Sometimes you think that political stupidity has hit the wall….that it just couldn’t get any dumb or dumber than the latest gaff!  Mark Sanford was one of those political weenies…..that seemingly was doing a reading audition for a role on “Days of Our Lives!”  The good Governor of South Carolina bumbled, stumbled, twisted and fell on his own sword all within a span of 18 minutes on the National Press stage.  Sanford had been missing for 5 to 7 days AWOL.  He could have been kinder to himself and the public and just done his bit at a National Press Club luncheon.  Sanford could have stood up there for over an hour and redundantly recant his various missteps on that old Applachian Trial…..via Buenos Aires on his fingertips.

That was really dumb….and it is even dumber that he has not yet to step down and out as the Governor of South Carolina.  So up steps Sarah Palin….who no doubt has been very bummed that she hasn’t been center stage because of the deaths of Ed McMahon, Farah Fawcett and Michael Jackson!  Sarah, as you might remember is a first term Governor of Alaska…which is a State as you also know.  Sarah has served two and half years and spent about six months of that in Alaska……between her run for Vice President and all her talk show tours and appearances.

Shockingly, in the spirit of Mark Sanford…(must be something they put in the water for Governors!)….Sarah, stumbled, bumbled and twisted logic away stated she will be leaving at the end of this month as Governor, because “there are forces out there…trying to hold people back”!  Whoa….we better tell Arnold to watch what they are putting in his water supply as well.  This could turn out to be a complete epidemic!

The Sarah Palin Chronicles however really take the cake.  “It’s all about Trig!”, or Britney, Levi, Willow or the husband Todd or the mother in law or was it maybe David Letterman or the guy that takes the Gas Meter readings!  We are confused.  But the good news is…..we don’t have to live her life - she does!   At any rate, we will be looking into the series of contentious issues that will be following the  Ex-Governor around.   What charges is she dodging now?  What charges will be forthcoming?  Or did the Governor just have an ego meltdown because she wasn’t the national center of attention?  Is her real desire to be a standing cast member on “The View”?  One thing certain is:  By Comparison……Sarah is making Governor Mark Sanford start to look more like Larry Craig……..without the toilet paper on his shoe!  Good grief….it is just another “Liberal Press Conspiracy”?  Sarah better talk to Hillary about that!

Why do you think the Governor of Alaska has suddenly decided to resign?  Why do think she just didn’t say:  “I want to spend more time with my family!” and walk off the stage!

We are desperate enough to want Senator George Allen back…..you know “Mr. Machaca…” at least made Republicans look like they had a pair!   Good Grief, may the last Republican turn out the lights when they leave!  Happy Fourth of July!

After a delicious tip toeing and mumble mouthing an explanation about his comments that “Americans are looking for more government in their lives, not less,” Former Chairman of the JC and Sec of State Powell has regained his sanity. In an interview to be released on Sunday, July 5, Powell said he is

“…concerned at the number of programs that are being presented, the bills associated with these programs and the additional government that will be needed to execute them.”

Well, I guess even a broken clock is right twice a day! You know, I was saying to my friend Art Pedroza just a couple of weeks ago I was thinking of becoming a Democrat. When he said “Why, you don’t agree with anything they stand for!” I said “Neither does Colin Powell.” Seriously folks, this just represents the growing concern over Obamas dangerous and implosive fiscal policies that were opposed by the 40% of this country that is Conservative, and is slowly dawning on the rest. Moderates and independents are now split on their support of Obama. Soon the cup will runneth over and the Emperor will be wearing very little.

But Powell goes further…

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“one of the cautions that has to be given to the president — and I’ve talked to some of his people about this — is that you can’t have so many things on the table that you can’t absorb it all. And, we can’t pay for it all.”

No kidding! Not that that is of any concern to the radical libs and their ba’athi minority fascists.  As I have said before and will repeat ad infinitum, “The right is concerned with creating wealth, the left is concerned with spending it.”

Mr. Powell expressed alarm at “budgets that are running into the multi-trillions of dollars” and “a huge, huge national debt that, if we don’t pay for in our lifetime, our kids and grandkids and great-grandchildren will have to pay for it.”

Well, it seems the little boy in the big white house has been taken to the wood shed by an elder.

Lets see if the lesson sticks.

Quang X. Pham appears to be serious about running for Congress  - his campaign website is up and running.  Pham is challenging Democratic incumbent Loretta Sanchez, who has been in the news a lot of late, but not for good reasons.  He is also taking on corrupt GOP Assemblyman Van Tran, who is termed out from the state legislature and running for Congress for the first time.

