FANTASTIC!!! Yay Chris!

◼ Kerrigan (or "R. Trent" Salzman on his behalf) answered the question at LoCo.

When referring to my 2004 city council race, I mistakenly mentioned that Rex Bohn spent upwards of $150,000 to defeat me. I apologize for the error. In fact, only $85,000 was reported through his actual campaign committee. The remaining $65,000 that I referred to was from the Eureka Coalition for Jobs, an unknown special interest attack group. Unfortunately, we will never know the exact amount of money spent because, in violation of the law, they did not disclose who paid for the attack ads or how much was spent.

The language in my fundraising letter should have stated “Remember when Rex Bohn and his allies spent upwards of $150,000 to defeat me on the City Council and failed?” Thank you for the opportunity to set the record straight.

NOW - let's get down to brass tacks, Chris. Let's have Richard Salzman show that you mean what you say. Lead by example, ok... let's see the financial disclosures of your apparent campaign manager Richard Salzman's various 'special interest attack groups,' Start with the so-called "Alliance For Ethical Business."

Liberaljon seems to think it is still active. Is it? Where did the money come from, Chris/Richard? How was it spent? Who, if anyone, gave the woman the grand to pay for a hit piece on Roger Rodoniback in the day? Chris - since we're going to relive history - I am SO glad you brought this up.

Are you planning similar hit pieces in this election?

PS: We'll get to all Salzman's other groups, too, right, Chris?

You do condemn this, right, Chris, is that the takeaway from your response?

FLASHBACKS:
◼ "Balls to the wall! The original meetings for the recall were held at Bonnie's house. She was the driving force from day one. Bring her down now."
◼ The AEB's agenda

"5. Organize ourselves politically to accrue power, groom folks to run for offices. Database, outreach, etc.

6. Get rid of Tom Herman on the planning commission thanks to Rodoni, he has been central to all of PL's fraudulent activities and is therefore vulnerable to public outcry. This is a powerful position."

Yes. Let's finally have this discussion.
__________________
There's more, of course.

But you can SURE see the same old battle is still being fought, can't you Chris?

Hey, candidates! Got someone on your team who can write, sort of?

Then you too should be allowed a "Guest column" at Lost Coast Outpost.

Yes, while "R Trent" Salzman is skulking around the DA campaign, and soliciting donations, and setting up to run Chris Kerrigan, he gets a free platform.

Yes, the man who brought EXPENSIVE campaigns to Humboldt County, the man who set up his own special "PAC" (remember the so-called Alliance For Ethical Business?) now gets to proselytize about campaign finance limits and reform.

◼ Maybe he can explain how one comes up with money to offer a journalist a $1,000 to write a hit piece.

To get YOUR free hit piece column, call up Hank at Lost Coast Outpost.

Get 'em while they're hot!
__________________
◼ Mielke soliciting supporters on LOCO; Salzman needs to do this county a favor and move on - John Chiv/Words Worth

John mentions "Redwood Progressive." That is one of Salzman's groups/listserves. AEB (Alliance For Ethical Business). Ourhumboldt.org, Redwood Progressive, Citizens for Real Economic Growth, SaveEurekaWaterfront.org, Behind the Redwood Curtain, and more. Like boiler room scammers. Orwellian names, really, for example, do you really think Citizens For REAL Economic Growth was ever about economic growth? No. It's always about destroying his target.
◼ Two new aliases for Richard "R Trent" Salzman
◼ One has to wonder...
__________________
In the comments thread at LoCo, Mitch tries deflecting criticism of Salzman with THIS gem: "And you know what they've found? That he signed his cat's name to a letter to the editor."

Not so fast little Mitchie.

In fact, he used the names of people who were indigent, and unable and unlikely to be aware that their names were being used. He used the names of supporters (after asking if it was ok that he signed their name to his letter, then using it again and again for his own purposes...caught because he wrote a letter attacking a FRIEND of said supporter, who did NOT approve being given author credit for Richard's hit piece.) And he made up names, and yes, he used the name of his dog, not his cat.

He did it over and over and over again.

And that's not all.

Sure, you can pretend it doesn't matter. But, Mitch, you profess to care about honesty. You're all about honesty in elections, right?

Apparently not.
__________________
KINS and other media outlets around here have always put 'columnists' on hiatus during the political season if they are involved in a campaign. I am sure Hank will do the same with BOTH Matthew and "R. Trent"/Sara the dog.

One has to wonder...

