Allred, Trump Jump Shark; the Real October Surprise

Two of the biggest media whores in America both teased "October surprises" with speculation about damaging, game changing information about Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, respectively.

Democratic, ambulance chasing, attorney Gloria Allred teased that she had some potentially damaging information about Mitt Romney. The media circus that developed around Allred's mission was very much aware of the game changing bombshell Allred dropped in the run-up to the California Gubernatorial election in 2010, in which "Super Glo" brought forward the alleged illegal alien, former maid of Republican nominee, Meg Whitman, who claimed that the former PayPal CEO had unceremoniously fired the maid prior to her campaign, leading the worker to have "tares on her face."

Republican, bad hair, loudmouth, serially married developer, Donald Trump, who previously had attempted to prove that President Obama was not born in the United States and thus ineligible to serve, also promised "an announcement" that could damage the President and harm his chances at re-election.

The showdown for both was set for early Wednesday morning; in a court hearing in Boston with Allred and a YouTube announcement released by Trump just moments ago.

Both have apparently resounded with a major thud.

As we currently understand it, Allred's "allegations" revolve around the 1990s divorce of Staples founder, Tom Stemberg. Romney's company, Bain Capital, was a major investor in Staples and Romney served on the company's board of directors for some time. According to reports, Romney testified in the case as to the value of Staples stock, apparently an issue of contention between Stemberg and his wife. Allred would like the testimony of the divorce case unsealed and a gag order imposed, lifted. During a hearing in Boston Wednesday morning, attorneys for Romney asked for time to review Allred's submission but noted that Romney has no problem with releasing the testimony. The Governor's attorneys also asked that the case only be held over for one day as they wish to submit their response fairly quickly.

Over in Manhattan, Trump's "bombshell" wasn't even a revelation. The real estate tycoon and reality TV star, in his YouTube video, offered the President a deal - if Obama unseals his sealed college records, Trump will donate $5 million to the charity of the Democrat's choice.

While all of this Matt Drudge - TMZ inspired trash swirls around, the REAL October Surprise, the "what did the President know and when did he know it moment" was revealed in a series of emails surrounding the attack on the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya. According to CNN, two hours after first being notified of an attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, a government e-mail to the White House, the State Department and the FBI said an Islamist group had claimed credit. This obviously does not square with the story given by the Obama Administration as to the nature and cause of the violent attack on US Ambassador Chris Stevens and others.

Stay tuned and don't listen to old media whores with bad hair.

Los Angeles Politics HotSheet for Tuesday

Carmen's Future?

Oh, Carmen. In a Trutanichesque display of chutzpah and tuna canning bravado our City Attorney packed up a bodyguard and a $2 million check representing the County's share of a city won lawsuit and headed to the County Hall of Administration to personally deliver the check and suggest that it go to political pal, Sheriff Lee Baca, to address the high profile issue of a backlog of rape investigation kits. Trouble is, state law says the County has to spend the dough on consumer protection.  Carmen's former BFF - DA Steve Cooley - called it a cheap political ploy (as Carmen has designs on Cooley's seat) and that the backlog was resolved some time ago.  One wonders if Carmen had the check in a briefcase handcuffed to his wrist and offered the County Administrative Officer "an offer you can not refuse.
Read more »

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Wednesday

No-See-Em Any More

The LA City Council has voted to end the much despised Red Light Camera program on July 31. Councilman Zine is also advising LA residents to ignore any tickets that they may receive if caught on camera blowing through an intersection between now and July 31.. Thanks, Dennis!

Uh-Oh, Empty suit in Cali! Hide your checkbooks!

Union Rescue Mission is shutting down some homeless shelters that are under contract to local and federal agencies due to non-payment or not adequate compensation for services provided. URM is claiming that they are still owed over $300,000 by FEMA for operating four winter shelters in Los Angeles.
URM has also experienced a big drop in donations while experiencing a 100% increase in need for services. Additionally, URM will be facing a $1.3 mil deficit beginning July 1st.

Joseph Mailander AKA Mulholland Terrace AKA The Stay at Home Blogger managed to step deeply into his own blogger poop twice already this week (and it's only Wednesday). His 2 reports on the efforts by the Sunland-Tujunga community to improve and bring some teeth to our Specific Plan were long on innuendo and speculation, but noticeably absent of  basic facts. Bizarrely, he calls out the Sunland-Tujunga Alliance (the group I am co-director of) for being quiet on a proposed SB1818 apartment complex: 
"The Sunland Tujunga Alliance, once groud zero of the City's anti-density advocacy, has also been unusually quiet about a pending 64-unit inclusionary zoning project on Samoa..."

