This just came over the transom from the Mike Carona campaign:
CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN ASSEMBLY ENDORSES SHERIFF’S RE-ELECTION
Carona gains key endorsement
Irvine, CA – The Orange County Republican Assembly on Monday night unanimously endorsed the re-election of Sheriff Mike Carona. The CRA endorsing convention was held at the Irvine Atrium Hotel and more than a dozen Republican clubs from across Orange County participated in the convention. The more than sixty delegates unanimously endorsed the Sheriff in a voice vote.
The California Republican Assembly is one of the most influential Republican organizations in the state, with a long history of conservative grass roots activism. The CRA has additional clout because of its willingness to endorse in primaries.
According to Mike Spence, state Chairman for the California Republican Assembly, “The CRA endorsement will mean an even greater infusion of volunteers into the Sheriff’s re-election campaign. The unanimous endorsement clearly shows that none of the Sheriff’s opponents have gained any traction what so ever.”
The endorsement is further evidence that the Carona campaign is running on all cylinders. According to the Sheriff’s political advisor and former Chairman of the California Republican Party, Mike Schroeder, “The CRA endorsement shows that both the Republican elected leadership and grass roots volunteers support the Sheriff’s re-election. The CRA endorsement is an indication of what will happen when the Orange County Republican Central Committee awards their endorsement as well.”
Oh, darn the luck, Timmy! Please come back with an innuendo-laced attack on Carona, and top it off with a military-based quote of your bravery and ferocity! It has become so entertaining.
Posted by: anon ii | February 28, 2006 at 03:46 PM
Will the CRA pull its endorsement when Carona is indicted?
Posted by: | February 28, 2006 at 04:20 PM
I guess there is more than just money to Sheriff Carona's campaign. The CRA is one of the most principled and most conservative Republican organizations in California! If the CRA has endorsed America's Sheriff, the Orange County Republican Central Committee's endorsement can't be too far behind.
I can see the mail hitting every Republican household in the County of Orange: The CRA Endorses the Re-election of Mike Carona for Orange County Sheriff.
You see America's Sheriff has nearly $1 million to get this message out to the entire County.
Candidate Hunt on the other hand, with only $12,536.60 will be able to send a piece of mail to every Democrat that has a last name beginning with "X" and "Z"
You Hunt supporters had better realize that it takes more than the village idiot (Little Timmy W) and a village of disgruntled sergeants and four lieutenantst to win a county-wide Sheriff's race.
Posted by: $12,536.60 Reasons Why | February 28, 2006 at 05:25 PM
Last night's CRA meeting was only to endorse in the 35th S.D. and for some other State Assembly Races.
As soon as I read this post I made some calls. I was informed that a number of CRA units weren't even there, but Mike Schroeder, his wife, Jon Fleischman and others showed up. They twisted some arms and did some maneuvering without a full strength Orange County CRA showing.
The County races WERE NOT on the agenda and SHOULD NOT HAVE been considered. Shame on the lot of them for pulling this crap and muscling out a bogus endorsement for Mike Carona - arguably the most ethically challenged Elected Official in the history of Orange County.
This endorsement should not stand. I respectfully call on all CRA members who were also misled, to rise up and have this endorsement rescinded until such time as all Candidates of Sheriff have the opportunity to be properly vetted before an endorsing convention.
The CRA is supposed to be the most conservative, most Christian organization in the Party. Well, it just got hijacked by Team Carona. Hopefully, enough godly members stand up to fix this ugly smear on its fine reputation.
Semper Fi,
Tim Whitacre
Posted by: Tim Whitacre | February 28, 2006 at 05:28 PM
Tim,
You're drowning in a pool of your own conspiracy theories....You continually point out the ineptitude of the Sheriff, Fleischman and Schroeder, yet they seem to outsmart you at every turn....
First they conspire with Wayne Quint and AOCDS to prevent an early endorsement, then they conspire with the Orange County Register to gain favorable press and ignore negative stories and now they've hijacked the CRA.
Whatever you do Tim, don't look in your rear view mirror..that fast moving machine coming into view is Team Carona and it looks like they are about to run your hard fought but poorly run campaign into the ground!
Anyone with any political sense could see your team wasn't ready to wear your "big boy" pants and sit at the grownup's table. You're campaign has been more of a temper tantrum than a methodical/well thought out plan. And now your mudslinging tactics will only result in ruined relationships between former friends and coworkers within OCSD! Way to go!
