SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - It probably wouldn’t be going too far to suggest that the progressives’ much-anticipated dive into the mayoral pool this year turned out to be a belly-flop.

If people were hoping and praying that this weekend’s big political “summit’’ would unearth someone — anyone — of a far-leaning liberal stripe to run against Mayor Gavin Newsom this year, then they must be disappointed that things didn’t go swimmingly. I’m sure the event left a lot of folks feeling warm and fuzzy, but it can’t be very encouraging that one of the only candidates in attendance who actually is running turned out to be a clown (really).

Not long ago, I opined in a column that it is rather remarkable that the anti-Newsom forces in town couldn’t find anybody in their ranks to run against the mayor with June upon us. Supervisor Chris Daly had promised all who would listen that they would find a candidate within weeks and then called for a mass wingding in order to pick a candidate. And, right now, it’s unclear whether anybody will run or just that those who gathered decided that they didn’t want to be labeled — which they almost certainly would have been — as the candidate that Daly picked.

It’s not surprising to most observers that no one wants to be this year’s sacrificial lamb — which the polls seem to indicate, since Newsom, despite a series of personal setbacks, remains extremely popular. Even some of the über-liberal journals and blogs recently began to suggest that maybe no one should run against the mayor, because it would be a waste of time and money and the majority of supervisors are still embarked on their legislative forays to reduce Newsom’s power.

Yet, if that’s the case, then the so-called progressives made a major tactical blunder. Not only do they look weak and indecisive in the eyes of the public, they’ve all but announced that their only message in a campaign would be “Dump Newsom.” That’s hardly a winning strategy when you consider that Newsom’s job approval ratings are in the high 70s and polls show that most voters believe The City is moving in the right direction under his guidance.

If someone on the left jumps into the race, the scenario plays out that Newsom will come under fire from the left and the right — the right spot on the spectrum being filled by former Supervisor Tony Hall. But few people consider Hall a serious candidate, and it’s hard to imagine that he could raise enough money to mount a viable campaign.

“The squeeze strategy of the far left and the far right bashing Newsom might be fun to watch, but I think the voters would see through that,’’ political consultant David Latterman said. “Really, the only way to take Newsom out is in a one-on-one race. Anything else would just be a distraction.’’

Much of the focus recently has been on Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, whom many lefty supporters were strongly encouraging to jump into the race. The idea behind a Mirkarimi run was twofold — he could raise his profile above that of a district supervisor to put himself in better position to run in 2011, and he’s not Daly, the ever-combustible supervisor who has the highest negative ratings of any politician in San Francisco.

Daly said Monday that he would not run for mayor, which makes sense, since every political consultant I’ve spoken to says a Daly race translates into a landslide for Newsom — something Daly would no doubt loathe, even though it would make for the kind of blood sport San Franciscans apparently like in their mayoral campaigns. That’s why so much attention has been showered on Mirkarimi, who is considered a much brighter — and less angry — face for the left.

But Mirkarimi on Monday reiterated the stance that he took at the weekend meeting, telling me he felt it wasn’t the right time for him to run.

“I do believe that there should be a credible challenger to raise the level of discourse, which I think would be good for San Francisco,’’ Mirkarimi said. “But I want to continue to build on my experience as a district supervisor. It was heartening and flattering that so many people were encouraging me to run, but I didn’t want my ego to get ahead of me.’’

That seems to set the stage for Matt Gonzalez, the one-time Green Party star, who said he would only get in the race if no one else ran. But when I spoke to him recently, he didn’t seem to have a great desire to step back into the political spotlight.

At this point though, it won’t be easy to ride a wave of momentum, because there is none.

Ken Garcia’s column appears Tuesdays, Thursdays and weekends in The Examiner. E-mail him at kgarcia@examiner.com or call him at (415) 359-2663.

