New Face In Gallegos Campaign
District Attorney Paul Gallegos sure seems like a pretty hard left leaning guy. Seems like everyone he associates himself with is on the left to some extent. First it was hard core lefty, Richard Salzman. Now it's Alison Nichols, whose first fifteen minutes of fame came from local coverage of her heading down to join the Cindy Sheehan camp out at Bush's ranch in Texas.
I guess it would be a little extreme to vote against someone because his campaign manager went out of her way to visit with that ate up old hag in Texas (and, no, I'm not War Party), but it makes me wonder: What kind of people does Gallegos associate himself with on a daily basis? It seems like he really goes after the local lefties for his support. Not that there's anything really wrong with that, in and of itself, but you'd think the guy would try to get a wider base of support.
That said, maybe I'm under the wrong impression because the only time I hear anything glowing about Gallegos it comes from the Left. There must be some right leaning or middle of the road type support for Gallegos around here. Isn't there? Myself? I didn't vote in the DA or Sheriff's race last time around and it's too early to say which way I'll go come this next election.
Some of Nichol's claims seem a bit out there to me, like saying crime has gone down since Gallegos has been in office. I find it hard to believe that a District Attorney can have that much to do with crime actually going down, if in fact it is down. To hear it from some people, like past Eureka Police Chief, Dave Douglas, crime has gone up lately, or at least calls for service have.
I'll stay outside of this fray, except to comment on it, and decide who to vote for in the months to come.
posted by Fred Mangels @ 8:57 AM
36 comments
36 Comments:
Between picking that ego-activist and the rest of that David Cobb/Michael Twombly bunch to run his campaign, plus getting his face tied in with that turkey of an initiative yesterday, Gallegos is pretty well doomed with the political center.
Oh, yes, that initiative he showed up at the press conference for. That was another thing that got amy attention and really seemed to put him well on the Left side of things.
The first time he ran, I don't recall much of him mixing much with the Left, publicly anyway. I just knew the Left was really behind him from the leftie e-mail lists I'm on.
One of our Libertarian Party Congressional candidates had some correspondence with Gallegos and he felt Gallegos was libertarian leaning. Gallegos never did more than respond to questions in that case, though, and didn't seem interested in pandering to the LPers for any support. Not that we're really all that large of a voting block for him to bother with.
Gallegos is a political animal and will do what is necessary to be reelected. In the Humboldt soviet of the people's republic of Kalifornia it is no surprise that adherence to the collectivist (left) governing model will continue to pay off. Even the governator now realizes this.
When the water reaches the upper decks, follow the rats.
It's the weed, man. His stunt with the critial mass people that he pulled last month was way over the top as well. Holding a group hug fest with people who have committed a crime? Well, I was going to vote against Gallegos just because he had that snake Salzman working for him last time, but if he has this person as well on his team, I'm tossing my vote to anyone else, BUT him.
How much do you want to bet Salzman is still pulling the strings behind this campaign?
It wouldn't surprise me at all if Salzman is involved with the campaign in some way or another. That's his nature and he still seems to hold the adoration of the Left around here. Pulling the strings? Hard to say. Even harder to prove, I would think.
Okay, I've decided to become the semi-official Leftist Pinko ACLU card carrying bleeding heart Kumbaya singing xxx-loving Commie Rat on your blog, Fred.
Unfortunately, I have nothing to say on Gallegos except that I supported him in the recall, and I find your description of Cindy Sheehan decidely ungallant, which I guess is an effete British snob sort of thing to say. Okay! It's effete British snob French surrender monkey anti-Swift Boat bleeding heart Bob Dylan swilling unpatriotic doctor commie rat!
Captain Future
(a screen name I chose before I realized using semi-military designations is a right wing blogger fetish.)
Fred, how are the DA's political affiliations pertinent? When you write, "Not that there's anything really wrong with that," the underlying message is that there IS something wrong with it, otherwise you wouldn't have mentioned it. Guilt by association is a weak argument.
