Who would have thought that the real estate mogul
turned reality star turned Presidential candidate would take a trip to the
South Bay and talk up his Presidential campaign? Of course, The Donald has
stamped his mark in the region already. He owns a golf course in Palos
Verdes (once the most expensive real estate in the country, where residents
got into a horizon fight, because
he wanted the American flag standing tall. Ocean front views cost money,
and residents will fight for it in city councils and courtrooms. Besides, why
wouldn’t a Presidential candidate venture a visit to liberal Los Angeles, with
one the largest media markets in the country, and a frequent stop for naval and
sea trade operations? Governor
then President Ronald Reagan made his mark in this port city, which
consolidated with Los Angeles in 1909 (although the City of Angeles established
its Harbor Commissions two years prior).
turned reality star turned Presidential candidate would take a trip to the
South Bay and talk up his Presidential campaign? Of course, The Donald has
stamped his mark in the region already. He owns a golf course in Palos
Verdes (once the most expensive real estate in the country, where residents
got into a horizon fight, because
he wanted the American flag standing tall. Ocean front views cost money,
and residents will fight for it in city councils and courtrooms. Besides, why
wouldn’t a Presidential candidate venture a visit to liberal Los Angeles, with
one the largest media markets in the country, and a frequent stop for naval and
sea trade operations? Governor
then President Ronald Reagan made his mark in this port city, which
consolidated with Los Angeles in 1909 (although the City of Angeles established
its Harbor Commissions two years prior).
!["Boundaries]("https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/05/Map_of_San_Pedro%2C_California.jpg") |
| San Pedro, CA (Los Angeles Times) |
Moreover, San Pedro, CA is living history. In the
largest port in the United States, from its Gabrielino native populations to
its rags-to-riches developer, pro-Union Democrat Phineas Banning, San Pedro
residents have a strong self-consciousness about their city. Almost everyone
who lives here was born here. In the early 1900s, Upton Sinclair, running for
Governor as a self-avowed socialist (Bernie Sanders, anyone?) was arrested for
speaking out against perceived corruption and inciting violence among
dockworkers. The Ku Klux Klan once marched brazenly down the main thoroughfares
of the city, and today, one of the most radical left-wing labor unions, the
International Longshore and Warehouse Union, dominates the shipping industry
and local politics.
largest port in the United States, from its Gabrielino native populations to
its rags-to-riches developer, pro-Union Democrat Phineas Banning, San Pedro
residents have a strong self-consciousness about their city. Almost everyone
who lives here was born here. In the early 1900s, Upton Sinclair, running for
Governor as a self-avowed socialist (Bernie Sanders, anyone?) was arrested for
speaking out against perceived corruption and inciting violence among
dockworkers. The Ku Klux Klan once marched brazenly down the main thoroughfares
of the city, and today, one of the most radical left-wing labor unions, the
International Longshore and Warehouse Union, dominates the shipping industry
and local politics.
In 2002, already fighting a war against terrorism
and embracing a shaken economy, President George W. Bush stepped in during a
massive labor dispute between the Pacific Maritime Association and the ILWU.
Invoking the Taft-Hartley Act, Bush
forced everyone to go back to work, ending the backlog of trade. Before
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, there was George Walker Bush forcing unions to
behave.
and embracing a shaken economy, President George W. Bush stepped in during a
massive labor dispute between the Pacific Maritime Association and the ILWU.
Invoking the Taft-Hartley Act, Bush
forced everyone to go back to work, ending the backlog of trade. Before
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, there was George Walker Bush forcing unions to
behave.
San Pedro was also one of the most solidly
Republican sections in Los Angeles County. Despite the strong Democratic Hahn
machine (From LA County Supervisor Kenneth Hahn to his former mayor son James
and ambitious daughter Janice), Republicans have won their fair share of
fights. A San
Pedro dentist named Gerald Felando unseated long-time Machine Democrat
Vincent Thomas (after whom the San Pedro-Long Beach bridge is named). Felando
faced 100-to-1 odds, with little money, yet shocked the political talking heads.
LA City Council members from San Pedro were Republicans, too, including
Joan Milke Flores, who nearly defeated “moderate” Democrat Jane Harman in
1992. Either way, it would have been the Year of the Woman in the South Bay. To
this day, a common phrase among port residents: “In San Pedro, we vote
Democrat, but think Republican.”
Hopefully they will start voting the way they think really soon.
Republican sections in Los Angeles County. Despite the strong Democratic Hahn
machine (From LA County Supervisor Kenneth Hahn to his former mayor son James
and ambitious daughter Janice), Republicans have won their fair share of
fights. A San
Pedro dentist named Gerald Felando unseated long-time Machine Democrat
Vincent Thomas (after whom the San Pedro-Long Beach bridge is named). Felando
faced 100-to-1 odds, with little money, yet shocked the political talking heads.
LA City Council members from San Pedro were Republicans, too, including
Joan Milke Flores, who nearly defeated “moderate” Democrat Jane Harman in
1992. Either way, it would have been the Year of the Woman in the South Bay. To
this day, a common phrase among port residents: “In San Pedro, we vote
Democrat, but think Republican.”
