OC Blog

Scary Stuff

You know you’ve made it in O.C. politics when you make the O.C. Weekly’s Halloween time list of the 30 some odd scariest people.  The list, usually an amalgam of the weird, the criminal and the elected that the O.C. Weekly loves to plague, just came out for 2007.  Last year’s list was oriented more towards the criminal and the weird, but I do note that O.C.’s own Will Ferrell made number 18 then.  No sign of Mr. Ferrell this year.

My only beef with this year’s list is that I wasn’t included in the “The Pols” category, but rather in the not-so-scary also-rans category of “The Scariest of the Rest.”

In a more traditional vein a few days back the Daily Pilot ran their annual “Newport-Mesa’s 103 Most Influential.” (See: http://dailypilot.p2ionline.com/SpecialSection/ss/index.aspx?webstoryid=12940129&area=SS&type=page&adgroupid=116782&adid=1788991&parentid=12940128&menu=-3.1) I was 43^rd on that list – not even high enough to make the O.C. Weekly’s listing.

OC's Scariest People

Our Congressional delegation tops this year’s list of 33 villains (31 for October, plus two more to get to the Día de los Muertos, ese)

Thursday, October 25, 2007

THE POLS

1) DANA ROHRABACHER

2) LORETTA SANCHEZ

3) CHRISTOPHER COX
4) JOHN CAMPBELL

5) ED ROYCE

6) GARY MILLER

7) KEN CALVERT

8) DIANNE FEINSTEIN

9) BARBARA BOXER

THE CAMP FOLLOWERS
10) HUGH HEWITT

11) MICHAEL SCOTT KERR

12) LORETTA SANCHEZ’S SIT-IN PROTESTERS

13) GORDON DILLOW

THE SCARIEST OF THE REST 
14) PETER CALLAHAN

15) VARSITY GOLD
16) PATRICK PICENO

17) MICHAEL LAMB

18) JOHN ANGEL SALCIDA

19) SHERIFF MICHAEL S. CARONA

20) ROY LEE MORTON

21) ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER WEBSITE COMMENTATORS

22) MICKEY MOUSE, SLUMLORD

23) THE POORMAN

24) THE CAST OF NEWPORT HARBOR: THE REAL ORANGE COUNTY
25) THE ANAHEIM UNION?HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT
26) DEPUTY KEVIN TAYLOR

27) ZOMBIE DUMMIES OF HO CHI MINH AND NGUYEN CAO KY

28) JAMES FLEMING

29) CHUCK DEVORE

The Republican Assemblyman wants to resurrect construction of nuclear power plants in the state, a practice shelved 30 years ago. DeVore’s stated intended purpose, to build additional reactors at San Onofre to fuel a water-desalination plant, would have far-reaching benefits for residents, developers and energy companies in our near-desert climate. Of course, that’s if you ignore the tremendous cost of building nuclear reactors and desalination plants, coupled with the waste problems both create. Hazardous byproducts from desalination plants tend to disrupt or kill large percentages of nearby marine life, while nuclear waste is, well, nuclear waste. DeVore’s response to his critics? “I remain deeply skeptical of an environmental left that is, at its core, hostile to people, while constantly demanding that we give up our inalienable rights in service of the greater environmental good, which they, of course, define,” he wrote on his website. MITIGATING FACTOR: DeVore’s proposal already died in committee, but undeterred, he says he’ll try to get the issue on the ballot in 2008.

30) MARK MCGRATH

31) JOE DALLAS 
32) YOUR LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM
33) THE MINUTEMAN PROJECT

(For the rest of the scary details see: http://www.ocweekly.com/index3.php?option=com_content2&task=print&id=27940&Itemid=0&pop=1&page=0)

Another round of previously unposted delegation ratings

The Consumer Federation of California ostensibly measures a lawmaker’s friendliness towards consumers – what is really measures, in my opinion, is a lawmaker’s willingness to allow trial attorneys to sue business.  That said, in a choice between overbearing government regulation shutting down business or lawsuits that target bad behavior and compensate the harmed parties, I’ll choose the latter rather than the former.  The total votes counted vary because the rankings include some committee votes.

