Congressman Becerra named California's next Attorney General by Governor Brown

California Governor Jerry Brown has shaken up the local Los Angeles Political Machine by selecting Congressman Xavier Becerra to replace US Senator-elect Kamala Harris as Attorney General, setting the stage for a CONTENTIOUS Campaign and possible ensuing Special Elections.  

Congressman and soon to be California Attorney General Xavier Becerra.

** Blogger's Note: We pause our normal bloggin coverage to cyber cast the following SPECIAL MESSAGE via California Governor Jerry "Moonbeam II" Brown ..........., noting his selection of California 34th Congressional Officeholder Xavier Beccera to replace US Senator-elect Kamala Harris as Attorney General.

Many of the supposed, discerning Sacramento (aka. "Sacrahavana") Political Observers, were of the opinion that Governor Brown would select a "Caretaker" to oversee the day to day operations of the state's top law enforcement office ............, only to be surprise with the selection of the long-serving Congressman as the LA Times notes.

The choice will no doubt send political shock waves through California because Becerra was not on any of the widely circulated lists of picks. Before Nov. 8, the conventional wisdom had been that the governor would choose a caretaker, perhaps even a career staffer who would simply carry out the office's functions through the 2018 elections.

The political shock waves of Congressman Becerra's selection as Attorney General are already being felt within his Congressional District this morning, as the chatter commences regarding possible candidates to replace the former "controversial 2001 Los Angeles Mayoral Candidate" in a Republican-controlled Washington D.C.

We can only bloggin speculate but familiar names should include the following;
Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez..
Assemblyman Miguel Santiago.
** Former Assembly Speaker John Perez.has announced his intentions to run.
CD 14 City Councilman Jose Huizar.
** CD 1 City Councilman Gil Cedillo ..........., exploring all options.
An aide for Cedillo said he remained focused on reelection to the city council in March, but that he was still exploring all of his options.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article118224098.html#storylink=cpy

State Senator Kevin De Leon ........., not running.
William Morrison.
........, and surely a whole bunch more.

If, and when the Los Angeles Political Machine coalesces behind the "Chosen Candidate", especially if the person of choice is a current Officeholder, then its a formality that Northeast LA-residing voters are downwind of multiple Special Elections in their near future-----Scott Johnson.

California Governor "Misogynist Moonbeam II" pens "Veto/Hate" targeting the "Sister Class"

The State of California "Sister Class (aka. Women)", are subjective (again) to an Act of Political Hypocrisy", as Governor "Misogynist Moonbeam II (aka Jerry Brown)" VETOS Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia and Lorena Gonzalez's respective Bills to grant Tax Breaks on the purchase of Tampons and Diapers.

California Governor "Misogynist Moonbeam II (aka Jerry Brown) balances the State Budget via the "Monthly Cycle/Sanitary/Diaper Costs" of Women.

** Blogger's Note: We momentary pause our City Hall-centric musings to keyboard these brief comments on yet another hypocritical Act of Gender-centric Political Disrespect of California's Sister Class (aka. Women) via Governor "Misogynist Moonbeam II (also known as Jerry Brown)". 

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Jerry Brown, Dragonslayer

More on Jerry and the CRA, Trojan says: 

The CRA repeal pays off more in the long term than the short term, and is like pouring a little bleach on city hall. A lot of people I speak to who know about CRA think this is just over $1.5B and a not a huge deal. But the long term debt and interest expense reductions is a big deal. With that said, I don't know how much more fight Brown has in him on this.

The wealthy special interest groups (developers, unions, rich kids looking to build a stadium etc.) with a lot on the line will continue to go at him hard. And with deep pockets, who knows what stink they can raise.

In the end, the only way this gets done is through a compromise with unions. CA will get shafted by the unions or continue to get shafted by the CRA system. As our last governor learned, a fight with unions is a fight to the political death. Unless Brown's ready, and has the stomach, to slay the dragon he will lose.

Is Jerry a dragonslayer? Time will tell.

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Tuesday

Politicians are scared out of their gourd that Jerry Brown is going to shut down the CRA and all their shady projects.  Problem is, a lot of the money local pols need to run come out of those projects.  Jerry Brown's people at least are honest and saying they don't buy the crap from Jose Huizar or Antonio Villaraigosa that CRA projects create any real jobs.

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Tony Butka: "Eastside Adelante PAC-Paying the High Price of Democracy?"

Maybe CD 14 City Councilman Jose Huizar didn't want the Adelante PAC snooping around his no-bid giveaway of $150,000 of CRA/LA money to the theater group, whoops, meant to say outreach specialists CASA 0101?

Blogger note: Former Cd 14 City Council Candidate and Glassell Park Neighborhood Council Member Tony Butka reports on the retaliation measures undertaken against the CRA?LA Adelante Project Advisory Committee, for their support of California Governor Jerry Brown's proposal to use CRA money to offset the state's budget deficit. In addition, Ron Kaye notes that Chris Essel's CRA/LA will reconvene tomorrow in the spirit of replicating their role in the charade to usurp the will of Governor Brown and activists city-wide.

Read Tony Butka's piece after the bloggin leap.

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Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Monday

Public Employee Unions Need to go
on a Diet Just Like Mayor Sam has

One of the smartest bloggers in town when it comes to public finance, Paul Hatfield, dices up the Wisconsin labor reform law and details how similar changes should come to California.  It's apparent that politicians like Governor Brown and former State Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (no relation) understand that public employee unions have been given a sweeter than sweet deal for decades and with most governments near bankruptcy it's time to pay the piper.

Governor Brown also gets it when it comes to the Community Redevelopment Agency. It's time to shut these inefficient, wasteful and fraudulent distributors of corporate welfare down but Mayor Villaraigosa doesn't think so.  He cites examples of YMCAs and shopping centers the CRA built, yet shopping centers and YMCAs have been built for decades without YMCA - and the attendant multi-million dollar payouts to politically connected non-profits around these projects that don't see one cent go into building anything on the ground.

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Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Tuesday

Former world champion Muay Thai boxer Nokweed Lookpranboon might have been a bit surprised last week when Councilmember Tom LaBonge showed up to the second anniversary of Lookpranboon's NoHo gym, At One Fitness. Lookpranboon, a Thai national, who, according to a few folks at the event, was allegedly feted by LaBonge with numerous sayings in Korean. Better luck next time!

Governor Jerry Brown wants to shut down the Community Redevelopment Agency. CRA officials and developers aren't so happy about this. The Governor made his pitch to a meeting of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. Though why Brown thinks the leaders of the Chamber are Republicans. Some are in the GOP fold but most, similar to politicians such as Mike Gatto and Lloyd Levine, made the business decision to be Democrats some time ago.

Not sure what PETA would think of this but the City of Los Angeles is looking to hire a few good beaver trappers. No, not in Los Feliz or Woodland Hills, but at DWP facilities in the Owens Valley. I thought the City already had a beaver trapper?

Friday Free for All

A lot of attention has been focused on LA Council races, especially the hot and spicy politics in CD14 but there are races elsewhere, even in other cities.  West Hollywood has a contentious race with nine candidates going for three seats.  Among the issues include development in the compact but upscale city and the appointment to a vacant of youngster Lindsay Horvath to an empty council seat instead of a special election being held to fill the vacancy caused by the death of a Council member.  All nine candidates engage in a contentious debate Wednesday evening.

Speaking of the West Hollywood race, candidate Scott Olin Schmidt (formerly known as the Boi from Troy blogger) will be joining Frank Sheftel, David Hernandez and myself, Saturday night at 8:00 p.m. on latalkradio.com.  

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Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Tuesday

Rut-Roh!

HotSheet is after the jump...

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Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Friday: JERRY!

