As a follow up to this morning’s column on the numbers needed for a challenger to unseat an incumbent, and after my intestine untwisted from the continued coverage of Bob Kellar’s comments, I was left to wonder if Bob Kellar had unknowingly provided a seam through which TimBen and/or David Gauny might unseat an incumbent.
The problem the challengers always have against a full slate of incumbents is that there are very probably a group of some 3,000 to 4,000 voters in every City election who have a very vague idea about events in the City, but dutifully vote in the election because of a sense of civic duty. Most likely the lion’s share of these voters are permanent vote by mail, so the Postal Service reminds them of an election that they might otherwise have missed.
Due to their lack of specific knowledge these voters tend to slavishly vote for the incumbents, since they read that on the ballot and that may be the extent of their analysis. So, the challengers in addition to finding partisans equal to the partisans of the incumbents, also have to overcome these “zombie” voters as well.
Now how did Bob Kellar provide an opening? What will go down in history as the “proud racist” moment is gaining traction, and the story in today’s Signal did nothing to stop it and it should draw regional and perhaps national television cameras to the next council meeting to see what happens. This will not be a pretty sight since the internet will stir up the worst elements of both sides of the immigration debate.
Now while the zombies are not knowledgeable generally about local news, they do follow regional and national news like their co-workers at their jobs far from the SCV. This spectacle will mortify them and could lead them to either not bother to vote or stay away from incumbents in their choices. Would this be enough to get TimBen or David Gauny over the hump? Time will tell.
By the way, no voter will be insulted by this post because a “zombie” voter by definition would never read this.
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As of this writing, Gauny is the only candidate on team Kellar. May he go down with the ship. Some of us thought he was a principled reformer, but right now he looks like opportunist that didn’t want something built in his backyard.
Tim
Do you really see the video making more than local news?
And why?
Gauny needs to make a decision to cut the strings to Kellar soon if it isn’t already too late. Time to Man Up. Or Kellar could resign on the condition that Gauny be appointed to his seat. Some of the incumbents up for re-election might be tempted on this scenario since it virtually guarantees that 2 of the 3 would retain their seats, whereas now it’s a pretty even bet that two of the three will lose. Which incumbent would be the first to endorse TimBen?
There’s a political puzzle for you!
BGH must have woken up and went back to sleep. No post from her. Insomnia is her only savior.
Annette:
Three things:
1. The LA Time columnist Steve Lopez knows about this story and LA local TV producers get almost all their story ideas from reading the New York times;
2. Bob and his friends are circling the wagons and I predict scores will show up at the City Council meeting to show their support, along with some folks he really would rather NOT show up saying some more things that will further inflame;
3. Unsavory folks on the other side of the debate may show up to demand his resignation.
I hope the good Captain is ready with extra khaki folks at the next council meeting in case of trouble?
I have it on good authority that TV will be there, invited by Friends of Bob and the local Minutemen. The local and out-of-area crazies have also been invited.
This is very bad for the good and decent citizens of Santa Clarita. Meyers is right, the very worst elements from either side of the immigration debate will be here and the City of Santa Clarita will become synonymous with Bob’s ‘proud racist’ remark. Media does not peddle nuance.
For those who profess nearly daily ‘to love this city’ while cutting ribbons and giving out fancy scrolls, you are unleashing a plague of hate. May God have mercy on your souls.
NO VOTES FOR INCUMBENTS!
They are out of touch, arrogant, and disrespectful towards the citizens.
Contact Assemblyman Smyth, Senator Runner, and Congressman McKeon and have them stop this madness.
Tim;
Thank you for the response.
You all taking his words out of context is just sickening. Liberals throw around the racist term ALL THE TIME if you don’t agree with them. I was called a racist plenty of times when I expressed my opinion about our President, “Is it because he’s black?” they’d say? How ignorant and pathetic. Conservatives are called racists ALL THE TIME over illegal immigration because it’s the easy way to cloud a discussion. Just play the race card and some will cower afraid to be labeled….gasp…. a racist. Well, some people like Bob just don’t care anymore.
Go ahead and call us racists. You’ve beaten that argument /phrase into the ground you’ve changed the term entirely. Therefore, making the term mean, “people who are anti- amnesty anti-illegal immigration.”
If that’s the case, then I too will call myself a “proud racist.”
THAT is what Bob was saying. Taking it out of context is pitiable.
Illegal immigration is crippling our economy. If you want to stop the bleeding you have to address the issue head on.
It has nothing to do with hate. It has nothing to do with race.
Illegal immigration is simply…illegal.
The people that start calling names are the ones spreading hate.
Anyone that knows Bob AT ALL knows he is not the Webster defined dictionary racist.