Posted by: Green Machne | February 28, 2006 at 05:57 PM
A Sheriff's Sergeant at Court Division, (former Marshall Department), has issued a memo advising all deputies to not discuss Department policy with other Sheriff's Department members. Although not related to the CRA endorsement, it is indicative of the censorship of opinions that are rampant in the Sheriff's Dept. during this Carona pre-election climate.
Posted by: More Censorship | February 28, 2006 at 06:05 PM
"$12,536.60 Reasons Why"
Hey, brother -- are you the Carona supporter who pulled his gun out on the links? That was some good stuff.
Posted by: Spanky | February 28, 2006 at 06:26 PM
Hey Spanky maybe he's the Hunt supporter that shot his partner
Posted by: Buckwheat | February 28, 2006 at 06:42 PM
No, I'm one of the Hunt Supporters that wore a "Bill Hunt for Sheriff" shirt at a memorial golf tournament for fallen officers. Nothing but class, too bad it's just like Hunt's campaign, 3rd.
Posted by: | February 28, 2006 at 06:43 PM
At what point does it become evident Carona will not be defeated?
If it is obvious Carona will not be defeated, why would any other candidate continue in a futile attempt with the only certain consequence being a torn asunder sheriff's department???
It will quit hurting when the pain stops!
Posted by: Analysis | February 28, 2006 at 06:55 PM
The County races WERE NOT on the agenda and SHOULD NOT HAVE been considered. Shame on the lot of them for pulling this crap and muscling out a bogus endorsement for Mike Carona - arguably the most ethically challenged Elected Official in the history of Orange County.
This endorsement should not stand. I respectfully call on all CRA members who were also misled, to rise up and have this endorsement rescinded until such time as all Candidates of Sheriff have the opportunity to be properly vetted before an endorsing convention.
The CRA is supposed to be the most conservative, most Christian organization in the Party. Well, it just got hijacked by Team Carona. Hopefully, enough godly members stand up to fix this ugly smear on its fine reputation.
Semper Fi,
Tim Whitacre
Posted by: Tim Whitacre | February 28, 2006 at 07:02 PM
I don't know all the procedures of the CRA and more specifically their hastily arranged Carona meeting last night, but I smell a rat.
Powder Blue Report
Posted by: Allan Bartlett | February 28, 2006 at 07:06 PM
$12...and others, why all the energy attempting to convince Hunt supporters to give up? If like you say, he has not a snowball's chance in hell, let it go.
Or...you are concerned. Thou protest too much.
Posted by: Why the protest? | February 28, 2006 at 07:07 PM
"At what point does it become evident Carona will not be defeated?"
Uhh, after the election?
"If it is obvious Carona will not be defeated, why would any other candidate continue in a futile attempt with the only certain consequence being a torn asunder sheriff's department???"
The real question is how can anybody NOT run against Mike "Here's Your Fake Badge" Carona.
I don't know Mike Hunt from a hole in the ground, but if he's the only guy running against the incumbent, he's got my vote.
Posted by: Spanky | February 28, 2006 at 07:19 PM
Good job, Tim...It's a conspiracy, I tell you!!! Everyone but me and my boy are in on it!!! And as the knight in Monty Python with all his extremities cut off said: "C'mon, it's only a flesh wound!" And "Why", we're not protesting too much, Tim's just......fun!
Posted by: anon ii | February 28, 2006 at 07:20 PM
TimW. You said,
"The County races WERE NOT on the agenda and SHOULD NOT HAVE been considered. Shame on the lot of them for pulling this crap and muscling out a bogus endorsement for Mike Carona - arguably the most ethically challenged Elected Official in the history of Orange County."
This sounds familiar...hey Tim... "hate the game don't hate the players" I hear your candidate likes this to say this.
I know...perhaps you can circulate a petition!
Posted by: | February 28, 2006 at 07:34 PM
Tim,
Moorlach was there....
Street was there...
Bates was there....
What more do you need???
Posted by: | February 28, 2006 at 07:40 PM
Spanky, there are two others running besides Bill Hunt,,,,,
Bob Alcarez, (retired LASD sergeant) and Ralph Martin, (current LASD Commander), Martin is the only one who has actually raised any money...
Alcarez does not have a website.....Commander Martin's can be located at ralphmartinforocsheriff.org
Posted by: Change at OCSD | February 28, 2006 at 07:59 PM
Dearest Timmy,
Us real cops (not wannabe mortgage lenders like you) believe you should read W & I 5150 as you are beginning to exhibit the elements stated in that section....Timmy is it true you know who was on the grass knoll? Quit embarssing Hunt and all of us real cops.