Who would have thunk it? When liberal leaning Democratic pols in Los Angeles and all over California went all out for JERRY! little did they imagine Governor Brown would propose killing their fabled golden calf - Community Redevelopment Agencies. If you don't know what CRAs are they are basically welfare for rich developers, who contribute to local electeds, and who can create (often failed) major real estate projects in "blighted" communities the politicians point to as "progress."  Jerry rightly feels that this tax money is better used for jails, schools, roads, police, higher education, health care for the poor, etc. than going to otherwise failed developers.  This has sent a shiver up the spine of City Fathers/Mothers throughout the Golden State who are now spending money faster than a drunken sailor before JERRY! comes and gets it.  Case in point, our own lovely berg, who has found amazing efficiency to get dollars fast to building Eli Broad's mausoleum in Downtown LA.

More after the jump...

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Mid-Day Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Scene for Tuesday

Will Governor Moonbeam II take out CRA's in California?

Will Chris Essel's CRA/LA survive the wrath of Bitter Jerry?

If Governor Moonbeam II needs any help in finding the office of CRA/LA in his quest to liquidate the functions of CRA's statewide, many in the local political bloggersphere are waiting and willing to point the way.

"WWG 2", known to the thinning ranks of graying readers of the Old Gray Hag on Spring Street as Bill Boyarsky, pens "right on Jerry"! Ron Kaye, formerly the editor of the Daily Valley Moldy Green Sheet, says "Abolish the CRA" Cary Brazeman, penning his thoughts at the "blogging cyber commune of neighborhood council activists" City Watch, calls it "Time for a New Way". Can we call this a bloggin consensus?

For this blogger, CRA's Adelante Eastside and its Biotech Corridor Project area, has provided a education on the brute force of mis-guided government. In 1999, without any notice to community members and park activists, Hazard Park was place within the Adelante Biotech Corridor Project Area. The CRA employee who I discussed this finding with, stated that the park was included due to "criminal blight". But the likes of longtime Hazard Park Activist Alex Man have stated for decades that Hazard Park, has been targeted by USC and LA County for hospital expansion. Thus, it was no surprise that the likes of USC's City Hall Lobbyist David Galaviz was a member of the CRA Adelante Advisory Board

With the powers granted CRA's across America by the repugnant Kelo Decision of the United States Supreme Court in 2005, the likes of CRA/LA had a new way of taking decades long homes of many and giving them to the connected developers like USC (one should see the former home sites on Playground St next to Hazard Park) . Thus, if Governor Moonbeam II can put a stop to this egregious practice of taking private property and selling it in return for campaign contributions (the LA way). Then lets point Jerry in the direction of CRA/LA.

OTHER NEWS:

** The latest batch of financial reports for the March 2011 LA Municipal Elections, are online at the City Ethics Commission Website.

** Assemblyman Gil Cedillo crusades on the behalf of the undocumented, continues with his California version of the Dream Act.

** Will Governor Moonbeam II get any republican support for his plans to raise taxes for the next five years?

** Former Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez can't break those bad political habits regarding gifts. This time to prison officials.

** Shout out to Michael Trujillo, guess who finally took the Lt. Governor's "Oath of Office"?

Your thoughts...............

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Tuesday -Special Jerry Brown Edition

"I have not come here to embrace delay or denial."- Gov Brown

-CSM on the Inauguration speech and Jerry Brown's message.
-George Skelton calls him "the right man in the right job".
-Mulholland Terrace predicts that Governor Brown is going to "decimate" redevelopment agencies and their budgets, and that's a good thing!
-Governor Brown announces his first act as governor, "I'm going to walk across the street to my house".
(video)
-Gov Brown serves up Hot Dogs and Austerity for California.
-Anne Gust Brown, the governor's wife, to be Chief of Staff?

Kamala Harris was also sworn in today as the state's new Attorney General.

Elsewhere, CD4 candidate Stephen Box, has a new look. He's tan, he's rested, and he shaved!
Check out the photo at Griffith Park Wayist.

Assemblyman Mike Feuer is this year's recipient of the Stanley Mosk Defender of Justice Award for authoring legislation to create a first in the nation pilot project that establishes the right to counsel for low income people in critical civil cases. The award is sponsored by the California Judicial Council;



The Sheraton Universal Hotel has been purchased by Chinese real estate firm Shenzhen New World Group Co. Anyone remember when Telly Savalas lived at the Sheraton and owned the bar on the ground floor?

