The Recall Madison folks, in a remarkable display of nerve, today asked Councilwoman Madison Nguyen to sign onto their petition asking the City Council to appoint someone to her seat if she is recalled on March 3. That’s right, the group of 50 or so mostly Vietnamese-American protesters, along with former County Supervisor Pete McHugh, were back at their familiar post outside City Hall at noon, where they held a press conference demanding that the council skip a special election if Nguyen is recalled. Holding “Recall Madison” posters and signs, the group cheered speakers who pointed out that an appointment would save the city $1 million in taxpayers’ money. (See yesterday’s post predicting and explaining this development.)
San Jose Inside
San Jose Inside (https://www.sanjoseinside.com)
What’s the word for chutzpah in Vietnamese?
Perhaps the former Supervisor should stick to his own city’s affairs since he no longer represents SJ. Just a suggestion.
Is George Shirakawa behind this?
Perhaps he would like to get Eddie Garcia, or perhaps Xavier Campos, appointed to the District 7 seat.
http://watchdogsiliconvalley.blogspot.com/2009/01/appointment-do-over-congratulations.html
The rumor on the street is that Barry and his gang won’t be happy until they achieve sovereign nation status. How completely ridiculous this whole thing is!
Don’t sign anything, Madison. you’ll be the odds-on favorite in the election. Were I you, however, I’d be embarrassed to represent that gang of whiners and grand standers.
I am agree that McHugh should mind his own business. We get people at Santa Clara City Council meetings from other cities or groups like some wopey like Jordan Ellridge who shouts out at council meetings that we, in Santa Clara, better do what McLeod says. This guy does not live in our community, does not own a business, but he self appoints himself, like McHugh, some tribune of our urban conscience.
I think it is perfectly ok to write about affairs in other places, but to organize rallies as a mayor of Milpitas, that are meant to pressure San Jose officials, it is not kosher.
Primo, like most politicians, believes that even bad press is better than no press at all…unless the word “molest” is in the story.
He’s gotta be looking to break out of Milpitas in the next election cycle.
Barry Do is becoming the Big Minh of Vietnamese-American politics. Madison Nguyen has surfaced from all of this as an elected official worth respecting and supporting.
Ly Tong was on KLIV today saying if Madison wins Communists will take over Story Road. Yes, he actually said this.
He claims she will fund projects with communist money and, block by block, before we know it the commies will take over. I haven’t heard this kind of Red Scare garbage since the Mcarthy era.
The politics of the pro-recall side have been despicable from the start, and getting worse. I find it unbelievable that even an irrelevant political gasbag like McHugh would align himself with this sort of gutter politics.
#4, if there is a special election the only reason Madison will win is because she is on the payroll of the labor union. I hope the arrogant and stubborn madison gets the boot and we never have to hear from her again.
from mercury news:
“Meanwhile, Nguyen, who’s been heavily backed by the city’s potent labor movement, wasn’t fazed”
Pete McHugh is a very good man who loves the Vietnamese people and understands their true purpose in holding this recall election. (Barry Do and his cronies do not speak for the majority of Vietnamese people he just thinks he does.) Pete is supporting this community because he believes they are correct in asking the city to save money by appointing a new Councilperson, rather than holding a special election. I see absolutely nothing wrong with that.
Secondly, you guys can complain all you want but the election is going to happen whether you like it or not. I think we should all just respect the process and move on to something more important like the fact that our young soldiers are killing themselves in larger numbers than every before, and that the jobless rate is higher today than it has been in 25 years! Now that is frightening and something worth talking about, not some arrogant Councilperson who chose to burn the candle at both ends and is now getting burnt by it.
Written by an Australian Dentist
To Kill an American
You probably missed this in the rush of news, but there was actually a report that someone in Pakistan had published in a newspaper, an offer of a reward to anyone who killed an American, any American.
So an Australian dentist wrote an editorial the following day to let everyone know what an American is . So they would know when they found one. (Good one, mate!!!!)
‘An American is English, or French, or Italian, Irish, German, Spanish , Polish, Russian or Greek. An American may also be Canadian, Mexican, African, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Australian, Iranian, Asian, or Arab, or Pakistani or Afghan.
An American may also be a Comanche, Cherokee, Osage, Blackfoot, Navaho, Apache, Seminole or one of the many other tribes known as native Americans.
An American is Christian , or he could be Jewish, or Buddhist, or Muslim. In fact, there are more Muslims i n America than inAfghanistan.The only difference is that in America they are free to worship as each of them chooses.
