California Faultline

Last week I spoke with City Councilperson Janice Hahn on her winning one one of the spots as a Hillary Clinton delegate representing the 36th Congressional District. Over 200 people had shown up at the caucus to choose between 25 candidates vying for four spots - two women, one man, and an alternate

At my Obama caucus visit, numerous candidates had insisted that their convention votes wouldn’t be swayed, and seemed disturbed that anyone would try to change it. They definitely have reason for concern: Hahn unabashedly told me she cemented her win by telling caucus voters that she’d be able to persuade Obama delegates to vote for Hillary on the floor of the Democratic Convention.

I also asked Hahn why Clinton would be good for Los Angeles, and her thoughts on running for congress… (more…)

No, you’re not stoned - that headline is correct. And no, this blogger isn’t stoned either. However, I can’t say the same for the crowd of thousands at last weekend’s Coachella Music Festival who looked on as Roger Waters’ giant, helium filled pig floated up and away as he performed a set that included the complete album of his and Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon.”

Dave Bullock at Wired, who also snagged the photo, writes:

The pig was covered with political graffiti: “Don’t be led to the slaughter,” read one slogan. “Fear builds walls,” read another. A cartoon Uncle Sam painted on the pig held two bloody cleavers, and the porker’s belly read “Obama,” with a checked ballot box alongside…

If you happen to find the pig you’ll be rewarded with four lifetime passes to Coachella and $10,000. Hate to say it, but that’s a hella lot of bacon.

I’m ashamed to say it, but I was almost taken in by a previously debunked article, merely because it appeared on a reputable website. The “article” alleges surrounds alleged fraud by Bill Clinton regarding Los Angeles area fundraising efforts in 2000 for Hillary’s then Senate race. The website is Talking Points Memo, which, for all intents in purposes, remains reputable - however, the site allows for user created content, including blogs, that aren’t necessarily vetted.

Fortunately, I was saved from repeating the information as fact after seeing a link to an entry on FactCheck.org debunking much of what the blog entry proposed. FactCheck will often focus on Presidential debates and speeches, fact checking assorted claims made, and laying out the evidence for whether what was said by candidates and officials as being factual, misrepresentations, exaggerations, or flat out false.

Bookmark it: FactCheck.org

The other site is Snopes.com, the urban legend clearing house.

Snopes finds itself frequently cited on assorted chain emails, wherein the emails asserts that Snopes backs up all the claims on said email… although, in almost every case, one click to Snopes will reveal the exact opposite is true. A couple years ago, Snopes shot numerous holes in an email that, sadly, continues to make the rounds claiming “ten facts about illegal immigrants.” More recently, Snopes has been mentioned on emails claiming, quite falsely, Barack Obama’s stance on the National Anthem.

My rule of thumb: if you hear about outrageous claims on an email and not the mainstream press, there’s a good chance its not true, no matter how many sources it claims to have. Search Snopes and FactCheck to see if either have debunked or confirmed said rumors, and if not, do some more digging until you can find a more reliable - and non-blog source - to back up controversial claims.

Edward Headington at Mayor Sam’s Sister City tosses out the possibility that Governor Arnold may be targeting a mayorship, or senate seat, after his second term in Sacramento ends. Heck, I’m still holding out for Arnold to play King Conan.

Headington points to what Schwarzenegger said on Leno a few nights ago:

I see myself as a public servant, not as a politician. I want to finish my term, and I’m absolutely convinced that if I do a good job, and a great job … we always will get a job after that.

If Schwarzenegger does pursue a mayorship or Senate seat, from what neighborhood? While the Los Angeles area seems like a natural, he did recently purchase 25 acres of land in Santa Barbara… let the guessing continue.

LA Times’ Robert Greene heard a rumor that the paper’s editors were considering a new policy of keeping “the names of previous mayors out of news stories,” so he’s gone hog wild and done a recap of the city’s mayoral history.

Some factoids:

• Before Mayor V, the last Latino LA mayor was Cristobal Aguilar who left office in 1872.
• Mayor Sam Yorty (1961-1973) “began his political career as a labor-oriented and communist-supported leftist, but retired as a Republican.”
• Mayor Tom Bradley (1973-1993) was both the last Mayor to serve before term limits were put into effect, he was the first mayor since Henry Rose (1913-1915) to voluntarily leave office.
• Three years after leaving office, Mayor Damien Marchessault (1859-1860, and 1861-1865) shot himself in empty City Council chambers.

