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SHOWING UP
January 9, 2008 by PawPrint - Rocklin

There is a basic, fundamental law of the universe which has been termed "showing up."  It's been said that the essential element of any successful project is for people to just "show up."  You don't have to look very far to see how true this really is.  Take, for example, our Rocklin Planning Commissioners and City Council members.  By just "showing up" on Tuesday evenings at City Hall through the years they have accomplished quite a lot.  Take a drive around town and see for yourself.  We could all learn from their example of what "showing up" can produce.

This being an election year we, as citizens, have the opportunity to "show up" and let our voices be heard.  Here in Rocklin we have a very special issue on the ballot in February (Measure H - The Fate of Clover Valley).  For over nine years now a grassroots group called the Save Clover Valley Coalition has been working diligently to keep one of our last remaining natural ecosystems preserved for us and for future generations yet unborn.  Thanks to their efforts the hard work has now been done, leaving the easy part for the rest of us to handle.  All we have to do is just "show up" when it's time to vote (absentee ballots for some of us now and at the polls on Feb. 5 for the rest of us later). How much easier can it get?

By all of us joining together as a voting bloc we can change the course of what's happening in Rocklin.  A NO on MEASURE H victory is what it will take to head us in that new direction.  And with our victory  -- truly anything is possible!  Together, let's all "show up" and show them that we want change  --  by voting NO on MEASURE H!


One of our local blogs conservativebetrayed.townhall.com gives us all another educated perspective on Rocklin and the local area.


Prince Doolittle's Rocklin Town Hall
July 5, 2007 by PawPrint - Rocklin

Hi Everybody!   Prince John of the 4th District realm made an appearance today at City Hall in all of his glory, surrounded by his entourage of staff/bodyguards and several Rocklin police officers (in case of any trouble from the peasantry).  Peter Hill was supposed to be his assistant/question reader, but apparently had an accident in Roseville over the Fourth of July holiday, injuring his leg.  So Police Chief Siemens was the last-minute designated hitter.  He had a little trouble reading the peasantry's questions, but managed to get through it nonetheless.

We were only given one hour by His Graciousness to speak our minds  ---11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.  The Chamber was probably 3/4 full with about 40-45 people (mostly senior citizens).  We were told that if we had a question we were to write it down on the blue card we each got and then give it to one of the Prince's roving minions who would carry it up to Chief Siemens to read.  (The reason I'm going into such detail on this seemingly unimportant part is to show how completely controlled the whole thing was.)  They got to see who was asking what (they wanted our names and addresses on the cards) and then they could also screen out questions they figured would be too controversial, or difficult, for the Prince to answer.

(If any of you attended the Town Hall Meeting Doolittle had a few years ago in Roseville at the Maidu Center you know what I'm talking about. He got pelted with questions from a very angry bunch of about 125 residents  ---   to the point where he was red-faced, visibly perspiring in an air-conditioned banquet room, and taking a drink of water evey two minutes.  Somebody with him actually had to start fielding the questions for Prince John, he had gotten so flustered from the non-stop assault
and looked as if he wanted to find a hole to crawl into, but not finding one, had to somehow keep going.)

So today they made sure that scenario wouldn't be repeated  ---  the Prince gave an introductory 20-minute monologue on all the wonderful things they're accomplishing back in Washington, how he is there representing us and doing a super-fantastic job, if he does say so himself!  He was visibly proud that the President's Immigration Bill was soundly defeated and also that his own legislation was recently approved by the House that will prevent financial lenders from aiding illegal aliens with mortgages (passed as an amendment to H.R. 1427).  Now it awaits action by the Senate.

Other things he mentioned were:  1) English as the official language  2) Border Security and Fences  3) Real ID Act of 2005  ----  all of which he is in favor of.  Then with about 40 minutes remaining we started in on the submitted questions.  Since the Town Hall topic was Immigration most people kept to that with questions like:  Why hasn't the fence been completed along the southern border?  Something's got to be done about all the illegals streaming in, etc.  Prince John said that since they've constructed a great majority of the planned fencing the number of illegals getting through has dropped 90%.  We should all be so proud of, and grateful to, our government, shouldn't we?

Of course, as time began running short, some courageous people figured it's now or never if they want answers.  So much for reading the questions off the cards  ---  it's time to just speak up.  No more being limited by the topic of Immigration either ---  out came our lousy Medicare system (and health care system in general  ---  I sat there
wondering how many had seen Michael Moore's Sicko movie over the weekend, which is fabulous by the way, don't miss it), the war in Iraq, etc.  Then one angry man up in front just stood up and confronted the Prince with a statement about how this was supposed to be a "Town Hall Meeting" where we could just ask questions from the audience, without going through the "formal" procedure of submitting it in writing.  He was obviously fed up with the whole thing and then, after speaking his
mind, stomped out  ---  trying his best to make a statement that we weren't being treated right.  A couple of Doolittle's minions ran outside after him (I guess in an attempt to alleviate his anger).

The Prince brought things back to order, as best he could, by going back to the written questions for a couple more before it was all over.  He just chalked this up to:  We're all from different political parties (thereby having differing points of view on any given topic) and isn't it great that we live in America where we can all voice our opinions and ultimately come to some sort of compromise on things.  And that we need to remember to be grateful for the wonderful life we have here, which is
so much better than the way it is in the rest of the world.

He finished with the comment that he was surprised so many folks actually showed up today, being right after the holiday, etc.  (I'm sure they were hoping the crowd would be much smaller than it was.)  In any event, as people filed out some of the print and TV media approached him with their microphones, tape recorders, etc., and he seemed happy to speak with them.  All in all, it was a good day for the Prince coming to visit in the "Rocklin Outback"  ---  to show how much he cares about all
of us!