Posted on September 30th, 2007 by Mike Lawson
Nearly 1,900 women in Orange County were diagnosed with breast cancer last year and many more are battling with the disease.
TheLiberalOC.com has joined over 1,000 other blogs and websites this October and we’ve gone pink. The blog redesign coincides with Breast Cancer Awareness Month. To read more about the Go Pink campaign, go to:
PinkForOctober.com
We hope that our readers will take a second to help make a difference in the fight against this ugly disease. Here are a few things that you can do:
* Re-design your blog or website and help raise awareness. Or use one of
these graphics to show that you care.
* Go to
The Orange County Susan G. Koman Breast Cancer Foundation website and contact them to see how you can volunteer.
* Got some $$ to donate? Give to the Pink For October’s effort to raise money this month. Their goal is $1,500.Â
Click here to donate.
* Tell us your story. Have you been personally effected by breast cancer? If you’d like to share your story, email it to:
MikeLawson@gmail.com and we will post it here for readers of TheLiberalOC.com to read.
* Get screened, and bring a friend. As many as 30 percent of breast cancer deaths could be avoided if all women age 40 and older received regular breast cancer screenings. Most insurance companies provide coverage for an annual mammogram and clinical breast exam.
* Contribute to this list. If there are any local breast cancer resources that you’d like to see listed here email:
MikeLawson@gmail.com
Filed under: Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
Posted on September 30th, 2007 by Chris Prevatt

Well, I doubt it but that seems to be the premise of their Sunday
[editorial] .
America is rushing to a pivotal decision that could dictate the nature of health care for decades to come. Escalating costs, rising consumer demand, coupled with employers reducing benefits, are creating widespread unease.
These and related converging factors guarantee change is coming. The question is whether Americans will succumb to the lure of government as rescuer, or will individuals and private organizations assume more responsibility for coverage, treatment and care.
At stake is whether this nation will opt for something resembling European-style socialized medicine, with its unaccountable bureaucrats making decisions about whom can be treated, as well as what type of treatment, when it will be provided, where and how much. Those socialized systems, touted as “free” and “universal,” ultimately can’t keep up with demand when the public insists on receiving every type of care. Eventually, it results in shortages and rationing.
There are so many flaws in their argument; it’s difficult to know where to begin. However, the second paragraph seems to be a good place to start. The Register asks if individuals and private organizations will assume more responsibility for coverage, treatment and care as opposed to succumbing to government rescue.
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Filed under: National-US | 1 Comment »
Posted on September 30th, 2007 by Mike Lawson




Senior Editorial Writer and Columnist for The Orange County Register Steve Greenhut beat the hell out of Republican Assemblyman Todd Spitzer in his column this morning. The article started with a quotation from a 19th Century judge: “No man’s life, liberty or property are safe while the Legislature is in session.”
And the piece ended with this gem:
Get it? If you don’t agree with Spitzer–who was relegated to the Assembly’s smallest office after the Democratic leadership tired of him labeling his opponents as “pro-criminal”–then you hate cops and want rapists and murderers out on the streets.
You can see the speech that Greenhut is referencing in this column by clicking
here.
Filed under: Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
Posted on September 29th, 2007 by Dan Chmielewski
You’re Invited to a Halloween Costume Party to benefit AIDS Services Orange County.Oct. 27th 2007
6:00 PM to 10:00 PM
at Newport Beach Winery
The Friends of Dorothy Guild of ASF cordially invite you to join in the fun for a great cause. We’ll be having the party in the vineyard and wine cave of the Newport Wineries on Mesa Dr. in Newport Beach. Go to www.hotrange.com and click on Halloween Invitation and sign up online for tickets and to see the details of the event and pictures of the wine cave and vineyards. There will be no printed invitations, only online sign up. Great Food, Music, Weekend Get Away Prizes, Scary Auction, and more! You have to check out the web site. www.hotrange.comCome as your favorite movie character and if you’re looking for costume ideas, check out these links as well as Genevieves Wigs 369 E17th St #2 Costa Mesa CA www.wizardofozcostumes.com www.buycostumes.com www.costumecity.com www.halloweenstreet.com In keeping with the Wizard of Oz theme of our guild, many thanks to the following folks who generously are sponsoring our event.Munchkin Level Sponsors:
Aqua VI , JR Universal Construction
Wizard Level Sponsors:
Raymond Family Trust, Best Best & Krieger
Emerald City Level Sponsors:
DPR Contractors, Tkaczyk Family, Mark Eskander Attorney at Law,
Dorothy’s Red Slippers Level Sponsors:
Union Bank
Snyder Langston
Hoag Hospital
Knoll/ System Source
Bricon Commercial Contractors
Law offices of Stoody, Mills, Lansford, Walker & Doyle Genevieves Wigs
Can’t make it but would like to make a donation to our cause? Just go to our halloween page on www.hotrange.com and there’s a link to buy tickets or make a donation. Many Thanks and hope to see ya there!Guild Chairman: Barbara Venezia
Friends of Dorothy Guild Members Committee: Jeremy Belesario, Loren Blackwood, Steve Bond, Marilyn Brewer, Marie Case, Bunny Clark, Kathleen Craig, Elena Dawson, Tim Dunn, Mark Eskander, Patti Gordon, Dave House, Lana Johnson, Dean Jones , Pat Kennedy , Rachael McCabe, Annemarie Miller-Jones, Susan Piazza, Tim Stoaks , Judy Tenuta , Stan Tkaczyk, Renee West, Harriett Wieder
Â
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Posted on September 28th, 2007 by Dan Chmielewski
HT to LA Times
GOP electoral initiative dealt major blows
Two key consultants for an effort to change California’s winner-take-all system quit over money and disclosure woes.
