LISTENER WINS AGAINST KPFA LSB CHAIR

Does this mean we will finally have Democracy Now at 7 a.m., which we voted for by voting for a majority on the LSB who wanted this? Moving Democracy Now would increase fundraising generally and listenership for that program, a program that is at least better than most of what is on KPFA. It does need improvement, of couse, as does the rest of the political affairs department.

Does this then mean that with Democracy Now at 7 a.m., the Morning Show will be from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., with more politics and less entertainment (movies, cookbooks, ad nauseum)?

Does this mean there will be a regular Labor Program at 6 a.m. every morning?

Does this mean that Guns & Butter will be moved to prime time, either in the evening weekdays between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. or on the weekends between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. so that far more people can learn what should be obvious: that the bombings of 9/11/01 were an inside job?

Does this mean that all news programs including the 6 p.m. news will stop referring to the events of 9/11/01 as an attack but rather as the 9/11 Inside Job?

Does this mean that it will be mandatory that Peace & Freedom Party and Green Party candidates are interviewed for every election on the 6 p.m. news and on the Morning Show?

Does this mean that KPFA will stop being a mouthpiece of the Democratic Party and stop inteviewing Tim Redmond, the editor of the Democratic Party mouthpiece, the Bay Guardian, a steadily declining newspaper which actually had an advertisement for the Navy's Blue Death during last October's Columbus Genocide Week?

Does this mean that KPFA will have a regular discussion of socialist politics, including but not limited to the Labor Hour at 6 a.m. during the week?

Does this mean that we will have a station manager who will fire any KPFA staff person who refuses to implement the above changes, knowing that there is no union contract anywhere that allows for insubordination?

If this change does not mean all of the above, it is worthless.

Does this mean that there will be no more government hearings pre-empting the programs for which we pay, but instead, a summary of what took place at these hearings on the 6 p.m. news, as is already being done?

Let's see, squelching listeners' free speech by threats and intimidation is okay with you as long as Phelps & Co. keep "promises" to turn KPFA into Nutcase Radio and run off staff members who aren't sufficiently insane for you?

The fact is: Phelps tried to sue a listener into silence for pointing out the the Emperor ... or in this case, the LSB chair ... wears no clothes. The courts, thankfully, still do know malicious libel prosecution when they see it and threw out this obvious case of intimidation. Phelps tried to sue an old man for the thoughtcrime of independent thinking, in small claims court where the listener can't retain his own lawyer in defense. That is a tactic that is as sleazy as it comes and NOT in the spirit of the Pacifica Mission, which Phelps claims to revere as a "strict constructionist." He should resign for being so vain and arrogant as to sue a listener for whom PHELPS works.

Not even Lynn Chadwick, Pat Scott or Mary Frances Berry sunk so low.

So please take your consipiracy-nutting someplace else where there's no right to disagree with you creeps. I'm sure you'll be much happier with the little Radio Stalin you and your five friends want to turn KPFA into.

And please, take Richard Phelps with you.

''Old Lib'', ( A.K.A.??? ) writes ''Weber apparently offered an olive branch at the 2/18 LSB meeting '' . Weber actually , at the end of his spiel attacking those of us who are trying to keep and expand KPFA and Paciifca as a democractic institution of the Left, said that what ''Phelps is doing to his opponents is like what Hitler did to the Jews ! "' Leaving aside the breathtaking anti-historical nature of such a statement what does this say about the veracity and even sanity of Weber ? But Weber isn't really the issue . He's a pawn in the game that a handfull of station staff are playing . They are determined to retain control of the station and, along with like minded colleagues at the other stations, of the network . So any slander whether it's snarling , grossly inacurrate comments by Larry Bensky or the several page redbaiting ''newsletter'' that Weber puts out monthly are all weapons in their arsenal . Weber may be a nut but he's their nut . For our part we plan to continue to fight to keep and expand the democratization of Pacifica and make sure it continues to be a ''Voice of the Voiceless '' not a safe ,only slightly left of center N.P.R. ''Lite'' .
Stan Woods Listener Representative - KPFA Local Station Board
Member of PeoplesRadio.net

Stan, is it true that you tried to folllow Jim Weber home after an LSB meeting at which Richard threatened to sue him?

It sounds like stalking a listener for disagreeing with you. It's bad enough you support suing listeners for their opinions.

What this article proves is that "Old Lib" is a habitual LIAR. We will never know if it is strategic or pathalogical, since the coward will not stand up in public and defend his lies. Below I will tell you the truth of what happened in court on this case.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
FREE SPEECH PREVAILS: Richard Phelps unable to silence KPFA Listener
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
It has always been my position that anyone can criticise my politics. I will not allow people to lie about me and defame me, there is a difference. Remember, I am the one willing to respond with my name and I am willing to debate "old Lib", or any of those that attack me or Peoples Radio or the listener/democratic movement at KPFA/Pacifica.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Court Upholds Free Speech at Risk by LSB Chair action
Democracy Upheld Against Effort to Eliminate Criticism Against Phelps and Peoples Radio
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Free speech was never at risk. As I said to the Commissioner in court "I am not concerened about the political criticism, I am concerned about the lies that defame me." He accuses me of being in political organizations that I have never been in. He published that I have no radio experience which denies 5+ years of my working life, he said I was elected by two votes, not true, he said that I trash Amy Goodman, not true and many more lies. Lies are not protected free speech.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Richard Phelps, local attorney and chair of the KPFA Local Staton Board, lost in his effort to silence
80-year-old listener activist Jim Weber this week.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I never intended to silence him. I asked him many times at LSB meeting to stop the lies. I told him all along that he could attack my politics as much as he wants just do it honestly.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Weber, who passes out literature at each LSB meeting he attends, had targetted Phelps for criticism as
the titular leader of the "Peoples Radio" slate that controls KPFA.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Peoples Radio doesn't control KPFA, what a joke. We don't want to control it. We want a shared democratic process with listeners and staff, to build a stronger better community station for all of the extended Bay Area and Fresno.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Phelps was told by the court that "Weber's writings are opinions, not facts".
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The court made no such ruling. The court made no rulings on the issues and only dismissed the case without prejudice because the court commented that the issues were too complicated for Small Claims Court. "Without Prejudice" means that I am free to refile in Superior Court. Had the court ruled against me it would have been "With Prejudice" and I would not be able to refile.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
This means that Weber
has the right to express his opinions without fear of retaliation as threatened by Phelps.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Stating items as fact when you know them to be untrue or have no reasonable basis to believe them to be true is not an opinion. He still can't lie with impunity. Why do you think Old Lib won't use his real name with his lies. Because he knows he is a liar and doesn't want people to know who he is.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The judge in the court gave the ruling that Phelps could, if he wished, appeal and pursue this matter in
Superior Court,
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
This is a bold faced lie. There was no ruling to appeal from. A plaintiff in Small Claims court has NO appeal rights. Code of Civil Procedure Section 116.710 (a) " The plaintiff in a small claims action shall have no right to appeal the judgment on the plaintiff's claim".
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
but also indicated to Phelps that it was likely that he would lose there as well.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
one more lie.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
In given the choice to drop the charges or go to a higher court, Phelps apparently took Weber aside and
demanded that if Weber would agree to stop publishing the criticisms, Phelps would not proceed to appeal
and take this no further.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I took him aside and said if you will stop your lies I will not take this matter to Superior Court. I again told him he could criticize my positions all he wants if he stopped the lies there would be no more court action.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Weber reportedly said, "We'll see you in court, then."
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.
Actually he mumbled something inaudible and i then went over to Sherry Gendelman who was there to support Jim and said to her "do you think you could get him to stop the lies, I don't care about the politics" and she responded "I don't think he will stop". Along with Sherry came Bonnie Simmons and Annie Hallett. All LSB members who support the entrenched staff and are against listener democracy. Sherry and Bonnie were part of Brian Edwards-Tiekert's e-mail group that were discussing "dismantling the LSB" and "propping up staff morale".
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Phelps immediately asked the court to drop the charges, and dismiss the case.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Another lie, I told the court it was clear that the matter belonged in Superior Court and agreed to a dismissal without prejudice so I could refile if the lies don't stop.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
No charges are now pending, and Weber is free to express himself without fear of threats, intimidation or
attack by Phelps.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
He was always free to express himself as long as he didn't lie and I never attacked him. I only demanded that he not lie.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
This is a significant incident in the history of KPFA, as no LSB member or Chair has ever threatened a
listener/member for exercising free speech.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
And no one ever has. I only wanted to have him stay with the truth, something anonymous posters wouldn't understand. What is significant is that entrenched staff and their listener rep. traitors Sherry and Annie would support and encourage an old man like Jim Weber to "redbait" and lie about their opponents. What does it mean that KPFA staff and their lackies on the LSB will use Joe MC Carthy tactics to try to stay in power instead of sharing power with the listeners who provide all the $$$$$$ to run the station??? And they try to maintain the veener that they are progressive. What a joke they are playing on the listeners. No progressive would ever try to win using Joe Mc Carthy tactics. "Good Night and Good Luck."
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Phelps, as well as the "Peoples Radio" faction controlling KPFA, have long been adversarial towards anyone
who questions or criticizes their actions and policies.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Against anyone who lies about us, YES. But somehow this doesn't ring true from an anonymous liar/coward whom is afraid to debate the issues in public so he can be held accountable for what he says.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Weber apparently offered an olive branch at the 2/18 LSB meeting, pointing out that the flier content was
never intended as personal, but as a critique of Phelps attempting to constantly 'demonize' his critics as
"Peoples Radio" policy dictates.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.
How can direct lies about someone political affilliations, and life experiences not be considered personal. I do write political criticisms of people involved at KPFA and Pacifica and they are factual and about what they do that is trying to continue the patronage and cronyism at the station and the network and against democratic process and transparency. The problem is that these Mission Pretenders practices can't stand the exposure so instead of debating me they attack me anonymously with lies. Is that the Pacifica way or the Karl Rove way???
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Phelps later in the meeting commented that he didn't "demonize" his opponents, he merely claimed that they
were anti-democratic and against transparency, making it clear that he intends to continue to be the subject
of Weber's opinions.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
and Weber and anyone else can criticize my political opinions as long as they don't make things up, lie and redbait I don't care. Again, let's all debate the issues, Old Lib come out from under your rock and stand up for what you say, or are you too chicken???
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
It is clear that the direction of KPFA is at risk with "Peoples Radio" in control, given their penchant of silencing
and intimidating those who do not agree with their core beliefs. It would seem that "Free Speech Radio" will
soon become "Free Speech As Approved Radio" instead.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
This doesn't pass the laugh test!! We are not in control. What a perfect example of COINTELPRO disinformation. Peoples Radio's core beliefs are transparency, democratic process and accountability and real community radio. So believe the rantings of an anonymous liar or check out what Peoples Radio is about: listeners having some say in the station and network they pay for. check out peoplesradio.net. You will find our 10 point program and some historical info and you can contact us if you like thru our web site. I would be glad to talk with or answer questions from any listener seeking information in good faith. I have been a listener/subscriber/volunteer for 30 + years at KPFA.
PS
PeopleRadio received 2/3 of the listener/subscriber vote in the last election. Could this have something to do with all these anonymous lies????
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Man, did anybody read that screwy posting asking for Guns & Butter to be the feature program at KPFA. I can't think of anything that would hurl KPFA over the cliff into the obscurity abyss more than that. Crank conspiracy mongering and soap box oratory over rational analysis of real world issues. There's a real audience magnet. Listen Phelps and Woods and the rest of the People's Radio bunch cloak themselves in words like democracy and transparency to hide their real agendas. They want radio like the Guns & Butter crackpots and will not tolerate anyone who disagrees. They use the well worn weapon of the hard left: labelling anyone who disagrees as a red-baiter. That tired label doesn't fly anymore. Why don't they go ruin someone else's radio station and leave KPFA alone.

>>It has always been my position that anyone can criticise my politics. I will not allow people to lie about me and defame me, there is a difference.<<

They can criticize your politics and express an opinion as long as they can afford to be sued in small claims court where they aren't allowed to retain their own attorney, eh, Richard? If this is what Mr. Weber did, the judge would have ruled in your favor. As you say, he made no ruling. Thus he has not been proven to have defamed you -- and actually I think this would be a slander of him by you to state otherwise.