An American is also free to believe in no religion. For that he will answer only to God, not to the government, or to armed thugs claiming to speak for the government and for God.
An American lives in the most prosperous land inthe history of the world.
The root of that prosperity can be found in the Declaration of Independence , which recognizes the God given right of each person to the pursuit of happiness.
An American is generous. Americans have helped o ut just about every other nation in the world in their time of need, never asking a thing in return.
When Afghanistan was over-run by the Soviet army 20 years ago, Americans came with arms and supplies to enable the people to win back their country!
As of the morning of September 11, Americans had given more than any other nation to the poor in Afghanistan. The national symbol of America , The Statue of Liberty , welcomes your tired and your poor, the wretched refuse of your teeming shores, the homeless, temp est tossed. These in fact are the people who built America
Some of them were working in the Twin Towers the morning of September 11, 2001 earning a better life for their families. It’s been told that the World Trade Center victims were from at least 30 different countries, cultures, and first languages, including those that aided and abetted the terrorists.
So you can try to kill an American if you must. Hitler did. So did General Tojo , and Stalin , and Mao Tse-Tung, and other blood-thirsty tyrants in the world. But, in doing so you would just be killing yourself. Because Americans are not a particular people from a particular place.
They are the embodiment of the human spirit of freedom. Everyone who holds to that spirit, everywhere, is an American.
Once again, more misinformation posted by #11.
A fake letter, by a fake dentist:
http://www.snopes.com/rumors/america2.asp
I don’t mean to undermine anyone’s intelligence but want to simply share my view based on the following:
1) Did this organization, San Jose Voters for Democracy, ever raise any other issues but the name “Little Saigon” for the small strip of Story road? No.
2) Did this group have a history of any recognizable contribution to San Jose or work with the city council constructively on any other issue that would benefit the city and its residents? No.
3) What did they do to deserve being given the honor to pick the name? Nothing.
4) What are they trying to accomplish by recalling council member Madison Nguyen?
– To score points with a bitter and destructive feud to satisfy their own selfish pride by destroying Madison Nguyen personally because they believe she did not serve their special interest and disobeyed their order.
– To promote a new representative in supporting their “Little Saigon” obsession.
– To exhaust the city council until they give in to their nonstop demands and achieve satisfaction whether by a change of heart or by being totally disgusted and seeing no way to deal with the insanity of it all.
5) On the one hand this group takes advantage of the city’s kindness and generosity while at the same time wasting their time and causing them grief and distress. They show no character and lack integrity.
I believe true activists work toward a meaningful goal and do not set out to viciously destroy people that they believe to be of no help or have a different view.
If the unthinkable happens, whoever occupies the seat will probably face the same harassment and horrible hostility that this group has inflicted upon Ms. Nguyen unless he or she can be on the same page with them, and the city council will continue to endure their nonsense.
My thanks to Mr. Robert Kieve’s comment on the radio, “…the Recall campaign has been illogical from the beginning. It is based on a successful effort to play on the emotions of good people who, deeply injured by communists in their homeland, are being pushed into transferring their resentment to one of their own…”. That’s exactly how I feel.
Best Regards,
Mai
10—We should “respect the process?” Then why shouldn’t there be an election to replace Nguyen if she is recalled? That’s the process, too. This continues to be an abuse of the recall process and is doing nothing but hurting the Vietnamese community. They are undoing all of the progress they have made and are alienating much of San Jose. It’s too bad they still want to fight the Vietnam war rather than work to build a better San Jose. No matter how this recall ends the damage has been done and it will take years to repair.
That one million dollars is kind of like the money you save at a Macy’s One-Day sale: “The more you spend, the more you save!”
There is an irony in asking everyone else, Kathleen, to move on and focus on something more important in the larger scheme of things. If Barry Do and his invited constituency had that same gift of perspective a year ago, there wouldn’t even be a recall election now.
You know how you can tell a recall campaign is in trouble?
When one of it’s most vocal supporters suddenly tells an online community forum that instead of discussing the recall we should instead “move on to something more important.” Hmm, it seems to me that this poster has had a LOT to say about the recall up until now.
#11: The “Australian dentist” article you posted, apparently to prompt the non-recall discussion, is an internet hoax: http://www.snopes.com/rumors/america2.asp
I guess we’re back to discussing the recall!
I applaud the Recall group to calling for appointment. I hope Madison Nguyen agrees to it.
if both sides agree to let the recall election determine the end result…regardless of who win, then the rest of us San Joseans wouldn’t have to worry about the cost of replacement.
What a relief.
I can now vote for the recall.