Consumer Federation of California’s interim 2007 ratings:

Tony Mendoza-D, 6 for 7, 86 percent
Jose Solorio-D, 5 for 7, 71 percent
Todd Spitzer-R: 2 for 7, 29 percent
Lou Correa-D, 2 for 8, 25 percent
Jim Silva-R, 1 for 7, 14 percent
Van Tran-R: 1 for 8, 13 percent
Bob Margett-R, 1 for 8, 13 percent
Bob Huff-R, 1 for 9, 11 percent
Dick Ackerman-R, 0 for 10, 0 percent
Chuck DeVore-R, 0 for 7, 0 percent
Mike Duvall-R, 0 for 8, 0 percent
Tom Harman-R: 0 for 9, 0 percent
Mimi Walters-R: 0 for 7, 0 percent
Mark Wyland-R: 1 for 10, 0 percent

More O.C. delegation ratings

As part of an ongoing service to OCBlog readers to show them how various interest groups view the O.C. legislative delegation, here are two more ratings for the previous session that haven't been posted yet. 

The California Manufacturers and Technology Association (CMTA) legislative ratings for 2005-06 reflect votes that favor jobs creation in California versus more taxes and regulation (note, the CMTA has taken down the ratings for lawmakers who termed out in 2006, so Senators Dunn and Morrow and Assemblymembers Daucher and Umberg are not listed):

Chuck DeVore-R: 24 of 24, 100 percent
Bob Huff-R: 23 of 24, 96 percent
Todd Spitzer-R: 23 of 24, 96 percent
Mimi Walters-R: 23 of 24, 96 percent
Mark Wyland-R: 23 of 24, 96 percent
Van Tran-R: 22 of 23, 96 percent
Dick Ackerman-R, 21 of 22, 95 percent
Bob Margett-R, 21 of 22, 95 percent
Tom Harman-R: 15 of 24, 63 percent

For the CMTA ratings, just go to Google, and type in the members name in quotes, followed by CMTA, for example: “Chuck DeVore” CMTA. 

Planned Parenthood of California, 2006 ratings include not only taxpayer funded abortions, but also various social welfare spending favored by Planned Parenthood.

Rudy Bermudez-D, 100 percent
Joe Dunn-D, 100 percent
Tom Umberg-D, 100 percent
Lynn Daucher-R, 71 percent
Todd Spitzer-R: 57 percent
Van Tran-R: 57 percent
Tom Harman-R: 50 percent
Bob Huff-R: 43 percent
Mimi Walters-R: 43 percent
Mark Wyland-R: 43 percent
Dick Ackerman-R, 40 percent
Bob Margett-R, 30 percent
Bill Morrow-R, 30 percent
Chuck DeVore-R, 29 percent

http://www.ppacca.org/atf/cf/%7BEFB50FD8-3121-4382-99F6-00195A71A78D%7D/PPACScore2006.pdf

Great Pumpkin rises over Irvine

  Photo from the El Toro Info Site of the big orange Great Park balloon being inflated with helium.

Public rides are scheduled to begin on July 14.

OC Blogpourri - July 3, 2007

Time for a quick spin around the OC blogosphere:

Over at Orange Punch, Steve Greenhut posts about an LA Times article regarding SB 1019. The LAT articles find little to back up opponents claim that SB 1019 would put peace officers at risk. Steve also blogs -- here and here -- about Assemblymen Jose Solorio and Jim Silva co-sponsoring legislation to keep the Harbor Patrol in the hands of the OC Sheriff's Department -- and the hardball tactics the AOCDS is employing in the same cause.

Meanwhile, over at Total Buzz, Martin Wisckol has some more posts -- here and here -- about the possibility that Supervisor Janet Nguyen can cauterize one of the open wounds on her political prospects by settling the whole illegal legal defense fund issue with the California Fair Political Practices Commission. MArtin also has various posts on reaction to the commutation of Scooter Libby's sentence: here, here, here, here and here.

Western CPAC 2007 - Sign Up Now!

Where will YOU be on October 12th and 13th? 

I would like to cordially invite you to join me at the 2007 Western Conservative Political Action Conference being held right here in California!  This conference, a sister to the wildly successful CPAC conferences in Washington, D.C., will be an exciting opportunity for conservative leaders and activists from the Western United States to come together to hear from great speakers, engage in discussions on the important issues of the day, and organize so that conservatives can have the greatest amount of influence for the coming national, state and local elections!

President Reagan's eldest son, Michael, a reknowned talk-show host and conservative leader in his own right, is the General Chairman for this event, and will be on hand playing a primary role in the event.  (You can read a special message from Michael Reagan here.) In addition, David Keene, the Chairman of the American Conservative Union (the main sponsor of the main CPAC conferences, read his note here) will be flying out to join us.

