Pay for endorsement

Oh dear oh dear, here we go the mud is getting thicker in the campaign races for Santa Clara city council.  Most of the mud flinging seems to be at Ms Jamie McLeod for her supposed record on city council.  Wow freedom of speech really can take a twist at election time.  I think we could call it freedom of verbal abuse.  If some of the written ’shouting’ were to be done in the streets of Santa Clara we could expect residence to call the police and complain about it.  But here in this fine country we can only be told it’s our first amendment right to freedom of speech.

Never mind, it will all end soon and we can get back to ‘normality’.  But before we do that I have to write about the latest laugh I saw.  One of my neighbors shared the republicans voters guide as per the California Voter guide printed in Torrance.  It gives the following notice to voters:

 

“This document was prepared by California Voter guide, not an official political party organization.  APPEARANCE in this mail does not necessarily imply endorsement of other candidates or ballot measures in this mailer.  Appearance is a PAID FOR and AUTHORIZED by EACH CANDIDATE and ballot measure which is designated by an * (astrix).”

 

So guess who paid to be on this guide?  Mr Chuck Blair – paid for and supported by the firefighters & police officers.  This means that firefighters paid for it – I thought Mr Blair was a registered Democrat – what will his party think of this – oh maybe it doesn’t matter after all it’s non-partisan running for local government.  Or is it????

In any case this flier certainly a little nicer than the ‘hate’ campaign that has been going on out their against Jamie.  Mr Blair has sent a few fliers criticizing Jamie but still we don’t really know what his qualifications are for being our Representative on council are?  All we know is that he “hates” her more than he cares to tell us about why he would make a good council person?  Oh and we know that he is pro the stadium because it would be a good thing for Santa Clara but not why it would be a good thing.  Attacking and misconstruing someones record is not the nicest thing to do. 

I love the piece that the San Jose Mercury News did yesterday “ignore sleazy hit pieces, vote for Independent McLeod” page 14a.  Even the editorial piece says that normally they don’t come out and speak on how to vote on local candidates – they felt that there was a need to say something about Jamie McLeod and the fact that she is not part of the Santa Clara political in crowd.

 

©Letters From Silicon Valley 2008

Elections Loom – who will play?

You have to wonder if Santa Clara Plays Fair are going to run people against the current members of the Santa Clara City Council. I for one feel that there has to be some opposition to the current city council.

I was reminded of the Gang of Four and Jiang Quin – Jiang was later given the name “Blue Apple” – hmmm kind of Santa Claran don’t you think? Anyway I digress, and all I’m saying is that we need a change and we need a balance where fair debate and reason can be heard. Dare I say ‘Reason’ pervail. I’m hoping that people like SC Plays Fair is considering running some people and that Jamie McLeod finds some other co-horts to be on her ticket and give her some support. It’s a little hard to see the current council objective and making decisions on behalf of its current citizens.

Though I have not decided how I feel about the 49ers Stadium I have to say that the Santa Clara Plays Fair organization makes good sense when you watch this on YouTube

I am sure if it was my brother who was writing this post he would be all for a stadium in in back yard – he even moved from Eaglemont to East Melbourne so he could walk to the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground). But I’m not him – and given the MCG creates revenue and contributes to the city of Melbourne I have no reason to criticize but I would if they were expecting my money to fund a game that I don’t even care for (football that is). Heck if was money for Cricket I’d probably willingingly pass money to the MCG – nothing better than a day of cricket – but we are talking gentlemans sport vs hooligans and larrikans.

What comes with football? I ask you do you think is this a good thing for a small city? Who is the Santa Clara city council thinking of? What does their record tell us? The ‘owners’ of our fine city have had a lot of their own agendas in the past dictating how the residents money should be spent. Sounds like a time for change! Hmmm I’m sounding like Obama! interesting – lets bring on a change in Santa Clara and start getting some new blood on council – people who are asking their citizens what they would like.

 

©Letters From Silicon Valley 2008