We remember that famous line from the movie “Wizard of Oz”.  What we haven’t done is try to understand what the allegory meant. While the Yellow Brick Road gang was being addressed by the Great And Powerful Wizard Of Oz, the dog Toto ran off to the side, pulled on the curtain, and showed that a normal-looking person was operating cranks and levers. For a short while, the normal-looking man kept yanking levers and cranking cranks, and said into the microphone  “Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!

In other words, he wanted everyone to keep being impressed by the big flashy magic show, and ignore that they might have found out how the trick really works.

That smoke and mirrors magic show goes by many different names,  the dog and pony show, the shell and the pea game, the three card trick and innumerable other variations for the illusionist to draw our attention aside while he manipulates the orchestrated trick.

We have a new contender on the scene vying for the title of “the Great Wizard”. The new contender is none other than the new entrants into the mining industry. Their stock in trade is not production or product of any tangible asset but more in the area of control of our National and State public lands. They have found levers and cranks and wheels to turn to produce the magic show and dazzle the American citizens, politicians and businessmen.

They throw money around for public relations fully understanding that it is seed money which could perhaps generate a bumper crop for them as individuals. They all have fancy titles and very large compensation packages which are financed primarily by selling stock to people who wish to make a quick killing. They know and understand that if they can get the permits required, the proposed mining claims become a marketable product.  It’s marketable for one simple fact, the laws are being bent to get control of the public lands and if they get that control they have hit the jackpot. Under many circumstances they will walk away millionaires even if they do not get the permits.  Rosemont Copper is an example of this, the top five executives of Rosemont copper have become multimillionaires simply from large compensation packages which are financed from the stock sales.

Example after example of the smoke and mirrors can be found in the statements of this new generation of copper companies and certain key phrases are utilized to pacify the American citizenry. Who has not heard the phrase “21st-century mine”? How about the phrase “we want to be good neighbors”? There is always the phrase “we will sue you” when they are caught with their fingers in the cookie jar.

Personally my favorite is when Dan Ryan and Rod Pace of Rosemont copper claimed to be:

“The Number Two Tourist Attraction in the State of Arizona”

I pay attention to the man behind the curtain and my advice would be for you to do the same, and by the way Rosemont, it’s the 21^st century already by 13 years.

I’m finally learning something about writing blogs, one should try to hold blog to a length the will hold the attention span of the reader. Therefore, this chapter will be much shorter and simply comments and a copy of a letter e-mail to the Arizona American Legion. Sean Collins has started pacing signs on to his campaign signs that simply “Military Hero”. It is a misleading and incorrect statement that leads one to believe that he was actually a military hero. In truth he was given the local award by the local Red Cross for pulling someone out of a wrecked car. Because he was in the military at the time they classified him as a military hero (local). Now he is trying to use it to mislead the general public.

Attached is the letter I sent to the American Legion, the next letter goes to the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Remember this when you go to the polls to vote.

Mailed to American Legion on 8/19

To whom it may concern:

Pima County has a candidate for Board of Supervisors, District 4, by the name of Sean Collins. He has made it a very large issue in his campaign and on his website that he was the “Military Hero of the Year”. Initially, that was his posted statement until I challenged him on it. Now he has changed it to read “Southern Arizona Red Cross Military Hero of the Year!”  When you drive through Tucson you will see Sean Collins election signs that have a large yellow sticker attached that says “Military Hero”.  I still find this very misleading to the general public.

This is a very personal issue to me: that a man would attempt to use a civilian award as a misleading comment, making one think he was a military hero

I am requesting that the Arizona American Legion governing body contact Sean Collins and express displeasure with his statement used in this campaign. It makes it appear from an initial reading that Sean Collins was a military combat hero.

I am also requesting that a letter be generated to all of the American Legion Posts in Pima County relating your decision in response to this complaint. I am sure there are many folks at the VA hospitals who would agree with me. At the moment I am attempting to obtain the e-mail address of the commanders of the Pima County, Arizona posts in an attempt to send my complaint to them. I am requesting that you do the same. I appreciate your attention in this matter.

Yours truly,

Robert Harris

member American Legion Post 109

On Thursday,  August 2nd, the Tucson Tea Party and KNST held an event, a debate between Supervisor Ray Carroll and his opponent Sean Collins. The simple purpose of host and moderators is to insure civility, honesty and impartiality.  Sad, but most of those were NOT present under the supervision of Garret Lewis and KNST.

It was evident from the beginning the questions were tailored for Sean Collins and he had been prepped in advance. Sadly, or maybe not, even with the advantage of a sympathetic host and tailored questions he lost the debate soundly. Supervisor Carroll spoke from the heart and from his knowledge of the County Operations. Sean Collins spoke from a LOT of unfamiliar notes and it showed.