I am still not sure if Pham is running as a Republican or as an independent.  But he is a good guy and at this point I rather support him than Sanchez.  But if he runs as a Republican I cannot vote for him as that party won’t allow independents and third party members to vote in their primaries.

Sanchez’ latest gaffe is one for the ages.  According to the O.C. Weekly, she told a young descendant of President Richard Nixon that she regretted voting for Tricky Dick.  That was of course a horrible insult to the young man, who was visiting her office in D.C.  But beyond that, the fact is Sanchez wasn’t old enough to vote back when Nixon was running for President.  Sanchez appears to be either a liar or a ding dong - or both.

Below is Pham’s welcoming message from his website:

Welcome to PhamforCongress.com!

These are challenging times for our country. We face uncertainties overseas and at home in nearly every facet of life. Our leaders have failed us. The people of California’s 47th Congressional District deserve better representation.

As a healthcare entrepreneur, Marine Corps war veteran and active member of the community, I have been encouraged to run for Congress.

I joined the Republican Party for its principled stance on less government, lower taxes and strong national defense. I believe in individual choices, liberty and the right to pursue happiness. I believe in personal responsibility and respect for others.

We need more independent, fiscally conservative leaders in Washington with strong values and real world business experience. We need leaders who will help create jobs, advance entrepreneurship, reward innovation, improve education, support families and reduce our staggering national debt. We need leaders who have a deep understanding of national security issues plaguing our country and who have served our nation in harm’s way.

When I arrived in America as a boy from Vietnam, I had lost my country, my freedom and my father. Yet the American Dream was still attainable. It took dedication, encouragement, hard work and perseverance. And it can still be done. We need leaders who will emphasize self sufficiency and who will inspire others to seek opportunities and not just guarantees.

I hope that you will join our cause and contribute. Please join me and together we can begin to make changes that matter!

Thank you,

Quang X. Pham for Congress
9877 Chapman Avenue, Suite D #121
Garden Grove, CA 92841
info@phamforcongress.com
(714) 653-1140

The Talibani Republican group known as the “Family Action PAC” has announced its endorsement of Costa Mesa Councilman Allan Mansoor for the 68th Assembly District.

Attention DPOC.  As bad as Assemblyman Van Tran is I assure you Mansoor will be worse.  Tran is corrupt but he is also conniving.  Mansoor will just be a tool for the right wing nuts in his party.  You guys better convince Costa Mesa Councilwoman Katrina Foley to run for this seat - pronto.  She is your ONLY hope to win this seat, period.

My sources report that perennial Dem congressional candidate Steve Young is eyeballing this seat.  HE WILL LOSE.  Don’t be stupid DPOC!  Foley is the only one that can beat Mansoor.  Ignore this warning at your own peril

Here is the Family Action PAC’s press release.  Don’t read this on a full stomach.   You might puke!:

Family Action PAC Endorses Mansoor

Costa Mesa, California - The Family Action PAC, formed in July of 2000 to focus on business, family, and social issues, has endorsed Costa Mesa Mayor Allan Mansoor for the 68th Assembly District.

Family Action PAC supports initiatives and men and women for public office who respect the heritage and traditions of our founding fathers and support the long-standing core values of both the Republican Party and, most importantly, the pro-family movement. Their focus is on business, social, and family issues and they support initiatives and local and state candidates that will affect Orange County and California.

“I am honored to have the support of the Family Action PAC which represents men and women of principle and commitment to the foundations of our nation,” said Mansoor. “Too often our policy-makers look past these moral considerations in addressing the challenges we face and I understand the fundamental necessity of those foundations to a civil society.”

Allan Mansoor is an Orange County Deputy Sheriff and mayor of Costa Mesa. He is a Republican candidate for the 68th Assembly District, currently represented by Van Tran, who will not seek reelection due to term limits.

Loyal Friends, on June 16th the city council again demonstrated why the process behind selecting the boundaries of the proposed expansion area are almost completely arbitrary. The council voted 3-1 to remove 7 selected properties from the area. Read more.

“Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin shocked the political word Friday by announcing that she will step down at the end of the month and transfer power to Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell,” according to Fox News.

Fox News also reported that Palin has faced 15 different ethics inquiries.  In her latest snafu two of her public health officials resigned after Palin expressed that they weren’t in step with her “social issues.”

Palin is certifiable.  There is no way the GOP will prevail with her at the helm.  Looks like we will have Obama in the White House for eight years.

UPDATE: Did Palin even know she was resigning?  Her Twitter account mentioned not running for reelection, not resigning.  Click here to read that tweet…

The race to replace termed out Supervisor Chris Norby just got interesting.  Anaheim Councilwoman Lorri Galloway, who is a Democrat, has announced that she is running, according to the Red Klownty blog and the Friends for Fullerton’s Future blog.