Posted by: | February 28, 2006 at 08:11 PM
More details on the bogus "CRA endorsement" of Mike Carona:
Carona WAS NOT endorsed individually.
Carona's people (Schroeder and Fleischman) added his name to a blanket endorsement of Incumbent State Republican Elected Officials. When the small number of CRA members in attendance voted, many of them had no clear idea of the last minute inclusion of Carona's name on the list.
This tactic was a clear violation of CRA by-laws. Proper notice was NOT given to the other two Republican candidates for Sheriff, Bill Hunt and Ralph Martin. I can't speak for Mr. Martin's campaign, but I can tell you that Bill Hunt had every intention of going to the CRA endorsing convention that concerned County endorsements.
This was flat out an UNETHICAL, UNPRINCIPLED procedural maneuver cleverly orchestrated by Mike Schroeder and Jon Fleischman.
Lt. Bill Hunt has been to CRA unit meetings in Garden Grove, Anaheim, Costa Mesa and Corona Del Mar as a guest speaker. He has been personally endorsed by almost every individual member from those groups that were in attendance at the meetings. Many of those members are organizing fund raisers and meet & greets for Bill. That is a fact.
IT IS WRONG to allow Carona, who was not even in attendance to ask for an endorsement, to be lumped together with “State Office Holders” in a blanket endorsement. (This is the only way Carona can hope for a CRA endorsement and his people know that. That’s why they pulled this stunt!)
IT IS WRONG to not give proper notice to other Republican candidates for Sheriff.
IT IS WRONG for the CRA to even consider endorsing in local elections until after the filing period has closed on March 10th.
IT IS MANDATORY that in order for CRA to maintain its credibility with its individual members, as well as Republican voters, to immediately rescind Carona’s name from the blanket endorsement of State Office Holders. Unlike any other local races, Carona has TWO REPUBLICAN challengers to his incumbent position.
I am one Republican Central Committee Member who is tired of a select few telling the rest of us who’s going to be anointed to the various elected positions. Sorry boys (yes, the "king makers" are all men), but I only want ethical men and women to represent my Party!
I call on all ethical Republican to rise up and revolt against this latest hijacking of our principles!
Shame on Mike Carona, Mike Schroeder and Jon Fleischman. It’s time to restore integrity and trust to the Sheriff’s Department.
Semper Fi,
Tim Whitacre
Posted by: Tim Whitacre | February 28, 2006 at 08:37 PM
Good info for us in the Anybody-But-Carona camp. Thanks.
Posted by: Spanky | February 28, 2006 at 08:37 PM
Tim:
A couple weeks ago your hot controversy was that the Sheriff had inflated his fundraising numbers. Now, you state that individual members of individual CRA units are hosting fundraisiers and personally endorsing Bill Hunt. Will you live by the same standard and disclose you tried to apply to Carona and list all those names, all those fundraisers, the EXACT amount raised a each event, etc.? Or should we be calling in Martin Wisckol to investigate your efforts to manipulate the process by inflating your support?
Jeff
PS - I have work I have to do and don't want to...so I post on OC Blog!
Posted by: Jeff Flint | February 28, 2006 at 08:43 PM
Tim,
By the wording of your last post, I am beginning to get the impression that you're finally getting it! Knowledgeable posters here have been trying to help you overcome your obduracy for a few weeks now in spite of your invectives. I think we have finally gotten through to you.
Winning a countywide election against an entrenched and popular incumbent is extremely difficult. Attempting such a feat with a poorly thought-out plan is folly. Basing a campaign on mudslinging is an example of a poorly thought-out plan.
I pray the damage you have done to relationships can be mended. It is not too late to apologize.
Posted by: | February 28, 2006 at 08:56 PM
Tim Whitacre says: "IT IS MANDATORY that ..."
If he is the moral compass of the Republican party then we are all in trouble. His ego is so big that he tells the Republican party what is "MANDATORY".
Please Tim...get over yourself! If your arrogance isn't bad enough, now your condescending tone to fellow party members is creating the same divide that your candidate has created in OCSD.
Posted by: Green Machine | February 28, 2006 at 09:05 PM
"creating the same divide"
"torn asunder"
"ruined relationships"
Such drama in the law enforcement community. Who knew?
Posted by: Spanky | February 28, 2006 at 09:13 PM