Comments from Examiner Readers

2:56 PM MST on Fri., May. 16, 2008 re: "Counterproductive divisiveness"

RichmondMan said:
Development of Hunter's Point is not progressing, and will not progress with the current state of no leadership in San Francisco. I worked at Hunter's Point from 1975 through 1985, when the Navy began evictions to start the cleanup and redevelopment. In 23 years, NOTHING has been done. This makes the fiasco of the Fell Street off-ramp look good. In that case, we spent millions on studies and ballot initiatives to appease a vocal minority that didn't ant a freeway crossing Market St. Now these same folks bitch about pedestrians getting hit by cars entering or exiting the freeway. If Chris Daly and other "progressives" are successful, there will never be development at Hunter's Point - at least not the type supported by African Americans who want access to Hunters Point and are currently denied access, and are represented by Sophie Maxwell. The artists who currently occupy Hunter's Point are white progressives - Chris Daly's support group. That is the only reason behind Pro

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3:01 PM MST on Thu., May. 15, 2008 re: "Dogs off the leash in city parks"

Examiner Reader said:
Ms. Milvy seems to forget there are children with dogs who want to enjoy the parks, too. When I was a kid, the ONLY time I wanted to go to the park was to play with my dog. I sure would have resented being given the message that if a kid prefers a dog and a Frisbee to a ball and a bat, they deserve to be marginalized and treated like outsiders. THAT is "selfish" and short-sighted. Try talking to the kids with dogs in Cole Valley about how they felt when they were locked out of their own park 10 years ago (Grattan) and robbed of a cherished meeting place for them and their pets as well as other community members.

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1:49 PM MST on Wed., May. 14, 2008 re: "Dogs off the leash in city parks"

Examiner Reader said:
Wel then since you don't license children there are none in the city. I have seen MANY CHILDREN/PARENTS URINATING in public parks even though there are bathrooms available. Oh and don't get me started on the garbage the families leave behind at parks expecting others to clean up after them.

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10:18 AM MST on Wed., May. 14, 2008 re: "Dogs off the leash in city parks"

Examiner Reader said:
Actually their are only 12,000 licensed dogs in San Francisco, which is the only way that dogs should be counted.

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7:40 AM MST on Wed., May. 14, 2008 re: "Dogs off the leash in city parks"

Chuck said:
Ms. Milvy is absolutely RIGHT. Dogs should NEVER be allowed off leash in a non-dog park. Dog owners that don't obey the rules should be cited for public nuisance. People are far more important than a dog.

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10:18 AM MST on Mon., May. 12, 2008 re: "Nader omission is dirty politics"

Examiner Reader said:
Nader candidacy is dirty politics!

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9:24 PM MST on Thu., May. 8, 2008 re: "Fare dodging and Muni inspectors"

Examiner Reader said:
The case of Muni fare inspectors is a perfect example of local leaders� inability to think in a businesslike manner.
"in a businesslike manner" is a bit redundant here...

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5:56 PM MST on Thu., May. 8, 2008 re: "Wildlife rescue center needed"

Carl said:
Re: Wildlife in Agony at Fisherman's Wharf Pier-- "The sea lion�s neck was sliced, and he was in agony through the night because we do not have a wildlife rescue center here within San Francisco city limits." What about Animal Care and Control? San Francisco has ER VETS all around us not to mention all the animal hospitals all up and down the penninsula. San Francisco has way to much buracracy and not enough compasion. Has San Francisco got an answer to care for dying animlas now? Call 311? OMG... my gut hurts!What a sorry city. To bad the sea lion was not in agony elsewhere where he would have gotten the right care. He will know better next time.

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7:14 AM MST on Wed., May. 7, 2008 re: "Smoking and tobacco-sales bans"

Examiner Reader said:
Thank god San Francisco still has complete wacko's like George Davis.

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1:47 PM MST on Tue., May. 6, 2008 re: "Fare dodging and Muni inspectors"

Examiner Reader said:
Friday night at Civic Center, I boarded the second car of an outbound J-CHURCH with other passengers seated. At Van Ness the driver announced there was "no service" on the second car and we needed to move to the first car. Most passengers looked at each other like what is the driver talking about and onward the train went. After emerging from the tunnel, the driver stopped the train, came back and announced there is "no service" on this train and we must all move to the first car. Can someone tell me when the second car is lit, the doors are working, passengers have been on the train since embaracdeo, what "no service" status is?

