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[Poll at bottom of story]
It’s a tough one. And all my Republican bloggers seem to have taken the night off to go to some Hollywood lesbian dominatrix club so I’m left here to figure this one out all by my lonesome…
For one thing, Tim Whitacre is certainly the underdog here, and we do have a soft spot for that breed…
Tim used to be a blogger here on the OJ. It’s true – you could look it up! That was back when Art Pedroza was also a big-old GOP activist; before the homophobia and anti-latino bias (as he perceived it) drove him away. He and Tim parted ways the same time, and many anti-Whitacre posts and comments sprouted up on this blog over the ensuing years. They have all recently vanished, mysteriously – and, I think, possibly to the detriment of OC history.
Tim’s two greatest claims to fame are the successful recall of controversial SA school trustee Nativo Lopez in 2003, and leading the mega-fail, immigrant-bashing Sheriff campaign of Bill Hunt this past year. These two things taken together seem to point to an anti-latino picture, although he’s now denying he had anything to do with Bill’s salivating embrace of knuckledraggers Joe Arpaio and Barbara Coe.
But on the other hand, speaking of Bill Hunt, Tim always saw Sheriff Carona for the lawless corrupt bastard he was, while incumbent Scott Baugh backed Carona till the bitter end – bad call! Also, Whitacre is a Marine: somewhat cool. On the other hand though, he won’t let you forget that he’s a Marine, signing every little comment “Semper Fi” : somewhat weak.
Moxley gives us the lowdown on Scott Baugh:
Baugh–a graduate of Jerry Falwell’s Liberty University and a glad-handing lobbyist who has cashed in on his undeniable political influence since leaving the state assembly a decade ago–first grabbed the chairmanship in 2004 after Tom Fuentes served in the role for 20 years. His admirers say he has done a decent job raising money and settling disputes between Republicans. He can certainly count on indefinite backing from establishment heavyweights like Michael J. Schroeder, Mark Bucher and Dana Rohrabacher.
But in recent years, there’s been mounting internal party dissatisfaction with what some consider Baugh’s cutthroat management style, his backing of disgraced Sheriff Mike Carona long after it was clear he was a crook, his refusal to obey party bylaws that call for regular audits of party finances, his close association to a relentless pedophile who targeted 7th and 8th grade boys and the local party’s dwindling voter registration numbers.
Last year Baugh issued the Baugh Jihad – no OC Republican candidates could henceforth accept support or contributions from public employee unions – a ballsy demand from such an old-time huckster who’d accept money from anywhere. But he’s been enforcing this fatwah with an iron fist, making things tres difficult for many Republican pols who’ve grown used to loving mutual support from police and firefighters over the decades. As a Dem, I ask for more popcorn and watch to see what comes next.
This for me is the kicker: As Moxley says, no matter what, “Baugh enjoys the knee-jerk support of two partisan online fish wraps: Jon Fleischman‘s Flash Report and the Matt Cunningham-tied Red County. You can count on them to fillet Whitacre and champion Baugh in coming weeks.” And sure enough, Jerbal is already out there calling Whitacre’s effort a “suicide bid” in which he “will be beaten like a drum by Baugh.” Doesn’t that just do it for you – Jerbal’s little violent fantasies against anyone who challenges his insider chums? Well it does it for me. WHITACRE, WHITACRE, WHITACRE! SEMPER FI!!!
[poll id=”297″]
Vern,
Thanks for letting your readers know about my run for Chairman of the OCGOP. As you mentioned correctly, I would most definitely be considered the underdog with an entrenched incumbent in that position now and I have no illusions about the task ahead. However, I believe change is needed and unless someone stepped up and ran, there would be no debate over the issues and challenges facing us as a County Party.
I don’t know if I would call them claims to fame but yes, I was at the helm of the Nativo Lopez recall. However, it was the group of mothers who started it and the broad coalition of Santa Ana residents who joined in and helped, that made the recall so successful. I must correct you about Bill Hunts last campaign. I was not involved with that other than as a supporter and regular MC for local events when required. It was Bill’s first campaign against the now convicted ex-Sheriff, Mike Carona, that I was heavily involved with. We came within .09 percent of causing a runoff in that one.
