Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for President's Day 2014

With no apologies to the NSA bloggin snoopers on this President's Day, we find no fault (as President Barack "H" Obama and his Liberal friends still do) in paying homage to a decent man of character, George "Dubya" Bush.

Do soaring deficits, intrusive government spying, fail foreign policy and something called Obamacare, make you long for a return of "Dubya"?

Did "Dubya" ever have this type of "Political Pinocchio Moment"? 

Did "Dubya" ever say anything as repugnant as Hillary's comments, regarding the terror-related deaths of four Americans in Bengazi, Libya?

Great President's Day to all as we honor the 40-plus Americans who have been voted to lead, in four years increments, this greatest experiment in free government the world has over seen, at least up to 2008. That said, lets remember that most our Presidents began their political journey to the White House on a local level somewhere in America, Thus, on this day, shall we focus on those local politicos with "upwards ambitions"?

** Moving on with the local emphasis, City of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti was part of a panel discussion regarding EXTREME Weather yesterday on ABC's "This Week with George "the former Clinton Aide" Stephanopoulos. No one should be surprise that a former Democratic-operative, turn member of the Main Stream Media, would stack a discussion on alleged EXTREME weather with shills advocating human-caused Climate Change. As for Mayor Garcetti's comments on the panel, maybe our first year Chief Executive should forgo espousing Climate Science for now and take a more EXTREME approach to something called an AGENDA as the likes of LA Weekly's Gene Maddaus and LA Wave Newspaper Columnist Betty Pleasant, keyboard missives on the new Mayor's lack of policy follow through.

** Back in this blogger's political backyard of CD 14 (both Downtown and east of LA River portions), Tom Topping of the Boulevard Sentinel Newspaper (and now daily updated webpage) caught this moment of upwards political day-dreaming via the "Dear Charro, Princeton Graduate", City Clowncilman Jose Huizar, at last week's "State of Eagle Rock Propaganda Event".

,”The other way I spend my time as a State Legislator.” The two term city councilman retracted it quickly and denied there was anything to it later, but he will be termed out eventually and his political future was obviously on his mind.  

..... maybe the "Dear Charro, Princeton Graduate" is already thinking about new public employment come July,1, 2015?

With no apologies to "MEAT/ Chief Parker", every vanity act of "Upward, Blind Political Ambition" needs a "MEATHEAD" supporter.



Meathead endorses "Boss D'Arcy Rizzo's" Greuel for Congress.

** Somewhere above, the late, great political observer Archie Bunker is nodding his head in affirmation that former Sitcom Son in Law, Rob "MEATHEAD" Reiner, is dead from the neck up, for endorsing former City Controller and Mayoral Candidate Wendy "Bozz D'Arcy Rizzo's" Greuel, to replace Henry Waxman in Congress.

Happy Holiday!!

Scott Johnson in CD 14





Is the two-party system the best we can do?

Parts 6 and 7 of 7:

Bush Commutes Ramos-Compean Sentences

From Fox News

On his last full day in office, President Bush commuted the controversial sentences of two former Border Patrol agents convicted of shooting a Mexican drug runner in 2005.

The imprisonment of Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean had sparked outcry from critics who said the men were just doing their jobs and were punished too harshly. They had been sentenced to 11- and 12-year sentences, respectively.

Their sentences will now expire on March 20 of this year.

Special Inaugural Hotsheet for Monday

There are a number of public viewing parties of the inauguration of President Obama Tuesday with a large event set for LA Live hosted by the four scariest words in Los Angeles, Acting Mayor Jan Perry (who will be in charge of the city with both Mayor Villaraigosa and Council President Eric Garcetti at the official event in DC).

In the meantime at least two local blogs will have on the ground coverage of the events in DC; LAist has a crew en-route road-tripping while our correspondent Jack Witt landed at Reagan International this afternoon and will begin filing stories Monday.

