<HTML><BODY STYLE="font:10pt verdana; border:none;"><DIV><FONT face=Arial color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia">Joan writes:</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia"> <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia">I agree that the recall should be discussed on 2020, but I think it's important to take note of the way in which this recall is being conducted -- in the dark, the petition being circulated by "anonymous" businessmen . . .<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia">To which John replies:</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia">"Why is it important to take note? Why not just support the decision of the council?"</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia">Because there's something deeply suspicious about a closet recall? Isn’t it the <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>equivalent of a secret election?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Who, besides Gerry Weitz (who doesn't actually live in Moscow and so can neither sign his own petition nor vote in city elections) wants to recall Dickinson, Chaney, and Pall? And why? What are the reasons?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And I mean the actual reasons, not the specious excuses given to the <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Daily News</I>. The 1912 Center does not cost millions, and there is no cabal on the city council against parochial schools.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So why recall these three city councilors?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Is this about water?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Is this about growth?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Is there something Gray Davis about them?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Is there an </SPAN><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:City><st1:place><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia">Arnold</SPAN></st1:place></st1:City><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia"> waiting in the wings?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Who, exactly, is behind this petition? </SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia">Again Joan writes:</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia">Now, you ask what's sleazy, what's sinister, what's irrational and little boy about this recall effort?<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia">And John says: <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">“But I didn’t ask!! I suggested that the words used above were not directed at the recall effort but at Dr. Weitz. Why not engage in civil discourse without inflammatory language? Why not discuss the issues and not the people? The fact that the DN reported this interview on page one is why I don’t read it.”</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">Okay, John, you didn't ask. I apologize for my use of that particular rhetorical device. True, inflammatory language has been used, and it has been directed at Dr. Weitz. That might have something to do with Weitz's use of inflammatory language in his <EM><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">Daily News</SPAN></EM> interview in which he went on at length about "crushing" people and generally foamed and frothed. I hate to use the term "asking for it," but the <EM><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">Daily News</SPAN></EM> article (which you didn't read?) invited a harsh and perhaps even a personal response. In short, it was loony.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">Please note: I am <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><U>not</U></B> calling Dr. Weitz a loony. I'm saying his interview was loony. We could blame that on the <EM><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">Daily News</SPAN></EM>, if you like. Perhaps they cut out all the sane and coherent quotes in order to achieve that Daffy Duck "rabbit season-duck season" effect, but when someone talks about crushing certain city council members, I think of that ongoing <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Kids in the Hall</I> sketch: "I’m crushing your head!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I’m crushing your head!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Ha!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Flat-head!" Sounds nuts to me.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia">And lastly Joan writes:</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia">I think it's worth noting that neither Lois nor Bill are entirely subsumed by the Moscow Civic Association. They are members of that organization, but first and foremost, they are private citizens, and they are taxpaying residents of the City of </SPAN><st1:City><st1:place><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia"><st1:City u1:st="on"><st1:place u1:st="on"><st1:City><st1:place>Moscow</st1:place></st1:City></st1:place></st1:City></SPAN></st1:place></st1:City><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia">. Why assume when they speak, they speak always for the MCA? Sometimes, unless they indicate otherwise, I would assume they speak for themselves.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia">And John says: <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia">“I don’t think I assumed that they were speaking for anyone but themselves, but the fact that they both have a close association with the MCA is appropriate.”</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"></SPAN> </P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">As far as I know, Bill has no official role within the MCA. I could be wrong -- perhaps he’s the official press agent -- but I believe that, like me, he's just a member. If so, then that would mean that his association with the group is no closer than my own. I’m also a member of Planned Parenthood, the ACLU, and the Eva Cassidy Fan Club, but I don’t speak for these groups<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(And they are grateful to me for that.)<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>As for Lois, she's very careful to indicate when she's speaking on behalf of the MCA. When she speaks for herself, she's careful not to use her title as MCA president. That should clear up any confusion. There should be no need for her to add "President of the MCA but not speaking for them at the present time in any way, shape, or form."</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"></SPAN> </P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">BTW, the MCA is a non-partisan group. They endorsed Chaney and Dickinson, true, but so did several other </SPAN><st1:City><st1:place><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">Moscow</SPAN></st1:place></st1:City><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"> individuals and organizations. Chaney and Dickinson did not run as "The Official MCA Candidates." That's not how the MCA operates.</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"></SPAN> </P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">Joan Opyr/Auntie Establishment </SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV></BODY></HTML><br clear=all><hr>Get more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : <a href='http://explorer.msncom'>http://explorer.msn.com</a><br></p>