sbrobert
By Robert Bernstein
Larry Elder is running for governor as a possible replacement for Governor Newsom in the event that Newsom is recalled. He held a rally on Wednesday afternoon in the Courthouse Sunken Garden.
Here are my photos.
Here is my complete video of his speech, with one brief cut to change the battery:
Here are selected frames from my video.
A few hundred people showed up to hear what he had to say. There was also a rally to support Newsom and vote no on the recall across the street.
When I arrived at the Courthouse at 3PM it was interesting to listen in on conversations. People were offering a range of conspiracy theories about elections and other issues. One woman was talking about how the government is using tracking devices to follow people. Various mumblings about how Communists were trying to take over. There were signs and t-shirts to that effect as well.
This “pro-Choice” sign puzzled me as I did not realize Republicans became pro-Choice.
“Liberty” is used selectively, it seems.
Not everyone was there to support Elder. Like me, many were curious to hear what he had to say. But I did also meet some people I knew who were there to support him.
This woman wanted to know if she would appear in Edhat.
Former County Supervisor Mike Stoker rallied the crowd before Elder spoke. Stoker claimed that this was the biggest political rally ever in Santa Barbara. An echo of Trump claiming that his inauguration was the biggest ever. In direct contradiction to photographic evidence to the contrary. Anyone who attended the Women’s Marches in Santa Barbara or the rallies against Reagan’s devastating wars in Central America or the Bush war in Iraq knows there have been rallies that were vastly larger.
Here was Mike Stoker with local recall organizer Bobbi McGinnis:
A few protesters quietly stood with signs in the middle of the crowd. Here was a notable sign.
As people waited for Elder to come out, several people jumped onto the stage to voice their personal issue. One talked about how the protesters were “Communists” and we had to fight them to save the country. Another talked of how we need to let Jesus be our guide. Interesting contrast, since Jesus told his followers to give up all their possessions and give the money to the poor. “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.”
Here was the crowd just before he took the stage:
Elder strode out to the stage with one final rally cry from Stoker:
Then he began his 34 minute speech.
Elder came across as reasonable to anyone who has little understanding of how government works. He offered “solutions” to a range of California’s problems that involved making emergency declarations to evade existing laws. Most notable was the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), signed into law in 1970 by then-governor Reagan.
Elder claimed that CEQA causes housing to be too expensive and that this is the main reason we have homelessness. He also stated that many of the homeless have mental health and substance abuse problems.
What he failed to understand is that many are homeless now because they have been evicted from housing that they used to have. In Venice in Los Angeles this happened to hundreds of long time residents whose landlords kicked them out in favor of high-priced vacation rentals.
And that many of those with mental illness used to have residential treatment and this ended under Reagan as governor.
At one point he asked the crowd if any of them had been in San Francisco lately. A murmur went through the crowd of revulsion at the very idea of going to such an awful place. He talked of how there are homeless people everywhere. As it happens, my wife and I went to San Francisco in May for Mother’s Day. We were astonished to see no homeless people at all! The city was housing them in the hotel that we usually stay at as well as other hotels.
He claimed that the fires ravaging California are due to the government failing to “clear the forests”. No mention of the Climate Crisis. The only significant variable that ties together the devastation in California and in the rest of the country is the Climate Crisis, but he made no mention of that.
But he did mention the imaginary “war against oil and gas”. In fact, fossil fuels receive vast subsidies. And there is still no meaningful carbon tax to pay for the cost of using the public atmosphere as a garbage dump for greenhouse gases. The Sierra Club has been critical of Newsom for being too timid on solving the Climate Crisis. But they are strongly opposing the recall because Elder would try to roll back the small gains that have been made. Here is the statement for the California Sierra Club:
https://www.sierraclub.org/california/letter-sacramento-maintaining-focus-during-recall-distraction
As for COVID, Elder attacked Governor Newsom for his measures to protect citizens with vaccination and masking and remote work and education. He said it should be a matter of personal choice. He said that if you get vaccinated then you are protected and if someone doesn’t want to get vaccinated that should be their choice. He said it only puts that person at risk. He clearly does not understand epidemiology or how vaccines work as well as their limitations.
He claimed that public schools are failing to educate people of color and that vouchers for private education are the solution. Even though he produced no evidence that this works.
I can certainly see why he has a following. He tells feel-good stories of how anyone can do well in America through honest hard work. He claims racism is just not a significant issue compared with people just being lazy. Or Black families lacking fathers. It is not clear what his point is, as the Governor has no power over such matters. He makes jokes about people calling him an Uncle Tom for saying these things.
H. L Mencken said “For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong. That was what I heard from Larry Elder.
Looks like we identified the person in the photo who asked “will this be on edhat?”
The ethnic make-up of the crowd doesn’t seem very diverse from the numerous photos I’ve seen. Are the Hispanic community and African Americans not supporting this candidate?
Right. And Trump is a stable genius who only hires the best… Imagine thinking a talk show host is your savior? People like Byz are why its so easy to become rich in America.
Same observation, GT, could be made from the pictures of the counter protesters. Slightly more than 2% of Santa Barbara population are African-American; 37% are Hispanic/Latino — and no way of telling by photos who’s what.
This Elder rally looks like a moranic convergence.
He has no clue how COVID is spread.
He has no clue what is causing fires. Or homelessness or any other problem he talks about.
He offers no solutions that make any sense.
Other than that, he would be a great governor.
Listen to his radio show for a few minutes (he will be back on the air once the election is over) – aggressive, domineering, hateful – sad that anyone would buy into him.
