The Throw Tony Under the Bus Tour
As of late, it seems as if former Richard Riordan is throwing Tony Villar under the bus. See here and here.You might wonder why.
Call it a hunch, but I think that Riordan, Eli Broad and all their developer buddies might sense that Antonio's damaged goods.
They may also sense the coming Summer of Hate (as opposed to last year's Summer of Love) where NIMBYs, Neighborhood Council leaders and others are going to band together with the pitchforks against what they see as overarching real estate development and a near lack of candor and listening from their government officials.
And they're sniffing Zev Yaroslavsky revving his engines as the number one potential challenger to the Mayor. With the burning anger and the trouble Tony's in, Zev has a significant shot.
Nothing would scare the bejesus out of Riordan and his developer buddies more.
Their plan? Throw Tony under the bus now and find a friendly candidate who can cut into both Zev's Westside-Valley-Jewish base and Tony's Latino base. One who has money and citywide name ID.
Who?
I know that one guy who always posts about him is probably going in his pants right now, but that candidate would be none other than former Assembly Speaker and past Mayoral candidate Bob Hertzberg.
Stay tuned.
PS: In as much as 1967 was the Summer of Love where hippies gathered for music, drugs, sex and fun, so it was forty years later when political watchers in Los Angeles spent the whole summer watching the Antonio-Villaraigosa-Mirthala Salinas affair. Too like the original, 2007's Summer of Love came to an end. 1968 was a hateful, awful time, among other things marred by a divisive Democratic convention. The prospect of Mayor Villaraigosa's Presidential candidate going down in flames and the growing anger of the local populace could make 2008 not as nice as 2007.
Labels: bob hertzberg, eli broad, mayor antonio villaraigosa, Mirthala Salinas, richard riordan, zev yaroslavsky
Posted by Mayor Sam @ 3/24/2008 10:27:00 PM
32 Comments:
Fabian Nunez should be our next mayor. Granted his towering intellect, his ability to unite people of all colors, creeds and political persuasions, and his unassailable character, can you suggest anyone else so fit for this important position?
I couldn't agree more!
you are insane to think that latinos would vote for hertzberg or zev over antonio. like it or not, antonio has the east side locked up for good and would win the south side against zev and huggybear. those two can only compete on the westside and the valley, their home-base, which is not enough to take the mayor down with.
either could be a major thorn in the side of the mayor, but thats all they would be, thorns...
and if you think i'm a mayor groupie, you got it all wrong...i think the mayor has been a major disappointment, but I read the cross tabs from the feb. 5th polling and exit-polling and the mayor's support is solid, not outstanding, but solid, and there really isn't citywide discontent...
yes, parts of the city are up in arms over development, but lots of other portions are not, and when the economy is in the shitter like it is now, its hard to argue against development, since it brings jobs.
believe me, I wouldnt mind seeing the mayor booted out, but its gonna take more then zev or huggybear to do it.
Zev doesn't pull Latinos but Bob pulls some due to his longtime connection with folks like Gloria Molina and the fact that he has a Hispanic wife (unlike Antonio).
Antonio's base is Latinos and progressives. However, to beat Jim Hahn he needed the Valley and the Westside (especially Jews). With Zev in the race, Antonio loses the Valley, the Westside and Jews. Depending on what happens with Hillary, Blacks either sit out or go with Zev.
This is how Riordan fucks with it - he gets Hertzberg in. Hertzberg splits Zev's Westside, Valley and Jewish vote. He gets the yuppies and some Hispanics. Though Antonio gets like 80 maybe 90 percent of Hispanics, their overall numbers are not enough - look at the total of votes in CD1 or CD14 compared to say CD5 or CD2 for example. Big difference.
If Riordan can knock Zev out of a run-off with Villar with Hertzberg, great. If he still winds up electing Tony Villar, he still keeps Zev out of Getty House. If its Hertzberg and Zev, the edge goes to Hertzberg.
Tony just better hope Zev really doesn't want to run.
