Nice-guy HB councilman Keith Bohr was the one abstention last night on the vote to post “In God We Trust” in council chambers.
Although he spoke forcefully against the divisiveness and pointlessness of the proposal, and voted with Debbie and Jill in favor of Debbie’s laudable substitute motion, his abstention on the actual motion was understandable and expected, because of these two factors: He is running for re-election to Council, and he has recently pissed off thousands of HB pet owners with his well-intentioned but ill-fated spay-and-neuter ordinance.
I only mention this because it is something rare and wondrous like an eclipse: when the rock-and-a-hard-place position a politician finds himself in is an acutal Palindrome:
I was disappointed. I’m sorry Keith felt the need to abstain. I can see why he would from a political standpoint due to his recent proposal and since his vote wouldn’t have affected the majority, but what if it could have? Shouldn’t he have let his voice be heard through the voting machine as well as the microphone? Food for thought.
SMS
In DOG We Trust.
Or at least I do.
and perhaps Keith Bohr chose to abstain because this issue has no business in the City Council chambers and distracts from the real business of Huntington Beach. The timing of measures are always instructive. After 99 years (city incorporated in 1909), In God We Trust is required on the walls of our city government walls. We suddenly need need a reminder of God. Wouldn’t it make more sense to include all the configurations for the almighty? Isn’t the city opening itself up to a discrimination lawsuit? And, this couldn’t possibly be an attempt to try to embarrass a colleague running for Congress. So many frivolous questions…and so little time for city business. Lynda H.
From the OC Voice blog:
Cooking up Campaign Issues in Surf City
Or Cathy & Joe’s Ungodly Patriotism
Read the entire story with photos and reference links: http://www.ocvoice.wordpress.com
Some excerpts:
…Cook, who told the Voice in a March interview that “I don’t talk about religion,” bristled when asked then if her change of heart had anything to do with her campaign for congress. “No! The Constitution has a prohibition against religious tests…So what was the next question you’re asking me,” she snapped.
But when questioning your opponent’s Christian and patriotic credentials might be a better way of defeating her in the election than filing frivolous lawsuits against her (for calling herself the mayor on the election ballot, as Rohrabacher’s friend, Mike Schroeder, did) or talking about your own record of service to your constituents, the God questions tend not to go away.
Just ask Rohrabacher, who knows how easily God and Country can keep you in office in the 46th if you use it to justify an illegal war, torturing prisoners and eliminating habeas corpus, all while evoking the “rule of law” to deport “illegal” immigrants and demanding amnesty for vigilante border patrol agents convicted and jailed for wrongfully shooting them….
…WPR boasts of its involvement in all aspects of campaign organization, including campaign strategy, marketing and fundraising. “We identify opponent strengths and weaknesses, and create profiles of voter groups and undecided voters who can be targeted with specific messages,” it states on the group’s other web site.
WPR claims it played a pivotal role in the political success of many Republicans, including Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and that it advises Sullivan and manages In God We Trust….
Read the entire story with photos and reference links: http://www.ocvoice.wordpress.com