CM OPEN - Illegitimate Son of the CCMC

UPDATE: As of early Monday morning the CM OPEN site is back in business - with a snide remark about yours truly. That's fine. You may visit the site HERE. As I now read the most recent posts and re-read earlier ones this site sure does seem to have the "style" of that used by the CM Press - they both seem to have the same lingering odor about them. I wonder why that might be? Do you suppose old Mensa Marty might actually have more than one site operating? Make that more than two sites, since he has also created something called "Our Way" - a strange site, indeed. I guess shining a little light on them made them decide to come out and play again...

SNOOZING CCMC WEB SITE
In the past I've written about the now-slumbering web site called "Concerned Costa Mesa Citizens" (CCMC) that was created in the early part of this decade as a place where folks with concerns about our city could post comments, share ideas and plan strategy. The creators were among those who formed the core of the self-named "westside improvers", and focused primarily on that side of town.

SHINING THE LIGHT ON IT
Among those posting prolifically on that site were our current young jailer/mayor, Allan Mansoor and The Mouth From Mesa North - Costa Mesa's racist laureate at the CM Press. Those who were paying attention a little over five years ago will remember that then-Daily Pilot reporter Lolita Harper did a series on the site which brought the spotlight of public scrutiny to it. It had become controversial for some of the posts, including an anti-gay contribution that Mansoor stripped from a Focus on the Family publication. You can read Harper's reports HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE. Additionally, then-Daily Pilot Editor Tony Dodero wrote this piece, HERE, and then-columnist Byron de Arakal wrote this one, HERE. Other publications wrote about the CCMC site and those who posted there. Two such items were written by Nick Schou in the OC Weekly. You can read them HERE and HERE. A word of caution - the language on that site can be pretty raw, so proceed at your own risk.

BACK UNDER THEIR ROCK
This notoriety got the attention of the Orange County Human Relations Commission - not to be confused with the Costa Mesa Human Relations Committee - who stuck their nose under the tent and began paying attention to the postings. Very shortly thereafter the owners of the site slammed the door and went underground, apparently not willing to share their views with the broader community.

ARCHIVES WERE REVEALING
For a couple months before the owners slithered back under their rock I was a "blessed" participant, so I just sat in the corner, reading archived posts. At the time there were over 6,000 posts - I read at least two-thirds of them and it was through that activity that I became very familiar with the attitudes of the "improvers" in general and the blow hard at the CM Press in particular. One thing became very clear as I read those entries - there was a simmering undercurrent of intolerance percolating in our city and it bothered me. That intolerance seemed to target gays and also the Latinos that made up a big chunk of our population on the westside of town. It seemed that all the ills perceived by the self-named improvers were assumed to be a direct result of the growing Latino presence.

ANONYMOUS APOLOGISTS
Things don't really change that much. During the last political campaign a new local blog surfaced which called itself CM OPEN. It didn't accept any comments - just like the CM Press - and it became an apologist for The Mouth and his disciples. It seemed like the CM OPEN's primary purpose was to attack me - which is fine and dandy. I'm used to being assailed by anonymous cowards - no big deal.

AWAKENED FROM HIBERNATION
Early in October that site went into hibernation, but I'd check it every once in awhile to see if it had awakened. Finally, today, I checked my Google Alerts and found a reference to what appears to be a recent entry on the CM OPEN, which attacked me by name. So, I clicked on the link to see what the remainder of the text said and found that - much like the CCMC site before it - one now must be "invited" to observe the CM OPEN. Does anyone else find that fact and the name of the blog to be just a little paradoxical?

ANONYMOUS COWARDS
This, apparently, is how it works in Costa Mesa. Critics - those of us who speak in opposition to the current power structure in this city - will be attacked by anonymous cowards, who sit in their little rooms and share their angst among themselves in cyberspace, but refuse to permit others to participate in the discussion of important issues.

SECRET DEALS?
Since this site is very obviously a pro-Mansoor majority site with very strong sympathetic ties to the CM Press, I find myself speculating about the probability of Brown Act violations among the participants. I'm concerned that this site will become a contemporary "smoke-filled" room, where deals are made that will affect every one of the residents of this city without us having had a chance to voice our opinions about them.

WATCH YOUR BACKS
As I've said many times before, you can't trust the current majority, so watch your backs. Some day I'll write about some personal experiences with them that validate that opinion. In the meantime, don't take your eyes off them.

It's No Contest!

LIES FLOURISH AT CM OPEN
The CM Press apologists over at the CM OPEN continue to foist off lies on their handful of readers. I've continued to visit the site, hoping for something substantive and worth my time. So far, all I've found is lie after lie, which is very disappointing, but not unexpected. Obviously, they cannot defend their idol with logic and facts, so they must resort to lies, distortions and attacks on those of us - this site and others - who offer opposing viewpoints.

CONSIDERING THE SOURCE
I don't mind a little spirited discussion on issues, but that seems not to be the goal of that hit site. It appears, based on their first few pathetic efforts, that the only goal they have is to defend the CM Press, which makes one curious about the author(s). We'll assume, unless proven otherwise, that CM OPEN is generated (maybe I should say degenerated) by the same source as the CM Press.

