Villaraigosa's Numero Uno Campaign Supporter
By Walter Moore, Candidate for Mayor of Los Angeles, MooreIsBetter.com.
Federal prosecutors have indicted George Torres, the owner of "Numero Uno" grocery stores, for a littany of crimes, that, in the words of the L.A. Times, "reads like a Mario Puzo novel."
Torres contributed $1000 to Villaraigosa's mayoral campaign in the 2005 election. But I'm sure it was just because Torres had a deep sense of civic duty. Or maybe Torres was just grateful for the help Villaraigosa lent his business partner. As per the Times:
"Torres was a onetime business partner of Horacio Vignali, who attracted national attention in 2001 when he enlisted a host of local law enforcement and elected officials — including then-Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa and Sheriff Lee Baca — to persuade President Clinton to pardon his convicted cocaine-dealing son."
People, you really need to upgrade your Mayor.
Posted by Walter Moore @ 6/14/2007 12:18:00 PM
32 Comments:
I don't see a sensible alternative yet.
unless Janice Hahn is running.
Walter, where can we find out who has contributed to your campaign?
Wow....
So a guy who contributed 1K to Antonio (which is chicken-shit when it comes to campaign contributions) was once a business partner to a guy who tried to get a SHITLOAD of elected officials to ask Clinton to pardon his son.
Walter...you're grasping at straws...
That's what he gave on the record. Remember Antonio had his "state car" worked on at Vignali's garage - at inflated prices, Vignali gave Antonio a huge payoff for that letter. During the mayors' campaign, who do you think provided all that free water and volunteer food, Numero Uno markets, they never reported this. And these henchman have bee used to quell some opposition, why do you think no one wants to go on record speaking against he mayor?
8:21
Since there were no reports...how do you know Numero Uno supplied all the food? Have you ever worked on a campaign? If you did, you'd know that campaigns accept gifts of food and water from restaurants and stores and it doesn't mean shit, regardless of who owns them. You think someone like Cindy Montanez would say no to food donated to the campaign? Or maybe phone banks at labor halls?
Upgrade our mayor?
You mean vote for the "DIVORCED" Walter Moore who got married again with an ELVIS IMPERSONATER?
So when you gave you vows before God and others, you decided the best person to sanction this was an ELVIS IMPERSONATER?
Yes, Walter you are an upgrade indeed.
Liberals are supposed to be tolerant of all religions and lack of religions.
Yet the best you can do is insult Walter on his wedding?
If Walter and his bride choose a particular ceremony you should respect that if you folks truly believe in "diversity."
I've been to an Elvis wedding and it was fun. It actually incorporated elements of the religions (yes it was a "mixed" marriage) of both the bride and groom. I would never do that myself as I am more conservative but I have no issue with what someone wants to do.
And if by some chance you're some right wingnut evangelical Christian who thinks Walter's marriage was apostate or something like that, let me say that at least Walter doesn't cheat on his wife (and I have met the charming and lovely Mrs. Moore) unlike some of our best right wing politicians.
Oh and big city Mayors of both parties evidently.
Dear 7:52:
Because you're probably new to politics, let me explain that the reason the guy is listed as having given "only" $1000 to AV is because that's the legal limit. But the real value of people like this to candidates is their ability to get friends, clients, family, etc. to also contribute. That connection doesn't show up in the reports.
Walter, this issue died with Jimmy Hahn and Nick Pacheco.
Want to join them?
No self respecting journalist would even consider raising this issue, but you could probably get your fellow blogger, the loquacious Zuma Dog, to do a brief 100 paragraph blog on it.
9:53
I've been involved in politics for nearly 2 decades and can name 30 electeds over that time that would take my call. Can you?
Villaraigosa's personal life is off limits, as far as I'm concerned. And Elvis was great. But nice attempt at changing the subject -- which seems to be the only tactic Villaraigosa's staffers have. Didn't you want to call me "racist" while you're at it? I mean, it's right there in your debate manual, isn't it?
Walter,
I don't believe any politician's personal life is off limits when it comes to issues of character.
A few months back, Villaraigosa denied he was having marital troubles when he wasn't wearing his ring. He said he lost weight.