You just said antonio would get 80 to 90 percent of the latino vote, thats not much for hertzberg to take to make a difference. also, if you think he gets latino votes just because his wife his latina and he is kinda close with gloria, you know nothing about the latino vote. you should work on a few campaigns in cd 14 or cd 1 to get some experience and know the community.
black voters will not vote for zev or huggybear, there is absolutely no connection for them, they cant relate to them in any way. and whatever happens with hillary, unless the mayor comes our and supports turning over the will of the popular vote and delegate vote, black voters will not have anything to be pissed off about, especially since maxine waters and diane watson both support hillary.
you are giving riordan and broad way too much credit, these guys are businessmen first and it makes no sense to rock the boat right now, they got a good thing with the mayor, they may not be super happy with him, but its not that bad.
i know you dont like the mayor, but stop with the wishful thinking, until you look at some solid polling numbers you really cant gauge the mayors support simply form anecdotal evidence or conversations with other activists/bloggers such as yourself.
the mayor is not uber popular, but like i said, his support is solid and with no major issues, other then his personal stuff, there really is no opening for anyone. however, that doesnt mean things cant change, we will know by this summer if anyone is gonna oppose the mayor. whoever runs, be it huggybear or zev, they would have to announce and start raising money by september the latest, otherwise there is no way they could compete moneywise...
its hard to swallow, but its all the truth.
I didn't vote for Villaraigosa, but if my choices were between him, Zev and Hertzberg, then Villaraigosa is my mayor again.
i wish Jim Hahn would come back and kick some butt. He's rested enough now.
Villaraigosa? Not even! I'd take Yaroslavsky or Hahn over Villaraigosa in a second.
Sam, you are the ONLY person in Los Angeles that talks about Hertzberg or cares about him.
He is cooked; put a fork in him.
Antonio is a lock for reelection unless something more comes up, and, with him in election mode focus, it just ain't a-gonna happen.
So, stop all the stupid prognostication; Zev is not running, he says so, the Times says so, and everyone else that knows him says so. If he was running, he'd be taking the temperature of folks like me to see where we stand; he isn't, hasn't and won't.
Live with it, Antonio is around for another five years or so.
"Antonio has the east side locked up for good and would win the south side against zev"
You must take your meds. No way does Antonio have the Eastside. He's now referred to as the gang banging cholo mayor by many who campaigned and voted for him. HIs true colors have come out. Blacks don't like him cause he supports the illegals who have ruined the city let alone their community. Huggy Bear has tons of support from Latinos. He's the man. Antonio is damaged goods. He's been lucky the whole truth about his corruption hasn't hit the papers, but once an election starts IT WILL ALL COME OUT. Antonio campaigned on cleaning out city hall and now its the most corrupt house in the city with all the political paybacks, all the elections he's fixed, commission appointments, friends and relatives on staff.....Where's David Z when we need to him to report this shit
""With Zev in the race, Antonio loses the Valley, the Westside and Jews.""
I don't know Mayor Sam, "Antonio loses the westside and "Jews".?
kinda smacks of a "hymie town" comment.
Besides double checking your demographics you might want to check your PC meter for offensive descriptions of people.
I could be wrong but then again?
Who is the idiot that thinks there's a still a Latina in this City who'd vote for Antonio?
The Latinas don't look favorably upon what he did to his wife.
Ain't gonna get a single vote from them. Hertzberg, if he does run, will do very well. Last time it was a hair's breath away from being a runoff between Hahn and him.
Need I remind you idiots that Hertzberg is married to a Latina?
Who are all these Antonio haters?
I mean, are we talking aobut the guys who ran the "recall" that never filed a single signature?
Is this the Nick Pacheco bunch, Torres, Jr. and Villanueva? They couldn't get arrested, let alone elected.
C'mon guys, the popularity of the Mayor is still high enough to keep out anyone serious.
Anyone contemplating this race has to start NOW or get left at the poat.
The sound of silence is sewafening...
The stupidity of the populace is gigantic in this city. Vote for a tax we dont need, vote for a tax, we will not want, vote for a lying panderer.
How anyone could vote Villar into anything baffles my mind. Let him be Ambassador to Mexico.
Don Quicksand -
Since when did the term Jew become politically incorrect?
The Mayor has had significant support from the Jewish community for years. Indeed, that was one of the constituencies that helped him beat Mayor Hahn.
Many Westside voters fall into this class as well; many of them are also part of the Jewish community.
However, its not unreasonable to assume that were Zev and/or Hertzberg to run they'd siphon a huge, probably almost all of Antonio's Jewish and Westside support, many of whom are also probably part of the disgruntled NIMBYs, Neighborhood Council, homeowner, etc. crowd.
Without another well known Latino in the race its safe to say that the Mayor could get as high as 80 to 90 percent of the Latino vote.
However, Hertzberg has significant "chits" in the Latino community that allows him to drain some of that vote from Antonio. Coupled with the Valley and/or pissed off NIMBY vote that presents a problem for Antonio.