Much to the chagrin of golfers, the City of LA has taken over the rental of golf carts at municipal courses. Guess what happened on day one?

Whatever you do, never hire Lone Star Security, the king jerks of mobile billboard blight in Los Angeles (Thanks Paul S. for the tip).

In the clickety-click department;
Major silliness already by the new House Republicans. Expect to see these chest thumping, time wasting exercises for the next 2 years.  Oh, and of course, it's time to begin the investigations to nowhere! Forget job creation, it's base pandering time! Party On Party of No.

First Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet of 2011

After today, Arnold Schwarzenegger is a private citizen again. He's not really sure what he plans to do, if he will do more films, throw himself into more business ventures, etc. but he does plan to be a green crusader. In the meantime, Jerry Brown returns to the State Capitol for a third term as Governor, planning to do battle with both Democrats and Republicans on the state budget.

Not sure if this is the same as an Ass Clown award but Ron Kaye has named Councilman Dennis Zine as his "man of the year" noting the former motorcycle cop turned union head turned Clowncilman is a "Symbol of City Hall's deceit and dishonor." Kaye is pretty down on his hometown CM for a number of reasons calling Zine "Indefatigable, the two-faced man of a thousand fiancees never passed up a civic event where he couldn't force himself onto the stage or saw an elite party he didn't like." I don't know about Zine but that sounds a lot like this guy and this guy.

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Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Thursday

What happens when you mix GoProud, a gay republican group, with CPAC, the annual conservative neanderthal convention? You get to see the true colors of conservative groups like the Family Research Council, Concerned Women of America, and the National Organization for Marriage. These groups, along with several others, are opting not to participate in next years convention simply due to the presence of GoProud. What's the matter with these goons?  The Party of No remains the Party of Hate (but we always knew that, right?). Speaking of Hate; the Southern Poverty Law Center recently dropped the HATE GROUP bomb on the Family Research Council . The FRC now can count itself in the close company of other stupid groups like the KKK, the Neo-Nazis, The New Black Panthers, The Neo-Confederates and almost 900 other organizations that make up the SPLC Watchlist.

One strong indicator that the US economy is on the rebound is the amount of cargo passing through our ports. Great news! Cargo flow at the Port of Los Angeles is actually surging, with a 20% increase over 2009. Damn Obama! Next thing you know, he'll be giving the US back to the Native Americans.

More big Port of Los Angeles news; Heavy Duty Hydrogen Fuel Cell trucks will soon be making an appearance at the docks. An 18 month trial run is set to begin in early spring.

Governor-Elect Brown plans to live up to his cheap ass frugal reputation and will only be serving hot dogs and potato chips at his Inauguration next week. Alas, we'll probably never know what a tremendous, over the top, invitation only, fit for a queen feast, Meg would have served had Nicky and Gloria not screwed up her attempted purchase of the California governorship.

Finally, meet Perry. After suffering through a financial collapse, Perry decided to go off the grid, cash/barter only, DIY, pay as you go. He bought a small bit of land (that seems to always be partially underwater), and a motor home (that really needs some work done) and he's started posting about his daily challenges and accomplishments. Good reading from a very determined and intelligent man.

Evening Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Scene for Thursday

"This is the latest incarnation of Me!"

Who will be the latest political incarnation of the child born Antonio Ramon Villar Jr. in 2013?

From our sources, we know that the possibility of continuing with the "Villaraigosa brand" is remote, courtesy of the recent final divorce proceedings between Antonio and his now ex. wife Corina.

But as Ron Kaye reports, a possible reverting back to his maiden name of Villar, is not slowing down the process of reinventing the current Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for post 2013 political escapades. And based upon Kaye's latest post, jet-setting to the latest global photo-ops hot spot will remain a constant as he reports.