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12:28 PM MST on Tue., May. 6, 2008 re: "Fare dodging and Muni inspectors"

Examiner Reader said:
One must remember that the presence of law enforcement (police, Muni inspectors) affects behavior too. I'm sure that if there were no fare inspectors, there would be much more than $36,000 of fare evasion. While it's anyone's guess how many people paid their fare to avoid a ticket from the inspectors, I'm sure their work amounts to more than the $36,000 quoted.

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12:19 PM MST on Tue., May. 6, 2008 re: "Vouchers aren�t education solution"

Examiner Reader said:
Aother "let's blame the teachers" editorial. Blame the parents who don't care, who don't parent, or are absent. Blame the school boards, who are providing the executive direction. My wife is a public High school teacher(15 years). She received a $375 increase from 2006 to 2007. Most teachers pay is nearly frozen from the periods between 10-15 years of service. In 2008 she gets a ONE TIME 3% bonus, but no permanent increase. There is no heat in her class room during the winter. Without fail, every class has 35 students for one teacher. Yet at her school they are building a brand new football stadium, new baseball field and press box. The rule is - where things are wrong, follow the money. If the teachers are screwing up public education, where's their cut of the money?

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4:54 PM MST on Mon., May. 5, 2008 re: "Fare dodging and Muni inspectors"

Examiner Reader said:
on Sunday I was getting on the F train at 5 and Market. The driver ordered passengers to go in the back door. He could not have cared less if people paid or not. I got on for free. Until the idiots at MUNI do something about discipline amongst the drivers nothing is gonna get better. Get rid of the UNION once and for all or privatize. Get some compentent management instead of Newsom political hacks

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1:45 PM MST on Mon., May. 5, 2008 re: "Fare dodging and Muni inspectors"

Examiner Reader said:
MUNI'S service remains a comedy act, unfortunately, its neither efficient or funny.

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1:37 PM MST on Mon., May. 5, 2008 re: "Silence is betrayal � impeach Bush"

Examiner Reader said:
As a Democrat, I'm sorry to say this. Unlike the Republicans, it appears the Democrats are loathe to alienate *ANY* possible voters in the upcoming election, so impeachment of Bush/Cheney remains unlikely. Considering everthing that has happened in the last 4 years, the Democrats should be walking away with the presidency and we are not. In Barack and Hillary we have candidates which are while capable, arguably unelectable, and the default vote for many Americans, I'm afraid, is likely McCain.

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2:24 AM MST on Fri., May. 2, 2008 re: "Mental illness and murder"

Examiner Reader said:
Yes on 98, No on 99.

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8:17 AM MST on Tue., Apr. 29, 2008 re: "A historic neighborhood theater"

examiner reader said:
ef sullivan hit the nail on the head. voters, pay attention!

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9:32 PM MST on Fri., Apr. 25, 2008 re: "Working women are just catching up"

Examiner Reader said:
Women don't "catch up" on 4/22 unless men have not worked since the beginning of the year. Actually, that may be a good idea. Men don't work for a few months every year to allow women to catch up.

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12:42 PM MST on Fri., Apr. 25, 2008 re: "Working women are just catching up"

Examiner Reader said:
If women earn approximately 77 cents for every dollar a man is paid and "catch up day" is on 4/22, then it takes about 15.7 months for women to earn what men earn in 12 months, not 14 months as stated in the the letter to today's Examiner. The letter does not state that women do the same work as men.

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6:11 AM MST on Wed., Apr. 23, 2008 re: "Garcia wrong on Daly City insults"

Examiner Reader said:
Garcia is gone. Good riddance. But he was right about that neighborhood, though.

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2:55 PM MST on Mon., Apr. 21, 2008 re: "Airline mergers pose grim future"

Examiner Reader said:
Joshua Kyle thinks his right to protest was taken away? What irony. An organized attempt to disrupt another organized activity was thwarted by an organized attempt to disrupt the organized disruption.