#14- I agree with holding another election if they want, what is your point? They are trying to save money by having someone appointed, got a problem with that, then write your representatives.
#12, More misinformation? Yeah right.
#12, #17, (I wouldn’t be surprised if you are working on the No on Madison recall you sound like paid campaign staffers.)
Thank you letting me know the letter by the dentist was a hoax. I had no idea it was. My reason for posting it was a simple one that seems to have escaped some of you because you aren’t even willing to concede that these folks may just dethrone your dream girl, and because you are trying to create a smoke screen to the real issue here. The point this letter makes is an excellent one and that is that the Vietnamese Community is as American as you and I, and therefore has a right to exercise their freedom to have said election. Some of you object to this recall merely because they are Vietnamese, or because you are working for Madison, and for no other reason, whether you’ll admit it or not.
As to the recall, you guys can bend or distort the truth all you want, but I have made it pretty clear that while I support the right to due process, and the right of these folks to recall her, I do not agree with the recall of Madison Nguyen. I don’t think I would have chosen this path myself. I would have let her serve her remaining short time, and worked on a campaign of someone else to beat her in the next election. Luckily, I’m not a resident of D7, and I doubt many of you are either. I wouldn’t be so sure she will prevail in the recall election because many people are as sick of her as the are of this issue. Don’t ever underestimate bigots, when it comes to issues like this folks!
As to my staying out of the recent discussions on this, I think it is a waste of time, when I’m more concerned about families going jobless, hungry, people abandoning their pets to die and starve. It is all a matter of priorities people, and this recall is not a priority in my world. The Metro could use its time better too by covering how many seniors are going homeless and hungry, or other more important stories that are affecting our community today.
As to moving on, if you guys want to moan about something so dam trivial when kids, families, businesses, and our economy is in distress go right ahead, more power to you.
James,
What planet did you just land from? What part of “Brown Act” violation don’t you understand there, buddy? (THINK: FELONY!!!)
You can tell a lot from a person by the company he/she keeps. One of Madison’s biggest supporters, Hung Le, along with Sam Liccardo (sp?) purposely LIED to both the City Council and to the public with their phony 92-name-list. And now, they will get their behinds sued by all the people whose businesses suffered because of this bold-faced lie! After all of this is thru, neither one of them will have a single nickel to their names.
But I guess since you’re one of her lying supporters, James, it doesn’t surprise me much.
Luong,
Call poster stupid: CHECK
Guilt by association: CHECK
Imply so-called facts are black-and-white: CHECK
Finish by calling poster lying pawn of opposition: CHECK
Come in at 11th hour and massively distort posters position: CHECK
If only the ‘Barry Do Political Method’ were the thing subject to recall this season, we could get back to civility and the issues Kathleen mentions.
Pay attention Luong—James Rowen (assuming that’s the James you are referring to) has been a highly verbal critic of Nguyen as far back as I can remember! Lying supporter, huh?
“Madison Nguyen has surfaced from all of this as an elected official worth respecting and supporting.”
WOW.
An elected official that was voted in office by grassroots support of the Vietnamese community then later denounced and subjected the same community with racial overtone, misinformation and hatred rather than taking leadership with outreach and healing words is definitely not my elected representative in a city as diverse as the great City of San Jose. Leadership is beyond reproach and a good leader recognizes the rights of all its citizens, not pitting one group against the others. I heard nothing from Madison Nguyen and Chuck Reed taking leadership to defend and support the Vietnamese community for all the good things we have contributed and asking people to refrain from labeling us as a whole- bad rotten apple. Their silence showed their insincerity and disrespect for the same core groups that they worked hard to cultivate into votes to get themselves into office. Respect is a two way street, Mr. Rowen.
Furthermore, what self respecting citizens of San Jose, not taking the time out to analyze the issue, place themselves in the shoe of the affected group whether it’s democrat or republican, white or minority, gay or straight, women or men, have or have not, then spill these one dimensional opinions that’s laced with bigotry and hatred is beyond me. When the Vietnamese are passive and hardworking, then we truly deserve to be here in San Jose. But when we exercise the rights to democracy such as civil disobedience because the stubborn elected officials are not hearing our voice until ethical and political violations are pointed out, then we are angry mobs of bullies? How convenient the argument now is these Vietnamese this, these Vietnamese that….What’s next, move to the Asian only sections? Democracy is not cheap or convenient, just right.
