Someone named "Robert in Monterey" wrote a post on lefty-blog Calitics (also posted on DailyKos for wider digestion by the nematodes of the Left) entitled "How Anti-Union, Anti-Tax Conservatives Defeated Adequate Fire Protection In 2005." "Robert in Monterey" posits a premise and then cherry-picks information he thinks fits that premise. The motive behind this re-write of history is apparent in a follow-up comment from Robert:
It just goes to show the importance of fighting not just anti-tax sentiment, but any attack on government, public services, public workers, and unions.
In other words, his simplistic attempt to blame the extent of the Santiago fire on Orange County conservatives is really a pro-government ideological contrivance.
But let's examine who the "anti-union, anti-tax conservatives" were who defeated Measure D.
Let's start with those notorious hotbeds of anti-union and anti-tax activity, the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs and the Orange County Employees Association, which provided the vast majority of funding for the No on Measure D campaign. That's the same AOCDS whose president Wayne Quint was recently given the Samuel Gompers Award by the Democratic Party of Orange County.
Erin Runnion, the mother of kidnap-murder victim Samantha Runnion, was also featured in No on Measure D mailers. I guess she's another of those anti-tax, anti-union conservatives.
Given that "Robert in Monterey" equates support for Measure D with being pro-government and pro-government employee union, you'd expect the Yes on Measure D leadership to be replete with pro-government types. Yet, two of the five official proponents of Measure D were Republicans: then-Placentia Mayor Chris Lowe, former executive director of the Fullerton Chamber of Commerce and Orange County representative for Gov. Pete Wilson, and former Dana Point Mayor Jim Lacy, whose conservative, anti-government credentials are sterling.
"Robert in Monterey" also neglects to mention other conservatives who supported Measure D, such as state Senator Bill Morrow, the California Club for Growth, the Yes on Measure D's consultant, Jeff Flint. Also on the list of Measure D proponents: then-Placentia Mayor Chris Lowe, former executive director of the Fullerton Chamber of Commerce and Orange County representative for Gov. Pete Wilson.
In other words, it's absurd to characterize the No on Measure D fight as some conservative plot to deprive Orange County of adequate fire protection. It's left-wing fever swamp reasoning at work.
Robert at Monterey isn't the only delusional person around here, Art Pedroza is also blaming everyone who were against measure D for the slow response to the fire.
Posted by: Milk Man | October 28, 2007 at 11:16 PM
If Art is saying something is true, then it must be wrong.
Posted by: My name is Art | October 28, 2007 at 11:21 PM
How many minutes from now until Art writes some over-the-top drama-queen comment?
Posted by: My name is Art | October 28, 2007 at 11:22 PM