City Circus Update

During the Nov. 21 council meeting, Councilwoman Rhonda Reardon’s agenda item of a written policy to rotate the mayor position failed 3-2. If she had instead asked for equal access to life support for all council members, it would have failed along the same lines, with Kelley, Leckness and Ury dissenting.

With the failure of equal turns for all, council majority members Kelley, Leckness and Ury can continue to deny minority members Reardon and Schlicht a turn at being mayor.

Taking turns is something promoted by parents and other adults, particularly when nothing of value is at stake. Among so-called privileges, the mayor occupies the center seat on the dais and moderates council meetings. The mayor isn’t the leader, and skills, intelligence or other attributes aren’t a factor in who gets the title.

Kelley, who can’t string two sentences together, has been the mayor twice. Leckness earned the handle of Mayor Hee-Haw by guffawing through meetings and acting like a loon.

If residents think the situation can’t get worse than having incompetents hog center stage running meetings, they could make one incompetent the elected mayor. Given the severe shortage of council candidates who can unseat incumbents, who would become mayor? Majority members who run on vendor cash and other payoffs in the form of “campaign contributions” are practically shoo-ins.

If the flap escalates over taking turns, perhaps one of the three juveniles who form the council majority will use the opportunity to install himself/herself as elected mayor. All it would take is a vote of the residents to change Mission Viejo to a Charter City with an elected mayor. Instead of being termed out after 12 years, Kelley might like to help herself to a few more.

With the current limited rotation, Kelley, Leckness and Ury can go on playing “keep-away” with the center seat. Voters have had the pleasure of removing sitting mayors from office (Withrow in 2002 and MacLean in 2010). Ury is up for reelection in 2012 when he’ll likely be the mayor. If residents want to put the fun back into city elections, they can again dump the mayor.

Laugh at the Outrage

Thanksgiving came and went, and the focus shifted to Black Friday. Consider the entertaining irony that Obama must be ALL IN on Black Friday, actually betting on capitalism.

Obama said to corporations, "Dangit, I'm the black president, and I need Black Friday extended!! I NEED CAPITALISM!!"

Joe Biden cautioned, "But, Mr. President, we can't go betting on capitalism...that goes against all we stand for."

"Shut up, Joe! Go spy on Hillary!"

I love the Black Friday stories.  Did you hear the story of the woman who pepper-sprayed folks at Wal-Mart in LA? For an X-Box 360. That's one way to get one!  

I saw this headline: Black-Eyes on Black Friday. There were more than black eyes, as one person was SHOT and KILLED. This was Occupy Black Friday: Liberals Acting Normal.

As for Thanksgiving, even the worst-off Americans have lots to be thankful for, despite Obama growing America's THANKLESS ranks. Whatever your situation is, be happy your situation is in America, and not Africa or Cuba or anywhere else! 

In America you have the chance to remedy your issue. THAT is the beauty of America. In America you can rise from being a worthless community organizer to become a worthless president, if you have enough snake oil.

Nevertheless, there is a group who can't be satisfied--The Progressive Liberal Utopians, "The Plutopians." Even when a Plutonian's cup is half empty, they want a BIGGER CUP! Plutopians are ingrates and thieves. We can no longer satisfy their LUST for our money.  They spend our money on anything and everything!

Plutopians are not thankful. They want four more years of Obama, not because he can create jobs. He makes them feel euphoric about the destruction of America! They know Obama will figure out more clever ways to rob us!

Look at this new Congress within Congress. They accomplished nothing, except to see what America would do if they created elites within the elites! Outcome? Nothing!

That's what Congress is – elites who do nothing positive for us, but enrich themselves!  45 percent millionaires – 66 percent of the Senate and 41 percent of the House.  

Meanwhile. the rest of America are millionaires at the rate of 1 percent. No wonder they set the rules to protect themselves. Congress is the best criminal enterprise in the world. They act like they are honorable people, but they are nothing more than professional criminals.  

God bless you all,
Kevin Jackson
http://tppatriots.net/2011/10/31/the-black-sphere-newsletter

Non-government Events

Following is a sampling of events and activities that are not funded by taxpayers or promoted by the Nanny State. Please support private enterprise and non-profit groups.