>> Free speech was never at risk. As I said to the Commissioner in court "I am not concerened about the political criticism, I am concerned about the lies that defame me."<<

True, free speech was never at risk, as long as Mr. Weber had the time and money to continue going back and forth to court ad nauseum to defend himself against nuisance suits filed by you. He wasn't going to go to JAIL, after all, right? But what a though -- sending a listener to jail.

>>I never intended to silence him. <<

NO? Then what did you intend? To just slap him around a little? Harass him into fearing you? Send a message to others who dare speak against your peculiar brand of demogoguery (read the original post, my gawd it's a textbood definition)?

>>I asked him many times at LSB meeting to stop the lies. I told him all along that he could attack my politics as much as he wants just do it honestly. <<

Apparently Mr. Weber doesn't believe you have the authority to tell him what he can and cannot say or think, certainly not what or what does not pass for "honestly." It doesn't sound like Mr. Weber cares a whit about your politics -- it's probably more your dickswinging, hamfisted, powergrabbing behavior as a "representative" that bothers him. Just maybe? I know it's much more effective to say Weber is politically incorrect (because you are the very perfection of PC, right?). But it sounds like it would just be wrong.

>> Peoples Radio doesn't control KPFA, what a joke. We don't want to control it. We want a shared democratic process with listeners and staff, to build a stronger better community station for all of the extended Bay Area and Fresno.<<

This is unadulterated bullcrap. You and a couple of others, like Riva Enteen and Stan Woods, have shown no interest in sharing anything, from my vantage point in the audience. Not with listeners who question your leadership and most certainly not with the staff -- clearly evidenced from all your namecalling below.

>> "Without Prejudice" means that I am free to refile in Superior Court. Had the court ruled against me it would have been "With Prejudice" and I would not be able to refile. <<

And now you brag about still being able to sue a listener member...but wait...you speak for all listener members, don't you? Talk about a joke.

>>A plaintiff in Small Claims court has NO appeal rights. Code of Civil Procedure Section 116.710 (a) " The plaintiff in a small claims action shall have no right to appeal the judgment on the plaintiff's claim". <<

The message here is that Mr. Phelps has done quite a bit of research to find out what legal threats he can make against listeners who don't agree with his "representation" of them.

>>I took him aside and said if you will stop your lies I will not take this matter to Superior Court. I again told him he could criticize my positions all he wants if he stopped the lies there would be no more court action. <<

In other words, STFU or I'll sue you again. I actually hope you do. Superior court records are posted online. It would be interesting to see actual "transparency" in action instead of all this doublespeak justifying the legal assault on a listener/subscriber. I don't see you suing Werner Hertz, who regularly calls the board nazis and fascists. So this sure looks more like selective prosecution that "defending truth" to me.

>>Along with Sherry came Bonnie Simmons and Annie Hallett. All LSB members who support the entrenched staff and are against listener democracy. <<

What entrenched staff? You mean like Dennis Bernstein and Robbie Osman? Bonnie Faulker? They've all been there a good long time and don't appear eager to give up a second of air time to bring in new voices. In fact, Bernstein is so jealous of Amy Goodman's national program he wrote a particularly nasty public letter a couple of years ago attacking her. Let's talk about the truly ENTRENCHED, not newcomers with a year or two at the station who have the poor taste not to support YOUR ENTRENCHED favorites. And the three of them have done more in the name of listener democracy at KPFA over the last decade than you ever will by SUING LISTENERS.

>>Sherry and Bonnie were part of Brian Edwards-Tiekert's e-mail group that were discussing "dismantling the LSB" and "propping up staff morale".<<

How criminal of them to be privately discussing raising staff morale. How DARE they!! You clearly wish to destroy staff morale -- and listener democracy -- with constant demonization of staff AND listeners who have begun to question your "leadership." In fact, if they discussed dismantling this dysfunctional, ridiculous joke of an LSB and held elections for new board members that cared for KPFA more than their own egos, they would be doing all of Pacifica a tremendous favor.

>> What is significant is that entrenched staff and their listener rep. traitors Sherry and Annie would support and encourage an old man like Jim Weber to "redbait" and lie about their opponents. <<

No, Richard, what you clearly do not understand is that it is significant that you would use Rovisms like "traitors" to describe listener reps who -- gasp -- make the effort to actually support a listener who is under legal attack by an accident attorney who claims to represent LISTENERS. The irony is breathtaking and totally lost on you, isn't it? Amazing.

>>What does it mean that KPFA staff and their lackies on the LSB will use Joe MC Carthy tactics to try to stay in power instead of sharing power with the listeners who provide all the $$$$$$ to run the station??? <<

Joe McCarthy dragged citizens into court and tried to intimidate them because of their beliefs opposing those who hold power. Just like YOU. Mr. Weber is a apparently a listener, who gives money to the station, with whom the "staff and their lackeys" were clearly sharing power in order to support against your demonstrable McCarthyite tactics. And yet you continue to threaten him with the legal system that is no friend of Pacifica's. I wonder what Bill Mandel would say about that.

>>They try to maintain the veener that they are progressive. What a joke they are playing on the listeners. No progressive would ever try to win using Joe Mc Carthy tactics. "Good Night and Good Luck."<<

You refer to yourself here, Richard. No progressive, let alone a true free speech advocate who claims to represent the listeners, would sue one for expressing an opinion about an elected official -- in this case, YOU.

>> I do write political criticisms of people involved at KPFA and Pacifica and they are factual and about what they do that is trying to continue the patronage and cronyism at the station and the network and against democratic process and transparency. <<

Propaganda Alert. Phelps is not the all-knowing arbiter of who is and is not against democratic process and transaparancy, and he most certainly supports cronyism from staff as long as it's the entrenched staff he approves of.

>>The problem is that these Mission Pretenders practices can't stand the exposure so instead of debating me they attack me anonymously with lies. Is that the Pacifica way or the Karl Rove way??? <<

Propaganda Alert. Use of buzzwords and repetition and guilt by association. The Karl Rove in a nutshell -- and it's something Phelps knows very very well, and tactics he employs constantly.

>>Again, let's all debate the issues, Old Lib come out from under your rock and stand up for what you say, or are you too chicken??? <<

You mean, "let's take it outside?" Or "I'll sue you if you'll just tell me who you are and where you live?" Or do you just want to send Stan Woods to find out?

>>This doesn't pass the laugh test!! We are not in control. What a perfect example of COINTELPRO disinformation. <<

No, COINTELPRO disinformation would be the repetitious use of buzzwords and catch phrases to demonize people who have worked tirelessly on behalf of the listeners, like Sherry Gendelman (better lawyer than you, too). Suing conscientious citizens whose crime is criticize elected leaders and then calling those who defend them "traitors." Claiming to be the sole holder of all "truth" and pure defender of "transparency" and "democracy" while threatening people in public and private (your threatening phone calls are legendary, Richard). OH, THAT'S COINTELPRO. Where did you come from again, Richard? Where were you in 99?

>>Peoples Radio's core beliefs are transparency, democratic process and accountability and real community radio. <<

It may be, but they are not yours. Yours appear to be power grabbing, listener intimidation, ego pumping, domination and sheer rage at those who don't acquiesce to your dicatates.

>>PS
PeopleRadio received 2/3 of the listener/subscriber vote in the last election. Could this have something to do with all these anonymous lies???? <<

Even if that were so, it's irrelevant in a shared, proportional representation system. And I, who voted your slate last time around, am one that won't swallow the Kool Aid again. I wonder if your fellow slate members can even withstand your behavior -- good people must be horrified by your constant attacks against listeners and the station and its workers you are supposed to be looking out for.

Signed, Sue

When responding to "lies" make sure you don't add your own in the process. I won't waste my holiday pointing them all out, but rehashing the old "against listener democracy" chestnut about fwllow board members does nothing but support claims that you are demonizing other people. Also you couldn't tehcnically appeal but you could refile in Superior Court (and you knew that all along). it's all semantics, Richie baby.

This line I will remember for quite some time.

" Phelps later in the meeting commented that he didn't "demonize" his opponents, he merely claimed that they
were anti-democratic and against transparency, "

Doesn't get better than that.

Sometimes, the urge to write is so intense that one commits
the same blunders as before...

Here's Chairman Dick on suing the listener:

> I never intended to silence him. I asked him
> many times at LSB meeting to stop the lies.

> Free speech was never at risk.

> The court made no such ruling. The court made
> no rulings on the issues and only dismissed
> the case

> There was no ruling to appeal from.

> I took him aside and said if you will stop your
> lies I will not take this matter to Superior Court.

> I never intended to silence him.

> I told the court it was clear that the matter
> belonged in Superior Court and agreed to a
> dismissal without prejudice so I could refile

No ruling, but the court dismissed the case? Hmmmm...
sounds like legal semantic games than truth.

And, being the subject of the criticisms, his claiming
that they are "lies" is contrary to what the court said
in dismissing the charges.

If the judge could not make an initial ruling that the
statements were "lies", doesn't that make the "lies" a
question mark in terms of whether they were opinions
or falsehoods?

Despite the rhetoric, Phelps makes it clear that silencing
the listener is the key component of his effort in court.

What will be interesting to see is if he has the fortitude
to take on an attorney who has a degree from a real
law school in Superior Court.


And, Chairman Dick on the purity of his motives:

> We want a shared democratic process with
> listeners and staff

> What is significant is that entrenched
> staff and their listener rep. traitors

> All LSB members who support the entrenched
> staff and are against listener democracy.

> Peoples Radio doesn't control KPFA, what
> a joke. We don't want to control it.

> We are not in control.

> PeopleRadio received 2/3 of the listener/
> subscriber vote in the last election.

With such words, Phelps condemns himself.

If you don't agree with him and his interpretation of
"democracy" (see above with respect to free speech),
then you are a "traitor".

I've been told that there are only seven people out
of four hundred who work at KPFA who have been there
since 1995, and only a dozen (including the seven) who
have been there more than two years.

One of these is Dennis Bernstein.

It's interesting to note that Bernstein has been the
source cause of numerous lawsuits on sexual
harrassment at KPFA and Pacifica.

Bernstein "played ball" with Peoples Radio, and they
act to protect him.

Roy Campenella Jr did not "play ball" with Peoples
Radio, and the accusations of sexual harrassment
were used by Peoples Radio to eliminate him.

Campenella gets a severance package of a couple
of thousand dollars.

Bernstein is going to cost KPFA and Pacifica about
two and a half million in legal fees and settlements.

Currently, Peoples Radio is working with Bernstein to
get a member of the Flashpoints crew on the LSB,
using false names and 'voting the cemetary' tactics
to get fraudulent votes in the next election.

As Phelps said, Peoples Radio got 2/3 of the listeners
to vote them into power, but they could not get any
staff votes for their candidates.

If you can't win legitimately, then you rig the
election, just like the Republicans...that's the Peoples
Radio credo.

This is what you get from a group that considers
anyone who opposes them as "traitors".

Peoples Radio = Bush Radio.

i like the title of phelps response---

MORE LIES ABOUT LIES
by Richard Phelps Monday, Feb. 20, 2006 at 12:00 PM

truer words have never come from his fingers or lips

I may be way off base here, but isn’t the job of a non-profit board of director to support and work on the behalf of the organization it serves? I’ve been around non-profit boards and I’ve studied them also. The People’s Radio faction of the KPFA LSB seems not to get it. The inner workings of the operation -- its personnel issues, its day-to-day operations, its licensing issues-- all of that is the responsibility of the operation’s management and staff. The board serves as an adjunct to the station, liaising with the community at large, fundraising, doing outreach and approving budgets and the like.

Politics, if it appears at all, should be number 19 or 20 on a long list of things a non-profit board should be concerning itself with, even at an organization like KPFA, which does deal with political issues. For example, someone serving on the county library system’s board of directors may encounter a political issue, i.e.: should this or that book be in the library’s collection. Whether it is or isn’t is not the board’s concern. The library’s management and perhaps the state librarian will make that determination after careful deliberation. The non-profit board’s duty is to support that decision. They can have opinions and privately make their opinions known, but reaching that decision is not in a non-profit board’s purview. Under state non-profit law they are mandated only to perform certain financial and technical oversight duties.