Did any of our local political orgs - Paykeeper, Humboldt Watershed Council, The so-called Alliance For Ethical Business, Healthy Humboldt, ERF, and others - have to answer questions like these asked by the IRS of 'conservative' groups:

List each past or present board member, officer, key employee and members of their families who:
a) Has served on the board of another organization. Has previously conducted similar activities for another entity.
b) Was, is or plans to be a candidate for public office. Indicate the nature of each candidacy.
c) Has previously conducted similar activities for another entity. (Like Humboldt Watershed Council/Healthy Humboldt?)(Like Local Solutions, Alliance for Ethical Business, Redwood Progressive, CREG, DUHC, Friends Of Paul Gallegos, Our Humboldt, Behind the Redwood Curtain, Curtain FOPG-Listserv
Friends of Chris Kerrigan, and God knows how many more...)
d) Has previously submitted an application for tax exempt status.

Please provide the following regarding your merchandise sales:
a) A vendor list. Indicate if the vendor is a related party.
b) A list of items sold.
c) Your cost for each item.
d) The selling price of each item.

Fully describe your youth outreach program with the local school district.

Provide information regarding the (Humboldt Democrat Central Committee, ERF) and your
relationship.

Provide a list of all issues that are important to your organization. Indicate your position regarding each issue.

It appears you have received training (______). Provide the following for all persons or organizations that have provided educational services to you:
a) The name of the person or organization.
b) A full description of the services provided.
c) The political affiliation of the person or organization.
d) A copy of the educational material used.

Provide details regarding your relationship with (Richard Salzman, Michael Shellenberger (sic).

Has your organization engaged in any activities with the news media? If so, please describe those activities in further detail and, if available, provide copies of articles printed or transcripts of items aired because of that activity. News media activity may include the following:

a) Newspaper advertisements
b) Press releases
c) Interviews with news media
d) Letters to the editor
e) Op-ed Pieces

A hard copy printout of the website – A PDF file emailed to the IRS will not suffice (and this is the high-tech Administration)

List all Social Media outlets being used (Facebook, Twitter, etc) and include hard copy printouts of every posting

A narrative description of every activity of your organization since June 30, 2010 (filing date) – And they do not want a mere description of the event, but full details – including; who conducted it, their qualifications, who was allowed to take part in the activities and how they were selected, was there a fee? (how much)

The IRS also wants to know about the members of the group and their roles and more, asking specifically for the “name, address, and corporate federal ID of all organizations that are members of our organization”
[...]
Public events are also under scrutiny with the IRS demanding to know the time, location and content schedule of each event.

Copies of any and all handouts must be included.

Names and credentials of all instructors and copies of any workshop materials used.
All speakers must be identified and copies of every speech must be included.

AND THERE'S MORE: “Have you attempted or will you attempt to influence the outcome of specific legislation? If so, provide the following … all communications, pamphlets, advertisements, and other materials.”

“Have you conducted or will you conduct candidate forums? If so, provide the following details… The issues that were discussed. Copies of all handouts provided.”

“The names of persons from your organization and the amount of time they will spend on the event. Indicate the name and amount of compensation that will be paid to each person.”

“All copies of your corporate minutes from inception.”

“Please identify your volunteers.”

“The names of donors, contributors, and grantors.”

“Do you encourage eligible voters to educate themselves, register to vote, and vote? Explain in detail how you do this.”

“You were formed 12/28/10. Provide actual financial information for 2010 & 2011, and a budget for 2012. Provide details regarding each item listed.”
______________

This level of inquiry goes well beyond the scope of the Form 1023 application for exempt status - and appears to be applied to one side and not the other.

In particular, we know that Humboldt Watershed Council and The AEB ran ads here locally, oh so many years ago. The AEB never showed up on any of my searches of IRS databases. Humboldt Watershed Council, on the other hand has a substantial record on Guidestar, and in the early days, at least, showed their 'educational' requirement was fulfilled.

It's quite a racket.

And, more than that, it's pretty disturbing when the full power of the federal Government/IRS is brought to bear on one side and not the other. There are thousands and thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of 'left-wing' orgs, we know they are formed and used and discarded just like boiler room stock scammers. Michael Shellenberger himself had quite a list, including Apollo Alliance, "The Rose Foundation," "The Committee of Concerned Maxxam Shareholders," "As You Sow Foundation" - No small potatoes there.

◼ Senior Internal Revenue Service officials knew agents were targeting tea party groups as early as 2011, according to a draft of an inspector general's report obtained by The Associated Press that seemingly contradicts public statements by the IRS commissioner. - AP

Deja Vu all over again

From: Redwood Progressive rs@richardsalzman.com
Date: March 24, 2010 X:XX:XX PM PDT
To: Redwood Progressive Subscriber
Subject: Gallegos wish list
Reply-To: " Redwood Progressive " rs@richardsalzman.com
__
Help the Gallegos Campaign, contribute what you can, stuff and/or time.
Our wish Lists -
blah blah blah
2) Volunteer Needs:
blah blah blah
asking for money
blah blah blah
--

Natalynne DeLapp
Campaign Manager
Citizens for District Attorney Paul Gallegos 2010

