OC Blog

Obama & The National Anthem

Yesterday I received an e-mail with this picture from a recent Democratic event in Iowa.

OK, I thought. This snapshot could very well be taken completely out of context. For all I know, Obama could have placed his hand over his heart the second after this photo was taken.

CNN/YouTube Debate Debacle

I'm making an exception to custom by posting a few national news-related items today. The following about the CNN/YouTube Republican debate are from today's Political Diary (OpinionJournal.com's daily political news digest. It is an awesome service and costs only $3.95 a month).

PD points out how NPR's Mara Liasson viewed the debate:

"I think CNN does itself a great disservice when it doesn't apply the exact same kind of criteria to both debates. I covered both of them. In the Democratic debate, I don't think there were any questions that were clearly coming from, you know, a Republican point of view. They were generally sympathetic. They were about global warming and health care and education, all kind of Democratic issues. They weren't challenging them. There was one kind anti-tax question, I think, but they weren't challenging the basic principles of the Democratic Party. There were lots of questions last night [at the GOP debate] that were. I think the question about the Bible was mocking. I think one of the abortion questions was clearly not from someone who was pro-life"

And as John Fund reports, it turns out a large percentage of CNN's "undecided voters" posing video questions were actually partisan activists:

Fred Thompson Rally This Saturday

O come all ye Thompson faithful to the Laguna Woods Village Clubhouse 3 this Saturday for a rally for the presidential candidate.

All the information you need is contained in this flyer, which you will need to show at the gate so you can see Fred.

The closer we get to Iowa and New Hampshire, the fewer opportunities we will see these guys in OC, so now is a good time to catch Fred and any others who come around the Orange Curtain.

Re-Scheduled Fred Thompson OC Trip Set for December 1

Presidential candidate Fred Thompson will be coming to Orange County on December 1 for a fund-raising luncheon at the home of Julian and Aleen Mosvesian. This is one of the fund-raisers that were canceled during the wildfires.

Click here to view the flier with details.

Romney Nabs A Few More OC Endorsements

Mitt Romney grabbed a few local endorsements recently to add to his existing pile o' endorsements, per a Romney campaign press release that came over the transom:

    * Orange County Supervisor Bill Campbell
    * Fullerton Mayor Shawn Nelson
    * Former State Senator and Former California Secretary of Education Marian Bergeson
    * Newport Beach City Councilman Keith Curry

Busta Rudy Move

Martin Wisckol already posted about this yesterday, but the makers of the "Giulani Girl" video have been electronically tugging at my elbow to post it, as well. And so I relent:

Fred Thompson Cancels SoCal Campaign Swing In Light Of Fires

This just came over the transom from the OC Business Council:

In light of the wildfires throughout the region and significant disaster relief efforts, Senator Fred Thompson regretfully has cancelled his scheduled trip to Southern California next week. As such, OCBC will be unable to host the presidential candidate at the event announced earlier this week.

Senator Thompson has sent his deep apologies for the cancellation and OCBC apologies for any inconvenience. All pre-paid registered attendees will receive a full refund as quickly as possible.

Thank you for your interest in meeting Senator Thompson, and OCBC will make every effort to bring national leaders to Orange County to discuss business priorities in the busy year ahead.

It's Official: Wilson Endorses Rudy

Scott Graves heard from an inside source in the Giuliani campaign that former Governor Pete Wilson will endorse Rudy Giuliani for President.

According to Scott Martelle of the LA Times, this endorsement has become official. Now Claremont Professor Jack Pitney predicts that this endorsement might be more of a problem in general elections as it could alienate Rudy by association with hispanic voters because of Wilson's championing of Prop 187. However, in the primaries, this is just the type of endorsement Rudy needs as he is pulling away with the nomination. He has just closed in on Romney in New Hampshire and is ahead in Florida and South Carolina.

If Rudy doesn't maintain his more moderate approach on immigration, he better hope that California changes its electoral rules from winner-take-all,  or as Brian pointed out in an earlier comment, he will be vulnerable to the stinging array of Spanish attack ads.

