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The recall effort against State Senator Josh Newman has always had a hidden upside for Democrats in North Orange County (and beyond): One could not ask for a better organizing tool — and once organization is imposed and networks of relationships formed, they will likely carry over into other races. The same amount of effort that would do little for the already well-organized Republicans can have a massive impact on now already well-organized Democrats.
Now, as in tomorrow (as this is published), we’re going to start seeing that in practice.
To some extent, various entrepreneurial Democrats have been able to organize parts of SD-29 in the past. Sharon Quirk-Silva (and some others preceding her) in Fullerton, Rose Espinoza in La Habra, Jose Moreno and Al Jabbar in Anaheim, and … um … hmm. Not a whole lot of others. (There have been a few local successes north of the border, but in local races even the East San Gabriel Valley has until very recently way underperformed its voter registration.)
There have been some other intermittent successes, one in La Palma, another in Cypress, mythical fables of ones in Yorba Linda and Placentia — but they haven’t generated much reusable party infrastructure. Art Brown has been successful in Buena Park, but as a Democrat very much opposed to the Democratic left; Brett Murdock had some success in Brea, but could not come out of the closet as a Democrat to do so. Tom Daly and Jordan Brandman have had their successes, of course — but with a political machine (such as it has been) intended to deemphasize (and some of us would say “betray”) party, rather than something that would help Democrats attain office more broadly.
What’s happening now is unusual. People are pissed off. The “John and Ken”-ification of Orange County — or in this case it’s the “Ed and Barney” or something — has always been able to rouse a certain number of people even outside of election time, but Democrats haven’t had much to match it. Until, perhaps, now.
Democratic leadership is still capable of blowing it, of course — don’t get me started on that — but there are reasons to think that this effort could stick. First of all, there’s money behind it — free breakfast and lunch, people, and at a Democratic event!— and people who know what they’re doing. This effort is tangible — it gives people something that they can really do, as part of a group — so Democrats aren’t being caught flat-footed, as was the case earlier this year when the election of Trump brought out plenty of people to meetings and Dem Clubs and the DPOC just didn’t have the means to make use of them. (Asking them to donate? Not the best approach.)
This is, as they say, a “developing story” — and we’ll see how it goes both tomorrow and beyond. But, increasingly, this has the earmarks of a significant event in OC’s political history — as pissed-off Democrats and independents here decide that they’ve just had enough. I predict that, already, we’ll see more Democrats running for local office next year.
I still hope that the recall fizzles. And, if I were a Republican party official in these parts, I might feel the same way.
This is your genial and optimistic — much like Newman! — Weekend Open Thread. Talk about that or whatever else strikes your fancy, within reasonable bounds of decency and decorum.
Maybe some those starving homeless in the riverbed can come get free food too!
“Democratic leadership is still capable of blowing it, of course — don’t get me started on that . . .”
Republican. You meant Republican.
Don’t worry. That’s EXACTLY what happens the second Ling^2 files her paperwork.
Snap, crackle, pop . . . Recall on the rocks.
Ugh. Friday.
Both….
Hey Dumbass Diamond. I am sending this to you here because Josh’s staff is gone already.
There is NO PERMIT to serve food in the lot and you can expext a Jeff LeTourneu type conflict. Along with news.
Don’t say I didn’t warn you. I like Josh. I think you are the worst thing to happen to OC DEMS since Durkee.
Didn’t notice this comment before. So did any of your anonymous predictions come true?
Would anyone out there actually miss this kind of crap if I did spike it?
So … what ended up happening due to the alleged lack of an allegedly required permit? You sound like someone whose opinion I can live without.
*Nice touch……wonder when Scott Peotter is going have his ANTI-RECALL Community
Walk, 5K and Luncheon event too?
Not a good week for Josh:
1) Court Ruling.
2) Political Bribery EXPOSED
3) Neighborhood walk was a HUGE failure. Lot’s of empty/unanswered doors. MORE Doors SLAMMED in the Young Dem’s face.
Hey, but where else can you get confused young people to inarticulate a complicated issue for the price of a couple of BAD TACO’S and a silly T-SHIRT.
Watch for the RECALL MARCH outside of Josh’s SO. CAL office soon
*Hope everyone is having a great end to summer. The football season is cranking up and finally we will be able to defer from the 24 hour CNN/FOX/MSNBC News cycle of doom. There are a couple of things worth noting however:
(1) The discussion on NAFTA. The Trump/Business/Mafia Communities are eager to do away with regulations which require that Trucks coming from Mexico are examined first on the Mexican side of the border and then again on the US Side of the Border. They want to do away with that regulation. So cool, we load up guns on trucks on the US side, pay one guy off and they go straight to Mexico with anyone checking. Meanwhile, on the Mexican side…..they load up big trucks with illegals stacked to the hilt, pay off one guy and send them directly to the US. Point: Better keep the double check on Truck transfers between the two borders. At least they have to pay off two people instead of just one. (2) Whatever happened to the American Nazi Party? Didn’t they have a few Congressmen on board before WWII? One thing is certain, Marchers for both sides should not be able to wear helmets, ballistic shields, wooded poles or bats to use as flag supports – that can be used as weapons and most certainly not allow open carry of any firearms or ballistic vests. The right to free speech should probably not include these items.