Who needs a transparency fix?

Ya know, I am reading how "upset" and "shocked" people are about the recent "hit piece" postcard directed at Jonathan Greenburg. And it only reminded me of Mr. Greenburg's vicious opening salvos against, not only Patrick Slayter, but John Eder and his relationship with his life partner, Marsha Sue Lustig, who was elected to the Palm Drive board. Basically, Mr. Greenburg's assaults claimed the two were in collusion to keep Palm Drive hospital closed.

Though Mr. Greenburg has pulled back on those accusations because of their absurdity, it brought my attention to Mr. Greenburg's relationship to Dan Smith, Dennis Colthurst, Dr. Powers and Dr. James Gude.

Now Mr. Greenburg is no dummy. So of why would he hang his campaign for a seat on the Sebastopol City Council on an issue that falls outside the purview of that body? Hmmm.

We know Dan Smith would like to get his hands on Palm Drive Hospital for a couple reasons. It would serve as a base for the telemedicine business he has with Dr. James Gude for one. So, he throws money at the Cop and the Doc campaign. But he also throws money at Greenburg's campaign, who uses this very emotional issue to go door to door saying, "If you elect me (and these other guys), then we'll get the hospital open."

Once elected, Greenburg's promises fall short of reality. But no matter. Dan Smith has what he wants.

Once these people are on the board, Dan Smith, personally will appoint a stacked deck of thirteen additional boardmembers to dictate business. That way, investment in these "candidates" pays off.

Jeesh. What was that you said about transparency, Jonathan? Talk about cozy.

Eeeeow,

OMG! The evil Dan Smith is teamed up with the evil Dr. Gude, who as we know gets PAID to provide medical care (isn't that the most horrid thing you ever heard) and now the foolish Jonathan Greenberg is their pawn in their evil plot to take over Palm Drive and save lives! And, Dr. Powers and 31 other doctors have been duped into supporting their evil plot as well! OMG! How could this happen!

We all know what dastardly deeds they have performed before by donating millions and keeping the hospital going in 2007 and growing the business into profitability by 2010. And now, the evil Dan Smith has shown his true colors: HE IS REALLY A ZOMBIE!!!!! It's time to get out our torches and start the fires before it is too late!!!

Farmer Dan aka Dan Smith

EEoowww you have succeeded in forcing the hand of the evil Dan Smith to show his "true colors." Eeeoooww indeed!

You have revealed his sinister plot to conspire with dozens of doctors, health experts, business leaders and public interest activists like myself to thwart the permanent closing of the hospital and leasing of the building to pay off creditors.

Now that the community can see that Dan Smith is really an evil zombie, perhaps you and your fellow zombie-fighters can grab hold of your pitchforks and drive the hospital openers out of town. Before their evil plot takes hold, and a thriving, humane, local new hospital proves that when we all join together to face enormous challenges on behalf of our community, success is indeed possible.

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Posted in reply to the post by farmerdan:

Eeeeow,

OMG! The evil Dan Smith is teamed up with the evil Dr. Gude, ...

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I just don't think any one individual should benefit financially from the election of a public official (i know it happens everyday). I think your attacks against Eder make this recent postcard look like a church flyer and your deception of opening the hospital if elected is just a ruse to get elected. You know it won't work. It stinks.

eeeeow!

OMG! You actually believe this!
Amazing!

Bill Shortridge, an active member of Sebastopol Tomorrow who posts in Wacco as Eeeeow, seems to be the only person publicly defending this mailer. He calls it a "church flyer" compared to my "attacks" on John Eder.

I would like to respond with a few public questions for Bill:

Are you the author of this surprising mailer?

If not, can you tell your neighbors who wrote it?
Did everyone signing it read and approve the language before it went out?

You suggest that I have attacked Eder. Earlier in this post, you refer to my campaign's "vicious opening salvos" against Patrick Slayter and John Eder."

At the May 6 City Council meeting which, at my request to Mayor Jacob, discussed the Palm Drive Hospital closing, John Eder stated that due to his domestic partnership with Palm Drive District Board Member Marsha Sue Lustig, and the heavy emotions of this issue, he wanted to recuse himself from serving on what was being considered as a subcommittee to help the Palm Drive District Board with this issue.

This subcommittee was never formed. After John Eder's subsequent appearances at Foundation meetings in which he, in my opinion, undermined the efforts underway to raise funds and create a plan to reopen the hospital, by stating falsehoods like a "$20 million capital cost" to reopen, I reminded the public that John remains the Council liaison to the City Council. And that I feel he ought to recuse himself from this role. I have suggested that as part of my five point plan of what the Council could--and should--do right now to help reopen the hospital, if elected, I ought to take John's places as Council liaison to Palm Drive Hospital's Board.

I have never made an "attack" on John Eder, who has, on this board, ridiculed my investigative reporting about the hospital as akin to his reporting of the importance of tin foil hats and the landing of flying saucers in the laguna.

Asking that someone be recused from acting in his official capacity because of a marital or familial relationship with another public official involved in a controversial matter, is standard operating procedure of most democratic bodies, is not a "vicious attack."

Nor is comparing my record and positions to Patrick Slayter's public record, on a half dozen timely issues in this campaign. This, too, is part of a democratic political process. Patrick is a hard working, capable and dedicated Council Member, who has taken different positions on important issues than I have. If we are both elected, it would be an honor for me to collaborate with him--and the other three Council Members, in governing our wonderful city. But Identifying where two candidates stand, and comparing their record so the electorate can make an informed decision, is, in my view, a useful part of our democratic process. It is important to note that nobody has disputed the accuracy of the positions that each of us has stood for, as described in my candidate comparison flier.

If you have a single quote or fact of anything I have written or said during this campaign that constitutes a personal attack, by me, on Patrick Slayter, or John Eder, please respond to this post and present these to the public.

This is a very different story than the maligning, personal attacks on my character and capabilities that the mailer you and your political colleagues signed contains. What is shocking, to many I have spoken to in this community, is the content of the mailer, as well as its tone. The only "facts" that it alleges is that Jonathan believes our City Council can "wave a magic wand" and make the hospital reopen.

Really Bill. Is this the best you can do?