Eddie's Corner

By now, we’ve all heard about the ill-fated Costa Concordia, the cruise ship that overturned after hitting rocks off the coast of Italy. We’ve also learned of the incompetence of the ship’s captain, Francesco Schettino, for steering the ship onto the rocks, as well as the cowardice of the captain for abandoning ship to save his own neck before the passengers and crew could be safely loaded onto lifeboats.

We’ve been on over a dozen cruises over the last decade. One of the first things that is—and should be—conducted is a mandatory lifeboat drill for all passengers and crew. The purpose of this drill is to familiarize everyone aboard ship with the use of the life jackets, the proper evacuation routes, and the location of the lifeboat muster stations. This is a relatively simple exercise, lasting no more than 15-20 minutes, but is a necessary procedure to avoid serious injury or death in the event of an actual emergency.

Unfortunately, the present rules apparently allow a ship 24 hours from departure to perform this drill. As the Costa Concordia tragedy (which occured only a little over two hours after departure) demonstrated, this is unsatisfactory. In most cases, passengers begin the embarkation process shortly after 12 noon. Upon embarkation, passengers should be immediately notified that the mandatory lifeboat drill will take place approximately an hour prior to sailing, and the ship will not sail unless and until everyone has attended.

Of course, even these precautions will not prevent an incompetent and cowardly captain from running the ship aground and/or abandoning ship, not to mention lying to the passengers regarding the severity of the incident and failing to notify everyone to immediately report to their lifeboat muster stations, but that is another matter entirely, and one that should be handled by the appropriate authorities.

The Honorable Eddie Rose
Former Laguna Niguel (CA) City Councilman
“A Voice—Not an Echo”

Some semblance of justice was served when sexual predator and double-murderer Joran Van Der Sloot received a 28-year sentence by a Peruvian court today, for his admitted killing of 21-year old Stephany Flores in 2010.

Although an incompetent and sympathetic legal system in Aruba allowed Van Der Sloot to escape justice for his prior murder of Natalee Holloway five years to the day before the Flores killing, this time Van Der Sloot’s luck ran out, fittingly on Friday the 13th!

What a pleasure it was to see that scumbag’s smirk wiped off his face as the Peruvian Court read the details of his horrific crime and handed down the sentence. It’s just too bad Van Der Sloot wasn’t eligible for the death penalty.

The Honorable Eddie Rose
Former Laguna Niguel (CA) City Councilman
“A Voice—Not an Echo”

There are plenty of disappointing things to say about President Barack Obama, especially (1) his pandering to illegal aliens in order to appease the Hispanic voting bloc; (2) his allowing BIG OIL to resume drilling in the Gulf of Mexico despite the horrific BP oil spill only a couple of years ago; and (3) his caving in to Republican fat cats by not insisting on tax increases for those making in excess of $250,000 per year.

In short, the Obama presidency has been more “hype” than “hope”. Nevertheless, when Obama does something right, he deserves our praise and admiration. Such is the case with his recess appointment of Richard Cordray to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Cordray’s nomination had been virtually held hostage by big business, the anti-consumer Chamber of Commerce, and their wealthy Republican allies in the United States Senate. Now, with Cordray’s appointment, the American people can feel confident that our interests will be served instead of only the interests of the Wall Street banksters and unscrupulous financial institutions.

The Honorable Eddie Rose
Former Laguna Niguel (CA) City Councilman
“A Voice—Not an Echo”

Yes, some of the “Occupy” protesters may seem dirty (but no dirtier than BIG OIL and their lobbyists). Yes, some of the “Occupy” protesters may look scary (but no scarier than the views of most of the Republican Presidential candidates). Yes, some of the “Occupy” protesters may have hidden agendas (but no more hidden than the agendas of our elected “leaders”).

Nevertheless, the message of the “Occupy” protesters is right on point—namely, that the Wall Street insiders, the big banksters, the mega-corporations, are destroying America with their deceit, their greed, and their lust for power.

