Sarah Palin not running in 2012

Former Alaska Governor and Vice-President Candidate Sarah Palin.

This blog would be remiss if we did not take this momentary detour away from its "Occupy El Sereno Coverage", to relay the breaking news that Michael Higby's "political fav." Sarah Palin is not running for President in 2012.

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Wednesday

The Dream Is Coming  
(Genaro Molina, Los Angeles Times / June 7, 2011)

SCOTUS finally gets one right with it's decision on Monday to allow California to continue offering reduced, in-state tuition to undocumented immigrants.The decision affects less than 1% of total enrollment or about 41,000 students.

The LA City Council voted on Tuesday to back state legislation that would give Los Angeles the option of not participating in the Orwellian named "Secure Communities" program. This highly criticized program requires police to submit fingerprints of those arrested to federal immigration officials in order to look for past violent convictions. Councilman Bernard Parks introduced the motion to support the state legislation saying that the program has gone far astray from its' original intent. Nearly 70% of those who have been deported under "Secure Communities" have had no prior convictions or have only been accused of minor offenses.

California Redistricting may actually do what it says it will do; work to drive lawmakers more to the moderate center and do something really crazy like unjam the state budget.

I hope you're sitting down. The highest concentration of manufacturing in the nation is still right here in L.A. County. In the City of Vernon, perhaps?

Sarah Watch 2011 Update-What was the immediate fall-out from Sarah Palin's recent moronic revisionist telling of Paul Revere's historic ride? Oh, just this.

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Monday

The Real Republican

Jim Newton profiles "Republican" mayoral candidates Austin Beutner and Rick Caruso.  Last I heard Beutner was registered decline to state and rumor is Caruso has or is re-registering as a Democrat.  Newton fails to mention actual Republican Kevin James, who has the backing of most Republican power players in LA.  He also says that Villaraigosa's victory against "goofy" Walter Moore "doesn't count" even though Moore and several other "goofy" candidates with little money and no name ID held the overfunded and popular incumbent to just 55% of the vote.

Apparently bloggers Joseph Mailander and Phil Jennerjahn have found an interesting way to amuse themselves - they will bet on whether or not Republican Sarah Palin will run for President.  Jennerjahn is convinced the former Alaska Governor will drop her hat into the ring; Mailander is putting his money on that Palin will remain on the book and talk TV circuit that's been so lucrative for her.  Mailander and Jennerjahn tried to get me involved in their reindeer games, holding their funds and being the final arbiter, I have politely declined.

Read more »

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Tuesday

California Assembly Speaker and primo to Mayor Villaraigosa, John Perez, has admitted he is gay but, according to California Watch, he allegedly didn't admit that he hadn't graduated from UC Berkeley even though that was part of his official bio for years.

Sarah Palin isn't saying yet if she is running for President in 2012, but she just bought a house in Scottsdale, Arizona.  In the meantime the LA Times notes fewer women running for office. Given the sexist attacks on Palin in 2008 - many by other so called "feminist" women - one wonders why any woman would run these day.

  

The recession put on hold a massive transit oriented development in NoHo at the Metro Red Line terminus. The billion dollar NoHo Art Wave - featuring scores of residential, office and commercial space - may be back on as financing appears more likely.

The LA Can't Drive Blog has a good one: a tailgater tailgating a tailgater.

Palin Bombs in Wisconsin

It was supposed to be some sort of rally for the Tea Party, and Scott Walker and his union busting bill. It looked and sounded more like the final seconds of Sarah Palin's 15 minutes.

Recall update- Wisconsin activists have gathered enough signatures to file a recall petition against a 3rd Republican State Senator.

The Other White Meat

The Official California GOP Mascot.

-Is the Republican brand in Cali also headed for extinction? Steve Harmon raises the question.

-David Nolan, founder of the Libertarian Party, dead at 66.

