"The most consistent and smartest thinking and writing about progressive politics isn't happening in Sacramento, but being churned out day after day on sites and by organizations like Calitics, Orange County Progressive, and the California Budget Project." - CalBuzz
Remember how the ONLY Republican in Congress to vote in favor of healthcare was Louisiana's bold Joseph "Anh" Cao - who also happens to be the only Vietnamese-American in Congress. Josh pointed out that, with the exception of Cuban gusanoLincoln Diaz-Balart, Cao is also the only Congressmember who has actually lived in a socialist or Communist country, and was thus unimpressed and unmoved by all the Republican heavy breathing about the supposed socialism or Communism of allowing a public option in American healthcare. In fact, that talk must have seemed bizarre to him.
This confirmed something I'd long observed about the Vietnamese, whether Buddhist, Catholic or freethinking - they seem to generally have an innate sense of justice and egalitarianism which should make the Democratic Party a more natural fit for them, as indeed other Asian-Americans find it. This sense of justice is doubtless what led them to originally throw off their imperial shackles, a struggle which became notoriously ugly in the 60's and 70's due to foreign meddling on both sides. The first generation of exiles here have gravitated to the GOP due to its more strident anti-socialist rhetoric, but there is only so long that an innately humane people can cling to the Party of Yachts and Fear. And that honeymoon is gradually ending.
I guess what I'm trying to say in so many words is that I went ahead and kicked down fifty bucks Sunday to attend the grand kickoff of the new Vietnamese-American Democratic PAC (VADPAC) headlined by succulent Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, and it was pretty cool. In society-column bold let me rave of the Asian and non-Asian glitterati in attendance: the brilliant and radiant Dr. Kim-Oanh Nguyen-Lam, beloved Santa Ana Mayoral candidate Alfredo Amezcua, stalwart progressive Assemblyman Ted Lieu, indefatigable Costa Mesa Councilwoman Katrina Foley, charismatic "prospective" candidate for 68th Assembly seat Phu Nguyen, redoubtable DPOC chair Frank Barbaro, and I pause to catch my breath after this only partial list of luminaries.
(Phu holds forth in his genial way, Loretta spellbound)
We caught up with Assemblyman Jose Solorio last night, who graciously showed up to speak about water issues even after pulling an all-nighter at the Capitol the night before.
We asked him point-blank whether he was willing to carry a bill to Derail the Sale of the Orange County Fairgrounds and reverse what has proven to be a controversial, scandal-plagued midnight deal. It's not a good deal for the state, which will never realize anywhere close to the money that was promised. And it's certainly not a good deal for the residents of Orange County, where local governments are scrambling to try to buy a public asset that the people of California already own.
And once the Fair is in new hands, it will never be the same. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that any new owners will need a way to repay a hefty mortgage on the property.
Say goodbye to the low impact horse stables, 4-H clubs, the Centennial Farm, and the All American Boys Chorus. Say goodbye to a County Fair with blue ribbons, animals, local arts and crafts.
Say hello to new deals that make more money!
Unfortunately, Solorio didn't make much sense in his response.
He started with the lie that this was one of a number of assets up for sale. Actually, in every other district where Fairgrounds were proposed for sale, the legislators fought tooth and nail to protect them. Only in Orange County did our legislators vote to sell our crown jewel, and Jim Silva actually voted against the bill.
Then the Assemblyman equivocated about slowing things down, transparency, protecting this as a fair, some of the problems with the foundation, mumble, blah, blah, blah, mumble.
It's time for Solorio to stand up, admit that this was a disastrous mistake, and actually lead on the issue, rather than trying to play some moderate balancing act. Other Democrats in the Assembly have made it quite clear that they won't support any bill to fix this screw-up unless it's supported by our local Democrat, and we've only got the one.
There's an incredible scandal brewing at the Orange County Fairgrounds and Attorney General Jerry Brown better get on top of this before it blows up in his face. The deal to sell the fairgrounds has stunk, and the Attorney General's office is right in the middle of the muck.
The Fairgrounds is run by an obscure state agency, the 32nd Agricultural District, and their legal representation comes from the Attorney General's office. Unfortunately, the current functionary has completely failed to protect the interests of the people of the State of California. The Fair Board, political appointeees of the Governator, have gone far beyond violating open meeting laws, and instead have used public funds in a conspiracy that approaches racketeering.
Here's how the story unfolds.
The Board of Directors of the Orange County Fair Grounds are as arrogant and clueless a bunch of Yacht Party Republicans as you would find anywhere. Their appointments were political plums for big campaign contributors. Until public scrutiny ended the practice, each of them was receiving tens of thousands of dollars a year in front-row concert tickets complete with catered meals at the Pacific Amphitheatre summer concert series.
Part of the Republican plan this year to balance the budget included revisiting the Governator's ill-fated plan to sell off some of the state's most treasured assets that have been held in public trust for more than a century. It was obvious when that plan was presented that it was a typical magical solution with fantastical value estimates, with a complete failure to consider things like local zoning, deed restrictions, the rule of law, and the highest true value of these properties to the owners - the people of the State of California.
Every legislator fought back to protect the assets in their district. When we talked to Fiona Ma last week, she spoke passionately about fighting tooth and nail to keep the Cow Palace from being considered for this program. Every other representative in every other district fought to save assets that were held in trust for the people by the state, places like the Race track at Del Mar, the Coliseum in Los Angeles, the state Fair grounds in Sacramento.
Now, after the Orange County Fairgrounds is on the auction block, with a populist uprising, Van Tran and Jose Solorio are holding a public hearing, after both of them voted to sell the Fairgrounds.
Where were they when they should have been representing their constituents? And how do they spin their failure into something positive?
Out of the Orange County delegation, only Jim Silva and Mike Duvall voted to save this asset. When you're not as astute as Jim Silva or as ethical as Spanky Duvall, your hearing after the fact should be pretty interesting.
OC Fairgrounds Sale
Informational Hearing with Assm. Jose Solorio and Van Tran
Costa Mesa City Council Chambers,
77 Fair Dr, CM on Mon Nov 9 - 9 -11:30 AM
RSVP John Nam 714-939-8469 or john.nam@asm.ca.gov
(This is the start of my multi-part series on emerging Western Congressional races in 2010. Also posted at C4O Democrats.)
If we're to believe the local newsreports, Democrats may actually lose a Congressional seat in Southern California. Central Orange County Assembly Member/Local GOP Power Broker Van Tran has announced he will challenge seven-term Democratic incumbent Loretta Sanchez next year. Already, Republicans are cheering victory and preparing to dance on Loretta's political grave... But are they celebrating too early?
In the world of OC Republican politics, one of the great successes has been the ability to build a Republican machine in little Saigon, based on very high levels of chased absentee ballots.
Van Tran was able to capture a Republican primary in the 68th Assembly distict in 2004 with 22,012 votes, in a district with almost 20,000 Vietnamese Republican voters. He was running against a perpetually tardy Clinton delegate turned Republican who didn't have much trust in party circles.
And of course, once Van Tran won a Republican primary, there wasn't much contest in a general election.
Still he's not a prolific vote-getter. In 2008 against an unknown Democrat spending essentially no money, he could only muster 77.5% of the combined total of Republican and Independent voters while Ken Arnold garnered 76.6% of the Democratic and Independent voters. Not much crossover for an established incumbent.
OK, it's a rumor from a source that is not particularly reliable. But, hey, this is a blog.
2010 may see some interesting match-ups as Van Tran is termed out from his Assembly seat, and both state parties focus on a very few seats that might change hands. Correa won his Senate seat narrowly, and is anathema to the "heads-on-a-stick" crowd after he violated his sacred Grover Norquist pledge.
Steve Young has announced that he will run for the seat where Van Tran is termed out, and we're anticipating a hotly contested, vicious Republican primary between Alan Mansoor and the designate of the Trannies or Jannies (Andrew Do?).
Will Van Tran take a run at Loretta or sit out for two years and go after Harman's Senate seat? Loretta has hopes for higher office, but stands no chance in a Governor's race, either in the primary or against whichever billionaire wins the Republican primary. Ultimately she'll stay put.
It's all speculation at this point, but shadowy forces are moving, and the Darth Vader of Orange County politics is fighting to save his right to pack heat under his jacket like Van Tran does.
Remember how the ONLY Republican in Congress to vote in favor of healthcare was Louisiana's bold Joseph "Anh" Cao - who also happens to be the only Vietnamese-American in Congress. Josh pointed out that, with the exception of Cuban gusano 