This is very bad news for O.C. Clerk-recorder Tom Daly, who like Galloway is also a Democrat.  Particularly since Jerbal, at Red Klownty, is also reporting that La Habra Councilwoman Rose Espinoza, who is also a Democrat, is thinking about running for Clerk-Recorder instead of running for the 4th Supervisorial District.

Daly is already being opposed by Anaheim Councilman Harry Sidhu.  Now Galloway will further dilute Daly’s base in Anaheim, where he was once the Mayor. 

Jerbal also reported that Norby is going to try once more to convince his fellow Supervisors to extend their terms to three terms.  Norby is getting desperate, I think.  He knows that Hugh Nguyen, his opponent for Clerk-Recorder, is the real deal.

Will Daly pull out of the race for the 4th and stay put as Clerk-Recorder?  Will Nguyen and Espinoza continue to vie for Daly’s office?  Will the Supervisors do Norby’s bidding and extend their term limits?  Do the voters have any say in that?

Don’t assume by the way that all the Democrats will welcome Galloway into the race for the 4th District.  She pissed off State Senator Lou Correa a few years ago when she endorsed his Republican opponent, Lynn Daucher.  Correa will never forget that slight, particularly since Galloway also bad-mouthed him.  But if Daly pulls out of the race for the 4th, and Espinoza does too, will Correa endorse Fullerton Councilman Shawn Nelson, who is the leading Republicanin the race to replace Norby?

So many questions.  So few answers.  But I am glad that Galloway is in the race as I don’t want Daly to win.

As for Sidhu, I guess he still has a few thousand to waste on another losing effort.  He blew a fortune last year losing to Mimi Walters as they vied for termed out State Senator Dick Ackerman’s seat.

The administration that pledged “openness” has been characterized by the usual Leftist double standard of behavior. Obama has had a recent string of campaign promise annulments, which began with his first stimulus package. He failed to put the bill on-line, refused to take out so-called “earmarks”, spending provisions, usually pork barrel, refused to consult in a bi-partisan way about the package, which was written almost entirely by Nancy Pelosi’s staff.

Then last month he led a series of “secret meetings” with coal industry executives he has refused to release under the Freedom of Information Act. This is important to understand because when businesses support a cap and trade scheme, it is only when it involves massive taxpayer handouts. The Warner-Lieberman bill was not supported by utilities like Duke Energy, a a member of the Copenhagen Climate Council, because it did not contain massive wealth transfers like the European style cap and trade system, which has utterly failed.

Now, you have the Grand Dame of the White House Press Corps speaking in no uncertain terms that this White House is set on steamrolling the truth and walking over the media.

“Nixon didn’t try to do that,” Thomas said. “They couldn’t control (the media). They didn’t try.

“What the hell do they think we are, puppets?” Thomas said. “They’re supposed to stay out of our business. They are our public servants. We pay them.”

Thomas said she was especially concerned about the arrangement between the Obama Administration and a writer from the liberal Huffington Post Web site. The writer was invited by the White House to President Obama’s press conference last week on the understanding that he would ask Obama a question about Iran from among questions that had been sent to him by people in Iran.

“When you call the reporter the night before you know damn well what they are going to ask to control you,” Thomas said.

“I’m not saying there has never been managed news before, but this is carried to fare-thee-well–for the town halls, for the press conferences,” she said. “It’s blatant. They don’t give a damn if you know it or not. They ought to be hanging their heads in shame.”

During today’s briefing, Thomas interrupted a back-and-forth between Gibbs and Chip Reid, the White House correspondent for CBS News, when Reid was questioning Gibbs about who was going to decide what questions would be asked of President Obama in a townhall meeting that was scheduled to take place in Annandale, Va., today.

Gibbs then had an exchange involving Reid and Thomas that went as follows:
 
Gibbs:  “… But, again, let’s–How about we do this?  I promise we will interrupt the AP’s tradition of asking the first question.  I will let you [Chip Reid] ask me a question tomorrow as to whether you thought the questions at the town hall meeting that the President conducted in Annandale—“
 
Chip Reid: “I’m perfectly happy to—”
 
Helen Thomas: “That’s not his point.  The point is the control–”
 
Reid: “Exactly.”
 
Thomas: “We have never had that in the White House.  And we have had some, but not– This White House.”

Read the rest of this story here

Is Bringing Your Gun to a Bar a Good Idea? How’s that for a Loaded Question?