It's been a while since we've heard from Big Mouth-Elect Joe Biden; the Barack Obama transition team has done a remarkable job of keeping the former Delaware Senator in the shadows. However it had to be too good to be true when the soon to be VP told the New York Times “I’m the most experienced vice president since anybody.” By the way Biden admits he hasn't even seen his new office yet. Oh it's going to be a fun four years!

With just a day left in office Republican lawmakers such as California's Dana Rohrbacher are urging President Bush to pardon Border Patrol Agents Jose Compean and Ignacio Ramos. Even Democrats such as Reps. Bill Delahunt (D-Ma.), soon to be Obama Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) support at least commuting what many feel are excessively long prison sentences. Compean and Ramos were convicted of shooting an allegedly illegal alien drug smuggler on the Mexican border in what some counter was a politically motivated prosecution. Considering how little time left Bush has as President the chances for Compean and Ramos are looking quite slim.

Parting Shots

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Monday

We started the weekend with two candidates for Mayor and could wind up with five real soon. As noted here, joining current declared candidates Antonio Villaraigosa and Walter Moore, Friday evening longtime community activist David Hernandez announced his candidacy. Sunday Zuma Dogg declared his candidacy and proceeded to lay out his platform on his blog. And finally, longtime developer and civic leader Rick Caruso sure made it sound like he was going to run at Friday night's Lincoln Club dinner where he was presented with the 2008 Spirit of Lincoln Award by local Republicans.

Speaking of the Mayoral election, former President Bill Clinton hosted a fundraiser for Mayor Villaraigosa Saturday at the home of record producer Clarence Avanat. According to the Daily News' Rick Orlov, Clinton threw his endorsement behind Villaraigosa saying "Whether it's rescuing the city's lowest performing schools, putting 1,000 cops on the street, taking on the gang problem or transforming LA with a path-breaking environmental agenda, Antonio has laid a foundation for fundamental change in the City of Angels." Is the President talking about OUR Antonio? Just wanted to check.

Speaking of some of the collateral damage of the Clinton Administration, the New York Times via Street Hassle identifies Clinton Housing Secretary Henry Cisneros as a chief player in causing the housing bubble. Cisneros was one of the chief proponents of the failed policy of encouraging those who could not afford mortgages to get them, as promoted by everyone from Clinton to Maxine Waters to George Bush to Barack Obama and Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac. Cisneros, a poverty pimp who has parlayed his government service into corporate millions, should be ashamed of himself.

Yet another reason to vote no on the Mayor's transit tax scam, Measure R: the MTA could be facing potential bankruptcy. In the last twenty years or so, the MTA made a number of deals with investment groups to buy its buses, rail cars and other infrastructure in exchange for cash and then the MTA would lease the equipment back. The problem is that the MTA contracted with in-trouble financial services firm AIG to guarantee the leases. With AIG out of funds and near collapse, MTA is on the hook to pay billions in leases to the investors. MTA doesn't have the cash to cover this so cuts in service are certain.

And finally we welcome a new contributor to Mayor Sam's Sister City, Donna Barstow.  Donna, who writes the Griffith Park, Interrupted Blog has been a cartoonist for the New Yorker, LA Times, Glamour, Barron's, WSJ, and several other publications.  lots more. Barstow is the cartoonist for Parade Magazine and is the author of  the books What Do Women REALLY Want? Chocolate!, and Love Me or Go to Hell. Donna describes herself as "Picky eater, great friend, curious observer, elitist artist, midnight writer, voracious reader, omnivorous chocoholic, impatient driver, and so-so lover."  Donna will be writing about a number of issues and topics ranging from Griffith Park to Dancing With The Stars.  Welcome Donna!

A Funny Video and Some Censorship

By the way, unless you hunt around the internet and are lucky enough to find a copy before it's pulled, you can't see a very funny SNL skit that was critical of both President Bush and Congressional Democrats as well as billionaire liberal George Soros. NBC has pulled this video but yet has allowed SNL skits that make fun of John McCain and Sarah Palin to remain.