Natalynned@VotePaul.org
www.VotePaul.org
--

To subscribe to this list, go to:
http://www.ourhumboldt.org/ cgi-bin/ dada/ mail.cgi/ list/ progressive/blahblahblah.com

The following information is a reminder of your current mailing list subscription:
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You may automatically unsubscribe from this list at any time by visiting the following URL:
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If you're still having trouble, please contact the list owner at:
mailto:rs@richardsalzman.com

If you appreciate these emails your financial support would be helpful. You can donate by credit card on a secure webpage at:
http://www.ourhumboldt.org/blahblahblah
or www.ourhumboldt.org (sendmeyourmoney.org) (feelohsomuchbetteraboutyourself.com) and click on "Make a donation"
or send a donations to AEB (That would be the OH-SO-ETHICAL-ALLIANCE-FOR-OH-SO-ETHICAL-BUSINESS aka "R.Trent" Salzman.)
1751 Charles Ave Arcata, CA 95521

How many org names and email addresses can you count? How many pleas for money? For Gallegos. For Salzman himself. What a racket.

"Hogwash, Mr. Gallegos"

TS - Letter to the Editor

On July 11, District Attorney Paul Gallegos appeared before Humboldt County's Code Enforcement Task Force and shared what the press reported as “his frustrations about” a “mutant” structure where he has no authority over code officers, yet all the responsibility for their actions in the field” (Eureka Reporter, 7-12), and he isn't “comfortable with deputizing code enforcement investigators if they are not his employees” (Times-Standard, 7-12). As is often the case with Mr. Gallegos, the truth is otherwise.

For over seven years I was employed by the California District Attorneys Association as a “circuit prosecutor,” in which I was deputized by elected district attorneys in three counties, including by Gallegos. As my legal authority flowed from these elected DA's to me, at all times I answered in my actions as a deputy DA directly to them. On numerous occasions I pointed out this fact to my supervisors in Sacramento, who sometimes felt that they, as my employer, could direct me in my exercise of the DA's authority.

Mr. Gallegos seeks to have it both ways. He has deputized these peace officers, who act under his authority as code enforcement officers, yet claims he cannot control them as his deputies. This is hogwash. The solution is obvious: Insist that these deputies operate subject to his oversight or remove their authority.

It remains unfortunate that our chief law enforcement officer refuses to take responsibility for his actions, placing blame elsewhere. Citizens should rightly expect leadership and honesty, not platitudes and excuses.

Paul Hagen
Eureka
***

Update: July 22, 2008 Well! That drew a response from the long dormant Salzman Communications Director, once again struggling to defend Paul Gallegos. What don't you know? The Emperor's clothes are spun of the finest silk! With 24 karat gold embroidery on the hem, and the finest jewels on the bodice. Can't you see it? If you can't, according to the chief deceptor Michael Twombly, you must be a "disgruntled" ex-employee. One who was FIRED thanks to Gallegos. Michael Twombly must be the last rat on this sinking ship. Looks like he's trying to thwart anyone running against his boy.

Hagen should do his homework - Letter to the Editor

Mr. Hagen's screed about the District Attorney's problems with Humboldt's code officers (Hogwash, Mr. Gallegos) a is little but a disgruntled ex-employee's self-serving run-up to challenging Gallegos in the next DA election.

Mr. Hagen's circuit prosecutor position with the DA's Association in years past is not comparable to the “mutant structure” in which Gallegos has no legal authority over code enforcers, but as DA has official responsibility for their irresponsible, dangerous and provocative activities.

This is an obviously intolerable position for any district attorney and needs to be fixed.

In fact, Gallegos states that that deputies must either operate responsibly under his authority or lose their deputy status under the DA's office.

This seems pretty reasonable.

Mr. Hagen needs to do his homework before throwing his hogwash hat in the ring.

Michael Twombly
Bayside

Scared, Mr. Twombly. So quick to jump to the defense. Of the utterly indefensible.

How are you going to do that, Estelle?

Candidate Estelle Fennell issued a statement this week alleging that Supervisor Roger Rodoni has watched a job loss “epidemic” during his time in office.... Fennell stated that it is clear to her that the Second District has suffered more than others when it comes to overall timber job losses, which she said she would change if elected.

How are you going to do that, Estelle?

Are you in a position to call off the dogs? Bring back all the mills? All the trucking companies? Timber Yes. Fraud NO. is a nice bumper sticker. It won't fix what has happened here.

Maybe if you could go back in time you could solve the Headwaters deal, stop Earth First! Stop the lawsuits. Stop the Park Expansion. Save the Mills, at least a few.

Too bad you can't. 'Cause then there would be no Ken Miller, no Humboldt Watershed Council shams. No Richard Salzman. No Paul Gallegos. All your buds. They haven't shown that they can fix anything.