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11:31 AM MST on Thu., Apr. 17, 2008 re: "Landlords leaving the business"

Examiner Reader said:
Ok, let's be realistic, I pay $2776.00 for my 2 bdrm., Noe Valley flat with an additional 120.00 for an uncovered, parking space. My move-in check to my landlord was $5500.00. The large studio next door is currently on rental market for 1650.00. My closest friend pays $1460.00 for an average studio 2 blocks away. Unless you live in NYC or SF, these can be argued as outrageous sums for rent. Who are these tenants who only want cheap rents?

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6:06 PM MST on Mon., Apr. 14, 2008 re: "City torches run for protesters"

Examiner Reader said:
FYI Examiner orange and yellow are horrible colors for a website.

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7:26 AM MST on Mon., Apr. 14, 2008 re: "City torches run for protesters"

Examiner Reader said:
I love the irony. The "civil disobediants" are quite upset that their best laid plans went awry at the hands of (Newsom), when what they wanted to do was upset what they thought were(Newsoms') best laid plans. When all else fails, they whine about loss of rights. No rights were violated - you're just embarrassed.

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7:39 PM MST on Sun., Apr. 13, 2008 re: "Torch sparked more than protests"

Examiner Reader said:
Imagine that, as Dr. Martin Luther King marched on Selma in non-violent civil dis-obedience, the authorities were able to move Selma two miles away and, hours later, put Selma onto a plane bound for Argentina. The Civil Rights Act might never have been passed. The News-ticker that day would have read: Selma march route changed: Mayor sites public safety concerns. On April 9th 2008 at the Olympic Torch relay in San Francesco, Selma was moved for me and my wife, who is a Tibetan-American and that threatens all our civil rights. The right to protest includes the right to protest in reasonable proximity to the target of the protest, normally within sight and sound. So, for example if I wanted to protest city hall, a permit to protest two miles away would violate my rights. By moving the route of the Olympic torch and the closing ceremonies miles from the publicly published route, the right to protest was denied to my wife and I and all those others who attended.

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7:15 PM MST on Fri., Apr. 11, 2008 re: "Torch sparked more than protests"

Examiner Reader said:
Remember: It was British who killed thousands tibetans back in 1904. Independent of Tibet? If China blocks the pathway of Tibet, that equal to a death to Tibet. Just take a look at the map, Dalai lama knows well about this.

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4:28 PM MST on Wed., Apr. 9, 2008 re: "Let the Olympic torch proceed in S.F."

The Olypic Torch Relay said:
I feel that since the running of the torch was started by Hitler in an attempt to glorify the Third Reich, the relay of the torch should be abolished. I'm always surprised every time that tradition takes place. I have nothing against the torch, or the Olympics. But I think the tradition of the flame being moved should be stopped. I don't quite understand why the world has let Hitler's legacy continue. It started as propaganda, and it seems like the whole world is too lost in tradition to let it go.

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2:24 PM MST on Wed., Apr. 9, 2008 re: "Theater loss due to public policy"

Examiner Reader said:
Resubmit it and be gerneral on all illegals and not single out a ethnic group might help. "Hmmm wonder why my comment about illegals was removed. Truth hurt SF?"

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1:32 PM MST on Wed., Apr. 9, 2008 re: "Giants should bring back Bonds"

Conscientious Observer said:
Why bring back BONDS ? The Giants should donate the money they would use to a local charity or use it to buy asphalt to fill some of the thousands of potholes around town ... the biggest being the hole SF City Hall & Gavin Newsom et al are in.

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2:24 PM MST on Tue., Apr. 8, 2008 re: "Giants should bring back Bonds"

Examiner Reader said:
People who own rentals should be able to charge whatever they want! It is thier business. Renters create their own means to generate money or they don't, but they cannot expect to to ride roughshod over owners and government has no right to curb owners investments!

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3:38 PM MST on Mon., Apr. 7, 2008 re: "Luring businesses to S.F. doomed"

Examiner Reader said:
I hope the City gets what they want. Ten Million illegal aliens all arriving at SF General, all at once, to line up for their free health care. Sweet.

