“The bad blood in the party was evident at the convention. On Saturday, state party vice chair Jon Fleischman angrily confronted state Sen. Abel Maldonado, R-Santa Maria (Santa Barbara County), who made his name last week by providing the critical vote needed to pass the state budget,” according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
“You voted for the largest tax increase in the country when you could have stopped it,” said Fleischman, publisher of the GOP Web site Flashreport.com, which had publicly pressured Republicans to stand united against the package of $15 billion in spending cuts and $12.5 billion in new taxes. “Good call.”
As an open-mouthed crowd of Republicans looked on, Maldonado – viewed as a turncoat by some Republicans, and a hero by others – coolly shot back: “We need a change.”
How can Fleischman even show his face in public after his former boss, Mike Carona, was ousted from the O.C. Sheriff’s department, and he was indicted? He represents the very worst that the Republican Party has to offer.
Kudos to Maldonado for showing up to this event when he had to know that he would be attacked by creeps like Fleischman, who ought not be acting this way given that he is a Vice Chair of the CA GOP.
Fleischman also got punked when his measure to censure the six GOP legislators who voted for the budget was shot down. Instead, none of them will receive funding from the state party, which is practically broke and would not likely have helped them anyway.
The Sacramento Bee reported that Republican delegate Helen Najar of Long Beach took issue with the party’s action Sunday, which is to say that she disagreed with Fleischman. She said the minority state party should be working to broaden its appeal, not attack its own members. “The circular firing squad stuff never works,” Najar said. “It’s petty and it’s unproductive.”
GOP gubernatorial candidate Steve Poizner also “criticized those who sought to censure the six Republican lawmakers who provided the votes to reach the required two-thirds majority for the spending plan,” according to the San Jose Mercury News. This criticism was astounding given that Fleischman is backing Poizner.Poizner said it was not the most effective use of leaders’ time and warned that the GOP, which has been slipping in voter registration for years, needs to modernize.
“The California Republican Party is in trouble,” he told a gathering of reporters. “We have to do some serious rebuilding.”
Poizner also said that “Frankly speaking, our party’s in a mess right now,” according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Fellow GOP gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman also piled on Fleischman and the CA GOP – “We’re losing market share at an alarming rate,” she warned, noting Republican party registration is now barely at 31 percent in California, “13 points below Democrats – and dropping.”
And possible GOP U.S. Senate candidate Carly Fiorina also criticized Fleischman and his Talibani goons, as she urged party members to offer “a positive, pragmatic way forward.”
Maldonado got the last word.
“The party needs to change,” Maldonado said. “We can’t go back to the old political system that we had. … We need to bring other people to our party. We’re losing them every day.”
In the coming months, “we’re going to talk a lot about reform … reform, reform, reform,” Maldonado predicted. “And if my party doesn’t like it … then I’ll be looking at it in the rear view mirror.”
“The party needs to change,” Maldonado said. “We can’t go back to the old political system that we had. … We need to bring other people to our party. We’re losing them every day.”
The Republican party “members” are about making money for themselves, and their lobbyist who raise “them” more money. The party is dead because they have NO PRINCIPLES.
“other people”, who in their right state of mind would jump an a sinking ship, but a pirate looking for a bottle of booze?
The “old political system”, was having principles and sticking to them. But, the “me”, “I want”, “its mine”, “so nice”, etc….has set in and now it’s over.
What a joke and a waste of time/money it was recalling Gray Davis, he was a million times smarter than Mr. Pump.
Speaking of Fleischman, Bill Hunt sure doesn’t mince words about Fleischman and the OCGOP in Orange County Progressive’s Five Questions for Bill Hunt
#2,
Good article. I thought Ralph Martin should have been our next Sheriff. Nothing against Hunt, but he grew up in the Carona culture. Martin was clean.
Hutchens certainly proved to be a poor choice.
Nice picture Art.
I think that was “dress up day” at the Harbor for Jon and his wanna be policemen.
Fleischman’s relationship with Poizner needs to be examined. I think the Weekly or the Register did a story that linked consulting “fees” to Fleischman and access to Poizner.
Maybe someone can elucidate on this.
In any case it’s pretty hard to swallow principled outrage from a member of Carona’s inner circle. Even if he was just the circle jerk. I can’t disassociate this individual from self-service.