My Interview with Governor Huckabee

Today I sat down with former Arkansas Governor and colorful presidential candidate Mike Huckabee for an interview about his underdog candidacy. He was very candid about his time as governor and talked at length about Petreaus, taxes, and then environment. His calm and ability to articulate issues could go a long way on the campaign trail. Look for him to rise. Click the video below to see what I mean.

Irvine: Is Agran Country Also Ron Paul Country?

A friend forwarded me this e-mail that went out today from the Ron Paul for President campaign:

Phew!  With just over two days left in the Meetup fundraising competition, we've seen nothing but flip-flopping at the top of the leaderboard.

The New Hampshire Meetup led over the weekend, but Manhattan quickly shot by with a monstrous Monday.  And just when we thought they were running away with the grand prize, Irvine, CA surprised everyone, catapulting into a slim lead.  So don't get discouraged, because each Meetup group in the top ten is still within just three maximum donations of $2300...

Check here for the latest standings:  http://www.ronpaul2008.com/meetup/standings.

Giuliani In Anaheim Tomorrow

GOP presidential front-runner Rudy Giuliani will be in Anaheim tomorrow for an 8:15 a.m. breakfast fund-raiser at the Anaheim Hilton (VIP photos are at 8:00 a.m.)

Here's the invite for more information.

Lincoln Club Targets Hillary

I saw this item in this week's "OC Insider" column by OC Business Journal Executive Editor Rick Reiff:

The Lincoln Club has taken on OC's sheriff deputies (prodding the supes to investigate pension rollbacks and a civilian oversight board.) Now it's targeting Hillary Clinton. The Insider hears the OC-based GOP support group has pledged a low six-figure amount toward "Hillary: The Movie," a documentary hit piece on the Dem presidential front-runner that features Clinton adviser-turned-critic Dick Morris.

The film is being produced by the D.C.-based conservative advocacy group Citizens United (David Bosse and Floyd Brown). The Lincoln Club, which is getting a screen credit, plans an OC premiere in December as a run-up to the California presidential primary

FlashReport On Fred Thomson In OC

Jon Fleischman has an informative post over at FlashReport about an intimate Fred Thompson's event in Newport Coast:

Yesterday afternoon, I was invited to a small private reception with former United States Senator Fred Thompson at the beautiful home of the Davis family, nestled on the coastal hillside overlooking Crystal Cove State Park and the pacific ocean in Newport Beach.  It truly was an intimate affair, with about twenty folks in attendance, including the Presidential aspirant, his beautiful wife, and two of Thompson's political point people in California, longtime political strategist Ken Khachigian and local consultant Dave Ellis.

All told had nearly an hour with Senator Thompson, and it was spent the way you would like it to be...  We all gathered up chairs in the back patio of this gorgeous home and had an intimate chat with the man who aspires to the top elective office in our nation.

You can read the rest of Jon's post here.

Fred Thompson In OC Next Week For Fundraiser

Fred Thompson will be in Orange County next Tuesday, July 31 for a fundraiser at the home of Mona and Greg Williams in Newport Coast.

You can get the details here.

Clinton In Newport Coast

Dan Chmielewski of TheLiberalOC.com has a good post about former President Clinton's June 24 fundraiser for Hillary.

This strikes me as an example of how blogs can provide, different coverage of these kind of events than can the MSM. And I agree with Martin Wisckol that it is too bad -- from a press/blog standpoint -- that these fund raisers are generally, as a rule, closed to the press.

But in this Age of YouTube, candidates will do what they must to diminish the probability of being  macaca-ed.

Sen. Sam Brownback To Address Atlas PAC

This came over the transom a little while ago:

Presidential Candidate to Speak to Atlas PAC Members
Sen. Sam Brownback to share thoughts on key election issues

Orange County, Calif. – Atlas Political Action Committee continues its speaker series with presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) on Wednesday, June 27, 2007.  A location has not been determined.