 A couple of problems with Joseph Mailander's statement; 

1.The STA has never dealt with housing issues or high density in our entire existence. Our focus has always been upholding the Foothill Blvd Corridor Specific Plan, which regulates commercial properties and retail development.
2.There are currently no plans filed with the City for the Samoa Project.  It's extremely difficult for anyone to fight against a theoretical apartment building.

Joseph, next time, try to do a little research, get both sides of the story, and maybe actually attend a S-T community meeting instead of writing your story pretending that you were there.

Finally, in case you missed Red Spot's story; Mike Gatto is very, very, upset!

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Wednesday

Scott Svonkin playing hooky?

LACCD candidate Scott Svonkin was supposed to be at the San Gabriel School Board meeting Tuesday night. If you'll recall, Scott is an elected member of the San Gabriel School Board and is required to attend these meetings to deal with the many issues facing schools and students in the district .

Unfortunately, at the San Gabriel meeting it was announced that Scott was really "sick" and just could not make the meeting.

Imagine our surprise when Scott Svonkin was spotted the very same night at the UTLA Headquarters on Wilshire Blvd as the photos above show. Hmm, does he look ill to you?  I guess schmoozing with UTLA reps was way more important than being at a boring old school board meeting.  Learn more about Scott and his problems at this LA Weekly story.

UPDATE: This was a LA Democratic Party event being held at UTLA headquarters. This was not a UTLA meeting.

The CGOP continues it's slow and painful descent into total irrelevance. The latest blow comes from GOP finance chairman, Jeff Miller, the California GOP's top fundraiser, who has announced that he quits due to infighting and losing elections.

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Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Tuesday

The Democrats' Worst Nightmare

A beautiful thing is happening in Los Angeles, that is, every weekend tens of thousands of unpaid volunteers give of their time (and sometimes their money) to work to support and assist many City departments such as the library, parks, Police, etc.  Still, the union hacks have an issue with it.

The battle continues between the Hollywood Farmers' Market and a nearby film school which, even though it is closed on Sundays when the market operates, says it needs access to it's parking lot and the market blocks it. Sounds more like the neighborhood has gone upscale since the days of the market first opening in the early 90s and the yups aren't so thrilled with the pilgrimage of hippy dips seeking organic Belgian endive.

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The looming Civil War in The Republican Party

I was talking with a friend the other day who is a high-level figure in the Republican Party here in California. I discussed with him my theory that there is a Civil War brewing inside the Party. Two election cycles of defeats have made the party meetings and discussions very rancorous. Moderates and Conservatives have been wrestling for control of the party, and in the end, only one side can win.

"It's too late" he said, "the war is already here."

He went on to explain in great detail about some of the battles that have been fought in the party on multiple levels. There are battles at the local, state and national levels right now, and almost all of them are occurring at the same time. He explained the situation in the Republican Party of Los Angeles County, where there was a sudden coup last year involving a chaotic meeting where voters removed longtime head Linda Boyd from power. I didn't know Linda Boyd personally, but she and her husband had been important figures in the party for a number of years. However, other individuals in the party felt she was being destructive because she and her husband Doug opted to support Democrat James Hahn for Mayor in 2005 instead of Republican Walter Moore. It appears to be true that Doug Boyd was actually paid $30,000 to support James Hahn.

If these accusations are true, then I fully approve of their ouster. It makes no sense to have party leaders who do not support members of their own party. I have heard that there was some complaining and poor behavior by Walter Moore over this issue of non-support of his candidacy in 2005 . Even though I disagree with Walter on many issues, this is one where he would have received my full support. As a party, the Republicans have to support their own. On this issue, there is no room for compromise. Walter may have been a moderate, but you don't throw him under the bus for a liberal Democrat just because the Democrat wrote you a big check.

This is what is happening to Republicans at every level right now. We are suffering in elections because the candidates are abdicating their principles. The Boyds are only one example. Look at Arlen Specter. He is a contemptible and desperate man who only cares about holding onto power. He needs to go, and so do many other career politicians just like him. The Civil War that is brewing is happening because we need to get rid of people like Specter. If we don't, we run the risk of becoming a Party that radio show host Mark Levin says "stands for nothing, appeals to nobody, and is only supported because the alternatives are worse."

