HEY!!  I love Bakersfield. So I take offense to that last sentence.

But I agree with everything else you've said.

Of course it always takes at least ONE person to start a recall..... it doesn't start all on it's own.

Protesting generally goes no where anyway. It allows people to blow off steam, get in fights and hate.

I say both side stay the hell away from each other. You and I weren't there. You are only stating what you think. I don't know and I'm not going to draw conclusions one way or the other.  And if you don't like Bakersfield, well I guess you know you can leave. I don't always love being here but there are things that keep me here after 47 years of being here. And don't brand me some gay hater because I disagreed with you. Once again, you don't have all the facts.

She doesn't have the facts? hahahah .. she has a VIDEO of the altercation. Ummm... I dont think you get more factual than that.

Although, Jen.. I don't think this happened because "we live in Bakersfield." I think there are hotheads in every city. Some just don't get the media attention they deserve.

I think educators and people who preach one way may feel that way in theory, but don't always follow it. Just like that politician who was anti-gay everything.. then he was caught having an affair with a man.

I just watched the video and it looks like the OTHER guy is getting in Metters face.

BUT.. that guy, Metter or whatever his name is, had choices that night. One was to stay on HIS side of the street. The other, was to NOT throw a punch back, no matter what. The other was to walk away when he realized things were getting a little volatile.

One year, my son was suspended for a fight he did everything in his power to avoid. But once he felt cornered, he fought. The principal said the responsible thing would have been that he should have never thrown ONE punch.

We said, yeah, right. In the real world, if you do that, you will be picked on the rest of your life.

A few months later, I see this principal at McDonalds with his grandkids. One of his grandkids is getting picked on. I hear him tell him, "Go back there and if he picks on you again, HIT HIM hard. That will make him leave you alone." 

I looked up and was like... you effing hypocrite bastard...... ( I said it in my head, not out loud.. not worth it)

My point? ummm.. I don't know.. I started rambling on and on and I forgot what my point was. Anyways..

Carry on!!

 YOU WERNT THERE, I WAS! ! why dont you get back to work. move on. this pissed me off.

I LOVE speculaters. IF you think that video is all what happened think again. THOSE people arent peaceful. I would suggest to you to spend some time over there Like i do ...... YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW HAT EFUL THEY ARE. they were burning a flag. YELLING SCREAMING AT PEOPLE. you are ridiclious.. and VERY closed minded. why dont you read my blogs about what they do to people.

go eat a cheeseburger.

Twinkie what she has  is a guy standing in front of the altercation (you can't see the action going on in the back ground),.I've seen the vid several times,..we don't know what the other guy was  doing . we don't see the whole thing,.so  the vid doesn't show the full story. He very well could have been swinging too. Mettler didn't press charges and then the other guy did. I think the other guy was trying to make a point.. The people that oppose this issue are small in comparison to  those that want it  passed. just because they aren't protesting doesn't mean anything.  Anyway. those that oppose it  are going to make a louder nose because they  are in fewer numbers. They are a bit more passionate about the outcome. They are going to yell scream or do whatever it takes to get this issue noticed. They will even use a fight in order to show  the other side is wrong. It's politics. I think Mettler was pretty brave or crazy to go get his yes on 8's.  Protest's of that sort are a waste. The people already know how they are going to vote. You think they are going to drive by and say "wow,..EPIPHANY!!!! I think I'll vote the other way, wow those protesters really changed my mind!"  No, most of the time  they drive by and laugh at both sides. Protest are for making the  pissed off feel better to have a say. That's all. LIke i said,.both parties should stay away from each other.

Yes, Joe, you're right. I actually watched the video AFTER I wrote that, then went back to edit. It looks like the OTHER guy is the one that caused the altercation. At least, to me it does.

However, when you are a Trustee or educator, or hold a public office you have a higher responsibility to be a good role model and uphold the law more than the average "joe" on the street. Like I said before, he had a few choices that night that would have kept him out of the headlines today.

Sorry to offend you and your love of Bako, Twinkie.

And as for Annie and Joe- of COURSE I'm stating what I think! I can't state what you think- I'm not you. And I can make reasonable and rational comments about events I was there for (such as the protest) and events I can see (via video or other means). Jump to conclusions much? Why would I brand you a gay hater, Joe? What evidence do I have of that? Did I say that anywhere in my post- did I bring that up at all? And as for Annie- jeez, woman, take a chill pill! You don't know me from Adam, how can you make any kind of judgment about me? Do you realize how hateful and crazy you sound? Eat some chocolate and be happy already.

Protesting does, in fact, make some difference to some people. You'll have to forgive my paraphrasing since I don't have my source material handy, but something like a pitiful 40% of poeple who can vote actually do. We are supposedly the most Democratic nation in the world, but we also participate less in the Democratic procces than any other Democratic nation in the world. People are also very passive about educating themselves on propositions and candidates. By bringing attention to what the items on the ballots are really about, people can be motivated to look into it for themselves and BECOME educated. If witnessing a protest can get a dozen people moved enough to get out there and vote on it when they wouldn't have voted otherwise, that's a huge deal when there is such a low voter turnout. It can make a huge difference in the resultsw. Also, if you are a part of a minority set, you might feel emboldened to stand up for yourself when you see you aren't the only one out there. In cases specifically like this one, it is important for people to see that it isn't only gay people who care about 8 being defeated. Straight people care, too, and should vote. I'd like to be a complete snot and point out, too, that if less than half of the populace is turning out to vote, that the outcome of voting does not represent the views of the majority, it simply represents the views of the majority of voters. The majority remain silent.