John Seiler Asks Why John Kobylt Is Endorsing Rudy Giuliani

Former OC Register editorialist John Seiler posted this today on his blog John Wayne County about John Kobylt of KFI-AM's John & Ken Show's endorsement of Rudy Giuliani at the OC GOP's Flag Day Dinner.

Seiler asks:

Under Giuliani, we likely would have amnesty.  He once supported it, and apparently still does, if you read through his waffling.

So why is John Kobylt supporting Giuliani instead of one of the really anti-amnesty candidates, such as Tom Tancredo or Ron Paul?

He should tell us.

You can read the entire post here.

Thompson Ties Giuliani In Rasmussen Poll

Spotted this via the Drudge Report:

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has to share his spot atop the field of Republican Presidential hopefuls this week. The newest face in the race, former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson, is now tied with Giuliani. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds each man earning support from 24% of likely Republican Primary voters. A week ago, Giuliani had a six percentage point lead over Thompson, 23% to 17%.

You can read the whole article here.

Giuliani At OC Republican Party Flag Day Dinner

Another Republican Party of Orange County Flag Day dinner has come and gone. 1,100 people attended this year's event and the OC GOP raised $300,000.

This year saw a continuance of the parade of presidential hopefuls who have become a staple for the yearly dinner, in the person of former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. You can read account by Martin Wisckol (here and here) and Larry Gilbert.

Giuliani's Speech
I haven't picked a horse in this race -- at least among the four front runners (Giuliani, Mitt Romney, John McCain and Fred Thompson). I find it difficult to imagine a scenario in which I would vote for Rudy Giuliani in the primary, and his speech last night didn't change that.

Ken Khachigian Signs Onto Fred Thompson For President

I spotted on the FlashReport that the Sage of San Clemente, Ken Khachigian, has signed on with the presidential campaign of former Sen. Fred Thompson:

[Jon] I asked if his decision to back Thompson was a reflection on the other GOP candidates.  Ken wouldn't bite...

“On a bad day, the top tier Republicans are better than any of the Democrats on their best day.  Look, I've worked for three U.S. Presidents and have been involved in eight presidential campaigns.  I'm seeing the next decade as requiring a president who can see around corners… who can come up with the kinds of historic foreign policy initiatives we saw in the '70s and the economic and tax policy breakthroughs of the '80s.  Thompson has the depth and stature to pull those off.”

You can read the whole post here.

Ken is been a mentor to a slew of California and Orange County politicos (including myself), so his decision to go with Thompson carries considerable weight in insider/opinion leader circles, especially considering he was a senior advisor to John McCain for President in 2000. I'm still undecided, but I'll be giving Thompson an even harder look now.

Romney Adds Duane Dichiara, Mike Schroeder To California Team

This just came over the transom from the Mitt Romney for President campaign:

GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY ANNOUNCES ADDITIONS TO THE CALIFORNIA LEADERSHIP TEAM

Boston, MA – Governor Mitt Romney announced today that Coronado Communications, led by Duane Dichiara, will head the daily operations of the California Romney for President campaign.  Rob Stutzman and Mike Schroeder were named Senior Advisers for the California campaign.  They join previously announced State Chairs Tony Strickland and Senate Minority Leader Dick Ackerman.

"California will play an important role in the upcoming primary elections, and this team will be critical in making sure every voter knows about my message of change in Washington," said Governor Romney.  "I look forward to working with them so we can bring conservative leadership back to our government."

Ann Romney At The Balboa Bay Club

Mrs. Jubal and Jubalette #1 (recently returned from her first year at UC Berkeley) attended the yesterday's evening's Women for Mitt event -- featuring Ann Romney -- at the Balboa Bay Club, whence these pictures came:

That's Linda Ackerman with Ann Romney. 

Barack Obama In Newport Coast Next Month

According to this press release that went out today from the Democratic Party of Orange County, liberal Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama will be campaigning among the great unwashed masses of Newport Coast:

In this Presidential primary we have several outstanding Democratic candidates. Earlier this year I promised to invite you to join me at events for all of these candidates. The next exciting event is a breakfast with Sen. Obama.

