Posted on 02/21/2003 12:32:02 PM PST by Saundra Duffy
Edited on 04/12/2004 2:10:07 PM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
A little bit of background. Duly-elected State Assemblyman Steve Samuelian is one of the most fierce conservative Republicans in the State of California. He's also a human being. About three weeks ago on a Saturday night at 9:45 he drove into a gas station to ask for directions. The female police officer gave him directions and then sent him on his way.
(Excerpt) Read more at fresnobee.com ...
Is that about the size of it? It seems to me that the question is: did he stop and ask for directions, or was he stopped by the cops and tell them that he was just lost, not cruising for hookers at all?
sorry, I didn't come here to hold a trial. I have too little knowledge to form an opinion yet. But it's worth discussing. Don't stereotype your allies so quickly.
Sounds like a new Reality Tv show...
Re: the Repub 5 , Did they run out of stones to throw so they throw innuendos? They're just Pitchin' for votes from the Moral Majority, I reckun.
Mrs. Samuelian is standing by Steve just like Mrs. Condit stood by her biker boy Congre$$wimp husband, Gary.
Have fun with the thread!
It looks like you will have ample opportunity to unload some pent-up emotion. :-)
Just par for the course (i.e., the treatment of Lott by the GOP).
Your congressman could very well be telling the truth, only he knows for certain. Most people here don't seem to buy it, though. That includes me.
Conservatives seem to held to a higher standard. Libs are expected to say and do stupid things, so no one is surprised when they oblige.
Meanwhile, Steve could have been one of the greatest Assemblyman ever
and in an alternate universe, Bill Clinton would just be professor of law at UA, with a never ending stream of doe-eyed coeds to play with. Apologies to whoever said that first.
Now I know you aren't serious.
Because they were stupid enough to nominate Bill Simon. The only person in America capable of losing to Gray Davis.
Saundra, instead of just calling apparent facts "spin", why don't you tell us what was wrong about the comments you are responding to?
Maybe because we allow too many mediocre (or worse) politicians and party leaders to stay in office out of a misplaced sense of party loyalty.
In September 1998, Samuelian was cited for soliciting an undercover police officer in the same block of Parkway Drive. He told police then he knew it was a hangout for prostitutes but told officers on Feb. 1 that he didn't know Parkway Drive's reputation for criminal activity. Samuelian said he was lost and was looking for the Fresno County Farm Bureau office.
Sound like anyone we know?
Saundra, you've said he just pulled into a gas station to ask for directions. I've pointed out to you before that this is NOT what the police report says happened. Are you simply taking Steve's word for it over those of the police? If so, why shouldn't we consider Steve's version "spin"?
Please allow me to explain.
I think your basic point was that, withtin the past 20 years, Democrats have succeded in avoiding or ameliorating untold numbers of public relations disasters because they consistantly rally around their flag. They come to the defense of a member of their own party, right or wrong, even to the point of logical obsurdity. Their tactic of the unified, coordinated, talking points and a repeated daily delivery of the political mantra has served, and is still serving them well.
In this case fellow Republicans were quick to seperate themselves from a perceived social deviate and in fact, lobbied for his political demise when they knew or could have known, within hours of the revelations and before they spoke, that there was insufficent cause to legally prosecute their fellow legislature. Their choices for an immediate response ranged from a Democratic like rallying, to a cautious, gartuitous statement of support and sympathy, to a face of silence, to a cautious condemnation, to a full blown head hunting expidition. They chose the head hunt.
They chose the head hunting in spite of the fact that their statements were premature by anyone's standards, especially political standards, that they need every last conservative vote in the up comming budget fight and that Samuelian is a political idealogue and idealogues don't back down at the first sign of trouble.
I think your point was that California Republicans are marked by a lack of political purpose, they are marked by an apparent lack of organization and most telling, they are prepared to sacrific the means to acheiving their political goals so that they can keep the moral image of their party pristine.
Saundra I am a political pragmatist, not a loyalist, but I must agree with you on this point.
The whole thing seems strange. The idea of having a crime of loitering to solicit a prostitute bothers me. It sounds more like an excuse to claim probable cause for wrongful searches and harassment than it does a legitimate law. I wouldn't be surprised if eventually the law were overturned on some grounds. How would they legitimately distinguish between someone loitering to solicite a prostitute and someone loitering to meet a friend, evangelize, sell stuff, solicit votes in a political campaign? Fighting prostitution is good, but extremity in the prosecution of vice is its own vice.
I hope things work out right.
WFTR
Bill
First, let me thank the many friends and constituents who have contacted me in the last two weeks to offer words of support and encouragement. My faith in the people of the Central Valley is stronger than ever.
I am deeply gratified with the decision of the City Attorney. My wife, Houry, and I are happy that we are now able to put this whole misunderstanding behind us, and move forward. We also understand how some people could jump to conclusions based on inaccurate and sensational reports in the news media. We hold no grudges, and we look forward to getting on with the business of California.
Our state faces many grave issues. It's time to move on. The voters elected me to do a job, and I look forward to continuing my work for the families, taxpayers, farmers and small businesses of the Central Valley.
Thank you and God Bless." But of course all the righteous Republicans aren't going to believe his statement, either, so what's the use. And another one bites the dust. See you at the Republican Convention where I'll be support Bill Back for Chair and Prudence Eiland for Central Vice Chair. For victory & freedom!!!
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