An Open Letter to Our Brothers and Sisters in ABATE of Illinois:

I usually don't respond to small minded attacks, but Todd's front page article in your newsletter requires some correction.

It's fairly common knowledge that Todd Vandermyde has a limited understanding of the legislative process, however I always gave him credit for, at least, knowing what the terms "repeal," "adult" and "compromise" meant. I guess I was wrong.

In his most recent article he writes;

>Arkansas repealed their adult helmet law flat out. No compromise, no
>amendments, no bullshit.

First, and meaning no disrespect to the folks in Arkansas, there was NO repeal. There was an amendment to their existing law.

Second, it was not amended to exclude adults. It's for those 21 and over, there is still a helmet law for adults between 18 and 21.

Third, there WAS a compromise. It was to accept an age clause.

The rest of his article contains more crap than I care to discuss, but I will offer this to the members of ABATE of Illinois:

Todd calls people names like fool and coward from the safety of his computer room thousands of miles away from those he's demeaning.

WHO'S THE COWARD?

I'd recommend Todd get a little better grip on the facts and on reality, and ABATE of Illinois give some thought to helping the cause, instead of throwing rocks at their brothers and sisters.

I've always respected you folks, this kind of article diminishes you.

Oz
--
Great men rejoice in adversity just as brave soldiers triumph in war

Well, I decided that since I know Oz, far better than many of those who would be reading his character assasination of Vandermyde, I should take upon myself to review his comments, thus:

At 4:00 PM 3/20/98, Mike Osborn wrote:
>An Open Letter to Our Brothers and Sisters in ABATE of Illinois:
>

Well, well, well . . . look what the cat dragged up.

>I usually don't respond to small minded attacks, but Todd's front page
>article in your newsletter requires some correction.

"Correction"? Oz is going to "correct" ABATE of Illinois . . . one of only four states without any form of helmet law? . . . 'Makes sense to me.

>It's fairly common knowledge that Todd Vandermyde has a limited
>understanding of the legislative process, however I always gave him
>credit for, at least, knowing what the terms "repeal," "adult" and
>"compromise" meant. I guess I was wrong.

Todd, don't take any of this too seriously. Oz has been the "leader of the PAC" for six years in a row, and every one of those years he has promoted one compromise bill or another -- always *allowing* those around him to refer to them as "repeal" bills without offering to correct them. Oh, and with his *un*-limited understanding of the legislative process, he's 0 for 6.

>In his most recent article he writes;
>
>>Arkansas repealed their adult helmet law flat out. No compromise, no
>>amendments, no bullshit.
>
>First, and meaning no disrespect to the folks in Arkansas, there was NO
>repeal. There was an amendment to their existing law.
>
>Second, it was not amended to exclude adults. It's for those 21 and
>over, there is still a helmet law for adults between 18 and 21.

Wow! Is Oz actually coming out in recognition of the status of riders 18-20 as adults? Why now? Why not two years ago when he was trying to leave them among the helmeted.

>Third, there WAS a compromise. It was to accept an age clause.

People who live in glass houses . . .

>The rest of his article contains more crap than I care to discuss, but I
>will offer this to the members of ABATE of Illinois:

>Todd calls people names like fool and coward from the
>safety of his computer room thousands of miles away from
>those he's demeaning.

>WHO'S THE COWARD?

IS HE JUST CALLING TODD OUT!? . . . from "thousands of miles away"? No fear, Todd. What ain't pompous ass, is pure blubber. I'm just entertained by the reaction.

Mr. Cool is losing it.

>I'd recommend Todd get a little better grip on the facts and on reality,
>and ABATE of Illinois give some thought to helping the cause, instead of
>throwing rocks at their brothers and sisters.

There he goes again . . . Oz don't understand that he may be a big fish in a little pond (ABATE of California), but on the big board, he's not even considered a sacrafice piece! You'd think after coming in last, behind a homeless guy who lives under a freeway in a local election (rumor?), he'd start to realize his lack of name recognition. (Who the fuck is he to "recommend"?)

>I've always respected you folks, this kind of article diminishes you.
>
>Oz

Oowwww . . . that hurts? Todd Vandermyde (no disrespect intended) is no more "ABATE of Illinois" than Oz is "ABATE of California." One man. One opinion. Why would Osborne, of all people, be confused by that? Because he speaks for ABATE of California? And the Modified Motorcyclist Association. And Skip Raring? And Easyriders? And AMA? And MRF? And . . .

>--
>Great men rejoice in adversity just as brave soldiers triumph in war

What a signature line . . . but does it mean anything? I mean, it has a bunch of "hot button" words -- "Great men," "brave soldiers," "adversity," "triumph" and "war" -- but it doesn't go anywhere. Keep 'em in the dark and feed 'em bullshit, eh Oz?

Todd Vandermyde's article can be found on the HLDL web site ("usff.com/hldl/"), under the "Feature Articles" section -- "Of Fools and Cowards." (You can also find it on the ABATE of Illinois web site: "http://www.abate-il.org/") We put it up on our site because of what it said about courage and principles . . . Todd must have hit a nerve.

quig
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
"The problem with the internet is that
      it reaches too many people."
                                  Mike Osborne
                                  PAC Chairman
                                  ABATE of California