I think we would all be hard pressed to believe that the divorce came about just last week.
In terms of a person to person thing, yea, I guess it's his business if he cheats on his wife. However if he lies about that, what else is he lying about?
We saw it with Clinton as well as Nixon. Or Tom DeLay or William Jefferson or Bernard Kerik. Its an issue of character and I think we've become too quick to dismiss that because its become politically incorrect to "judge" people. As human beings we have the ability to judge for a reason. We would be dead otherwise.
And of couse liberals are totally inconsistent on this because they "judge" conservatives, Christians, etc. all the time.
A politician's personal life is off limits, if they don't use that life to promote themselves. Antonio used his "family man" theme for each and every campaign he entered. He lied. We were told he was lying. And he continues to lie. What was that line on the Clintons, "the ease in which they lied was troubling." Same thing here.
There are many politicians who have leaned on their families for a little PR support, Xavier Becerra comes to mind, anybody ever question his devotion to his family? Then there are those that have always kept their personal lives off limits - to no detriment to their reputation, Hilda Solis comes to mind.
You can't have it both ways. Only someone suffering from illusions of grandeur would dare venture into this arena. (I got that illusion of grandeur line from a drug addiction pamphlet, under cocaine use) Antonio thinks he can do no wrong, well the press is just finding out that the emperor has no clothes, indeed. Watch the crumbling begin, karma is a motherfucker.
Comparing Clinton to Nixon is as absurd as comparing Clinton to Bush.
Lets see...Clinton lies about getting blowjobs...Nixon lies about B&E and, Bush lies and ends up killing thousands of Americans and tens of thousands Iraqis.
Which of those is not like the other?
But nice attempt at changing the subject -- which seems to be the only tactic Villaraigosa's staffers have. Didn't you want to call me "racist" while you're at it? I mean, it's right there in your debate manual, isn't it?
June 14, 2007 10:07 AM
Watch your words, Walter.... This kind of lip-flapping doesn't look very mayoral. ;)
Walter, where can we find out who has contributed to your campaign?
Good morning ladies and gentlemen (removes hat, bows low with flourish and leaves hat with crew prior to entering groccery store):
Sots, guess what I'm doing? I'm off to market, I am. (Takes shopping cart and motions to crew to follow) You know, the market is a fascinating place, for where else can you obtain provisions, catch up on neighbourhood gossip and enter a world of intrigue all at the same time, savvy? (Squeezes tomato to check for ripeness) Just ask Mr. Dogg, for he has been reading up on marketing, savvy? But enough of that, let's talk about something else, shall we?
(Pushes cart over to butcher's counter) Halloo? Butcher-man? (Hands over list and whispers) It's rather interesting that those for whom only the choicest of viands will do often resort to taking the cheap way out. (Takes packages from butcher) Thank you my good man.
(Walks over to canned good section of market) For example, a donation of $1K gets you what? Chips, salsa and a photo opp? Fie, it's not what was donated, but rather whom was entertained, if you will, as I have said in the past. (Takes can of mandarin oranges off the shelf and pushes cart on) As for providing the food, I would wager that the food came from the co-operative that the market is involved with. But they appear to be squeaky clean, are they not? (Takes bottle of Windex off shelf and puts it in cart). For no matter how great the eats are at a party, it's the party favours that you take away with you post-party. If I were someone in a similar position, I think I would take my favours in the form of barter instead of sugar cubes. After all, barter is a form of marketing, savvy?
(Takes several bottles of rum from shelf and puts them in the cart) Speaking of markets, I hear that someone in the Downtown Los Angeles area is in the market for a new tenant for their apartment since the location of a certain person's home-away-from-home was brought up to me by someone in an adjacent CM district. (Pushes cart to check out) Unless I miss my guess, the apartment in question is at a location which is adjacent to a parking garage. All rather convenient, wouldn't you say? (Pays cashier) But then again, that's what a market is for, savvy?
Oh, and Mr. Spot? I believe the answer that you are looking for to the question you asked one of the Five is Orsini. Why Orsini? Co-eds from a nearby university, my good man.
AV is going to need a lot of new "supporters".
