Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Monday

Mayor Villar pledges not to comment on the actions of the next Mayor of Los Angeles.

The Villar Greuel can rest assure that out-going Mayor Antonio Villar, will not comment on her actions as the third term incarnation of the Villar Political Machine (if elected).

With no apologies to former Vice-President Al “Jazeera” Gore, happy Global Warming morning from the frost-covered grasslands of CD 14. For the record, the National Weather Service LA/ Oxnard Office reports that the temperature dropped to 34 degrees at its official Downtown LA weather station, on the campus of the “University of Scandalous Conduct”. Of course, one can make a case that chilly, is the right description regarding USC’s community relations around its Health Sciences Campus, but I digress.

** Mayoral Candidate City Controller Wendy “The Villar Greuel” can rest assure that out-going Mayor Antonio Villar will remain silent (for media attribution) on how she executes the third term goals of the City Terrace native, if elected. As Daily News City Hall Beat Writer Rick Orlov reports in his “Monday Tipoff Column”, Mayor Villar’s political sensitivities will be confined to defending his own actions and not critiquing the next mayor (** especially if the Villar Greuel is elected).

** Orlov does double duty this morning in scribing, dare we say, a gusher PR piece on the Villar Greuel. Take note of the following passage.

"People understand I can be a good legislator, be a good businesswoman and go after those issues that are important. I think people will find I can do all those things and be tough. They want someone to lead them, I have demonstrated I can be that leader."
That was put to the test when James, one of her rivals in the race, accused her of campaigning on city time and allowing her staff to work on her campaign.
Greuel met the James challenge (Que?), going down to his news conference and telling reporters it was a reflection of the start of the "silly season" of the mayoral election.

Maybe Mr. Orlov needs  to read the latest on “Calender Gate”?

** If  “The Villar Greuel” thought that Randy Economy was going to fold after her “Private Citizen/ Campaign Consultant” John Shallman’s attack from the gutter, then they may not want to link here to Economy’s latest on “Calender Gate” via the Los Cerritos News Group.

** If you have the shakes for the latest campaign contributions totals, then we recommend the journalistic Cliff Notes report, stringed together by the City Maven. But if you want the background on the “story behind the donors”, link here to our first exclusive report on the questionable donations by Bet Tzedek associates to Assemblyman Mike Feuer City Attorney Campaign. The LA Dragnet Blog offers this comment from its post on our exclusive.

The Mayor Sam exclusive is particularly timely. Monday night sees the candidates for City Attorney debating at Temple Israel of Hollywood. The topic, 'How do Values and Ethics Inform the Job of City Attorney,' will likely lead to some awkward questions for Feuer based on the perception that he has accepted campaign contributions which appear to directly violate Measure 'H'.

** Bravo for Old Gray Collectivist Hag on Spring Street Columnist Jim Newton for his random act of journalism. This in stating the obvious about Mayor Villar’s shell game behind attaining the goal of 10,000 police officers.

** We turn our attention to our much missed former CD 14 City Councilman Jose Huizar Chief of Staff, now CD 9 City Council Candidate Ana Cubas. In the course of reviewing the information she provided for her Smart Voter webpage, she stated the following as her top priorities if elected.

Reform the BudgetImprove our transportation and city infrastructure, such as streets, sidewalks, and parksJobs and economic development, including investment in urban areas

We ask this simple question, how can we trust Ana Cubas to reform a budget when the video below showcases her lack of knowledge of the status of discretionary budgets that she helped oversee in her former job? (** or was that just spin to confuse an inquiring group on constituents?)

Your thoughts …………..

Scott Johnson in CD 14

"MEAT" works "The City Maven" on the behalf of CD 13 Candidate John Choi

In a Mayor Sam Exclusive, we disclose an email that highlights City Hall Insider/ Driver/ Bloggin Operative Michael "MEAT" Trujillo working "The City Maven" for positive coverage regarding the CD 13 City Council Campaign of "connected" John Choi.

 We know how much former Mayor Sam blogger Michael "MEAT/ Chief Parker" Trujillo loves being the subject of blog posts via yours truly. 

 How much "MEAT ingredients" go into Alice "The City Maven" Walton's "Morning Decaffeinated Coffee"?

The Labor Left Political Machine anointed candidate in CD 13 John Choi.

We are sure that former Mayor Villar and LA County Labor Federation staffer, now CD 13 City Council Candidate John Choi, would take no offense if we called him a "labor insider".

After all, in an interview with the "Weekly of Record", Chop stated that Labor would be on the "inside" if he was elected to replace current CD 13 Councilman and Mayoral Candidate Eric Garcetti.

With his insider ties and the endorsement of the powerful LA County Labor Federation, Choi has front runner status in a crowded field of candidates. 

But if Choi is to become the Korean Villar/Ludlow, Progressive/Labor darling of the City Clowncil Central Committee, then he must deal with the "MEAT" issue.

We  understand that Choi and MEAT would know each other well during their enabling days, serving the machine. Most recently, MEAT and Choi served their political masters well on the now litigious 2012 Redistricting Commission. But with Choi engaging a large, talented CD 13 field of candidates, the narcissus proclivities of "MEAT" may do his campaign damage as this "leaked email" illustrates.

On Mon, Jul 2, 2012 at 1:05 PM, Michael Trujillo wrote:
So in a few moments Alice Walton at KPCC will be writing about Choi's impressive haul - 100k in 19 days.
Would really appreciate it you could all link to it on your FB accounts - i'll send out the link once it posts.
Its critical that many people (the right people) read this - since there are many political hurdles we have to navigate and getting this piece of critical information out - might slow some people down from even entering the race.
thanks!

Its nice to know that a supposed objective reporter, is allegedly an willing enabler of "MEAT's and his political bosses agenda. Plus, the fact that the story was intended to impact other candidates from entering the race, qualifies the missive as an example of bias agenda journalism. But then it was the "enabling Maven" who help spearhead the "MEAT political rehabilitation tour", after his infamous email and termination from the CD 14 City Councilman Jose Huizar reelection campaign.

But knowing MEAT's documented history of turning sure victories, into stunning defeats (think Measure B), then it should be no surprise that hardly anyone has dropped out, despite the strong arm tactics of the Choi Campaign.

Your thoughts ..............
Scott Johnson in CD 14

Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Thursday

The City Council "King of Retorts" CD 8 City Councilman Bernard Parks.

** Blogger's note: It was only time before the Office of CD 8 City Councilman Bernard Parks responded to the Gene Maddaus's "subjective agenda missive" in the "Former Weekly of Record", now the "Daily, Fact Devoid, Hatchet Job of Record", regarding to his supposed "power-clinging ways" on the the Coliseum Commission. Well ......., that time is here and this retort is classic!---Scott Johnson.

THIS IS A RETORT CLASSIC.

From the LA Weekly ............

Parks writes, "It's been said that facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored. Someone should tell that to Gene Maddaus, who may have set a world record in the 1,500-meter trash with his article. Maddaus' 1,500 words were nothing more than a biased effort to push the agenda of some Coliseum commissioners who favor their interim general manager and USC's acquisition of the Coliseum.

"I know this because after I went public with my disapproval of interim Coliseum general managerJohn Sandbrook due to his lack of competence and the USC Master Lease due to its lack of credibility months ago, Coliseum staff informed my staff that Sandbrook intended to make things difficult for a nonprofit organization that hosts an annual scholarship fundraiser in the Exposition Park Rose Garden. The collateral damage in this political tit-for-tat would be my wife, who happens to be the vice president of the nonprofit.

"At issue was an alcohol license that the previous Coliseum general manager offered to the organization for the event. Sandbrook determined that the use of the license was improper and informed my office. My office informed the nonprofit group, and without any hesitation or hassle, the group decided to obtain a different alcohol license. They have used the same license for the last two years with no incident.

"My staff informed Maddaus of Sandbrook's plot and also gave him an email showing that I advised the former commission president as well as Sandbrook to have the Alcohol [sic] Beverage Control investigate this matter. However, this information never made it into the article.

"Despite this trivial circumstance, Maddaus tried to link the scholarship fundraiser to my position on USC's lease, claiming that I opposed USC control of the Coliseum because I would no longer 'decide which community groups get access' (to the venue). First off, the fundraiser is held in the Rose Garden — not the Coliseum. And secondly, the Coliseum Commission has no say over events in the Rose Garden.

"Throughout the article, when Maddaus wasn't picking and choosing the facts as he pleased, he was making baseless statements and attributing them to ... no one or nothing in particular! In one instance, he wrote: ' ... the L.A. Times obtained a confidential draft of the lease — likely from Parks' office ... .' And, he never substantiated that very strong accusation with sources or evidence; not even a hazy outline of a gunman on the grassy knoll. This wouldn't fly in my office's weekly newsletter, and it certainly shouldn't be accepted by a publication that boasts about 'decoding Los Angeles for its readers.' "

"The only thing this story 'decoded' was what some commission members and staff have been adolescently gossiping about for months. I don't know whether it was Sleepy, Bashful, Grumpy or Dopey who spoon-fed him all of the half truths, but at least Maddaus was courageous enough to attach his name to his countless misguided thoughts instead of cowering in secrecy.

"The speculative nature of the Maddaus piece and the attempts by an embittered cabal of commissioners to hobble events in my community for payback are still dwarfed by two much weightier issues: the Coliseum corruption scandal and USC's new master lease. 

"I challenge the L.A. Weekly to adhere to its mission statement by 'confronting the city's political leaders' (those not afraid to be quoted, of course) on all of the issues surrounding one of our most beloved venues instead of writing stories now and recognizing the facts later." OUCH!!

** Speaking of "OUCH Moments", Mayor Antonio Villar is again on the receiving end of a verbal slap back over his "Republican Brown Face, Window Dressing Comments". This time its Utah Haitian American Mayor Mia Love, who calls upon the former Tony Villar to "start being responsible".  

** Once again,  Mt Washington Lawyer/Activist Dan Wright shines the legal light on 200,000 words of phony documentation that were incorporated into the City of Los Angeles Planning Department approval of an Eric Garcetti inspired skyscraper in Hollywood. Thanks to the work of Wright and his Silverstein Law Firm employer, that project is on hold. 

** Via Councilman Huizar's "Bloggin Maven on Choice", we learn that the "Westside White Guy" aka Kevin Roderick, has gone uber prissy on CD 2 City Councilman Paul Krekorian for daring to garner media attention over the ambulance bills sent to the families of two deceased Good Samaritans.

 "How about instead of a press conference for the cameras, (Councilman Paul) Krekorian quietly announces that he'll ask the full council to quash the fees — and if the council won't or can't, he could offer to pay the bills out of his office slush fund,"

Your thoughts .................
Scott Johnson in CD 14

Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Monday

 Special delivery for someone at City Hall?

A building stares upwards, abuzz with speculation.

Great morning to all on this June Gloom day in April. Gloomy are those this morning who sought their morning decaff coffee of links and press releases from the City Maven. But the creative vision behind the City Maven Brand Alice Walton is now employed by KPCC as of today, leaving the likes of Kevin "Westside White Guy" Roderick to bemoan the loss of  "sane" blog coverage of City Hall happenings. Speaking of sane coverage of City Hall, we hear a big rumor sweeping through the corridors of 200 Spring Street, is that someone among a group of fifteen City Clowncil Central Committee members, received a "special notice" regarding "pending paternal responsibility". We will not speculate on who was the lucky recipient or whether this is true at all. But our sources not the type to dismiss or take for granted. More later if warranted. 

 Billboards are good for name identity.

On this gloomy Monday morning, I would like to offer props to Daily News City Hall Veteran Scribe Rick Orlov for kick starting the laughs with the first poll numbers on a possible 2013 City Attorney Race without Carmen Trutanich (this assuming to the horror of the likes of Berger that Nuch becomes District Attorney) The likes of CD 2 and 14 City Clowncil Central Committee reps Paul Krekorian and Jose Huizar, along with Assemblyman Mike Feuer and Deputy City Attorney Greg Smith are named in the poll. If you guess who received the highest percentage, then we have a free DWP lightbulb with a picture of the poll winner.

Monday Morning Lookalikes

 Florida's George Zimmerman.

Michael "MEAT/ Chief Parker" Trujillo

In the spirit of the late, great local Sports Writer Allan "Mud" Malamud, we bring you our Monday morning lookalikes featuring Florida's "Uber Neighborhood Watchman" George Zimmerman and none other than former Mayor Sam Blogger and Political Errant Boy Michael "MEAT/ Chief Parker" Trujillo. Amazing also how both these two have past issues with firearms. 

 Mayor Antonio Villar's 7th "State of the City Address".

Lastly, as a public service on the proper use of teleprompters in  public engagement, we upload Mayor Antonio Villar's most recent "State of the City Address" from Paramount Studios. We also link to the various responses from city leaders as compiled by the City Maven, regarding the  mayor's proposed 2012/2013 City Budget.

Your Thoughts ..............

Scott Johnson in CD 14 . 

Morning Briefs on the "Roasted" Los Angeles Political Machine for Friday

 City Clowncil Central Committee Dictator Herb "Mini Amin" Wesson.

Dictator Herb "Mini Amin" Wesson in Roastee High Chair via the City Maven.

Not wanting to take a hit on my EBT Card balance, this blogger and apparently City Councilman Bernard Parks and colleague City Councilwoman Jan Perry did not attend last evening's 15th annual Los Angeles Political Roast benefiting the American Diabetes Association. The event, hosted by lobbyists Harvey Englander and Arnie Berghoff and Councilman Mitch Englander, raised more than $500,000, including $25,000 from Westfield and $10,000 each from AEG, Arnie Berghoff & Associates, Clear Channel Airports, Cisco Systems, Englander Knabe & Allen, the Los Angeles County Disposal Association, Noresco, Oracle America, Recurrent Energy, Wells Fargo, and Mitch Englander and his wife, as noted by the Alice "The City Maven" Walton.

Coming two days after the City Clowncil Central Committee assumed role playing thirteen Joseph McCarthys (minus level headed Mitch Englander and Joe Buscaino) searching for hate speech in each syllable of dialog at KFI 640 A.M. The same politicos turned out to roast LA Wave Newspaper Columnist Betty Pleasant's "little short guy" Herb "Mini Amin" Wesson.

Again courtesy of the City Maven ,we highlight some of the "material" from last night's roast (** Disclaimer!! White Republicans, Uncle Tom Latinos, Blacks, Koreans and Conservative Talk Show Hosts should not replicate these comments in the course of daily dialog within the City of Los Angeles, or risk non-binding sanctions from the City Clowncil Central Committee).

From the mouth of Mayor Antonio Villar: “Is Chief Cummings here yet? We called him five minutes ago. Late again.” The Family of El Sereno's Luis Gonzalez may have a hard time finding the punch line in Mayor Villar's joke regarding his LAFD enabler.

Herb "Mini Amin" Wesson speaks: Wesson supports same-sex marriage because “motherf...ers deserve to have mother-in-laws like everybody else.” What is said at a roast, stays at the roast, ..... unless you are a republican.

From the 15 Promises Herb Wesson Made to Become Council President (as presented by Dennis Zine and Wendy Greuel): 3.If elected controller, Dennis Zine’s budget will include funds for “pole-sters.” One can see a loan for "The Frisky Kitty" in the near future. 4.As the #3 on council, Tom LaBonge will also get to sit in the big boy chair, and public speakers will be required to say what high school they attended. Look what a LAUSD High School Education has done for the good fortunes of CD 4. Then this zinger directed at Jan Perry. 9. By putting USC in the Ninth District, Wesson promised Jan Perry some Trojans while she gets screwed. Laughs now, lawsuits coming.

Thus, another night of double standard political comedy is a wrap.

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Afternoon Briefs on the "newest pieces" of the Los Angeles Political Machine for Tuesday

Mayor Antonio Villar and Paris Hilton.

Paris with Antonio Villaraigosa Jr. 

Little did Paris Hilton know in 2007 at the Grammy's after party that she would be posing with two generations of Villar/raigosa politicos. Mayor Antonoi Villar's Princeton educated son Antonio Villaraigosa Jr.   was just elected to the Executive Board of the Los Angeles County Young Democrats. No word whether Parke Skelton had a role in the election of "Lil Tony" Villaraigosa to his first political position (** irony here is if the rumors are true in 2013, the younger Tony will retain the "Villaraigosa Brand" while Papi reverts to Villar via divorce settlement).

** We are seriously considering the creation of the "media enabling award" for a local journalist who strays from the principles of non-bias reporting and engages in PR musings on the behalf of a local political entity. So far we have two nominations with "LA Antonio Times" Columnist Jim Newton's missive promoting a DWP rate increase on the behalf of Clean Water and the City Maven's Alice Walton who's question to Mayor Villar on why the "Health Department" did not shut down Occupy LA, enable the Mayor to momentarily put the blame on someone else for his lack of leadership regarding the "Flea Party Poopout".  

Morning Briefs on the Changing Los Angeles Political Machine for Monday

 New City Council President Herb Wesson?

... and his staff enforcer Andrew Westall?