The evening started with an undertone of antagonism with Supervisor Carroll being harassed by Mr Lewis concerning a word he used during the (Private Roast) held by Save the Scenic Santa Rita’s, Randy Graf and the other pro Rosemont supporters placed it into  a video and then  flooded the area with it. NOW AS Paul Harvey used to say ,”The Rest of The Story” , during  the opening a representative of the Tea Party while asking for donations included a comment of  having to pay the “Damn School!” and that seemed rather hypocritical to me to be cursing the school which allowed you to have a meeting and at the same time have an Attack Dog in the form of a Talk Show Host attacking a Member of our Board of Supervisors.

——————————————————————————————————–

Following are excerpts from Lewis’ talk show where he edited the recordings to make Supervisor Carroll sound offensive. I have sent these to Mr. Lewis and to Management at KNST and none responded to dispute it. This is EXACTLY what his constituents have been telling Supervisor Carroll about Rosemont and the type of behavieur Supervisor Carroll was refering to when he mentioned the untrue “advertising”.

If you wish to see more read the older story where Rod Pace and Dan Ryan claimed Rosemont was the number two tourist attraction in Arizona.

012 07 27                    ST Lewis show

Garrett  He was getting a little testy towards the end of the interview.
Garrett  Play the soundbite of Ray from the 25th.
————————————————————————————
Ray      You’re just doing your business trying to get your ratings up
Garrett  Is that bad?
Ray      No
Garrett  The way you say that in that tone. It sounds pretty bad
Ray      You can read it in my tone however you like
Garrett  That’s exactly how I take it
Garrett   Seems to me like you didn’t want newspapers and radio
stations like us that accepted advertising from Rosemont
copper and Save the scenic Santa Rita’s to actually use
that to pad our profits and pay people,
I mean that to me is anti-what you said is
anything but conservative.
Ray       Listen, listen you can bring it up
Garrett   It is
Ray       You can just remember that was a roast
Garrett   It wasn’t funny
Ray       I already said—
Ray       Hey, listen, some people thought your jokes about
Green Valley weren’t funny!
Garrett    No they do, they do
Ray        I’m trying to tell you ,your an entertainer, I’m a
politician but in the end,  If you want to just, you know,
continue to beat that dead horse,I understand

Garrett Lewis cut out the ending
to make it appear more contentious.

Ray  but at same time Rod and I have made amends over
what he’s done and what I’ve said
Lewiss Rod, you good with him, really quick, I am really behind.
Rod Pace You know, again I’m not going to go on that ,I’m not going        to bring   it up, I mean what Ray said and
I’m not going to hold it against Ray but it  probably
wasn’t the right choice  of words and I think Ray knows
that too.

Garret Lewis adds Section to make it appear
to be in original soundbite

Garrett States  

not exactly a dead horse, when you curse at a business
and you think that it’s bad, that,  you think ads should be banned,
It wasn’t a joke

The above is another example of how Rosemont is using their advertising dollars to try and influence our elections and an example of how the people will post anything for a dollar.

Mr. Lewis,

I don’t know and cannot speak for Green Valley but I find you and your show neither FUNNY

nor Informative. You tried to back shoot Supervisor Carroll but you missed.

I once made a comment concerning what was going to happen when citizens opposed the proposed open pit copper mine in the Santa Rita Mountains and the Coronado National Forest. Copper Companies, for decades, have been known for their dirty and rough tactics. Remember the strike of 1983 with Phelps Dodge? It was my first learning experience of how copper companies work the media.

Four years ago at  Patagonia during a Forest Service Meeting with the public and representatives of Rosemont copper at least five law enforcement agencies were dispatched in response to a “man down” call. A dispatch that was erroneous to use the kindest word possible. Border patrol agents showed up with fully automatic weapons, a sheriffs deputy arrived with a attack dog, forest service law enforcement agents, municipal Marshall and others that I cannot recall the names of just right at the moment. I would research it and give you more information but right at the minute time is too valuable. In addition to that my blood pressure is soaring concerning a story being released concerning candidate, Sean Collins. A candidate for district 4 Board of Supervisors and a candidate that I find in my research that has a more than a few problems.

I am researching the complaint and there are some truly interesting facts concerning it. I just got off the phone with the sheriffs department trying to verify that a call had been made by the Collins camp concerning the incident. On his website he “suggested” that anyone with information about the incident should call the sheriffs department.