Pat Flannery reports from a recent mayoral debate on his “Blog of San Diego” that the proceedings between incumbent Jerry Sanders and challenger Steve Francis were relatively mild until things wrapped up:

I watched in disbelief as Sanders rudely swept by Steve Francis’ outstretched hand. Even from a distance it was an ugly moment. I found Mr. Francis a few minutes later and asked him how he felt about the snub. He told me that it was much worse than a snub, that Sanders actually said “F… you Francis” as he stormed by. All Steve could do was shake his head in disbelief. Personally, I was not surprised.

In a follow up interview, Sander clarified to the San Diego Union Tribune that he’d actually said, “F— you, Steve,” but since “F… you, Francis,” will look better on the inevitable campaign buttons, and I’m a blogger, not a journalist, I’ll stick with my headline.

Sander also explained to the Tribune:

“I am really tired of people thinking we should be buddies… People expect us to just shake hands and be buddies. I’m not going to do that. That’s the height of hypocrisy.”

Were those collective gasps were heard of people being shocked by offensive language, or at the panderous attempt at “straight talk?”

[h/t Capitol Alert]

Los Angeles area billboards have recently been debased by guerrilla artist Ron English, as evidenced by the above John McCain “I Wanna Be Erected” ad, sponsored, apparently, by Viagra.

Found at the corner of Pickford Pl. and LaCienega, photo by JetSet Graffiti. More from English’s L.A., um, “gallery” at Slam X Hype!

(thanks to fellow Metblogs contributor Erica at Swirlspice!)

Michael Schneider at Franklin Avenue frequently posts “vanity” license plates he runs across in, where else? Los Angeles, the capital of vanity.

He’s descrambled this most recent one (pictured):

Apparently, he loves Limbaugh, she loves Dukakis. The result? “Limbakis.”

And I woulda thought it was a wood affectionate Bostonian (get it? limber kiss? no? disregard).

According to Bakersfield Councilwoman Jacquie Sullivan, “A strong belief in God is important because it’s intended to give hope. It’s the only thing that can give hope to the citizens of this country. And American patriotism is founded upon love of God and country.”

And per Westminster Mayor Margie Rice, “Our country was founded on religion.”

Both quotes come from an OC Register article on assorted efforts statewide to have the words “in God We Trust” emblazoned on city halls, including the Orange County cities of Westminster and Cypress.

To its credit the OC Register, one of the more conservative papers in California, gives a little history:

The nation’s official motto, adopted by Congress in 1782, was “E Pluribus Unum” (”Out of many, one”) until 1956, when President Dwight Eisenhower and Congress changed it to “In God We Trust.”

The change came two years after Congress also amended the Pledge of Allegiance to include the words “one nation under God.”

Unfortunately, the rest of the article pits atheists against Christian politicians in an argument over the First Amendment’s arguably inferred seperation of church and state. Its an interesting read, but it fails to address the possibility that some devout Catholics may be against bringing the name of God into government, or that some atheists and agnostics fail to see any harm in doing so.

Heck, how about quoting from the Founding Father’s? (more…)

As State Senator Jack Scott (D-Alta Dena) floats increases on sales, property, and other taxes to help adjust for the state deficit, Assemblyman Charles Calderon (D-City of Industry) is proposing the ultimate of sin taxes: an increased 8% tax on “adult DVD stores, theaters, and nightclubs.”

John Myers of KQED’s Capital Notes opines:

Of course, AB 2914 could pose an interesting dilemma for some legislators, namely Republicans. After all, if you’re a social conservative you’d probably love nothing more than to see the XXX industry move out. But if you’re a fiscal conservative, you’re probably loathe to enact a new tax. Oh, the irony.

Industry reps, who Myers writes somewhat disappointingly showed up at the state capital fully clothed, “argued the tax would send many in the multi-billion dollar sex industry packing to other states.”

Need I point out that the City of Industry, that Calderon represents, has one strip club for every 160 of its estimated 800 residents?