In the past we have invited ABATE members who can refute our claims and/or mention something of significance (pertaining to the state and bikers rights) that ABATE of Florida has accomplished and we would print it. We have a long standing policy of not censoring comments and being willing to present opposing views that contain documentation that adds credence to the post.
Late last night I opened an e-mail from ABATE of Florida's president, Paul Antonio, accusing me of deleting a post and not keeping my word. It was the first I had seen of the post. So as here I will post his allegations in their entirety. To avoid having to post it twice I will respond to the allegation and misstatements in red. I find this time consuming and a waste of resources. But I also feel it imperative that, since ABATE of Florida has in the past or maybe now received state dollars, that we document what is and what ain't. Especially since this comes from an ABATE of Florida officer. We are printing it exactly as we received it:
From:
Forestpresident@wmconnect.com Hide
To:
Bruce@LdrLongDistanceRider.comDate:
Wed, Aug 12, 2009 10:56 p
BRUCE YOU ARE A FUCKING A*@HOLE AND A LIAR!
I POSTED ON YOUR SITE LDRLONGDISTANCERIDER.COMTHE TRUTH, RC CLAIMED THAT ANYONE THAT COULD POINT OUT ANYTHING POSITIVE THAT ABATE HAS DONE HE WOULD POST. YET YOU REMOVED IT.
LIARS!
As I advised Mr. Antonio, I co-moderate Bruce and rc's biker forum. As such many of our posts get cross post when dealing with similiar topics. It is entirely possible that one of my posts inviting feedback from ABATE members got posted on the forum. If that did happen and feedback got sent to the forum I have not seen it. And surely did not delete or would not be posting it here.
NOW YOU HAVE TO E-MAIL MY ENTIRE BOARD OF DIRECTORS? BECAUSE YOU ARE SO AFRAID OF THE TRUTH! COWARD!
It would appear that Bruce did send a copy of his e-mail to his BOD.
YOU DONT HAVE TIME TO DEAL WITH ME, YET YOU HAVE TIME TO PASS OUT LIES. YOU ARE ANTI AMERICAN, YOU TURN YOUR BACK ON YOUR BROTHER AND SISTER RIDERS, YOU CLAIM YOU WANT TO MEET ME AND RESOLVE OUR PROBLEMS YET YOU KNOW WHEN AND WHERE OUR CHAPTER MEETS AND NOT ONCE HAVE YOU TRIED TO BRING YOUR LYING ASS THERE. AND I DONT WANT TO EVEN SEE YOU.
MY POST WAS ABOUT RC, YET YOU STICK YOUR NOSE INTO IT. TO WHAT PROTECT RC FROM THE TRUTH?
THEN YOU DELETE MY POSTS FROM YOUR SITE, WHICH SOME TIME AGO YOU CLAIMED YOU COULD NOT, AND WOULD NEVER DO, SO AGAIN I PROVE YOU ARE A LIAR.
WHY DONT YOU PLEASE JUST GO PLAY IN TRAFFIC. MAYBE ONE OF THOSE CAGERS THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO PROTECT WILL NOT SEE YOU...
So now that the Forest Chapter President of ABATE of Florida has that out of his system we proceed with the rest of his post:
For those that are not aware RC is the person fully responsible for killing our stiffer penalties bill. He went to Tallahassee and spoke against the bill, then he claims that he does not fully understand how the system works. so when the bill dies in committee he chooses to put all the blame on ABATE of Florida, Inc. and our lobbyist.
Were it just an "I" that resulted in the bill being killed I would be less proud than I am of the fact that it was a number of motorcyclists representing various groups including independents who went to the capital to support the bill, but ended up opposing it based on it's dilution. We have heard that the bill failed because it was poorly written.
It maybe that the legislature saw that The ABATE of Florida President/lobbyist does not, as he so often claims, speak for "ALL" Florida motorcyclists. It may also be, as I am prone to believe that the legislature has no intention of passing a stiifer penalties bill of any worth.
However here are the links that document the actions taken by all parties:
Unlike some others I have no problem admitting that there are many things I need to learn. Learning the corrupt, backdoor, ass kissing ways of the legislative system is not one of them. I much prefer up front and in your face. That way Mr. Antonio, had you been there, you would know exactly what I said and in which context.
RC also arrived at the capital (which ABATE of Florida, Inc. had pulled the permits to allow us to park on the capital grounds) while the rest of us were still lining up at the campground. when it was pointed out to the capital police that he and his crew were not there to set up and they were not with the ride they were refused the right to park on the capital grounds.