Hopefully they will start voting the way they think really soon.
Now, back to the Donald.
On the USS Iowa, a retired warship which has
splashed ashore in San Pedro, making waves and surging pride for this South Bay
community, Trump was supposed to deliver a national security speech. Most of
his talks have turned into meandering, repeat-button “look at me” tirades, and without exception this
one delivered on its failure to deliver. He kept talking about
making deals. “I make deals.” Big deal. The Iran Deal is one of the worst. We
all know that.
splashed ashore in San Pedro, making waves and surging pride for this South Bay
community, Trump was supposed to deliver a national security speech. Most of
his talks have turned into meandering, repeat-button “look at me” tirades, and without exception this
one delivered on its failure to deliver. He kept talking about
making deals. “I make deals.” Big deal. The Iran Deal is one of the worst. We
all know that.
To his credit, he credited the warm invite from the Veterans
for a Strong America to speak at the USS Iowa. He talked about offering
subsidized private health care for veterans. Actually, that is a great idea. No
warrior for the United States should suffer in silence or succumb to death
waiting for health care. He slammed the current policy which grants
taxpayer-funded health care to illegal aliens instead of American citizens. This
country has seen what government health care does: nothing. If our nation’s
finest cannot get adequate treatment or medical attention from a byzantine
bureaucracy, what can ordinary Americans expect from a similar single-payer
system? By the way, Trump remains a singular standout, supporting government
run health care. My answer? “You’re fired!”
for a Strong America to speak at the USS Iowa. He talked about offering
subsidized private health care for veterans. Actually, that is a great idea. No
warrior for the United States should suffer in silence or succumb to death
waiting for health care. He slammed the current policy which grants
taxpayer-funded health care to illegal aliens instead of American citizens. This
country has seen what government health care does: nothing. If our nation’s
finest cannot get adequate treatment or medical attention from a byzantine
bureaucracy, what can ordinary Americans expect from a similar single-payer
system? By the way, Trump remains a singular standout, supporting government
run health care. My answer? “You’re fired!”
And yes, he wants to build a wall between the United
States and Mexico, and make Mexicans pay for it. How now? Some conservatives
have suggested a tax on remittances from America to Mexico: a concrete
proposal, to say the least. What would
Donald do?
States and Mexico, and make Mexicans pay for it. How now? Some conservatives
have suggested a tax on remittances from America to Mexico: a concrete
proposal, to say the least. What would
Donald do?
Of course, there
were protesters, who like Trump engaged in heated rhetoric and denounced
his controversial comments about the rate of criminals crossing the border and
wreaking havoc in American cities. This country deserves high praise for
permitting such heated controversy among divergent political forces, and yet
peace holds steady as the norm. The most disturbing protest centered on a state
senator (just elected last year in a quiet special election), who exploited
Trumps’ histrionic exploits to promote his unconstitutional resolution:
divestment California from Donald Trump and Trump Enterprises. His
legislation, all show and no go, is against the law.
were protesters, who like Trump engaged in heated rhetoric and denounced
his controversial comments about the rate of criminals crossing the border and
wreaking havoc in American cities. This country deserves high praise for
permitting such heated controversy among divergent political forces, and yet
peace holds steady as the norm. The most disturbing protest centered on a state
senator (just elected last year in a quiet special election), who exploited
Trumps’ histrionic exploits to promote his unconstitutional resolution:
divestment California from Donald Trump and Trump Enterprises. His
legislation, all show and no go, is against the law.
!["Donald]("https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4b/Donald_Trump_September_3_2015.jpg/800px-Donald_Trump_September_3_2015.jpg") |
| Donald Trump (Michael Vadon) |
I could not attend Trump’s speech ($100 to $1000 a
ticket, and I was working). Besides, I would like a Presidential candidate with
a record of service, in government as well as private practice. I want someone
who talks and walks conservative principles, consistently.
ticket, and I was working). Besides, I would like a Presidential candidate with
a record of service, in government as well as private practice. I want someone
who talks and walks conservative principles, consistently.
Despite my
strong and growing misgivings about
Donald Trump (and more of my fellow South Bay conservative feel the same
way about him), I have to admit: this showman knows how to show up opponents
and put on a show. I look forward to attending and reviewing the second debate
in Simi Valley, where record and character of his political competitors will
show up the showman, and prove that indeed actions speak louder than words, especially
when your words are heavy on patriotism and light on substance. San Pedrans
understand as much about their politicians (many of whom are homegrown with
stellar records and rhetoric), and hopefully this down-home expectation from
South Bay, CA for our national leaders will permeate among all American voters
in the months ahead.
strong and growing misgivings about
Donald Trump (and more of my fellow South Bay conservative feel the same
way about him), I have to admit: this showman knows how to show up opponents
and put on a show. I look forward to attending and reviewing the second debate
in Simi Valley, where record and character of his political competitors will
show up the showman, and prove that indeed actions speak louder than words, especially
when your words are heavy on patriotism and light on substance. San Pedrans
understand as much about their politicians (many of whom are homegrown with
stellar records and rhetoric), and hopefully this down-home expectation from
South Bay, CA for our national leaders will permeate among all American voters
in the months ahead.