By Dan Morain
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
September 28, 2007
SACRAMENTO — A proposed California initiative campaign that could have helped Republicans hold on to the White House in 2008 was a shambles Thursday night, as two of its key consultants quit.
Unable to raise sufficient money and angered over a lack of disclosure by its one large donor, veteran political law attorney Thomas Hiltachk, who drafted the measure, said he was resigning from the committee.
Hiltachk’s departure is a major blow to the operation because he organized other consultants who had set about trying to raise money and gather signatures for the initiative. Campaign spokesman Kevin Eckery said he was ending his role as well.
There remained a chance that the measure could be revived, but only if a major donor were to come forward to fund the petition drive. However, time is short to gather the hundreds of thousands of signatures needed by the end of November. And backers said Thursday that they believed the measure was all but dead, at least for the 2008 election.
” ‘Shambles’ is the wrong word,” said strategist Marty Wilson, who curtailed his fundraising efforts weeks ago. “The campaign never got off the ground.”
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Posted on September 28th, 2007 by Andrew Davey
“This plan is bringing together a sense of nature, a sense of recreation and also a real sense of renewal,” [Great Park] board member Michael Pinto said.
That’s what Mr. Pinto told
The Register yesterday as the Great Park Board approved the master plan for the park. The plan now includes a wildlife corridor, cultural terrace, sports park and canyon, while leaving out an amphitheater that some hoped would be a part of the park.
So what do YOU think about the newly approved master plan for the Great Park? Designers say they included what they did because they wanted the park to be as environmentally sensitive as possible. But still, are you a little peeved that the amphitheater isn’t part of the master plan? Or are you glad to see a canyon, a wildlife corridor, and a cultural terrace? Is the Great Park so far meeting your expectations, or is this not what you were thinking the park would become?
I want to hear what
YOU have to say about the Great Park and the new master plan, so go ahead and have your say. Does it look like the park will eventually be something that Orange County will be proud of? Does the park look like something that most of us in Orange County will actually want to use? Think about it, and say what’s on your mind.
Go ahead. Make my day. Fire away!
Filed under: Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
Posted on September 28th, 2007 by Chris Prevatt
The Truth: It’s kind of like a loose thread on a sweater; the more you pull, the more thread there is. At least until you run out of sweater.
Split remodeling project draws scrutinyÂ
By RONALD CAMPBELL
The Orange County Register
The Orange County facilities department split the controversial remodeling of Treasurer-Tax Collector Chriss Street’s office into dozens of small contracts, an action that may have violated state and county law.
Bob Wilson, a top facilities manager, said the department obeyed the law. But two county supervisors aren’t buying it.
“Either it’s a contrivance or it’s a coincidence,” Supervisor John Moorlach said. “And it looks more like a contrivance.”
“The (county) CEO is looking at it. We’re looking at it,” Supervisor Chairman Chris Norby said. “Any large project like this needs board oversight.”
The county facilities department split remodeling contracts totaling $318,082.89 into 42 purchase orders – most for $5,000 or less.
If any of those orders had been a dollar more, the facilities department would have had to seek competitive bids. If the department had treated the remodel as one project, it would have had to seek approval from the Board of Supervisors.