The DA occupies a performance-driven position. Judge the man based on his performance. If the crime rate is germane to this discussion (I'm not sure it is), it would be nice to see a newspaper provide facts. The DA's office is ripe for being analyzed with fact comparisons, past and present. Let's stick to real issues, not election rhetoric.
You nest with the pigs and guess what you smell like? If the man can't hire a campaign manager capable out reaching out to the business community, instead of another of the neoliberal clatch of Democracy Unlimited losers, how can we expect him to properly staff his office?
Fred, you sure are a smug old pickle sometimes. Phooey on your sexist remark about Cindy Sheehan, and your ignorant sit-at-your-computer-and-pass-judgment comments about Alison Sterling Nichols.
You are not acting like someone who is “sitting outside of the fray” when you lob shallow comments about women who organize and work for what they believe in.
Kak. I’m disgusted by this post. I have hope that the blogosphere can offer intelligent commentary on local issues. But this lazy-minded post is lame-o.
Looks like you pissed off the leftwingers and the "women are equal, until we need them to be weaker" crowd, Fred.
You really stepped in it this time Fred. You remarked unflateringly about moonbat Sheehan. Apparently only males can be moonbats?
The Humboldt DA's office under Gallegos is a JOKE among the legal profession in the county. I won't burden your blog with my own anecdotal evidence but those interested can contact me for the sad tale. Unfortunately the joke extends into parts of the Sheriff's Department as well.
Sexist remark about Sheehan, Style? Oh, I don't know about that. She's just an old ate up chick that made it in to the limelight by taking advantage of someone getting killed. Although not an absolutist pacifist, I certainly could be considered one of the anti- war crowd so, unlike some, I'm not down on her anti- war message, so to speak.
I suppose if she hadn't already had face time with Bush prior to her camp out, I might be a little more sympathetic to her and her act.
For Snolly: point well made, but, many people judge people by the people they surround themselves with. When I said there wasn't anything necessarily wrong with that, I was trying to say I'm not going to dismiss Gallegos as a candidate simply because he hangs with the Left. At least I'll try not to. I know a lot of people will. Whether that will change the dynamics of the race enough to change the outcome is the question.
Good point about judging on performance. That, of course, might be difficult to quantify and still be subject to manipulation of any statistics (as a result of political rhetoric). For example: Alison Nichols claims Humboldt County is safer than it's ever been or some such. Oh really? Prove it.
And if anyone is interested, as I mentioned before, I didn't vote for either Gallegos or Farmer in the first election. I voted against the recall, though.
As an aside, if I'd seen all the campaign signs that the anti- Farmer and Lewis forces vandalized BEFORE I'd voted, I likely would have voted for Farmer and Lewis, not that my vote would have changed the outcome.
As I left the polling place and turned on to Harris Street, in Eureka, all the signs supporting Farmer and Lewis had "Pepper Spray" spray painted over them. I've voted for or against people for less frivolous reasons than that.
Almost forgot: One thing that struck me about Gallegos' term, at least so far, is he seems to have generated a pretty high turnover in his office. I don't recall that much of a turnover with Farmer, but maybe my memory is failing me.
I suppose some turnover is to be expected when a new guy takes over, especially in an office with well entrenched cadre that might not like the new guy in charge. Makes me wonder, though.
They had something in the paper the other day about a couple Asst. DAs going to Lake County and the word from the DAs office was that we pay less here than a lot of other counties. That may be true but the DA's office seemed a lot more stable before and the pay was the same.
Just like Eureka P.D.: They seem to have always been short of manpower. Some in the department blame the lower pay. Seems to me there's more to it than that as there are a number of cops there that have retired from that department. Others, for whatever reason, don't seem to like the work environment.
I referenced some time ago an EPD office I was acquainted with. I was under the impression he was pretty much a gung ho EPD type of guy. He ended up switching to Arcata PD, and later to the County. I was surprised when he told me, referring to EPD: "I was glad to get out of there.". I should of asked him to elaborate but didn't.
I see part of the problem as being the US VS THEM mentality that most law enforcement have. What happens to some peoples minds when they get a badge to make them act like dogs defending their territory?
most police are cowards and bullies, that's why.