Supreme Court rules against public employee unions
By David G. Savage, Times Staff Writer
9:49 AM PDT, June 14, 2007
WASHINGTON -- In a setback for unions that represent public employees, the Supreme Court ruled today that states could bar them from using forced dues for political purposes unless individual employees gave their explicit approval.
"Unions have no constitutional entitlement to the fees of nonmember employees," Justice Antonin Scalia said.
The 9-0 decision overturned the Washington Supreme Court, which said the state's largest teachers' union had a right to use all dues money for lobbying and politics except when individual dissidents objected in writing.
Today's decision maintains the uneasy compromise that the court set in the 1970s when unions took hold in the public sector. The unions represent teachers, firefighters, police officers, nurses and other public employees.
On the one hand, unions can require employees to pay fees or dues to cover the cost of collective bargaining, at least in states that authorize "union shop" rules.
However, dissident employees cannot be forced to pay for political contributions. In 1977, the court said dissidents had a free-speech right not to pay for political causes they opposed.
Reconciling these two principles continues to pose problems. Union leaders prefer a rule that allows them to use dues money except when dissidents object and seek a refund in writing. Anti-union activists have fought this approach, saying it gives unions too much leeway to spend the money of dissidents.
Scalia's opinion for the court takes the side of dissident teachers.
"It is undeniably unusual for a government agency to give a private entity the power, in essence, to tax government employees," he said, referring to the union shop laws that permit such arrangements in the public sector.
Requiring unions to obtain an explicit approval from a dissident teacher before spending their dues money is a "modest limitation ... on the union's exercise of this extraordinary power" to collect forced dues from all teachers, Scalia said.
It is, "to say the least, counterintuitive" to say this requirement violates the 1st Amendment rights of the unions, Scalia said in Davenport vs. Washington Education Assn. States could "eliminate agency fees entirely," he said.
Though the case has been closely followed by public-sector unions and "right to work" advocates, it was not clear that today's ruling would have much immediate practical effect.
The Washington Supreme Court's ruling said unions had a 1st Amendment right to spend dues money unless members objected.
But the Supreme Court's opinion is likely to be cited often by union opponents to push for more state restrictions on the use of dues money in the public sector.
david.savage@latimes.com
THANK YOU THANK YOU STEVE LOPEZ
Mr. Mayor: Shut up, grow up, slow down, June 14, 2007
latimes.com
Steve Lopez must have the biggest balls on this planet. What a great column today telling it like we all think it is. Haven't seen such a scathing piece in ages but appreciate the truth.
I can't believe there's actually people out there defending our low life, cholo, gang banging, sleazy mayor. He's full of corruption but local reporters have protected him for a long time but I think the tide is turning. Hillary should be worried. Everything the mayoral election failed to cover the nat'l media will report. AV threatened if Hahn used the crack pipe ad the Latinos would attack him so he didn't. Hahn should have aired it to remind LA what a loser AV really is.
matt, matt, no! You can't actually be supporting Janice Hahn, that windbag who keeps trying to prove her bleeding-heart liberal credentials and get some Latino support away from the Mayor, with failed initiatives like that LAX-area hotels thing, which was deemed illegal twice: but she filled the Council chambers with cheering and oh-so-grateful Latinos, got her photo op out of it, anyway. The LAT opined that it would have driven even more bus out of L. A., already seen nationally as fringe loonies catering to angry illegals, pompous liberals...as tho the hardworking middle didn't exist. They don't to Janice Hahn.
-- Her district in Watts does have more than its fair share of gangs and shootings, but she ignores the city outside of her district.
She makes endless presentations, really really longwinded adjourning motions, always reflecting back on herself: anything to get her horse head on airtime/photo ops.
-- And drags in marching bands from small towns in Italy, any time-wasting promos she can think of...maybe she can next drag in her good bud Dennis Zine in his leather and underwear drag, that would be a good photo op. -- only ZD himself can grandstand and waste Council time more.
(Altho those two women in Van Nuys are learning from their master: nattering on upto 5 mins. daily ...How much is it costing us, as taxpayers to pay for the Council to listen to them all daily?