SoHum Parlance: Ed Denson's questions for Estelle (or anyone else)

"I'm flying. This is the best thing that has ever happened," said Ken Miller, a member of the Humboldt Watershed Council, and a longtime opponent of PL, in a phone interview Tuesday. "My god, finally we have a champion who has some power."
Gallegos takes on PL Talking here about Gallegos filing his lawsuit against Pacific Lumber Company, as in other interviews at the time, Miller professed surprise - but later it was revealed that he was heavily involved in drafting the suit itself.

"When we awaken to the potential for determining our destiny, and start fielding strong candidates aggressively, we can increase voter participation. The anti-recall campaign IS just such an organizing opportunity to develop an electoral constituency, a machine, if you will, to get our perspective into the power structure."

Ken
from the AEB listserve

Any reporters invited?

Just wondering if any reporters will be attending Richard Salzman's Annual Pamplin Grove Retreat (yes, that is HIS invitation) (For out-of-towners who do not want to camp, there are motels 14 miles away, including a pet friendly Best Western... and Super 8... and even a few miles closer is a charming bed and breakfast, Riverbar Farm... If you are flying into the Arcata/Eureka airport and not renting a car, ask us to arrange transportation when you RSVP.)

The invitation is a bit tamer than previous years, where he said "Saving the planet may well begin by saving these dates: Saturday September 10 & Sunday, September 11 2005 "Retreat To The Future..." And don't forget the "Salzman Tribal Heart beat..."

Wonder if he will be conducting "Wellstone Training?" Or will they be discussing the "Big Money in "grassroots" organizations? Maybe he just puts politics aside for the weekend.

Salzman is SOLICITING DONATIONS again

3/29/2007 12:25:01 PM Pacific Daylight Time, salzman@inreach.com writes:
"If you appreciate these emails and want to support the work of the Alliance for Ethical Business, please send a donation to AEB po box 387 Eureka, CA 95502 or donate by credit card on our secure webpage at:
http://www.ourhumboldt.org/index.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=6
or www.ourhumboldt.org and click on "Make a donation"."

Richard keeps sending out his missives about the Klamath Dam Removal process.

And I keep thinking, "You stupid dumbass."

Back in 2002, Richard Salzman volunteered in two political campaigns - Paul Gallegos and Jill Geist.

Both took office in January of 2003.

Of the two candidates Salzman supported, one has proven to be an independent thinker, making decisions based on what is best for the people of the county, and one has proven to be "bought and paid for," one has chosen to deride and distance himself from the very agencies that are key to the successful operation of his department. The other has kept her campaign promises and understands her job, has proven her ability to work with the many county departments and state and county governmental agencies, and shown respect for the people as well as the process.

Richard Salzman has repeatedly had to cover for, and make excuses for Paul Gallegos, and chosen to attack all who he perceives to stand in his way, including County Supervisor Jill Geist.

BUT. the really funny thing is, Richard could have chosen differently. He could have chosen the candidate of which he could have been proud.

Jill Geist has been working on the Klamath Dam Removal. Which Richard Salzman purports to care about, as he exhorts his "listserve" followers to lobby their Congressmen, cheering for more predatory litigious action, and, now "Send money." (to him)

Apparently, poor Richard doesn't realize that there are Settlement Negotiations ongoing. There is no need for histrionics.

The quiet hard-working people are getting the job done - for the right reasons. And they're not asking for any money.

Guess he needs to make his new house payment.

(and he tries again - but why would you pay him for warmed over Times-Standard articles? Just google Maxxam, or Pacific Lumber yourself, or sign up for your own google alerts.)

Finding the answers

So what's the big deal about the Earth First funding trails? Who cares about these big Foundations and their grants?

It is that this information provides answers to some of the question I had in the beginning, when Richard Salzman told me this was bigger than I could possibly imagine: Obviously many of these questions have now been answered, such as Ken Miller's role in the filing of the PL lawsuit. Finding the money trail has always seemed to be the key, and to find that activistcash has tracked the connections between these groups is an important part of this whole story. It still remains to track the money trails between Salzman, Shellenberger, the so-called "Alliance for Ethical Business" and Shellenberger's operations, if any.