Fred, there was a lot of turn-over when Farmer first took office. There was an article about it in the Times-Standard in the mid-late '80's. If I recall correctly, every secretary at the DA's office and some prosecutors left their jobs. I'll try to dig up the article.
Old ate up chick? Should we only to listen to glistening 20 year-old girls, and then only when they giggle at jokes made by sexist old pricks?
Don't forget that the "someone" who died was Cindy Sheehan's son. And clearly, Cindy Sheehan was not the only one at Crawford. I went to Alison Sterling Nichols' slide show of her trip to Crawford. It was a very moving presentation. There was only one picture of Ms. Sheehan, but lots of pictures of other military families who were frustrated with the pack of lies used by the Bush gang to sell the war. If you think a grieving mother should be content and over her loss after a cursory pat on the head by a war criminal, then you are incapable of thinking very deeply. Should the whole country just shrug off the lies that lead to this war? Hell no.
Everyone wants to be famous, right, Fred? That particular insult used against Cindy Sheehan reveals more about the shallow thinking processes of the speaker, rather than any negative traits of Ms. Sheehan. I commend Cindy Sheehan for taking a stand against the unjust war and occupation of Iraq. The timing was great, too. Bush and his gang of warmongers got a month of bad press, and then Hurricane Katrina revealed to the world what a bunch of incompetent, self-serving fools are holding the highest offices in government.
As I said, it's not all that unusual for there to be some turnover when a new guy takes charge. The turnover in Gallegos' office seems to be more than a changing of the guard turnover as it's lasted long beyond his takeover of the office.
Should we only pay attention to glistening 20 year old girls? Nope. You should be listening to 50 year old bald guys like me that are even older than Sheehan.
I know it was her son. I'm curious how he felt about the invasion of Iraq? I remember reading about some other gal in Modesto(?), where Sheehan was from. I believe she lost a son in the war, too. She supports the Iraq War. Shouldn't she get some press as well?
From what I can see, Sheehan never really did anything in her life, up until Crawford. I thought it was odd that in all her publicity I never heard what she did for work prior to all this. Finally, a while back, I read she was a "Youth Minister". Oh boy, a real mover and shaker, right along the lines of Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson.
Not that there's anything wrong with that. I've said before I understand that any movement needs to have a hero or figurehead and, since the anti- war crowd didn't have one, Sheehan was convenient. As they say "any port in a storm". Sheehan isn't one I'd want representing me, though.
If you really want to help her out, buy her book. I won't.
It's not about her, it’s about the war. You're blinded by the fame. Get over it.
Never did anything in her life? Raising children is such a worthless activity, huh? No wonder you don’t care that she lost a son, since being a mother has no value in your eyes.
Why are you dissing her for being a youth minister? You seem to have an unreasonable personal beef with her. There is not some prerequisite for taking a stand against an unjust war. The criminals in power would love it if all citizens believe they have to have some perfect, specialized back ground before they can raise their voice in dissent. That's nonsense. I would rather live among an empowered citizenry than a dejected one.
HAHAHA. She stopped being a mother when she left her husband and her other LIVE childern to go on the "glory road". Anyone who supports a family abandoning person for self glory doesn't look very bright in my eyes. She lost a son, a child, that's horrible, but when you lose the rest of your family because you want glory and headlines, that's a crime.
Gee, I'd never heard cindy lost a son in the war. That changes EVERYTHING, even her quote: "The U.S. is NOT worth fighting and dying for". Been to Arlington Cermetery lately?
Man, I guess we got hoodwinked into chasing a decoy! Who DOES he hang out with? Who are a lawyer's friend? We know that he surfs, on company time, but what other things does he do? I would like to see if Dr Ken Miller, of I'll write anyone and everyone a Prop 215 card fame so I can go fishing, will donate more money to his campaign? That always struck me as odd, Miller donated $5000 to Gallegos, and then gave data to Gallegos to go after PL and was used as a outside support guy. Gallegos allows more plants for use, and Miller ramps up his Prop 215 cards. Now Miller is a MD. He isn't a Ph.D in anything to do with timber, or land that I know of, so why was Gallegos using him in his PL case? And the whole donation for drugs things, man, that's crazy.
bill g,
The war is unjust because there is an R in the office, not a D.