-- But at least your bud ZD decries wasting taxes on failed programs: be true to your beliefs, out Hahn as a fiscally wasteful, selfserving windbag. Her horse's head neighing on as Mayor would make even you long for AV.
John & Ken KFI keep repeating that Janice Hahn is an embezzle. What a moron she is. When Cheryl Green was killed Janice acted as if it was the first time she realize a murder had taken place in her district. Funny how she kept saying in council about gang violence. Janice, where the hell have you been????? This city has suffered from gang violence for decades and you're just now figuring it out. Janice lost her credibility a long time ago and she supports illegals and gang bangers. Who else would be stupid enough to want to place a ballot measure to get $50 million more for gang programs when already 3 have been arrested for felonies. Yeah, Janice waste our tax dollars. Matt Dowd would like her, he's the biggest loser who speaks out in council.
Nah, you've probably not racist, Wacko. You're just the typical xenophobic fraidy cat.
You probably LOVE to visit other countries like the 6-figure limo libs do, and appear cosmopolitan, and try out snippets of other people's language OVER there to impress friends.
But if the person waiting on you at the fast food restaurant or answering the phone at customer service is a BIT difficult to understand and you have to repeat your information -- THEN, the fit hits the shan.
I'm betting every 3rd generation in your lineage was just terrified of the invading hordes on non-Americans that were bringing the country down. And look, we're now the only real surviving world power, and 2nd place is still in the starting blocks.
DAMN, those illegals have DESTROYED our country.
kgprI just continue to wonder when NBC 4 is going to reveal that the other woman is their Telemundo political reporter?
i don't give this any credibility at all - when its written by somebody who wants to profit off it by running for the same office. sounds like a cheap attack ad by yet another 'wannabe' politician
Who ares what Matt thiks or supports? He oesn't even have a vote, nor does homeless Dave Elliott, also known by his scumbag name, Zuma Dog.
You don't vote when you live out of a van.
Only the six fools who actually read their trash are on the "might care" list.
Just drove by the Mayor's house in Mt. Washington. It's all tented up and being fumigated. If it were any other house, I wouldn't bother to say anything, but the fact that it's the Mayor's house and in light of his recent announcement, I have to laugh.
It will take more than fumigation to solve his problems.
2:22 pm. Go play in traffic. Are you really that stupid?
Why is it that if an American goes to any other country and demands the locals speak English, he is being the stereotypical "ugly American," yet if that same American demands foreigners (i.e., those here illegally) to speak English here, he's also criticized?
The two are mutually exclusive, you jackass. You can't be an America-centric, disrespectful pig for exhibiting boorishness in a foreign country, and be called the same for demanding that foreigners show some respect here.
4:03 pm. The Mayor will be just fine. Fumigation kills termites, not cockroaches.
to 6:22 p.m., the previous writer: I'm not sure what any of this has to do with AV, that diatrite got off track...But as it happens Arnold got into hot water yesterday over telling Spanish-speakers to learn English. You are right that in any other place an American demanding everyone speak English, would be met with disdain or anger, from notriously snotty France, to Germany and Italy (where I was scolded just last year for not knowing Italian and making it hard for the merchants there), to even obscure little countries where no one cares about their language and yes, Latin America/ Mexico. Maybe the intellectuals down there speak English and the rest want to, but they don't. That's another irony: outside of the U S and even Mexico they clamor to learn English, it's the franca lingua of the world; but here, we're supposed to learn their language to talk to the maid or any service worker. But this obvious line of thought is "racist." -- But if this has anything to do with AV, he is all for everyone learning English to enter the mainstream.
To 9:59 AM
The answer to your question is yes. I'll take your 30 and raise you 30 (the number of electeds who have taken my calls). Then we'll toss in the number who would call me.
But do you have a point that you forgot to make?
7:27
Sure... *yawn*
Wally we agree lets get a real mayor and dump this cholo!
The problem is you are not qualified either.
Cholo or Hippy!
Lets just dump the mayor position
and save taxpayers a buck or two.
The only reason Walter thinks a grand is some kind of humoungous contribution worthy of scrutiny is because he has so little familiarity with receiving such contributions himself. And thus shall it remain.
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