For the past two days I have attempted to respond to questions regarding my positions on Measure M on the OC Blog. I feel as though I am being blacklisted from expressing my opinion or responses on that blog. It is unfortunate that I contacted Jubal on several occasions to request access so that his readers do not think I am ducking their questions. I do not run and hide from anything and was at the Irvine Hyatt last night and briefly spoke to Todd Spitzer outside the OCTA party.
So for those who attempted to get a response from me I made multiple attempts to no avail. I do not have that problem in posting on other county blogs such as Orange Punch which I was able to do this morning.
OK. OC Blog readers. Feel free to use this post as your vehicle to ask me any questions.
PS: Earlier today I received a phone call from the Register reporter who wrote a half page, above the fold story, on page two of the front section last week that looked like a Paid Advertisement for Measure M. She even included the OCTA website but no reference to ours or interview coverage from one of our opponents.
Let’s see what part of my comments she uses in quoting me in her next story. We spoke about many of the reasons we objected to this version of Measure M but my sense is that she had an Agenda and may not publish any of our major points. Stay tuned for her story. I intend to.
Larry
PS: Jubal. If or when you open the door for me at OC Blog I will be happy to share my views on your posts if I have anything of interest to add. it’s your call.
Larry
Larry:
Have you gone insane? I have explained to you why you sometimes cannot post comments — it’s because you use AOL, and when I ban an AOL user — as I did a couple of days ago — it can affect other AOL users. It has happened to Chuck DeVore, who in contrast is too level headed to post some silly conspiracy theory.
You are unbelievable.
let it go larry…it’s over! now stop poisoning this blog!
Congratulations to the reasonable voters in O.C. who passed Measure M. Despite Larry Gilbert’s nonsensical and obsessive opposition, the OCTA will be able to continue to provide O.C. with respectable transportation infrastructure for years to come.
PS: Jubal. If or when you open the door for me at OC Blog I will be happy to share my views on your posts if I have anything of interest to add. it’s your call.
Larry, there is a term for that kind of talk: self-centered grandiosity. You were never banned from the blog, and if you could have kept your shirt on, I would have fixed the situation — as I have for you on other occasions in the past.
You already knew exactly why you are sometimes unable to post comments, so quit the unseemly whining and I’ll think about whether to even bother fixing the situation.
No I have not gone insane as charged. However, Jeff Flint and another bogger at the OC blog raised some questions that I wanted to respond to before last night’s election. In fact Jeff pointed out an error in one of my posts that I tried to apologize to him for on that correction.
I won’t get into the details other than to say I accept the outcome, we are not seeking a recount, and tomorrow is a new day.
And although I have COX cable along with AOL, I have no plans to change my service provider.
As to charges of being obsessive. Your right. We did not have theunlimited deep pockets to mail out 14 or so flyers and letters. We chose to utilize the technology invented by Al Gore to highlight flaws in the Plan.
We do not have the final tally as yet but my best guess is that the proponent spent around $5.00 per vote while we spent less than $.014 per vote.
It’s also nice to look into the funding provided by Reed Royalty’s OC Taxpayers. Who provided the $163,800 they contributed to this cause to be the second highest finacial source of funds as listed on the mailings? Is OC Tax a Fortune 500 company with some product or service that has that much discretionary money laying around for campaigns? How heavy are the dues to be a member and what are the benefits of said membership? Could it be that members such as the Irvine Company or other developers who prefer being under the radar screen while reaping the benefits of having us pay for their infrastructure that was GUARANTEED in the first Measure M?
Sadly I had to create this post in order to get a reply from Jubal.
Larry
Sadly I had to create this post in order to get a reply from Jubal.
Larry, I apologize for forgetting this is your planet, and I just live on it.
Next time you want to make sure of satisfying the clamoring of this imagined-audience of yours for your next comment, I be sure to hop-to-it-on-the-double.
It amazes me that you create this tempest-in-a-thimble, and then try to blame it one me.
Quick correction. I am normally pretty good at math but the cost per vote was incorrect. It should read less than $0.006 as we spent less than $1,000. That answers one of Jeff’s questions as to our campaign filing.
Larry
Larry,
How many votes did your candidate for Water Board – F.K. “Joe” Holtzman get in yesterday’s election?
Also, as for your postings and comments – could you fill us in on the Measure M and the Proposition 90 thing?
You seem to be a great consultant for losing causes?
Were you a consultant on the Titanic?
Sorry, I got a little negative and personal. I’m glad I caught myself modeling your behavior in the Mission Viejo Council race and promise never to do it again.
Do you?
I am grateful for all of Larry’s postings. He is pointing out that there are developers/real estate interests who financially benefit from the passage of Measure M. Without Larry’s insight, this would not have been clear to the average voter.
It matters who is behind a campaign and who funds it.
Why are WE all paying for costs for future Orange County residents? Why aren’t new residential developments paying for their own costs?
Why are we distorting the concept of supply and demand?
It also seems like the $3.4 million that Rich poured into Prop 90 bought him success.
This isn’t a money issue Mr. Sourgrapes – Californians proved, once again, they are very rational when it comes to revenue measures like M. Not only was M successful, but the Governor’s infrastructure bonds did very well, while voters smartly rejected the cigarette, oil and education taxes.
Orange County needs Measure M and now we have it. The fact that it passed on the first try (in the most Republican County!) is a clear signal OCTA is doing the right things and the voters understand that.
Larry you lost – Boo Hoo! Or, for those Simpson fans, (Nelson pointing to Larry) “AH HA!”
JUBAL
“It has happened to Chuck DeVore, who in contrast is too level headed to post some silly conspiracy theory.”
Didn’t Chuck D. claim that Democrats created the infamous Tan Ngyuen letter using his 28 years of military intelligence.