From my experience with non-profit boards, the best analogy is to an amateur baseball team’s booster club. The booster club raises money for the team,(maybe organizing a raffle or the like for new uniforms), and it supports the team in other ways. The booster club lets the community know the team exists and does all it can to bolster its image in the community. It does things to help the team succeed. The booster club does not sit in the dugout and fill out the line-up card.

The People’s Radio folks don’t get it. They constantly attack and harangue the organization’s staff and management. They publicly run the station down. They attempt to involve themselves in the programming schedule. They refuse to raise funds. They basically do all of the things a healthy, well-functioning board are not supposed to do. They seem hell bent on destroying the very organization they were supposedly elected to serve. Look at that Phelps guy’s language: “entrenched staff, traitors, lackeys”. And this guy is the chair? He seems to think he’s at war with station. This kind of behavior cannot stand. Lots of fellow listeners, who out of curiosity attended some LSB meetings, are completely turned-off by this bizarre LSB. It’s leaving an awfully bad taste in our mouths. We’re asking, are our donations going to pay for this bunch to run the station down? We’re asking is it even worth it to listen to the station anymore, let alone give it money?

According to Weber's notes, his statement was that Phelps' comments were like the Nazis demonizing the Jews, at which point he was shouted down.

Had he been allowed to continue, the phrasing was to proceed "...in order to create an enemy where none existed, and falsely justify their grabbing power and control."

Calling anyone who opposes you "anti-democratic" or "traitors", simply because they do not believe as you do, is not anti-democratic...it is actually very democratic.

The problem old Stalker Stan has is that he only believes in democracy if he can tell you what it is.

Stalker Stan's friend, Gerald Saunders, spelled it out when he was inflicting himself on listeners: "We won, you lost...that is what democracy is, people."

That is what democracy is to them..."winner take all, and bedamned to any who think different than us."

Never before has the term "tyranny of the majority" been so radically extant.

Wow! I miss one meeting and "so much" happens! A friend forwarded both this insanity plus 2 recent articles in the Planet, in one of which Larry Bensky is quoted as saying something such as that the LSB is "useless." This comment by Larry Bensky would be much more concerning than the stuff about this apparently somewhat crazy or addled listener, Jim Webber, if, as Phelps or someone above correctly points out, actual respected board members such as Bonnie Simmons and S. Gendelman weren't supporting Webber in this. Jim Webber got up in front of the LSB at a recent meeting and accused it of being taken over by Trotskyists. Later, I happend to run into him outside. He approached me about something I had said. I took the opportunity to ask him why he had made this comment. He said, "Did I say that?" in kind of an embarrassed confused way, as someone might do remembering an extreme outburst of which she/he were ashamed. He went on to tell me that he had attended a number of "Trotskyist" meetings himself and a bunch of stuff that didn't make sense to me or have any relation to anytihing of current import, including any other people he had recently accused of having attended such meetings. He didn't say, "I saw Richard Phelps" there, or anything even remotely close to anything with what would, in that case, have had at least remote relevance to John Birch or someone. My friend and I took both agreed that the likely causes for Webber's many outbursts over months and years may have been something such as lonliness, isolation, some form of attention-getting probably unknown even to himself. He did not seem to be a rational person.
In short, it is of concern that Gendelman and Bonnie Simmons would do this, as it is to hear Larry Bensky, who once called for open books and audits of Pacifica, ignoring the work that LaVarn Williams and Marnie Tattersal and others have done to finally get some light shed on KPFA's and Pacifica's finances. These are people somewhat associated at least with the People's Radio "side" of the LSB. I don't think this was useless.

So, Virginia, it would seem that you feel it appropriate for Richard Phelps to attack and persecute an elderly and irrational old man, who needs more help than anything else, to the tune of $5,000.00?

Never mind that, rational or not, the effort was made to silence and eliminate a listener's free speech because it was "discomfitting" to "Peoples Radio".

Virginia is willing to ignore these grievous assaults on the rights of listeners by those claiming to represent them.

That is the problem with "true believers"; no amount of truth or fact will ever convert them from their mindless faith.

Old Lib -- Surly you don't mean to suggest that Jim Weber may be an "irrational old man, who needs more help than anything else"?

OLd Lib, some day will have the courage to deal with people up front on the real facts instead of your lies and distortions. You know your positions can't stand the light of truth and that is why you hide. Go look at the court record you can find it on line. It says " Complaint of Plaintiff dismissed by the Court without prejudice-Pursuant to Plaintiff's request." There was no ruling, the Commmissioner said it was too complicated for small claims court and offered to dismiss w/o prejudice and I elected that option. The Court record shows no judgments.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
So, Virginia, it would seem that you feel it appropriate for Richard Phelps to attack and persecute an elderly and irrational old man, who needs more help than anything else, to the tune of $5,000.00?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
There was never any attack or attempt to persecute Weber. I only asked that he stop publishing lies about me. I asked Jim on what basis he could say that i was trashing Amy Goodman and he responded " many people trash her" and I said "not me, do you have any evidence that I have ever trashed her" and he said "you wanted to move her time" and I said "yes to prime time and at night so that people that can't hear her in the day time could hear her program, how is that trashing her" and he said again "well many people trash her" so he has no evidence just lies with no basis. That is all I wanr him to stop but obviously Old Lib wouldn't see any justice in that since all he/she can do is lie and hide behind that phoney name.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Never mind that, rational or not, the effort was made to silence and eliminate a listener's free speech because it was "discomfitting" to "Peoples Radio".
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Another lie, there was no attempt to silence anyone. I have always put my politices out in public and am willing to debate Old Lib or anyone who is not afraid of the truth.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Virginia is willing to ignore these grievous assaults on the rights of listeners by those claiming to represent them.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
There was no assault, just a demand to stop the defamation.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
That is the problem with "true believers"; no amount of truth or fact will ever convert them from their mindless faith.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Interesting rhetoric from an anonymous liar who cares not for facts or free and open public discussion and debate just cheap shots from behind a mask. When you have the courage to debate me of even stand up for who you really are the right minded people who care about truth and justice like Virginai might give what you say a second thought. If you really believed in Free Speech Radio you wouldn't hide like the anti-free speech coward that you are.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Old Lib's best quality is to distort reality if he ever knew reality or to just plain lie.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
No ruling, but the court dismissed the case? Hmmmm...
sounds like legal semantic games than truth.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The court record states " Claim of Plaintiff is dismissed by Court without prejudice- pursuant to Plaintiff's request" Had there been a ruling on the merits of the case it would have been dismissed with prejudice.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
And, being the subject of the criticisms, his claiming
that they are "lies" is contrary to what the court said
in dismissing the charges.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The court said no such thing. Another lie by Old Lib.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>














If the judge could not make an initial ruling that the
statements were "lies", doesn't that make the "lies" a
question mark in terms of whether they were opinions
or falsehoods?

Despite the rhetoric, Phelps makes it clear that silencing
the listener is the key component of his effort in court.

What will be interesting to see is if he has the fortitude
to take on an attorney who has a degree from a real
law school in Superior Court.


And, Chairman Dick on the purity of his motives:

> We want a shared democratic process with
> listeners and staff

> What is significant is that entrenched
> staff and their listener rep. traitors

> All LSB members who support the entrenched
> staff and are against listener democracy.

> Peoples Radio doesn't control KPFA, what
> a joke. We don't want to control it.

> We are not in control.

> PeopleRadio received 2/3 of the listener/
> subscriber vote in the last election.

With such words, Phelps condemns himself.

If you don't agree with him and his interpretation of
"democracy" (see above with respect to free speech),
then you are a "traitor".

I've been told that there are only seven people out
of four hundred who work at KPFA who have been there
since 1995, and only a dozen (including the seven) who
have been there more than two years.

One of these is Dennis Bernstein.

It's interesting to note that Bernstein has been the
source cause of numerous lawsuits on sexual
harrassment at KPFA and Pacifica.

Bernstein "played ball" with Peoples Radio, and they
act to protect him.

Roy Campenella Jr did not "play ball" with Peoples
Radio, and the accusations of sexual harrassment
were used by Peoples Radio to eliminate him.

Campenella gets a severance package of a couple
of thousand dollars.

Bernstein is going to cost KPFA and Pacifica about
two and a half million in legal fees and settlements.

Currently, Peoples Radio is working with Bernstein to
get a member of the Flashpoints crew on the LSB,
using false names and 'voting the cemetary' tactics
to get fraudulent votes in the next election.

As Phelps said, Peoples Radio got 2/3 of the listeners
to vote them into power, but they could not get any
staff votes for their candidates.

If you can't win legitimately, then you rig the
election, just like the Republicans...that's the Peoples
Radio credo.

This is what you get from a group that considers
anyone who opposes them as "traitors".

Why do Phelps and his ilk refuse to admit that they have no idea how members of a non-profit board are supposed to comport themselves? Why do this Phelps guy and his buddies refuse to admit that they are not motivated by working for the best interests of the organization? Why do Phelps and his “People’s Radio” board mates refuse to fund raise (the chief duty of any non-profit board.) Why don’t they even try to at least raise the money to pay for the board’s own expenses? Why do they publicly attack the employees of the very organization they were elected to represent (totally unprofessional I might add)? Why do they involve themselves in internal personnel matters at the station and try to involve themselves in station programming decisions, both of which are outside the purview of a non-profit board? Why don’t they sponsor outreach events, or attempt in any way to positively promote the station to the broader Bay Area and Central Valley signal areas? Why do they not invite an expert in non-profit law to address the board and lay out what a non-profit board’s legal responsibilities actually are? If you actually care about listeners and want them to vote for you, then I’d like an answer to these questions. If you’re not motivated by some self-serving political agenda, then answer these questions! The questions are pretty straightforward.

Nice try Old Lib. Is this the best distortion and lies you can do?
I will now give the people the truth which they can find in the Court file.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
If the judge could not make an initial ruling that the
statements were "lies", doesn't that make the "lies" a
question mark in terms of whether they were opinions
or falsehoods?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The judge didn't make any evaluation of the evidence except to say that it was too complicated for Small Claims Court.
There made no rulings on the merits of anything in the case.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Despite the rhetoric, Phelps makes it clear that silencing
the listener is the key component of his effort in court.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Where are your facts to support this lie? Oh I forgot you don't care about facts. I have never complained about any of his political analysis only his lies about me that he publishes. That is not trying to silence anyone just asking for him not to publish lies about me.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
What will be interesting to see is if he has the fortitude
to take on an attorney who has a degree from a real
law school in Superior Court.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I do that every day and win for 20+ years. I have fought big insurance companies and made them change their procedures on claims handling, up against several attorneys from the upper class law schools. They now use me to mediate and arbitrate their cases. I guess that means they think I don't know the law, in your logic. What would really be interesting to see would be all these anonymous liars having to debate people in public, I'd pay to see that.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

And, Chairman Dick on the purity of his motives:

> We want a shared democratic process with
> listeners and staff

> What is significant is that entrenched
> staff and their listener rep. traitors
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Those are people elected by listeners who always vote against transparency and listener democratic rights. Sherry G.,for example is on record saying that she doesn't believe in elected boards or an elected Program Council . She was also in the group discussing "dismantling the LSB" Sorta like Joe Lieberman is a "democrat" she is a listener rep.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Bernstein "played ball" with Peoples Radio, and they
act to protect him.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
again allegations and no facts?????
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Roy Campenella Jr did not "play ball" with Peoples
Radio, and the accusations of sexual harrassment
were used by Peoples Radio to eliminate him.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
This is the BIG LIE! The vote to fire him for sexual harassment was 15- 5 against. This vote was made public on my motion. The 5 that voted to fire him for sexual harassment, despite two separate investigations that did not find evidence of sexual harassment sufficient to fire him, were Brian Edwards-Tiekert, Sherry Gendelman, Bonnie Simmons, Lisa Rothman and Mary Berg. None of these folks are in Peoples Radio. It is interesting to note that 4 of these 5 were in the group that was discussing "dismantling the LSB" but I guess it would be wrong for me to say that that showed anti-democratic tendencies.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Campenella gets a severance package of a couple
of thousand dollars.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
No factual basis for this misstatement. This is a personnel matter and confidential. I can't tell you if or what is true but this statement isn't true. Perhaps you should ask Roy instead of making statements with no facts. Oh, I forgot that is the only thing you are good at, sorry.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Currently, Peoples Radio is working with Bernstein to
get a member of the Flashpoints crew on the LSB,
using false names and 'voting the cemetary' tactics
to get fraudulent votes in the next election.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
More lies with no evidence. What a creative mind you have. Too bad you don't use it for something like the truth that has social value.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
As Phelps said, Peoples Radio got 2/3 of the listeners
to vote them into power, but they could not get any
staff votes for their candidates.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Peoples Radio didn't have any staff candidates. At least Old Lib finally acknowledged one fact , PR did get 2/3 of the vote and that is the reason for all these lies, the listeners didn't buy the entrenched BS in the last election and since they aren't proud of their real politics, the continuation of patrionage and cronyism , they have to attack with lies anonymously instead of debating in public for all to hear and see.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
If you can't win legitimately, then you rig the
election, just like the Republicans...that's the Peoples
Radio credo.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Another BIG LIE. The elections were tampered with last time but it wasn't by peoples radio. The ballots were sent out 3rd class mail to decrease voting. This was done by the national election supervisor who was hired by Dan C. the prior ED who was buddy buddy with the entrenched and who quit once the Directors inspections were initiated and he could no longer stop them. Peoples Radio members on the National election Committee, La Varn and I, plus others for inclusive democracy proposed a motion for first class mail and it passed. No more late ballots. For the record it was La Varn and Patty Heffley from NY with legal help from Gail Blazie, NY, and myself that opened the door for Directors inspections, their absolute right under the bylaws and Corporations code Section 6334, so we can have transparency. This was fought by the entrenched's reps on the PNB, Sarv Randhawa and William Walker, along with the Justice and Unity folks from NY, what were they afraid we would find? Stay tuned, a report on that will be coming soon.
The only thing the anti-democracy folks can do is to obfuscate the real facts and issues. They can't debate in public since the truth doesn't support them. All they can do is take cheap shots while hiding. No one who believes in the Pacifica Mission is afraid to discuss/debate the real facts to find the truth in public. Come out of your caves and let's debate in the spirit of Pacifica, oh I forgot you don't have the spirit of Pacifica or you wouldn't lie so much while hiding.

1. Susan Powter. What you said is true for many non profit boards. Not for KPFA and Pacifica. The Bylaws give their boards real governing power. They are elected to above all serve the listeners , not the staff. You are mistaken .
2.''Old Lib'' . You are making a big mistake by not using your real name . Many people believe that you are a board member. If that's not true prove it . Step up and be a real woman or man . Say your name .
3.Richard Phelps . I like and respect what you and Peoples radio are doing . But you were wrong to sue Jim Weber . Crazy, Nasty old man he may be . But did you think you could be turning him into a low rent matyr ? Please don't pursue it further .

I made a mistake in my earlier post . In reference to Richard Phelps i wrote ''did you think ''. I meant to write '' didn't you consider''.
Another point for ''old lib''. You label Stan Woods of Peoplesradio as a thug . Unless you can prove the wild premise that a small media democracy caucas has ''enforcers''i suggest you immediately retract that assertion . That's the type of allegation that can draw the attention of Police spy agencies . Which can harm both Peoples Radio and Pacifica. Surely you do not wish that to occur do you ''old lib'' ?

interesting how things are pointed out about phelps and peoples radio, the reaction is to draw attention away from himself and his cronies by pointing the finger at others and shouting BIG LIE BIG LIE while never answering the question

MORE LIES ON LIES really fits phelps to a t

he ignore the question about rigging the coming election by claiming someone rigged the last election...which he won...by a supposed 2/3 margin.

if this is a proportional vote, why is he counting it as if it were a straight majority rules vote?

how can he be elected by 2/3 when only 200+ votes were needed to get a seat?

why is he ignoring the others on the board who got as many votes as he did to be seated, and lying about the 2/3 vote?

MORE LIES ON LIES phelps, he surely is

count your fingers and your money when he is around.

Well at least Sunni Ruiz attempted to answer my questions. Phelps and the others scrupulously avoid them. I didn't like it when you said the board is elected to serve the listeners, not the staff. KPFA is its listeners and its staff. They are both components of the organization. Just as a county library district is its staff and its library goers. I'd like to see these bylaws you speak of, because I can't believe that any board of director's bylaws would create a situation like we see on the KPFA board. It seems insane. KPFA is under the same state non-profit codes as any other non-profit. Regardless of the bylaws, if it is acting outside of state law, it is illegitimate. State non-profit law gives fiduciary responsibility to board's of directors. They are obligated to support the organization and to behave in ways that are not detrimental to said organization. Based on what I've seen in person, the People's Radio folks don't seem to understand that. They appear to be acting contrary to the best interests of the organization.

The staff at KPFA are to be supported and protected by the board. Every non-profit that exists understands this except KPFA. That is state law and the board's responsibility. The People's Radio faction seem to be in some bizarro world, where board's of directors are supposed to act against the organization. I, and most listeners, don't care about all this crap about law suits and small claims courts and old men. I'm a listener contributor and I want my board to behave like professionals and to understand their duties and to stop embarrassing the organization, and risking its very existence. People's Radio leave your personal politics to yourselves. You are elected members of a non-profit board, it's time you started doing what you were elected to do and to support KPFA instead of attacking it. Here's an idea, try to organize some community fundraising event. Start there.

If anyone has a copy of these "bylaws", could you please post them, because I doubt any organization would be dysfunctional enough to countenance this nonsense.

You cute puppies. Jesus Christ. etc. Long day... Richard is not an egomaniac. I would like to say that he is, but I have at times exaggerated under pressure. Unlike any of you... He does get into these defensive things sometimes, unlike Larry Bensky. (just kidding). (about Larry B). I love you guys. I have seen a little of Jim Webber's writing. I think there's some law that says you're not supposed to defame people, even "public" people (you could stretch the LSB to include that). Libel. Not sure what the law is, but as Richard Phelps is a lawyer, even though he does participate in these sandbox fights (unlike Larry B) (just kidding about Larry B), he probably knows. Even if he went to a cheap law school -- can't all afford Harvard, Yale, etc. -- don't all have great parents to help us, etc. whatever the reason... From Jim Webber's many published writings, you can't always tell he's the kind of person I normally would feel a lot of sympathy for, as a person. I think people have a right to try to set the record straight. As I said, I think Richard has a slight ego sadness to work out, but then, don't we most? And speaking of that, I didn't mention Annie Hallett (sp) before because I think she's fairly nutty too. As am I, but I'm so very cute and at least signing my name. Despite all this crap, I really don't think the LSB or Larry Bensky are useless. Sorry. Larry. Sorry Larry-haters.
Peace love and Halletts _-- I mean hippies.

virginia, if that who you are, you do the same as phelps

ignore the question, attack others as excuse to avoid answering question

dodge evade duck cover dance dance dance

smells like karl rove or dick phelps, same person, same methodology

"you say i am a evil bastard, but look at all these other evil bastards, and look where i wave my hands, not at what i am doing, no stop looking except where i say to look, you anti-democratic if you look anywhere except where i say to look, all evil evil evil excet us who are good and pure"

webber crazy, old or smart, no difference...you beat him down for it, you are no friend of democracy...even crazy people got rights

and people got right to speak and not be called crazy just cause what they say uncomfortable to those in power

old soviets used to say dissidents crazy, lock them away, silence they voices, same now in china with internet

how is phelps and peoples radio any different, virginia?

Where are these "bylaws" posted? I'd love to read them. Again I ask Phelps, or any "People's Radio" representative, do you understand what your responsibilities are as members of a non-profit board? Do you know that you're supposed to support the organization and its employees, raise funds, reach out to the community, and oversee the fiscal well-being of the organization? Or are you simply acting in your own selfish political interests? Why don't you raise money? Why do you publicly assail KPFA? Why has there never been an LSB sponsored outreach event in the LSB's existence? Have you ever attempted to develop anything that positively portrays the station to the broader Bay Area? The listeners elected you, we deserve a lot better than your scorn. If you truly represented us, you'd have the decency to respond.

Susan, sorry that I have a million other things to do than responde to this web site. You have you general thoughts about what a board should do. That may apply to other boards, here is the bylaws duties of our LSB:

Article 7, SECTION 3. SPECIFIC POWERS & DUTIES

Each LSB, acting as a standing committee of the Foundation's Board of Directors, shall have the following powers, duties and responsibilities related to its specific radio station, under the direction and supervision of the Foundation's Board of Directors:

A. To review and approve that station's budget and make quarterly reports to the Foundation's Board of Directors regarding the station's budget, actual income and expenditures.

B. To screen and select a pool of candidates for the position of General Manager of its respective radio station, from which pool of approved candidates the Executive Director shall hire the station's General Manager.. The LSB may appoint a special sub-committee for this purpose.

C. To prepare an annual written evaluation of the station's General Manager.

D. Both the Executive Director and/or an LSB may initiate the process to fire a station General Manager. However, to effectuate it, both the Executive Director and the LSB must agree to fire said General Manager. If the Executive Director and the LSB cannot agree, the decision to terminate or retain said General Manager shall be made by the Board of Directors.

E. To screen and select a pool of candidates for the position of station Program Director, from which pool of approved candidates the station's General Manager shall hire the station's Program Director. The LSB may appoint a special sub-committee for this purpose.

F. To prepare an annual written evaluation of the station's Program Director.

G. To work with station management to ensure that station programming fulfills the purposes of the Foundation and is responsive to the diverse needs of the listeners (demographic) and communities (geographic) served by the station, and that station policies and procedures for making programming decisions and for program evaluation are working in a fair, collaborative and respectful manner to provide quality programming.

H. To conduct "Town Hall" style meetings at least twice a year, devoted to hearing listeners views, needs and concerns.

I. To assist in station fundraising activities.

J. To actively reach out to underrepresented communities to help the station serve a diversity of all races, creeds, colors and nations, classes, genders and sexual orientations, and ages and to help build collaborative relations with organizations working for similar purposes.

K. To perform community needs assessments, or see to it that separate "Community Advisory Committees" are formed to do so.

L. To ensure that the station works diligently towards the goal of diversity in staffing at all levels and maintenance of a discrimination-free atmosphere in the workplace.

M. To exercise all of its powers and duties with care, loyalty, diligence and sound business judgment consistent with the manner in which those terms are generally defined under applicable California law.

As you can see fundraising is only one thing of many very important things. I would be glad to talk to you about all this in a more rational situation. You can send contact me thru peoples radio web site or kpfa lsb contact on the KPFA web page.

Snarkboy, why not be a snarkman and take responsibility for what you say. Anonymous post carry no weight with free speech folks. Why are you afraid to stand up and take responsibility for what you say? How many of these anonymous posts are really from entrenched staff and their lackies? Brian, Mark, Sasha, Sally, etc. stand up and be counted.

On the vote , it is simple, there were nine (9) candidates elected and Peoples Radio won six (6). Now in public math 6 of 9 is 2/3. I don't know anonymous math.

As for the next election Peoples Radio and its allies are working very hard to make the next election fairer and easier. Your lies don't mean anything vs. the facts and you have none to support your claim that we are trying to mess up the next election. I was one of the key people in raising hell about the plan to send out the ballots with the candidates statements which would have severly lowered the voting totals. Candidates like Sherry Gendelman, Annie Hallett, Mark Hernandez, Rosalinda Palacios, all on the KPFAForward slate, put together and endorsed by the entrenched staff, were conspicuously silent on this issue and all the other issues regarding election dirty tricks, and there were many, and developing more inclusive democracy.