These are some of those questions:
- When did Stoen, Shellenberger and Salzman team up?
- When did Paul Gallegos enter the picture?
- Who introduced Richard Salzman to Shellenberger?
- Who introduced Richard Salzman to Tim Stoen? And when?
- How did Richard Salzman come to work on the Gallegos campaign?
- Has Richard Salzman worked with Shellenberger prior to moving here?
- Before working on Gallegos campaign?
- Have any of them worked with Stoen before?
- When did he start having regular meetings/strategy sessions with Shellenberger?
- Was Richard Salzman hired or recruited by Shellenberger? By Stoen?
- Did AEB/Richard Salzman HIRE Shellenberger?
- How much has that cost? Where did the money come from?
- Is he volunteering his time? If so, why?
- Is Richard Salzman aware of Shellenberger’s work with Earth First? With Rainforest Action Network?
- What does he believe Shellenberger’s motives are?
- How is Rainforest Action Network related to the so-called "Alliance for Ethical Business"?
(I didn't even know about the Bay Area Coalition for Headwaters, or about Ken Miller's connections to these groups, or his involvement in the filing of the lawsuit.)
- follow Michael Shellenberger/Lumina Strategies and his many causes and websites, find our what his role here is.
- What is Stoen’s relationship to Richard Salzman and AEB?
- What is Stoen’s relationship to Earth First?
- What is Stoen’s relationship to Ken Miller?
- How did Stoen get in touch with Gallegos?
- How long has he been trying to secure a position in Humboldt County? - and Why?
- How did Stoen come to file the PL suit?
- Is it true that the suit had been languishing in the DA's office, that Terry Farmer had refused to file it after looking into the facts, realized that the Attorney General would not back it up? That Fish and Game were honor bound to defend PL in case of a suit, by the terms of the agreement.
- Did Ken Miller tell him about the suit? Lobby him to pursue it? What is Ken Miller's role?
- Was Stoen aware of the case prior to taking his office?
- Why did he stop taking calls and meeting with the various State agencies who tried to tell him that the case had serious flaws - or no merit?
- Why was Tim Stoen taking the case to the public before the case had been filed/served?(To the Democratic Central Committee? The Bar Association? The Fortuna City Council? Rotary?) What’s the reason for the dog’n pony show? Is it to exert pressure on the Board of Supervisors?
- What is Tim Stoen’s relationship to John Burton? (Recent AND past)
- What is Tim Stoen’s relationship to Cotchett's San Francisco Law Firm?
- What is Tim Stoen’s relationship to Michael Shellenberger? Where did he meet him?
- What is Tim Stoen’s relationship to Earth First?
- What is Stoen’s relationship with the "Mendocino County Defense Committee"? Wasn’t in fact part of his tactics aimed at winning the other lawsuit? Pressuring public officials and manipulating public opinion "framing the debate" as it were.
- How is the "Alliance for Ethical Business" related to the "Mendocino County Defense Committee"? Did Stoen commission it? Found it? Is it in fact part of his tactics in this lawsuit?
- Is the AEB a vehicle to secure funding to pay for the hiring of the SF law firm? (Again see the Humboldt County memo)
- How much money has the AEB raised? Where is it coming from? Where is it going?
- Who is behind the "Alliance for Ethical Business"? What are their real motives?
- Isn’t it wrong for the DAs office, the people’s arm of the law, to accept or be influenced by special interest money? To commission a source for those monies?

Shellenberger's "Alliance for Ethical Business" listserve

List Name
Alliance for Ethical Business: Timber Yes, Fraud No (No Fraud)

Purpose:
Alliance for Ethical Business is sponsoring this list serve to organize and mobilize Humboldt County residents to fight fraud by Maxxam/PL.

Website URL:
http://www.timberyesfraudno.org

List Type:
Moderated discussion

Subscription:
Requires owner approval

Archive:
Readable by subscribers only

Created: Mar 26, 2003

Owners:
Michael Shellenberger, Michael Twombly

To Join:
Subscribe here, or send an email to mshellenberger-subscribe@topica.com

To Post:
Send mail to 'mshellenberger@topica.com'

Stats:
26 subscribers / < 1 messages per week

Categories: Society & Culture | Crime
--
Related:
Shellenberger's OTHER "Ethical Business Campaigns Network"
AEB and Shellenberger
Shellenberger pissed at Press Democrat's Mike Geniella
Shellenberger on boycotting/sucking up to the TS
Shellenberger "Lead Campaign Consultant"
Shellenberger, Ken Miller and EPIC
Shellenberger and Judi Bari
AEB solicits computers for Gallegos
AEB solicits phones for Gallegos
AEB solicits a car for Gallegos
Shellenberger, Salzman response to HDSO
You get the idea... there's more.

Human Rights Violations - left vs. right

One of the anons commenting on the previous post attacked the information about Michael Shellenberger working for Hugo Chavez by denigrating the source as a "rightwing conspiracy website."

In the first place - I'd hardly characterize a site dedicated to outlining human rights violations in Venezuela as a right wing conspiracy site.

In the second place, in the course of my looking into Michael Shellenberger, I found exactly what Aleksander Boyd details in his report - Shellenberger is aligned with every far far left extremist group you can think of. To point this out is to report the truth.

