Freedom reigned tonight in the City of Orange as the O.C. Register and Freedom Communications held a party to celebrate the kickoff of their new website, Freedompolitics.com. O.C. Register editorial writer Steven Greenhut hosted the soiree, along with Cathy Taylor, the Vice President of the O.C. Register’s editorial department. O.C. Register editorial writer Alan Bock joined them as well.
The Register’s publisher and editor in chief were there too, as were many of their other top managers from other departments, such as advertising. And we heard from Register editorial columnist Tibor Machan as well. There were also a lot of other freedom lovers in attendance from all corners of Orange County politics.
A few Democrats showed up too, including Liberal OC bloggers Chris Prevatt and Dan Chmielewski, and O.C. Clerk Recorder Tom Daly. The head of the OCEA, Nick Berardino, was there as well (see the picture below, which depicts Nick standing next to former State Senator John Lewis).
(From Left to Right: O.C. Deputy Sheriff Jack Anderson; OCEA boss Nick Berardino and former State Senator John Lewis)
The party was very well attended, by perhaps 75 to 100 folks, including David Nott, the President of the Reason Foundation; John Seiler, who has his own blog and who used to write for the O.C. Register; John McDonald, who writes for Sheriff Sandra Hutchens’ blog; James Riordan, who owns Seven Locks Press; Angela Keaton, who works at Antiwar.com (the Randolph Bourne Institute); O.C. Board of Education Trustees Alexandria Coronado and Dr. Ken Williams; SAPD Chief of Police Paul Walters and his wife; Libertarian Party of California officers Beau Cain and Zander Collier; Fullerton’s Tony Bushala; retired Judge Jim Gray, who writes for the Daily Pilot; Fullerton Councilman Shawn Nelson; Orange Mayor Carolyn Cavecche; Huntington Beach School Board Member Norm Westwell, who is running next year for the Huntington Beach City Council; Red County editor Matt “Jubal” Cunningham; GOP consultant Matt Holder; Roy Reynolds; our own Larry Gilbert; and former Orange Juice blogger Ryan Trabuco was there along with the Planner known as “Count Chocula.”
(Freedompolitic’s Editor, Bill Goodwin)
We were also introduced to Freedompolitic’s Editor, the very capable Bill Goodwin. Here is what he had to say in today’s Register editorial about the mission of his new endeavor:
We wish the Obama administration the best, but are here to remind it that we will be among those who watch its every move. Not that everything revolves around Washington, but every administration – Democratic or Republican – has immense power to do mischief. Our role at Freedompolitics.com is the same as the role we have on the Register’s editorial page: to remind people of the basic truths about government, which should be limited so that individuals have the most latitude to live their lives as they choose.
(From Left to Right: Powder Blue Report blogger Allan Bartlett; Red County blogger Matt “Jubal Cunningham,” a guy I don’t know; Sheriff blogger John McDonald; transportation expert Roy Reynolds; and former Orange Juice blogger Ryan Trabuco)
Many of us who believe in limited government and maximum personal freedom are troubled by what we’ve seen in recent years. It’s not the Barack Obama victory that concerns us, even though the new president – for all his charms – places an unhealthy faith in the federal government. Actually, government has grown rapidly under the previous president, as well as the president before him and the ones before him. Under both parties, government grows. It just keeps chugging ahead by spending, taxing and regulating. It has grown the most in recent years under the party that gives “limited government” as its reason for existence.
(The legendary Carlo Terranova plays the harmonica while performing with the Moonlight Wranglers)
Too often, Americans forget George Washington’s timeless observation: “Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.” Freedompolitics.com will be there to remind us of these truths, to watch what government officials are doing and to promote the fundamental ideals of liberty against the wiles and designs of both parties.
My ‘congrats” to the Register for getting this very worthy effort off and running.
I too wish to extend my best regards to the Register for launching the Freedompolitics.com blog. While many attended one or more of the 10 inaugural balls inside the DC beltway last night we held our own event at the home of Jim Jeroe where the fellowship was very cordial. Look at the list of bloggers above. It was like a who’s who of Orange County. In addition to staff writer John McDonald of the OCSD, the Register bloggers, we represented the LiberalOC, Red County, the Orange Juice blog and perhaps one or more that I may be overlooking.
In addition to great Italian food, plenty of beer and some ugly smelling stogies at this kick off party, we were entertained by the Moonlight Wranglers.
Some mighty strange compadres in that group. I would have said “strange bedfellows” – but that may have been taken in a manner not intended.