Thanks Richard for finally responding. The bylaws seem to be in keeping (mostly) with California non-profit law. But from what I've seen the People's Radio folks aren't doing most of those duties. I've heard of no community outreach events the LSB has sponsored, The LSB flat refuses to fundraise, it doesn't appear to be working with staff and management to insure the smooth operation of the station. It is failing on all of these fronts. I've seen and read a lot of broadsides and attacks of station staff by the People's Radio bunch. Many listeners, like myself, are extremeley disappointed in this behavior. What is applicable for other non-profits is applicable for KPFA's board of directors. KPFA is not above the law. I can recommend books and even an expert in non-profit law who can work with the board to get it on track. I respectfully implore you to put aside political considerations and work for the best interests of the station. That is your job. Let the station staff do theirs, that way KPFA may improve and expand, instead of sink into irrelevance.

Ms. Powter, the KPFA board does, contrary to what you asserted earlier, does have a role in programming decisons . The Board elects Board members and community members to serve , along with Unpaid staff organization reps and dept. heads on the program council which does have decision making power . KPFA isn't , and if have our way, will never be run like corporate radio or NPR .I don't know where you lined up in '99 but one of the gains of that struggle was the democratization process which we are determined to see thru .
Stan Woods - Kpfa LSB member Member peoples Radio

well richard you can claim that if you want but looking at the way votes counted for lsb you only needed 200 votes to be elected

the way you explain 2/3 is the way government election works

the way kpfa election works, you got same votes as every other person, part of peoples radio or any other group.

that does not even begin to mean 2/3 support you

its just an excuse and lie by peoples radio to say no one counts except them

everyone elected on equal vote phelps...no 2/3 involved except in your head

guess you working to change that by messing with election, just like bush and rove are doing with diebold

out of the closet phelps, how long you been republican conservative hate monger like rove or limbaugh?

I beg your pardon Mr. Woods, but as I stated earlier the board is obligated to perform fundraising duties and to establish outreach in the community. Regardless of your “bylaws” that is state non-profit corporation law. You are violating the law and the letter and spirit of non-profit corporation ethics by refusing to do so and by acting in ways that are detrimental to the financial and other health of the organization. I’ve seen no indication from the People’s Radio people that they have any interest in those things. No one will adequately explain why. I agree you have an obligation to oversee the operation and make sure the organization is fulfilling its mission, but you do that by periodic reviews of station management, i.e. the program director and the general manager's performance.

To use my amateur baseball booster club analogy again, what kind of booster club will publicly talk about how lousy the team is, how inept the manager is, or how this or that player can’t hit or field his or her position? Imagine that for a second! The club would be assassinating the team it’s supposed to be holding up to the community. Imagine that and you’ll see how the People’s Radio bunch look to the community at large. I don’t understand how intelligent people can behave this way. The station isn’t your personal political plaything. It is a community resource, which you are responsible for uplifting, but to which you are doing irreparable damage. I hope you take this in the spirit it is intended and clean up your act before the station loses its broadcast license or worse.

I'm still waiting for an adequate explanation from the "People's Radio" crowd as to why they won't fulfill their duties as non-profit board members. I'd like to hear what kind of fundraiser and outreach activities you're planning. Have you convened a fundraising committee? What are your plans for station promotion activities? I'd still like to hear that you take your responsibilities seriously and are not simply grinding political axes. I'd still like to see some committment to professionalism and adherence to the ethics of non-profit corporation boards. If you cannot explain why you refuse to do your duty, then I will take it upon myself to pass along the message among my fellow listeners to vote against "People's Radio" in the next election. I will also consult with friends who are experts in non-profit law to pursue legal avenues for your removal from the board for abdication of duty. I await your response.

Ms. Powter , first off please identify yourself . Are you the same person that had a ''Diet and Fitness '' show in the 80's ?Just curious . Anyway you are apparently woefully unaware of the changes that have occurred since the station was ''recaptured '' in 1999 from the gang of corporate hijackers why wanted to destroy Pacifica ( By the way what side were you on in that struggle ? ) We now have governing boards at all five stations and a Pacifica National Board . We also have something(after years of national discussion and debate ) called bylaws , (which you were unaware of ) We are a highly political board (on all sides ! ) in a highly political network .Some of us are fighting for full transparentcy , a democractic station and a network that remains true to the mission of Pacifica . We have , of course, all raised money for and engaged in outreach for the station.But that's not our main role . We aren't the ''Friends of the Ballet '', or a ''booster club'' for a Kids soccer team in Marin (Not that there's any thing wrong with kid's soccer teams ! ) We aren't KQED . Perhaps you would be more comfortable there?

Listen, Mr. Woods. First of all I do have the same name as the exercise woman. But, how many people with the name Stan Woods do you think are out there? So we'll dispense with the childishness thank you very much. Second of all, non-profit corporate boards are governed by the non-profit code of the state in which they operate -- in this case California. State law requires you to act in the best interests of the organization, to obey your bylaws, which seem to be mostly in keeping with state law, but which you seem to be ignoring. I've seen no evidence of fundraising activities, or of anything approaching community outreach from the Peoples Radio Bunch. Do you raise enough to cover the board's own expenses? No you don't. Quit trying to evade the subject by talking about other organizations or reaching back into the past. I'm talking about KPFA right here and right now, which is part of a non-profit incorporated in California and is subject to the laws of this state. Do you know how arrogant you sound when you suggest that because I don't agree with you and the way you're faction is conducting business, then I should listen to another station. HOW DARE YOU! I know KPFA is political, it's one of the reasons I listen. I also enjoy some of the music and radio dramas. Politics in this instance isn't the point. Irresponsible behavior from a clueless board is the point. You are charged with perserving the station's license. Yet your failure to due even the most basic board duties, jeapordize that license. Frankly, I think it is you who should go somewhere else.

The board is not elected to play politics and run down the station. You mention kids soccer booster clubs, I can think of a million of them that operate more professionally and with more committment than "Peoples Radio." Perhaps you should attend a meeting and take notes. You were not elected to re-program the station in your own image. You were elected to approve budgets and periodically oversee management. Consult any text on non-profit boards and at the top of the list is fundraising and outreach. When was the last time you staged an outreach event in Santa Clara, or San Mateo counties? Do you know where they are? Do you have a promotion committee? Do you have a fundraising committee? Mr. Woods you demonstrate a profound misunderstanding of the most elementary rules of service on a non-profit board. With all due respect, you don't seem qualified. I personally will be using all of my contacts,(which number in the hundreds) to see to it that your faction is defeated in the next election. In the meantime I will pursue other avenues to recall Peoples Radio.

Ms. Powter, there's one big problem you and your friends on the board would encounter if you attempted a recall . You would have to DEBATE the real issues and what's really at stake . Also people's political motivations for such a action as a recall would be a legitimate topic for discussion . You might consider what happened in 1999 as ''ancient history '' (and who lined up with whom then) but i would bet most listener-subscribers would disagree with your dumbing down of political discourse . So Ms. Powter do what you gotta do . For all part we will continue our fight to continue and expand the democractic process at Pacifica as a whole and KPFA in particular .

Ms. Powter, there's one big problem you and your friends on the board would encounter if you attempted a recall . You would have to DEBATE the real issues and what's really at stake . Also people's political motivations for such a action as a recall would be a legitimate topic for discussion . You might consider what happened in 1999 as ''ancient history '' (and who lined up with whom then) but i would bet most listener-subscribers would disagree with your dumbing down of political discourse . So Ms. Powter do what you gotta do . For all part we will continue our fight to continue and expand the democractic process at Pacifica as a whole and KPFA in particular .

i see phelps has released the attack dog

must be to close to the truth, has to attack people who question peoples radio distortions

what debate issues can there be except how to best keep kpfa on the air

politics only part of kpfa mission, not end all be all

if it is all, then whose politics are you fighting to impose on us all?

the politics that sues listeners for dissenting from your politics?

the politics that demonizes anyone who questions you?

that sounds like neocon rove's politics, not kpfa, and not berkeley

Still no acceptable answers from People's Radio. No answer to whether they have a fundraising committee, or even a plan on how to go about it. No answer on what kind of promotional activities they've sponsored, or planned. Mr. Woods talks about democracy. And he goes back into the past to evade concrete here and now answers. So I'll look into the past to show how inept People Radio are. The pre-99 management violated state law by shutting down all avenues to oversight, and attempting to break the firewall between station management and editorial independence by telling people what they could and couldn't say on air. Well, those days, I thought, were over. The good guys won (I thought). There is a board now to oversee management and approve the budget, like there is at all non-profit organizations. There is a board to fund raise and promote the statio to get more people hearing the progressive message. But it appears I was wrong, by their inept behavior and their inability to perform the most basic duties of a non-profit board, the Peoples Radio bunch are simply a carbon copy of the Pre-99 management. The only difference is they couch their behavior in democratic language. They are irresponsibly pushing their own agendas, just like the old mgmt. Instead of dialogue, they attack people who disagree with them. Just like the old mgmnt. They are financially irresponsible. Just like the old mngmt. They refuse to reach out to the broader community. Just like the old mngmt. I submit to you that there is little difference, beside some overheated democratic rhetoric, between People's Radio and Mary Frances Berry? They're two sides of the same corrupt anti-station coin.

These "People's Radio" folks remind me of those terrible hard left organizations that I ran into back in my college organizing days. They would inject themselves into progressive groups, refuse to do any useful work, and speechify and sap the group's strength. They would then accuse everyone who disagreed with them, or asked them to be useful, of being dupes of the establishment or not idealogical conscious enough, or some other rubbish. Back then they largeley came from this or that faction of some obscure Trotskyist or Maoist group. When we wanted to organize and expand the environmental and anti-war movements, they wanted to thump their chests and try to out-radical everyone.

Useful progressive work isn't standing on soap boxes, it is hard work fund raising, strengthening our institutions, reaching out(even to people who don't necessarily agree with us), and getting the word out. So I ask People's Radio again, will you stop the destructive attacks, raise money, reach out and present a strong public face for KPFA, or will you sit around, make speeches and be a burden to the station and threaten its existence?

I'm looking over some of the older materials, and I'm seeing more and more proof that Peoples Radio is not an honest group of people.

Both Phelps and Woods talk about bringing Democracy Now to 'prime time' in the evening as a part of their agenda, but the reality is that until this article, Phelps, Woods and the rest have actually been pushing for a second MORNNG broadcast of Amy Goodman.

It's actually the people that they oppose who have been pushing for an evening broadcast, and Phelps and Peoples Radio have been fighting against the evening show until just now.

In terms of raising funds, the only fundraising that has been done that anyone seems to be aware of is when Peoples Radio collects for itself at its "public meetings". It would be interesting to see that money accounted for, and to know which pocket it is going into.

But the most egregious lie that Peoples Radio makes is that somehow, "democratic processes" are necessary to run the station.

In fact, the station ran exceedingly well, becoming the legend that it is, without democratic processes in programming or development. Anyone with half a brain would know that you cannot run creativity by committee; many progressive groups learned that lesson long ago.

It was the governance, the means by which the station is operated, not managed, which was the issue in 1999. The old Pacifica Board dropped elections, dropped inclusion, and ran Pacifica without any regard or concern for minority/non-majority interests...

Much as Peoples Radio is doing now.

Similarly, you can have like-minded people running a group, but when you start playing "Thought Police" and forcing the group to think a specific way, you are no longer democratic, no matter what principles or processes that you may have in place.

Snarkboy makes a good point on this; whether or not he is correct in his mathematical concerns is irrelevant.

If Peoples Radio actually has a 2/3 vote of support, democracy DEMANDS that there is no "tyranny of the majority", and that the rights and concerns of the minority be recognized and considered.

From what I see, it appears that Peoples Radio is finally realizing this, and changing its collective tune to something less rancorous, by claiming to push Democracy Now to the evening hours, as well as its claim of supporting "democratic processes".

Looking at the record, however, it is clear that these people are little more than parasites, unable to produce anything on their own, and trying to take over a community resource for their own purposes and not those of the community that KPFA serves.

