5th District
Hey Um…you pretty much got it right. You probably are stupid and naive, just like all the other Arkleyites. Hey, your choice. You could have payed attention in school. Nah that would not happen.
Some of Bonnie’s accomplishments:
1) Major fundraiser for Eureka Main Branch Library, overlooking our majestic harbor, completed with a large built-in maintenance budget to keep it looking nice;
2) Cofounder and former member of the Board of Redwood Coast Music Festivals, producers of Redwood Coast Jazz Festival and Blues by the Bay which today are among the most respected and successful small festivals in the nation. Under her stewardship, these annual events brought approximately $3.25 million into the local economy. Festival proceeds in excess $350,000 have been awarded to local senior programs and youth activities, including purchasing musical instruments for elementary schools. The Jazz Festival is 20 years old this year.
3) Helping to create (with Patty Berg) the exemplary system of senior services in Eureka, including the Senior Center, the new Alzheimers Center (state of the art and amazing for a town our size) and the Adult Day Health Program, key to allowing Eureka seniors to stay independent and in their own homes as they grow older. In 1989, she received an Achievement Award presented by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in recognition of her work on behalf of the elderly.
4,5 and 6) In 1988, she was appointed by Governor George Deukmejian to the California Coastal Commission where she served for five years. In 1994, she was appointed by Governor Pete Wilson to the California Board of Forestry and served as Vice-Chair. In 2004, Governor Schwarzenegger appointed Bonnie to the California Coastal Commission, where she has served as chairperson, and recently (November, 2009) re-elected by her peers to serve a second term as chair.
7) The CalTrans Alton Interchange and Mad River Bridge construction projects devoured a fair amount of prime farmland. As an offset, Bonnie helped to negotiate a deal in which CalTrans donated $2 million to permanently endow CR’s struggling agriculture program, which trains young farmers.
I’m gonna take a break here, and then come back with numbers 8, 9 and 10.
Virginia, Jeff? Ya out there?
Just curious, how many votes has Jeffrey Lytle won with his postings on blogs? King of Semper V anyone? Good Lord!
Heraldo,
As far as election day, local candidates and mass special interest money,
“Who, What, Where, When, Why and How?”
JL
Who the fuck reads 165 comments….I skipped to the end and guess what, didn’t learn a f’ing thing..never, never, comment more than once and then don’t comment when you don’t have something to say worth it…crap, out. one hundred and sixty five has to be some sort of record…like lame record.
Most personal attacks make the attacker look stupid and mean-spirited. Maybe you should leave more of them intact…giving them enough metaphorical rope to hang themselves. Just a thought.
Test of Character – Good job, facts are interesting. Wonder what the shit-heads will counter with. Cap, you out there? Hi Fi? show your intelligence one more time, we need a laugh.
Funny thing is, Arkley does not pay these jerks, they do it for free. Go figure.
TOC,
I am still laughing at that list after waking up out of the short term stupor created by that laundry list of paper results – as if Bonnie lifted a finger….um, maybe for the public speaker panic button or to flip a page.
Oh, and #7, yeahhhhhh right! – a fund which never replaces prime Ag land and the money never hits the ground 100%….same as the county fund account scheme for Ag conversions when swap-outs don’t exist. Bonnie is a political crackpot just like Pelosi, Berg, etc….Oh, and Miss Neely preying on senior citizens’ disabilities for votes is not what I would consider “true blue character”.
Jeffrey Lytle
McKinleyville – 5th District
Jeffrey Lytle – are you sane?
Speaking of who, what, where, etc. and going back a few (dozen) posts or so – those small signs being displayed for Jeff Leonard ARE mystifying. Did they do that intentionally? I can’t decide…it is kind of interesting, but more confusing. Unfortunately, you need binoculars to read the “fine print.” They may want to consider applying some sort of large sticker with his name.
Test of Character:
That’s a good list with some very specific concrete accomplishments. Thanks.
Virginia and Jeff’s supporters, how about your lists of Top Ten Reasons to vote for them? Doesn’t have to be Ten, but that would be a good start.
TOL,
what is your rub? Free speech limitations? I posted one comment way up thread; waited until now for a few more. Sorry if my opportunity to involve myself into the discussion is affecting you. Skip over my comments, done. Your problem solved. Easy solution without intervention.
JL
Oh, so those signs with tiny names are for Jeff Leonard? Well, now we know.
I agree and trust most readers to judge for themselves.
But those whose communication skills are limited to sexist slurs can go play by themselves in the corner.
I’m back, refreshed. May I continue?