Newsweek Article On Dissatisfied Offspring of GOP Icons

Faithful reader Andy Favor alerted me to this Newsweek article about descendants of Republican icons who are dissatisfied with the state of the party, and whether that presages some moderate exodus from the GOP. It's interesting -- if overstated -- food for thought, and the tone comes across less as "We wonder if this will happens and more as "we hope this happens."

In any case, the weak OC-link is Peggy Goldwater Clay is quoted in the article. And for all the pining for the "good old days" of Eisenhower Republicanism, it should be noted that Ike was elected at the head of a GOP tide in 1952 that put Congress in Republican hands for the first time in 20 years. Six years later, in 1958, the GOP suffered one of the worst shellackings in its history as the Democrats romped to a historic victory in the mid-term elections. So let's put the nostalgic pining for "Eisenhower Republicanism" as some magic elixir for GOP woes into perspective.

Fred Thompson Didn't Announce, But He's Running

I'm sitting here in the ballroom at the Balboa Bay Club as the Lincoln Club of Orange Annual Dinner  attendees filter into the foyer and on to the bar. And I'm blogging. Go figure.

In any case, former Sen. Fred Thompson finished speaking a short time ago. It was, in my estimation, a terrific speech. it wasn't a stump speech larded with statistics and programmatic specifics. Thompson's speech was thematic,presenting the challenges facing the country both at home and abroad, and then pointing to American traditions, principles and strengths as the repository where we can find solutions. It had a strong Reaganesque flavor, in the best meaning of that over-used descriptor.

Readers can see it for themselves on C-SPAN (we'll have our on video online this weekend) and make their own judgments. The reaction from various attendees I spoke with was mixed, ranging from criticism of lack of specifics to gushing over the compelling feeling evoked by the man and his speech.

I think tonight's speech was a market test to gauge reaction -- not just from the audience in the room, but the audience on the other side of the cameras. My guess is the goal was for us to be able to see Fred Thompson as President, and in my estimation he largely succeeded.

UPDATE (5/5/07): Here's some not-so-gre at pictures I took last night:

Romney Names Ackerman To California Leadership Team

This came over the transom this morning:

GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY NAMES CALIFORNIA LEADERSHIP TEAM

Boston, MA – Governor Mitt Romney today announced the first 15 members of the Romney for President California Leadership Team, a group of leading Californians who will support Governor Romney as he campaigns in the state and across the nation.  California Senate Republican Leader Dick Ackerman and former Assemblyman Tony Strickland will serve as Chairmen of the effort.

"I am honored to have the backing of these dedicated leaders in the Golden State," said Governor Romney.  "Their record of service is proof that President Reagan's legacy is alive and well in California.  We all believe that strong and unflinching leadership is once again needed to restore fiscal sanity in Washington, D.C."

Giuliani "Hates" Abortion, But Would Subsidize It With Tax Dollars

But while Mr. Giuliani is picking up supporters as if they were baseball cards, buyer's remorse is already evident in some cases. At least one GOP Congressman who has endorsed Mr. Giuliani told me last week he was disheartened that the former New York mayor has openly come out in support of public financing of abortions. "He misread the law. Just because the Constitution protects abortion under Roe v. Wade, it doesn't mean the government has to subsidize it," he told me. "If that were true, I could take my Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms and demand the government buy me a gun."

The congressman is also distressed that Mr. Giuliani opposed the NAFTA free-trade agreement when it was voted on by Congress in 1993. "I love Rudy's strength and grit," the congressman told me. "But I just wish he didn't constantly remind people of why it's difficult to support him."

The above is an excerpt from today's Political Diary (which at $3.95 per month is one of the the best deal's for a steady infusion of national political inside info). And I thought the last line encapsulates much of my consternation at the rush to embrace Rudy Giuliani by so many conservatives. The last time I saw something similar was when Arnold Schwarzenegger was ran for Governor in the Gray Davis recall -- and I was part of that exercise in mass self-deception.