The problem for Hertzberg, among others, is that he's probably no more anti-development than Antonio.
Hence, the opening for Zev.
But Tricky Dick could draft Hertzberg to make things difficult for Zev.
Because Mayor Zev is a doomsday scenario for Mayor Dick and his buddies.
I wouldn't be so quick to hand over the latino vote to Antonio on a silver platter. Believe me, the tortilla-pan wielding ladies (::raises hand::) mocked here in the past, have loooooong memories and once they're reminded of his lousy personal track record (and these things DO matter whether or not anyone wants to admit to it) he's screwed. Even the vetranos who voted for him are disgusted at his constant pandering and his M.I.A. status in LA when all hell is breaking loose; he's off on a paid vacay with Hillary.
I hear a lot of it back in the old neighborhood. You'd be surprised. The Latinos are just as done with Antonio as any other group you can think of, 'cept for his flunkies.
xoxo
Mayor Sam mentions:
Don Quicksand -
"Since when did the term Jew become politically incorrect?"
Mr Mayor please excuse Don Quicksand for misinterpreting your mention of the term "Jew". He's been overly criticized lately for his racial sensitivities, hence may be somewhat quick to lash out in judgement.. Kudos for the great post!
Gangbanging cholo/mecha/reconquista wife cheating mayor of Los Angeles,the Illegal
Alien and Gang capital of the USA!
THAT.. is what the rest of the
country sees when Tony Villar
(alias Antonio Villaraigosa)
turns up hogging the spotlight!
But, he is a hero to Illegals
invading the USA!
TJ Dogcatcher is what he is really qualified for.
I am in agreement with Valley Doll regarding the Latino vote.
In CD 14 Huizar and Villar have many smothering brush fires (Southwest Museum, Wyvernwood, 710 Tunnel CRA) that will enbitter many towwards his re election efforts.
Valley Doll / Spot -
In theory you're right. The problem is without an alternative where do they go? We see this all the time with aggrieved citizens who are pissed at the pol but still re-elect them. If Zev enters the race, NIMBYs go there. So where do the Latinos go? To Zev? Maybe. Bob? More likely. Who is the Latino not beholden to Antonio who also can pull NIMBY votes.
Don't say Alarcon.
Now if Antonio does something else really stupid, all bets are off.
And if Barack gets screwed Tony's going to find it hard to get African American votes.
Sam, just because you and Hertzberg are both FAT schlemiels, doesn't give him a chance in hell. But glad you're out of the closet about him -- you're always denying a Huggy Boy Fat Boy Agenda.
Riordan and his capitalist buds are mad at Tony because he hasn't moved FAST ENOUGH towards dumping all the "hoops" developers have to jump through to get a building going.
They want the steps down from 12 to 2, NOT more, dum-dum. Riordan and that group of "community leaders of 100" headed by Russell Goldsmith, CEO of City Naitonal, couldn't care less about the NIMBY's, dum-dum. They want to circumvent them.
Zev has no backing from big biz, tho I LIKE he has the guts to speak out and say "stop, let's look at what's really happening here." -- like it or not, Tony's more the middle of the road.
EXCEPT insofar as Reyes and his buds are forcing high-rises for the poor into the Westside and Valleys, with no parking even, that is, bringing the ghetto to the single-family areas and coming right out and calling them and Zev the enemy, they're making it too complicated.
CLASSY AND CONTROLLED GROWTH for the Westside and Valleys is opposed to the TJ-ing of Reyes, Alarcon, Huizar, Perry, Parks and Wesson -- just look at the votes. Tony has to distance himself from THEM, without alienating the Hispanics and blacks. How? Admit we're two (or three) cities, needing two or more different planning agendas.
Sam, just because you and Hertzberg are both FAT schlemiels
Glad to see you start off so well.
Methinks you've made Mayor Sam's case well. Yes, Riordan wants more, he fears Zev. So yea, he has to throw Villar under el autobus.
Makes sense.
Not to beat a dead horse Mayor Sam and indeed the term "Jew" is not politically incorrect when used in the correct context,
But I think you might find many "Jewish" people who would flinch and frown if they are referred to as "the west side Jews" or "the east side Jews" for that matter.
