Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Thursday

ABC News reports that high profile Democratic donors are jumping off the Barack Obama ship and throwing their support to John McCain.  According to ABC, "More than 85 of Clinton's fundraisers, including Donald Trump, Univision chief executive Joseph Uva, cable mogul Charles Dolan, philanthropist Norma Hess and one of Florida's biggest lobbyists appear to be skipping Barack Obama when it comes to writing checks."  The most recent prominent Clinton supporter to jump ship is Alma Sanford, the chair of the Tennessee Democratic Women’s Political Action Committee.


Our favorite former ex-motorocycle cop and nominal Republican Dennis Zine has found folks even more anti-paparazzi than he himself - in the Ciry of Malibu.  On October 2nd Zine will take his traveling roads show to the Malibu Performing Arts Center where he will, as the Malibu Surfside News says, make the case that "the First Amendment shouldn’t stand in the way of one of the best publicity vehicles that a politician in a world entertainment center could have, even if there aren’t many celebrities in their own district."

I'm throwing my support behind Bernard Parks for County Supervisor.  I have my issues with Bernie but he's one of the few local pols who comes as close to "getting it" when it comes to business and jobs - despite lapses such as voting for Jan Perry's goofy fast food ban.  Doug McIntyre writes in the Daily News Wednesday that Parks' opponent, Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas, has the "stench of whoredom dripping" from him when it comes to the millions of dollars spent by public employee unions to elect Ridley-Thomas.  Unions who will expect Ridley-Thomas to "service them" when he gets into office. 

From the history vaults: Speaking of Ridley-Thomas, here's something that shows that he's been a race-card
player since even before Johnnie Cochran.  At a 1991 LA City Council Meeting, during a debate that eventually led to the appointment of Willie Williams as Chief of Police, now deceased former Councilman Ernani Bernardi remarked to Ridley-Thomas "Wait a minute will you Curly?"  Ridley-Thomas was certain that was a racist comment however friends of the musician turned Councilman - who was 79 years old at the time - said that Bernardi called every young person "Curly," irrespective of race.

Lindsey Lohan responses to Chief Bratton comments

From Associated Press.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Lindsay Lohan said Friday that police have no business getting involved in her personal life, a day after the police chief explained that the paparazzi were no longer an issue - in part because the 22-year-old actress had evidently "gone gay."

"Police chiefs shouldn't get involved in everyone else's business when it comes to their personal life. It's inappropriate," Lohan said in a video shot by paparazzi Friday and posted on TMZ.com. In the footage, Lohan and gal pal Samantha Ronson are trekking through the Los Angeles Airport on their way to catch a flight to Chicago.

The day before, Chief William Bratton said the paparazzi have become less of a problem thanks to Britney Spears, Paris Hilton and Lohan leading more moderate lifestyles.

"If you notice, since Britney started wearing clothes and behaving; Paris is out of town not bothering anybody anymore, thank God, and evidently, Lindsay Lohan has gone gay, we don't seem to have much of an issue," he told KNBC-TV.

Bratton was speaking about his refusal to participate in a meeting held by elected officials Thursday that was called to discuss new laws to curb problem paparazzi.

He called Los Angeles City Councilman Dennis Zine's special session - which was attended by the likes of John Mayer, Eric Roberts and Milo Ventimiglia - "a complete waste of time."

Bratton later called a news conference outside police headquarters to clarify his position on the paparazzi. When asked about the Lohan remark - which followed months of tabloid speculation that Lohan and Ronson, a DJ, are dating - Bratton said his sister is gay and he is a proponent of gay rights.

Open Thread for Monday

Lots going on and feel free to blog away dum dums, but here's one item that caught my eye, courtesy of our friends at Metroblogging LA.

Are many celebrity paparazzi actually immigrants working here illegally? Apparently many of the photogs who chase Britney Spears and other celebrities - and who have leather loving former motorcycle cop Denny Zine getting a Woodrow Wilson over an even bigger piece of designer legislation than Jan Perry's fast food ban - are Brits here illegally working on a tourist visa.

Could be a big two fer for Denny!