-Sarah Palin has a busy week, as she urges that we stand with our North Korean allies, fight against the nanny state of Michelle O'bama's "Let's Move" child anti-obesity program, and beats a halibut to death on TLC's "Sarah Palin's Alaska" reality tv show. Who wouldn't want to beat a fish to death, if, after only 2 episodes, your TV show plummeted 40% in viewership?

-Father Dollar Bill, a 91 year old Catholic priest who, on Thanksgiving, has handed out money to residents of skid row for the past 32 years, continues to demonstrate that actions speak louder than words.
Read more »

Shark Chum

Boxer keeps it real.

Sarah Palin to resign as Governor of Alaska

"What does the future hold for Sarah ??"

A certain "NoHo Valley White Guy" must be gripping the "defib paddles" as this shocker radiates out from Alaska.

From the Drudge Report,

WASILLA, Alaska (AP) - Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin made a surprise announcement Friday that she is resigning from office at the end of the month without explaining why she plans to step down, raising speculation that she would focus on a run for the White House in the 2012 race.

The former Republican vice presidential candidate hastily called a news conference Friday morning at her home in suburban Wasilla, giving such short notice that only a few reporters actually made it to the announcement. State troopers blocked late-arriving media outside her home, and her spokesman, Dave Murrow, finally emerged to confirm that Palin will step down July 26. He refused to give details about the governor's future plans.

"Once I decided not to run for re-election, I also felt that to embrace the conventional Lame Duck status in this particular climate would just be another dose of politics as usual, something I campaigned against and will always oppose," Palin said in a statement released by her office.

Sarah is in for 2012!!

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

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.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Sunday

For some reason the folks at Metroblogging are down on children.  First David Markland disses the Girl Scouts and their cookies.  Now Chal Pivik plans not to procreate thanks to wild teenagers in Silver Lake.

We know a little about anoymous blogging.  That's why I have to say that it was completely wrong for an Alaskan State Legislator to blow the cover on an anony-blogger in the 49th state even if that blogger was spreading trash about Sarah Palin.  Mike Doogan, himself a writer, sent an email blast to his supporters claiming to identify the blogger behind Alaska Muckraker, an anti-Palin site.

I told you the Earth Hour was really much ado about nothing.  Looks like most cities hardly dimmed for the event as seen in the video below.



Some of the ugliest apartments ever built are renting for $4,000 to $5,000 a month in Universal City.  From Curbed LA.

A friend of the daughter of Vice President Joe Biden says he has her on tape snorting coke.  From Gateway Pundit.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Monday

The LAPD unveiled it's 21st and latest police station on Friday in Canoga Park with the new Topanga Division which will provide some relief to the West Valley and Devonshire Divisions in policing the gang ridden community.  The Contra Costa Times reports that Mayor Villaraigosa was late to the ceremony; the Mayor "said he was delayed because he was making breakfast for his kids."

Posts you may have missed over the weekend:

• The Old Gray Hag She Ain't What She Used to Be
• Emperor Villaraigosa's New Clothes 
• Sportsmen's Lodge Closes. Well Sort Of.
• Zuma Dogg to Appear on Network News

Former California Assembly Speaker and San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown writing at SFGate calls Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich's appointment of Roland Burris to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama  the political play of the season.  Willie also predicts Senator Dianne Feinstein will not seek the Governor's seat, that Jerry Brown is "too far down the tracks" to turn back from his entry into the race and that current San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom probably doesn't have a chance. Oh yea, and there's Antonio Villaraigosa too.

Ex-Olympian turned reality TV star Bruce Jenner and his wife Kris - the former wife of the late Robert Kardashian, a member of the OJ Simpson legal team during his 1994 murder trial - have listed their Hidden Hills manse for nearly $3.4 million in order to trade-up for something bigger.  The Jenners are part of the "Keeping Up With The Kardashians" E! reality show that focuses on celebrity non-celebrity daughter Kim Kardashian and the rest of their combined 10 children.


A former high priced New York madam recently released from jail says that she could get thousands of dollars an hour pimping out celebrities such as Britney Spears, Paris Hilton and Katie Holmes. On the other hand Kristin Davis she wouldn't even take on Alaska Governor Sarah Palin who would likely earn a few hundred dollars an hour from a more downscale agency. Nor would Davis find much merchantability in most Playboy playmates as their appearance is too "fake."

