You Say You Want a Resolution

You might have been driving around town by yourself in your Hummer and thought to yourself, wow there are sure alot of homeless people out today; or maybe you saw a piece of graffiti gracing a wall that wasn't there yesterday; perhaps you were even privileged enough to witness a gang fight in front of one of the myriad marijuana dispensaries in town. But all of these decidedly minor local annoyances are today eclipsed by the uber-significant issue of the effect of the current conflict in the middle east on our (usually) sunny community by the beach.

That's right. The War on Terror DOES affect you here in our corner of paradise. The same people that don't believe that we here in Santa Barbara are at risk to the dangers of terrorism will now have you believe that it's kicking us in the softest spot on our collective person: the City's pocketbook.

Today Mayor Marty Blum and Councilman Das Williams will be proposing to the City Council a "Resolution Urging Cessation of Combat Operations in Iraq and the Return of U.S. Troops." That's right, folks. The Blue Line is back and it's bigger and badder than ever.

Whether this is a ploy to divide the Council or a plea for the recollection of federal funds that they claim war spending is infringing upon, or neither, it sure looks like an attention grabber. In fact this might be the biggest "look at me" stunt I've seen since Britney Spears did her best Sharon Stone Basic Instinct impression for the paparazzi. Terrel Owens pulling a sharpie out of his sock after a touchdown grab thinks these people are narcissistic.


I am of the opinion that this may be nothing more than something for the electeds to brag about when they hit the next National Aldermanic Association meeting in Backwater, USA. You saw it when Mayor Blum was caught sounding like a high school student errrrr misquoted in Variety Magazine about how they were "gonna paint a blue line" and this could be another one of their garden variety progressive Santa Barbara ploys to get more attention for how wonderful a job we're doing here in SB. If that's the case, congratulations electeds. With respect to President Bush, Mission Accomplished!


I'm happy to see that I'm not coming out of left field on this one, since they're chirping about it elsewhere, but do we really need another Blue Line? What exactly is the role, if any, of local government in regards to international foreign policy? Let's hear it readers. Proffer your opinions here on whether this is Mayor Blum's way of plopping a cease and desist order on the folks that spend four hours setting up Arlington West every Sunday, or if it's Das Williams' way of making up for the fact that he got up late this morning and only had 37 minutes to look at himself in the mirror.

Me Me ME!