Waterpup

Archive for the ‘Politics’ Category

This is from Tommy AKA M/V Santa Rosa from BloodyDecks. He’s seen a lot, knows a lot and experienced it all.

With the way they schedule the MLPA meetings they intentionally make it hard for many of us to show up and show support of voice our concerns. However Tommy thought of a way that all boat owners and fishermen can show support on any given day.

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In the 70s San Diego had the AMERICAN TUNA FLEET, which at that time was the biggest and best in the world. San Diego was home port to over 275 seiners and was also home base for the largest tuna vessels in the world.

During this time, news got out about the killing of dolphins while fishing tuna. Now the American fleet killed about 1 out of 100 trapped inside the net.

The American fleet were the only guys that would jump into the net, full of tuna, and sharks and save what we could. Ever taken a 80 pound tuna in the chest at 40 MPH? It leaves a mark, trust me.

Okay, well we fought and wrote letters and the American tunaboat assc went to Washington for us, and still the people protested against canned tuna.

Right up to the time when then Gov Gerry Brown started to pay attention, and the american fleet all 275 plus vessels came into San Diego bay, all by name A thru Z, and blocked the bay.

Things changed for the American tuna fishermen, now, yes about 20 years later we lost, but that was because the canneries all left..so can it be done? you bet it can, the question is not if it can be done, or when it can be done, the question is do we as anglers has the nuts to get it done?

Just think if every angler around just hooked up his/her vessel and towed it around town for a week, with protest signs hanging from it, No big rally, no big traffic jam up, just all over the city trailer boats with protest signs on it… You got rod holders don’t ya,, well, stick a sign it that and drive it around town…..easy pezzie nice and easy like right?

As I read through more of that thread I have to suggest you read it too.  Protest Against MLPA

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Live updates from Tehran concerning the Iran Election. These videos really show what it’s like at ground level in Tehran and other parts of Iran.

Both video players below start autoplay so you’ll get audio from both. Turn the audio off which one you don’t want to listen to. Unless you speak Farsi you’ll probably want to watch a the top video player. If you do speak Farsi (I do not) then you can likely watch either video player.

Live video from Tehran when available. Otherwise you’ll see streaming raw footage previously recorded. Tehran is about 11.5 hours ahead of California time. So typically if it daylight in the U.S. it’s night time there.

If you see static give the video a second to load, it’ll be there soon. If you have a blog please link back to this post.

Read the rest of this entry »

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really wanted to stop posting political threads that deal with California politics or Global Warming but Arnold Schwarzenegger won’t let me. Why won’t he let me you ask? Because he continues to lie and use scare tactics in order to trump up votes for Proposition 1a (as well as 1b, 1c, 1d, 1f). Proposition 1a and all the other Propositions are nothing more that new taxes or an extension on his record tax increase he just pushed through with the new budget.

He’s proposed saving desk jockeys and janitors while laying off teachers, firemen and policemen. In other words save those of lesser consequence to the states operation and threaten the public with the loss of those that mean the most. Why save the janitors? Why not institute a rotating bathroom cleaning schedule? If the state workers really want to keep their jobs they’ll clean the bathrooms and take their own trash out. We have to that where I work, why can’t they?

I mentioned the teachers above but really I have no sympathy for them either. They are pushing for a passage of 1a too. If 1a fails then hey get no money from 1b which allows them to rob money from what 1a generates. We allow that to happen then 1a runs short and suddenly we have another shortfall in revenue. It’s a revolving door, he’s done nothing to fix the issue.

Proposition 1a = Vote No!

1a is nothing more than a two year tax extension to an already record breaking tax increase

Proposition 1b = Vote No!

Pays off the teachers union, for their support.

Proposition 1c = Vote No!

If you are an avid lotto player you may like this. But c’mon do you really want to continue paying thru the nose for stuff like this?

Proposition 1d and 1e = Vote No!

Proposition 1d will steal more than $1.6 billion in funding from local programs serving children and families throughout the state. Proposition 1d diverts money from First 5 county commissions to the state General Fund – defunding hundreds of proven community-based programs for children and families in every county.

Of all the propositions, Prop. 1D is most similar to Prop. 1E, in that both proposals would take money from new revenue sources approved by voters and redirect those funds away from programs spelled out in those initiatives. The League said:

Propositions 1D and 1E. On May 19, voters will also be asked to approve the temporary taking of funds from early childhood and mental health programs that were established by two previous initiatives. These are illusory, stopgap measures, and the League opposes these propositions as part of this objectionable package. It is ironic that these initiatives, which did what many consider ?the right thing? by providing a source of funding, now face reductions.

Proposition 1f = Vote No!

Elected Officials’ Salaries. Prevents Pay Increases During Budget Deficit Years. Normally I’d vote for this in a heartbeat BUT this is Abel Maldonado’s deal. Maldonado was the final vote to pass the massive tax increase that was just leveled on the citizen’s of the State of California. What he wants is for us to forget and then during his re-election campaign he will boast about how he saved us with this proposition.

