Feinstein's Veil of Delusion

December 2, 2004

Dear Editor,

Just before Thanksgiving, you ran an article regarding Councilman Michael Feinstein's "nearly three-hour campaign analysis" during which he attempted to analyze the factors that led to his defeat. ("Feinstein Blasts Election Practices, Proposes Solutions," November 23)

Now that the holiday break is over, I feel that Mr. Feinstein's comments deserve a response. According to your article:

• "Feinstein blamed misleading statements"
  
• "Feinstein blasted Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights"
  
• "Feinstein also claimed that CEPS had mischaracterized his education record"
  
• "Feinstein also claimed he “got hit because I was Green”"

Your article also stated that, when it came to his future plans, Feinstein joked, “I'm going to ruin my knees and park myself into a lotus position and do 17 years of hard meditation.”

Sounds like a good idea to me.

And, as he sits in the lotus position for 17 years, perhaps there will come a moment when the veil of delusion is lifted and Feinstein realizes that he, and he alone, is the one responsible for his defeat.

Sure, he had political enemies. But he earned them with his words and deeds as one disillusioned community member after another came to realize that, beneath his flower-power, tie-dyed exterior, there lived a duplicitous Machiavellian scheme-ster who double crossed many of those who had trusted him.

It took Buddha 7 years under the Bhodi tree to reach enlightenment. With any luck, Feinstein will make some headway in 17 years.

Sincerely,
John Petz