It was only a matter of time.
The highly publicized skirmish between High School District trustee Ken Mettler and several protesters of Proposition 8 is making headlines around the world.
Isn't "You Tube" a wonderful thing?!
As both sides now arm themselves for the stretch run to Nov. 4th, I encourage everyone to check out the *uncensored* version of the encounter that's available in cyberspace.
It isn't hard to find.
**Be forewarned, the uncensored version is not a Disney Pixar film, and neither are the people who claim to be the victims. This video is rated "R" for language.**
Listening to the protesters of Prop 8 asking Ken Mettler why he was taking back the altered "Yes on 8" signs is quite entertaining.
Maybe going to retrieve the signs in the midst of a rally wasn't the smartest idea in the world.
Maybe Mettler was looking for a confrontation. He says he wasn't but it's obvious the protesters wanted to mix it up.
The "No on 8" people were prepared with camera's rolling, like well trained paparazzi, to "spontaneously" capture the encounter for all to see.
Now, the video has been dissected to death. Accusations are flying that the video had been altered. Where are the missing frames, one local station began crying!!
The version that was given to ABC23 by the amateur cameraman at the rally did not appear to have any missing frames of video.
Just one long bouncy shot with random zooms, that might make it appear the video was altered.
As for the "fight" or "attack" as some have called this, here's a quick recap from the video as I see it.
You see a hand reach towards Mettler, followed by a woman's body obstructing the altercation long enough to see Mettler then try to kick the 20-yr old protester, while throwing an off-balance punch that may or may not have connected.
That's it.
The police looked at the video at the scene and decided not to press charges.
But you can bet this video will be played out again and again.
I'm surprised it hasn't been used in a "No on 8" TV ad yet.
A father-like figure gets into a scrape with his rebellious son, and daughter, and boyfriend, etc, etc, etc.
Both sides are claiming victory, but there's only one real way to solve this.
Get Mettler and the young alleged victim into the ring for a cage match.
It's obvious we are well beyond a civil discourse on this topic. Maybe we should round up another panel discussion so Mettler and another local conservative can get verbally assaulted by a heavily biased audience, instead of engaging in a spirited exchange of ideas.
Nope, maybe it's time to climb through the ropes.
We'll provide a referee, corner men, the whole deal.
My money's on the old guy who's passionate for his cause, not the youngster looking for a fight.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Friday, October 24, 2008
"Sign" of the Times
Enough already!!!
Put the sign down and step away from the controversy.
The ABC23 e-mail inbox has been overflowing with charges of conspiracy, theft and destruction.
All involving campaign signs of every shape and size.
Cue the actor running out into the street screaming, "Oh the humanity!!!"
The majority of complaints involve the highly emotional Proposition 8 and how we will define marriage in the state of California's constitution.
**If anyone believes this issue will be resolved on Nov. 5th, you are sadly mistaken.**
I know which way I'm voting on that particular issue and no sign, propped up in somebody's front lawn, is going to change my mind.
It's gotten to the point that I don't look at ANY of the signs anymore.
I know who's running for what, who's pushing what prop and which group is behind them.
Trouble is, most people don't.
And with the potentially highest voter turnout in Kern County election history just over one week away, people are taking their signs and TV ads very seriously.
If you wonder what kind of effect it has on most people, consider the annual reader's poll in the local paper. Every year it seems the same people win the same awards. Is it because they're the absolute best at what they do? Or maybe their advertising campaign is simply the best in town
When filling out the ridiculously long form in the paper (usually just to vote on 1 or 2 of my favorite categories like best steak: Outback Steakhouse) I come across some categories that I've never had to use, or haven't used in years. That's when a jingle or commercial pops into my head for that particular business and I scribble down their name.
That's what most of the groups backing the candidates and issues have always relied on.
Name recognition and the pimping of propositions.
The attack ads aside, it seems like there is a disproportionately higher number of assaults on campaign signs this year.
Bakersfield police however are not reporting a higher than usual number of complaints in this department.
So is it all for the camera's?!
You bet it is.
We run a story about one side of the issue one day and the next, the opposition is banging at the door to the inbox slinging similar charges.
And it's only going to get worse in the upcoming week before the election.
I'm just hoping that someone or something (surveillance camera) will catch one of these campaign sign assassins in the act.
It makes some of the best news video.
The only thing better would be to punish these people by hanging a sign around their neck and making them stand on a street corner for a couple of days.
The sign could read "Political Pawn" or maybe "Campaign Clown".
Now that's a sign most people can really identify with.
Put the sign down and step away from the controversy.
The ABC23 e-mail inbox has been overflowing with charges of conspiracy, theft and destruction.
All involving campaign signs of every shape and size.
Cue the actor running out into the street screaming, "Oh the humanity!!!"
The majority of complaints involve the highly emotional Proposition 8 and how we will define marriage in the state of California's constitution.
**If anyone believes this issue will be resolved on Nov. 5th, you are sadly mistaken.**
I know which way I'm voting on that particular issue and no sign, propped up in somebody's front lawn, is going to change my mind.
It's gotten to the point that I don't look at ANY of the signs anymore.
I know who's running for what, who's pushing what prop and which group is behind them.