8) Bonnie saved nearly 200 jobs by helping to develop a precedent-setting agreement between Humboldt County, the California Department of Resources, other state agencies, and commercial operators, providing for the continuation of gravel extraction on the Mad River.
9) Bonnie testified before the Congressional Subcommittee to insure Humboldt County received mitigation monies for the loss of Headwaters Forest from the local economy. As a result, $23 million in Federal and State funding is available in the Headwaters Fund that is helping to grow Humboldt County businesses and jobs. (Even Arkley wants a seat on their board – he’s been trying for a decade.)
10) After a local court imposed county welfare general relief payments that were the sixth-highest in California, Bonnie took the lead in a successful appeal of the ruling, saving county taxpayers $600,000.
11) Bonnie helped create the County’s Community Assistance Unit (CUA) to clean up neighborhoods, remove abandoned cars and trash, etc.
12) Worked to create employment opportunities for Humboldt County youth through the Step Up program. This program provided work experience and summer jobs for participants. This program received a merit award from the California Association of Counties.
13) While other counties were curtailing or eliminating public libraries, Bonnie took the lead in raising funds for the Humboldt County Main Branch, securing more than $9 million from the state and helping raise another $1 million from the private sector.
14) Founding member of the Humboldt Library Foundation, which has donated over $600,000 to keep libraries in Humboldt County open during tough budget times.
Okay, I’m going to quit now. Virginia, Jeff – anything?
“preying on senior citizens disabilities for votes.”
Wow, now that’s an extremely cynical outlook. Any chance that maybe Bonnie, and other politicians actually want to help seniors, and the political benefits are not always the motivation, or at least not the only one? Consider the possibility that others may not be as cynical as you are.
The Leonard signs were poorly planned. I didn’t know they were his until finally coming across one with his name printed large enough to be visible.
Good stuff, Test of Character.
I would note that # 10 saved money for taxpayers, but by the same token it meant $600,000 less for poor folks in the county. Not sure I’d be bragging about that one, but I guess it’s in the eye of the beholder.
Thanks, Reasonable. I threw it in there to show that Bonnie is looking out for the fiscal concerns of Humboldt County taxpayers.
As the candidate with the least name recognition, Jeff Leonard should have his name in very large letters on the signs. The fact that they screwed up on this pretty obvious point does not speak well of those running his campaign, as far as their level of competence. It may not mean much, if anything, about the candidate, but it certainly hasn’t helped him.
No cynicism, it is reality – kinda like adults ALWAYS using CHILDREN as A TOOL to play politics. Bonnie only cares in so far as how far she can go up….or down – her flip flopping on issues is a case in point that only a Florida Marlin could relate with. Bonnie helped seniors by selling out juniors in the community – playing people against each other for votes and funding headlines is cynical.
As far as the list – very David Lettermanesque.
Jeffrey Lytle
McKinleyville – 5th District
I guess that’s what makes someone a confirmed cynic: Their inability to recognize their own cynicism and their belief that this misanthropic outlook reflects “reality.” [Not to mention the assumption that they know the motives of others and that these motives are universally negative.]
Test of Character:
Re: # 11, the Community Assistance Unit. Isn’t this the same unit that somehow morphed back into a Code Endforcement Unit, succumbed to mission creep, had little to no oversight, failed to produce annual reports for years, and ended up getting sht down after large citizen protest a couple of years ago after making fools of themselves and wasting lots of taxpayer money by recklessly cowboying around the hills with the Drug Task Force in tow, bypassing Probable Cause requirements with “inspection warrants” of dubious constitutionality, and pointing guns at kids over issues like greywater?
If so, this also might be another one you wouldn’t want to brag about.
No, I don’t believe the two are related. This is the one that deals with junk cars and blighted urban neighborhoods. I think the NC Journal did a story a couple years back on Jimmy Smith using the unit to clean up a particularly nasty, drug-infested neighborhood in his district.
And I have my doubts about #5, her time on the Board of Forestry (during a period when Maxxam was liquidating remaining old growth redwoods, and breaking the rules left and right). I guess I’d have to hear more about what she actually did (or tried to do) while on the Board of Forestry, before I would see this one as a plus.
Fair enough.
I’ll have to go back and do a little research, but I think that may well be the same unit. Helping with junk cars and so on was what they were SUPPOSED to be doing, but things morphed over time (and in the absence of proper oversight) into something very different.
I bet Longwind knows the answer to this one, so if you’re reading this comment, please feel free to chime in.