In my observation, Michael Shellenberger has more domain names, email addresses and websites than any spammer on the planet. He appears to routinely form up little "groups" (like the so-called "Alliance for Ethical Business" here in Humboldt County). He is always the "founder," "co-founder," "executive director" or "spokesperson" for the "group." Then he cross-pollinates the "groups" using one to endorse the other, and calling it a "growing coalition of human rights organizations."

I started looking him up after Richard Salzman had him call me - regular readers of this blog will remember the story - Richard said he "couldn't promise" he "could call these people off," but he "would try." That was March/April 2003. Richard pronounced his name ShAllenberger - with an A - and it wasn't until stories in the paper had Gallegos supposedly surfing with his "college-buddy" Michael Shellenberger - with an E - that I was able to get any information.

What I found was evidence that Michael Shellenberger had been on the ground in Humboldt County on and off for nearly a decade, working with Earth First! EPIC, Salmon Forever (one of Ken Miller's groups), and more. What emerged was a picture of a 10 year effort to "get Palco." Getting Gallegos elected was a major coup, and provided these guys with a major new weapon.

One of the many UNTOLD STORIES of the Recall was the involvement of Michael Shellenberger.

And as you come to understand that he is someone who has the power to get celebrities like Woody Harrelson to climb the Golden Gate Bridge to unfurl a banner for a Headwaters campaign, and get Bonnie Raitt to play a concert for Headwaters, to get Dr. Laura kicked off the television airwaves, someone with access to George Soros, access to left wing Think Tanks, and access to huge Foundation grant money, you begin to understand more what is going on in "Salzman's Plan" to get Gallegos to solicit, accept and use special interest money to fund the public prosecution of PL.

He specializes in what he calls "structuring the debate" - or, in other words, manipulating public opinion. He brags on some of his self-promotional websites about pressuring public officials into doing what he wants.

What that meant here in Humboldt County was convincing you that Gallegos was not soft on crime, that PL was trying to buy their way out of a lawsuit. And unfortunately, Palco played right into his hands.

The Recall was portrayed as the gallant young David against the evil Goliath, Palco.

The fact was that Gallegos had a Goliath in his own right working for him. You can see by looking at the contract with Chavez the value of Shellenberger's services. And that was for a relatively limited effort.

What did it cost Gallegos to have this man on the ground in Humboldt County on and off from at least March of 2003 until he ultimately, by his own words, moved his family up here for the final weeks of Gallegos' campaign?

Did you read anything about Shellenberger's involvement in the local press? No. yet he reportedly met with editorial boards. In the final days he attended press conferences with Gallegos.

Yet after the Recall, Shellenberger trumpeted his success and proclaimed himself Gallegos' "Lead campaign consultant." Was that ever mentioned in the local press? No. How much did Gallegos pay for the privilege? Is it detailed on his campaign disclosure forms?

What services did he provide as "Lead campaign consultant" besides garnering Gallegos national press coverage? Image consulting? Debate prep?

These are questions that, to this day, remain unanswered.

And, after the Recall, Shellenberger began promoting himself as somewhat of an expert at helping politicians survive a recall attempt. Enter Hugo Chavez who was facing a Recall in Venezuela.

You want to make this about left and right wing politics?

Most "liberals" once cared about human rights violations and would care about the plight of the people in Venezuela and would recognize Chavez for the menace that he is, but since he declared his hatred for our President, he has become the darling of the left. In that sense you may be right.

And those same "liberals" - many of them my good friends - also abandoned their historic support for protecting women and children, for victim's rights in favor of hating Palco, and they turn a blind eye to the devastation in the DA's office as a result.

In that sense - you may be right. Maybe it is about "progressive" values.

Which side do you fall on?

Hugo Chavez's PR man

Looks like Mussolini's - I mean HUGO CHAVEZ'S PR man
Michael Shellenberger
is coming to town to speak for Schatz Energy.

Now that's a brilliant PR move.

Related:
vcrisis.com
the contract

AEB listserve topics

For those who are following this, the FIRST COMMENT on this post is a list of the messages sent out by the AEB listserve.

You decide. What was the primary purpose of the so-called "Alliance for Ethical Business"?

Get Palco? Promote Paul? Destroy Roger Rodoni? Elect Sal Steinberg?

Did the AEB provide unambiguous support for Paul Gallegos? The true test of whether a group crosses over into territory that requires FFFC disclosure... unambiguous support

"Pursuant to section 84100, et seq. and 82031, a person must file campaign disclosure statements if the person makes expenditures of $1,000 or more for communications which expressly advocate the election or defeat of a candidate or the qualification, passage or defeat of a measure, or unambiguously urge a result in an election."

No connection?

Remember, The Richard Salzman's aeb (the so-called "Alliance for Ethical Business") aka (goodtimberjobs.org) morphed into ourhumboldt.org, and now includes the sham organization "localsolutions.org," aka "behind the redwood curtain."