But this is still America. We have the constitutional right to peacefully assemble, to air our grievances, and to seek an end to injustice, whenever and wherever it may exist.

So long as the “Occupy” protesters to do not block traffic or necessary ingress and egress to public and private facilities, so long as they don’t interefere with the flow of legal commerce, so long as they do not create a risk to public health and safety—they have every right to protest. It’s a dirty job, but someone’s got to do it!

The Honorable Eddie Rose
Former Laguna Niguel City Councilman
“A Voice—Not an Echo”

On my website www.eddierose.org, I have included a list of NON-supporters, containing the most vile and contemptible individuals and corporations, whose support I would NEVER want or seek. Thus I thought it would be appropriate to prepare a list of my heroes (the GOOD—rather than the Bad or Ugly) whom I admire and respect. Unfortunately, only five (5) persons on this list are stiil alive today. So here is that list, strictly in alphabetical order—

Erin Brockovich
Vincent Bugliosi
Davy Crockett
John Denver
Joe Dimaggio
Walt Disney
Peter Douglas
Barry Goldwater
Paul Harvey
Howard Jarvis
Douglas MacArthur
Jeff MacNelly
Joe McCarthy
Ollie North
Max Rafferty
Teddy Roosevelt
Heath Shuler
Payne Stewart
John Walsh
John Wayne

Kelly Thomas was a 37-year old homeless man. Perhaps his appearance offended some people. Perhaps his seemingly aimless ways scared some people. Perhaps his mental problems gave the police an excuse to regard him as “non-compliant”.

None of these are “criminal” offenses. The Fullerton police had no right to administer “street justice”, to brutally murder Kelly Thomas. If they felt he had broken some law, they should have taken him into custody and let the courts determine his guilt or innocence.

The mission of the police should be “to protect and serve”. The actions of the six out-of-control Fullerton police officers who took it upon themselves to execute Kelly Thomas have given a black eye to law enforcement.

It is unfortunate that Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas only decided tp pursue criminal charges against two of the six officers involved, Manuel Ramos, accused of second-degree murder, and Jay Cicinelli, accused of the lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter. At the very least, the other four officers should have been charged with conspiracy and/or excessive use of force, if not involuntary manslaughter.

The people of Orange County should be legitimately concerned that Rackauckas will “blow” this case, much the same way Los Angeles County District Attorney Gil Garcetti “blew” the Rodney King beating case, as well as the OJ Simpson murders, by allowing sympathetic juries to be impaneled. After all, it is clear that the only reasons Rackauckas filed any charges at all was (1) to further his own already tarnished image; and (2) because the FBI was ready to step in if Rackauckas didn’t act.

Epilogue—The three Fullerton City Councilmembers (Richard Jones, Don Bankhead, and Pat McKinley) who tried to sweep this entire matter under the rug should be recalled. Had it not been for some alert citizens who caught this horrific execution on videotape and came forward, these six Fullerton police officers would have gotten away with their crime. Kudos also should go to KFI/640 AM radio’s John Kobyit and Ken Chiampou (John and Ken) for bringing this matter to the public’s attention.

The Honorable Eddie Rose
Former Laguna Niguel City Councilman
“A Voice—Not an Echo”

When Barack Obama was running for President in 2008, his campaign slogan was “Change”! And “Change” was indeed what this country needed. “Change” from the eight years of corruption and evil of the Bush-Cheney regime.

But what have we gotten in the 2 1/2 years since Obama took office? Pandering to the Hispanic voting bloc by refusing to crack down on illegal aliens. Pandering to Muslim extremists by telling Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to give back territory that rightfully belongs to Israel. Pandering to BIG OIL by letting them drill in the Arctic and the Gulf of Mexico—this after British Petroleum (BP) created the worst oil spill disaster in history. And now, pandering to corporate polluters by relaxing smog standards, thus endangering public health and safety, under the guise of “getting the economy going”.