The Code Enforcement Task Force did a whole history of how what started as a useful program unraveled into a fiasco. I’m going to dig around and see if I can find the details. I’m pretty sure we’re talking about the same unit, which was housed in the County Counsel’s office, and had officers deputized by the DA, with no clear lines of accountability through either department.
Either way, Bonnie does share some of the blame for failing to oversee the Code Enforcement Unit as it headed off the rails. Of course so does the former County Counsel, the DA, and the other Supes. Also, I don’t recall Bonnie taking a very active role in trying to reform the Code Enforcement Unit, but perhaps someone else can enlighten me on what, if anything, she did to bring that situation under control?
Not meaning to sound so negative: There are lots of good, solid accomplishments in your list — Library, Step Up program, senior programs, etc.
The ball is definitely in the Bass and Leonard supporters’ courts. Top Ten reasons to vote for them…let’s see those lists.
Yup, the “Community Assistance Unit” is apparently the same outfit that morphed into the out-of-control-with-no-accountability Code Enforcement Unit. So maybe Bonnie did an O.K. thing by helping to create the unit, back when it first started, but like everyone else, she was asleep at the switch as it went off the rails and became a major embarassment to the county. The Supervisors created a structure that was bound to fail (supervision split between the County Counsel and DA’s office, with effective bottom-line accountability from neither), and then let it fester and deform into a completely different mission, did not require annual reports, and left the direction of the Unit up to a committee that rarely met, kept no minutes or records of its decisions, and certainly provided no effective oversight of the Unit.
So I’d advise taking that one off the list of reasons to vote for Bonnie. For my part, this one goes on the list of reasons to vote AGAINST her.
===========================================
United Stand letter to Code Enforcement Unit
September 6, 2008
Submitted by Peter Childs.
Let us look at some simple facts concerning the Code Enforcement Strike Force (aka the Community Assistance Unit, the Code Enforcement Unit, etc) The Board of Supervisors has:
created this “Strike Force” in spite of substantial questions about the need for such an entity, and about how it could be expected to evolve in its behavior,
armed them,
failed utterly to supervise their activities (the “oversight committee” is a bad joke; it seldom meets and often has no quorum when it does meet),
allowed them to depart at will (with no authority to do so) from the standards to which the Board ordered they be held,
allowed them to keep the money that they extract from the citizenry in the form of fines, penalties, etc.,
allowed them to set the amount of such fines, etc, and
allowed them to keep no financial records! The mind reels. The result has been exactly what those of us feared, who were involved with the formation of the Strike Force in an attempt to control its activities; we now have a gang of armed men rousting families from their homes at gunpoint….
http://humboldtherald.wordpress.com/2008/09/06/united-stand-letter-to-code-enforcement-unit/
============================================
For more on the recent Code Enforcement fiasco, try entering “code enforcement” in this website’s search box. There’s a lot of good info.
Capdiamont is about as smart as a toggle bolt, but even HE gets the whole “always call her Bon-Bon” thing. Oh my, we’re SO CLEVER over in Mirrorville (the ville that has its nose up Arkleyville’s ass). Mmmmm, breathe deep!!
Fragrant Hugs!!!
I am not a Leonard supporter but I do not agree with you on the Leonard signs. The color makes it apparent who they belong to, and they are kind of clever. Kind of a Burma Shave approach.
Leonard:
Took credit for the Skatepark – plus 2 points
Voted to shelve master plan for Balloon Tract – minus 10 points.
Net score: minus 8 points.
“The color makes it apparent who they belong to…”
Huh? From the color I’m supposed to know they’re Jeff’s signs? How is that supposed to work?
Listen, I noticed a number of these signs, and the slogans are good enough, I suppose. But without going in for a closer look, it wasn’t at all apparent who the signs were for.
If you have to already know which colors are associated with which candidates to understand whose signs you’re looking at, you’ve got a poorly designed sign on your hands.
Anonymous may be joking — Jeff’s signs are yellow.
If I read Jeffy’s signs right, he thinks he’s still running for Eureka City office.
Great list, T of C. She’s worked hard on many projects. OK, one out of twelve didn’t work out the way it was intended. I only wish I was that good.
“Voted to shelve master plan for Balloon Tract – minus 10 points.”
I would say disqualified.
RA @ 7:05,
speaking from experience or “this misanthropic outlook”(whatever that means since you failed to define it in your post)?