It's not at all the first time SNL has been censored, the video below, a parody of children's TV feature, Schoolhouse Rock, which was critical of NBC's corporate parent, GE, amongst other large corporations, was also allegedly banned by the Peacock Network.

Yet Another Scary Thing About Barack Hussein Obama

What the hell is Obama proposing here, a Sturmabteilung or Komsomol for America? Michelle Obama, who has shown her disdain often for America and it's values, makes it real clear.

UPDATE: Video below of the model for the "Obama Youth" in action. What the hell is this? By the way if you want to read up on Obama's and Ayers' Chicago Annenberg Challenge - which makes Tony Villar's school reform look like the McGuffy Reader - click here to learn more including evidence that the Obama-Ayers connection goes all the way back to at least 1987.

On July 2, 2008, Barack Obama announced: "We cannot continue to rely on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives that we've set. We've got to have a civilian national security force that's just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded."

Obama's Civilian National Security Force:

* What sort of people would be in this paramilitary force?
* What sort of weapons would they have?
* Who would command them?
* Would they be subordinate to the U.S. military?
* Would they be subordinate to the police?
* What would be the purpose of this paramilitary force?
* What would it do?

And, what are Obama's "national security objectives?"

Michelle Obama lifts back the curtain hiding Barack's plans for a new order:

"Barack Obama will require you to work. He is going to demand that you shed your cynicism. That you put down your divisions. That you come out of your isolation. That you move out of your comfort zones. That you push yourselves to be better. And that you engage. Barack will never allow you to go back to your lives as usual, uninvolved, uninformed."

Folks, I know it looks hip to vote for Barack Obama. I know George Bush sucks. I know the economy is all screwed up because of Bush. None of which is a good reason to vote for the Democrats.

Some have said to me, the Democrats can turn the economy around, they did it when Clinton did. But Barack Obama is not Bill Clinton. He's not FDR.

At the same time John McCain is not George Bush. He comes from the opposite wing of the party and has always been on the outs with the Bushies.

This race is not a repeat of Bill Clinton vs. George H.W. Bush in 1992. If you're looking for a return to the halcyon years of the Clintons, you lost that chance when you shot down Hillary.

Obama is Carter. Or worse.

He's just too dangerous when it comes to our national security and economy.

Feel free to send this on to your friends.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Monday

Monday Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will unveil a $5 billion "affordable" housing plan intended to build homes for the homeless and low income.  However no one other than the Mayor himself seems to be excited over the massive boondoggle whose details are sketchy at best.  And even the Mayor says that he's not sure where all the money will come from. 

He's part Zuma Dogg, part Walter Moore and even a little bit of 1970s era Jerry Brown thrown in - and he's running for Mayor.  Marijuana activist and enthusiast Craig X Rubin will announce his campaign, joining Mayor Villaraigosa and Moore in the 2009 campaign.  In addition to creating a church around pot use Rubin served as a technical advisor on the Showtime original series Weeds and claims to have sold a bong to actor Brad Pitt.

Governor Schwarzenegger is not very popular these days with conservative Republicans and California's prison guards' union - in fact the union is spearheading a recall of the Governor.  That being said, former Governor Pete Wilson spoke to state Republicans over the weekend at their fall convention urging them to get behind Schwarzenegger as well the redistricting measure, Proposition 11, on the November ballot.

One blogger has an intriguing idea about what to do with the Wall Street bailout funds, particularly the $85 million slated to rescue insurer AIG - give it to the taxpayers.  The writer calculates that could be a windfall of $400,000 for every man and woman over 18 years of age.  The idea being rather than giving it back to the investors those funds could stimulate the economy like no tomorrow in the hands of the people.  Sounds good to me.