The Arizona legislature seems to be fast-tracking a new bill to allow patrons of bars to bring their weapons into those establishments.  The Govenor, Jan Brewer, still has to give it her okay before it becomes law.   LINK   Who in their right mind thinks that mixing alcohol and marksmanship is EVER a good idea?

This is part of a movement set into motion by the NRA which also encourages churches to permit their congregation to bring their firearms to Sunday Service.  What’s next?  Allow childcare workers to tote guns to work, in case of trouble?

What ever happened to the Wild West addage, “Check your guns at the door”?  The dopes over at the National Rifle Association (NRA) didn’t bother to ask restaurant and bar owners what THEY thought about guns in their establishments before lawmakers were pressured into passing this same dumb law in Tennessee recently.  It has resulted in (previously unnecessary) signage like the one below:

Of the roughly 218,000 handgun permit holders in Tennessee, 278 had their permits revoked last year, records show. Since 2005, state records shows nearly 1,200 people have lost their permits. (that’s a LOT of folks who posed a distinctly dangerous hazard to others - drinking or not!)  Link  The Govenor of Tennessee, Phil Bredesen, vetoed the bill.  He said, “”I still think that guns in bars is a very bad idea. It’s an invitation to a disaster.” The veto was overturned by the state lawmakers. 

A lawsuit was filed on Wednesday seeking a temporary or permanent injunction to prevent the law from taking effect on July 14.  LINK    One reason the lawsuit gives for stopping the law is that it’s an “unlawful public nuisance that unreasonably threatens the life, health and safety of the public.”  

“Normally, if a court finds out that there are guns in bars, or there are shootings in bars, they shut the bar down,” said David Smith, an attorney for the plaintiffs. “And that’s a legal precedent that we’re relying upon.”

Sometimes a lawsuit is the only protection against stupid people passing even more stupid laws.

Is it just me or does O.C. Public Administrator John S. Williams look like a car salesman?

“The Orange County grand jury issued a scathing report Tuesday criticizing the public administrator/public guardian’s office for “egregious” mismanagement, including questionable promotions that cost hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars,” according to the L.A. Times.

So who is the Orange County Public Administrator/Public Guardian? It is a hack conservative Republican named John S. Williams. This guy is deeply embedded in OC GOP politics. If you Google him you will find he has endorsed just about every OC GOP candidate from the right over the years.

According to Smart Voter, he has been endorsed himself in the past by the California Republican Assembly; the Conservative Women’s Leadership Association of South Orange County; the Young Republicans of Orange County; the Seniors and Veterans for Education (SAVE); and the Saddleback Republican Assembly.

Here are a few more excerpts from the L.A. Times:

The report, the jurors’ second on the subject, concluded “that a complete restructuring” of the office was necessary.  “It was outrageous behavior,” jury foreman Jim Perez said.

In a move to reduce county costs, the office of the public guardian was split from the Health Care Agency in 2005 and combined with the public administrator.

But instead of saving money, the first grand jury report said, costs went up because of additional management salaries. Staffing levels have risen from seven managers for 67 employees at a cost of $529,796 to 10 managers for the same number of employees at $1.04 million.

How typical.  This guy spins that he is a conservative while he spends money like a drunken sailor!  Classic.

Here is some more dirt on Williams, courtesy of the O.C. Register:

The report also accuses Williams of promoting an employee to a top management position within a year of retirement, implying that he was “pension spiking.”

They discovered that Williams had hired another manager, “even though there does not appear to be a suitable organizational reason for taking that action,” expanding the cost of management to $1.15 million by June 2009.

Does the GOP stand for anything anymore?

For all those investors who are taking their money out of the market perhaps you might consider acquiring some of the state’s “registered warrants.” That would be a very patriotic act as we approach the 4th of July. In fact having a 2009 California “IOU” might become a collectors item that you can pass down to your grandkids.

As of now, the only bank that has agreed to accepting the “IOU’s” is B of A. They have agreed to honor the California “registered warrants” thru July 10th.  Although I do not know the current interest rate, in 1992 the rate was set at 5% which was the maximum permitted by law.
Are you a gambler? As we are lucky to get two to three percent in local CD’s, perhaps we should contact the “big five” and offer to bail them out.

“Now I’m looking at the budget approved by the Santa Ana City Council for the fiscal year starting July 1st, and it looks like the axe just kept chopping away. The department will be merged into the Parks and Recreation Department, music CDs will be 50 cents for each checkout, adult funding will be reduced 24%, children funding will be reduced 40%, adult material acquisitions will be slashed from an already low 5,400 items to a paltry 2,200 new items…and on and on…,” according to the Brix and Trix blog.

And you wonder why Santa Ana is number one in violent crime in Orange County?