This really takes the cake!! COINTELPRO IS OUT DONE BY OLD LIB. No wonder you are afraid to show your face, it must be as ugly as your lies!!!!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Both Phelps and Woods talk about bringing Democracy Now to 'prime time' in the evening as a part of their agenda, but the reality is that until this article, Phelps, Woods and the rest have actually been pushing for a second MORNNG broadcast of Amy Goodman.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
This would be funny if it wasn't so sad. There are currently two (2) AM broadcasts of Democracy Now! on KPFA 6 & 9 AM!! And it has been that way since the start of the Iraq invasion, March 2003.
Here is point #3 on peoplesradio's ten points:

"Democracy Now! on twice a day, once at 7:00 a.m. and once in the evening, to reach as many listeners as possible." Drafted in August 2004. Any doubts please read the Pro-Democracy letter on our web site.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
It's actually the people that they oppose who have been pushing for an evening broadcast, and Phelps and Peoples Radio have been fighting against the evening show until just now.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The BIG LIE again. KPFAForward's ten points DIDN'T EVEN MENTION Democracy Now! After pointing this out and how the endorsers on their web site were voting against transparency, they took their ten points and list of endorsers off their web site. If anyone wants a copy of what they took down, contact me thru peoplesradio.net and I will send you one.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
If you ever believe anything Old Lib says after this, or before, I have a bridge for sale, interested?

Old Lib you need to read this too - you are also confusing People's Radio with the LSB.


Susan Powter said in "More evasion":

"Still no acceptable answers from People's Radio. "
---------------------
Your methods of communication do not suggest that you're seeking answers, but only want to attack. Much of the communication on this site is geared to attack & discredit progressives.
-------------------
"No answer to whether they have a fundraising committee, or even a plan on how to go about it."
-------------------
You are confusing People's Radio with the Local Station Board.
--------------------
"No answer on what kind of promotional activities they've sponsored, or planned."
-----------------------------
This is not in our bylaws. KPFA promotes itself by having quality programming, cosponsoring community events, etc.
-----------------------------
"Mr. Woods talks about democracy. And he goes back into the past to evade concrete here and now answers. So I'll look into the past to show how inept People Radio are. The pre-99 management violated state law by shutting down all avenues to oversight, and attempting to break the firewall between station management and editorial independence by telling people what they could and couldn't say on air. Well, those days, I thought, were over. The good guys won (I thought). There is a board now to oversee management and approve the budget, like there is at all non-profit organizations. "
-------------------------------
Are you trying to to say that People's Radio is telling people what to say on the air?
Or shutting down oversight? Do you know what transparency means, which is among the 10 points of People's Radio? Do you know who is preventing members such as our financial officers from seeing the books? Do you know who has been fighting to open the books to scrutiny?

And what about the LSB's function set forth in G:
"G. To work with station management to ensure that station programming fulfills the purposes of the Foundation and is responsive to the diverse needs of the listeners (demographic) and communities (geographic) served by the station, and that station policies and procedures for making programming decisions and for program evaluation are working in a fair, collaborative and respectful manner to provide quality programming."

That's something you don't seem to acknowledge as being an LSB function.
Yet it is the core of station decision making: the programming.

As Stan Woods was trying to tell you, the LSB is an elected body representing 28,000 listener-supporters & 200 something staff. It has a broader mandate than the usual top down run
non profit, & its bylaws reflect that.
----------------------------------
"There is a board to fund raise and promote the statio to get more people hearing the progressive message. But it appears I was wrong, by their inept behavior and their inability to perform the most basic duties of a non-profit board, the Peoples Radio bunch are . . . . .. . . . . . . . . I submit to you that there is little difference, beside some overheated democratic rhetoric, between People's Radio and Mary Frances Berry? They're two sides of the same corrupt anti-station coin."
------------------------------------
You are confusing People's Radio with the LSB. People's Radio does not run the LSB.
And the Mary Frances Berry administration & its precursors was not just inept & corrupt,
it was part of an effort to silence, destroy, & sell our station & others.
------------------------------------
"These "People's Radio" folks remind me of those terrible hard left organizations that I ran into . .
. . . .
Useful progressive work isn't standing on soap boxes, it is hard work fund raising, strengthening our institutions, reaching out(even to people who don't necessarily agree with us), and getting the word out. So I ask People's Radio again, will you stop the destructive attacks, raise money, reach out and present a strong public face for KPFA, or will you sit around, make speeches and be a burden to the station and threaten its existence?"
------------------------------------
I could say a lot of this to you. You have no idea how committed the folks of People's Radio are to building a strong, progressive & diverse station. Democratic governance is the basis for such a station. It was the listeners who turned out in the thousands to save their station, some of them struggling for years while the staff did almost nothing until their jobs were threatened. That is the basis of the new democratic governance. Struggles are going on within the LSB & elsewhere at the station because a part of the staff will not allow the shared decision making.
That is the basis for any dysfunction, ineptitude, etc. of the LSB - the stonewalling of democratic decision making by those who are trying to block it. Staff can't run the station alone - they have a conflict of interest in that they want their airtime & in some cases, salaries. They are a part but not the whole of governance. The listeners are the majority on the LSB as they are in the KPFA community.
There is a lot of work & struggle involved in democratizing KPFA. Do not disrespect this struggle & its achievements so far.

You say we have not done outreach - we just had a wonderful Town Hall meeting where our public came, asked questions, & criticized many aspects of KPFA's programming & operations -
because they love & rely on KPFA. It was a great struggle between factions for the Outreach Committee to put this on, but we did it - with a lot of hard work & commitment.

I would like to see you stop this destructive attack on our representative democracy which is very much in the process of developing, & on People's Radio which is playing an important role in
developing this responsible & responsive governance.

Mara, do you think it is acceptable for the putative leader of Peoples Radio and the chair of the listener-elected LSB to sue listeners for their opinions? Do you think it is fair for an attorney to sue a listener in small claims court, where the listener - in this case, an 83-year-old man -- isn't allowed to retain his own counsel?

Since Stan Woods will not answer the question about whether or not he tailed this old man home after an LSB meeting, I have to assume he DID. Mara, do you approve of this behavior, too?

Riva Enteen sent out a newsletter about the outreach event last month, and Bonnie Faulkner had to ask her to stop lying about her just to score political points. Bonnie called the newsletter untrue and destructive. Do approve of lying to score points against your enemies, Mara?

And what do you think about the Richard Phelps Show today? What is supposed to the LSB Show has been more like the Peoples Radio Hour for months now, since Richard Phelps has begun monopolizing the broadcasts. Do think that is "democratic" Mara?

In reading the responses from Phelps and Woods, they sound like tantrum-throwing buffoons, not stewards of a precious media resource.

People should have stopped to consider this behavior after Phelps - a white male who has benefited from privilege to become a lawyer, an officer of the establishment power structure - acted to humiliate and remove the previous chair, a respected Latina feminist and union organizer, in order that Phelps could have the chair himself.

Susan Powter is right. If you don't think this BEHAVIOR is acceptable, you should NOT return those who USE IT to power in the next election. Maybe they are personal friends of yours, or support personal friends of yours, and loyalty is a fine trait. But in this case, loyalty to KPFA should be more important that continuing to back up these people -- surely they aren't the finest examples of board members that Peoples Radio can come up with. Or are they?

Sue

Of course i didn't tail any old, young, or middle aged man, woman, or beast home ! i didn't respond before because i considered such a allegation beneath contempt . We of Peoples Radio are by now used to slanders and distortions . Gerald Sanders probably lost his reelection bid not due to what he actually said or did but '' Dirty Tricks '' style distortions of what he said during board meetings . Last Fall someone, (was it you Snarkboy or Old LIb ? ) falsely using the name of the Santa Cruz based group Media Watch , outrageous smeared not only several members of P.R. but also Dennis Bernstein of Flashpoints on several National Media lists. (The REAL Media Watch issued a outraged disavowal of this posting). ) While a considerable number of staff members like and respect what we say , several prominent programmers endorsed our opponents and Bensky openly sneers at the democractic process . (which he claimed to support in 99 ) As for Richard , the attacks on him are unrelenting . But we can and will defend ourselves and , sorry you motley crew of slanderers, redbaiters, and'' Mainstream'' pro-corporate liberals, we ain't going away !

Answering
"Mara, what do you think?
by Sue Mei"

Sue, I have
some answers for you.

"Mara, do you think it is acceptable for the putative leader of Peoples Radio and the chair of the listener-elected LSB to sue listeners for their opinions? Do you think it is fair for an attorney to sue a listener in small claims court, where the listener - in this case, an 83-year-old man -- isn't allowed to retain his own counsel? "
------------------------------------------
Sue, Richard does not give up his civil rights because he is Chair! He has certain standards of impartiality to all as chair, but as a person, he is free to defend himself from libelous statements about himself! - such as the listener in question was spreading. He has made this clear repeatedly!
Small Claims court is a citizens' resort -- not requiring lawyers, in order to be affordable to all!
This man was putting out information which only a person privy to station information would have - & was treated warmly by some LSB members instead of discouraged from libeling Richard.
Therefore it appears as if he is being encouraged & used by certain people at the station, possibly on the LSB.
-----------------------------------
"Since Stan Woods will not answer the question about whether or not he tailed this old man home after an LSB meeting, I have to assume he DID. Mara, do you approve of this behavior, too?"
-----------------------------------
I have to reserve judgment on this - did he do it? Was it to threaten him? etc. I don't have the facts so I have no opinion - & I recommend this stance to others.

Actually, I see that Stan has now replied to this, denying it. And have learned that he was merely trying to see who was giving this person a ride home, who else might have been involved.
A good question, in my mind. Who else was behind victimizing Richaerd?
-------------------------------------
"Riva Enteen sent out a newsletter about the outreach event last month, and Bonnie Faulkner had to ask her to stop lying about her just to score political points. Bonnie called the newsletter untrue and destructive. Do approve of lying to score points against your enemies, Mara?"
--------------------------------------
You have this wrong on several counts. I followed up on this; it had to do with confidentiality so I can't get into it, but Riva was not "lying" about Bonnie to "score points against" anyone. And she eliminated the part which was found objectionable.
--------------------------------------
"And what do you think about the Richard Phelps Show today? What is supposed to the LSB Show has been more like the Peoples Radio Hour for months now, since Richard Phelps has begun monopolizing the broadcasts. Do think that is "democratic" Mara? "
----------------------------------------
Richard is hosting the LSB show because nobody else took on the job. He is not "monopolizing the broadcasts" because he is the chair. People from the other faction are on the show as well, as Brian was today - they are not being excluded. Richard emails all LSB members before each show inviting anyone who wants, to participate. The last 1/2 hour is listener call ins, as it should be. If the People's Radio point of view is being represented on the show, that's also appropriate & democratic. I found the show very informative & appreciated that real controversies were discussed frankly. That is democratic transparency. Rather than mere PR for People's Radio, or for the station, as it seemed to be when it began.
----------------------------------------
"In reading the responses from Phelps and Woods, they sound like tantrum-throwing buffoons, not stewards of a precious media resource."
-----------------------------------------
I can't agree with you there.
Sounds to me like one of the 2 main tactics used by those trying to destroy the progressive movement - discrediting it by calling people names - ad hominem attack. (The other is to
contradict the facts, with or without any accurate opposing facts.)
-----------------------------------------
"People should have stopped to consider this behavior after Phelps - a white male who has benefited from privilege to become a lawyer, an officer of the establishment power structure - acted to humiliate and remove the previous chair, a respected Latina feminist and union organizer, in order that Phelps could have the chair himself."
-----------------------------------------
Now you're playing the class/race card! - as MF Berry & cohorts did!
Richard did not come from a privileged background.
And he was not the one to make the motion for removal - that was a black person. Seven of the members who voted for removal were persons of color. (Check it out at
http://www.kpfa.org/lsb/docs.php?type=minutes&id=15&doc=62
The previous chair was grossly incompetent to run an LSB meeting. She hired a parliamentarian to assist her, to the tune of $400 per meeting, but still could not move the meetings forward. Very little got done. The other side didn't want anything done which was not of their choosing, so they fought replacing her.
She also spoke for the LSB outside the meetings without authorization.
To remove her, it was necessary to point out that she wasn't doing the job - (& did some other nondemocratic things). If the people who were promoting her were really interested in good meeting facilitation, the chair could have been changed more gently & tactfully.
-------------------------------------------
"Susan Powter is right. If you don't think this BEHAVIOR is acceptable, you should NOT return those who USE IT to power in the next election. Maybe they are personal friends of yours, or support personal friends of yours, and loyalty is a fine trait. But in this case, loyalty to KPFA should be more important that continuing to back up these people -- surely they aren't the finest examples of board members that Peoples Radio can come up with. Or are they?"
Sue
--------------------------------------------
You are wrong about the "behavior". And I like most of the listeners in the last election, agree with the 10 Point "platform" of People's Radio for a democratically run progressive radio station; that is why we voted for them.