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Thanks to ZenSpearo over at BloodyDecks.com

There is a general feeling that it’s more important to show up at meetings personally than to attend the webinars and call in for public comments or write your comments.

NOT SO.

They are all important venues for the public to communicate with the MLPA people. I know that this process has not been public-friendly (more from being a clusterf&ck and incompetence than from design–I speak as someone who runs his own business for over 10 years). The law was passed in 1999, and after doing the Cencal process, so many months with the SoCal process, you figure they’d have it straighten out (it’s less than 48 hours to the SAT May 5th meeting and they still haven’t posted the materials to review. Most public members work full time tomorrow–when can we have time to review the science materials? And of course there are no hints as to how long you can speak, how you can cede time or even you can cede time, etc.).

But hang in there guys. It’s our right to speak up, and we need to or they will simply say after the fact “how come you didn’t say anything when the process was underway?” We consumptives and small groups like kayak fishermen in particular need to be informed and our voices need to be heard loud and clear or we’ll be swept under the rug.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
9:30 a.m.
via teleconference and online meeting
Toll free phone number: 800.697.5978
Pass code: 8527564
Presentations via GoToMeeting. Reserve your reservation now at

https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/411343984

Public Participation: Members of the public are invited to participate in the meeting using the toll-free phone number and to watch presentations via the GoToMeeting webinar, or may join staff at one of the offices listed above. In addition, the meeting is being simultaneously webcast for viewing only; see the MLPA website (California Department of Fish & Game, Marine Life Protection Act Initiative) for more information.

Public comment: The public will be invited by the co-chairs to offer comments on agenda action items. General comments on the work of the MLPA Master Plan Science Advisory Team (SAT), not directed to specific agenda items, will be taken after lunch at approximately 1:00 p.m. Note that the general comment period is for public comment specific to the SAT; comments related to the regional stakeholder group, Blue Ribbon Task Force or other MLPA Initiative activities should be directed to those bodies or MLPA staff.

Meeting materials will be posted to this page as soon as they are available.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Friday, May 8, 2009
12:00 p.m.
via teleconference call and webinar
Toll free phone number: 800.697.5978
Pass code: 5499680
Presentations via GoToMeeting. Reserve your reservation now at

https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/389320216

Members of the public are invited to attend the meeting in person or view and listen to the meeting via simultaneous webcasting on the Internet, and may view an archived version approximately two days after the meeting. Please visit the MLPA website at California Department of Fish & Game, Marine Life Protection Act Initiative for more information. Meeting materials will not be provided at the meeting but will be posted to the MLPA website as soon as they become available.

Public Participation: The public will be invited to offer comments on the work of the MLPA Blue Ribbon Task Force (BRTF) at approximately 3:00 p.m. on Friday, May 8, 2009. Note that the public comment period is for comments specific to the MLPA Blue Ribbon Task Force; comments related to other MLPA Initiative activities or groups should be directed to those bodies or MLPA staff.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

What can you speak about?

1) For SAT: The science is the grading criteria. Others may chime in regarding specific issues with the science but issues regarding kelp, water quality, habitat representation, spacing, etc., are all fair issues to discuss.

2) For BRTF: Socio-economic issues regarding specific closures. By socio-economic issues, we are talking about how a closure will affect your usage, your business, the general business of marinas, tackleshops, tourism. Address issues regarding process as well (what you observe to be good/wrong about this process).

General suggestion: Be courteous. You don’t have to be perfect. Speak from what you know/see/believe. Don’t insult and don’t make it personal.

We need a huge turnout of consumptives to ensure that we make our concerns known. Remember that those who cower and stay silent usually have their rights trampled.

This is a very easy meeting to make. You can work and have a window open on your computer to hear the meeting in the background. No travel involved. You can write your speech in advance and just read it (my strong recommendation–don’t try to wing it. Read it from a prepared statement works very well for those who are not used to public speaking).

There are no excuses for not dialing in and speak your alloted minute. Don’t fall short on the easy ones by skipping these equally important meetings. If you work anywhere near a desk or a phone on Tuesday May 5th or Friday May 8th, you need to sign up and tune in and speak out for your area!

P.S. I’m a spearo and we are organizing spearos to attend and speak. They told me not to bother with BD since BD’ers are all talk, no action but I don’t believe it. Let’s have 100 BD’ers showing up on the phone and speak for your fishing rights. Let’s do it guys.

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I’m sitting here cruising the web, looking for some kind of justification for the tax increase the fine “leaders” of the state of California has just shoved down our throats. While doing so I found some interesting comments posted on various sites, So I thought I’d take a few of them and post them here for you to read.

Oh yeah we need to recall Maldonado, Schwarzenegger and Villines at the very minimum. We also need to put heavy pressure on 1st year assemblymen so they do get the idea that they have a future in sticking it to us. Also contact your local pie holes no matter what they stand was. don’t let them say “I didn’t support it so I didn’t vote…”. They are just as guilty if not even more guilty. Why weren’t they out there fighting for a no vote?