One of the best political rallies I’ve attended- Interesting that one of the speakers prior to Larry, was a HISPANIC man who WAS a democrat voting for the RECALL based on his perception of the “political elite” running the State…. SBCo Sheriff’s Dept said it was the largest crowd of any political rally to date. Go check for yourself it you doubt that. My guess is 800-1000 PRO RECALL and about 40 NO Recall… Impressive for a mid-week/mid-day political rally.
General, do you judge people by their skin color, or by the content of their character? The small group of protesters shown in the photos doesn’t exactly reflect California’s diverse demographics either. I have to say, there is some irony in a group of wealthy white liberals trying their hardest to prevent the state of california from electing a black governor for the first time in history.
Chip – someone reported there were about 1,000 people in the audience. There are numerous photos of this event showing mostly white people attending. I haven’t looked up any polling on elder amongst minorities – so I thought it’s a fair question someone might know the answer to. Elder has focused on Latino outreach so I’m curious if that has had an impact. I don’t think anyone is trying to prevent a black governor from getting elected in California – more like preventing a state coup by the angry minority – for a candidate that has a history of hateful and divisive commentary. If you support that type of commentary – then that is your choice.
Lotsa mouth breathing mask less Elder fans.
Trying to stop an unqualified person from being governor, CHIP. Not sure why you are so concerned about skin color.
Hit piece? Robert gave you the entire video of his talk, BYZANTIUM. How often does a reporter do that?
Listen to Elder and decide if he offers a single solution that makes any practical sense.
The RW has a hang up about size, particularly crowd size. Reference May Day 2006. That day there were at least ten times more people at the courthouse to push for immigrant rights then there were for this Elder carnival side show.
Just more BYZarre statements.
White woman dressed in monkey mask throws egg at:
– Al Sharpton = huge uproar, national news…
– Jesse Jackson = huge uproar, national news
– Larry Elder = ignored, nearly no news coverage, not a peep and my guess is that many are okay with what happened.
BABYCAKES – I just Googled “Al Sharpton hit by egg” and found nothing. Then I did the same with Jesse Jackson, again nothing. I did it a 3rd time with Larry Elder and it’s literally ALL OVER THE NEWS.
Why are you lying? Neither Sharpton nor Jackson were ever egged. Lying about something this verifiable is just absurd. Or…… are you making hypotheticals where everyone is out to get the one black guy you happen to like?
Sac…you are a peach, but you completely missed the point once again.
Most of the country has no idea who Larry Elder is. He is a low level non-syndicated shock jock radio “personality.” While Elder’s peers became nationally syndicated and very successful – Elder did not. Sharpton and Jackson are known internationally. Why in the world would an egg being thrown on him by a homeless person be a racist attack? And btw that story is literally all over national news.
BABYCAKES – None of those things happened, so why are you complaining about it? THAT is the point. You’re making up things to complain about, again.
Disappointing to see all this vitriol. Not much value added.
I was there and I am pretty neutral politically. What I experienced was a calm crowd who seemed to be enjoying some rational comments from somebody who is pretty logical. The haters will always hate, seems that is the norm. Dont like it, spew away. But this event was very nice and refreshing to hear. I feel pretty good that Newsome will get booted out and more than likely replaced by Mr Elders and it appears that will be refreshing.
Looks about white.
Looks like Larry is already getting his lawyers ready to contest the “rigged election.” This is effing pathetic. Thanks to Trump, any election with a Republican loss will be “rigged.”
https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article254078633.html
We were there saw angry people taking pictures of all the faces there when I confronted one they said I’m not allowed to talk to anyone down here I’m just here to document who is here and ran off. This seemed odd to me.I was just there to see what he had to say as a undecided voter.
Any election with a Republican win is also rigged. Just ask the original crier Hilary
“Larry Elder brandished a weapon in conversation with me during our breakup. He checked to see if his gun was loaded,” Datig said in an interview earlier this month that occurred prior to her informing the police of the accusations.
In the statement provided to police, Datig also alleged Elder pushed her during an argument, claiming he was in a “drug induced” fit.
I must have missed the insurrection that Hillary led, when was that again?
Vote Yes! Love to see so much support for this movement.
It was a wonderful rally, surprised at the number of young people there…… Larry will make California great again!
If by support you mean people traveling from out of the area then sure?
Were they wearing a cape with “Q” on it?
SAIL – did Hilary proclaim BEFORE the election that it was rigged and could only be lost due to fraud?
He’ll make it so great that all descendants of slave owners will receive compensation after the emancipation proclamation freed their property.
He’ll also make it so great that women will be out of politics because they’re too dumb.
interesting to see the two sides.
one wearing masks in a crowd situation, one not.
hmmmmmm
Honestly, I have the tiniest hope he wins. It will be an absolute sh*#show for a year and then the dems will sweep the election again as everyone sees how dreadfully unqualified and ridiculous this guy is. Go for it folks, jokes on you! Watch this guy flail as he tries to turn CA into Florida. The people will STILL get vaxxed, STILL wear masks, STILL do what they can to avoid spreading the pandemic. Women will STILL be our equals!
PSTARS – would be interesting to see what percentage of covid deaths are Republicans vs Democrats.
Vote No on Recall. We already had a sh*#show in Washington DC. We don’t need to go through another one in CA.
Knew this was going to be a biased hit piece when the author and his signature shirt showed up. And it is. It was a great rally, well attended and the large and enthusiastic crowed loved what Larry Elder had to say. The protests were paltry and predictable. Just like the content of this event write up.
Larry Elder has been able to skillfully deflect every leftist hit piece thrown at him. Which increases voter confidence in him. He is just the calm and engaging dose of medicine this state needs, to take the ugly partisan dialogue down a notch. The more they come after him, the better Elder looks. Humor and resiliency are good qualities for any politician to have. Larry stays on track which is very reassuring in these troubled times.