Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Wednesday: The Bad Day for Jose Huizar Edition

It could not get worse, Tuesday, for Councilman Jose Huizar. How could such awful things happen to a Princeton educated nice guy?

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Morning Briefs and Outtakes on Election Day

This is the "day of reckoning" for the political aspirations of the "ME chista".

"ME chista" is the present day incarnation of the former "Mechista", Tony Villar of UCLA, and Antonio Ramon Villar of birth.

"ME chista" craves the material trappings that come with ceaseless self-promotion and the selling of one self to the likes of Keith Brackpool, Ron Burkle, and any Special Interest with cash or booty.

"ME chista" is not above using, abusing, and discarding those who can further his political and personal desires, wants, needs, and make overs ( the Antonio Villaraigosa incarnation) when needed. See Mirthala, Kevin Roderick, Venice Room ??, CD 14, Martin Ludlow, Corina Raigosa, Miguel Contreras, Dad, Mom, and 80 FAKE NEIGHBORHOOD WATCHES!!, with help from Parke Skelton.

........and in today's election will the likes of Jack Weiss and Judy Chu be the latest to be used in a critical test of the political, persuasive ways of "ME chista" ??

**Governor "Kennedy Republican" whimpers into his political sunset.

"OLD GRAY HAG ON SPRING STREET" has the depressing details on the "Kennedy Republican's" last day campaigning for the "Ones".

**LA City Council OK's Job Cuts and Unpaid Leave.

But Garcetti had these comments for Chief "Bull Bratton".

Garcetti, a Navy Reserve officer who returned from a training mission to help address the police hiring issue, also took a not-too-subtle swipe at Police Chief William J. Bratton, who last week threatened to pull officers out of Councilman Bill Rosendahl's district after his budget committee vote to freeze police hiring.

"There is no room or space for that . . . in this city," Garcetti said. "No mayor, no council member, no chief, nobody, has a monopoly on fiscal prudence." Link here for the full story.

What will turnout be today ??

0-5% ??

5-10% ??

10-20% ??

or higher ??

Will Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi maintain her Speakership ??

Some thoughts from the lone Conservative at the "OLD GRAY HAG ON SPRING STREET".

Ron Kaye has his thoughts and picks for today's election.

........and we close with this historic editorial comment from the "OLD GRAY HAG ON SPRING STREET.

Los Angeles city attorney: Carmen Trutanich. He's a lawyer with solid prosecutorial and defense experience and would bring some needed new perspective to the city attorney's office. Opponent Jack Weiss is running a progressively negative campaign that underscores his unfitness for the post.

FREEDOM AND FREE ENTERPRISE!!

Michael Steele Elected RNC Chairman

From Time Magazine -

The Republican National Committee has elected former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele the first black Republican National Committee chairman.

Steele was the most moderate candidate in the field and was considered an outsider because he's not an RNC member. He beat back four challengers, including incumbent Mike Duncan, who was forced to withdraw from the field midway through the balloting in the face of a lack of support.

Old dead, Republican Mayor Sam approves this move. Steele was an excellent choice. Watch out Pelosi!

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Monday

The Daily Breeze profiles the three candidates for City Controller in a piece Saturday.  Rick Orlov talks to Council Member Wendy Greuel who is trying to get out of Mayor Villaraigosa's shadow, former DWP Commission President Nick Patsaouras who hopes to achieve further name recognition and visibility for his reform agenda and Walter Moore affiliated candidated Suzy Evans who did not return Orlov's phone calls or emails (hello?). 

In case you missed it over the weekend: "Fraud and Disorder."


Interesting piece in the Times about our March 3rd elections.  The Former Fishwrap of Record laments the lack of choices in most of the races or even the lack of a contest.  While they say they often agree with the assessments of how fouled up City government is that lesser known candidates make, they often can not find much more than that to make a endorsement of an alternative candidate.  So they wind up endorsing the incumbent and realize it often makes them look foolish or inconsistent.  Still the Times in conducting courtesy endorsement interviews with all candidates are hoping that perhaps someone will prove them otherwise and therefore will take more time than usual with their process.  As well, beyond the usual interviews, the Times plans to hold the open vetting process of Measure B the City didn't and will rely heavily on the comments of it's readers on the controversial measure in coming to a conclusion.


Now that President Obama has signed an executive order that the terrorist prison camp at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba be closed; the next issue is where to put the detainees (which is why I say that Gitmo won't be closed anytime soon; at best there will be modifications to the process there).  If you think we have NIMBYs here on billboards and super-sized houses wait until some Congressman gets word that Al Queada is going to be stored in his district.  Still Congressman Bill Young of Florida has a great idea where to send them - in Nancy Pelosi's district at Alcatraz.

Tom Hanks has stirred controversy in the Gay community for apologizng for his part remarks that members of the Mormon faith were "un-American" for their support of Proposition 8, which bans same-sex marriage in California. A statement released by the actor-director stated that "Everyone has a right to vote their conscience; nothing could be more American. No one should use 'un- American' lightly or in haste. I did. I should not have."  Even more interestng reading in the comments at gay blog Towlerroad including claims that Hanks was motivated by the coming release of his film "Angels and Demons" to "Tom Hanks is a dork" to a remark that Mormonism was the "Scientology of the 19th Century."

