In Thick Of Bribery Scheme, Mark Ridley-Thomas Gave This Richly Ironic Advice

By Daniel Guss

@TheGussReport on Twitter - An amusing part of watching wonky and tedious government meetings is when agitating gadflies such as Zuma Dogg, Wayne Spindler and the late John Walsh make, and sometimes sing, obnoxious public comments that get under the skin of tightly wrapped politicians.

For example, there's the nugget from 2018 that we're going to revisit today, when then-LA County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, who was convicted last week on seven federal corruption counts, interrupted Spindler's button-pushing for, what he described as, a "point of personal privilege."

If only Ridley-Thomas had followed his own advice.

If only all politicians did.

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Special Briefs on the Pre Election Scene for Saturday

The Bobby Shriver for Supervisor Campaign's video response to challenger Sheila "Zelda" Kuehl's  "You can't really hold people you elect responsible" comment.  

The Shriver Campaign for LA County Supervisor, has been quick to capitalize on the latest asinine comment from a Left Wing Radical once known as "Zelda".

 

** Blogger's Note: Great Saturday before Election Tuesday as we bring you the latest local election news on this last weekend before the next great Republican Revival (and hopefully an end to One Party Collectivist Dependentcrat Rule in the "Greece on the Pacific") in the Great U.S. of A. Please note that either tomorrow or Monday, this blogger will regale you with his Tuesday Voter Guide for your bloggin consumption---Scott Johnson.
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Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Thursday

With no apologies to "The Old Gray Collectivist Hag on Spring Street" (aka LA Times), CD 8 City Councilman Bernard Parks emerges again from some supposed "wilderness banishment" to keyboard another refreshing, salient missive on the current state of affairs at 200 Spring Street ........, and beyond

Contrary to the summery of misallocated story budgeting at the LA Times, Councilman Parks is all smiles.

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2014 Predictions

After a two-year hiatus, I'm back with your annual predictions post. You should be warned, I have a horrible track record here, so take each prognostication with a grain of salt. Here we go...

Mayor Eric Garcetti's Chief of Staff, Ana Guerrero, will continue to earn electability chops in Jose Huizar's Council District, much to the chagrin of the incumbent and his supporters. Following her appearance in the Boyle Heights Christmas Parade - which included distributions from an 18 wheeler filled with toys and goodies - Guerrero will stage a special production of Ana Lloyd Weber's "Evita" where she will give a stunning performance of "Don't Cry for Me CD Catorce," at the bandstand at Olvera Street, followed up by Target gift cards raining from the sky.

Much to the chagrin of Blogger Scott Johnson and the community around the Arroyo Seco, the former site of the Southwest Musuem will be rededicated as "Villaraigosa University," with a special degree program in broadcast journalism taught by the ex-Mayor.

Following a special election in the summer of 2014, LA Fire Commissioner and former teacher Jimmie Woods-Gray will pull out a surprise win in the race to replace the late Marguerite LaMotte. Woods-Gray's victory, will deal a severe blow to LA's charter school movement.

Blogger/Writer Joseph Mailander will sign a deal for the movie version of his non-fiction book "Days Change at Night: LA's Decade of Decline." Esai Morales will be signed to play Mayor Villaraigosa and the film will feature a cameo by Randy Quaid as blogger Scott "Red Spot" Johnson.

The storied Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council, which spent it's salad days with wins such as blocking a controversial Home Depot store, but in recent years has found itself the subject of questions on finances and it's policies on the homeless issue, will find it's incumbent members facing an electoral challenge in the spring from a coalition assembled by controversial local newspaper publisher David "Doc" DeMulle. The uprising will fail when all realize that Joseph Mailander was right when he said that the community is "18 people arguing with 17 people over 14 microphones and 60,000 that don't care." (Turns out the finals of Dancing With the Stars featuring Chaz Bono and Kim Kardashian is on TV the same night as the elections.)

Former City Controller and failed Mayoral candidate Wendy Greuel will jump into the race to succeed termed out LA County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky. Once again Greuel will use "Political Consultant/Private Citizen" John Shallman to helm her campaign and once again will lose, this time to former State Senator Sheila James Kuehl, "The Child Start Formerly Referred to as Zelda."

California Republican candidates for the State Assembly will pick up some unexpected wins in various races around the state, it won't be enough to assume control of the lower chamber, but it will take away the Democrats current veto-proof majority, leading to several deals between Republican legislators and Governor Jerry Brown, who will be by the way, re-elected handily.

Former radio talk show host and Mayoral candidate and current President of the Board of Public Works, Kevin James, will announce he is leaving the Republican party and register as "Decline to State." James will then announce his candidacy for the Council District 4 seat being vacated by Tom LaBonge.

County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas will announce that he has brokered a deal for an existing NFL football team to move to the LA Coliseum with the 2017-18 season, but the deal will fall apart at the last minute. An expansion team for Los Angeles will eventually be located in a yet to be built stadium outside the city limits.

And finally, on the steps of the State Capitol, just after Thanksgiving, Governor Jerry Brown will announce his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for President in 2016.

Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Friday

"Private Citizen/ The Villar Greuel's Campaign Consultant" John Shallman laughable attempt to spin City Councilman Eric Garcetti's fundraising advantage.  

The mental process of crafting campaign spin can be an expensive proposition for "Private Citizen/ Political Consultant" John Shallman clients.

