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Sex scandal and secrecy nothing new at benighted San Diego city hall
Here's how Randy Dotinga describes this Don Bauder article at VOSD today: • We’ll give the last word to a Reader scribe who notes that another leader, Winston Churchill, was abusive to staffers. In classic nothing-to-see-here style, the writer also tries to divert attention from the new scandal to old scandals. (Add that to your playbook, people.)— July 12, 2013 9:45 a.m.
Edison "stonewalling" on what happened at San Onofre, says Aguirre
Funny how when the UT and downtown establishment hates someone, that person often turns out to be a real servant of the public interest, courageous, honest and willing to suffer defeats and continue fighting for what is right. Compare these heroes to those who the oligarchs adore and reward. Insubstantial placeholders, smarmy smiling yes men and women on a career path to enrich themselves at the expense of those who trusted and elected them, based on the recommendation of those oligarchs who hold the purse strings and control how the candidates are covered in the media.— July 12, 2013 3:16 a.m.
How corrupt is Congress? Here's an indication
Back on topic... Don, if I interpret this story correctly, anyone who owns stock in a publicly traded (and no longer required to be properly audited) company is a fool. Unless they have inside information. Anyone without inside data, actual knowledge of how the firm is doing, instead of the guaranteed to be cooked books given the public, will inevitably lose their investment. Meanwhile, those who trade on inside knowledge will benefit from this change in the law. Is that correct? After reading the work Matt Taibbi, yourself, and Nassim Taleb (plus several other lessor known contributors to this growing field of evidence), isn't it accurate to say that there is very little reason to have any confidence at all in the markets, where we also know that the quants are myopic, the LIBOR and other trading rates rigged, and front trading is not just endemic, it's sold by Reuters by subscription! Can it get any worse? Is there any fig leaf of respectability or trust left to perpetuate the illusion any longer? Capitalism no longer exists....this is Kleptocracy.— July 12, 2013 3:09 a.m.
Big people talk about issues; small people talk about people
Pat, unfortunately you and I have both labored in the trenches of San Diego politics. As a result, we cannot take for face value the supposed scandal that's so convenient for the big players downtown. Donna Frye is someone I respect, and I sincerely believe she would not spread false or malicious rumors. Still, where is the evidence, or any specifics in the allegations, delivered third hand. Don is right. There are BIG stories to follow... ...like what Cory Briggs has to say about the corruption continuing under the new Mayor. That's what I want to hear more about. That happens to be extremely important, and if he's got evidence to back up his allegations (unlike the still unknown "victims" the media is salivating over interviewing) then real journalists should be very interested. Let's see if Randy or any of the other hacks can actually read and understand such evidence, or if they'd rather speculate about supposed sex stories.— July 12, 2013 2:57 a.m.
Big people talk about issues; small people talk about people
President Johnson, according to his biographer, frequently pulled out "jumbo" not just to impress the ladies, but to intimidate the men.— July 12, 2013 2:49 a.m.
Jeff Olson, the Mad Chalker, prosecuted by city attorney for words in front of Bank Of America
Jeff Olson's acquittal on all counts is not the end of this saga. Next, let's watch Goldsmith squirm, as Freeman loses his job, and the City and SDPD are sued for damages. But I bet Olson being a true gentleman, would agree to drop the matter if Goldsmith, Officer Miles, and Freeman would simply apologize with sincerity and refrain from such misconduct in the future. Perhaps the Mayor's office could arrange a press conference where he apologizes, on behalf of the City, and invites Goldsmith and the others to do so as well. That would be sweet...and justified, and the only scenario where the city doesn't lose even more money because of ferret-top and the SDPD maliciously collaborating with big businesses to violate the constitutional rights of citizens.— July 3, 2013 9:08 p.m.
Acquitted on all 13 counts of vandalism, jury says Jeff Olson should be free
SurfPuppy, you need to get your facts straight! That's NOT a Squirrel Toupee he's wearing, and you of all people should know better. That dead thing on top of Goldsmith's head is 100% FERRET. Back when Goldsmith was still rational, and served in the California Assembly, he very sensibly put forward a bill to legalize Ferrets in the state...like neighboring states had done long ago. Willie Brown, the self-styled Ayatollah of the Assembly, declared that Ferret Legalization bill was as dead as the thing on Goldsmith's head. So, from that time forward, all well meaning people have agreed that Goldsmith wears ferret. Not mink, not moose, and certainly not squirrel. I expect a prompt retraction of your libelous squirrel related accusations, Mister, or I might just have to charge you with 13 counts of something I'll totally make up.— July 3, 2013 8:37 p.m.
Judge issues gag order in case of man prosecuted for scribbling anti-bank messages in chalk
Let me add my kudos to your fine work, Dorian. You deserve the accolades your receiving for covering this case, and shining the light on the contacts between the ex-cop at BofA and the SDPD and City Attorney's office. Please be sure to remind readers that back when he was in the legislature, Goldsmith defended civil disobedience and free speech for ferret owners. Willie Brown famously quiped that Goldsmith's bill to legalize ferrets was "as dead as that thing he wears on his head".— June 29, 2013 4:29 a.m.
City Attorney Jan Goldsmith has a history of prosecuting activists who scribble chalk on public sidewalks
Dorian Hargrove works hard at journalism, and wins international coverage for The Reader story he broke about Goldsmith prosecuting a man for protesting bank fraud using childrens chalk. Randy Dotinga, down on his luck VOSD freelancer, feeling sorry for himself and his fading career, figures the only way he can get in on the story is to try to be a mouthpiece for Goldsmith. My bet is that Dotinga is angling for a PR job with the City Attorney's office...— June 29, 2013 4:14 a.m.
He chalks the line: City Attorney prosecutes man for writing anti-bank slogans in water soluble chalk
BofA is going to experience the Streisand effect: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect The predictable outcome of the City Attorney's folly, if it is allowed to continue, is to make the bank, Mr. Freeman in particular, and the city, Jan Goldsmith and his ferret-top in particular, the laughing stock of the world. Let's help this story go viral...— June 25, 2013 10:03 p.m.