I SIMPLY MUST CHUCKLE
I must confess no small degree of amusement as the distortions presented at the CM OPEN and CM Press are debunked on an almost daily basis at sites like CM TRUTH and CMunimPRESSed.

I CONCEDE...
It's not really worth my time to get into a peeing contest with that site. I'll concede that they've got the biggest bladder. Heck, I'll concede that they are full of excremental effluent, too, since that seems to be the case based on their contributions so far.

PERFECT IMAGE
Incidentally, that image above is the world-famous Manneken Pis, in Brussels, Belgium. You see it here in it's "raw" condition, but it may frequently be found dressed in any manner of garb. Occasionally it's stolen - the thing is only a couple feet tall - but is usually located and returned. I thought the image of an infantile urinator was perfectly appropriate for a blog entry about the CM OPEN.

THE BEAT GOES ON, AND ON....
In the meantime, the lies, fabrications and distortions continue at both the CM Press and CM OPEN...

Another New Player In Town

LOOK WHAT I FOUND!
While culling through my Google alert referrals this evening I stumbled upon an entry of yet another brand new blog here in Costa Mesa. This thing is entitled "CM OPEN" - you know, like a golf tournament.

DEFENDING MR. U. KNOW-WHO
I clicked on the link, HERE, and found myself staring at two entries - one published September 5th, whining about an old entry on the CM Truth blog. The second, published a couple days ago, was addressed to me, specifically.

WRITING TO FEEL IMPORTANT
Now, I like to get letters, but would never have discovered this one because I didn't know this blog existed. I guess the author(s) of this new one didn't really want me to read it - they just wanted to write it to make themselves feel important. If they wanted me to read it they could have sent me an email or posted it as a comment right here - or simply let me know that they had a message for me on this new blog. But, nope - they just prattled on and on with absolutely no expectation that I would ever read it.

WILL THEY POST MY COMMENT?
I posted a comment on this new blog, not really expecting that it will be published. At least the author(s) provided the ability to comment, unlike the guy they are trying to defend. He doesn't care what others think about what he writes - there's no debate. Here's what I posted on it this evening:

"Well, isn't this a nice surprise! Yet another defender of the author of the CM Press. Or, since there is no identification of the author, perhaps it IS the author of the CM Press! Is that you, Marty? Or maybe a member of your family?

I'll submit this comment, but don't really expect it to be published. Even though you provide a way to do it, I suspect you'll "moderate" it and it won't appear. I've never called his entire family a "den of snakes" - I've never met any of them. Your attempt to paint me as a bully is more than amusing, particularly in light of the fact that your idol, the author of the CM Press, is precisely that. I don't have a gang of any kind, oh anonymous one, much less "name calling bigots". I don't tell anyone else what to write or say. If you're referring to a couple other local blogs which are rightfully critical of the CM Press you're on the wrong track... I don't know those people... yet. I do, in fact, speak my mind when I oppose his position on issues.

You'll have to speak to him about taking things to a personal level, with Katrina Foley, for example. Or any other person who has spoken out in opposition to his warped views. My advice to others who might be critical of him to do so anonymously is sound advice, particularly since he seems determined to stalk and intimidate those who disagree with him.

Incidentally, I just stumbled across this feeble attempt at blogging this evening. I'd never have know you exist except for some unfortunate luck. I find the title of your blog curious.... CM OPEN... open to what? Open mind? I don't think so. Open mouth? Maybe. You imply that more than one of you are authoring this thing... how many does it take?

By the way, folks (assuming there are more than one of you) you're falling behind in your viewing of the CM Truth blog... there's a new "Mike Diamond" video clip that I know you'll love just waiting for you to view. And, I hope you're following the exploits of the newest blogger, CMunimPRESSed. The author of that one should really make you happy. I know I get a smile on my face whenever I read a new entry over there. If you don't have the link, just visit my blog. Welcome to the blogosphere. I hope your juvenile, pathetic posts improve... perhaps your idol can offer some hints..."

DON'T KNOW AND DON'T CARE
I have no clue about the identity(s) of the author(s) of this new blog. And, unlike the guy at the CM Press, I'm not going to attempt to find out who they are, where they live or where they work so I can attempt to intimidate them. They are entitled to their own little bit of the blogosphere. I do find it amusing that someone finds it necessary to leap to the defense of the guy at the CM Press. I can only assume that, whomever they are, they share the same views and values as their idol. That's a very sad commentary, in my view.

NO LINK HERE
No, I'm not going to post a link to it, as I do not link to the CM Press, either. If you want to read it in the future you're just going to have to bookmark it yourself.

CM PRESS ATTACKS WILL CONTINUE
So, in the heat of our local political campaign, the beat goes on. Certainly, we can expect the author of the CM Press to continue his attacks on any candidate he thinks poses a threat to his chosen troika. He will undoubtedly make the denigration of Katrina Foley a constant drum beat for the next 5 weeks, and also snipe at other candidates he thinks might be able to siphon off enough votes to spoil his plan for complete domination of the Costa Mesa City Council.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO WRITE
So, we will continue to read his rants and comment when we feel it is appropriate. If this new group doesn't like it - too bad. I expect they, too, will continue to write to defend him... Bring it on!