The trial run of the post-mayor Antonio Villar incarnation, featured a transformative politico who attacks the teacher unions as being the root of the problem in education, as he did in Sacramento on Tuesday. This from the same guy who use to sit across the table from Former LAUSD Administrator now School Board Member Richard "Dr. Death" Vladovic, as a UTLA union rep, in disciplinary proceedings back in the 20th Century.

We should also remember the soon to be "Green Policy Guru Antonio Villar" who's recent leadership in signing some Municipal Global Warming compact in Mexico City, is most likely responsible for our recent string of record-breaking cold temperatures.

Then there is the "Municipal Economic Guru Antonio Villar" who flew to Chicago to educate the lesser mayors of America on the finer points of his "30 in 10 Transportation Plan". These lesser politicos should remember the part about fast tracking more construction contracts into the hands of unions and campaign contributors that somehow gets left out of our local press.

But whether it is five years from now or ten and multiple telebimbos girlfriends in between, when one peel aways the multi-layers of the child born as Antonio Ramon Villar's political incarnations. They will always find the street -hustling kid from City Terrace known to his homies as just "Tony".

OTHER NEWS:

** Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor Gloria Molina is none too happy with her fellow MTA Board Members who voted to compensate Expo Line contractors $28.5 million dollars for construction delays.

** AEG President Tim LIEweke wants his willing servants within the Horseshoe to decide by March (hear that Jan?), whether to green light his plan to tear down part of the Convention Center and built a neww football stadium.

** What will "Brown" do for you? That will be up for you to decide in a summer special election if Geriatric Moonbeam has is way. BTW, love how all of the "Kennedy Republican's" fellow democratic staffers are being retained by Jerry?

** From the LAUSD Couruption Blotter: Bassam Raslan pleaded guilty to a conflict of interest charge for hiring people from his own company to work on the district's construction program. We seem to remember a upcoming fundraiser for LAUSD District Five School Board Candidate and current School Board President Monica Garcia's Chief of Staff Luis Sanchez. Further, if I remember correctly, the host of this fundraiser are "construction industry types" (TELACU and the Seville Group come to mind). Things that make you go hmmmm.

Your thoughts..............

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Mid-Day Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Scene for Monday

"Big Montiel is watching you in public housing".

Great bloated Monday and start to Rivalry Week in Ciudad de Los Angeles, as the City Council adjourns its high-salary proceedings for the annual junket to the "League of Municipal Fiefdoms Conference". Wonder if former City of Bell Administrator "Ratzo Rizzo" will host a workshop on municipal self-enrichment?

One person who is enriching himself courtesy of the taxpayers is Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA for short) $400,000+ Executive Director Rudy Montiel, who is quickly becoming the LA Times latest "poster bureaucrat" for public salary scrutiny.

Montiel, with his willing allies in City Hall, has attempted to franchise out HACLA's various housing projects and reap the financial windfalls of this endeavor. Thus, you get Montiel's current salary. But it is Montiel's actions against those who dare protest his efforts that is making Montiel the latest "paranoid bureaucrat". This in light of his actions that may cost the City of Los Angeles money in lawsuits by HACLA tenants, who faced wrongful-eviction for protesting Montiel's proposals.

BTW, we hear that someone in HACLA's upper management may have bail out the "connected non-profit Legacy LA", with a new home in the Ramona Gardens Projects. A source speculated that Legacy LA Executive Director Lou Calanche went to someone in HACLA and all of a sudden, a portable trailer was installed.

It should be noted that when Legacy LA was constituted, they had as an "advisor for redevelopment" Dalila Sotelo, who once was a Vice-President for the connected affordable-housing builder McCormick, Barron and Salazar. Sotelo now earns her public paycheck as an employee of CRA.

Can you follow the flow of money and public property, to the "connected-few" here?

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Mid-Day Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Scene for Monday

Kamala Harris and Steve Cooley

Shades of Florida 2000 at the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder Office?

If you listen to the charges and counter-charges from the respective spokespersons for San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris and Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley, as the vote count trickles on in the California Attorney General Election. Then the California version of Bush v. Gore may not be far off.