And I stand by what I said. If you have to take steps toward somebody to punch them, I don't see how you can call it self defense. If the other party is backing away, and you have to go after them, that's attacking. Was Mettler attacking because he got hit first? Maybe, the evidence isn't clear enough. Was Mettler still in the wrong? Yes. The video gives ample evidence of this, regardless of "who started it". This is why I provided a link to the video right there in my post, so that anyone can watch it and decide for themselves. What "both parties" should or should not do is not the topic of my post--rather, it is about what already occurred, and what has happened as a result of that action and subsequent inaction.

Back to Twinkie-- I agree that hotheads occur everywhere, not just in Bakersfield. And Bakersfield is certainly the only place I have lived where people will give you the shirt right off their backs even while they are damning you to hell. But Bakersfield is the first place I have lived (and I have lived all over California) where the justification of "might makes right" is so blatant and unchallenged. Or at least, only quietly challenged. There are certainly some of the very best things in life to be found here, but there are some of the very worst as well, and a huge chunk of apathy in correcting for that. That's the part I hate.

Whichever side you are on, I hope you all make it to the polls on November 4th!

Btw, I've been following the Mettler / protestor debaucle closely. Inga Barks has decided to throw her wig in the ring:

READ WHAT SHE HAS TO SAY ABOUT BAKERSFIELD HERE...

One thing she mentions is that the young protestor who wants to filed charges against Mettler has some prior violent offenses of his own. If that is the case, do you think he should be the best person to represent such a sensitive issue?

Thanks...

I can make a judgment because of your character by your post. You have no idea what you are talkin about. Maybe i can say you cant make a judgement cause you wernt there........ I never said i agree with what he did. of course i think being who he is was he made a bad choice, yes but if you attack be prepared to get attacked back how DARE this little punk ass kid to hit him 1st then CRY about how he got hit back. he is a peice of garbage like most of the assholes over there.... I have no respect for them.

If you cant handle my criticisms, you sure as hell cant handle those people on that corner.  and i dont eat chocolate sorry.

i suggest you read my other blog. http://www.bakotopia.com/ho...

wow, I see that I've really missed a lot while i was gone... these are some smoking pages kids....

missed seeing your posts guys... hi Twink, how's it going?

Sorry to disagree Jenn, but I think most of us here have lived in other places and in ALL those places, there were ALWAYS SOME instances of "might makes right"... it's not just Bakersfield... it's the world... watch the news, that's what the world is full of... it happens in every town, city and place where more than a few people exist together...

The preppies vs. jocks, vs, geeks and nerds, hot chicks vs. plain chicks, moms vs. other moms, you name it.... it happens in schools, places of work, every walk of life...

Of course there are ALWAYS SOME... But I said blatant and unchallenged.  I'm not stupid, nor naive. But, come on, even loving Bakersfield, you have to admit to some of its blaring faults, and this is one of them. How long was that infamous sign about folks of a certain ethnicity and a curfew hanging in Oildale?

I don't mind, and even enjoy, rational criticisms of my writings. But it's nice when people stick to what I actually wrote, and save the value judgements for things that, well, require them. I'm not reading your blog, Annie. If you don't make sense in your comments, I'm not going to read a whole blog. Sorry.

Oh, and Matt-  I think that if what Inga said about the young guy is true, and he has a history of violence, then he's as bad as an example as Mettler is. This is an emotional issue for many people, but discussion and debate works sooooo much better when one can leave the emotions at home and present arguments rationally. Fisticuffs is no way to discuss an issue.

Well, Jenn, I do not love Bakersfield, I barely tolerate it there sometimes... so that let's me out... however, I still say some pretty BLATENT and unchallenged events are taking place all over America, every day...

Ask the kid who's picked on by the school jock that is never questioned... it's out there, just because you're not seeing it, doesn't mean that it's not happening daily...

I am not for the gay rights, but every time that some hate crime is perpetrated on some guy just because he's gay, that's pretty blatent in my book.

This incident is just ridiculous.  Both sides are at fault here. 

Mettler showed poor judgement just by walking over to the other side.  Of course that doesn't give anybody the right to get physical but how could he not expect a confrontation?  And this claim of self-defense is pretty shaky too.  I've seen the video.  Of course it is hard to tell but it doesn't look like  you were in any danger.  The kid wants the signs?  Give them to him.  Which headline looks better:  "HS Trustee Involved in Scuffle at Rally" or "HS Trustee Accosted at Rally"?

This Badewitz (whatever his name is) guy isn't a peach either.  So Mettler comes over to pick up some signs, big deal.  Don't try to tell us they were "yours".  Just because you took posession of them and defaced them doesn't mean they are yours to defend.   Confronting Mettler didn't do anything but make you look like a thug.   Trust me on this one:  Too many people in this community see the opponents of Prop 8 as being immoral.  You did nothing to help your cause.

Both of these men should have just taken the high-road.  Let the other guy look like the jerk.