Talk about seeing Black Hawks…Chuck takes the cake.
Reviewing the election results looks like alot of people saw the tin foil hat too.
Has a democrat challenger every had that high of a percentage of voters? Someone slipping…
Larry, you are self-centered grandiosity, you even call yourself a “investigating reporter”. That a laugh..you post what others send you by e-mail without investigating. You even had
the lowness to post negitive remards to a candidates boss and co-workers. This is the devil at work in you…God will punish those that go against his word.
Give it up Larry, you will never make it. Someone said you posted a remark that 3 OCTA drivers were NO on Measure M so you posted all the Drivers supported No on Measure M.
You lost on that one…
I don’t like the tone of discussion that is insulting Larry.
This blog should be a safe forum for legitimate debate. I appreciate many of the information Larry brought forward regarding Measure M.
Why are current OC residents helping pay for future OC residents’ roadways? Each new resident development should pay for the demand and extra financial impact they place on schools, roadways, police and fire. I am shocked that many Republicans do not seem to understand this.
Good morning Orange County.
Four years ago OC Register Editorial Writer Steve Greenhut wrote about a Revolution in the city of Mission Viejo in which a sitting mayor and mayor pro tem were both booted out of office. Let me also point out that incumbent candidates typically have been re-elected around 90 percent of the time.
We did not have a Revolution in our city this year but we did kick out of office our current mayor Lance MacLean.
After leaving the Hyatt I joined a private gathering of Diane Greenwood supporters at her Mission Viejo home until 2.a.m.
Vice Mayor Frank Ury and others sat in front of two laptop computers and waited as the returns started trinkling in. In this year’s election we were voting for three seats. Diane had been in third place all night while Lance was in fourth place.
Three cycles before the end Lance moved into third place leading Diane by around 100 votes. However, when the results were posted after 70 of 72 precincts, Diane moved back ahead of Lance for the third seat in this year’s election. She finished 11 votes in front of our Mayor who deserved to be removed but that’s another story. Trish Kelley came in first with John Paul Ledesma finishing second.
As someone deeply involved in elections I saw a first in this year’s campaign. Hundreds of yard signs all over the city attacking
I have doubts that there are any outstanding ballots that might impact the standings of the 10 candidates and was happy to be part of this victory team effort.
Larry Gilbert
How do you want to eat these words.
With or Without self-centered grandiosity
Larry,
Nice story about sitting around looking at returns with all those important people — you are so connected! Wow.
Just for grins and chuckles…
The latest results in the Mission Viejo Council Race, from the Registrar of Voters, as of November 9, 2006 @ 5:00PM:
Kelley 9644 16.3%
Ledesma 8431 14.2%
MacLean 6817 11.5%
Greenwood 6787 11.5%
So, Larry.. “Being deeply involved in elections” in your opinion what explains the change in vote totals that now show MacLean being re-elected?
Larry, your self-stated expertise “I have doubts that there are any outstanding ballots…” was wrong, hey?
You now know that there are thousands of votes still being tallied countywide and the final vote in Mission Viejo may change again?
Larry, you’re one arrogant and spiteful SOB.
Larry,
You’re experience, expertise and overflowing confidence seem misplaced.
As of 5 o’clock last nite, MacLean re-took the lead over Greenwood.
It may or may not hold up – but your comments seem silly now, don’t they?
Goof.
As I have been in Northern Ca since the election I have not had easy access to respond to the many posts which appear above. Truth be told, my family, with whom I am staying, is more important than any political campaign or reading any of my email.
With regards to the Mission Viejo city council election. Votes are still being counted. At this point it’s a toss up between a sitting mayor and a newcomer who has never served on any commission and did not have the backing of many elected officials as did our mayor. Win or lose Diane Greenwood ran a good race.
For those who wish to throw in comments about my handling of Prop 90, Measure M, or this city council race. Although I played a role in all three I was not the campaign consultant nor campaign manager for any of them. In each case we were outspent, hit with misleading ads or mailers and did the best we could under those circumstances.
I am proud to having devoted my time and efforts to all of these races and measures.
With regard to Measure M. OC Taxpayers should be investigated in that they appear to be a PAC. Although PAC’s are involved in just about evey race, the public should know who is funding either side and know if the materials they receive is funded by special interests.
Yes, we lost our fight to send Measure M back to the drawing board on Tuesday. But we surely gave the developers a run for their money. Sadly we cannot force them to comply with the GUARANTEE’s as stated in the Nov 1990 Measure M. They were let off the hook by those in power over the past 15 years. I would like to see the Grand Jury or OC Board of Supervisors investigate if they or OCTA have any authority to hold someone accountable for that GUARANTEE which is not being enforced.
Were they solely words on a sample ballot to win an election in 1990?
Getting back to the Mission Viejo race. I have been involved in almost every race in our city since it was formed. This year we had a first. Yard signs attacking other candidates. One paid for by Lance MacLean and John Paul Ledesma and a second sign attacking other candidates paid for by a Mission Viejo PAC.
Someone mentioned a Water Board candidate. That comment is out of left field. My original pst towhich all these responses are attributed to did not meniton any Water Board race. To respond I will tell you what the Registrar’s office told me about “all” write-in candidates. Those ballots are the “last to be counted.” As you appear to be so politically informed, and knowing that the Registrar’s office is still counting votes of the traditional candidates, only points out that your post is nothing more than a flippant zinger. And I do know who you are!!!
That’s enough time away from my family.
Don’t expect any further post responses before Monday when I return to southern CA.
Larry
Diane Greenwood was a puppet of the far left. How Frank Ury ever got mixed up with her is anybody’s guess. Greenwood will lose by 200 votes. Long live Mayor MacLean!