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We all know why the right leaning Bushala blog, Friends for Fullerton’s Future, and KFI radio hosts Jon & Ken are capitalizing on the murder of Kelly Thomas. It’s because they hate the police unions, but regardless of their motives they are correct on this one. The question is, why with the exception of current council person Sharon Quirk, and former council person Pam Keller, so many of you established liberals have an almost disinterest in the killing of a homeless man?
I’ve been very busy with work, so we have not hung out in a while, so please forgive me if I am wrong about you, but I’m not detecting any outrage at the actions of the police from anyone but the before mentioned two. You are vocal about a dozen other issues, and I usually turn to for leadership, but I’m not getting it here. Sure you are upset, but what seems to upset you the most is the fear that things will get disorderly or that Fullerton’s image is soiled, not that one of the most vulnerable members of our community was killed by having his face beaten into hamburger by our very own police officers. I understand that you did your demo stuff in the sixties, and that you still hate Nixon, but that check’s been cashed. I also understand taht outrage on its own does not affect change, but sometimes an incident is so vile, so brutal, that to my mind one can’t help but get emotional about it. I am not presuming to know how you feel I can only judge you by your silence. I’ve been to all but one of the protest in front of the PD station, and all but one of the council meetings, and I looked for you. I wanted to say hello. Where are you?
Read the rest of “Open Letter to My Fellow Fullerton Liberals, by Steve Baxter”
Beautiful stuff, Baxter. Hey, you should start commenting here again. Where’ve you been?
I’m a Brea liberal/progressive, but that’s close enough. I have nothing against street protests generally — choosing them versus other sorts of activism is largely a matter of personal taste but I tend not to do them unless they lead to a plan of action. So: what’s the plan here? What do we want to obtain, what do we do to obtain it, and what makes us think that those actions will help us to obtain our goals?
My understanding is that the Bushalas and 4F are working towards a recall of Jones, McKinley, and Bankhead — good! My understanding is that Sharon Q-S has been working on the issue on the council — good! Thomas’s father is (so far as I can tell) working on a wrongful death suit that will capture everyone’s attention. In other words, I haven’t had the sense that the drive for justice for Kelly Thomas is moribund. Is it?
I understand the frustration that leads to a call-out of liberals here, but (as happened in the 4F comments section) that just leads to divisive ideological sniping. I’d welcome an article not simply challenging people generally (and, I think, unfairly) for not engaging in the protests you’re engaged in, but inviting people to strategize and figure out what changes we want and how we get them. Assessing where we stand should be part of that.
It’s absolutely true that this story — and the need for reform — should not be swept under the rug. While I sympathize with the writer, I didn’t find this essay that helpful towards organizing effective opposition. I look forward to future attempts.
Greg, I hope that when the recall petition is certified by the city Clerk we cvan count on you to walk some precincts. I know Ill be there.
I’ll probably phone bank; I find it more effective.
Paul is a freaking joke. Stay away paul. Did this blog go on vacation? We still have little league world series stuff up. And squat on the defense of hate speech by Art at NSA
Oh good, an opening to make fun of YOU GUYS’ blog?
Nothing on Lou and Jose killing AB 52?
Nothing on Rick Perry’s visit to Newport Beach?
Nothing on the Kinde Durkee fiasco?
Nothing on the ongoing developments in the Kelly Thomas case and the Fullerton recalls?
No mention of tomorrow’s Progressive Summit in Santa Ana? What kind of Democrats are you?
Nothing but nonstop Alvarez-bashing and whatever your union friends feed you.
Who’s on vacation again?
Vern,
I’ll venture guess why (on their behalf…or not):
Because in the words of Matt Cunningham:
“Blogging Doesn’t pay the bills”
Only blogging what were told to does.
SHILL ON LOC
You are absolutely right Ken. Just ask Art Pedroza about all the money he made blogging for Pulido
Oh, I see – we are somehow Team Art over here.
Nobody here gets paid for nothing. We just like to piss people off.
Edwin,
I must have missed your EMAIL or phone call, Come on buddy………come out of the shadows, meet me for a beer (or a lemonade>>>). Don’t be such a pussy. kenlaysnotdead@yahoo.com .
Matt,
Danielle wants her computer back!
Hm! Check out the LOC three days later… http://www.theliberaloc.com/2011/09/13/a-matter-of-trust/
In my new position as the LOC’s assignment editor, I am encouraged to say: two down, three to go!
Are you serious? Is the Jannie coalition still out there amongst the Dems?
I have to say, if the LOC was Jannies they don’t appear to be any more. They’ve had good coverage of Janet’s successful power play busting up the Latino community into different districts to assure herself re-election.
I love how FFFF have highlighted Red County in todays headline:
http://www.fullertonsfuture.org/2011/red-county-blog-shoots-scores/#comment-54464
A little ironic, how RED COUNTY is doing the Liberal OC’s job in questioning…….Oops Sorry I mean Challenging OC’s Right Wing Noise Machine!
I guess the OCEA has far too deep of a reach into Chris and Dan’s bowels to question the DA, Union backed Killers (it’s OK to murder if you are part of a union).
Those guys are a disgrace to Democrats!
Responding to the first post. [Greg Diamond – ed] I’ve been involved in any number of city issues where the people that I am directing this to, some of them my friends, have participated in street protests, have spoken out during public comments, have asked me to write checks, and most importantly have gotten impassioned about a perceived wrong. I’d say there is a core of about 40 mostly affluent liberals that drive most of these other city issues (downtown development, saving coyote hills, saving the fox theater, preserving the lemon murals, anti mansionisation, etc.) , and with the exception of Vince Buck I have not seen any of them at even one council meeting. Going to council meetings and speaking out is what they do. So I ask again WHERE ARE THEY? My first goal is to remind the DA’s office that this time the public is engaged, and to balance the pressure they are getting from the police, their colleagues in any number of other matters before the courts, with pressure to hold those that murdered Kelly Thomas responsible. I hope that the entire leadership of the Fullerton PD is removed and replaced, and finally i hope that the cop, cop & Douche (BANKHEAD, MCKINLEY & JONES) are recalled for their handling and complicity in thus murder.
I have a picture of me and the save coyote hills bunch after we marched together with a giant banner through downtown town protesting the development plans. The same type of action that we do every sat now, perhaps you can help me ID if any of these same folks are at Tuesdays council meeting. You see, they are quite comfortable doing these things when they actually care about something. Why don’t they care about the killing of a homeless man? I stand by my reasons in the letter.
I will agree that my letter has failed to achieve what I wanted. Several people have come up to me at the rallies and thanked me for calling them out and they are now showing up, but more are like you. They have gotten defensive and justified their apathy with bullshit.
(Vern, a new position at work has me has kept me away, but I finally have staff in place and things are improving)