Anyhow, I am judging the facts and conducts with regard to political issues. Simply being a supervisor in position like “Johnny on the spot” getting most of the credit for very minimal effort (when compared to staff and other outsourced services) is just timing and role playing for public election purposes – it is soap opera, reality television, it is dancing with the stars, it is pivoting on any given issue so that the vote is always in your corner, etc… . Bonnie has not been ALL bad (pretty good on environmental issues, pretty good on public sector jobs, pretty good for emergency services); however, 24+ years of bon bons is gettin’ to be like a tweenkie that no one dares to eat, not even a starving dog.
Jeffrey Lytle
McKinleyville – 5th District
“24+ years of bon bons is gettin’ to be like a tweenkie that no one dares to eat, not even a starving dog.”
What a fucking stupid comment.
Did I touch a nerve Mike? That was quick!
Anyhow, do you have a clarification for something in writing more “to the point” rather than using the stale tweenkie concept?
JL
Jeffrey – surely you have more to add to the discussion than crude comments. Or do you see yourself as another Glen Beck?
Hey Mike,
I don’t think the comment (analogy)(I fail to see where you see crudeness) was crude, unless the taste of a stale tweenkie is crude – then yes.
You can truncate that tweenkie reference if you like in order to stick with the slam dunk assessment prior to the semi-colon @ 11:23 pm.
JL
If it’s possible, Henchman may be even dumber than Capdiamont, but he says “Bon-Bon,” so we likes him over at the Mirror.
Hugglettes!
Hey Thinking Out Loud2–
“You could have payed attention in school. Nah that would not happen.”
How much did you “pay” for attention in school?
Did you see the piece in the TS this morning with Chris Crawford trying to slam Bonnie over the measure T non-issue? Crawford was one of the lead OPPONENTS to T so now he’s all up in arms because it doesn’t apply (she supported it ). Turns out (buried in the article) that the famous fund raiser in Sacto was done by such ‘foreign’ notables as Sen. Wiggins, Wes Chesbro, and Patty Berg. It was also attended by some of Bonnie’s acquaintances on the CCC. Somehow Crawford sees this as the major influence of ‘outside money’. Sorry Wes, Patty, and Patricia. I guess you’ve been deported.
As usual Mouse, you missed the point.
Crawford does not support Measure T all of a sudden, he is merely pointing out Bonnie & her supporter’s rank hypocrisy.
I don’t know what your definition of “outside money” is? But thinking people know that you don’t go to Sacramento to raise money from people in your own district or even in your own county.
So I am assuming you are not stupid Mouse, therefore you are being disingenious. You don’t like the fact that Bonnie & your buddies are hypocrites & so won’t address the point. You know that Patty & Wes are not the ones that Bonnie is going to Sacramento for moolah & you’re just pretending to be dense.
If HiFi can find Neely ever saying that she supported Measure T and would abide by it even if her opponents did not and even if it was thrown out, then Neely is a hypocrite. Until then, HiFi is just parroting the absurdities from the Mirror designed to dupe people who think a clubbing seals analogy is in any way applicable to this situation.
I love it when people parrot the Mirror’s absurdities. We love attention — even if it’s from idiots. Some of these butt-plungers still believe that we’re funny.
Photoshoped hugs!
So you’re saying that friends, colleagues, and supporters who are in Sacramento at the moment can’t show their support by inviting anyone they damn well please to a fund raiser? Was there arm-twisting? Did you somehow screen all the attendees to know that none of them are from here? Or know people from here and support them? Crawford, if one of your “Just say NO” candidates for anything was offered money from ANYWHERE, you’d put a pack of Pirranhas to shame grabbing at it. What a hypocrit!!!
“HENCHMAN OF JUSTICE” Says:
April 8, 2010 at 11:23 pm
RA @ 7:05,
speaking from experience or “this misanthropic outlook”(whatever that means since you failed to define it in your post)?
Try a dictionary Jeff. Look up both words, then consider what the two mean when used together. Then look in the mirror, and you’ll be looking straight at someone who fits the definition!
The stars must be aligned tonight for timing TRA.
Again, with regard to political criticisms (lets not get desultory), I fail to see the connection being applicable to people who give of their time and services to the community HONESTLY and RESPECTFULLY (that is the difference between having good character and being one of the frauds)! Nothing really homosapien about it.
Right and wrong exist – I choose right.
Jeffrey Lytle
McKinleyville – 5th District
“why Dave and Kaitlin put a Richard Marks sign in their yard four years ago.”
David and Kaitlin don’t give a rats ass about anything but their own organization–witness Kaitlin’s shameless self-promotion/attack on Neely in today’s T-S.