Mr. Collins, I have some information about the incident, the timestamp on your camera seems to be pointing to a different day than when you say it occurred. The timestamp shows to be

01  03             08 31 30.

The number 30 is an incremental (second display). You can see it increment in the short video.

Personally, if I were interested enough to play detective and plant a camera to catch the so-called “vandals” I would ensure that it had the correct date and time on it. I have a tendency to believe that this is a made-up incident trying to gain sympathy for a losing campaign. At the moment I’m working on editing and clarifying the image of the so-called vandal and when I get it more recognizable I will post it. Perhaps we really will find out who the person is.

The information I have available right at the moment concerning an  individual who was running around town distributing copies of this “scandalous activity” is none other than Randy Graf. The man who is a paid employee of Rosemont copper, or at least a paid consultant, and happens to also be one of your staff members helping you on your campaign. Isn’t that just so sweet of Rosemont copper to help out. Sean Collins claims this incident occurred at mile 47.5 on Highway 83.  Is it possible that this video was furnished by Rosemont Corporation? Is it possible that it was done in advance, in preparation for using it another day? I am not “saying” that it was but what I will say is the timing seems to be perfect. To repeat again, my information for the sheriffs department is they should look at the timestamp that is registered in the lower right-hand corner.

Mr. Collins, if you want to truly help catch the so-called perpetrators furnish me with a complete copy of the video file and I will find you more information. That is, if you really do want more information about it. So far, in addition to the fact the  timestamp is wrong, I believe it was more than one individual in the pickup, a pickup which has an extended cab and equipment in the back of it that I’m trying to ascertain more information on.

The following excerpt is from Mr. Collins website. I’m sure he would like for me to tell all of you individuals in Tucson and the surrounding communities how his property is vandalized. Personally Mr. Collins. I really don’t believe it. Perhaps others will.

Quote

SMILE, YOU’RE ON THE COLLINS CAMERA

Tucson, AZ – August 3, 2012. On August 1st at approximately 10:00pm —at MP 47 ½ on State Route 83— footage was taken of an unidentified male removing a “Sean Collins for District 4 Supervisor” sign which was captured on the attached video. The Collins 4 Supervisor Campaign is issuing a $500.00 reward for any information that leads to the identification, arrest and conviction of the person responsible.

Sean Collins made the following statement: “A fair election process is one of our fundamental rights as a US Citizen. I am releasing this video with the full intention of prosecuting this person to the fullest extent the law allows.”.

End Quote

There are times when writing a blog concerning politics that the subject matter is so convoluted and the incident so involved that one particular subject  will take several articles. The race concerning District 4 of the County Board of Supervisors is just such a subject. For today’s section we’re going to take up the subject concerning the local news and a particular Corporation, which locally goes by the name of Rosemont copper Corporation and Supervisor Ray Carroll and  newcomer Sean Collins.

There are always two sides to a coin, two interpretations of any subject, two views on any information. So today, we restrict ourselves to a video that was furnished to Sean Collins  which he has placed on his Facebook account. The video was furnished by Jeff Parker with the comment of, ” Thank you Sean, for standing up for the small business people in Pima County by throwing your hat in the ring. It seems we’re just too small for Mr. Carroll to concern himself with.” This video was produced during a “ROAST” of Rosemont Copper Corporation.

As a contributing factor to the description of Rosemont copper and the news agencies of Tucson, one must also take into account the incident where Rod Pace and Dan Ryan claimed that Rosemont copper Corporation was the number two tourist attraction in the state of Arizona. They bought television time to broadcast that exaggerated, ridiculous, asinine comment and as far as I can determine no legitimate news agency called them on the lie. This fact is easy to corroborate, I believe there still may be a copy of the video link on the Rosemont website. Of course after this article they may take it down. So when Supervisor Carroll talks about the news agencies selling out for the dollar then there appears to be a legitimate point. In the flyer for the event on May 21, 2010, there was a comment of “Poke Fun at Rosemont Copper’s Misleading Marketing” and I repeat “It was a roast.”

The individual who furnished the video, Jeff Parker, is that the same Jeff Parker that is , Director of Community and Environmental Affairs for BHP Billiton ? If so I wonder how he describes BHP as a “small company”? It is extremely difficult to find out information of who posts on Facebook, YouTube, or newspaper article comments. I am still striving to find out if Jeff Parker is the Jeff Parker of BHP Billiton. If so it would appear the copper companies are starting to cooperate in an attempt to intimidate our County Supervisor. For those who do not know BHP is an Australian company, and Rosemont copper Corporation is 100% owned by a Canadian company.

Stay tuned for the continuing saga of District 4, Arizona, Pima County and Rosemont Copper