Ms. Rivera you appear to know how to keep the discussion on a higher level, but I still disagree with you strongly.

You say my methods of communication, (I take that to mean what I have written), do not suggest I’m seeking answers but to attack. My point has been to point out a serious lack of understanding of the duties and responsibilities of non-profit boards, as demonstrated by what I’ve seen in person and what I’ve read coming from the People’s Radio faction of the board. I’ve asked numerous direct questions and continue to not get answers.

I’m not confusing the LSB with Peoples Radio. I asked Peoples Radio directly if there is a fundraising committee. No one answered, which is incredibly sad since under state law it is among the top priorities of a non-profit board. I ask People’s Radio because from what I’ve seen they seem to be the one’s with the least understanding of a board’s function. Therefore I ask it again, is there a fundraising committee? If not. WHY?

You say promotion is not in the bylaws. Well, the bylaws should be re-written because California non-profit code requires the board to positively promote the organization to the public. Call it a promotion committee, or a Ford Escort, but for goodness sake put together a committee that promotes the station. Ever heard of advertising? Other non-profit boards have. How do you expect to draw in new listeners, by accident? Are you interested in new listeners? Do you not think making KPFA more of a relevant part of the Bay Area media scene is a good idea?

You ask if I know what transparency means. Yes I do. It is part of the state non-profit code. The board approves the budget, and gives periodic, mostly quarterly, reports on the state of the organization’s finances. It is illegal for a board to line item the budget, prepare the budget, check private personnel records (especially given the rise of identity theft), or spend the organization’s money. Management does that with periodic board oversight.

You put forth section G of the bylaws. This section is so vague as to be practically meaningless. True the board creates a mission statement and tries to ensure that the organization follows the mission, but oversight of this comes with periodic evaluation of the Programming director and General Manager. This does not mean that the board sets the program schedule, or even makes program proposals. That would be a bald-faced conflict of interest and abuse of its power under state law. Organizations have paid professionals with relevant experience to make those judgments. The board is charged with hiring that professional and evaluating his, or her performance. That is democratic oversight.

You say Woods was trying to tell me that the LSB is elected to represent the station supporters and has a broader mandate than top down organizations. This statement is illogical. A board, by its nature, is not top down. Every member should have an equal vote. The chair is a neutral arbiter to ensure the smooth running of meetings. He or she doesn’t vote, or play favorites. If the Chair does, they are incompetent and should be removed. A board is a check on organization Executives (station manager and program director) not their boss. Just as in theory Congress is a check on the President. The executives oversee day-to-day operations, deal with personnel issues when they arise, bargains with the union et. Al. The board periodically evaluates how they are doing. That’s it.

You say when I compared Peoples Radio to Mary Frances Berry that I was confusing it with the LSB. Have you attended any meetings? I have and I’ve seen those people shouting at the tops of their lungs, making speeches, talking out of turn, insulting fellow members and worse. I’ve read some of their postings on this website in which they attack the people that work at the very organization they are supposed to be supporting.

Ms. Rivera, you say the People’s Radio bunch are committed to democratic governance and openness and all of this. I don’t see any of that. They don’t even know the basics of how a board member should behave in public. And again you divide staff from listeners. From what I know, listeners are staff and staff are listeners. There shouldn’t be designations on the board, if it were truly democratic. You say staff didn’t take part in the struggle of 99. I watched on TV as staff members were taken out of the station in handcuffs. I saw staff mingled in with listeners at the big KPFA march. In their public pronouncements, Peoples Radio are very selective in which staff they go after and which programs they go after. They go after programs they don’t like and leave the one’s they do like alone. They are like members of those terrible organizations I dealt with years ago -- really good at spouting rhetoric, really bad at getting anything done. How is that democracy? How is that serving the listeners? They are serving themselves and their vision for what KPFA should sound like. They don’t care about the vast majority of us listeners.

Lastly, you say that last Town Hall was an outreach event. Excuse me but that’s laughable. I saw on this very website the advertisement for it. It basically said come on out and let certain staffers have it. Come out and pile it on yet again. That’s not outreach. I, and many listeners I know, didn’t come for that reason. Look at Mr. Woods last posting. He is a member of the board, yet he calls people slanderers, red-baiters and pro-corporate liberals. Just what is a pro-corporate liberal anyway? Someone who thinks that a member of a non-profit board, left, right or center, should comport themselves with professionalism and demonstrate some knowledge of the basics of service on the board of a proud institution. That statement by Woods, demonstrates to me that he has a narrow, fringe type definition of what the left is supposed to be: agree with me, or you’re not part of the left.

Real outreach would be in areas the station doesn’t hear from much. It wouldn’t be a gripe session. It would be a time to serve refreshments, pass out promotional literature (brochures, bumper stickers, and program schedules), sell T-shirts and talk-up the station and answer questions and for listeners to meet some of the people behind the voices we hear on air. That would make people feel good about KPFA, not turn them off, which is what People’s Radio seems dead set on doing.

Susan, you're as mystified as I am. I've never seen a nonprofit board with so many members hell-bent on crushing the thing they're supposed to safeguard. Do all of us a favor and run for the LSB this summer, so you can show the rest of the board what it means to take fiduciary responsibilities seriously.

Ms. Powter complains that i wrote about ''slanderers, redbaiters,and procorporate liberals '' . Well as the classic statement by a baseball umpire goes ''' I call 'em as i see 'em "". When someone writes and spreads on e-lists thruout the country a grossly dishonest tract using falsely the name of a Media Democracy group , that's slander. When people like ''snark Boy'' and ''old libel '' engage in ''false statements uttered maliciously with the intent of damaging a person's reputation '' likewise .When Jim Weber compares Richard Phelps to Adolph Hitler ! that's damm sure slander ! ( The only ones that protested were those of us in Peoples radio and those allied with us . The staff reps and their allies from ''Kpfa forward '' were silent .As they were re the phony ''Media Watch ''postings Perhaps they agreed with that obscene comparison ? ) Re ''Redbaiting '' traditionally a term that describes ''fear and loathing '' thats whipped up by mainly , though not only , right wingers to attack and discredit those to the left of them (who they perceive as a threat to their power and interests ) When Board members like Mark Hernandez on several occasions makes allusions to ''busloads of commies coming to pack meetings '' or Jim Weber writes raving pamplets about ''violent Trotskyites '' That's redbaiting ! As for ''procorporate liberals '' people like Dianne Feinstein, Nancy Pelosi , Jerry Brown, Gavin Newsome etc. are but a few elected officials that fit that desciption . In the Pacifca and KPFA context , the most notorious examples are , of course , people like David Salinker, Pat Scott, and MFB but today i would include those who , for example , try to imitate the ''big boys '' of Corporate radio. They oppose the democratization process. They believe in the ''professional '' top down way that CBS Radio and Kgo, and Npr conducts their affairs . They believe the news broadcasts should like wise be ''professional '' not ''idelogical '' so when the internationally despised Ronald Reagan finally kicked, the lead KPFA news segment intoned ''The Nation Mourns "' ! There's many other examples like that, like the gross pro-Democractic party bias shown towards the Green and Peace and Freedom parties on the air, especially from the news dept.. But enough for now .I believe my charaterizations fit many (though not all ) of our opponents .

First Mr. Woods you're still not answering the questions I've put forward. Why is there no fundraising commitee when state law and all rules governing non-profit boards say fundraising is at or near the top of your duties? Why is there no attempt at promoting the station, especially in areas outside Berkeley-Oakland-SF? Why has there never been a meet and greet event with community members that doesn't amount to a "come on out and bitch and moan about programs you don't like?"

To clear up something else. No where has anyone said KPFA should operate exactly like any other station. What I've been asking for is for People's Radio to do its legally mandated duty, to not publically run down the station and to follow the basic guidelines for behavior in a non-profit board. The basic guidelines apply to all non-profits, KPFA is not exempt. Professional doesn't mean corporate. Look it up in the dictionary. In fact you insult the left when you imply we are unable to conduct our affairs with professionalism and integrity.

On the issue of who is saying what about whom. Here's some sound advice all of our mothers told us: IGNORE THEM. If people aren't dealing with you in an adult and respectful way, just ignore them. They'll eventually move on. Try being bigger than them. Do your job. Fundraise, promote, oversee budgets, management and yourselves. If you do those things, no one will be able to attack you.

You fire off a bunch of names of politicians and say they are pro-corporate liberals. Well that may be the case. If you have concerns, get involved, get organized, write them, pressure them to do the right thing. Stay on them. And when they occasionally do the right thing, support them. Here's the best thing you can do in your position: support KPFA. Keep this alternative media outlet financially solvent and growing and expanding for the future.

Then Mr. Woods, instead of doing the things I've suggested, here you go again issuing broadsides at KPFA, complaining over words here and there you've heard. Instead of publicly ripping the station yet again, why not fire off a quick email explaining your concerns. Every listener has the right to do that. Not just at KPFA, but at any media outlet. Ever heard of a letter to the editor? Same concept. Again I feel the need to remind you. You have a fiduciary responsibility to positively reflect the station in public. Whatever your personal feelings about this or that on-air issue. You are legally required to uplift KPFA. No human being is going to like or agree with everything they hear on the station's air. I don't some things, but I support the station and its overall vision. Your responsibility to the listeners who elected you is not to be their political attack dog, it is to be a responsible, professional representative of the station as a whole. We listeners don't care what shows you like and dislike, what song you hated on what music show, or what sentence you thought was out of place in what report. You were elected to support the station, help build and expand its listenership and keep the place financially healthy and well-managed. It's time Peoples Radio got to work, or got out.

In conclusion, it boils down to one thing.

Richard Phelps, an attorney and Chair of the KPFA Local Station Board, filed a lawsuit in Small Claims Court against Jim Weber, an 80-year old KPFA listener, for the amount of $5,000, so that Weber could not have legal representation.

It is clear that the cause of action was because Phelps was offended by Weber's writings; however, what is also clear is that Phelps is a clear and distinct bully, using legalese and strong-arm tactics to get his way.

Equally clear is the use of Stan Woods as his physical strong-arm, following and observing, and attempting to use big words beyond his capacity, to justify the bullying effort against Weber.

Through all of the "explanations" and "truth" that Phelps, Woods, Rivera and their side have brought forward, there is nothing to show what they have actually _done_ for KPFA.

Instead, all of their efforts have been geared to promoting their own group, their own agenda, and their own actions.

With the record so far, Peoples Radio is more than willing to spend listener funds on everything except making KPFA run better or successfully.

With several legal cases pending against KPFA to the tune of potentially a million dollars in sexual harrassment claims, none of which can be related to Roy Campenella as is being intimated, Peoples Radio relies on the support of the perpetrators to get credibility, and thus supports them...even though doing so is anthema to the principles of KPFA and Pacifica.

It is clear that KPFA is not a priority to Phelps and his political cronies, save as a base of power, and as a means to control and intimidate others to his own political viewpoint.

One has to ask, do we really want to leave KPFA in the hands of such demagogues?

Do we really want such people to limit content on KPFA to what they approve of, and literally taking action against those who they do not, as we see with their actions against Weber?

