I just wanted to write a headline like that because it seems more like a plot line from the Soprano’s than an actual news/political law item. (Read it here.) After several years of legal wrangling, former Orange trash hauler Jeffrey Hambarian has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for siphoning $4.3 million out of the City of Orange through shady, and as it turns out illegal, practices. He has also been ordered to pay millions in restitution and fines.

Hambarian was represented by celebrity attorney Mark “Asparagos” Garagos (you have to listen to KFI’s John and Ken to get that reference). I guess we put another “L” next the Garagos’ name for this one. Orange received special counsel representation from Layne Melzer of Rutan & Tucker (this blog author’s law firm).

This is yet one more instance that emphasizes the need of local governments to be vigilant about protecting their coffers (and ultimately the taxpayers’ money) from those… Read More

One of the first people I ever met in my early days of the political game, back in the late 1980’s was a flamboyant land developer from Newport Beach by the name of Buck Johns. Blessed with a high-octane personality and an Arkansas accent that sounds a bit like Ross Perot, Buck is a hard charger — in business, as a dad, and in politics. He’s been a leader in GOP politics in Orange County for a generation, still serving on the board of the Lincoln Club. Most Orange County politicians can point to Buck’s support as critical to their efforts. And there are a bunch of people running around "The OC" who didn’t quite make it into Buck’s good graces, or into public office.

As a pretty conservative fellow, Buck is prepared to cut the Governor a lot of slack, as evidenced by an interview he gave to Los Angeles Times columnist Dana Parson.

Parsons’ column begins:… Read More

LEFTIST PROFESSORS TAKE HEED There have been a series of articles during the last week (there are a couple featured on the main page today) that focus on a controversial organization founded by former UCLA College Republican leader Andrew Jones’ efforts to target liberal professors at his alma-mater. Prominent advisory board members, such as esteemed former GOP Congressman Jim Rogan (a Bruin alumnus), have dropped off of Jones’ advisory board. What would be so outrageous as to cause this kind of controversy? If you are a student these days, it really isn’t hard to find out a lot of ‘intel’ to help guide your choices or class preparation. Websites about where students upload their opinions of teachers, their grading techniques, how much homework they assign, whether they are strict about attendance, and more. **There is more –… Read More

Steve Greenhut, a senior editorial writer for the Orange County Register devoted his entire Sunday column to a topic other than policy or politics, his normal fare. Rather, he used his precious column space to talk the phenomenon of how websites and ‘bloggers’ (editorial note: I really dislike that term) are really changing the news business. He especially focuses on the idea that the internet-age means that if you have opinions, you can more easily express them.

Greenhut’s piece begins:

LEFTIST PROFESSORS TAKE HEED There have been a series of articles during the last week (there are a couple featured on the main page today) that focus on a controversial organization founded by former UCLA College Republican leader Andrew Jones’ efforts to target liberal professors at his alma-mater. Prominent advisory board members, such as esteemed former GOP Congressman Jim Rogan (a Bruin alumnus), have dropped off of Jones’ advisory board. What would be so outrageous as to cause this kind of controversy? If you are a student these days, it really isn’t hard to find out a lot of ‘intel’ to help guide your choices or class preparation. Websites about where students upload their opinions of teachers, their grading techniques, how much homework they assign, whether they are strict about attendance, and more. Jones simply is trying to put another factor out there for perspective students to look… Read More

The solution to all the anger over Arnold Schwarzenegger’s new approach seems so obvious.

Rather than worrying about staff functionaries and advisors, the governor’s critics should instead demand that he divorce his wife and marry a woman with a more appropriate Republican pedigree. So how about a resolution that demands that Maria Shriver be replaced by Jenna Bush.

Yesterday’s Los Angeles Times reported efforts to repeal the California Republican Party’s endorsement of Schwarzenegger unless he fires his new chief of staff Susan Kennedy by March 15. On one hand, it’s perfectly reasonable for party loyalists to question whether or not the CRP should officially endorse Schwarzenegger, or allow Republican voters… Read More

There have been a lot of conversations about how do deal with the fact that so many of faithful GOP volunteers and donors are in the doldrums. Trying to address this issue requires trying to understand why these traditionally motivated folks are finding other things to do with their time instead of political activism.

Let me start with a startling fact – until the recent bond proposal, the single largest subject on which I had received feedback was the indictment of House Majority Leader Tom Delay. But the notes weren’t words of outrage. The overwhelming sentiment was, "With DeLay out, is this an opportunity to replace him with a conservative?"

The point here, given the conservatism of Tom DeLay, is that the machinations that take place behind closed doors, but which do not result in votes and hardline public stances by Republicans, leave grassroots activists feeling like their hard work is for naught. Especially when in Washington, Republicans supposedly "control" the… Read More

Dan Weintraub posted yesterday about the Schwarzenegger Administration and the 241 tollway completion in Orange County:

Even as Gov. Schwarzenegger is trying to launch his ambitious infrastructure plan, his administration is tied in knots over a proposed toll road in Orange County that is being fought by his brother-in-law, Bobby Shriver. The FlashReport blog is all over the story.

Thanks to Dan for the link and for drawing more attention to this issue, which illustrates the practical policy consequences of Governor’s habit of staffing his administration with people who hold vastly different philosophies and agendas from each other and the Governor.… Read More