The hatred between the two political parties, primarily emanating from the right side of the aisle is just a huge turn off to me and for those reasons I just felt that entering into the political fray was a total waste of time and energy. I am hopeful, foolishly I think, that things will change now that President Obama is a lame duck but since those on the right side of the aisle really have no viable candidates to put up right now they have already started their hate campaign towards the next round of probable democratic candidates for President, primarily one Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Oh well, they need something to do because they sure aren't doing their jobs and legislating that is for sure. And let us not forget that their approval rating is barely in double digits. This approval rating is one that they have earned in my opinion.

On Feb. 25, Mayor Foster carried out one of the worst kept secrets in town when he took part in a little press event at Colorado Lagoon and gave his endorsement to Vice-Mayor Robert Garcia. So why, and why now? Speculation abounds on this, including my own. I am sure Mayor Foster won't answer this question as this has been his modus operandi for well over a year now when he kept telling prospective political candidates for mayor that he would announce his political intentions of whether or not to run again as a write-in and then kept changing the dates of the decision. What was that all about?

I have my theory that little Robert Garcia may be doing rather poorly in the polls and unless something dramatic happened there would be no run-off, with him in it, for the Mayor to get involved in. I suspect, and so do others that I have talked with in the past day and a half, that Councilman Garcia may be in panic mode right now and his developer supporters and political hacks may have wanted the Mayor to come out now and endorse.

If you follow the money that Mr. Garcia has amassed it is pretty obvious to me that the mayor has already gotten involved in this campaign and called in plenty of political chits from many of his old time friends as well as some of the old political guard that have done well with city hall for decades now. Yep Mr. Mayor I would respect you a lot more if you would just come clean and tell us why you really believe Robert Garcia should fill your shoes, or those of others who have been Mayor like Beverly O'Neill, Ernie Kell and Tom Clark.

Robert Garcia has none of the qualities that I would want in a mayor in this town. He is in my view the ultimate political opportunist who would turn his back on city hall in a New York minute the first time that another political opportunity came along that could catapult him above where he would be as Mayor. The mere fact that you believe that he is the best candidate in this field only demonstrates to me that there is a totally sick agenda going on here Mr. Mayor.

It is in my view an insult to the intelligence of anyone with a three digit IQ for you to try to say that he is the most qualified candidate in this field. To me, Robert Garcia is a professional politician, whose ambition I believe exceeds anything and everything else. I, for one, am sick and tired of local elected politicians who just use their positions as city officials as a political stepping stone. I wish that I could show you how all of the previous local elected officials who left for bigger and better pastures benefitted the City of Long Beach and its residents but I can't.

Mr. Mayor, with all due respect you have done a decent job as Mayor, even though I have major issues with the fact that I believe you have violated the Charter of the City of Long Beach, time and time again by doing things that I say the Charter does not give you the authority to do. Unfortunately a majority of the Long Beach City Council along with the previous City Attorney have sat silently by and allowed you to do your thing, contrary to what I believe our charter specifies.

Kudos to my Councilperson, Gerrie Schipske, who at least has had the intestinal fortitude to stand up to you, time and time again, and refuse to play your games. Of course, her constituents have paid the price however, due to the fact that it looks to me like you have made sure that city hall dollars do not come to District 5 in the form of infrastructure work, while money pours into the districts of those on the council willing to do what you want politically speaking. I am sure that little Robert Garcia is at the head of that line too!

Mr. Mayor, I will treat your endorsement for what it looks like to me: a desperation move for someone who in my opinion is in no way best qualified to be the Mayor of Long Beach. What you see in him, compared to what you do not see in others in this race, is a mystery not only to me but to many others in this town like me who have lived and worked here all of our lives and who really know and understand what Long Beach is all about.

I wish you well in your transition to the Palm Springs area, and don't let the door hit you on your way out of town -- and do me one last favor -- take Robert Garcia with you when you leave would you?

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