Welcome to a short but action packed Thanksgiving week of backroom politics at 200 Spring Street as City Hall observers await the start of the "City Council President Herb Wesson Era" Los Angeles Times City Hall beat Writer David Zahniser graced the Saturday paper with a profile of the quiet former Assembly Speaker. But despite support from Mayoral Candidate and current Council President Eric Garcetti, it will be up to Wesson staffer/enforcer Andrew Westall, who "must sell a Wesson Presidency" to the thirteen other council members (via deals on redrawn council districts?). It is these supposed backroom tactics that have drawn the ire of Councilwoman Jan Perry and Councilman Bernard Parks, who have been critical of Westall's selection as the Executive Director of the city's Redistricting Commission. Further, as Rick Orlov points out in today's "Tipoff Column", Wesson has a personal issue call "smoking" that will face a day of reckoning come Wednesday, but don't be surprise that most of the smoke that originates from the selection of the new Council  Presdient, is rooted in Westall's backroom dealings.

OTHER NEWS:

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Is CLARTSgate becoming a Fiscal Bell, err, Shell Game?

"Tricky Huizzy pondering on the consequences of his past dubious transfers of CLARTS Fund proceeds into his Council Office Account."

Parke Skelton mulling which bloggers will drink his Spin Meme on Councilman Huizar's past dubious usage of the CLARTS Fund.

"The role model for dubious usage of public funds Ratzo Rizzo. Did Councilman Huizar learn a thing or two from Rizzo on usage of public funds to pad salary accounts?

Why did Tricky Huizzy seek to hide five CLARTS Fund transfers to his Council Office Account, within respective CAO reports?

Welcome to "Bad News Friday" and the spin craft involve to dilute negative political news.

For "Team Huizzy", Parke Skelton searched far and wide throughout the local political bloggersphere to find his "bloggin City Maven of choice" to drop documents pertaining to Councilman Jose Huizar past usage of CLARTS Fund proceeds. The newest bloggin observer at City Hall should regale in the fact that after years of requesting transparency on the CLARTS fund by many in CD 14, Councilman Huizar via his consultant Parke Skelton, blessed the young City Maven with her first major scoop as a City Hall blogger. Maybe that is why she took a shot at other bloggers, who's musings on Councilman Huizar's reasons for not releasing the information, were ridicule by the City Maven for alleging nefarious motive on behalf of the councilman? So forgive me for stating that the City Maven's supposed exclusive, only adds to the journalistic speculation on the true malfeasance that is CLARTSgate. More on that below.

On the subject of Team Martinez, the fact that they were able to smoke out the still ambiguous facts on Councilman Huizar's CLARTSgate Controversy, still does not make up for the fact that the majority of those who witness last night's Hermon's Candidate Forum, came away disappointed in Rudy Martinez's performance. Chalk it up to first time nerves? (very likely), Martinez missed a opportunity to take Huizar to task for his questionable usage of the CLARTS Fund as a "salary slush fund". For Martinez, he needs to focus on fronting a vision for CD 14 instead of musing on his past friendship with Councilman Huizar. Martinez should be lauded for taking ownership of his past, but his future will be positive if he forges and thinks ahead.

Analysis aside, the stark truth here is that CLARTSgate has moved into the potentially criminal malfeasance area. Despite the best efforts to spin the documentation released by the City Controller, on the behalf of Team Huizzy. The bottom photo of the seven 2008-2009 transfers from CLARTS to Councilman Huizar's "Council Office Account", shows a departure from the use of the transparent "Motion" procedure (in the first two transfers), to the ambiguous protocol of using the CAO reports to note CLARTS transfer to Huizzy's salary account.

Big question here is why Councilman Huizar would not follow the Motion process in noting CLARTS Fund transfers to his salary fund? In addtion, why did he not itemize the costs for the 10 community events that The City Maven cited in her posting? How come Councilman Huizar did not take the time to line-item the salary costs for "Rebuilding Broadway" staff? What are the reasons that operation costs are not noted in any of the five transfers above? And where is the budgeted cost for the added Case Managers? Questions that only serve to bring more attention to CLARTSgate.

In closing, the Drudge Report had a link two days ago to a story regarding Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas who hired with public funds, a $95,000 a year driver and a $57,000 a year house maid. Is it fair to ask Councilman Huizar for a line-item accounting on who was paid from the $1.04 Million transferred from the CLARTS fund? What benefits did CD 14 constituents derided from their work? And lastly, why did Councilman Huizar attempt to conceal this from CD 14 voters?

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Morning briefs on the Los Angeles Political Scene for Monday

Is City Controller Wendy Greuel covering for City Councilman Jose Huizar regarding CLARTSgate?

