 The Struggles Of Advocacy |
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These pages are compiled of a series of articles that I have written in an attempt to promote understanding and solicit empathy for the plight of those that are less fortunate than we are.
In my attempts of changing my community for the better, I have had to learn the hard way - that it is true - some of the "old guard" that comprise what is loosely called the "leadership" of our local community maintain a strong hold on the prevention of positive growth and the nourishment of positive change. The old guard continues, as those that have gone before have set an example that this is the path to success in local politics and social action. I disagree.
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Election 2009 11th Day Countdown - Please Allow Me To Introduce Myself
by
Modesto Bee
Election 2009 11th Day Countdown - Please Allow Me To Introduce Myself
Would you just take a look at that? The format of the title of this article has changed. It's the "th" after the number eleven.
Serving the same function as a period at the end of a sentence, I thought perhaps it could provide the opportunity if you please, to allow me to introduce myself.
Far better, in my own humble opinion, which is naturally based upon my amazing powers of observation, other then some obscure blogger with grandiose delusions of self worth and inner androgenic conflicts.
Or a middle aged weekend warrior who will not look beyond the first two lines of any argument presented to him and will chime in the middle of nowhere with assumptions that only what little he chooses to understand is all there is to understand.
Using the availability and current attention to debate, not even of his own origin, he will proceed to stimulate himself as though he were all alone. Which he is, by the way, probably able to, on his own, foretell what the cause of death will be listed as on his forthcoming death certificate - Auto-Erotica asphyxiation.
I wonder if they will use his own camera to record the scene. They would probably have to clean the lens, adjust the focus and extend the legs of the tripod.
So yes, I am misunderstood. And I suppose it is really all my fault. Though I do accept this fact, I do not fault myself in any way or look upon the statements that this phenomena produces as a negative connotation that may be applied in any way to anything I am or represent short of not providing information comprehensive enough for my slothful critics to fully appreciate.
Just the opposite actually. I revel in failure, because within the ashes and cinders of failed starts and horribly grotesque misses, lies the very building blocks of success. My success, to be exact.
I wrote several articles over the last few years that detailed not only first hand accounts of serious social problems, but my own viewpoints of what I found to be affective, effective, both or neither within our current social, Governmental and judicial systems resulting from some of my own experiences as an activist/advocate.
I sustain little opposition to my opinions, platform and practices as an activist/advocate at this present time.
Of the opposition that I do sustain, the majority is comprised of the claims that I am deceitful or fake in some way and that I have some sort of a devious and/or dangerous agenda that is indeed most hidden and foul.
Many of those that attack me now, have been attacking me for years. And to this day, their arguments remain the same. There really are none that accurately reflect what I am or what I really represent.
Once this is revealed, at any given time, to be the case, often by direct questions posed to the viability of their claims, my written or spoken words will be taken out of context, misconstrued or simply interchanged with much fabrication.
Failing at all these attempts, my statements will eventually be labeled as nothing more than lies. All of my statements.
The trolls scurry back under their radioactively charged mossy rocks and return in single file and also, just like sand people, in greater numbers as well. It's simply sensational.
Meanwhile, if this, in fact, is all you ever see of me, you may be left confused, unwashed and somewhat lightly dazed when you attempt to comprehend just exactly who or what I am.
Ever so often, I take steps back and look at that which is presented by these bon-bon consuming shut-ins.
I find it vexing that I feel at times I am expected to defend those things which I try to share.
Perhaps I misunderstood the platform of the Modesto Bee Hive forum.
Perhaps it is only meant for argument and debate - nothing more.
I thought, and still think that it could be so much more. An educational tool, if you will. But probably not without banning all of the users that are written in a little Steno pad I have, labeled - "Enemies List".
But enough about Barter Town.
Let's talk about me, Robert Stanford some more.
At Scenic and Coffee today, the terrible twos (Anarchistic brats that hand out syringes under the guise of rebellion) had neatly arranged some modified campaign signs.
The first one caught my attention by reading my mind, "Stab Joe Muratore in the face!"
Serpa had been accused of "Protecting the rich!"
