OC Blog

Greenhut's Sunday Column Is Disingenuous: Part 3

So what did happen at the Republican Party of Orange County Central Committee on November 19?

Here's how Steve Greenhut described it in his November 25 Commentary column:

After former Cypress Councilman Mike McGill drafted a resolution calling for a Carona resignation, party leaders convinced him to soften the measure to gain wider support. So McGill introduced a resolution that called on the sheriff to take leave until the federal charges are resolved. It was weak, but it would have extended the time the sheriff would vacate his office and at least open up a debate about the sheriff's behavior.

Greenhut's Sunday Column Is Disingenuous: Part 2

I guess some of my recent posts have hit a nerve with my friend Steve. He lets loose with an ad hominem screed over at Orange Punch. So much for debate and discussion. Maybe if I march in lock-step with Orange Punch, I'll get a nice post for Valentine's Day.

Back to Steve's Sunday column.

Steve also hauls out the favorite bugaboo of those who find themselves stymied in the political arena: Mike Schroeder. According to this storyline, there is only one possible explanation for the behavior of the Central Committee members last week fear of Schroeder.

Greenhut's Sunday Column Is Disingenuous: Part 1

As readers of the OC Register know, Steve Greenhut wants Sheriff Carona to resign...yesterday. So when the OC GOP Central Committee didn't figuratively deliver Carona's head on a platter, Steve penned a Sunday column accusing them of being cowards.

But his commentary is an example of how columnists can stretch and twist the truth, even when the untwisted truth should serve them just fine.

Let's take Steve's treatment of OC GOP Chairman Scott Baugh's comments to the committee. In a blog post the day after the Central Committee meeting, here's how Steve characterized Baugh's speech:

Party Chairman Scott Baugh, although offering some mild rebuke of the sheriff, gave a rousing talk designed shore up support for the sheriff.

Here's how Steve characterized it in his column:

Did Debbie Carona Sell Her Fair Board Vote?

Did Debbie Carona, in her capacity as an OC Fair Board member, advocate for TelPhil Entreprises to keep their lucrative contract to run the OC Marketplace because TelPhil gave to husband Mike Carona's campaign?

The Los Angeles Times would like you to think so. And obviously the U.S. Attorney does, as well.

I don't know the answer, but I think it's very unlikely.

Who's Afraid Of Mike Schroeder?

There's been some interesting and amusing commentary this week about Mike Schroeder in the context of Sheriff Carona's legal troubles and the OC GOP. OC Register editorialist Steve Greenhut and TheLiberalOC.com blogger Dan Chmielewski write about the power of Mike Schroeder and the fear they believe OC GOP Central Committee members feel toward him.

Steve wrote on Sunday:

Many no doubt find the sheriff unfit to be the county's top cop, but there's reason not to buck the party establishment, especially Schroeder, who is known for his aggressive efforts. Schroeder, after all, is waging a "burn the village" campaign against Supervisor Janet Nguyen, through legal and other complaints that will hobble her campaign to retain her seat.

Norby, Grindle & Hunt On Carona On Channel 4

A friend hipped me to this video of Supervisor Chris Norby, Shirley Grindle and OC Sheriff candidate Bill Hunt on Laurel Erickson's "NewsConference" program this weekend on Channel 4.

It's a bizarre set-up. Erickson -- striving mightily to appear as if she's actually been following the OC politics -- is remotely interviewing the trio, who are bunched together outside the Civic Center: Norby and Hunt shoulder-to-shoulder, and Grindle standing in front of them.

Grindle breaks into one of her patented polemics against "Republican thugs" who apparently have the power to decide who does and who doesn't run for office.

The Sheriff's Defense Attorney

The current Orange County Business Journal has a good article on the lawyers squaring off in the upcoming trial of Sheriff Mike Carona. The OCBJ piece gives special focus on the Sheriff's attorney, H. Dean Steward:

Career-Making Case Pits U.S. Attorneys Against Renowned Defense Lawyer

By Jessica C. Lee

Three lawyers are preparing for what could be the biggest and most salacious case in county history: the trial of Sheriff Mike Carona.

Two seasoned government prosecutors, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth Julian and Brett Sagel of the Santa Ana office, are set to face off with a well-regarded defense lawyer, H. Dean Steward—himself the son of a federal prosecutor.

New Blog About Potential Replacements for Sheriff

I recently discovered this new blog about some of the possible replacements for Sheriff should Mike Carona be indicted on federal corruption charges.  Paul Waters, the current police chief for the City of Santa Ana, and someone who is often mentioned as a possible candidate for Sheriff, seems to be getting a lot of attention on this new blog - http://www.smartsheriff.blogspot.com/.  While I do not know if everything posted on "smartsheriff" is accurate, this bit of information about Paul Walters is alarming, if it is true:

He endorsed Lou Correa for Senate, Lockyer for Treasurer and made commercial spots for Loretta Sanchez...

San Clemente Council Backs Off Hunt Endorsement

According to this story in the San Clemente Sun Post by Fred Swegles, the San Clemente City Council voted 5-0 not to send the Supes the proposed endorsement letter for Bill Hunt for Sheriff, agendized by Councilman Wayne Eggleston (who readers may recall caused a dust-up in December 2006 for dissing Stanton):

Tuesday night, council members discussed the proposed Hunt endorsement letter but opted not to send it after hearing a request from Asst. Sheriff Jack Anderson.

Anderson appeared before the council, asking the council not to endorse anybody. He said the investigation had concluded that demotion was proper, and for the Board of Supervisors to appoint Hunt sheriff would be counter to the county's legal defense of a lawsuit that Hunt has filed contesting the demotion.

Baugh Responds To Greenhut On Carona Resolution

OC GOP Chairman Scott Baugh wrote a response to Steve Greenhut's post on last night's OC GOP Central Committee vote. Greenhut posted it, and I re-print it here:

It is clear to me that Steve Greenhut has an agenda to see that Mike Carona resign from office. Apparently, any process at the Republican Party that does not immediately spit out resignation falls short in his mind. Perhaps Mr. Greenhut is not constrained by Robert’s Rules of Order and the deliberative process that takes place in an organization like the Central Committee. Nonetheless, he offers incomplete, if not misguided conclusions about last evening.

First, he claims that I issued some mild rebuke to the Sheriff. In case his readers want to know what I actually said, instead of his interpretation, the following is a list: