I'd like to share this strange account of a strange encounter between TwistedBadge.com editor Mike Madigan and Todd Spitzer, which I received via Orange Net News:
LUNCH WITH SPITZER
Last month, I was invited to lunch by Assemblyman Todd Spitzer and I had high hopes that he'd confirm his long anticipated plans to run against OC DA Tony Rackauckas next year. We ordered sandwiches, but the main course was politics.
WIRED?
Todd Spitzer is a very likeable guy who started his career in 1990 as a badge carrying Orange County prosecutor as well as an LAPD reserve officer. In 1996 he was elected an Orange County Supervisor and quickly earned a reputation as a guy who gets things done. A graduate of UCLA and UC Hastings School of Law, he became a shining star. I hoped the reason for this lunch was to confirm that he would run for DA next year and restore the shine to that badge, but it didn't happen. I arrived at lunch wearing a short sleeved short and carrying nothing, but within the first five minutes of our conversation he asked me if I was wired. Why was this hard charging and outspoken critic of DA Tony Rackauckas worried about a wire? I wanted to share information with Todd Spitzer, the candidate, but he was so nervous, I switched to plan B and only mentioned the stuff I was pretty sure he already knew.
By the time lunch ended I was thinking someone might have convinced this popular lawyer who excelled at prosecuting criminals not to run. Did someone in the Republican Party convince Todd Spitzer that his future would be brighter if he didn't oppose Rackauckas? Is the Schroeder factor involved? I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
When Spitzer called to tell me he'd decided not to run, he said what Colin Powell said - he didn't want to put his family through a tough campaign. Of course, I told him that was a very good reason not to run. Then there was nothing left to say.
That's just weird -- and this is related by a guy, Mike Madigan, who despises Tony Rackauckas and would probably support Saddam Hussein for D.A. if it meant getting rid of Rackauckas.
Wow...just read this. Certainly strange behavior, but after Todd's OC Blog melt-down recently, nothing surprises me.
Posted by: OC Fire Storm | October 22, 2005 at 08:50 PM