With State Senate president calling off support the for recall of State Senator Jeff Dunham in the spirit of compromise to ask Republicans to pass a timely budget this year, there’s some chest thumping on the part of some Republicans that this was a sign that the Denham recall effort didn’t really have popular support. 

It was fun to read Jon Fleischman’s whiny posts about how this recall was politically motivated and the LA Times reported Denham complained of a political witch hunt even though he contributed thousands of dollars to recall Gray Davis in 2003. No principles then I guess.

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The Orange County Board of Supervisors has announced the names of the 9 finalists to replace Mike Carona as Sheriff according to the Los Angeles Times.

They are:

Santa Ana Police Chief Paul Walters, Acting Sheriff Jack Anderson, former OCSD Lt. Bill Hunt, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Cmdr. Ralph Martin, Beau Babka, undersheriff of the Salt Lake County, Utah sheriff’s office, Glendale Police Chief Randy Adams, San Bernardino County Undersheriff Richard Beemer, Anaheim Deputy Police Chief Craig Hunter, and Sandra Hutchens, retired division chief of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The BOS plans to make the final decision and appoint a new Sheriff in June.

Filed under: Board of Supervisors, Orange County Government, Orange County Sheriff's Department, Jack Anderson, Orange County | No Comments »

especially this one.

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So how many of you voted at our DFA Endorsement Meeting last Wednesday? If you were there, then this isn’t new news for you. But for all of you who couldn’t attend, I wanted to share the good news with all of you.

So anyways, please follow me after the flip to find out who your favorite local grassroots progressives are supporting…

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Filed under: 46th Congressional, Election 2008, Progressive Values, 42nd Congressional, Liberals, Winning Elections, Orange County News, Local, 33rd State Senate, Debbie Cook, Democrats, Ron Sheptson, The Liberal OC, Orange County, Democracy for America, Gary Miller, 40th Congressional, 67th AD, DFA-Orange County, Dana Rohrabacher | No Comments »

I reported earlier today about my investigation of campaign finance reporting problems with the Hoa Van Tran for Supervisor Campaign. Both TheLiberalOC.com and Red County/OC Blog have been running a countdown since Red County first raised the issue of possible reporing errors on April 21st. In my report today I detailed those errors and called upon a community watchdog like Shirley Grindle to file a complaint with the appropriate authorities.

Well it seems that Matt Cunningham over at Red County has beat her to the punch. Matt has filed with the OC District Attorney’s office a formal complaint.

I wonder how many more days we’ll have to wait before Hoa files an amended report?

UPDATE: I heard from Shirley Grindle Thursday night. It looks like she will be filing a complaint shortly with the State Attorney General regarding the matter. Seems that, given the DA’s track record on thes issues, Shirley doesn”t have confidence the DA will follow through. Shirley told me “I will still file my Complaint — never hurts to have several being filed.” 

Filed under: Red County, Board of Supervisors, Elections, 1st District Supervisor, Blogs and Bloggers, Election 2008, Orange County Government, Integrity, Political Industry, Orange County News, Media, Local, Hoa Van Tran, The Liberal OC, Orange County, TheLiberalOC.com, ethics | 2 Comments »

Got this in the mail today; click on the letter for a larger, more readbale image:

Filed under: Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

Last week I wrote a post here on the Liberal OC concerning the events surrounding the tragic suicide of a 16 year old young man whose parents are both lieutenants with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. The basis of that post was an April 25th Los Angeles Times article written by Christine Hanley and Stuart Pfeifer in which questions arose in regards to the handling of the investigation by OCSD officials, including Interim Sheriff Jack Anderson who was an Assistant Sheriff at the time.

Shortly after posting the story on this blog I received a phone call from Damon Micalizzi, Director of Public & Community Relations for the OCSD, in which he expressed his disappointment and anger regarding my post. Mr. Micalizzi made it clear to me that he felt that my post was wholly inaccurate and a cheap shot at Acting Sheriff Anderson and the department. He also said that he understood that this was not my fault because I based my post on information written in the Times article. (The Liberal OC has contacted the Times and they stick by their story and also say that no one from the OCSD has contacted them to dispute anything written in that article; Mr., Micalizzi insisted he contacted the Times reporters about the errors, but the Times reporters indicted there were no such complaints from the Sheriff’s Department regarding this particular story).

After a long conversation with Mr. Micalizzi I agreed that for the sake of fairness and accuracy that I would remove that post and allow the OCSD to offer its side of the story. Much to my surprise Mr. Micalizzi told me that not only would we get to sit down with someone from the OCSD to talk about this, but that we would actually be sitting down with Acting Sheriff Jack Anderson himself and that we could discuss anything that we would like.