I am a Conservative. I believe that Conservatives should be in charge of the Party, and that when we regain control, the Party will start winning again. We have to stop letting Moderates into power. They have shown a tendency to abandon core principles and core value systems. For too long, we Conservatives have been told that we are the ones who need to change. That we need to be more flexible and follow the mood of the electorate. No! I reject this thinking. Leaders who operate in this manner are showing that they have no coherent value system. Conservatism is all about freedom and opportunity for the individual. It was the guiding faith of our Founding Fathers. Abandoning our principles and core values is the antithesis of what we are all about. Moderates have shown us that they can do this easily. That is why Moderates lose elections.

The party is so fractured right now, that the media can't even identify who the leader of the Party is right now. New RNC Chairman Michael Steele stepped up to the plate and told everyone that he is now the boss. That is nice, but he is so new that people aren't comfortable with him yet, and he has already had a few slip-ups while speaking publicly for the party. The Mainstream Media decided to label radio show host Rush Limbaugh the new leader of the party. He is a respected and trusted voice among Conservatives, but he is an entertainer and not the party leader. So...who will lead us into the next election cycle? We have many good options.

Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee are favorites among the Conservatives.

Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani are popular with Moderates. Bobby Jindal and Newt Gingrich haven't openly declared their intentions, but they seem to have some support also. Some people have mentioned Eric Cantor or General Petraeus. But it is also possible a new figure will rise to the challenge. Our next leader could be toiling in obscurity right now. The future is always full of surprises.

In 2004 , heavy favorite and lock-certain-nominee Senator Hillary Clinton was making plans for moving back into the White House in 2008. Barack Obama, on the other hand, was only hoping he would be fortunate enough to win his election in Illinois to become a United States Senator.

Schwarzenegger "Prank Calls" Mitt Romney

A Pick for McCain

In as much as Barack Obama has in Joe Biden picked a contemporary of John McCain to serve as his running mate, the presumptive Republican nominee should consider selecting the Republican version of Barack Obama as his vice-presidential nominee.

For sure McCain's "short list" is somewhat long.  Former candidate Mitt Romney gets talked about a lot. So do Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty and former Ohio Congressman and Bush Budget Director Rob Portman.  Also on the list are former Pennyslvania Governor and Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge and Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, the 2000 Democratic Vice Presidential nominee. Lately former Secretary of State Colin Powell, an unlikely pick, has also received buzz.

And of course we advocated here for sometime the selection of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.

The challenge for McCain is to find someone who will 1) stay out of trouble, 2) shore up his standing with the base, 3) not scare off moderates as well as disaffected Clinton Democrats, 4) Hold their own against Joe Biden in debates and 5) give him a little Google juice going into the Republican National Convention.

I believe that person is Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal. Here's Jindal on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno:



Jindal has an interesting background.  He's a first generation immigrant who was born in Baton Rogue while his parents, immigrants from India, were attending Louisiana State University.  At 37 years old, he's the youngest Governor in the US.  He served in the US House of Representatives, where he was Britney Spears' Congressman. Here young people who are fired up over Jindal talk about the Louisiana Governor:



Could you imagine Jindal debating Biden who has referred to Indian Americans as 7-11 and Dunkin' Donuts workers?



More importantly he's an impassioned, articulate, intelligent, dynamic young man.  And he brings a lot to the ticket.  He'd be the only Southerner on the ticket.  Like Biden, he's a Roman Catholic who converted from Hinduism in high school.



He comes from a solid middle class background and worked his way up to the top at a young age.  He has the immigrant experience and if nominated would be the first Asian to be part of a major party ticket.  And he even has somewhat of a resemblance to his namesake, Bobby Kennedy.  A Rhodes Scholar, Jindal is ten years younger than Obama, was born one year before Biden entered the senate.

Unlike Obama, Biden or even McCain, as a Governor, Jindal is a Washington outsider who has solid Conservative credentials. As the child of immigrants himself, he has credibility when calling for immigration reform.



McCain could really fire up the troops, gets lot of press and find a candidate who could appeal to all the important swing votes - without the baggage of a boring white guy like Romney, Portman, Pawlenty, etc.- if he picked Jindal.

