By Tom Hunter
There were two American flags held up by little beings that looked like they could have been the children of Filner recall organizer Michael Pallamary, and much talk of scripture, but the free puppies were a no-show. Very little was said of the sins of the Mayor, although we were asked to love and pray for Bob Filner as the trapdoor was slamming open.
They had a good crowd of a hundred or more, but they definitely were not all there to scorn Mayor Bob. The spectacle was part of the draw. There was a feisty lady standing all of 4’6″ tall who just couldn’t take the Filner disparagement anymore later on and just lost it, letting the pulpit have it with both barrels.
The loud mouthed Mike Slater (760 KFMB) did his best Glenn Beck schtick and kept the show moving. Michael Pallamary had 130 pages of factual material (vetted by some school) of absolute proof that Bob Filner was a politician 20 years ago.
I felt like screaming and pulling out my hair, but the microphones were all on the pulpit, so no damage was done. There was some good back and forth amongst the folks in the crowd.
Channel 8 tried to corner me for an interview, but quickly fled when they found out I was with the press. There were two of SDPD’s finest there to make sure no actual ropes were shown publicly.
This Pallamary character got his recall website up long before the latest scandal broke. ” (You get the pictures-I’ll get the war)”.
I tried to figure out what the average human was thinking at that rally. One thing was for sure: the crowd was much paler in skin tone than the pro-Filner rally the day before.
There was even someone there with a sign for Carl Demaio (he assured me that he did indeed love Carl). There were no prominent citizens in attendance. There were no politicians that I could recognize hanging with the crowd. There were the usual suspects from the press including a crew from the UT-SD.
The signs were pathetic – small and badly drawn. Pallamary brought some nicer signs, but they were forgotten in all the excitement. It didn’t take too much effort to figure out what the average human was doing at that rally was licking his wounds from the last election cycle.
Mike Slater repeated over and over that this was not a left and right thing and no politics was involved, just before he started flogging some brand of ladies cosmetics.
I am made to be at events like this. My blood pressure goes up so high that all the clogged arteries are blown clean. I happily suffer so you don’t have to.
Ed: This story has been updated to correct mis-identification of the children involved.
Tom- Can’t believe that there are a few diehards out there who think Carl DeMaio is the answer. The man who dragged the misogynist billboard of the shushing librarian through town before the election? Thanks for being there. I didn’t have to be.
Wow! Between Doug and Tom I can allow my blood pressure to rest in the normal range. Thanks, Tom.
Hi, The two children are not my children. One of them is my granddaughter. I am not related to the other.
As a journalist, it is preferable that you get your facts straight before writing an article.
I am assuming your reference to me as a “character” were similarly vetted and laudatory in nature.
Let me know if you would like to interview me so we can set the facts straight.
Thanks
I am also happy to speak to you as well and aid your blood pressure by a calm conversation concerning the facts of our complaints about Mayor Filner. We are not angry. We are peacefully pursuing our right as citizens to take back our government. After the press conference I personally spoke with each person that boisterously complained. This is a nonpartisan effort and I must say that I value the opinion of Filner supporters. Filner has done some good for San Diego but the negatives far out weigh the positives. We obviously have fundamental differences in what it means to serve in public office. I personally believe you need to have integrity and be ethical in your business practices to serve in office. Our mayor does not. After yesterday’s event I feel justified in our pursuit to recall Mayor Filner. When our complaint is filed it will be perfectly clear that he must be removed from office.
Oh please….who would want to interview you except the SD Union Tribune????
What is your take on the Sunroad easement land use issue?
Great! Now we have the former Chief Investigator for Dumanis in charge of the impartical investigation of the mayor. This should be objective.
Pallamary, eh? Sounds like a name change from something ending with the letter “i.” Che fai, signore?
Yes, it was pallamari / pallamaris
What a waste of time this was. Where is the evidence, the accused facing the accusers?
Do none of those people believe in justice? Trying a person by rally and press conference is not justice. Nor is it where I want my country to go.
“One thing was for sure: the crowd was much paler in skin tone than the pro-Filner rally the day before.”
So is a surfing competition paler than a soccer game. I actually read this site because most of y’all, while holding different solutions than I am, are committed to some of the principles I hold dear. Ginning up a a racial divide is not one of those principles.
Ok, let’s put it differently. “Due Process” Rally = South of Interstate 8, “Recall Filner Rally” = North of Interstate 8 + Klantee.
It’s nice to know that you are fair and balanced. I may not be important to you but my actions are making you get forced to show up and hear me and my team speak. Your biased opinion and lack of real journalistic ethics is abhoring. I look forward to seeing you at our next press conference…because it’s your job and II am a nobody. Thank you. Respectfully…Elisa
Integrity! I appreciate your opinion and that is why I shared your talents with my friends. Everyone’s entitled to their opinion and everyone’s opinion counts. I hope you appreciate my opinion despite what was written earlier.
By the way, correction, I have not been interviewed by the U-T. Thank you.
I hardly think that someone’s skin color is relevant in regard to this political issue. My skin color is rather pink, sometimes quite pale, and yet that has not led me to see evidence presented where none exists. Until some evidence has been presented, and a credible argument made as to the actions pursuant to verification of that evidence, I would have to say Mr. Filner is an excellent Mayor. I have no reason to attend any rallies whatsoever, being as ignorant as 99.9% of the city of the facts of the matter.
“I hardly think that someone’s skin color is relevant in regard to this political issue.”
You’re an honest broker, Cynthia. We disagree on the latter part of your statement but, when you approach it without the garden-variety race-baiting, it’s just a discussion about whether this Mayor can effectively govern or not with this cloud hanging over his head. We simply see that issue differently
It is not quite clear to me yet just what this discussion is about. Like many, it will sort itself out in time.
PREY PRAY
Looks like there were more media and press people than recall supporters.