OC Blog

Red County/OC Blog News Roundup -- March 31, 2007

Today's top stories from behind the Orange Curtain (better late than never edition):

Seeking More Resort Housing -- OCR
Property owners are lining up to seek residential zoning in the resort – a key reason resort businesses are trying to deter homes with a ballot initiative.

Increase In OC's Immigrant Detainees -- LAT
The number has tripled since December, overwhelming the local consulate. Some seeking help there have been deported before.

Water Supply In Good Shape -- OCR
Residents' conservation helps county out of trouble.

A Platform For Debate -- OCR
Conference discusses the fate of unused oil platforms and their surrounding sea life.

March Honors Chavez -- OCR
About 50 Savanna High School students carry Mexican and American flags in early morning tribute to labor leader.

RSM City Council Introduces Zoning Ordinance -- OCR (3/29/07)
The zoning ordinance establishes regulations related to the use of land and resources within the city.

City Eyes Residential Condo Conversions -- DP
Less than two weeks after putting a moratorium on industrial park subdivisions, the Costa Mesa City Council may also temporarily block residential condo conversions while the city beefs up the standards building owners must meet.

Costa Mesa Celebrates Business Leaders -- DP
Honored for his 36-year career at Orange Coast College, Jim Carnett humbly thanked those he worked with at the college throughout the years as he accepted a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce and South Coast Metro Alliance Friday.

World Class Clown Still Disrupts School Work -- LAT
Orange Unified's quirky trustee has worn out his welcome.

Alternative Fuels Fest Rolls Into Anaheim -- LAT
Southern Californians interested in "green" fuels and vehicles can get an eyeful as the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Institute wraps up its annual national convention.

A Final (Hopefully) Tan Nguyen Anecdote

What do you get when you mix togerther shamelessness, chutzpah, opportunism and obtuseness?

Tan Nguyen.

OC Republican party Chairman Scott Baugh told me this morning that Tan Nguyen left a message for him on Monday, claiming he had a poll showing him at 54% and climbing, and expressed his desire to patch things up with Scott.

"I think Tan needs to expand his polling beyond just Republicans," qipped Scott.

"Stand By Your Tan"

A fishnet stocking-clad chanteuse warbling "Stand By Your Tan" at this past weekend's pro-Tan rally (H/T TheLiberalOC):

Insane.

Gustavo Thinks He May Have Found "Sergio Ramirez"

Gustavo Arellano follows a thread in the tangled Tan Nguyen web and posts over at The Blotter that he may have found the Sergio Ramirez who's name was on the "immigrants can't vote" letter.

And don't forget to listen to Tan Nguyen on John & Ken today at 5:00 p.m. Will they defend or destroy him?

A CALL TO ACTION by Frank Barbaro

A friend just forwarded me this email...

A CALL TO ACTION

October 24, 2006

Dear B,

This morning, by a 4-1 margin, the Orange County Board of Supervisors passed a “Resolution in Support of the Right to Vote.” This resolution, drafted by Board Chairman Bill Campbell, a Republican, purports to provide an adequate response to the recent attempted disenfranchisement of 14,000 American citizens in Orange County. Campbell’s resolution merely states the obvious inaccuracies in the Tan Nguyen letter and encourages U.S.citizens who are properly registered voters to exercise their right to vote. The resolution takes no significant action towards preempting future voter fraud or intimidation, nor does it call for the notification of the 14,000 individuals initially victimized, in the form of a letter or otherwise.

We are deeply disappointed by the Board majority’s lack of leadership on this issue. In fact, we believe that it is yet another indication of a pattern of behavior on the part of local Republican officials to turn their backs in the face of obvious voter intimidation or fraud.

* In 1988, the Republican Party of Orange County was responsible for funding and placing uniformed guards at Hispanic polling places in Santa Ana in an attempt to suppress minority votes.

* Earlier this year, bounty hunters paid for by the Orange County Republican Party switched the registrations of hundreds of individuals from Democratic or Decline to State to Republican without their knowledge or authorization.

* In the past year, more than 500 verified complaints of voter registration fraud have been filed with the California Secretary of State, the District Attorney, and the Registrar of Voters. Each of these Republican officials has promised a swift investigation and prosecution of these recent acts of fraud. Months after these initial complaints were filed and the offenders identified, no charges have been filed.

Until Republican officials show real leadership rather than offer mere rhetoric, the claims of the Republican Party to be one of inclusion will remain laughable. Until Republican District Attorney Rackauckas moves to arrest all of those who have perpetrated this pattern of criminal attack against the democratic process, the integrity of our elections in Orange County will remain questionable.

Since it is obvious that we cannot rely on Republican leaders to ensure a full and fair vote, we must DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO GET THE VOTE OUT ON NOVEMBER 7.

If you are interested in helping, email us back at info@ocdemocrats.org.

Tell us where you live and what you would like to do to help, and we’ll get you in touch with a local campaign where you can TAKE ACTION.

Sincerely,

Frank Barbaro

Frank Barbaro

Chairman
email: info@ocdemocrats.org
phone: (714) 835-2122
web: http://www.ocdemocrats.org/

No Letter From OC Registrar

Peggy Lowe at Total Buzz reports the Board of Supervisors said "uh-uh" to Lou Correa's request for a letter from the Registrar of Voters to 14,000 recipients of the "immigrants can't vote" letter.

Kudos to those Supervisors who rejected Correa's request, which was duplicative of the Secretary of State's letter and would basically serve as a taxpayer-funded GOTV letter for the OC Democratic Party.

Here's Peggy Lowe's full web story on OC Register online.

Tan, Tan, Tan!

Although the allegations against Tan are very serious as well as his or his mystery campaign worker's actions, the coverage and discussion is now bordering comedy (did you see his press conference?). I believe this story would merit the level of coverage it has managed to attract if Tan was ever in contention in this race, however, fact is Tan was a weak candidate and Loretta was going to win with or without the Tan-gate scandal (I would like to copyright this).  Tan was a nobody and in my opinion is still a nobody and the longer we stop and stare at this amateur the more minutes we waste of our lives. Bottom line, next time lets find someone who can compete against Ms. Sanchez.

Tan Nguyen To Be On John & Ken Wednesday

I just saw a Gustavo post on The Blotter that Tan Nguyen will be on the John & Ken Show Wednesday afternoon.

Gustavo Arellano: "Why Is La Opinion Changing The Tan Nguyen Letter"

Gustavo has a worthy post here on La Opinion's coverage of the infamous "immigrants can't vote letter" and on a Tan mailer.

Tan Nguyen Is On Larry Elder Show

Tan Nguyen is on The Larry Elder Show on KABC 790 as I post this.

I can't believe Larry Elder is buying into Tan's con.

The call-in number is 1-877-995-2779. I tried calling in hopes of getting this clown to answer some questions, but the lines are jammed with what sounds like all of his supporters.

That's pretty simple to do. Campaigns do it all the time when they know their candidate is going to be on a show. You line up your staff and volunteers to call prior to the beginning of the segment and block out genuine callers who might ask an embarrassing question.

UPDATE: Tan just said going into Iraq was a mistake and called for withdrawing ground troops from Iraq. And Elder -- who's a small "l" libertarian made a comment that sounded like Tan adopts a government-centered approach to healthcare for seniors. Doesn't sound like Tan's conversion to the GOP was very genuine.

It says on the website there's an Internet re-broadcast at 9:00 a.m. that should be worth a listen.