End of story.
No, Style, I'm not blinded by her "fame". I'm amazed anyone would admire her is all.
I don't have a problem with common folks making the news, although I don't know I'd consider her "common". Hey, I even waste my vote for common people who don't have any real credentials to deserve that vote. I voted for Michael Badnarik for President last time around, didn't I?
Ok. I'll have to admit I get weary of back and forth stuff like this, after about three rounds, so, this will be my last word on this subject, at least for this comment thread: I'm right and you're wrong. Now you can have your last word.
If you want to continue arguing, ok, ok, DISCUSSING an issue, with these other guys, have at it. But please feel free to stick around and check out my other hard hitting commentaries.
Lazy-minded character assassinations are not hard hitting commentary.
Nope, you're wrong.
How anyone can support Sheehan, is beyond be.
I'm with her on the anti- war thing, but that ate up babe should be outa here.
Ooops... my last comment was supposed to be my last word.
You like that "ate up" term.
You’ve reinforced my point that you are sexist and lazy-minded.
Fact: Her son died
Fact: She met Bush and had nothing to say
Fact: Her husband has filed for divorce
Fact: She has abanboned the family and childern she has
Fact: Fred like the term "ate up"
Fact: Style has none, and has no idea what sexist means
Fact: Cindy makes alot of money going around and appearing at places
Fact: She doesn't care about the family she still has alive
Fact: She loves money. MONEYMONEYMONEYMONEY
Fact: Style loves Cindy
Fact: Style is nothing more then a liar and a plant sent here to move us away from the real issue of Gallegos
Fact: style AKA Salzman has failed
Fact: Salzman uses pen names
Fact: Gallegos took $5000 from a drug dealer
Fact: Salzman and his followers are rabid left wing nutcases
Fact: Salzman employes nobody in Humboldt County
Fact: 14 people have left the DA office since Gallegos has taken over
Fact: Gallegos was surfing during normal business hours and had to have the coast guard help him
Fact: Gallegos held a group meeting with people who he should have been trying to jail, not please
Fact: style is my bitch.
The real point here is Gallegos had the time and money to pick a campaign manager with, duh, actual experience running actual political campaigns beyond the leftist glad-handing back-patting circuit. He didn't, so now he'll lose. Simple as that. It's too bad, I would have voted for the guy, now we'll have to get someone else to run.
Anybody who takes advice from Local Solutions is already brain dead.
anonymous: "...so now he'll lose."
Don't bet the farm on it.
How stupid are you anon mouse? The medical marijuana limits were set by the Supervisors two years ago, the DA didn't get a vote.
Arcata Eye, April 2003
"Gallegos' expansion of medical marijuana limits – announced three weeks into his tenure – is opposed by many police officers and sheriff's deputies. But a more fiery controversy exploded when the fledgling D.A. filed a multimillion dollar fraud lawsuit against Pacific Lumber Company (PL), the county's largest employer."...
The limits set by Supervisors were more liberal than any DA had ever set. Besides who in their right mind trusts the Arcata Eye?
ANY DA???
Anyone in the courthouse will tell you - Gallegos is an idiot and one of the laziest in government. He has lied to victims of crime, thier families and the public. He blows off department head meetings and appointments to go surfing. He has fraudulently used grant money. He is abusive to his staff. How would you like it if you had to have an idiot look in your door everymorning and remind you that you can be fired for no reason at all. Gallegos, Sleazman and Style all ought to head south with their friend Stoen.
Anyone in the courthouse will tell you - Gallegos is an idiot and one of the laziest in government. He has lied to victims of crime, thier families and the public. He blows off department head meetings and appointments to go surfing. He has fraudulently used grant money. He is abusive to his staff. How would you like it if you had to have an idiot look in your door everymorning and remind you that you can be fired for no reason at all. Gallegos, Sleazman and Style all ought to head south with their friend Stoen.
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