BTW, has Flash Report reported yet on the Lewis endorsement of the Democrat Daly? You’d think there would be enough outrage left over for that. Just wondering.
David,
Good call. I just checked on Blognetnews. No mention of Daly on the Flash report.
Interstingly, our former blogger Chris Emami did report on Red County about the new office Daly just opened in Fullerton. But Jubal still has not told his readers that John Lewis endorsed Daly, over conservative Republican Shawn Nelson.
Two things,
First I don’t think it is fair to tie Flieschman to Carona, just because he was his boss. To do that will tarnish ALL of out duputies.
Second, I think you have to give some credit to John, regardless if you think he is right or wrong and here is why. If you sign a no tax pledge, you are giving your word, and people are voting for you based on that word. So if you break your word, you need to be held accountable, not only by the Voters, but by the party as well.
All too often, regardless of the issue we get these bastards telling us what they think we want to hear, only to find out later that we have been betrayed, I don’t care if you are pro or against taxes, for or against illegals, for or against, welfare spending etc. When you make a promise that is one thing, but when you sign your name to the paper, giving your word, you must hold up to your word. Or be held accountable, a man is only as good as his word.,
Bigmarkod,
Except that Jon was Carona’s PR flack. As a deputy he was only an unpaid reserve.
And I don’t recall that Maldonado ever signed a no tax pledge.
Carona hired Fleischman and Fleischman was paid very well (by the taxpayer) to shill for him. That uniform and the badge on it were purchased – one way or another – just like the ones Haidl received.
Let’s call a spade a spade.
Et tu, DZ? Joining the make-claims-first, ask-questions-later-maybe, crowd here at OJ?
Jon went through the Sheriff’s Academy, just like every other reserve deputy.
And another point of info for you know-it-alls: Jon hasn’t endorsed Poizner, or anyone else. He’s a state party officer, and the bylaws prohibit him from doing so.
Apologies for introducing facts into a fact-free zone. Now, I’d better excuse myself before prolonged exposure lowers my IQ.
I wonder how he got over the obstacle course. Isn’t there a wall or something?
Matt/Jubal,
That is so cute how you red-faced guys cover for each other!
But I recall that the Register broke a story last year wherein a doctor in Orange County wanted to talk to Poizner about insurance matters. Poizner’s staff told him to contact Jon Fleischman to set up a meeting with Poizner. Flash then quoted him several thousand dollars in order to set up the meeting with Poizner.
Sounds like pay to play to me.
Of course Flash and company later said it was all just a misunderstanding. Sure it was.
Flash is a dirty pig just like Carona was – only Flash is slicker. All of you red-faced consultants are killing your party.
And by the way not all the Carona reserves went to the Sheriff’s Academy. Only a few did. The rest have since turned in their badges. Except for the ones who of course “lost” their badges…
Art I think you are right that there is a real problem with political consultants. Instead of working for the candidates it now seems to be the other way ’round. They have become the actual decision makers. If they are also lobbyists, well the problem gets even worse.
Notice how consultants have their own stables of candidates like boxing promoters and race horse owners.
Then there are the camp followers…
David,
Exactly! None of these guys should be holding appointed or elected positions in ANY political party. The conflict of interest is obvious. Except to them.
They use parties as their own plantations. This is an abuse of our political system.
Just look at what they have done to the OC GOP! And the ultimate expression of this is that these guys are now backing a Democrat, Tom Daly, against a conservative Republican, Shawn Nelson, for the OC BOS. Just plain disgusting…
“these guys are now backing a Democrat, Tom Daly, against a conservative Republican, Shawn Nelson, for the OC BOS.”
Well, John Lewis is – for reasons still unknown. It remains to be seen if he can get anybody else to jump ship. I guess we’ll find out in a couple weeks. Pretty soon OC GOP bigshots are going to be flushed out and will have to decide where they are going to land.
BTW, I love the plantation metaphor.
Dave,
When you consider that Matt/Jubal STILL has not told his readers about what Lewis did, I think it is obvious that he at least is going along with Lewis’ gambit.
But Jubal will be coy for now…
But will any Lincoln Club honchos like Rich Wagner go for it? We may find out before St. Patrick’s Day.
David,
Good question. Jubal and Lewis may have jumped the shark this time…
No need for you guys to thank me for correcting the false information being oozed out here.