Have I introduced you to my friend, the Straw Man?
SCVFan: I agree with everything you say above. We are not having reasonable, respectful, discussions on the topic of illegal immigration is this country in order to arrive at a workable solution in part because of this “racist “garbage. I’m sick of it.
SCV Fan –
Again, the issue is NOT whether or not Bob Kellar is a racist (by all accounts I’ve seen, he is not). I won’t try to explain it yet again – you are welcome to read my comments on the other posts. At the very least, he committed a “faux pas” that is spreading across traditional media and the internet. For that alone, it would be in his own best interest as an elected official and businessman to either apologize (or at least explain that he used a poor choice of words during his outburst) or resign. Everyone here agrees that the illegal immigration situation here is greatly flawed and needs to be fixed – but when a self admitted good Christian who is an elected official and local business owner screams that he’s a racist AND THEN stands by his statements, well that’s a problem.
@ Tim, you are correct. Too many people vote based on the 30 second campaign ad and not digging deeper.
There is NO DEBATE on this topic, It needs to be put to bed. Illegal immigration is ILLEGAL.
It has to be stopped and our laws enforced.
Because I want immigrants to do it the RIGHT WAY, does that make me a racist too?
SCV Guy
“There is NO DEBATE on this topic, It needs to be put to bed. Illegal immigration is ILLEGAL.”
That’s not the topic.
Vince it is the topic. Otherwise why call anyone a racist for saying our laws need to be enforced!
what’s my status? I’ll never tell.
it’s YOUR topic Berta, not the discussion board’s which is (basically) whether or not Bob Kellar did the “right” thing at the rally last week.
Ok Vince. Have it your way. He did the right thing by voicing his honest opinion. An opinion which is shared by many other Americans. He owes no one an apology. Clear enough?
Whatever Berta – do you wear a helmet and take a special bus to school?
Good Lord people, am I the only one who understands the power of the media and how it can destroy a person’s good reputation??? THAT could be the end result to Bob Kellar if he doesn’t handle this “correctly.” I totally understand your whole “Illegal” argument Berta – I don’t need to hear you explain it to me AGAIN. I’m not the one to argue with – just stating a fact of life re: the media. god help bob kellar if Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert get a hold of the clip.
Not only does she (BGH) talk in he!r sleep but evidently on the bus. The bus is getting close to the bend and will soon be rounding it
Berta – the helmet comment was meant as a joke in poor taste, not an insult. i hope it was taken as such
Vince: I agree with you on that argument. It was a comment that will be taken out of context by the media.
My point is that it has been taken out of context by this blog and some of the commenters.
Vince: I don’t think Bob cares about his “image” anymore than I do. He knew people would label him a racist which is what happens to anyone who raises this issue. I have been called all kinds of names. You either stand for something or you will fall for anything. Bob is willing to stand for something. So am I.
I know you didn’t know this but I take care of one of my disabled adult brothers. I’m sure those of you who are especially cruel will have fun with that autobiographical fact. You keep making your jokes in poor taste. I won’t hold it against you. I understand it’s the ignorance speaking and won’t make you out to be prejudiced against the disabled. Sometimes I envy those developmentally disabled folks. They are the happiest and most loving little kids. Maybe I wouldn’t be bothered by the things I see and hear. The others can keep dismissing and marginalizing me too. After all, I don’t know what I’m talking about in my sleep right?
Because of all the furor and nasty comments, people who would have otherwise stayed on the fence regarding this issue are now furious and taking a stand. I would wager to say if Bob were up for reelection today he would win by a landslide!
Because of all the anger, attention, and frustration brought into focus by the public flogging of someone many of us like and respect, I think it is going to get very ugly in Santa Clarita, and soon.
I pray cooler heads can prevail. God Bless the USA.
sorry Berta, too late, SCV has long been ugly due to the current leaders and previous ones too. Long gone is the beautiful valley I grew up in, and that is why I moved away. I made a promise on this board about 2 years ago(or maybe it was an older version of this board) that I was going to move before the last mule at Smiser Ranch was taken away. It took my a year to sell my house but I finally got out a year ago….and over Christmas I saw that the last mule was still there. I was once a proud diplomat of the Santa Clarita – active in the community…tour guide and President of the docents at Hart Park – Friends used to affectionately call me the “mayor of Santa Clarita.” But I lost my pride in the area thanks to people like your hero, Bob Kellar who has destroyed my hometown. I can only assume that you had a hand in that as well.
And though I am truly sorry about your brother and my comment, I suggest you stop using him to make yourself look better than others – it’s very unattractive.
hmmmm maybe diplomat’s not the right word. Ambassador, maybe.
