I just found out the Lincoln Club of Orange County has decided to endorse Supervisor Janet Nguyen for re-election to the Board of Supervisors next year. Here's the statement from Lincoln Club President Rich Wagner:
“The Board of Directors voted unanimously this morning to endorse Janet Nguyen for supervisor of the first district. As the Republican incumbent for this seat, she is the clear choice to represent this district. She has proven she will stand up for taxpayers and we’re confident she will continue to support Supervisor John Moorlach’s efforts to challenge the legality of retroactive pension benefits.”
This is a good news for Supervisor Nguyen. The challenge for Janet is adding the support of important constituencies such as the Lincoln Club to her existing base.
The Lincoln Club endorsement sends a big signal to other players who are as yet uncommitted. Equally important is the Lincoln Club backs up its endorsement with financial support, often in the form of substantial independent expenditures. Even though the Lincoln Club supported Santa Ana Councilman Carlos Bustamante in the special election last year, Janet benefited from the Club's IEs against the presumed front-runner Tom Umberg.
Will this dissuade Trung Nguyen from following through with his promised campaign? I doubt it. His support base among Vietnamese voters and through the Van Tran operation are relatively independent of the Lincoln Club.
The members must be too old and tired to do the legwork and due diligence required to find a real candidate.
Posted by: Not impressed! | September 14, 2007 at 01:39 PM
Great news for Janet. The GOP will be united this time around and she has a very good chance to hold this seat, even against trial lawyer turned doc lobbyist Joe Dunn.
Posted by: Been Around | September 14, 2007 at 01:40 PM
This website has very thoroughly documented the poor judgment and immaturity of Ms Janet. The endorsement by the Lincoln Club is simply lazy.
Can ANYONE honestly say she is the best choice for OC Republicans? ANYONE???
Given the complete domination by Republicans on the Board of Supervisors, how about taking a little risk? How about taking a couple months to actually find someone who will serve the Party and the community well.
LAZY... LAZY... LAZY!
Posted by: Not a Janet Fan | September 14, 2007 at 02:06 PM
Holy cow! I predict at least 30 comments on this one...
Posted by: Scott Graves | September 14, 2007 at 02:10 PM
The LC did the right thing and the fact they did it unanimously speaks volumes. Janet is doing a great job, exceeding expectations. She is going to win reelection and be a strong GOP force in central county for a long time.
Posted by: Thank You LC | September 14, 2007 at 02:44 PM
Scott Graves is right so let the bashing begin. Once again the Lincoln Club acted in haste without fully analyzing the political situation on the ground.
I guess they didn't learn their mistake from the last special election.
Posted by: Basher | September 14, 2007 at 03:16 PM
So will Bustamonte now endorse Janet as well? Does this give him the green light?
Posted by: What about Carlito? | September 14, 2007 at 03:53 PM
The Dem's have Loretta Sanchez, I guess the Rep's have got to have their version.
Posted by: Monkey Business | September 14, 2007 at 04:34 PM
Monkey Business, are you insulting Loretta Sanchez? Janet may be 20 years younger than Sanchez, but, n/m.
Posted by: Ugly Meter | September 14, 2007 at 05:28 PM
I suppose the LC Board, Scott Baugh, et al sat around and decided they just didn't have the time, enthusiasm, or energy to find an alternative. They endorse Janet now to get her off their plate so they can focus on bigger things.
After all, Baugh needs more time to run around playing presidential paddy cake with the Romney group and the Lincoln Club strategery team needs more time to figure out how to be relevant on the national stage with a $100k budget.
Meanwhile, the not-so-glamorous, but all-too-important local stuff takes a back seat.
Focus people.
Posted by: Chewbacca | September 14, 2007 at 05:31 PM
This is a very smart move by the Lincoln Club. Janet is the only one who can hold on to this seat for the GOP and the Club knows it. They were wise to get out early and help unite the Party. Look for more major endorsements to follow, as I bet this is part of an orchestrated move by Scott Baugh.
Posted by: Eldad Taylor | September 14, 2007 at 08:12 PM
Basher, while hearing that I am right about something is always music to my ears, I took your comment to suggest that it was me who wanted the "bashing to begin." Not so.
I want vigorous and open debate. Janet seems to spark a lot of it on this blog. The "bashing" as you put it appears to be natural part of the process, right along with the cheerleading being done by Eldad Taylor and Thank You LC.