Yesterday fellow Liberal OC blogger Dan Chmielewski and myself met with Acting Sheriff Anderson at his office in Santa Ana. In Part I of our conversation we discuss the tragic events of January 7th and the subsequent investigation by internal affairs and the District Attorney. Read more »

Filed under: Orange County Government, Orange County Sheriff's Department, Mike Carona, Orange County, TheLiberalOC.com | 5 Comments »

…so now, we’ll be consistent and call for another resignation. This story in the NY Times about the only Republican congressman from New York City, Rep. Vito Fossella of Staten Island Republican. He was arrested May 1 in Alexandria, Va., and charged with drunken driving. Vito issued a statement admitting to an extramarital affair with Laura Fay, a former Air Force lieutenant colonel, and that the two of them have a 3-year-old daughter together.

“Vino” as the NY tabs are calling him, is a married father of three.

Another pro-family values hypocrite that we’re calling for to resign.

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One of my favorite right wing blowhards is coming to UCI next week to pimp his new book. 

Horowitz will be at UCI’s Rowland Hall, Room 101, May 13, at 7:30pm; In contrast, a much better and more interesting speaker is at UCI Tonight, and that’s Stan Lee of Marvel Comics fame (who would you rather go see?)

David Horowitz, who once called Ann Coulter “a national treasure” and rails against liberal professors who are dangerously indoctrinating our youth with notions of liberalism.  Horowitz has made a killing recently by railing against Islamo-Facisim. His new book is “Party of Defeat: How Democrats and Radicals Undermined America’s War on Terror Before and After 9-11,” co-written with Ben Johnson.  It’s 9/11 all the time with these guys.  No other answers for anything else.

Some fun photos after the flip:

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This just in from the Democratic Party of OC. For all of you in South County, you’ll soon have a chance to meet a special someone who would like to be your next State Assembly Member. Wouldn’t it be nice for South County to have a legislator who cares about the people more than powerful special interests? Well, here’s a way you can help make that happen.
Dear LiberalOC.com Reader,

Come out this weekend to meet the Democratic Party’s endorsed candidate in the 73rd Assembly District - Judy Jones!

Judy will make an excellent addition to the Democratic delegation of the California State Assembly. She is hardworking, reliable and understands the issues that are important to Orange County residents.

Meet and Greet with Judy Jones:
Saturday, May 10th
4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Home of Billie Lovmark: 328 Boca del Canon San Clemente, CA

This is not a fundraiser - just an opportunity for you to get to know one of our finest candidates. The 73rd Assembly District includes Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, San Clemente & Oceanside.

The seat is currently is open, so there is no incumbent. I hope that you can meet this extraordinary candidate!

Sincerely,

Melahat Rafiei, Executive Director
Democratic Party of Orange County
________________________________
email: info@ocdemocrats.org
phone: 714-835-5158
web: http://www.ocdemocrats.org/

Filed under: CALENDAR, Election 2008, Liberals, Winning Elections, Local, Democrats, Orange County | No Comments »

It was pretty widely reported that the OC Register cut 5% of its workforce last week.  I get the Register delivered to my door every morning (along with the LA Times, NY Times and Wall Street Journal).

Rather than call to complain this morning, I thought I’d post something here.  Today’s Register contained Yesterday’s Local section.  The entire section is yesterday’s paper.  And no Arts/Entertainment section, so no comics this morning either.  Dammit!  And the same Frank Mickadeit column two days in a row is not the same as a new “Rudy Park.”

Rather that cutting staff, how about investing in putting out a great newspaper everyday and not recycling yesterday’s news? I already get recycled Register new with the OC Post/Irvine World News.  Spin it how you want over at Grand Ave, but how many times do I need to see the same story edited and laid out differently? How is that going to make me stay on the page?

 

 

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This just in from the Ed Chau for Congress campaign! Ed Chau just got another fantastic endorsement. Take a look at this new and exciting development happening now in the 42nd District.

*UAW Region 5 Endorses Ed Chau for U.S. Congress *

*Union Represents Over 600,000 Americans*

ROWLAND HEIGHTS, California- The Ed Chau for U.S. Congress campaign proudly announces its endorsement by the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW Region 5).

Since 1935, the United Auto Workers has used collective bargaining to invent the first employer-paid health insurance plan for industrial workers

and the first cost-of-living allowances. UAW-represented workplaces include large and small corporations, government entities, and colleges, universities, hospitals and private organizations across the nation, and all around the 42nd Congressional District.

In their letter of endoresment, Jim Wells, Director, and Pat Caccamo, International CAP Representative of UAW Region 5, said, “We wish you the best of luck in your campaign and we look forward to working with you in the future.”

Ed Chau sought the endorsement of the UAW because, according to
Chau, the UAW has been on the correct side of every major civil rights battle. Plus, when you come to any bargaining table with the support of the UAW, your issues will be heard. Thats exactly the message I’m hoping to bring to Washington, D.C.: fighting for the things you believe in backed up by political and social strength to effect positive social change.

*Ed Chau is a highly qualified Democratic candidate for Congress who will fight for ethics and integrity in the U.S. Congress. For more information, please visit his web site at EdChau.com.

Filed under: Unions, Election 2008, 42nd Congressional, Liberals, Winning Elections, Orange County News, Local, Democrats, Orange County, Gary Miller | 3 Comments »