Sorry Vince Hans but you and I are not going to agree. I love Santa Clarita and God willing plan on leaving here feet first. Bob Kellar has been among our best public servants and does not deserve the hate directed at him. Attractive or not my comments are mine to make and not subject to your approval. Perhaps it’s best you don’t live here anymore. Bye
Berta – enjoy sitting in that traffic along Soledad tomorrow.
I wonder if Kellar would be getting so much support if this were a different rally, let’s just say in support of stricter rules in school, and he was shouting something like, “…because I happen to believe disruptive children should be spanked if they act up in school? I’m a proud child abuser.”
So DRAMATIC Vince! Lost your pride? Bob destroyed your home town?
It’s best for us all that you moved probably. How miserable you must have been. Deep breath…but you still haven’t quite left.
Did you move to Pleasantville? Or a small town in Montana where no one disagrees? It must be so perfect there.
@Vince Hans – I am a mother of a child with a disability. Your comments above are disgusting, maybe your racist against children who ride the short bus!
@gramps – I don’t even know what to say to a man who talks to woman the way you do, and jumps aboard the comments Vince said, and you go on and on and on attacking BGH, what is wrong with you???
Other than that, I am enjoying reading all your opinions on here
SCV Fan – no i never am or was miserable, on the contrary i’m a very upbeat person. And I moved to Studio City. And no I haven’t really totally left since my family still lives there. If you are a fan of SCV now, you should have seen it during it’s glory years – I think you would have REALLY loved it, and you’d know what I’m talking about.
Interested Girl – my hat’s off to you. I am sure you are wonderful mother with the patience of a saint. You are probably a better parent than I could ever have been. As mentioned above, I am NOT standing by my words and am apologizing for my poor choice of words which I made to further prove my point re: Bob Kellar’s offensive words. With that said, I do hope some of you will take a look at http://www.mendingkids.org/, a local SCV organization that my family is involved with. They can certainly use people like Interested Girl and Berta speaking up for them.
@Vince Hans I am a supporter of Mending Kids and I also support Pact and the Regional Center in SCV. I am kinda shocked that you would use a racist statement like you did if you have ever been involved with children who are disabled. I am sure you are trying to make a point and I get that. I also think that can be done without name calling.
@Berta – I really don’t get why your opinions get you attacked the way you do. Do you know these people personally? Geez, I just can’t grasp Gramps and his constant jabs at you? Even when you don’t post he is rocking on and on.
@Gramps – Jilted?
Besides, if I really felt that way about disabled people, do you think I would post such comments under my real name?
If joking about short bus makes me a racist, then I’m a proud…
oh yeah, sorry.
Vince, Don’t you think this is a double edged sword? You said what you said right? Yes, You immediately said it was in a poor choice of words, I respect that, however it looks a little foolish considering You give a large opinion in regards to Bob.
Do as I say not as I do?
V-Town OG? Is that Original Gangsta? I have lived here 34 years. So its okay to joke about a disabled child on here? Really? I think its a bit of bad taste.
life is different out on the paseos, what can I say. It’s hard to be v-town and OG at the same time.
V-town OG – I have no idea what your saying? Well except you think its funny to joke about disabled children…
v-town OG says:
January 26, 2010 at 11:02 am
If joking about short bus makes me a racist, then I’m a proud…
oh yeah, sorry.
Hi Interested Girl. Thanks so much for your comments. I am attacked so viciously because I won’t back down from the bullies, plain and simple. Something else, besides my concern regarding immigration, I believe I share with Bob Kellar. Just because someone shouts louder, knows more insults, is rude or has a cruel streak doesn’t mean they can shut me up or exclude me from the conversation. I’m sure they will keep trying though. Anything to discredit someone with a different viewpoint who is not afraid to stand up for something or someone.
Several of these posters using pseudonyms are people who under their real names have an axe to grind because I have exposed their dishonest dealings and other shady shenanigans. They prefer to enjoy the adoration of those who don’t scratch below the surface and see the real face reflected in the mirror.
They are like rattlesnakes. No matter what name they use, I recognize the sound of their rattle in the grass which just makes them madder. Too bad.
Your observations are spot on.
Hi Interested Girl – you might want to read my comment re: Bob Kellar’s piece in today’s signal. It’s under that post.
Vince – I would love to, Link please?
Hi everyone,
My name is DeAnna. I am wondering how many of you will be going tonight?
Berta? Vince? Og guy? Jeff? Gramps? Scvguy?
Interested girl?
I am hoping to be there…
Here you go, Interested:
http://scvtalk.com/2010/01/26/january-26-2010-daily-brief/#comments
Sorry DeAnna – live and work too far away to make it tonight.
I will be there.
Read the article. Thanks for sharing Vince