Posted by: Scott Graves | September 14, 2007 at 09:28 PM
This is a pretty good signal to Democrats that despite Janet's outreach to some Dems in the District, she'll be a traditional, conservative Republican and toe the line on partisan issues.
Posted by: Bladerunner | September 14, 2007 at 10:16 PM
B.R. said:
"This is a pretty good signal to Democrats that despite Janet's outreach to some Dems in the District, she'll be a traditional, conservative Republican and toe the line on partisan issues."
I don't agree. All this means is that the Lincoln Clubers have no where else to go and they got burned so badly backing Bustamonte with multiple candidates that they want to avoid a GOP food fight. They also want to get out front of the New Majority making an endorsement.
Posted by: Not your Father's Republican | September 14, 2007 at 10:36 PM
LC's endorsement of Janet, an incumbent, is not surprising. She will be hit by all sides. The Dems will show up in force in the '08 Presidential Election. Janet already gave them plenty of ammo to shoot at her. Let's count some of the ways (so far): the secret donation accounts, the multiple lawsuits and FPPC complaints, the extravagant office expenditures, the unneeded (taxpayers') Little Saigon office, the split Viet votes, etc.
She'll have a tough race whoever the Dems throw at her. Janet needs to make peace with her opponents, and fast, or she'll sink with her own baggage come election time. Good luck, Janet, and good riddance.
Posted by: Where's the beef? | September 14, 2007 at 11:07 PM
Congratulations to Janet on this important endorsement. Now if the Van Tran crowd can exert some self restraint and get off her back maybe we can keep another good republican in office on the BOS. Otherwise, the Van Tran "machine" may hand this seat over to a Dem. Bad move for all.
Posted by: | September 14, 2007 at 11:25 PM
Not your fathers Republican--
I'm sticking with what I said. You may be right about how the lincoln Club views this but so what? The reality is that for Democrats she will be just more of the same. She'll be endorsing Reps for partisan office and probably run for one of them herself. Dems have no incentive to support her.
Posted by: Bladerunner | September 15, 2007 at 12:10 AM
"Dems have no incentive to support her."
Can't argue with that.
Posted by: d'Anconia | September 15, 2007 at 08:49 AM
janet is a footnote in the making. She will not survive the next election. Beef forgot to mention the immigrant bashing Janet did last election.
Pretty soon you will see her "friend" Michelle Martinez feel the pressure from the left to stop playing with the Republicans. She will leave Janet in the cold.
Latinos are not going to forget the "I came to America The Right Way" line from janet.
Van Tran has had it with her and her antics. She keeps trying to kiss Van Trans ass to get back in his good graces but its not going to work. You have burned those bridges beyond repair janet. You need to gorw up little girl.
Posted by: | September 15, 2007 at 04:56 PM
Don't blame it on anyone for your own problem that you have caused, Janet. You are your own worse enemy and everyone knows it, but you. How odd? Your days are numbered when the Dems go after you. The Dems will also put in a Vietnamese candidate, not to mention other Viet candidates, in addition to Trung Nguyen, in this Supe race for good measure.
The LC and the New Majority can't help you with the luggage that you carry around. Instead of making peace, you are still waging war against your opponents. How stupid can you get, Janet? For starters, attend charm school.
Posted by: Blame it on Janet | September 15, 2007 at 05:48 PM
Why do you all hate Janet Nguyen so much?
Posted by: Loveless meter | September 15, 2007 at 05:53 PM
Democrat Kim Oanh Lam Nguyen can take out Janet Nguyen.
Posted by: Democrat Savior | September 15, 2007 at 06:06 PM
Dr. KimOanh Nguyen-Lam is a formidable candidate and can easily take out Janet for the supervisor seat if our Party would back her.
Posted by: Bolsaman | September 16, 2007 at 10:36 AM
I doubt the Van Tranites would support Dr. KimOanh Nguyen-Lam. Although she share her Vietnamese background with Van Tran; her politics are a far reach from his conservative viewpoints.
Posted by: | September 16, 2007 at 08:21 PM
Why don't you Janet-haters find something better to do with your (obviously unlimited) idle time than bash her. She IS a Republican. Do something constructive rather than spread your hatred and acid comments just becuase you jealous that she won.
Posted by: | September 16, 2007 at 08:23 PM