And I had been accused of "hating freedom!" See? Misunderstood.
They even changed my slogan from -
"Let's Take Back Our City!"
To
"Let's Eat Shit & Die!"
I saved mine. I thought it was cute.
The others I collected and threw away in a nearby dumpster.
Though I could still slap myself for not just leaving them be, I can still triumphantly proclaim that I, not so much unlike Rod Olsen (the puppet master of the Shopping Cart Princess - Kristen Olsen), threw away my opponents signs today!
But enough about useless ordinances and too little too late campaign promises from someone that takes their cues from what was either the youngest of the family or an only spoiled child, let's talk about me, Robert Stanford some more.
Some have measured the work and dedication of the candidates in the Modesto City Council District Elections Race by the number of signs and amounts of money they have raised, most of which has been funneled by the City of Modesto's most notorious and prominent robber barons - PMZ (Petrulakis, Madison and Zagaris) the heritage and farmland killing machine that has, as I have said before, "destroyed Modesto".
Of course most of these objectors are bloggers as well. The only real difference between them and the group I gently mentioned before, is that these bloggers have day jobs - they are developers including one of my chief opponents - Joe Muratore.
They are not subsidized by our tax dollars for Government aid like the first two I mentioned.
No, they are subsidized by our tax dollars for the express liberty of paving our heritage to the pits of obscurity and hell.
Burn them just like the witches they are, for God's sake. While there is still time.
Or just vote for me. After all, there is no fate but what we make. Let us arm ourselves with the ballot box.
Oh, by the way. AirportProtector? Yeah. That's Joe Muratore for sure.
Ask him some time why the entire Modesto Airport District was specifically excluded from his precious Measure S sales tax scam.
You might also ask him how he can sit on the committee of the Salvation Army Red Shield, yet attempt to win voters in the La Loma neighborhood by promising he will "fix the homeless problem" by shutting down all services to them.
Ask him where the majority of his campaign contributions came from and in what increments.
Instead of asking him what he does for a living, instead, ask him if he is in fact a developer.
But enough about Joe Muratore - Robber Baron to be of Modesto, let's talk some more about me, Robert Stanford.
Me? I am beginning to identify with Smegal from the Lord of the Rings Movie. Everything fades away in search of the prize, yet unlike the little obsessive creature of Tolkein lore, I have anything but forgot my own name.
You know, because I am working so hard on my campaign with the confidence that the fruit of my labors will be rewarded, not so much with the plethora of signs and robo-calls all with designs to herd the voters of my district as though they were so many sheep, but rather that it be rewarded with actual votes, both in confidence, in the post and at the polls.
Not a campaign built of straw promises, but rather one built of solid rock convictions and a mental revolution that sets the resistance to allowing the continuing decay of the City of Modesto's existing infrastructures as well as it's very heritage and spirit.
The defense of my campaign strategy at this particular time would by synonymous to surrendering to verbal torture. Mostly from Joe Muratore and a string of other developer personas on the Modesto Bee Hive blog site as well as the Online Modesto Bee story comment sections.
Not only would they sell their own mothers to make a land use deal. They would ship them COD.
So if you've got some farmland to sell along Kiernan, prove me wrong!
But enough about Joe Muratore. Let's talk about me, Robert Stanford some more!
Not many outside my district, or even within, believe that I will be victorious in this race.
That's good news for me when it comes to hit pieces and bad press from the Modesto Bee (I know, I know, how much worse could it get?)
Every day now, I seem to receive many more assurances. And though I have done my very best to resist consulting my Thoth Celtic Cross Oracle, coupled with unknowing confidence comes a not so certain foreboding, however certainly slight.
Nervousness practically climaxing in the wee hours of the morning, clicking refresh in desperate and anxious successions on the browser page, all to see what the Modesto Bee has this new and sensational day, brought to me to deal with or not.
Like a parental grizzly bear, I lay in wait for the petty definitions or afflictions that I will suffer from that new Sacramento ink.
Always hopeful that I shall always remain - you know, "The Lovable Rascal".
But enough about the Modesto Bee. Let's talk about me, Robert Stanford some more.
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