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Tuesday

Score one for Antonio Villaraigosa and Eli Broad and one against Zev Yaroslavsky and the taxpayers.  Tom Christie writes at the LA Weekly blog that Tuesday Villaraigosa and Broad will join to announce the selection of a new CEO for LA's Museum of Contemporary Art and that the troubled MOCA has rejected a proposed merger offer with the more solid LA County Museum of Art, a plan supported by the County Supervisor as well as art lovers concerned about a potential Broad takeover of MOCA. Also figure on more CRA subsidies for the free-spending MOCA.

Two Mayoral candidates have unveiled websites encouraging voters to take positions they are supporting.  Zuma Dogg has created LAVotersforChange.com offering up endorsments of candidates for other offices and information on various issues.  Meanwhile, Walter Moore has launched VoteNoLA.com expressing opposition to three measures on the March primary ballot.

LAPD Police Chief William Bratton, the United Teachers of LA and even the City Council of Carson and others support the naming of a new high school for slain LAPD Officer Randal Simmons who was an active volunteer within the community but now one Council member and Carson's Mayor Jim Dear have reversed their earlier decisions and want the school named after late labor leader Cesar Chavez.  Though supporters of the Chavez name deny it, some are suggesting that racial politics are at play; that many residents of the heavily Latino neighborhood opposed the naming for Simmons who was African-American.

If anyone thought that former Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin was going away anytime soon they were sadly mistaken.  A recently launched social networking site dedicated to the Alaska Governor has garnered nearly 70,000 members.  Back from the dead Republican Senator of Georgia Saxby Chambliss says he owes his come from behind victory in this month's special election to Palin's campaigning. And local columnist Sandra Tsing-Loh says a pit bull with lipstick PTA mom like Palin is exactly who the LAUSD needs for it's new superintendent (instead of recently deposed Admiral David Brewer or recently coronated Villaraigosa toadie Ray Cortines).

Sarah Palin and Ugly Straight Weddings

It's been a while since we've mentioned Sarah Palin.  A few interesting items relating the former Republican  Vice Presidential candidate.  The blog that began pushing a Sarah Palin VP nomination more than a year before John McCain selected her has been selected to be archived as part of the Smithsonian Institution's collection on the 2008 election.

In the meantime, the gay couple that hung an effigy of Palin in West Hollywood prior to the election is now calling on gay designers to boycott working for heterosexual weddings.  An LA Weekly writer says that if Chad Michael Morisette and Mito Aviles are succesful with their drive, there'll be "a whole lot of ugly" at straight weddings. This is of course is part of the protest against Proposition 8 which outlawed same-sex marriages in California.

You all know that I was a strong opponent of Proposition 8.  I hope it's overturned in the near future.  That being said I find these types of protests and attitudes silly; more so I find the reverse bigotry by some of the Prop 8 opponents to be disturbing.  We don't fight intolerance with more intolerance.  Anger breeds anger.  There are other ways to win hearts and change minds.

You Can't Fight Hate With Hate

In the discussion of the anti-same-sex marriage ballot measure, Proposition 8, much has been said against those who support the measure and hence wish to outlaw same-sex marriage rights.  And sadly much of that has been bigotry towards Christians, chiefly Mormons and Catholics.

It is true that a number of evangelical Christian, Mormon and Catholic organizations have supported the Yes on 8 measure.  It is also true that a number of religious organizations however have endorsed marriage equity and the No on 8 campaign (including Catholic and Mormon groups).

Which brings me to an important point.  One of the chief Christian churches that not only opposes Prop 8 but has a long (back to the 70s) and strong record of support for the rights of gays and lesbians and same-sex marriage.  That would be the United Church of Christ, the very denomination that both Barack Obama and I belong to.

