by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

The special election to replace now-Rep. Laura Richardson in her SoCal district is coming up soon. However, it's not just the two candidates, Warren Furutani and Mike Gipson who are spending like crazy to get 'er done. Nope, like every other election in California, this one is dominated by Independent Expenditures. Given that this is the only item on the ballot, turnout will be terrible, so each vote is priceless. And the IEs, and candidates, are spending accordingly.

 The candidates themselves have raised about $500,000 between them, with Furutani leading Gipson with more than $350,000 raised.

While donations to the candidates are capped, money streaming into independent expenditure campaigns, which by law can’t coordinate with the candidates, is limitless. (SacBee CapAlert 11.28.07)

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[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Kate L McLaughlin

Several years ago on the streets of San Francisco, my husband Mark and I simultaneously experienced both sides of a controversial issue. Our son Michael, freshly released from a psychiatric hospital where he’d received treatment for Bipolar Disorder walked with us. Much improved but still struggling with anxiety, low-level mania, and paranoia, he began to unravel as the day grew long.

Knowing we needed to get Michael back to the hotel, we decided to grab an early dinner. Just outside the restaurant the three of us encountered a homeless man who clearly suffered from symptoms much like Michael’s. Propelled by some magnetic force, these two young men gravitated toward one another with aggressive posturing and angry words. Had Mark not been present to intervene and lead Michael away, violence would have ensued. Instead, however, we guided our son toward greater calm while the other fellow spiraled out of control, his loud rantings echoing through the street until someone eventually called the police. Two young men. Both ill. One, with support, walked away. The other, on the street and alone, went to jail.

by atdleft [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

New desk for reception foyer of Supervisor John Moorlach's office: $8,990, New conference table for Supervisor Pat Bates' office: $3,375, Track lighting with dimmer switch for Supervisor Janet Nguyen's office: $1,300, 90 high-end, "high-concept" Herman Miller office chairs for Treasurer Chriss Street: almost $50,000, 52-inch wall-mounted flat-screen television for EACH NEW SUPERVISOR'S personal office: $4,000 (each) (Street's flat-screen TV cost $7,800).  Seeing complete hypocrisy from all these supposed "fiscally conservative" Republicans featured in the Orange County edition of The Los Angeles Times yesterday: PRICELESS!

Follow me after the flip to see just how much taxpayer money our "fiscal conservatives" in Orange County are wasting on their "extreme makeover"...

So what the heck is going on here?