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Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl may have composed a cool and collected letter to constituents to reveal he wasn't running for a third term, but when he took the mic during today's meeting at City Hall, he let all his opinions about politicians and civic and national issues fly. Rosendahl ranted on sufficiently to prompt Council President Herb Wesson to ask someone take the mic away.
Rosendahl, 67, began addressing the chamber with news that his cancer treatment is going well, and that his doctors say he's on the road to recovery.
And then he got into the issues...
Two journalists covering today's meeting, Alice Walton (KPCC/The City Maven) and Claudia Peschiutta (KNX10170), live-tweeted Rosendahl's rant, mapping out in tweets his shift from the anectodal to the accusatory:
CM Rosendahl: people don't know their assembly members and state senators; but says he gets recognized at Whole Foods.
— Alice M. Walton (@TheCityMaven) October 9, 2012
The councilman is now wearing his military hat (literally) and talking about veterans' issues.
— Alice M. Walton (@TheCityMaven) October 9, 2012
Talking about #DOMA and #DADT, @Bill_Rosendahl says of "Billy" Clinton: That guy's an idiot...I am no fan.
— Claudia Peschiutta (@ReporterClaudia) October 9, 2012
@Bill_Rosendahl to #Obama: Mr President, I will vote for you again but do me a big favor, get out of these crazy wars.
— Claudia Peschiutta (@ReporterClaudia) October 9, 2012
As L.A. Now reports, Rosendahl really let fly on what he thought about Colorado billionaire Philip Anschutz, who has put his Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) up for sale, while still planning to build an NFL stadium in Downtown L.A., calling him "that punk in Denver that wouldn’t even come and visit with us."
Others who received critiques were Democratic U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein and U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Beverly Hills).
But it had to end, and Wesson requested ("jokingly," notes L.A. Now) that Rosendahl get the ol' hook.
Council President Herb Wesson asked CM Dennis Zine to "confiscate the microphone from Bill."
— Claudia Peschiutta (@ReporterClaudia) October 9, 2012
Council Prez Herb Wesson to @Bill_Rosendahl: Suppose you wake up and decide you want to run again, you've just pissed off half of the world.
— Claudia Peschiutta (@ReporterClaudia) October 9, 2012
Rosendahl has said that after his term is up, he plans to return to broadcasting. He's also expressed an interest in "flipping" foreclosed homes.