Once again Mr. Antonio you were not there. So rather hear it from me how about we hear from an eyewitness who was there originally posted here on 4-14-09:
WHAT A MORNING IT WAS...!!! I woke up this morning early so I could attend the Rally at the Capital and show some plain old biker brother/or sisterhood support in my case to help get stiffer punishments in Florida for bikers who get killed everyday by people in autos though negligent driving.
Be it running red lights, stop signs, failing to yield, cell phone talkers etc...
Living in Wakulla County I hooked up with a friend of mine who lives in St. Marks and was going to attend as well so we planned to ride into Tallahassee together. According to the advertisements put out by ABATE OF FL. the public was welcomed...well I guess they forgot to mention R.C. in their ad.
We were both on our Harley's and pulled up to the Capital where the chain is that you can drive in and up to the Capital steps...we got there early, again to show support and low and behold the experience began.
A police officer walked our way unlocking the chain so we could drive on in (now remember this is about 9 AM in heavy traffic) but as he was about to undo the chain a fat dude in an orange shirt ran up to him and "ordered" him not to let us in. He then stated that R.C. was not welcomed there nor was he allowed to enter.
So I ask this same fat dude if I could enter as he didn't know me and I didn't know him but because he saw that I was riding up with R.C. he asked me if I was an ABATE member. I told him that I use to be when I lived in CA. and even showed him my old CA. ABATE patch I am still wearing on my vest...he then ask me if I was intending to join FL.ABATE.
My response to him was that I might consider it but I wanted to check it out first as I had never attended a local ABATE rally or meeting before.
He looked over at RC again and said he didn't think I intended to join because of RC. I then told him that I was not RC's wife and that I had a opened mind about this and made my own choices about what I do without R.C.'s influence or anyone elses... I also muttered something about this being a free country...getting madder as, this dude so clearly was going to hold something personal re: RC against me.
Hell, I can't help what RC does...bless his great big heart for wanting to always go after the TRUTH! AND TELL IT LIKE IT REALLY IS....so still in the middle of all this traffic I saw it was pointless to try to talk intelligently with this red neck jerk who calls himself "BIG MIKE" the only thing big I saw about this guy was his belly...but he must be proud of it...so to stop my ranting here and now...RC and I went to our own little special parking spot very close to the capital and walked in from there.
We found this spot because we have been attending the senate meetings again, trying to help get stiffer penalties for dead bikers! There was also a mother of an 18 year old dead biker hit by someone failing to yield the right of way there who has also been attending these meetings, I think she and RC have been attending them for the last 3 years in memory and on behalf of her son, therefore giving him a voice, but according to the speech made on the Capital Steps by "Doc" these were his laws written by him only and other people jumping in to try and fight all for the same purpose are not welcomed to do so according to the life of "Doc".
Can't he get it? How can he not? We all want the same thing...But he wants all the glory...I don't give a damn who gets the glory....what I do give a damn is WHO, WHEN AND HOW the people at fault for all these deaths get the punishment!!!! Hollywood
When the flag ceremony began RC turned his back, he claims he turned his back on Doc. Yet I see it as him turning his back on the American flag and everything it stands for and turning his back on the brothers and sisters that showed up to fight for there rights.
The year before last I turned my back to Doc and raised an American Flag during his speech. I do not remember if I turned my back on him this year or not. If I didn't my bad as I should have. My observation is that many who attend the rally leave for home without going into the capital. Last year two of us stood at the capital door to try and get an accurate count of how many actually did go into the capital. It became too difficult as many went in and then came right back out with coffee. Maybe that is it.
Maybe they were fighting for coffee.
Then I pointed out how our organization has in 2000 gotten an insurance provision to allow freedom of choice, and how for 10 years we have protected that freedom.
You are correct your organization got an insurance provision for a law that the Florida Courts had already declared unconstitutional? I am sure the insurance companies appreciate the premiums they would not otherwise have received were not for your help. You also left out the 18 to 21 year olds Who serve overseas but are not allowed to choose whether or not to wear a helmet. Do what your organization did was take a clean repeal and turn it into a modified law. Congratulations. If you would like to know the whole history of the Florida Motorcycle Helmet repeal Mr. Antonio might I suggest you start here, it is very long my bet is you won't read it:
Further I pointed out how our chapter, working with others fought to keep back yard motorcycle dirt tracks.
Sorry, that one doesn't fit the criteria
Then I pointed out how in 2008 our organization fought HB137, removing the confiscation of motorcycle for speeding, and how we changed "motorcycle to motor vehicle."
Then I point out that while the tag portion blind sided everyone in 2008, in 2009 ABATE of Florida, Inc. worked hard and got the vertical license tag repealed.
I have no idea what your organization did. Three persons attended those committee meetings speaking against HB137 (which was eventually rolled into 1992). So in that respect the "we" part of your statement has some validity. From the get go the committee members were uncomfortable with the "seizure of personal property" aspect of the bill and directed Lopez-Canterra to fix it. We have also posted a letter from Lopez-Canterra stating that your President/lobbyist was working with him from the beginning on this bill. It was in "THAT BILL" that the tag wording was present! It "blindsided" nobody. Your President/lobbyist is on record supporting that bill. He also shouted from the back of a committee meeting that "all motorcyclists" supported that bill after I addressed the committee advocating that they kill the bill. Between this site and Bruce and rc's Forum HB137 and1992 could possibly two of the most documented motorcycle bills you will find. See:
http://blogsearch.google.com/blogsearch?oe=utf8&ie=UTF-8&safe=active&hl=en&q=HB137+blogurl:http://www.bigbendbikersforfreedom.com/&sa=N&start=0
and
http://blogsearch.google.com/blogsearch?oe=utf8&ie=utf8&safe=active&source=uds&start=0&hl=en&q=1992+blogurl%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.bigbendbikersforfreedom.com%2Fhttp://blogsearch.google.com/blogsearch?oe=utf8&ie=utf8&safe=active&source=uds&start=0&hl=en&q=1992+blogurl%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.bigbendbikersforfreedom.com%2F
You may wish to keep in mind that it was your president/lobbyist that told people HB137 was dead and to quit writing their legislators about it. It is all documented in the links above. You can choose to read them and learn or continue to regurgitate what you are told and remain ignorant.
These two cowards like to blame others when they make mistakes, and they have proven to hate and will continue to try to disrupt our organization. Both of them were members of ABATE of Florida, Inc. and both had their membership rights stripped away for passing lies and being disruptive.
This paragraph in particular demonstrates that your ignorance of your own organizations actions should have barred you from ever becoming a chapter president. I can only conclude nobody else wanted the position.
I resigned from ABATE of Florida. I did so for two reasons:
A. I learned the truth of ABATE of Florida as it operates under James D. Reichenbach
B. I looked a the number of people that actually did anything in comparison to those who did little to nothing and saw it as what it is, a sham. An illusion based on some peoples dreams that has little to do with reality.
Besides being the President of the Big Bend Chapter I also put out the chapter newsletter. I continued to put it out at my own expense after my resignation as the chapter had collected advertising revenue and was not putting out a new letter as per by laws. I have continued putting out a monthly newsletter under a different name since that time. The chapter has since sold more advertising for a newsletter that, in violation of the by laws no longer put out.
If I was "stripped" of my membership I was never notified as per by-laws and have no knowledge of it. Maybe you can document something I am not aware of. I invite you to do so.
Bruce was "stripped" of his "life" membership in violation of the by-laws. I attempted to attend that meeting but before I could dismount from my Bike was met by two of you Sgt. of Arms advising me I would not be allowed into a meeting that was advertised as "Open to the public".
You speak of "Cowardice." Then why is it that your chickenshit organization goes to such lengths to try and ban me from their events? What are you all afraid off?
I try to routinely monitor their web site and I just got so fed up I wanted to post the truth, and this is how Bruce Arnold responds.
I am sorry that Bruce choose to involve the BOD, and hope everyone can spot the truth.
You obviously do not try to hard or you would be aware of all the info that has been printed in this post that you are unaware of. So in that respect I would have to say that you are either a liar or incapable of understanding simplicity.
Thank You all. Paul "ANIMAL" Antonio Forest Chapter President
Thank You "Animal." At great expense of my own time and energy you have now received what you have requested. Should you actually have the balls to read it in it's entirety, including the links that document where you might have be about a half bubble off plumb, please feel free to demonstrate/document the error of our ways and we will be glad to print that also.
However, if you do not read this in it's entirety including the links please do not write again as I will not waste my time trying to educate somebody who has no desire to learn.Add to Technorati Favorites