Last, ethical duty is not a single issue. It encompasses all that we are as an elected representative. When that is lacking, it threatened the very foundation of democracy. This issue is not about the sign or even about Little Saigon. It’s about the rights of the district 7 voters for the last 9 years and now to not be subjected to continued unethical violation, backdoor dealings, bypassing public hearings, catering to special interests, cover-ups or simply playing politics rather than acting like a public servant for once. Case in point. This Little Saigon saga came to an abrupt end because the City was caught with their pants down over advocating the same day of the hearing a fraudulent petition submitted by Henry Huong Le as the basis for their votes to turn down Little Saigon. Yet this hearing only came about because of the inadvertent discovery of a Brown’s Act violation previously by members of the council, in effect invalidating the previous votes in November. Sam Liccardo and members of the council was quick to denounce this person in the press and in the Rules committee as a black eye for the City the fact that someone can legally lied at the public forum and are protected by free speech. Yet, in a fundraiser by Madison to oppose the recall in May, Reed, Larry Stone, Liccardo, Chirco, Pyle, Williams, Constant, Lazotte and Labor Union reps can clearly be seen hobnobbing with Henry Le. What the @##$? It does have a stench that Henry Le is not the problem. It smells like the un-sunshine votes of old. Come to a council decision before hand, in facts days before, then create justification for that decision, truth be damned and public hearing and input be damned. That, my friends is what this recall is about.
#18 Kathleen: Sorry, wrong again…this time twice. I am not involved in any campaign nor am I #12.
Wow! A twofer.
#18
I’ll let you stand by your statement you “had no idea”.
That is what I have noticed for sometime.
I have no skin in this D7 game ‘cept to go there to eat at businesses that are cheap, don’t ring up the lunch purchases (register always shows 0.00) and take cash only.
And I agree with you, please keep your comments to posts about kids, families, businesses, and our economy. Use your time working on this rather than posting on various blogs – why bother?
#21-Hung Bui,
You are trying to talk to people on SJI who really don’t understand the issue here, and are better at playing school yard games, and making ignorant statements about the situation rather than trying to look at both sides of the issue here. Many are closet bigots who base their opinions on their hatred of Vietnamese people. You can see that by the way they never refer to your community as Vietnamese “Americans” that have the same rights to due process as we white folks do, or when they make fun of your communities fear of communism, a concept they have zero experience with. Take their comments with a grain of salt and consider the source, after all they hide behind fake names on here so they can’t be held accountable for their behaviors, and they surely don’t display the courage of their convictions by posting anonymously.
I understand and support your right to the recall. I get all the things Madison did to hurt your community’s trust, and I know there is more to this than the naming issue, but James Rowen has been a huge critic of Madison’s for a very long time. You only have to look at his blog to see that for yourself. You might want to contact him through his own blog and discuss this there. He has an open mind and is fair.
In closing, let me say that your community has been acting with grace and dignity since you got your signs, and since the beginning of this recall election. Thank you for that my fellow American! Good luck to you on March 7th. May the will of all D7 citizens be heard, and respected.
#23-Why Bother,
“And I agree with you, please keep your comments to posts about kids, families, businesses, and our economy. Use your time working on this rather than posting on various blogs – why bother?”
You might take your own advice before handing it out to others!
“Americans will put up with anything provided it doesn’t block traffic.” (Dan Rather, US television newscaster).
How true! People use the law to their advantage and are allowed to protest and use hunger strikes when things are not to their liking. People who don’t care about propriety and appropriateness have acquired tremendous power. City officials are regarded as public servants who should take blame for everyone’s actions and at the same time are expected to defend absurd people. People label themselves by their actions, and no city official can tell someone what to think or do – it is obvious that the council members have been taking verbal abuse themselves and could not do anything about it. People who do things in the name of the Vietnamese community are responsible for its reputation. I feel tremendously bad for the city officials in San Jose. They show extreme patience and tolerance. They probably did not know that some of their voters expected them to be servants to one group, attending to all their wants, and leaders for other groups telling people how to act or react. I wish them well.
The comment “You are trying to talk to people on SJI who really don’t understand the issue here…. Many are closet bigots who base their opinions on their hatred of Vietnamese people….They hide behind fake names on here …” speaks volumes about the writer as well as the so-called courage of one’s convictions.
Although I am a Vietnam Vet and have great fond for the Vietnamese people, I am truly disappointed with the leadership from this community.
Eventhough it’s only a few sound bites here and there, I have to admit that each time my wife and I see Barry Doe on TV, we find the Vietnamese people less and less likeable.
We haven’t met this bozo so we can’t tell if he is also as annoying in person too, but still, is this the best leader that the Vietnamese people can come up with?