Kaleidoscope’s Iceless Ice Skating Rink is now open. For the schedule, go to http://gokaleidoscope.com/f/events.html . Kaleidoscope’s Holiday Concerts: Fri., Dec. 2, 7 p.m. -- Arroyo Vista Middle School; Fri., Dec. 9, 7 p.m. -- Niguel Hills Middle School; Fri. Dec. 16, 7 p.m. -- Newhart Middle School, 27741 Crown Valley Parkway, Mission Viejo, http://gokaleidoscope.com

“A Child’s Christmas in Wales,” the Lyceum Theater, Dec. 2 through Dec. 11, information about performance times and tickets at http://www.vanguardtickets.com , Vanguard University, Dept. of Theatre Arts, 55 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, (714) 668-6145, http://www.theatre.vanguard.edu

Sawdust Art Festival Winter Fantasy, more than 170 exhibitors, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. rain or shine, open weekends only on Dec. 3-4 and Dec. 9-11, Sawdust Art Festival grounds, 935 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, (949) 494-3030, http://www.sawdustartfestival.org

“Christmas at the Casa,” Sat., Dec. 3, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., entertainment, crafts and refreshments, Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, (949) 498-2139, http://www.casaromantica.org

First Saturday Art Walk, Santa Ana Artist Village, Sat., Dec. 3, 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m., venues open: Grand Central Arts Center, OC Center of Contemporary Art, Santora Arts Building (28 galleries, restaurants and shops), ample (free) parking is located across the street at the Santa Ana Train Depot on the southeast corner of Santa Ana Boulevard and Santiago Street. Visit the Website for additional information, including a map: http://www.aplaceforart.org/artwalk

Shepherd’s Christmas Faire featuring local businesses, Sat. and Sun, Dec. 3 and 4, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., JSerra Catholic High School, JSerra Pavilion, 26351 Junipero Serra Road, San Juan Capistrano (949) 493-9307, ext. 1149, http://www.jserra.org

Dance Performance, The Soka Creative Movement Dancers, Thurs., Dec. 8, 7:30 p.m., Soka University, Black Box Theatre, 1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo, (949) 480-4000, http://www.soka.edu

“This Wonderful Life,” through Dec. 24, Laguna Playhouse, Moulton Theatre, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, (800) 946-5556, http://www.lagunaplayhouse.com

“The Science of Gingerbread,” through Jan. 1, kitchen science, decorating demos and award-winning gingerbread houses, Discovery Science Center, 2500 North Main Street, Santa Ana, (714) 542-2823, http://www.discoverycube.org

Art exhibit at Soka University, Arie A. Galles, “Heartland: Reflected Light Paintings, through Jan. 6, open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., free admission, Founders Hall Art Gallery, 1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo, (949) 480-4000, http://www.info@soka.edu

Big Bucks Bingo every Wednesday night, 6:15 p.m. Early Bird. 6:45 p.m. Regular Games, Mission Viejo Elks Lodge, near Ralphs market on Marguerite & La Paz, (949) 830-ELKS.

Planting, crafts and activities classes for families at Living Green Gardens and Design; help with planting and gardening, visit the Website or call for information, Living Green Gardens and Design, 25290 Jeronimo Road (between Los Alisos and El Toro Road), Lake Forest, (949) 768-4733, http://www.yelp.com/biz/living-green-gardens-and-design-lake-forest

Movies, Edwards Kaleidoscope Stadium 10 in Mission Viejo, 27741 Crown Valley Pkwy, (949) 582-4020, get show times, watch movie trailers, see what's coming soon at
http://www.moviefone.com/theater/edwards-kaleidoscope-stadium-10/32/showtimes

Laguna Art Museum, until Dec. 24, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., exhibit of California artists, late 19th century to early 20th century, 307 Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach, (949) 494-8971, http://lagunaartmuseum.org

Roger’s Gardens, “The Artisans of Christmas,” Christmas 2011, now open and ongoing. Roger’s Gardens, 2301 San Juan Hills Road, Corona del Mar, (949) 640-5800, http://www.rogersgardens.com

Political and Government Events Calendar

Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees, regular meeting Wed., Nov. 30, 7:00 p.m., 33122 Valle Road, San Juan Capistrano, agenda and supporting documentation are published on the website 72 hours prior to a meeting, (949) 234-9200, http://capousd.ca.schoolloop.com

Concerts on Sun., Dec. 4: Yorba Linda Senior Chorus Annual Christmas Concert, 2:00 p.m., KidSingers Annual Christmas Concert, 6:30 p.m., Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum. Free concerts are held Sundays except when otherwise noted, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda, (714) 364-1120, http://events.nixonfoundation.org/concerts

South Orange County Community College District Board of Trustees will meet Mon., Dec. 5. Meeting times unless otherwise posted: open session convenes at 5 p.m.., followed by adjournment to closed session, open session reconvenes at 6:00 p.m. or 6:30 p.m., adjournment by 9:00 p.m. Ronald Reagan Board of Trustees Room, Room 145, Health Sciences/District Offices Building, Saddleback College, 28000 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo, (949) 582-4999, http://www.socccd.edu