In this email, they are again actively soliciting money - trying to get people to commit to a payment schedule, to agree to donate a certain amount every month via their credit card. Presumably, once they have softened the mark, it is also easier to go back for "extra" donations for a specific "need."

It's interesting that Richard Salzman sends his "endorsement" of this so-called NEW group (localsolutions.org) as if it were unrelated to him - talking about 'them' doing good work, if 'they' are given funding.... He pumped this same message loudly and often on KMUD, calling in to various radio shows, and expressing his enthusiastic support for this "wonderful" group of people, this incredible grassroots effort, and by the way, send money...

People keep asking, "How does this guy support himself?" "Where does his money come from?"

The Recall was over. How do you keep the fundraising going when the election furor has died down and people go back to their normal lives? When you are trying to sell something, you have to come up with an idea that the public will "buy." Looks like jumping on the "progressive" bandwagon was a golden opportunity to keep the money flowing.

Local Solutions denies any connection to Richard Salzman, of course. But the email trails reveal the opposite to be true.

Where does the money donated to Local Solutions go? What do the candidates they support "owe" them?

These are only some of the questions that need to be answered as "Local Solutions" works to implement Ken Miller's vision to "groom folks to run for office."

Is it just about money? Or is it about power? Is it about being able to "count to three" on the Board of Supervisors? Or the Eureka City Council?

****

From: Richard Salzman [ mailto:salzman@inreach.com]

Subject: Re: Westhaven Progressives and Local Solutions Political Action
Committee

(.....1st paragraph deleted)

I hope everyone will join me in sending Local Solutions $99.00 to help them
raise the seed money they need to build the infrastructure with which
to run grassroots campaigns. The idea here is that by investing a
small amount in advance these people will build a mechanism that will
save us a lot of work later. It will still be up to us as a community
to find good people who are willing to run for office, but when we do,
LS would be there for us when we need them, if we give them the
resources (i.e. money) to get established now. It seems like a good
investment to me.
Best,
Richard (Salzman)

(......partially edited....)

>
> Thank you again for having us to your party! And thanks for your
> financial support for Local Solutions PAC!
>
> Here comes the pitch:
>
> As we said Thursday night, one of our initial goals in 2005 is to
> invite 1,000 local Humboldt progressives to become Local Solutions PAC
> supporters at $99 a year (that's $8.25 per month). You can become a
> $99 supporter online by clicking on:
>
>       Online Donations: http://www.localsolutions.org/donate
> .
>
> Some supporters like to use PayPal to pledge online at just $8.25 a
> month from their credit cards. Others use PayPal for a one-time
> contribution of $99. Other supporters prefer to send their checks
> directly to:
>
> Local Solutions, P. O. Box 782, Eureka, CA 95502.
>
> Let's stay in touch- there will be many opportunities to work
> together as elections approach. We all need each other!
>
> Best wishes!
>
> Michael Twombly
> Dennis Huber
> Alice Woodworth
> Patrick Riggs
>
> Local Solutions PAC
> (707) 443-3921
> P.O. Box 782
> Eureka, CA 95502
> http://www.localsolutions.org
>
>
UPDATE:
Open Letter from "Local Solutions"
"Local Solutions" sham
No connection?
Any doubt what "Local Solutions" agenda is?
For more of the story click on the labels below.
__________________
Note: Personal email addresses, home addresses and phone numbers have been either altered (so spam crawlers won't harvest them) or replaced with the words 'address' and 'phone' - business or organizational addresses remain intact.
New note: The deal is off. Richard.

more on the agenda

From the so-called "Alliance for Ethical Business" listserve:

To:
"Michael Shellenberger" michael@thebreakthrough.org

CC:
aeb_humboldt@topica.com

From:
"Ken Miller" tamer1 @ cox.net    Add to Address Book

Subject:
Re: FW: Coastal Commission Appointment

Date:
Sat, 6 Mar 2004 17:57:26 -0800


From the Alliance for Ethical Business (AEB) List serve:
ABSOLUTELY!

At 9:39 AM -0800 3/6/04, Michael Shellenberger wrote:
Michael Shellenberger, The Breakthrough Institute
3020 El Cerrito Plaza, #113, El Cerrito, CA 94530
510-525-9900, fax 510-288-1325, cell 415-309-4200

http://www.theBreakthrough.org >

Forwarded Message
From: Richard Salzman salzman@inreach.com
Date: Fri, 5 Mar 2004 18:55:23 -0800
To: Michael Twombly twomblym @ cwo.com
Cc: Richard Salzman < salzman@inreach.com >, Nancie Four Waters
< rootwaters @ asis.com >, Donald Forrest < DM4Rest @ aol.com >, Michael
Evanson >< evenson @ igc.org >, Michael Shellenberger
< michael@thebreakthrough.org >,
Julie Francis < Juliefrancis@earthlink.net >
Subject: Re: Coastal Commission Appointment

The original meetings for the recall were held at Bonnie's house. She
was the driving force from day one. Bring her down now.