Which to me makes it more disingenious that Obama does not support same-sex marriage and claims it for religious reasons.  While I take issue with Senator John McCain, Senator Joe Biden and Governor Sarah Palin's stance on the issue, all three are members of denominations (McCain - Southern Baptist, Biden - Roman Catholic, Palin - Non-denominational Evangelical) that have a historic opposition to same-sex marriage.

Obama needs to come clean and say that he either opposes gay marriage for political reasons or personal reasons because our church doesn't hold the belief he says it does. Of course I was baptized into the church a good 24 years before Obama was so maybe he missed that Sunday School class.

Palin Cleared of Wrongdoing in Troopergate Scandal

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Reuters) - Alaska Gov. and Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin was cleared on Monday of wrongdoing in an abuse-of-power investigation into the firing of the state's public safety commissioner.

A little too late but at least the haters will have one less thing to bloviate about. It's important to point out because you know that if things went the other way the Obamabots would fire up their keyboard and hate away.

McCain On SNL: Brilliant!

John McCain joined Tina Fey as Sarah Palin for a brilliant send up of himself as well as the shopping network, QVC.  The haters can hate but this guy is funny and one good man.  We could only be so lucky to have him as President.

Guest host Ben Affleck detailed his history of supporting losing Presidential candidates, hence he was throwing his endorsement to John McCain (yes, it's a joke folks).

If you're reading this now, stay tuned, there's more McCain to come.

One Last Time For Some Great 2008 Election Videos

I'm F'ing Obama



Barack Roll



Obama - McCain Dance-off



Obama's Family



The Olden Boys



The McCain Girls



Obama Girl




And the classic of all classics, Joe the Stumbler's most legendary gaffe

Paper Posts Addressess of Homes with McCain Yard Signs

If you live in Seattle and happen to have a McCain-Palin yard sign, watch out.  The Obamabots have targeted you for who knows what.

The Seattle "newspaper" The Stranger published an article listing homes in the Seattle area that displayed their support for the Republican campaign via yard signs.  They've included photos as well.  We're not really sure the purpose of this but given other Obama efforts to muffle dissent it presents a disturbing picture.

One internet poster says that in Seattle if your car has Republican bumper stickers, it will get keyed.  That's Democratic tolerance for you!

However since the story was picked up by Internet linker Matt Drudge,  As of now, The Stranger is redirecting the URL http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=729360 to the story back to Drudge's site.  How incredibly odd. (Within the last few minutes as I write this, Drudge has removed the story from his site).

Be original! No one else will go as Sarah Palin this Halloween.

While I was looking for Halloween events to report on for Griffith Park, I came across this juicy description of how to make a Sarah Palin outfit, from CreepyLA.com, David Markland's other blog.

Whether you love Sarah Palin or love to hate her, one thing is certain: she is definitely adding some much needed glamour to the Republican Party! Those glossy lips, that frosted, tousled hair...

Bronzer, bronzer, bronzer! Wear an orangey-tan base, heavy on the bronzer. Palin loves her blush, people...

Last but not least, I found a baby doll ($3.00) at a thriftstore that I wrapped in a yellow towel. That’s right, my little Baby Trig.
Learn from my mistakes: I chose a Russ brand “Troll” doll and seriously offended some bystanders.

Am I a bad person because I laughed at this? Hee.

To be fair, I'm also including an Obama mask. This is for sale on ebay.

Palin Derangement Syndrome Causes Hearing Loss

First the Palin haters were sure that Sarah Palin made an ignorant comment to the Israeli Ambassor to the US but it turned out it was a mis-quote by a lazy or biased repoter.

Next the blog-o-wacks were certain that someone at a  Sarah Palin rally was chanting the N word when Palin mentioned The One and then ignored it, failing to chastise the racist.

The problem with that is the tale of the tape: the rally attendee was shouting "re-distributor" in an apparent reference to remarks made by the Democratic nominee about how he intends to re-distribute wealth in the US.

There could be some hope for Democrats though as a blogger at Daily Kos, the blog so badly infected with PDS that even McAffee won't be able to cure the virus, cops to the mistake and asks folk to move on.
Video below: