This is the post, sent out by ABATE of Florida, I found in my in box upon my return from Bike night last night. I operated on the assumption that based on previous posts and notes that ABATE could not possibly assert that this bill was dead were it not. After all, would not their credibility as an MRO that issues dictates to cease calls to those who would infringe upon our rights be seriously jeopardized. Due to such I posted on the B&R forum that the bill was dead, based on this info.Sent: Thursday, October 11, 2007 7:34 PM (it arrived in mailbox at 10:48pm) Subject: newzzz HB137 - no more calls please Primary list……. Thanks to those who have or are contacting their legislators, Doc is still receiving calls from legislators asking if we can shut down calls. At this time, please consider HB137 dead, he has had meetings about it, and again with the sponsor. This particular bill is not going to present us a problem and even if you continue to see it on the web, please consider it squared away but here are some important notes: -Please do not call any more legislators offices about it -Would still be good to have letters sent to your own legislators or the sponsor noting your discontent, but no more calls, faxes or emails at this time please -Please encourage members who are writing or talking about this bill with their elected officials about HB137 NOT to talk about it being unfair if you are rolling with the flow of traffic. Out official position is the legislation is discriminatory but we do not want to send the message that we think it is ok to exceed the speed limit by 30mph. That is something we do not want to be on record for. Know that the sponsor is new to the legislature and is generally an ABATE supporter, but he is trying to crack down on the flyboy/flygirl stunt riders or anyone racing around and riding wheelie.
The above post was followed shortly thereafter by a post to me arriving in my mailbox at 11: 56 pm. It is printed here in it's entirety w/ my replies to the comments (note, I stuggled with posting this, until I called Representative Lopez-Cantera's office this am and was told that, in fact, the bill had not been pulled. and checked the Infrastructure Committee site to find that it was HB137 was still posted):
Re: ABATE of Florida president continues to do what????????????????? From: statelegislative@abateflorida.com Hide To: rckimnama@aol.com and 38 others Thu, 11 Oct 2007 11:56 pm From: rckimnama@aol.com Hide To: statelegislative@abateflorida.com and 38 others Fri, 12 Oct 2007 1:41 am
RC
JEFF: Communications do not have to funtion in this manner. I very recently adderessed similar questions and concerns without any combative or derogatory flavor. Even though this is the first one I have had this displeasure of reviewing in awhile, I am long weary of your personal tirade/attack or whatever you call it.
ME: First Jeff I want to say that I have always respected the work you do. I think you know that. And you are right, communication would not have to function in this manner were "certain members" more open and honest and less manipulative re their actions. And please not that I said "certain members" . AS I have stated before on various forums that I believe ABATE of Florida has some very dedicated and hard working people with in it's ranks.
JEFF: The only reason I am pausing in the middle of some research to even respond is that wrestling each other lightens the soul of those who work against us in that it is that much less collective energy we have to focus against their efforts. Ours will never be a world where we will find agreement on everything and while I can be unhappy about things or even Doc himself, the key to our success is not about who is right or wrong about something we disagree on, it is about how well we can navigate though those to work together on the things we do agree on.
ME: Again Jeff, I would agree with you completely on that point. But when a president of an organization turns against those that would voice dissent, then please do not ask me to sit quietly with my head bowed. For informational purposes, though I am not real sure what the reasons are, but it may be that some of the BOD have been insulated for so long that they are not aware there are a great many who have no idea what ABATE is up to (including D.O.T.) and many others who trust it even less. I can only guess that it has been a history of shouting down, intimidation (or attempting to), stifling dissent, criticizing members who attempt to further or clarify the ABATE agenda and then betray those that are expected to offer support. Changing mission statements and names for political correctness, sacrificing "brotherhood" for dollars will always cost dear.
JEFF: If collusion is your word, so be it, if we are working in the legislature in grassroots efforts, that does include some back and forth to succeed. How would a lobbylist proceed without intereaction on issues.
ME: The contract indicates that the lobbyist works for the members. He violated member directive when he voted for hands free exemption on the cell phone bill. At the meeting in Naples it was obvious he was looking for permission to do that (ya aint dumb Jeff I know you recognized it). He didn't get it so he put himself above the membership.
JEFF: If the territory thing is about this particular issue, this is elementary in that when we feel like we have a handle on something, we do not have to spend a lot of extra time and trouble here and can fixate elsewhere.
ME: As you said previously there may be those that have other ideas and or input. To discount on the presumption that ABATE has all the answers has been and will be ABATES downfall.
JEFF: The type of communication I see from you both with the office and in this message I do feel hinders our work and even that relationship we are still trying to cultivate. Regardless, if such a bill is resurrected becasue of this, it still cannot become a law without passing through committees to even get to legislative bodies.
ME: Correct. The law is bogus, you know it I know it everybody knows it. To even deal with a man who thinks the solution to a problem is to confiscate "personal property" other than to seek his removal from office only adds credibility to a patently unAmerican principle.
JEFF: I would not have circulated information in regard to this situation if I did not firmly believe that it was effectively addressed. Our position is clearly that singling out motorcycles is unacceptable. While your personal attacks on him never seem to cease, I am not clear on from what basis you would conclude I would be misleading you or anyone else. There is no organizational motive to do so and I certainly stand nothing to gain personally for such.
ME: How would we know Jeff.?.........us common folk rarely hear anything from Doc other than how stupid we are and how anything that it is accomplished is by his doing. When a little research easily puts those myths to rest. But as I said above I do respect you and consider you an intelligent person. So you tell me Jeff, how did otherwise reasonable people allow your president to ram through his election to lobbyist, while violating every parliamentary law in existence, with a contract that has no performance criteria of note and no exit strategy for lack of performance. How did an organization that began as being against totalitarian enactments become so totalitarian. To the extent that it now feels it can even tell non members what to do?
JEFF: If you have messages to simply discredit our work and cry about what an sob Doc is, know that I long ago had my fill of it. This is not beacasue I am thin-skinned. Not a single week goes by that I do not learn how better to do or say something, sometimes from people I do not even know.
ME: I don't cry Jeff, I fight back. I am sorry if you perceive my actions as such. You can choose to believe this or not. Know that as you have had your fill others have had theirs. Discount for a moment if you can what you perceive as crying and discrediting and check out my site, read my newsletters, see what I am doing. Is it so divorced from your goals. Other than I have seen the results of "political correctness" and it has been to castrate the rights movement to the extent the people run over us w/ impunity. IF you have read my site, you know I back up my conclusions with research. It is my sincerest hope that you have not adopted Docs attitude that everyone other than himself is dumb as a rock.
JEFF: We do remain the imperfect beings tasked with carrying out an important charge, but this is the horse Florida road in on and despite the mass of NHTSA propaganda that continue to be tossed, there have not even been bills introduced to attempt to undo some of our accomplishments. There remain reasons for that which have nothing to do with the opposition's lack of want-to.
ME: Share them with me/us. Do not expect me or many others to blindly follow or trust that which has been proven to be untrustworthy. If their is some madness or excuse or reason behind the lies and deceit that would further the cause, share them. But do not ever expect me to follow blindly. And whether or not you had anything to do with it do not think for a moment I can not still smell the stink of betrayal resulting from the last ABATE campground. Maybe you aren't aware of it. And maybe there are those stupid enough to think I am not aware of it.
JEFF: While we are marching toward possibly the biggest challenge we have ever faced, please consider taking a break from your tirade unti May so we can focus positive energies in the direction that will help rather than hinder or distract.
ME: I will weigh your words Jeff because they come from you. But know this, there is an swelling of people that are tired of legislative impotence who understand that when out gunned, out manned and out financed one must adapt and change tactics to survive. And with all due respect to you and others whom I respect within ABATE, If the B.O.D. and the membership who are Doc's boss can not reign him in, if I keep hearing my name being dissed (as it was in Naples for doing exactly what we are supposed to do) in places like South Carolina, and other areas the war will only escalate and I will not retreat, surrender or compromise.
I would respectfully ask you to ask yourself how this current situation came about. Then ask yourself why it is I should stand down. I owe to the cause. To the cause I will pay. To Doc I owe nothing. I will always weigh your words. It might be nice if you would offer the same consideration. rcAdd to Technorati Favorites
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