Trouble is, most people don't.
And with the potentially highest voter turnout in Kern County election history just over one week away, people are taking their signs and TV ads very seriously.
If you wonder what kind of effect it has on most people, consider the annual reader's poll in the local paper. Every year it seems the same people win the same awards. Is it because they're the absolute best at what they do? Or maybe their advertising campaign is simply the best in town
When filling out the ridiculously long form in the paper (usually just to vote on 1 or 2 of my favorite categories like best steak: Outback Steakhouse) I come across some categories that I've never had to use, or haven't used in years. That's when a jingle or commercial pops into my head for that particular business and I scribble down their name.
That's what most of the groups backing the candidates and issues have always relied on.
Name recognition and the pimping of propositions.
The attack ads aside, it seems like there is a disproportionately higher number of assaults on campaign signs this year.
Bakersfield police however are not reporting a higher than usual number of complaints in this department.
So is it all for the camera's?!
You bet it is.
We run a story about one side of the issue one day and the next, the opposition is banging at the door to the inbox slinging similar charges.
And it's only going to get worse in the upcoming week before the election.
I'm just hoping that someone or something (surveillance camera) will catch one of these campaign sign assassins in the act.
It makes some of the best news video.
The only thing better would be to punish these people by hanging a sign around their neck and making them stand on a street corner for a couple of days.
The sign could read "Political Pawn" or maybe "Campaign Clown".
Now that's a sign most people can really identify with.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Caught On Tape
"Shame On" the "Shame On" people.
I've always viewed these people with a bit of annoyed amusement, if you will.
Since the first time I tried to talk with them and was handed a business card, to last Saturday night at the San Joaquin Community Hospital "Evening with Amy Grant".
Now, they're simply pathetic.
Let me set the stage for you. The "Shame On" people, here after referred to as SOP, were set up outside a big tent for the VIP dinner before the event.
The SOP had their usual sign, that most people I know simply drive by and ignore, but were also armed with flyer's and a video camera.
Video camera?
Oh, right, like some kind of demented paparazzi, right?!
Nope, they were video taping everyone who paid money to attend the event.
Not that anyone who attended really cared, but seriously, what do you plan to do with the tape or memory card?!
Figure out who these people are and picket them, too?!
Ever person who showed up for the dinner you protested, actually ponied up a little extra dough so the hospital can buy new equipment that will go into the facility's new burn care center.
What did they do to you, SOP?!
The event had nothing to do with whatever the hospital did that DIDN'T include union labor.
The facility is the first of it's kind between LA and Fresno that will allow burn patients to be treated right here instead of being shipped out of town.
The SOP have run their course and have become, quite frankly, pathetic.
Most of the people I talked to, who were protested by the SOP in the past, tell me the bid for union labor was so much higher than the non-union counterparts that it wasn't cost effective to use them.
Most time, there wasn't enough union laborers to do the job and had to be brought in from out of the area at an even higher cost.
Even the protesters are from out of the area.
Still, even without a union crew, these jobs manage to pass city and county code compliance.
And Saturday night, they had SIX SOP at the San Joaquin dinner.
I pray none of them, or anyone in their family or union, ever needs the services of San Joaquin hospital or any of the other medical offices they've shown up at in the past.
Maybe the next time they need care, they can lay on a gurney out on the sidewalk with a banner draped over them.
But not that anyone would notice them.
I've always viewed these people with a bit of annoyed amusement, if you will.
Since the first time I tried to talk with them and was handed a business card, to last Saturday night at the San Joaquin Community Hospital "Evening with Amy Grant".
Now, they're simply pathetic.
Let me set the stage for you. The "Shame On" people, here after referred to as SOP, were set up outside a big tent for the VIP dinner before the event.
The SOP had their usual sign, that most people I know simply drive by and ignore, but were also armed with flyer's and a video camera.
Video camera?
Oh, right, like some kind of demented paparazzi, right?!
Nope, they were video taping everyone who paid money to attend the event.
Not that anyone who attended really cared, but seriously, what do you plan to do with the tape or memory card?!
Figure out who these people are and picket them, too?!
Ever person who showed up for the dinner you protested, actually ponied up a little extra dough so the hospital can buy new equipment that will go into the facility's new burn care center.
What did they do to you, SOP?!
The event had nothing to do with whatever the hospital did that DIDN'T include union labor.
The facility is the first of it's kind between LA and Fresno that will allow burn patients to be treated right here instead of being shipped out of town.
The SOP have run their course and have become, quite frankly, pathetic.
Most of the people I talked to, who were protested by the SOP in the past, tell me the bid for union labor was so much higher than the non-union counterparts that it wasn't cost effective to use them.
Most time, there wasn't enough union laborers to do the job and had to be brought in from out of the area at an even higher cost.
Even the protesters are from out of the area.
Still, even without a union crew, these jobs manage to pass city and county code compliance.
And Saturday night, they had SIX SOP at the San Joaquin dinner.
I pray none of them, or anyone in their family or union, ever needs the services of San Joaquin hospital or any of the other medical offices they've shown up at in the past.
Maybe the next time they need care, they can lay on a gurney out on the sidewalk with a banner draped over them.
But not that anyone would notice them.
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