On Friday, March 5, 2004, at 03:10 PM, Michael Twombly wrote:

Sacramento Insider Poop: Confidential

1. Not too late to derail Neely appointment

Neely is all out for this appointment, balls to the
wall.
Her support with Gov. Arnold comes from Tracy Walsh (wife of Danny
Walsh and Maria S. chief of staff) and from Red Emerson (big $$$ to
Arnold). Other than that, no support for Bonnie with Arnold.

2. DA Recall could play BIG in Coastal Commission appointment
(John W. A WINNER, Bonnie a loser.)

Gov's office is laughing over Maxxam/PL's stupidity and
big loss; Flanigans are a joke; Obviously Reeps and Demos voted
against Neely and the recall. Neely's star sinking. Let's help it.
Tie Neely to Recall. Keep her losing.

3. Letter writing campaign to Arnold is the way to go, with
letters to Editor, and groups coming forward like fisherman,
birdwatchers, Audubon society, Reeps for Ethical Business, etc. 
This can be won now, if we use the momentum of the recall against Neely
and for John.

4. What does John say? Shall we go for it?

5. Everyone who voted for Recall would support John over
Bonnie.

Yes?

M


Michael Twombly
address
address

phone

End of Forwarded Message


--
Ken Miller
address
address
phone

This message came to you from the Alliance for Ethical Business. This
list is intended to serve exclusively as an information and organizing
tool for building a strong volunteer base to promote corporate
responsibility and to ensure that fraud and illegal business practices are
prosecuted in a court of law.

This is currently an unmoderated open and informal news and organizing
information list. Please limit postings to news and information about
current issues of corporate ethics and fraud in Humboldt County.

To reply or respond to messages, use the reply button in your email
program so that your email will go directly to the author of the 
posting replied to. Please avoid one-on-one discussions on this list
serve.

Anyone can subscribe by sending a blank email to: aeb_humboldt-subscribe@topica.com :
To unsubscribe, send a blank email to aeb_humboldt-unsubscribe@topica.com :
To post a message to the list, send it as an email to aeb_humboldt@topica.com :


To read this list on the web, visit the following url (this is
unneccessary but allows archive
readings and requires joining topica's member list): http://www.topica.com/lists/aeb_humboldt Michael Twombly, Alliance list co-ordinator
mailto: twomblym@cwo.com

__________________
UPDATE:
Open Letter from "Local Solutions"
"Local Solutions" sham
No connection?
Any doubt what "Local Solutions" agenda is?
For more of the story click on the labels below.
__________________
Note: Personal email addresses, home addresses and phone numbers have been either altered (so spam crawlers won't harvest them) or replaced with the words 'address' and 'phone' - business or organizational addresses remain intact.
New note: The deal is off, Richard.

The AEB's agenda

In this email from the so-called "Alliance for Ethical Business," Ken Miller lays out his agenda for the future of the DA's office.

Believing Gallegos was now "untouchable" they believed that he would attract bright young disciples who would train at the feet of the master as they waged their gallant battle against Palco.

***

lizard2183@yahoo.com, michael@luminastrategies.com *

CC:
aeb_humboldt@topica.com

From:
"Ken Miller"    Add to Address Book

Subject:
Re: Elation

Date:
Wed, 3 Mar 2004 13:43:16 -0800


From the Alliance for Ethical Business (AEB) List serve:
1. DA's office can fight meth and heroin and their related crimes
including crooked cops. Crime prevention programs, in-patient rehab
locally.
2. DA can exploit his national notoriety by recruiting seasoned as
well as fresh bright younger prosecuters
3. Raise money to prosecute the PL case aggressively
4. Put forth an economic vision focusing on a diversified local and
regional organic economy, including energy policy, LNG, appropriate
Bay, airport, rail, etc development
5. Organize ourselves politically to accrue power, groom folks to run
for offices. Database, outreach, etc.
6. Get rid of Tom Herman on the planning commission thanks to
Rodoni, he has been central to all of PL's fraudulent activities and
is therefore vulnerable to public outcry. This is a powerful
position.

At 8:36 AM -0800 3/3/04, David A. Jeffreys wrote:
> >From the Alliance for Ethical Business (AEB) List serve:
>Hello all,
>
>This is a great morning!!!!! We have a wonderful
>victory on our hands and I do not have to sell my
>house and move, heeeeee.
>
>One question, what does the AEB do now? We have an
>excellent organization here that should never go away.
>
>
>Thank you all,
>
>David A. Jeffreys