And Art, you need to get your facts straight on the the Fleischman-Poizner thing backwards — as you could have figured in about 30 seconds using Google. Please point out where Poizner is paying Jon as a campaign consultant? Or where Jon has endorsed Poizner, as is being claimed here?
But that would assume you care anything at all about being factual — and apparently neither do your camp followers.
Jubal,
Your reading comprehension skills are failing you today. I simply retold what the Register disclosed. Poizner’s staff pointed a fellow to Fleischman and told him he would have to contract with Flash to see Poizner. End of story.
From that I think it is obvious that these two have some kind of working relationship. Flash cannot endorse, I guess, as a Vice Chair of your party. But obviously Poizner is his guy…
That whistling noise followed by the kerplop may have been the sound of an IQ hitting the pavement.
End of story.
No — you and others were practically claiming Jon had a) endorsed Poizner and b) consults for Poizner. You chime in with the old OC R story and in your inimitable way, use it to insinuate the answer to those questions is “yes” (while leaving yourself a some technicality weasel room).
And then in the above comment, you go ahead anyway and claim to know that Jon is supporting Poizner, without a shred of evidence. You have an amazing ability to talk out of both sides of your mouth — while being wrong on both ends.
That whistling noise followed by the kerplop may have been the sound of an IQ hitting the pavement.
Don’t worry David. I spent some time reading something intelligent before entering the hot zone.
I guess you can retract your accusation that Jon “bought” his reserve deputy status any time now.
Matt/Jubal,
All I know is that Flash is Poizner’s go to guy. He is the guy that Poizner’s staff refers to folks when they want to pay to see Poizner.
What does that make Flash? I would say it makes him a paid scumbag.
Matt/Jubal,
So when are you going to tell your readers that John Lewis endorsed a Democrat over a conservative Republican?
All I know is that Flash is Poizner’s go to guy. He is the guy that Poizner’s staff refers to folks when they want to pay to see Poizner.
really? You KNOW that? You can cite one instance, and now oyu know that Poizner staff always “refer folks” to Jon?
Who knew you possessed such inside knowledge of Poizner staff operations?
I wrote:
“That uniform and the badge on it were purchased -one way or another – just like the ones Haidl received.”
Please note the “one way or another.” Haidl bought his with illegal cash. Your buddy got his by selling his services to the crooked Carona racket as his flack for many years. Without Carona would he have gotten past the physical? Remember guys like crazy kung-fu golfer? They probably graduated from Sheriff Academy, too.
I never said he didn’t get an offical piece of paper saying he was allowed to carry a badge and a gun, although I did question whther or not the Academy had an obstacle course.
It’s not our fault that anything associated with the Carona regime is tainted – including your cohort and his diploma.
Matt/Jubal,
Don’t be coy. Poizner and Flash got caught red-handed.
You and your red-faced mob are such an embarrassment!
Please note the “one way or another.”
Which is another way of saying, “I don’t really have any facts or evidence — I just know, that’s all!”
Your buddy got his by selling his services to the crooked Carona racket as his flack for many years.
Really? That’s how he got through the Level III academy and became a reserve deputy? You can back up that claim with, I don’t know — evidence? Even a little?
Without Carona would he have gotten past the physical?
Again, David — you know that how, exactly?
Remember guys like crazy kung-fu golfer? They probably graduated from Sheriff Academy, too.
Did he? You know that how? It was never reported he was a reserve deputy.
It’s not our fault that anything associated with the Carona regime is tainted – including your cohort and his diploma.
It is your fault for leveling accusations and making claims for which you haven’t an iota of evidence, nor apparently any interest in seeking any.
Don’t be coy. Poizner and Flash got caught red-handed.
I’m not, Art. Just pointing how you, for the umpteenth time, got your story wrong.
Matt/Jubal,
You can tell a lot about a man by the company he keeps…your pals include Mike Carona, John Urell, Jon Fleischman, John Lewis and Mike Schroeder. “Nice” bunch of guys there…
Matt/Jubal,
You remind me of a certain Bible verse:
“Why do you see the speck in your brother’s eye but fail to notice the beam in your own eye?
I apologize for saying mean things about Mr. Fleischman. I let my emotions get the better of me. I’m sure he is a fine and honorable man.
David,
He is usually polite in public. That’s about the nicest thing I can say about him.
Nothing personal, but folks like him have brought ruination to the OC GOP – and to the state party as well.
Oh well. Not my problem anymore. I am very happy to be a Libertarian instead.