If you haven’t seen this post yet take a look at it, you’ll find a few links at the bottom to contact your Legislature and Senate members Recall Schwarzenenegger, Villines and Maldonado

Comments on the 2009 California State Budget

FoolNemisis:

Thanks Senator Maldanado for your political bravery, political astuteness, and sharp negotiating. Even a Liberal Progressive must admire your courage and ability as a negotiator, and your respect for the people of the state of California. In economic hard times we must all make sacrifices. Your actions were opportune and well played. Ignore the senseless political thugs in your party. It is you who came out the ethical person and demonstrated characteristics of a true leader.

Ragtop:

Explain how taxing the snot out of us is “good for the people”.

JRobbins:

This state is toast. We are run by liars, thieves and practitioner’s of the world’s oldest profession.

lunibin:

You respect them when they vote outside party lines? How about when they vote for the good of their constituents? Polls showed 85% of Democrats, Republicans, and independents, didn’t want the tax increases. So what party lines are you referring to? How about being the ‘public servants’ their supposed to be?

wkenddad:

When you lock legislators down for 47 hours straight; are they voting their conscience or their bladders, hunger or something else.

Karen Bass and Steinberg’s position was that if we lock them down long enough someone will break; similar to the treatment the Viet Cong used on POW’s.

This is not Government, this is psychological warfare.

Tim_Ca:

Maldonado signed a “no tax pledge” and campaigned on a no tax platform.

Maldenado is toast. Fiscal conservatives will never forgive him (and they shouldn’t). He lied to his constituents and he stabbed his party in the back, making Republicans even LESS relevant in this whacky state where the needs of Labor Unions and Illegal Aliens take precedence over hard working, productive, over-taxed state citizens. It will be a pleasure to see his political future shot down in flames.

Jturning:

Schwarzenegger, this was not good for California. This is just another example of your poor leadership as governor. First, the governor and legislature should have been saving money during the good years for this time when the economy slows. You all have been poor stewards of the tax dollars we give you, and you then force your incompetence on us by raising taxes. Spend within your means, so cut government waste, of which there is still plenty.

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I was calling for Arnold Schwarzenegger’s recall in August of 2008 and I am here again now in February of 2009 once again calling for his resignation, forced or not. Our economy is in the dumps, he didn?t come through and save us. I can deal with that, but I cannot deal with him trying the same crap that Gray Davis tried. The same things he campaigned against Gray Davis for.

Are the residents of the state of California so ignorant they don’t see what he’s trying to get away with? Does he think we all forgot about the trashing of the car that was spray painted with “Gray Davis Car Tax” on it and then dropping a wrecking ball on it from a crane? It was on 10/2/2003 at the Orange County Fair Grounds in Costa Mesa, CA.

To quote Arnold, he said

?All they have done is spend, spend spend, and when they realize they spend money they don?t even have, then it is tax, tax, tax.? He added ?how crazy is that going to be to come up with this crazy idea to raise the car tax by 300%. We?re not going to let it happen. Let me tell you something?it?s going to hurt the person who is a low income person who makes $15,000 to $20,000 a year. The person who is struggling to make ends meet. A person who is struggling to put food on the table for their family.?

Wasn’t that one of his big campaign points? Yes it was! So why is he now proposing the same thing? considering we already have the highest highway tax in the nation paying three times our currrent registraion and renewal fees is crazy. It?s 2003 all over again! It?s Gray Davis all over again, only this time it?s worse. Along with tripling our registration fees he and the California Assembly want to raise our state income tax by 5% on those that make over $45,000 per year. Folks, that?ll bring a very large majority of people up to a 14% tax bracket. Couple that he Federal Income Tax and kiss over 33% of your income goodbye. Then add the 12 cents per gallon gas tax and elimination of 2/3rds of the dependent child care credit and they dig into our pockets even more.

There?s more on Arnold but I?m moving on to Mike Villines now. Recall Mike Villines too!! Sometime in 2008, I believe it could have been in August he went on the John and Ken Show on KFI AM640 in Los Angeles and said that he and the Republican Assembly will ?never vote yes on a tax increase. As a matter of fact he stated it in 10 or so different ways and all of statements were very clear that in no way would he or his party ever vote yes on this budget. What happened Mike? Somebody find the bottom of your pockets? What happened to all the Republicans that said they would never vote yes on this budget the way that it is?

I think it?s odd that we have a Democratic, Washington issuing tax cuts and a Republican, California negating it with tax increases. Folks the only thing we can do now is SPEAK UP! Below is a list links where you can contact our Legislators, State Senators and State Assemblymen. Let them know that you haven?t forgotten and won?t forget when election time rolls back around. There also a number of Assemblymen that are early in their career, if anything they should be worried about their future on politics.

Let all of them know that you vote and have a voice. Let our 1st term assemblymen know that you won’t be voting for them again

State Legislature
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html

California State Senate
http://www.sen.ca.gov/~newsen/senators/senemail.htp

State Assembly Members
http://www.assembly.ca.gov/clerk/MEMBERINFORMATION/memberdir_1.asp

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