Why Mitt Romney Won't Be The VP Nominee

Outtakes from the "RED SPOT INSTITUTE"

We start off this morning in asking for your prayers for the families of two LAPD SWAT Officers who were shot in a on-going stand off in the San Fernando Valley. KFI is reporting that one officer has died and the other is under going treatment at this time. Times report

In other news.....City Controller Laura Chick gives her post election thoughts about Prop S. One senses that Chick is seeking separation from the deceitful tactics employed by the "Yes for Prop S" campaign.

The "KENNEDY REPUBLICAN" laments the lost of his political soul mate Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez. Commentary aplenty from the likes of Skelton in the "OLD GREY HAG ON SPRING STREET", LA Weekly, and the "BEAT OF THE CITY".

Los Lomas, Griffith Park/Southwest Museum, and a "wetlands" in Boyle Heights?, are environmental issues which will come front and center at City Hall in the weeks ahead.

Daniel Hernandez takes up for the "Bacon around the Hot Dog" vendors.

In closing, we give our "WASTE OF A SPACE AWARD" for the printed word to Times Op-ed writer Patt Morrison. She wasted salary hours of print room guys such as Padgett with her "Rudy for LA Mayor" column.

BREAKING NEWS!!!!

The "RED SPOT INSTITUTE" mourns the news that Mitt Romney is dropping out of the GOP race for the White House. Thus the return to power of the Rockefeller RINOS is realized.

FREEDOM AND FREE ENTERPRISE!!

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Monday

Is Eric Garcetti on Barack Obama's short list for Vice Presidential candidates? Not likely but he joined City Controller Laura Chick at a rally to support the popular Presidential candidate.

The LA Downtown News has come out with their "80 in 08" list of people, projects and events that "will power Downtown this year." This blog was honored to be on that list under the category of "five blogs downtowners will visit frequently in 2008."

latinopoliticsblog.com questions the strategic wisdom of the Hillary Clinton campaign having Mayor Villaraigosa tag along in New Hampshire. More importantly - the blog drives home - why isn't the Mayor at home solving problems instead of playing Presidential politics out of state?

So much for "We Report You Decide" at Fox News. Maverick Republican Presidential Candidate Ron Paul has been bounced from their on-air debates as well as third party candidates. An activist group, rockthedebates.org is pressing to get pledges from the Democratic and Republican candidates to debate Libertarians, Greens and other third party candidates. So far Paul and Mike Huckabee have signed on; Barack Obama, Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney are opposed. What are they afraid of?

The one candidate who could take down the incumbent in the 35th Congressional District here in California. Ted Hayes has announced his candidacy for the seat currently held by Maxine Waters.

There's a slew of propositions on the ballot next month that deal with Indian Gaming with some tribes and their money on one side and some on the others and some of them lined up with horse tracks, all in the name of stopping competition. This all points to the fact that Indian Gaming has become a big scam and if we're going to have gambling in California, lets open up casino ownership to anyone.

Like many LA denizens, bloger Los Angelista finds lot of reasons to hate LA - including gangs, traffic and Mayor Villaraigosa - but every reason to love her own neighborhood.

We covered the story of the Disney Company turning NIMBY when someone wanted to build condos near Disneyland. Looks like Disney may have run the developer off with the threat of a ballot measure to shut them down.

Obama, Huckabee Looking Strong In Iowa

Reports are calling Republican Mike Huckabee and Democrat Barack Obama as leading in the Iowa Caucus. Heavy turnout in some precincts is likely to favor challengers such as Obama and Huckabee and break against establishment front-runners like Hillary Clinton, Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney.

Blogger Shelby Highsmith is actually live streaming video of one caucus at his website here. He's doing it with a laptop, camera and Sprint aircard. Maybe we should do this in February.

Prediction: Barack Obama Will Win Iowa Caucus

Everyone knows I have a ton of relatives in Iowa and spent some time there in September. Hillary Clinton may think she's poised to win but I predict an upset by the Illinois Senator for several reasons. One, he's from a neighboring state (and when there is a significant candidate from a mid-western state they usually win Iowa), two Oprah is boosting Barack big time and she's huge in middle class places like Iowa, three, Antonio Villaraigosa is doing no favors for the New York Senator in his appearances there and four, a last minute slime campaign on Barack's religious affiliation - the United Church of Christ - is going to backfire. The theologically liberal but stylistically conservative mainline protestant denomination has a deep history and lots of members in Iowa.

On the Republican side its neck and neck between Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney, with an edge to Huckabee.