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3:34 PM MST on Mon., Apr. 7, 2008 re: "Use lights to protect pedestrians"

Richmond Resident said:
I cross 30th and Lincoln every week. Most of the drivers are going at least 50MPH as they cruise through talking on their cell phones. PLEASE put a light there - NOW!!!

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2:47 PM MST on Mon., Apr. 7, 2008 re: "Let the Olympic torch proceed in S.F."

Conscientious Observer said:
Note: 90% of the TIBET "protestors" who are California K-12 educated can NOT find TIBET on the world map. The 10% who can, probably should spend their time more wisely and protest the human rights violations in Oakland, Pinole (Highway 80), Richmond, San Francisco and East Palo Alto with a higher daily body count then Basra, Iraq or Tibet.

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7:56 PM MST on Sat., Apr. 5, 2008 re: "Use lights to protect pedestrians"

Examiner Reader said:
Re "Use lights to protect pedestrians": I agree. Lights were installed on Fulton at 18th and 22nd Aves, and they have made a huge difference. Fulton traffic (crazy driving) seems barely impeded -- it is still dangerous to try to cross Fulton in the short stretch between the two light-controlled intersections -- but it's great to be able to walk to one of the lights, push the button, wait a bit, and cross safely. Plus, there seems to be far, far fewer car crashes in this whole stretch, now that the lights have created brief cross-traffic lulls for drivers who are trying to turn onto Fulton.

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2:40 PM MST on Fri., Apr. 4, 2008 re: "Multitasking for litter cleanup needed"

Examiner Reader said:
That was what he was saying, her peas (books) were not in the pod (book bag) in 1967 - her purse was maybe thrown, but reviewing my yearbooks and pictures of the 1950s and 1960s don't show book bags, but students carrying books and binders. After all, he did say it was petty; it was his observation. I googled into this phenomena and discovered that back packs; abet book bags were presenting a problem in the 1980's and currently creating medical conditions in students. Military and civilians bags were more common in the 1780 though.... This is not an Obama stunt; he is probably a die hard Repubican in an enriched Democtatic community that invites illegal immigrants to to move to SF and partake on their freebie entitlements! The mayor has an "overworked noggin" about that phenomena.

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11:51 AM MST on Fri., Apr. 4, 2008 re: "Multitasking for litter cleanup needed"

Jack Kirkpatrick said:
BOOK BAG? Hillary says that see "threw her book bag" across the room after Martin Luther King, Jr. assassination in 1967. WAIT: book bags were rare if ever commonly used on college campuses. Book bags didn't become popular until the 1980s...! Is she embellishing the truth again? Maybe she did hurl her books across the room, but not a book bag; maybe a pillow? Petty, yes, but again it doesn't have the ring of truth. I was a college student while she was a junior. Lets look at some of the historical pictures of Wellesley College students during the period. What do other students of the time think?

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1:40 PM MST on Thu., Apr. 3, 2008 re: "Find high-tech workers in U.S."

Examiner Reader said:
Ed Young - you got it right! OK in San Francisco: Free Health Care and Sanctuary for persons who have broken the law by entering our country illegally. Deny rights to property owners who are citizens, prevent freedom of speech to those who we disagree with (JROTC, Boy Scouts). Deny economic development to minorities by preventing investment (Home Depot). Deny adequate Police Protection by assigning them to desks instead of assigning them to the streets, yet tie the hands of Police by preventing them from assisting other criminal justice agencies in law-enforcement actions. Bottom line: anything is OK in San Francisco, UNLESS it is not Progressively Correct.

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7:28 PM MST on Wed., Apr. 2, 2008 re: "Supes nix opportunity for Bayview"

Examiner Reader said:
Actually its another opportunity for the Bayview Community "shot down" by the progressives on the Board of Supervisors. They rather see liquor stores in the Bayview District instead of Home Depot.

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3:51 PM MST on Wed., Apr. 2, 2008 re: "Supes nix opportunity for Bayview"

Examiner Reader said:
To the writer who wrote: "Another opportunity for the black community shot down by Tom Ammiano. . . ." In all fairness it was his political soul mates on the School Board who shot down JROTC at the expense of all San Francisco Children. I agree with you, JROTC would be an excellent alternative for at-risk-youth. While do not share the same political view as Mssrs. Ammiano and Daly et al, I believe they have the right to express their viewpoints just so long as their actions as legislators do not harm the citizenry.