While Madison is neither competence nor particularly honest, I am not sure if I can continue to support the recall effort if the replacement is going to be that kid from Franklin McKinley.
I met Khao Nguyen a few months ago and he’s about as dumb and annoying in person as Barry on TV. At least Madison is articulate and semi-intelligent.
Kathleen:
>> “You are trying to talk to people on SJI who really don’t understand the issue here, and are better at playing school yard games, and making ignorant statements about the situation rather than trying to look at both sides of the issue here.”
1. Not fair. Some of us know Vietnamese very well, have skin in the game, and even speak the language. What I wish for you is to truly understand both sides of the issue as well. There is right, there is wrong, and then there is burning the building to kill the mosquitoes.
2. When an arguably unprecedented recall movement with an end total taxpayer bill in the millions is pushed primarily by one political group, it is their burden to bring understanding to US, not for 350,000 voters to cross the bridge and understand THEM. And surprise: they are not doing a very good job. Yelling “You don’t understand us” across the bridge doesn’t cut it.
3. Mai’s final comments captured my emotional response to this far better than I could.
If the recall committee is so ethical, than why are they getting into bed with Victor Ajlouny?
#24, you may not have appreciated the contradiction in your following remark:
>>Many are closet bigots who base their opinions on their hatred of Vietnamese people. You can see that by the way they never refer to your community as Vietnamese “Americans” that have the same rights to due process as we white folks do, or when they make fun of your communities fear of communism, a concept they have zero experience with.<<
While you are correct that Vietnamese-American is the appropriate term for US citizens with Vietnamese roots or who were born here, you could set a better example than to use “white folks.” Your unfortunate term, “white folks,” should equally have been “white Americans.” What benefit is it to an open and inclusive society when the same level of respect is not granted to everyone?
#27-Kenny,
Please, don’t assume you were included in that statement. You have, at least to me, seemed to make an effort to understand both sides of any issue on SJI. I haven’t seen you be abusive or make nasty remarks to anyone; at least I don’t recall you doing that.
I know of Mai Nguyen, and I know what that person has been doing, and being paid to do on behalf of Madison. Mai is not a person I wish to deal with based on my knowledge of his or her own contribution to the intentional spreading of misinformation, and the hate going on here. Enough said.
Kenny, I could not disagree with you more on this issue. I do know both sides of the story very, very well. I work in an area that tracks hate speech, and hate crimes. The abuse both sides of this Vietnamese community have suffered by “White Americans/white folks,” politicians, and Labor Unions, etc. is just inexcusable.
In my view, Madison has had every opportunity to try and work with these folks, and heal this situation, but has for whatever reason, chosen not to. I find it odd that none of you, who are claiming to be so open minded and fair about this, aren’t a bit angry that she hasn’t! Doesn’t her refusal to resolve this, contribute to the “cost of the election?”
James Rowen just posted on his blog that she has turned him down, when he has attempted to work with her to help resolve this. The director of OHR tried to meet with her to resolve this, she refused then too. So, what gives? She gets to shun attempts to stop this, but the recall folks are the ONLY ones to blame for this mess? I don’t think so Kenny.
Bigotry is alive and well, and so is corruption and deceit in this election. I’m not sure why the news media keeps choosing to make this just a naming issue, and one of election costs when it is NOT! If you have Vietnamese American friends, family, etc., you know this already.
As to Barry Do, who cares? Honestly, just because the guy acts like a spokesperson for the Vietnamese American community, doesn’t mean he is. Kenny, how many times have you worked in an office, been on a team, or sat on a committee where someone acted like the head honcho and wasn’t? Do, does NOT speak for the entire YES on the Recall campaign he just thinks he is.
#29- I disagree that the term “white folks, ” is derogatory, but you are entitled to your opinion.
Kathleen,
1) I don’t get paid to express my view. Do you?
“I know of Mai Nguyen, and I know what that person has been doing, and being paid to do on behalf of Madison. Mai is not a person I wish to deal with based on my knowledge of his or her own contribution to the intentional spreading of misinformation, and the hate going on here.”
I consider your statement to be an intentional spreading of misinformation. Do you really know me and how?
2) I have no knowledge of the abuse that you claimed.
“The abuse both sides of this Vietnamese community have suffered by “White Americans/white folks,” politicians, and Labor Unions, etc. is just inexcusable.”
Please provide some facts so we can be informed.
Thank you.
Congratulations Madison on you victory and your addition to the list of elite SV politicians beholden to big labor and their very effective brand of legailized extortion……