Regarding the Semper Fi thing: It became a trademark closing during the whole Carona debacle when it was basically only me vs. the establishment over at Red County. Initially it was a reminder to Cunningham and the anonymous posters who were trying to discredit or character assassinate me that I would not intimidated regardless of what they said or did. Then, it just kind of became habit without thinking about it. You’ll be pleased to know I have been working on toning that down and don’t throw it around like I used to (point taken, regardless). 🙂
Thanks for your show of support. It is greatly appreciated.
Respectfully,
Tim
The article mentions fundraising and keeping the warring factions together. Scott has demonstrated his talent and leadership. Tim is energetic and he has some idealistic views.
Of course, there will always be a power struggle.
scott baugh has ruined the name of the oc republican party to the point that i am ashamed to be a part of it. vote for tim whittacre!
Tim stood up (literally) at the GOP and called out Sidhu as the carpetbagging assclown that he is.
You are correct that a Jerbal endorsement is not a badge of honor. In fact what it generally means is that a commercial exchange has taken place maybe even at the expense of the taxpayers.
P.S. Scott supported Shawn Nelson against Sidhu, so that’s a plus in his column. But the GOP Central also supported the dim, repuglican hack pat McPension, in Fullerton. No bueno, as Art would say.
DEBATE!
Pass the popcorn……
Shit, I was planning to ask YOU for some…
As much as I fantasize that you all just cannibalize each other, I have to point out that Baugh is too brainless and unquestioning to ever unify anyone of intelligence. You all need to split or accept new leadership.
This Tim Whitacre is a complete imbecile. How dare he spew that utter BS comments of his. He hi has the balls to wear a shirt with the emblem of my beloved Marine Corps on it as he defends that racist garbage that was thrown out there. If he was ever a Marine he would know the meaning of the word honor. He has none. Anything to get a couple of sound bites and to be able to get his ignorant message of sublime racial hatred out there. It is called under cover and on the sly race baiting where I am from. If he is in the Marine Corps reserves he she be called to active duty and charged a traitor to his commander in chief and his country as well as bringing disgrace to the Marin Corps. He is more than likely a closet member of a white militant group.
Gary L Moore
Baugh has led to the demise of the Republican Party in Orange County. His calling for the removal, just weeks before an election, of Deborah Pauly demonstrated his need for placing his power over that of the party. The Republican Party is losing seats and registered voters. Why would you continue on a losing streak when you could change direction? We have too many proven leaders in his County to continue in this direction. My vote…anybody but Baugh.
This happened six years ago. Baugh is gone.
Damn Facebook “Six Year Memories!”
I am glad this came up, as I managed to miss some of the back-story on this one. Yes, of course I knew about Whitacre taking on Baugh. But the Neilson story linked here to the Moxley article was new to me, and contained the following nugget;
“Earlier this year, a jury deadlocked in the Westminster case after several blunders by the DA’s office and an aggressive performance by Nielsen defense attorney Paul S. Meyer. A retrial is set to begin within weeks. DA Tony Rackauckas has assigned a new prosecutor to the case.”
So…how long has Tony been screwing up cases against his pals so they get off the hook? THAT would be a VERY interesting piece of investigation, should someone need a good project for 2017.
And once in a while Tony Racetrack screws up cases against his enemies, as in this howler involving an old college friend of mine:
http://www.fullertonsfuture.org/2012/fpd-harassment-up-close-and-personal/
I still think that he intentionally tanked the prosecution in the case against the cops who killed Kelly Thomas. It’s certainly true of the investigation, but the signing himself to the case was stupid if he wanted to win it.
Scott Baugh was the paid lobbyist for the SBLH Sober Living Homes Industry. He took their money and could have care less about the the resident taxpayers. Now that there are SBLH in Huntington Harbor, we may get some action to curb these homes from our neighborhood.
Have no faith in a man who sells out his community for the mighty dollar. Look at the type of leaderless people he has brought us. We the Deplorables want leadership not sell outs. We in SEHB do not want Poseidon nor the No Tell Motel at Banning and Magnolia. Why must Baugh sell out to the highest bidder? Follow the money trail folks.
– A conservative Goldwater Reagan Republican.
I support Tim Whitacre.
BrianChuchua
Better than Fred, certainly.
Except … this was six years ago.
Hello Tiger Whisky! Victory November here. (Since this long-ago post, Tim and I have developed code names.)