Agreed, Kaitlyn could have been a lot more supportive of Bonnie, given who her challengers are and who they represent. Guess it didn’t fit her agenda.
Ummm…she did say that DUHC supports her policies.
And what was shameless about it?They thought it was unfortunate that she has accepted out of town donations,and they are correct.
Crawford’s spiel against DUHC and his other perceived Bonnie supporters at yesterday’s press conference was far more shameless and self promoting despite some general issues I may agree with him on.
His automatic assumption that they were a-okay with her actions without even placing a phone call to them to verify his belief was completely shameless.
So many local governments complain that no one in Sacramento hears us or knows we exist, were too isolated. So now the second we have a local supervisor with some cred and influence outside the county that can translate in better funding and policies for us there are some that want to throw that overboard. Pathetic.
Get serious, Anon, if Bonnie had that level of credibility she would have gotten an appointment she has been desperately seeking for years.
What appointment would that be A Non?
A Non A Me says “… if Bonnie had that level of credibility…”
LMAO!!!
Credibility:
1) when you are appointed twice, by two different governors, to the Coastal Commission, and then elected and re-elected by your peers to be its chair;
2) rounding up $9 million in state funds (and then finding another $1 million locally in private funds) to build the stunningly well-appointed Main Branch Library, overlooking the harbor. Try bringing someone in from out of town to see it – you’ll need to stand back to make room for all their ooh’s and aah’s (I did);
3) representing Humboldt in Congress before the subcommittee to ensure mitigation monies were allocated as an offset for the loss of the Headwaters timberland. The direct result was the creation of the $23 million Headwaters Fund;
4) finding state and federal monies to create what was called by the federal government “an exemplary system of services for the elderly,” including Eureka’s Senior Center, its new state-of-the-art Alzheimers Center and its Adult Day Health Program, which allows Eureka seniors to stay independent and in their own home, which according to polling data, is their highest priority.
I could go on and on, but I refer you to my two posts above (April 8 @ 6:20 pm and 6:42 pm) to flesh out some of Bonnie’s other achievements.
Bonnie’s strongest suit is that she has an impressive record of working with other local elected officials to “bring home the bacon” for Humboldt. This is an irrefutable fact.
And ultimately, this election is about, “Who is the best person for the job.”
“But feel free to complain about useless comments that do nothing for the discussion and add only insults.”
Here is one:
April 8, 2010 at 6:06 pm: A one sighted woman is very scary! How many sighted are you?
I wondered when I read Um…! Says’ comment if the writer was using a pun or made an error. The response, however was to attack an irrelivant error. It is the type of error that would not be picked up, as my irrelevant error was, by the spell checker.
BTW: Many of us have less to spend on political campaign contributions due to the economy. So one way to look at it is that Bonnie is leveraging her out-of-the area connections to bring more money into our county. That she is leveraging her reelection campaign to increase her Sacramento profile and test the waters for running for higher office may be another way to look at it. The possibilities are endless. But so what, the real question is: has she been a good County Sup, or would one of the challengers be better?
Another attack aimed at silencing the other side:
ThinkingOutLoud2 Says at April 8, 2010 at 6:17 pm
So Jeff, You say Bonnie “is just timing and role playing for public election purposes.” Then you give her some credit but end with that lame Bon Bon and twinkie comment.
You ask and so I will disregard the twinkie comment. But of the two points you make, only her credits are backed with examples.
To dismiss the list of accomplishments so brashly without example leaves only her credits standing.
The word from McKinleyville: Bonnie Neely is pretty good on environmental issues, pretty good on public sector jobs, pretty good for emergency services.
I’m not sure they’d want it, but care to try speaking up for one of the other candidates?
““But feel free to complain about useless comments that do nothing for the discussion and add only insults.”
Here is one:
April 8, 2010 at 6:06 pm: A one sighted woman is very scary! How many sighted are you?”
If I slap back you bitch, when I laugh back you bitch. Do you know what they call someone who can only bitch?
What?
I have never bitched at you, PJ.
My apologizes if I misinterpreted the laughter as a derisive put down of the commenter. Without the sound track it is hard to tell whether a joke is friendly or sarcastic.
The poster I was responding to said “you scare me” and then said I was a “one-sighted woman.” While I could have made a mean remark about his lack of courage, I chose to laugh. That you didn’t notice the insult I was responding to but only took issue with my joke about it shows you are “one-sighted” too. :P
Why has no one questioned the fact that Arkley is spending his “Louisianna Big Bucks” on “Hit Ads” against Bonnie? If that ain’t out-of-town money, what is? He sure as hell didn’t earn it here!!!