Or Caption This

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Wednesday

Reaction to our story that developer and civic leader Rick Caruso has decided to run for Mayor of Los Angeles.  A senior representative of Caruso's real estate development firm contacted us to say that no decision has been made yet.  However should Caruso get into the race, candidate Walter Moore says bring it on.   Moore told the Sister City "I don't think the people of Los Angeles are crying out for a billionaire Republican developer to become Mayor. If Caruso sincerely wants to replace Villaraigosa with someone who will make this city a great place to live and do business, then he should should support my campaign rather than start one of his own. His time would be better spent on his Miramar Hotel project in Montecito."

The Spanish language daily paper La Opinion has endorsed Mark Ridley-Thomas over Bernard Parks for County Supervisor. The paper said that the State Senator "has shown himself to be an inclusive leader, a bridge-builder on community issues, and a person who has a commitment to engaging with Latinos."

Following much debate and hand-wringing the Los Angeles City Council has voted to oppose Proposition 11, a measure on the state ballot to bring a sense of fairness to the drawing of legislative districts.  Of course they would. 

Candidate for County Supervisor Bernard Parks held a voter registration event and registered over 400 people ages 18 to 97.  Parks wrote on his campaign blog “It’s important to clarify the myths that have sometimes been created to keep people away from the polls. There are only three circumstances that could legally prohibit people from voting.”

A survey of active duty military shows that America's troops support John McCain for President by nearly 3-1.   McCain, R-Ariz., handily defeated Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., 68 percent to 23 percent in a voluntary survey of 4,293 active-duty, National Guard and reserve subscribers and former subscribers to Army Times, Navy Times, Marine Corps Times and Air Force Times.

Democrats once again show their class.  At a business conference at Cambridge former Presidential nominee John Kerry implied that Republican Presidential candidate John McCain wears Depends adult diapers. But what do you expect from the haughty, French orange man who is a rich old bat's trophy husband.

Leftist wack-job Cindy Sheehan - who is running aginst fellow leftist wack-job House Speaker Nancy Pelosi - is paranoid that forces supporting Pelosi are out to silence her.  And among the culprits involved in the conspiracy against Cindy she counts our own Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

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.

Democrats vs. Republicans

Reporting from the NALEO Conference in DC

Reporting in from NALEO's 25th Annual Conference here in Washington, DC. Members of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund represent all political parties, all levels of government, and diverse constituencies – from metropolitan cities to rural communities.

The room was more than packed for the National Leadership Luncheon and there were many standing on the sides and in the back of the room. New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez was the first one I heard and he had a few observations and asides:

• The first Latino to fall in the Iraq War was an undocumented immigrant.
• 17 million Latinos are eligible to vote in the 2008 general election.
• Latinos face the highest rate of unemployment of any group in America.
• 45 million are without health insurance--which includes many Latino families.
• America needs to move forward on "Comprehensive Immigration Reform."
• There are more tortillas and salsa sold in America than white bread and ketchup.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid (D-Nevada), spoke about the importance of family with the Hispanic community and his personal and professional relationship with NALEO founder and the first Latino elected to the Los Angeles City Council, the late Ed Roybal. Reid, a subdued but deliberate speaker, received his biggest applause line when he called the Iraq War the "worst foreign policy blunder in the history of our country."

One of the real standout NALEO stars is Assistant to the Speaker of the House, Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Los Angeles) who touched upon several issues--some light- and some heavy-hearted:

• Spoke about Speaker Pelosi's leadership in passing the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (which deals with Medicare reimbursement cuts to physicians set to take affect on Monday and makes assistance available to the most vulnerable members of society [i.e. seniors] who need medical care but cannot afford it.


• Shared a Texas maxim on speechifying: "A speech is like a Texas Longhorn: a point here and a point there--with a lot of bull in between."

U.S. Speaker of the House, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), suffered from laryngitis but gave a raspy but heartfelt speech on her connection to Ed Roybal and how "Latino voters will decide who will be the next President of the United States of America." Like Reid, she spoke emphatically about electing Obama to the White House and the need to end the war in Iraq and "bring the troops home." Speaker Pelosi also spoke about legislation--authored by Rep. Becerra--and signed into law by President Bush last month that will study the potential creation of a "National Museum of the American Latino."

NALEO and Bronx Borough President, Adolfo Carrión, gave a rousing introduction of former First Lady and presidential aspirant, New York Senator Hillary Clinton, who closed the luncheon with thoughtful and gracious remarks. Amidst calls of "We love you, Hillary!" and the longest standing applause for any of the speakers, Clinton gave a passionate call to Democratic action and the need for change in Washington. Waxing nostalgic on her recent run for office and standing up for "all who felt invisible in our country," she gave a special shout out to her supporters in the Puerto Rican primary ("a 600 car caravan with extraordinary energy and pulsating music that traveled for 7 hours throughout the island").

Senator Clinton also spoke in glowing terms of her event with Senator Obama tomorrow in Unity, New Hampshire: "We will be making the case for a Democratic victory in November. I know that this was a hard fought primary campaign and I am very grateful for the passion and determination of everyone that supported me. Thank you. [APPLAUSE] But every issue you care about personally, every issue your constituents care about, every issue that NALEO is fighting for, is really at risk. We cannot afford four more years of the same. It won't be good for any of us. And therefore we have to be determined to chart a new course and we cannot do that without electing Senator Obama our president. So that is what I'm going to be working for; that is what I'm going to be fighting for."

More to report as things unfold; Senators Obama and McCain will be speaking on Saturday.