Carville and Matalin - Here in "The OC" for the OCBC

This Tuesday night the Orange County Business Council will be holding it's annual installation dinner -- and I was quite amused to see that headlining the event is none other than the occupants of the most politically diverse household in America -- Mary Matalin and James Carville.  Since it intregued me enough, I asked the OCBC to provide me with more info so that I could share it with Red County/OC Blog readers.  You might want to think about checking it out.  If Matalin and Carville aren't big enough draws, it will also be your chance to see the Irvine Company's Dan Miller in the spotlight as he is installed as the new Chairman of Board of the OCBC (congratulations to outgoing Chairman Tom Phelps -- you made it through!) - rumor has it that Dan drafted a 45 minute speech that that Lucy Dunn took out her red pen an now it is only 4.5 minutes.

So, here is the info:

JAMES CARVILLE AND MARY MATALIN TO HEADLINE ORANGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL’S 2007 ANNUAL DINNER ON JAN. 23

IRVINE, CA — Just weeks after a rollercoaster ride election shifted the balance of power in our nation’s Capitol, the Orange County Business Council proudly announces that celebrated political insiders and Washington, D.C. power couple James Carville and Mary Matalin will present the keynote address at OCBC’s 2007 Annual Dinner and Installation of Directors and Officers on Jan. 23 at the Hyatt Regency Irvine.

“OCBC promises a night to remember,” says Lucy Dunn, President and CEO of the Orange County Business Council. “Carville and Matalin’s presentation is perfectly timed in light of our nation’s changing political climate.”

James Carville and Mary Matalin are a symbol of the current state of American politics: equally passionate, political polar opposites who exchange barbs over contrasting points of view but work together for the sake of their union. Carville is one of the country's best-known political consultants. He has managed more campaigns than any political consultant in America and around the world, including Democratic President Bill Clinton's successful 1992 election over incumbent President George H.W. Bush. Matalin is among the nation's hardest-hitting conservative political commentators and foremost Republican strategists. She formerly served as assistant to President Bush and counselor to Vice President Cheney, the first White House staffer to hold the double title.

Having between them worked with every U.S. President over the last 25 years, Carville and Matalin are perennial political favorites and key players on the national political stage. The couple has captivated audiences around the world with their quick-witted, behind-the-scenes looks at the national political scene. They are sure to deliver a stimulating and provocative analysis of today's hot-button issues from both sides of the political aisle with their presentation All’s Fair: Love, War and Politics.

The annual dinner will also feature a tribute to OCBC’s outgoing 2006 Chairman, Tom Phelps, founding partner of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, as well as the installation of OCBC’s new 2007 officers: Chairman Dan Miller, Senior Vice President of The Irvine Company; Chair Elect Steve Lenzi, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs of the Automobile Club of Southern California; and Treasurer Larry Buster, Vice President/County Manager of First American Title Company.

The evening’s reception will begin at 6 p.m. with the dinner and program taking place from 7 to 9 p.m. Event sponsorships are still available. Contact Danielle Bates at 949.794.7225 for further information.

The Orange County Business Council is the leading voice of business in Orange County, California. OCBC represents and promotes the business community, working with government and academia, to enhance Orange County’s economic development and prosperity in order to preserve a high quality of life. OCBC serves member and investor businesses with nearly 200,000 employees and 2,000,000 worldwide. In providing a proactive forum for business and supporting organizations, OCBC helps assure the financial growth of America’s fifth largest county. For more information on OCBC, visit www.ocbc.org.

OC Blogpourri - October 6, 2006

I haven't posted one of these for a while, so I figured I'm overdue.

Allan Bartlett at Powder Blue Report posts about the first "Hometown Voter Guide" of the Irvine election which landed in his mail box on Wednesday, and pats Escondido on the back for making it illegal to rent to illegals.

Over at The LiberalOC, Chris Prevatt falls for the Steve Young for Congress campaign spin and blogs that the 48th CD  -- one of the most Republican congressional district's in the nation -- is "in play." Chris also posts pictures from the OC Democrats' Truman Dinner while Susan Freeze gives an account of the dinner itself. Dan Chmielewski laments Barbara Venezia's exit from the Newport Beach Council race and accuses Hugh Hewitt of "blaming the pages" in Foley-gate.