What Will Fred Thompson Announce At Lincoln Club Dinner?

Will the Lincoln Club of Orange County once again perform its traditional role as catalyst for presidential ambitions? That may be the case when former Sen. Fred Thompson appears as the guest speaker at the Lincoln Club of Orange County's annual dinner next month.

Politico.com reports:

Fred Thompson Gears Up

By: Mike Allen

April 6, 2007 11:22 AM EST

Fred Thompson, the “Law & Order” actor and former senator from Tennessee, has moved beyond pondering a bid for the White House and begun assembling the nucleus of a campaign should he decide to run, according to people involved in the effort.

Thompson has not yet decided to seek the Republican presidential nomination. But “he is getting more serious every day,” said an adviser familiar with Thompson's plans.

Thompson’s coming-out as a candidate-in-waiting will be a May 4 appearance at the 45th annual dinner of the Lincoln Club of Orange County in the heart of Ronald Reagan country in Southern California. The invitation was widely sought by aspiring Republicans, and his advisers expect considerable media attention around the visit. But there are no plans now for an announcement then.

You can read the rest of the Politico.com story here.

Giuliani Speaking At Royce Event In OC Tomorrow

This just came over the transom from Rep. Ed Royce's campaign:

Rudy Giuliani to Speak to Royce Congressional Club in Orange County

Orange County, CA - - Republican Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani will be the special guest speaker tomorrow at U.S. Representative Ed Royce’s Congressional Club event in Newport Beach, CA.

The former Mayor of New York, Giuliani is the leading Republican contender for President in 2008. Polls show his candidacy would give Republicans an opportunity to win in California, New York, New Jersey and other states where recent Republican nominees have not fared well.

The Royce event will start at 5:00 PM on Saturday, March 24 at the Island Hotel (formerly Four Seasons) at 690 Newport Center Dr. in Newport Beach.  Members of the media are advised to arrive early, as a large crowd is expected and Mayor Giuliani is expected to be speaking shortly after 5:00 PM.

Romney Announces California Finance Team

I just saw this on Total Buzz:

Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney released the list of his California finance co-chairmen today with, thanks to alphbetical order, OC GOP boss Scott Baugh at the top of the list. OC biz folks named are David Bradford (OWNLI), Mark Chapin Johnson (Chapin Medical), John Clarey (RF Comsites), Hadi Makarechian (Capital Pacific), and Doug Wilson (Next Solutions).

Memo to Romney campaign: if you're really trying to communicate with GOP activists, consider putting Red County on your e-mail distribution list -- given that we have blogs in three the most GOP-voter rich California counties and a fourth on the way. My e-mail is matt@redcounty.com. Just a thought.

McCain In OC

FlashReport proprietor Jon Fleischman has bought himself a video camera and is going hog wild (I know the feeling).

Today he's posted video he took of Sen. John McCain at the Arizonan's Irvine fund raiser last night -- the clips are of the Senator pledging to compete for California (we've heard that before), about the war in Iraq and why the GOP got spanked in 2006.

The Ghost of Campaigns Past Pays A Visit To Giuliani Regarding Abortion

I've endeavored to steer this blog clear of national political issues since starting it in June 2004. That policy will be increasingly modified due to the impending creation of a Feb. 5, 2008 presidential primary for California -- which will spur the presidential contenders to more frequently visit California -- and Orange County -- in search of volunteers and endorsements, not just dollars. Here in Orange County and California, national politics will increasingly become local politics.

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani is the current front-runner for the GOP nomination. His campaign has been working mightily to get conservatives to look past his social liberalism and re-assure social conservatives that while he's not necessarily with them, he's won't be against them -- especially on abortion.

That effort took a big hit today with this 1989 video of Giuliani during his first, unsuccessful mayoral campaign, in which he emphatically calls for taxpayer-funding of abortion:

Now, watch this clip of Rudy appearing on Larry King Live last month:

Giuliani says: "I am also, as you know, always have been, against abortion, paid abortion..."