You can click on to the link above for the blow by blow spin but at the time of this post, the Daily News is reporting that Kamala Harris holds a 14,089 vote lead over Steve Cooley. More drama to come.

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Mid-Afternoon Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Scene for Wednesday

"Bitter Jerry raising Arizona tourism revenue"

Nothing like a little liberal hypocrisy to awaken one from a self-impose bloggin slumber.

This latest example of liberal hypocrisy comes courtesy of former Governor Moonbeam, now elected Governor Bitter Jerry Brown and how does he show his thanks to the Latino Community for their overwhelming support? Paraphrasing Disney, "Jerry Brown, you were just elected California Governor again! Where are you going after your election? I'm going to Arizona!! LMAO!!

From the man who's union supporters attack Meg Whitman for hiring a illegal fraud unknowingly by the way, at $23 per hour, the Latino voters who bought into Gloria Allred and Housekeeper Nicky's theatrics are rewarded with this arrogant, in your face gesture, courtesy of Bitter Jerry. Gracias indeed!!

Thus, the Latino Community once again is treated to another glaring example of hypocrisy, courtesy of the political party that they support. And no outrage from the likes of City Councilman Ed Reyes, State Senator Gil Cedillo, Assemblyman Kevin De Leon or Mayor Antonio Villar? Go figure ..........

But then, every supposed political ideal from this crowd, has a low "build-in price" for looking the other way when the pursuit of political power, becomes more paramount.

BTW, did Joe B. take his video camera with Jerry, to film "Bitter Jerry's Raising Arizona Adventures? : )

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Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Friday

How to turn Barham Blvd into Wilshire Blvd.

-The 39,000 page Draft EIR for NBC Universal's mind boggling housing/office/studio project has been released and is now open to public comment for the next 60 days. NBC Universal hopes to turn 391 acres along the 101 freeway just north of the Cahuenga pass into almost 3000 residences to be built in low-, mid-, and high-rise buildings. New studios, office space, a hotel, and tourist attractions will also be added.  I suspect local residents are squealing with delight over this planned monstrosity coming to town, in part, because Barham, Lankershim, and the Cahuenga pass have so little traffic as it is.
Mayor Sam would also like to extend an invitation to the developer or organized opponents of the project to make your case here on this blog.  Just drop us an email at mayorsam@mayorsam.org. Please put UNIVERSAL in the subject line.

- Janice Hahn and other City Council members want to tax medical marijuana. But, medical marijuana is technically non profit and not subject to taxation even though everyone knows that most Med Marijuana clinics are making huge profits. Marijuana itself is still illegal, I think, so can a city tax an illegal substance? This is very confusing. The LA Weekly and Village to Village give it their best at figuring this all out.

- PBS legend and former Lyndon B. Johnson press secretary Bill Moyers says  "a plutocracy and a democracy do not mix". What? Get out of town Bill, that's crazy talk.

-Serious question to the MS pundits; How do you reduce a deficit by extending $700 billion in tax cuts to the wealthiest in the country? Stay on topic please.

-Governor-elect Brown has hit the ground running and spent the day at the state capitol beginning work on a spending plan.

-Oh boy, Raves are returning to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Where's my damn glow stick?

- Hey, look what's still not open!
-And finally, what the hell is this?

Brown Wins!

Governor Jerry Brown, my kid Hunter, and assorted liberals

The State that proved it could not be bought is now to be led by a favorite son; please welcome our once and future governor, Edmund Gerald Brown, Jr!

Almost forgot; Boxer exports Fiorina, welcome back Senator!

This just in: Holy slot machine!
Harry Reid beats Sharon Angle
Huge loss for the goobers and their teabagger extremists!

Margaritas on me!

Updates: 11:25pm, After spending $160,000,000.00 of her own money, Meg Whitman is refusing to concede. Duh, what billionaire would?
-(11:35pm) Now Carly is crossing her arms and doing the same. 

Have a nice long night ladies!

Update: 11:38pm, Meg Whitman concedes.
Update: Wednesday, Carly Fiorina finally throws in the towel.

Update:  LA Times Election Results