Fair Quicksand, "God" and Monahan Thumbs His Nose
THE FAIRGROUNDS PLOT THICKENS
This whole "Fairgrounds Sale" plot continues to thicken. Right now it must be feeling like quicksand to a few politicians around Orange County. For example, over at the OC Weekly's Navelgazing site, R. Scott Moxley has produced an interesting investigative piece entitled, " County Lawyer Seeks State Probe of OC Fair Privatization Plan". You can read it HERE. Moxley discusses the role former Senator Dick Ackerman may have had as a hired gun for the Fair Board in their role in getting a For Sale sign placed on the Orange County Fair and Exhibits Center. This has been nibbled at by several bloggers for several weeks, but the news of an official investigation is HUGE! There are times when being a Republican can be a painful experience.
A LETTER TO ARNOLD
Tuesday the Costa Mesa City Council will debate Katrina Foley and Wendy Leece's proposal and vote on whether to send a letter to the governor requesting him to quash the sale. Another full council chambers is anticipated as stakeholders and other residents line up along the walls to express their concerns. Let's hope a certain Mesa North resident shows up on time so he can get a seat and not be asked to leave the auditorium, as was the case a week ago. Of course, an auditorium without him in it will be an improvement in the air quality all by itself.
NON-BELIEVERS BEWARE
And, of course, following that item on the agenda Leece will overlay her personal religious views on city business and ask the council to place the motto, "In God We Trust" behind them on the wall of the chambers. According to her warped public comment, placing that motto will make us "more patriotic". Give me a break! Someone needs to remind Wendy that we do not live in a theocracy! Based on public comments by Mayor Mansoor and Councilman Gary Monahan, it seems like Leece has the votes, so every person who enters the chambers to do business before the city will be reminded of the city's religious affiliation. Yep, if you don't believe in "God" or believe in many "gods", don't expect to get a fair hearing in Costa Mesa, where "In God We Trust". If you're an agnostic
, atheist, sun-worshiper or if, for whatever reason, you choose to rely on yourself rather than put your blind faith in a supreme being, you're out of luck in Costa Mesa. Don't come whining about not being treated fairly, either, because you will have been warned by that big, embossed sign behind The Mayor's head that tells you, "In God We Trust". Oh, and don't worry about the cost because city officials tell us it will be covered by private donations. Great - Wendy has co-conspirators, willing to pony up less than a thousand bucks for the sign.
MONAHAN THUMBS HIS NOSE AT CITY RULES
By the way, Councilman Skosh Monahan still has the illegal "Sunday Football" sign up on his building. I told you earlier that the deadline for him to remove it was last Wednesday. I guess the rules are made for someone besides Monahan - something to remember when he asks you to name him the directly-elected Mayor for life next year. This is just one more example of why he got into politics in the first place - to get what he can for himself by using his position and power to bend the rules in his favor. He's the perfect example of why you just can't trust politicians to do the right thing most of the time.
This whole "Fairgrounds Sale" plot continues to thicken. Right now it must be feeling like quicksand to a few politicians around Orange County. For example, over at the OC Weekly's Navelgazing site, R. Scott Moxley has produced an interesting investigative piece entitled, " County Lawyer Seeks State Probe of OC Fair Privatization Plan". You can read it HERE. Moxley discusses the role former Senator Dick Ackerman may have had as a hired gun for the Fair Board in their role in getting a For Sale sign placed on the Orange County Fair and Exhibits Center. This has been nibbled at by several bloggers for several weeks, but the news of an official investigation is HUGE! There are times when being a Republican can be a painful experience.
A LETTER TO ARNOLD
Tuesday the Costa Mesa City Council will debate Katrina Foley and Wendy Leece's proposal and vote on whether to send a letter to the governor requesting him to quash the sale. Another full council chambers is anticipated as stakeholders and other residents line up along the walls to express their concerns. Let's hope a certain Mesa North resident shows up on time so he can get a seat and not be asked to leave the auditorium, as was the case a week ago. Of course, an auditorium without him in it will be an improvement in the air quality all by itself.