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Posted on September 28th, 2007 by Mike Lawson
The newest fad in blogging is video blogging, so I thought I’d give it a try with this post. Watch the video of the 5 reasons OC Dems should be proud of their party.
[ev type="youtube" data="flJ6cBKFXYg"][/ev]
Any thoughts on this format?
Filed under: Uncategorized | 16 Comments »
Posted on September 27th, 2007 by Mike Lawson
I’ve been meaning to write this post for a couple of months now. I just wanted to refer TheLiberalOC.com readers over to the new blog at The Squeeze OC’s page. It’s called
The Liberal, Atheist, Vegetarian and is written by a liberal, atheist, vegetarian named Michael Doss (the same guy that writes the news quiz in the O.C. Register each week).
It’s nice to see another progressive blog here in Orange County.Â
The Liberal, Atheist, Vegetarian blog covers local progressive events like we do here at TheLiberalOC.com, but he also writes reviews of local vegetarian joints and issues regarding atheists.
Give him a click:
The Liberal, Atheist, Vegetarian.
Filed under: Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
Posted on September 27th, 2007 by Andrew Davey
OK, are you getting as mad as I am about the lack of progress being made on health care reform? And would you like to vent out your frustration in a positive way? If so, then join our friends at DFA-Orange County and Healthcare for All for an impromptu rally in Huntington Beach tomorrow!
Here’s the announcement I got this morning, which I’d like to share with you:
At 6:30 pm on Sept. 28 at Huntington Beach Pier, stand up for Single Payer Healthcare in California! Say no to compromises that only enrich the already rich insurance companies. Say no to compromises that confuse people to support programs that only disappoint and under-deliver later on. Say yes and stand up for
truly universal, efficient, comprehensive SINGLE PAYER HEALTH CARE FOR ALL Californians.
Join us Sept. 28, Friday, at 6:30 pm at the Huntington Beach Pier (Main St. and PCH) with or without signs (we’ll have a bunch).
Take a stand for Single Payer
Healthcare in California.
For more information, email Vern Nelson at chezvern@aol.com, Dr. Bill Honigman at drbillhonigman@gmail.com or Susan Kopicki at sckopicki@yahoo.com (949/872-0966)
So doesn’t that sound good? I know that sounds better than just sitting around, feeling frustrated about our broken health care system. So how about we get out, rally tomorrow, and do something about achieving health care for all? Sounds good to me!
Filed under: Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
Posted on September 27th, 2007 by Dan Chmielewski
HT to Media Matters.org. Media Matters simply records the right wing whack jobs and gives us a transcript. You’ll find it below, but the bottom line is Rush took a call from a Republican soldier who favors a wiuthdrawl from Iraq. Rush accused him of not being a real Republican and later of being a “phony soldier.” Rush is heard locally on KFI radio.
Now I’m sure the Senate and House are drafting measures to condemn this sort of hate speech a la the MoveOn.org ad on General “Betray Us” because Rush, after all, was the first to use this cute nickname to describe Republican Senator Chuck Hagel a whole 9 months before the General Petraeous ad. Rush’s audience is estimated at 20 million and he uses the public airwaves to profit so handsomely (Fairness Doctrine anyone?). It’s OK for him to call Hagel “Betray Us” but not OK for MoveOn.org to do the same thing? What does Gila always say? It’s OK if you’re a Republican.
So does this mean that soldiers against the Iraq war don’t get military ethos or that Rush doesn’t get it? Rush did get a deferment from Vietnam due to a boil on his ass, so he never served. This is all so confusing….
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Filed under: Uncategorized | 21 Comments »
Posted on September 27th, 2007 by Dan Chmielewski
An Extra ‘S’ on the Report Card
Hailing a Singular Achievement, President Gets Pluralistic
By Peter Baker
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, September 27, 2007; A10
NEW YORK, Sept. 26 — As a candidate,
George W. Bush once asked, “Is our children learning?”
Now he has an answer.
“Childrens do learn,” he said Wednesday.
The setting was, yes, an education event where the president was taking credit for rising test scores and promoting congressional renewal of his signature education law. To create the right image, the
White House summoned the city’s chancellor of schools, a principal, some teachers and about 20 eager students from P.S. 76.
The visual worked fine. The oral? Not so much. For Bush, it was a classic malapropism, the sort of verbal miscue that occasionally bedevils him in public speaking and provides critics and the media easy fodder for ridicule.
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