Put this against Berg, Wiggins, Chesbro and other ‘real Humboldters’ holding a fund raiser which can only INCREASE the influence and presence of Bonnie statewide, helping her ‘bring home even more bacon’ for our county. If you look at that list of 10 accomplishments above, you see that her real interest and first priority is HUMBOLDT COUNTY.
Doesn’t this make more sense than the attacks by “Louisianna Rob, the bankers friend”?
So good old Chris Crawford (all bow down please), graces us once again with his great insight. Frankly I think he is the biggest blowhard in town, and as usual gets twisted up in his own tangled thinking. This Measure T nonsense is typical of him.
Well, I’ve been checking back in, and I still see no “top ten reasons to vote for” Jeff or Virginia. Is ten reasons too much to ask? How about we start with at least five reasons each?
C’mon Jeff and Virginia supporters, where are you?
Busy slinging mud and avoiding the issues.
It’s worse than that. We can’t even think of reasons NOT to vote for Neely — that’s why we repeat “Bon-Bon” like adolescent zombies.
Mud-slinging hugs!
Mouse, have you lost your dignity totally? Is there nothing to low for Bonnie supporters to say?
Arkley was born & raised in Humboldt County, he lives here still. He has done more for Eureka than anyone in history has. Chesboro and Wiggans & the Sacramento donors do not live here nor were they born here.
“He has done more for Eureka than anyone in history has.”
Like?
What does being born here have to do with anything?
Really, born and bred here? And has stayed to rot on the vine.
Hi Fi, do you know the origin of the California “native son”?
“The miners came in’49, the whores in’51. And when they got together they produced the ‘native son’”.
BTW, Arkley is only a big fish in a little pond, with limited ability to wreak havoc.
He can only achieve a pipsqueak imitation of a greedy big fish in a big pond.
Somehow the link in my last post, doesn’t work. Try this:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100411/ap_on_bi_ge/us_western_water_baron
In my memory, I can’t think of anyone, born here or not (and who cares) who has given as much to this community as Rob Arkley, or angered so many lefties.
He has pissed off plenty of righties as well.
There are lots of people who give quietly or anonymously. You don’t know the good they do because they don’t plaster their names across historic buildings or run around threatening elected officials. Most people who give generously do so without expecting to be paid back and without them (or their sycophants) demanding their wishes be granted because of all the good work they have done.
There are many many people who give a much higher percentage of their time and money to better this community. Being rich and giving away some money does not make you a saint.
The Arkleys give anonymously as well. They only put their name on one thing out of many. They can’t do right in your eyes even when they are.
Yeah, they are sort of giving anonymously to Bass and Leonard right now with their attack Neely ads hiding behind a PAC.
“That you didn’t notice the insult I was responding to but only took issue with my joke about it shows you are “one-sighted” too.”
—Without the sound track it is hard to tell whether a joke is friendly or sarcastic.
“If I slap back you bitch, when I laugh back you bitch. Do you know what they call someone who can only bitch?”
—Sure, and when she starts growling and snapping at everything in sight, find out if she’s had her rabies vaccine.
Um said, “You are so one sighted that there is no way to argue or reason with you.”
—Hmmm, pretty vicious… I think your “joke” about Um was a sarcastic attack that insulted without adding anything to the discussion. If that opinion makes me one-sighted, so be it.
BTW Plain Jane, your comment re the Arkley’s attack ads is a wonderful, lol, “slap back” response. It is sarcastic AND adds to the discussion. And that’s no joke; it’s a sincere compliment.
I guess being born here gives you some kind of magic credibility? I’m a 4th generation Californian but I wasn’t born HERE so I guess that makes me somehow ‘less’?
HiFi, you are one amazing piece of work. Are you suggesting that every political dollar must come from within the county? Do any of Virginia’s or Jeffy’s contributers make ANY money outside the county? Of course they do and some of it finds its way into political pockets. So what’s the difference?
Rob didn’t make his money here. He made it stealing failed Savings and Loans at 10 cents on the dollar. Trading on others’ misfortune is the time-honored American Way, isn’t it? Rob is good at it. Now he’s spending his ‘outside money on ‘hit ads’ attacking Bonnie. Are you trying to tell me that’s not ‘outside money’ being used to support Jeffy and Virginia??
HiFi,you have nothing to offer to SUPPORT Jeffy or Virginia so you attack the trivial side issues. You can’t see Bonnie’s impressive record posted above. Your world must be a pretty dark place.