NON-BELIEVERS BEWARE
And, of course, following that item on the agenda Leece will overlay her personal religious views on city business and ask the council to place the motto, "In God We Trust" behind them on the wall of the chambers. According to her warped public comment, placing that motto will make us "more patriotic". Give me a break! Someone needs to remind Wendy that we do not live in a theocracy! Based on public comments by Mayor Mansoor and Councilman Gary Monahan, it seems like Leece has the votes, so every person who enters the chambers to do business before the city will be reminded of the city's religious affiliation. Yep, if you don't believe in "God" or believe in many "gods", don't expect to get a fair hearing in Costa Mesa, where "In God We Trust". If you're an agnostic
, atheist, sun-worshiper or if, for whatever reason, you choose to rely on yourself rather than put your blind faith in a supreme being, you're out of luck in Costa Mesa. Don't come whining about not being treated fairly, either, because you will have been warned by that big, embossed sign behind The Mayor's head that tells you, "In God We Trust". Oh, and don't worry about the cost because city officials tell us it will be covered by private donations. Great - Wendy has co-conspirators, willing to pony up less than a thousand bucks for the sign.MONAHAN THUMBS HIS NOSE AT CITY RULES
By the way, Councilman Skosh Monahan still has the illegal "Sunday Football" sign up on his building. I told you earlier that the deadline for him to remove it was last Wednesday. I guess the rules are made for someone besides Monahan - something to remember when he asks you to name him the directly-elected Mayor for life next year. This is just one more example of why he got into politics in the first place - to get what he can for himself by using his position and power to bend the rules in his favor. He's the perfect example of why you just can't trust politicians to do the right thing most of the time.
Labels: "In God We Trust", Fairgrounds Sale, Gary Monahan
posted by The Pot Stirrer at 11/16/2009 09:55:00 PM
10 Comments:
I am a very religious person. I dont have a problem with the " in God we trust " motto. I just think they're putting it on the wrong wall. Instead of it behind them, with it's implication that "if God is on our side who can be against us". It should be placed facing the council. Reminding them , that if they trust in God, they should govern so , God trusts in them.
G.Ridge Studio, point well taken...
That's a real good point, Greg, brillian in fact.
Except it still wouldn't be fair to present or future councilmembers who may not be "believers." I still say council chambers is the wrong place for religion.
It's "R." Scott Moxley, not "F." You owe Moxley and readers a sincere apology - not a standard "mea culpa" - for this terrible error.
Dear Sir, Do you join in the Pledge of allegiance? Are you silent for, one nation under God? If you believe in the Pledge at civic meetings how can you object to in God we trust? John
Dave Carlson, you are correct. These magic fingers hit the wrong key - they are adjacent, after all. So, if a mea culpa is necessary, consider this mine on that issue.
Anonymous John, I wouldn't publish an "anonymous" comment except you signed it. I dutifully stand with my hand over my heart and say "The Pledge", including the phrase you mentioned. But even if I didn't, so what? We don't require attendees to say the pledge or be expelled from the meeting, do we? Of course not!
I object to it for several reasons. First, Wendy says she thinks it will make us more "patriotic". Baloney! Perhaps seeing "E Pluribus Unum" on the wall will make me feel more patriotic. "Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death" might make me feel more patriotic.
I think the first comment in this thread has the right idea - put the motto on the wall facing the council to remind THEM - we're already out there praying that they won't screw our city up.
By the way, Monahan HAS been issued a citation for his illegal banner and has 30 days to take it down and pay the $75.00. If he doesn't comply the next citation will cost him $200.00. If he still fails to comply the third and, I guess, subsequent citations will cost him $500.00. Of course, looking at the calendar, we all realize that football season will be over by then so he will take down the sign, pay the fines and chalk up that $775.00 as a cost of doing business. I guess the fact that his peers rejected his plea about cutting businesses some slack didn't matter. He'll do what is good for him and give the city the proverbial finger in the process. Look for another illegal banner come March announcing March Madness.
Further on the Banner issue... city officials advise me that if Monahan is, in fact, cited a third time, resulting in that $500.00 fine, he will be given yet another 30 days, then the case will be turned over to the City Prosecutor, who will decide what action to take. You remember how good the prosecutor is, don't you? He's the guy who dropped the ball in the Benito Acosta criminal trial so it was dismissed.
It’s true that the vast majority of residents in the USA self-identify as being Christian. It’s true that our constitution prevents government authority over any religion. It is also true that our constitution guarantees the free exercise of religion.
As a nation, we agree to the terms of the constitution. So, where is the debate? Is it not clear that commingling religious exercises with government is unacceptable?
I am a Christian, deeply devoted to my faith. I vote for people I believe are the best choice to serve the people, not God. Hopefully the two are compatible. They seldom are.
If a public servant requires reminders to serve God, s/he is free to put it on a post-it note. If the measurement of one’s patriotism is equal to one’s exhibition of religiosity, then I suggest the Pharisees must have been very patriotic indeed. And we know what Jesus thought about them.
I share with you the following, which I posted to the Daily Pilot relative to Ms. Leece's efforts:
" Wendy...Please! Must I trust God if I'm to be a patriot? If it's patriotism you wish to promulgate, I'd suggest the following instead: "We the People..."
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