Chris Prevatt also posts about my debut as a Harbors, Beaches and Parks Commissioner, expressing his disappointment that I didn't vote the way he wanted by saying I "was not interested in the facts or the public good" and my questions of staff and vote against the smoking ban were "a shameful performance for his first meeting and about what I expected from a conservative political hack."

Vilified by a left-wing blogger -- excellent! I must be doing something right! Despite the fact the beach smoking ban is doomed at the Board of Supervisors, the next step for the anti-smoking militants is to push for ban on smoking in all county parks, so I'm sure Chris will have more opportunities to call me names.

Over at Orange Punch, Steve Greenhut reviews the stances of the Brea City Council candidates and their stances on the hillside zoning ordinance -- the acid test of whether the candidates' commitment to property rights is real or rhetorical. Steve also links to a study that says charter schools perform better in comparison to traditional public schools. As Steve says, what a shock: schools with less bureaucracy and red tape do better than schools with more bureaucracy and red tape.

Total Buzz burst into activity this afternoon, posting that Jim Gilchrist had returned to the GOP, Marilyn Brewer has been appointed by Gov. Schwarzenegger to the Little Hoover Commission, the impending extinguishing of the proposed county beaches smoking ban, and the Irvine council campaign finance reports.

And Over At Orange Juice...

...Tim Whitacre reports on the results of last night's OC GOP Endorsement Committee meeting and actually pays Mike Schroeder a compliment:

I have to admit, the meeting was well-run by Mike Schroeder and he actually stayed within the By-Laws, only once or twice pushing (but not exceeding) the limits!

Also, Art Pedroza reports on the apparently self-generated vagueness surrounding the partisan inclinations of Santa Ana City Council candidate Tino Rivera. According to Art, the registered decline-to-state is telling Democrats he's a crypto-Democrat and Republicans he's a crypto-Republican. If true, it won't be the first time a local government candidate just told people what they want to hear in hopes of being elected. That type of politician is, unfortunately, not an endangered species.

It reminds me of a guy who used to be an up-and-comer in county GOP circles and narrowly lost an Assembly GOP primary in 1994. If you were having a conversation with him and asked his opinion about an issue, he'd respond by asking, "What do you think?" and then do an excellent job of seeming to agree with you.

OC Blogpourri -- May 19, 2006

Time for a constitutional around the OC blogosphere to see what's popping:

First stop, Orange Punch: Steve Greenhut contrasts the market-driven development of Fullerton's very cool downtown with the government-driven redevelopment of Brea's lame, plastic "downtown" -- and on a related note slams Assemblywoman (and former Brea Councilwoman) Lynn Daucher for supporting a low-flow-envior toilet flushing bill. Greenhut also gives the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association the back of his hand -- and justly so -- for collaborating with the forces of government redevelopment in redeveloping a watery "compromise" eminent domain initiative.

And Mr. Greenhut doesn't stop there, parodying the cartoonishly hysterical OCEA membership letter depicting John Moorlach as all Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse combined, while writing another necessary reminder of the choice facing voters in the 2nd Supervisor District.

And John Seiler contributes this bit of mail-spotting in the 2nd SD race.

Over at Total Buzz, Martin Wisckol writes about the batch of mutually-beneficial Chris Norby-Dick Ackerman endorsements, and the practically-zero degrees of separation between former history teacher Norby and the children of various current and would-be OC legislators.

Martin also takes note of OC Treasurer candidate Patrick Desmond's calling on the OC Board of Supervisors to fire opponent Chriss Street from his post as assistant treasurer-tax collector.

Lots of posts at Orange Juice blog, where a beefed-up blogpen as resulted in even more frequent posting.  Thomas Gordon posts part 1 of why he thinks Claudia Alvarez is the wrong choice in the 69th Assembly District, while Luis Rodriguez ruminates on the simmering controversy over Santa Ana Planning Commissioners' trip in Santa Ana developer Mike Harrah's Leajet to Hhawaii -- where one bought a condo in a Harrah development.

Art Pedroza writes about Lynn Daucher's strategy in the 34th Senate District race and last week called - unfairly and unjustly, in my opinion -- for Scott Baugh's resignation as OC GOP chairman (Baugh refuses to be give way to Tim Whitacre's martyr/messiah complex).

And Claudio Gallegos has a run down from last week on political mail from the 69th AD Democratic primary.