Question for City Controller Wendy Greuel, what do the likes of Martin Ludlow, Jack Weiss, Gil Cedillo, Pops Villar, some man in the Central Valley, Ruben Cortines, Corina Raigosa, UTLA, and the voters of Los Angeles all have in common? They are all the people that Mayor Antonio, soon to be again, Villar have pushed in front of the bus, after their usefulness had run its political course. And Wendy, your date with the bus may be coming soon base upon your role in CLARTSgate.

Many CD 14 observers took notice of your appearance at Councilman Huizar's Campaign Kickoff last Saturday in Boyle Heights. I'm sure that your political heart was touched when Councilman Huizar broke down in describing the efforts of his mom to provide for young Huizzy and his siblings. But no one will shed tears for you in 2013 if you do not objectively provide information that can bring CLARTSgate to a speedy resolution.

Controller Greuel will remember her visit to the Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council where she worked the room and reminded the city employees present, that it was her who signed their respective paychecks. But it also her who is responsible for audits and accounting how public money is spent in the City of Los Angeles. But most important, it is her job to provide the documentation when a person requested the information, especially under the auspices of the California Public Records Act. Greuel will also remember stating that the proceeds in the CLARTS Fund were only for usage within CD 14 (please refer to Greuel's attendance in The Voice Newspaper's CLARTS Fund story).

As CLARTSgate garners more attention from objective observers in media and within the voting ranks of CD 14, it would be wise for Greuel to make all expenditures related to the CLARTS Fund available for review. Thus, ensuring that CD 14 voters can articulate an inform opinion on Councilman Huizar's oversight of the fund.

OTHER NEWS:

** LA Times City Hall Scribe David Zahniser exposes Councilman Dennis Zine's past votes on projects linked to his lobbyist squeeze Veronica Becerra. If Councilman Zine is looking beyond the horseshoe, like becoming the City Controller, his current political behavior is not going to help. But hey, he did rescue Jimmy Blackman from unemployment.

** If one wants to gauge how bad the current state of affairs are at LAUSD, take the time to read Ron Kaye's latest missive on the questionable eduaction background of Mayor Antonio Villar, whoops, LAUSD selection of "Dr." John Deasy as its next's Superintendent. But one must remember that the role of the Superintendent is to make sure that contracts not test scores, move in the right direction.

** Assemblyman Mike Gatto Political Papi Dario Frommer former boss Fransisco Leal's dubious political dealings, just cost former Ramona Gardens resident Hugo "Rebel" Argumedo his City Council seat in the City of Commerce. As we say in the hood. "You can take the homie out of the hood, but you can't take the hood out the homie".

** "WWG" Kevin Roderick continues his efforts to promote City Maven as a source of City Hall chisme. Today, the maven features a "probing" (more like accepting Parke and Mikey's spin as the truth) Q & A with CD 14 Councilman Huizar. Just wondering if Rudy Martinez will receive the same puff treatment in his Q & A to be publish online tomorrow?

** The Valley Daily News Rick Orlov break news about the numerous rats running amok at 200 Spring Street. He is referring to the ones with long tales. BTW, Mayor Antonio, soon to be again, Villar will reign as chairperson of both the MTA Board and National League of Mayors. More travel time for Villar and deal making on Measure R contracts ahead.

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

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

"The Old Gray Hag on Spring Street"

Count me as one of the remaining few east of the Los Angeles River, who's daily ritual begins with a morning walk to the corner store to purchase my kitty box liner of choice, the ever-thinning "Old Gray Hag", errrr, Los Angeles Times.

Seeking to maintain a "journalistic balance" of old print news, counter by new media with bloggin up to date content, I scan through the vertical columns of newsprint to find the Old Gray Hag's take on Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti "flip-flop antics" yesterday at City Hall. The same waffling that Ron Kaye gave the "TSA treatment to" yesterday in feeling out the details.

Needless to say that my search ended with a middle-finger length of four paragraphs on Page AA4 of the LA Extra section. (The middle-finger is what many thousands of ex. readers have shone the Old Gray Hag in recent years, but I digress) But my ever-shortening scan through today's edition did yield a front page missive on the supposed voting exploits of the Tea Party supporters of Sarah Palin's daughter Bristol, (Does anybody remember the voting exploits of ACORN?) who made it to the finals of "Dancing with the Stars". In addition, a LA Times-USC Poll reports that new California Governor Bitter Jerry, may find Californians none too receptive in wanting to raise taxes. Thus, my morning education on current events is complete as the Johnny Cat pours over the newsprint.

Now back to the internet ...............

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