Old Lib(el) you're so cruel ! You could have said Woods is a thug but a erudite , well read hooligan . But no, you say (sob) that i use''big words beyond my capacity''. I have you know that after a hard day'' kicking ass and taking names'' i often like nothing better than to curl up with a well thumbed volume of Hegel and sip Cognac .( But if i just feel like partying i drink shots of Stoly and read Lenin ! )
Get real! Even slanders should have a grain of truth . We have no goons, no thugs, no ''military wing '' of Peoples radio. Richard ''dispatchs'' Gerald or i to ''do his bidding '' ? Utter Bullshit . Our small group is a democractic one . A , at times, rowdy, rauchy, opionated democracy. ( As real democracies often are ) We certainly do not have A leader. We fight politically .We don't throw chairs .We don't slander people via anonyomous e-mails . We don't threaten any one . Rest assured, Old Lib(el) we won't touch a hair on your scheming, Machiavellian head . ( Machiavellian -3.characterized by subtle or unscrupulous cunning, deception, expediency, or dishonesty ) Websters New Universal, Unabridged Dictionary 1996 edition ) We will do our best to ''kick your ass'' electorially speaking , come the Fall Pacifica Elections .

phelps sues and woods stalks, and both want to know who we all are, saying we have no right to anonymity, saying we are anti-democratic

pot meet kettle so appropriate here

MR. JUSTICE Hugo Black, writing for the Supreme Court of the United States in Talley v. California, 362 U.S. 60 (1960), declaring unconstitutional a California ordinance requiring that handbills and pamphlets be signed:

Anonymous pamphlets, leaflets, brochures and even books have played an important role in the progress of mankind. Persecuted groups and sects from time to time throughout history have been able to criticize oppressive practices and laws either anonymously or not at all. The obnoxious press licensing law of England, which was also enforced on the Colonies was due in part to the knowledge that exposure of the names of printers, writers and distributors would lessen the circulation of literature critical of the government. The old seditious libel cases in England show the lengths to which government had to go to find out who was responsible for books that were obnoxious [362 U.S. 60, 65] to the rulers. John Lilburne was whipped, pilloried and fined for refusing to answer questions designed to get evidence to convict him or someone else for the secret distribution of books in England. Two Puritan Ministers, John Penry and John Udal, were sentenced to death on charges that they were responsible for writing, printing or publishing books. 6 Before the Revolutionary War colonial patriots frequently had to conceal their authorship or distribution of literature that easily could have brought down on them prosecutions by English-controlled courts. Along about that time the Letters of Junius were written and the identity of their author is unknown to this day. Even the Federalist Papers, written in favor of the adoption of our Constitution, were published under fictitious names. It is plain that anonymity has sometimes been assumed for the most constructive purposes.

We have recently had occasion to hold in two cases that there are times and circumstances when States may not compel members of groups engaged in the dissemination of ideas to be publicly identified. Bates v. Little Rock, 361 U.S. 516 ; N. A. A. C. P. v. Alabama, 357 U.S. 449, 462 . The reason for those holdings was that identification and fear of reprisal might deter perfectly peaceful discussions of public matters of importance. This broad Los Angeles ordinance is subject to the same infirmity. We hold that it, like the Griffin, Georgia, ordinance, is void on its face. [362 U.S. 60, 66]


so why again does phelps need to have peoples names

oh so he can sue us for not thinking he is all-knowing thats right

phelps sues and woods stalks, and both want to know who we all are, saying we have no right to anonymity, saying we are anti-democratic
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
This qualifies for anti-transparency and yet I am sure you don't care about democracy, like Brian Edwards-Tiekert and friends if you can't be in charge why not "dismantle". If you really studied history you would know that transparency is the basis for democracy.

Snarkboy you have a lot of nerve to equate your pitiful lies and distortions to the work of people doing something important and in real potential danger. Something you would know anything about.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
so why again does phelps need to have peoples names
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I don't need to know your names. The people that you are trying to convince with your lies probably wonder why you won't be responsible for what you say. That's called accountability, the third part of democracy, transparency and accountability. Don't you think it is interesting that all the PeoplesRadio folks that have spoken on these issues are not afraid to stand up for what they believe in despite all the defamation coming from your side?? That is because the truth is one our side.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
oh so he can sue us for not thinking he is all-knowing thats right
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
So people can know who it is that puts lies over truth and you knowing that you are liars who have to hide their faces. One last time, I know it is hard for you handle the truth. I didn't sue him for his political attacks it was for his lies and defamations, which I asked him to stop many times. I am not afraid of the truth, I have been willing to pubicly debate KPFA/Pacifica issues anytime with or against anyone, how about you or Old Lib, I will take you both on, or are you one and the same?

phelps sues and woods stalks, and both want to know who we all are, saying we have no right to anonymity, saying we are anti-democratic
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
This qualifies for anti-transparency and yet I am sure you don't care about democracy, like Brian Edwards-Tiekert and friends if you can't be in charge why not "dismantle". If you really studied history you would know that transparency is the basis for democracy.

Snarkboy you have a lot of nerve to equate your pitiful lies and distortions to the work of people doing something important and in real potential danger. Something you would know anything about.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
so why again does phelps need to have peoples names
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I don't need to know your names. The people that you are trying to convince with your lies probably wonder why you won't be responsible for what you say. That's called accountability, the third part of democracy, transparency and accountability. Don't you think it is interesting that all the PeoplesRadio folks that have spoken on these issues are not afraid to stand up for what they believe in despite all the defamation coming from your side?? That is because the truth is one our side.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
oh so he can sue us for not thinking he is all-knowing thats right
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
So people can know who it is that puts lies over truth and you knowing that you are liars who have to hide their faces. One last time, I know it is hard for you handle the truth. I didn't sue him for his political attacks it was for his lies and defamations, which I asked him to stop many times. I am not afraid of the truth, I have been willing to pubicly debate KPFA/Pacifica issues anytime with or against anyone, how about you or Old Lib, I will take you both on, or are you one and the same?

No one will answer. People's Radio, I ask again: is there a fundraising committee? If not, why not? Is there a committee, or even a plan to promote the station? If not, why not? Do you want more people listening? If not, why not? Why the public attacks on the station and its programs when that isn't why people sent you to the board? Why no real outreach? Why do you obsess on some weird law suit and not do the job of a legitimate non-profit board? I await your answer.

Richard, you're doing a heck of a job. If they're not for you, they're democracy hating terrorists who hate the listeners. You've learned well! But I'll let you in on a little secret, Richard -- the next time someone criticizes you, like that little Weber falafel-hater, let me know and I'll send Fox Security after them, instead of that Woods character. That'll teach him.

In solidarity,
Bill

amazing he is so puffed up on himself that phelps doesn't notice supreme court ruling that anonymous speech is protected because of the existance of people just like phelps

same people who want sedition act are like phelps

anonymous tipster
whistleblower
political critic

all the same to phelps, all to be sued and retaliated against, even killed

see it in all sorts of fascist states, people like phelps want to know everything about you to keep you in control by their rules, keep watch in case you step out of line, eliminate you if you question them or criticize them

but phelps never answers questions, just makes more accusations, more threats, more charges

makes up stuff about how he is helping kpfa when all he wants is recognition he can't get otherwise, always on the air, always in control, older white guy attorney telling us who is a good person and who is not

More of the BIG LIE. Did you guys all go to the Rove School of politics. Bill, if the is your name, are you up to public debate on these issues or are you afraid of exposing your lies and distortion in public like the rest?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Richard, you're doing a heck of a job. If they're not for you, they're democracy hating terrorists who hate the listeners.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
First, I never called anyone a terrorist, Bill, you introduced that word to these discussions. So maybe you do know Fox News since that is one of their favorite tactics.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
You've learned well! But I'll let you in on a little secret, Richard -- the next time someone criticizes you,
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The BIG LIE, repeat it often enough and people will start to believe it. I Was never concerned about his criticisms, only his defamations. Look them up in a dictionary, they are very different, or are you one of those that aren't interesed in facts or truth?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
like that little Weber falafel-hater, let me know and I'll send Fox Security after them, instead of that Woods character. That'll teach him.

In solidarity,
Bill
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
This racist crap doesn't deserve a response beyond this.

Speaking of public debate, Mr. Phelps, why do People's Radio continue to avoid directly answering the questions I've put forth. Are you afraid listeners will find out you haven't been doing the duties they elected you to the board to do?

phelps still doesn't get it

he finds it to be defamation because he wants it to be

he ignores fact that it is not defamation if no one else finds it to be so

saying it doesn't make it so unless you are phelps

kind of like christian conservatives who are offended by anything and want it banned as anti-god, phelps wants anything he finds offensive banned as anti-democracy

obviously phelps is one with the christian conservatives in his rovian effort to dominate and control

Thursday, March 9, 2006 (SF Chronicle)
In post-truth era, facts mean less
Joan Ryan (Barry Bonds issue edited out to highlight the main concept of this article, R. Phelps)


Facts aren't what they used to be. In the old days, they were the meat and
potatoes of an informed opinion. Today they're like toppings on a sundae.
You sprinkle on the ones you like and leave the rest off. That way, you
get something sweet and tasty, exactly to your personal preference.
In our therapist-couch of a country, all truth is personal. There is my
truth and your truth, and those truths are not to be contradicted by
facts. We believe what we want. And we don't hold to account those who lie
to us because the lies were "understandable”.

When former Treasury Secretary Robert Reich was nailed for multiple
inaccuracies and embellishments in his memoir, he proffered this defense:
"I was absolutely true to my memory."
When a psychiatrist was asked about a client's lies, he said, "He's
someone for whom the truth is temporarily unavailable."
It's what author Ralph Keyes calls "The Post-Truth Era," the title of his
2004 book about the acceptability of lying in today's culture.

"We always want to find a way to forgive and excuse deception engaged in
by people we support," Keyes said by phone from his home in Ohio. "The
whole concept of being held accountable has gotten so nibbled at that it's
barely visible."

The analogy would be if a kid -- let's call him Billy -- goes up to his teacher and tells
her that Johnny stole the answers to a very important test. The test had earned
Johnny the top spot in a national competition and turned him into a school hero.
It was an exciting time, and everyone was looking forward to what amazing
academic feats Johnny would accomplish next.

So what does the teacher do when faced with Billy's clear-cut evidence --
enough evidence to fill a book -- that Johnny cheated?
She says Billy has an agenda to bring Johnny down. She says Johnny is very
smart, maybe the smartest around, and he would have hit that test out of
the park even without the purloined answers. She denounces Billy for
exposing information that taints the reputation of such a talented,
admired student and cheapens his accomplishments.

The teacher's idiocy is obvious. The responsibility for any chaos,
controversy and disillusionment in the aftermath of a wrongdoing belongs
to the wrongdoer, not to the person who reports it. It's such basic common
sense that no reasonable person would support the teacher's point of view.
Yet people do all the time, and perhaps more than ever, when the wrongdoer
happens to be somebody they support. Their brains seem to transfer all logic
and common sense into a Tupperware container and seal it shut.

"When enough of us peddle fantasy as fact," Keyes said, "society loses its
grounding in reality."

And when enough of us dismiss fact as fantasy, society loses its ability
to reach intelligent conclusions and form reasonable opinions. What we
have left are fluffy confections of our own invention, all self-indulgence
and empty calories.

mr phelps, what is your point? you would do well to read this article and consider its implications for yourself and your People Radio sectarians. Between the exaggerations, hypocrisies and outright bald faced lies, it applies to YOU.

I hear you that not only have you not given up on trying to sue a listener, you were seen tape recording HIM without asking for his prior consent, either, at Saturdays meering! No, you may not have been required to ask for permission, but at least your enemies let you know when they feel the need to protect themselves with tape recordings.

As a listener member, I am so tired of my inbox being constantly filled with faux outrage coming from Peoples Radio. You are either increadibly sensitive crybabies, or dangerous demagoges.

Sue Mei

Peoplesradio had a booth at the SF anti-war march and I was there all day to answer any questions you may have or debate any issues. Where were you?

In Walnut Creek, instead of hangingout with shrill, rigid ANSWER sectarians trying desperately to prove that if they just preach louder the choir will stop shrinking, I was at a rally that was actually trying to build bridges to people who didn't grow up with red diapers. I'm glad you were in SF. . . people's radio and ANSWER deserve each other.

protesting against the war
not promoting ourselves

wonderful priorities phelps has

lets us all know what kpfa really means to him and his cronies