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2:11 PM MST on Wed., Apr. 2, 2008 re: "SFPD uses taxpayers as ATMs"

Examiner Reader said:
Mr Singh is incorrect. Mr Obama threw Rev Wright under the bus for telling the nasty truth that FOX news and its "conservative, white" auditence doesn't have the stomach to hear. America's early economic success was built literally on the backs of slaves. Slaves were denied repirations wen slavery ended (actually it was replaced by endentured servitude in the form of share-cropping). Blacks were systematically discriminated against in voting, lending, jobs, schools; they were murdered if they spoke out - and this is all in my lifetime. I wouold vote for Rev Wright over Mr Obama. At least he speaks the truth.

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2:02 PM MST on Wed., Apr. 2, 2008 re: "Supes nix opportunity for Bayview"

Examiner Reader said:
Another opportunity for the black community shot down by Tom Ammiano. Tom supports free health care for illegal aliens, opposes jobs for blacks. Tom ran the scouts out of city properties, leaving no alternative opportunities for young kids to experience the outdoors. I suppose THOUSANDS gays were denied jobs by the scounts. I don't necessarily agree with scouting's position on Gay leaders, but to deny countless children the opportunity for an alternative to killing shows the blatent disregard for children, particularly minority children, rampant in the gay community. A similar situation exists with ROTC. Deny mostly minority children the opportunity to even hear another viewpoint. Throw the kids under the bus to placate the gays.

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1:54 PM MST on Wed., Apr. 2, 2008 re: "Supes nix opportunity for Bayview"

Examiner Reader said:
EF Sullivan for Mayor! 100% pragmatic!

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12:57 PM MST on Tue., Apr. 1, 2008 re: "Let the Olympic torch proceed in S.F."

ms jackson said:
Gary Eplet would not know "honorable" if he owned a dictionary; he seems to think it a source of pride that the world ignored Adolph Hilter's (of all idiotic people to conjure!) atrocities during the Berlin Olympics at the height of the era of 20th Century ignorance. He apparently believes that no lesson should be learned from despots like Hilter who was able to ascend to power due to censorship of the kind poor little Mr. Eplet should apply in S.F.(of all places, the mans a maroon!).

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12:49 PM MST on Tue., Apr. 1, 2008 re: "Passenger to Muni: Stick to basics"

ms jackson said:
Jail for littering and a free pass for exhaling your selected poison into the air that I am forced to breathe; the neo-psuedo-intellectual pretensions of yammerers like Mr. Thierrault are nothing more than exhalations of noxious gas. Much like those of the cigarette smokers (aka semi-morons) he pretends not to be...

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10:42 AM MST on Tue., Apr. 1, 2008 re: "Passenger to Muni: Stick to basics"

Examiner Reader said:
Here, here to the concept of keeping MUNI to bare-bones basics. Just keep the system running and running on time, as much as possible, and let the bells and whistles fall by the wayside.

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11:22 AM MST on Mon., Mar. 31, 2008 re: "SFPD uses taxpayers as ATMs"

Conscientious Observer said:
RE: Nurses strike in bay area hospitals California Pacific Medical Center spokesman Kevin McCormack called the strike "pointless." "Under our contract, at the end of the next four years the average full-time nurse at C.P.M.C. will be earning $140,000 a year. They also get free health care for themselves and their family, and increased retirement benefits," said McCormack. Geez, Sutter Health nurses looks like you are under paid and over worked. Too bad ... you are part of the health care crisis and the uncontrollable health care costs all of us with ot without insurance have to apy for. No wonder it costs so much to go into a bay area hospital. You are not the only high paid, over rated part of the puzzle but a large portion. I can barely afford to pay the co-pays, deductibles and parts that insurance companies don't pay for. The scary part is that Muni bus drivers earn more than nurses. Muni bus drivers on disability have been caught fishing, kayaking, snow boarding, LO

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