** Great Friday to all as the first true campaign week wraps up with the latest campaign finance reports becoming public via the City of Los Angeles Ethics Commission Website. Front and center in the local media coverage, are the reported contributions in the mayor’s race. CD 13 City Councilman Eric Garcetti has about a $200,000 advantage over City Controller Wendy “The Villar Greuel”. This fact prompted the following spin from “The Villar Greuel’s” campaign mastermind “Private Citizen/ Political Consultant” John Shallman.

"We expected Councilman Garcetti would be much higher than this given the fact that he held the City's purse strings as President of the Council. Other than being the incumbent Mayor, there is probably no better job to leverage donors."

Just a laughable (and likely an expensive) example of political bull via the “Private Citizen/ Political Consultant”.

** Let this be a teachable moment on what happens when a former republican from CD 15 and the latest “Spring Street RINO” incarnation from CD 12, attempt to push another expensive public works bond upon an overtaxed electorate. They get send back to the City Clowncil Central Committee Strongman Herb “Mini Amin” Wesson’s backroom/ wood shed to refine their sales pitch after provoking the collective ire of the neighborhood councils.

** Ron Kaye and Jack Humphreville offer up their respective commentary on the Buscaino/ Englander $4.5 Billion Street Tax Fiasco. A recommendation for the duo would encompass using the same monetary amount as a benchmark in pension savings, to offset the projective cost of this inflated gift to the organize labor community.

** The “Child Actress formerly known as Zelda” is seeking to become LA County Board of Supervisor Member Sheila Kuehl. If Kuehl joins former President Barack “H” Obama Labor Secretary Hilda Solis on the board in 2014, kiss fiscal restraint goodbye.

** Today ought to be a special one for CD 1 City Councilman Ed Reyes as he celebrates his last birthday as a City Council member. We extend best wishes.

** Stay tune for "Notes on the Contribution Scorecard" later today weekend.

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

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Tuesday

Richard Alarcon is at it again. Apparently he pissed off CM Ed Reyes and other members of the Clowncil for his Johnny Come Lately views on LA River restoration, and the City's $2 billion plan. Yes, he wants more goodies for his district and admitted as such that during his time of seeking different political offices he kind of was out of the loop on the river issue. The $2 billion plan is probably a lot of boondoggle and pork, but folks have been working on this for years. Alarcon has a lot of nerve to make a stink at the last minute.

More after the jump.

Remember Mayor Poopy? He's back. Sort of. Don't get your hopes up, yea, imagine that, missing James Hahn. I guess I was right I would regret endorsing Tony Villar for Mayor. Boi From Troy reports that the former Mayor is speaking up for his handling of things here in LA following 9/11. Apparently, when Mayor Villaraigosa came back from his self imposed MayDay exile south of the boarder, some folks said Kenny's boy went AWOL when Osama hit. Not quite true. But does anyone remember four words we'll never have to hear again: Acting Mayor Alex Padilla?

Ace Smith - Villaraigosa operative and one of a series of people I was accused of being - has signed on to the Hillary Clinton campaign. The San Francisco Chronicle profiles the political mastermind.

Pasadena blogger James McPherson has put on hold his idea to hire offshore writers from India to write about happenings in the Rose City. Blowback has been so intense McPherson needs to regroup. On the other hand, traffic and linkage must have gone through the roof.

Can a Mayoral takeover of a school district such as what Mayor Villaraigosa has proposed work? The education blog Edspresso says its possible, but apparently probably won't work for an attention deficit elected like Tony V.

Things are getting nasty in a Congressional special election. Zelda has called Long Beach Democratic Assemblywoman Laura Richardson "homophobic." Richardson, who is seeking to replace the late Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald who passed away recently, apparently once referred to Zelda as pursuing a "radical gay agenda." Zelda is supporting one of Richardson's major opponents, fellow State Senator Jenny Oropeza.

And finally, this guy is about to beat Mayor V for photo ops. Assemblyman Lloyd "The Bachelor" Levine is going to ride his bike from San Francisco to Sacramento for "Bike to Work" day. Why isn't he starting from Van Nuys? But seriously, biking to work is a very good thing especially when you're not doing it to get elected to replace Zelda.

Mayor Sam's Hot Sheet for Wednesday

A tragic event occurred Monday at what is supposed to be a happy place for young and old alike. During a performance of the Circo Hermanos Vasquez in Whittier Narrows, a 35 year old trapeze artist fell to his death. OSHA investigators are reviewing the accident as they should; however a gasbag local politician is trying to use the tragedy to get press: County Supervisor Gloria Molina has arranged free county "counseling" for anyone who saw the event. Folks, this is not a function of government, people have endured tragedies long before county crisis counselors were on the scene.

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If you haven't had a chance to check out Joe Mailander's excellent "A Guy in LA" series now carried here exclusively on Mayor Sam, please do so. Joe has a unique take on many local issues and I'm grateful to have him here. For fun, we have the usual blogging dust-up Joe is so good at it, however this time it's not with the Westside White Guy but with our buddy Don Garza the Central City East Blogger. Joe and Don are sparring over a plan by LA Clippers owner Donald Stirling to build a massive homeless services center in Skid Row. Don's passion is understandable given his situation, however Joe makes a good point. And I'm all for yurts!

Want to run for Congress? Due to the sad passing of Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald there will be a special election for her seat in June. We dished up some speculation as to who might run for the seat but there's always room for you!

California Progress Report takes another look at the coming Fran Pavley-Lloyd Levine race to take over Zelda's State Senate seat. Pavley is doing quite well in polls, especially among folks who are dedicated voters, Jews, 2-1. The Bachelor has some catch up to do.