Orange County Board of Supervisors, Tues., Dec. 6, 9:30 a.m. (no meeting on Nov. 29), Board Hearing Room, First Floor, 333 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana, (714) 834-3100. http://www.ocgov.com/ocgov/Government/Board%20of%20Supervisors

Moulton Niguel Water District meetings: Community Relations, Wed., Dec. 7, 9:00 a.m., Engineering and Operations on Mon., Dec. 12, 9:00 a.m., Finance and I.T. on Wed., Dec. 14, 9:00 a.m., Board of Directors on Thurs., Dec. 15, 5:30 p.m., 27500 La Paz Road, Laguna Niguel, (949) 831-2500, http://www.mnwd.com/board-of-directors/agenda.aspx

Santa Margarita Water District meetings: Engineering Committee Meeting on Dec. 9, 7:30 a.m., Finance Committee Meeting on Dec. 16, 7:30 a.m., and Board of Directors will meet on Dec. 28, 7:00 p.m., 26111 Antonio Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita, (949) 459-6420, http://www.smwd.com/about-us/meeting-agendas.html

ACT for America, Mon., Dec. 12, program to be announced. The meeting will be held at the Norman Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo, doors open at 7:00 p.m. and the meeting begins at 7:30 p.m.

Saddleback Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees annual organizational meeting, Tues., Dec. 13, 6:15 p.m., 25631 Peter Hartman Way, Mission Viejo, (949) 586-1234, http://www.svusd.k12.ca.us

El Toro Water District meetings: Engineering, Finance, Insurance Committee on Tues., Dec. 20, 7:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.; Board of Directors on Thurs., Dec. 22, 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. The office will be closed on alternate Fridays (Dec. 2, 16 and 30). ETWD, 24251 Los Alisos Blvd., Lake Forest, (949) 837-0660, http://www.etwd.com

The 2011 Holiday Festival of Trains at the Nixon Library, through Jan. 2, 2012, Richard Nixon Library, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda, (714) 464-1161, http://events.nixonfoundation.org

Saddleback Republican Assembly does not meet in December. SRA’s next meeting will be Jan. 19, 2012. For information call (949) 360-1717.

The Buzz

Dave Leckness, Mission Viejo’s Hee-Haw Mayor, sent a brief Thanksgiving Day greeting from his business. With his usual style, the first line read “Dear (Contact First Name).” Perhaps the city employee who writes “Dave’s letters” to the editor of Patch.com could proofread his ads as well. The message invited everyone to “eat as much as possible” but not a word about being thankful. Leckness has one more council meeting to stumble through as mayor. Several months ago, Mayor Hee-Haw touted his water-saving technique of not flushing the toilet.

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When the city election of November 2012 rolls around, will someone make a GREAT BIG SIGN showing the amount of debt and hold it up on a street corner? When the council majority starts spewing nonsense about “healthy reserves,” residents should be reminded of the debt as well as four straight years of deficit spending

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The city staff’s latest estimate of how much a dog park will cost: they have no idea. Rather than coming up with their usual ridiculously wrong guess, they should leave it at that. If residents reacted in 2002 to the city manager’s $6,000 desk by demanding his head on a stick, how should residents react to the council majority’s wasting more than $1 million on a dog park?

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Supporters of the petition “Stop AB 131” were getting signatures at shopping centers last week. According to the Secretary of State, proponents have until Jan. 6 to gather 505,000 valid signatures. If they succeed, voters will have a chance to end the Dream Act, signed by Gov. Brown to give tuition to illegal aliens. Proponents estimate 85 percent of Californians want to overturn the Dream Act.

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Reminder from the Nov. 26 OC Register: “Attention! Property taxes are due to the Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector by Dec. 12, or they’re considered delinquent and you’ll be slapped with a painful 10 percent penalty.” Also read a list of who receives property taxes: http://taxdollars.ocregister.com/2011/11/26/prop-13s-effects-on-property-tax-distribution/140523/

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Latest presidential poll as of this writing, by percentages: Gingrich 24, Romney 20, Cain 17, Perry 11, Paul 9, Bachmann 5, Santorum 4, Huntsman 3 (CNN, Nov. 18-20). http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/us/republican_presidential_nomination-1452.html

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A message from Richard Smith, Tea Party Patriot, on wages:

• Salary of retired US Presidents .............$450,000 FOR LIFE
• Salary of House/Senate members ..........$174,000 FOR LIFE
• Salary of Speaker of the House .............$223,500 FOR LIFE
• Salary of Majority/Minority Leaders ....$193,400 FOR LIFE
• Average salary of a soldier deployed in Afghanistan - $38,000
• Average income for seniors on Social Security - $12,000

Richard adds, “I think we found where the cuts should be made.”