And finally the latest conspiracy theory raging these days is that President Bush will declare a state of national emergency over the current economic mess, declare martial law and indefinitely postpone Novemember's elections. Whoever is passing this idea around must have been smoking some of Craig X Rubin's weed.

Can you say it in 25 words or less?

How did people like George Bush, Antonio Villaraigosa and Jack Weiss get into office, despite being horrible or lackluster in their previous jobs/elected terms?

That's a 25-word question.

Can you come up with a 25-word answer?

Obama Denied Teleprompter at Debate

The Commission on Presidential Debates won't allow Barack Obama to use a teleprompter at Friday's first of three debates. That's too bad for the Democratic candidate as he as often struggled through debates whether it was with Hillary Clinton or Joe Biden during the primary or with himself at Saddleback Church.

"Yes, Obama can turn a phrase better and do more with a Teleprompter than any other modern era politician. But does his special skill set here actually mean anything, or is it instead the political equivalent of a dog walking on its hind legs--unusual and riveting, but not especially significant?"
Dean Barnett
The Weekly Standard

By the way, despite John McCain's suggestion that the debates be postponed until Congressional leaders get an agreement on the bail-out before we all wind up on the corner selling apples, short of a total break down, the debate will go forward with both both McCain and Obama. During McCain's meeting at the White House today, the Bushies, the Congressional Dummycrats and Repugs will come to Jesus mighty quick and agree on a good plan. Obama will look like a deer in the headlights, surrounded by annoying Democrats like Pelosi and Reid who won't be able to help him. Advantage: Johnnie Mac.

And finally for the ludicrous suggestion that neither McCain nor Palin want to debate here are two points for you. First, it was McCain not Obama who proposed a weekly series of multiple debates that Obama shot down. Secondly, don't worry about Sarah Palin debating Joe Biden. She should have no trouble going against a guy who asks people in wheelchairs to stand up like he's a faith healer, thinks that President Roosevelt went on television in 1929 and that Barack's commercials are terrible.

New Political TV Sitcoms!

First here's the Democratic point of view:



And there's my contribution:

Cheney and Bush Will Skip RNC

CNN reports that President Bush and Vice President Cheney will skip the Republican convention because of Hurricane Gustav, White House says.

More of the McSame!

From the Ventura County Star:



Update: Another interesting chart about this from USA TODAY.

Raising Taxes in a Recession: A Terrible Idea

I've posted several times that the idea of raising taxes in a recession is a poor one. It doesn't matter if its to balance out of control spending or worse to pay for boondoggles like the transit tax scam or the gang tax.  With Angelenos struggling to pay bills, buy gas and get by the last thing the economy can handle is more taxes.  And to top it off your DWP and trash rates were raised significantly again.

Wednesday I had a conversation with a former elected official who now sits on an important local panel.  It doesn't matter who they are.  With respect to the proposed sales tax increase to pay for Westside transit projects the individual told me "investing in infrastructure is one way to stimulate a stagnant economy."

We've heard many politicians say this but it's never really panned out.  Did constuction of the Metro Red Line boost the economy in the late 90s? No, it came from the dot.com explosion and rising property values.  Indeed, the current downturn will naturally be well over before the first train is even run.

The best thing the City Council and State Legislature could do is to CUT taxes and fees.  That means they'll need to make some pretty painful spending cuts.  However very quickly they will see that revenues will increase the more they cut taxes and the more that private investment is stimulated.

It wasn't George Bush or John McCain or even Ronald Reagan who said that "It is a paradoxical truth, that tax rates are too high today, and tax revenues are too low, and the soundest way to raise the revenues in the long run is to cut the tax rates," no, it was President John F. Kennedy who in 1962 significantly cut taxes which led to a long term economic expansion that was stalled by the massive increase in social spending of Lyndon Johnson and his escalation of  the Vietnam War.

Arnold.  Antonio.  Anyone.  Want to follow the lead of JFK?

"W." a film by Oliver Stone

Here's the teaser....