We didn’t get “change”. All we got was an unscrupulous President who has shown he will do anything to get re-elected. If nothing else, Obama has proven he is indeed the “Panderer-in-Chief”. Shame, Mr. Obama. You may have fooled us in 2008, but you won’t get my vote in 2012.

And neither will any of the Republican charlatans running for President—Perry, Palin, Bachmann, et al—get my vote. The middle class, the independent voter, has NO representation in government today. Change? What change? It’s still business-as-usual, no matter which corrupt political party is in office.

The Honorable Eddie Rose
Former Laguna Niguel (CA) City Councilman
“A Voice—Not an Echo”

I never cease to be amazed at the extent to which certain city “fathers” (or maybe it should be city “fuhrers”) will go in order to impose their perverted sense of Political Correctness (PC) upon us.

Now comes a story out of Oak Park, Michigan (a suburb of Detroit), where city “leaders” have decided to prosecute (or maybe a better term would be “persecute”) a woman for having the audacity to plant vegetables in her front yard!

First the woman was given a written warning by the city’s code “enforcers”. Then came a citation. Next was a misdemeanor charge that could put her in jail for 90 days!

Apparently the city of Oak Park, in its twisted “logic”, thinks only grass, and non-fruit and non-vegetable bearing plants, bushes, and trees are “suitable” for front yards. Sounds like something right out of a Homeowner Association (HOA) manual or a Karl Marx manifesto!

Just think. In the same week when a psychotic young woman who murdered her two-year old daughter in Florida was given a “get-out-of-jail card” by an incompetent jury, another woman could go to jail for growing vegetables in her front yard!

I believe it was Lenin who once opined that if America falls, it will be from within. Lenin certainly would have been proud of the Oak Park city government!

The Honorable Eddie Rose
Former Laguna Niguel (CA) City Councilman
“A Voice—Not an Echo”

In a great victory for the people of California, a San Diego Superior Court has struck down a Dana Point city ordinance which illegally attempted to restrict access hours to Dana Strand Beach.

Duh! What part of PUBLIC beach don’t these city fathers (and mothers) understand? PUBLIC beaches are just that. They belong to all of us—not just the elite homeowners who happen to live next to the beach.

The City of Dana Point, under the guise of “nuisance abatement”, enacted its ordinance in an attempt to circumvent the Coastal Act, which was approved by California voters nearly 40 years ago. Cities are not above the law. As the Court correctly ruled, if a city wants an exemption (from the Coastal Act), it must first obtain a coastal permit just like everyone else.

The Honorable Eddie Rose
Former Laguna Niguel (CA) City Councilman
“A Voice—Not an Echo”

When I served on the Laguna Niguel (CA) City Council from 1994-1998, I was at the forefront of efforts to stop the proposed commercial airport at the old El Toro Marine base. Instead, I supported a “Great Park” concept, along the lines of Griffith Park in Los Angeles, one which included vast open space, with walking, bicycle and equestrian trails, natural wetlands, a wildlife refuge, botanical gardens, sports facilities, such as golf courses and softball fields, picnic grounds, children’s play areas, cultural venues, and much more. This concept was eventually approved by the voters, and plans for the commercial airport were relegated to the scrapheap where they belonged.

This was the promise to the residents of Orange County. Now, thanks to back-room dealing by the Great Park’s Board of Directors and the Lennar Corporation (the Great Park’s major developer), the proverbial bait-and-switch has taken place, The proposed golf course is gone. In its place—more unneeded and unwanted housing. And now, the proposed nature preserve has also been scratched—apparently replaced by an FBI shooting range! What will be next?

This is why voters regard appointed political hacks as being in the same slimepit with car dealers, developers, plumbers, and Wall Street banksters. When voters approved the Great Park concept, we did so for more open space—not an extension of urban sprawl. It’s time to seriously consider making the Great Park Board of Directors an elective office, thus replacing the existing Board with honest and competent individuals, dedicated to promoting the vision of the people of Orange County, and not just continuing “business-as-usual”.

The Honorable Eddie Rose
Former Laguna Niguel (CA) City Councilman
“A Voice—Not an Echo”