My old teacher
"Sister Mary Torquemada", corrected me many years ago on how to refer to Jewish people and the Jewish community, and due to numerous raps on the knuckles I am now more respectful and sensitive and refrain from referring to people as " those Jews" or NY Jews, or West side Jews or any other references to "Jews", I use the more acceptable term "Jewish"
Whatever works for you Mayor Sam!
But I wouldn't want Sister Mary Torquemada or the Jewish community to be chasing you around with a ruler, those knuckle raps hurt!
3:02: HUH? Too many pastrami sandwiches and Ben a & Jerry's hardening the brain and arteries?
Zev has NO major endorsements or money since he's alienated the developers AND the crazy/wacked- out Hispanics like Reyes and Alarcon who want to turn the westside/valleys into TJ, and the three blacks on the Council their allies on this. Although he has a valid point: but neither the big money nor the masses of votes in this third-world city.
"People of color, declare war on those isolationist westsiders and VALs!" Reyes' exact words last week on the parks issue: "If they won't bring the parks to us, we'll bring our people to them, where the parks are!" This is subsidized PROJECTS like Jordan Downs, not the classy condos and developments they've been fighting so far.
(They shouldn't have attacked the allies who would pick and fight their best battles -- they've now got the masses of anti-white, anti-R-1, ethnics and poor whites against them. Class envy at work, people.)
These ethnic radical socialists, on the other hand, scare the big money and can't get anywhere without alliances with the money and those westside Jews.
On the other hand, the westsider NIMBYs can't get what they want without working with the Mayor, who's crossed all boundaries. The radical Trash-Your-Hood Hispanics like Reyes/Alarcon/Huizar are their enemies and won't help them, they want their land AND money.
The Mayor is the only one who can manage the middle.
It's a delicate juggling act -- we're two cities with polarized needs and pols. NO I'm not even a fan of the Mayor as such -- what I want is to secede, before the east side sleazebags take over the whole city and turn it into TJ. Creating the NC's as a sop was a joke. One problem was, it isn't just Valley vs. metro side (although if they secede, metro can charge then tolls to drive in, to fund our subway.)
The REAL dividing line is anything East of Highland except north of Franklin, (and Hancock Park), and South of Olympic/Pico or at least Venice. THEY'VE declared the war.
(Including Jan Perry attacking the westside for not wanting the giant, ugly billboards Rocky let CBS/ Clear Channel put up ALL over the city, as a condition to their funding any parks in the 'hood.
So Rocky's other nasty baggage is that he set up the Clear Channel/CBS deal in a way that polarizes the black/brown vs. "rich" areas that look more to the East Coast and Europe for models, than to TJ.)
It'll have to be Tony V now, but secession threats again before Reyes/Alarcon/Perry can annex us by population transfer.
Don Quackers why didn't "Sister Mary Torquemada" taech you not to call blacks changos (monkeys), mayates and chanates.
Don Quackers you a vile racist xenophobe, and a dumb-ass hypocrite.
Tell "Sister Mary Torquemada" to burn your tonque with some hot menudo. lol, lol, lol
He threw Tony under the bus to get him away from Jack Hoff's toxic farts!
Sorry to see Zev won't run. No balls. Herb Wesson ought to get in since its a free ride, and Laura Chick should get in since she is termed out. Maybe we could even get a self funder like Rick Caruso to run. That would make things interesting. Make Antonio campaign for re-election, and force him to make the case why he deserves 4 more years. If he cakewalks in, expect him to run for a statewide office immediately, despite any promises he makes about serving a full term.
Ah yes, Hertzberg, that paragon of virture who is now married to the Latina with whom he had an affair while married to his previous wife.
If MAV's re-election effort is going to come down to a mudfest against HuggyBoy, they'll be dirt a-plenty under both their fingernails.
Why would anyone care if he had an affair during a previous marriage? He's happily married now. Hertzberg and Tony were roomies in Sacramento, and it wasn't Huggy Bear who was chased down the hall by a half-clothed woman, or was known as "Don Juan Antonio".
I'm with "one who knows" on this. I hate to sound pompous, but if Hertzberg were going to run, I have a few friends who would have been called and had to field a lot of questions about the possibility.
Like it or not, Antonio Villaraigosa is going to be the Mayor again.
He doesn't bother me as bad as he does all of you, so I tend to think it's more personal for you. He has screwed me over on one or two issues, but other than that - he doesn't bother me.
My hatred for Riordan is so strong that if Riordan wants him gone, I'll work night and day to keep him there. I'll contribute the maximum amount and then give all of my non-political friends the maximum amount to AV's campaign.
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