Well, Arnold was in San Diego today, talking about health insurance, global warming, prisons and infrastructure.  Lemme guess…you disagree with him? =)  Tonight our open thread is late because I was at Spanish class.  Yo sé, yo sé, no es ninguna excusa.  Pero para satisfacerles, ustedes reciben mi canción más preferida.  Para su disfrute, Compay Segundo (live) – Chan Chan.

” El carino que te tengo, yo no lo puedo negar”

Complete with subtitles. Enjoy your socialism.  And no, I never claimed I was any GOOD at spanish.

The U-T’s intrepid road warrior is checking in from Arcosanti, AZ.  I’m not sure if it was intentional, but she manages to strike a chord that might resonate:

As with many grand experiments, however, the fact that so many people have participated in the dream may be as important as the realization of the dream itself. What people find here seems to be less about architecture and more about being part of a community that’s trying to create a better world, even if it’s clear their quest will never fully succeed, and even if Arcosanti is merely a stopping point along the way to their final destination.

How’s that reconcile with your vision of the American Dream? Ends? Means? Something -doo economics? Bueller?

And now, because nobody Open Threads anymore.  Dance Party over Cleveland. Dance Party over Arcosanti.  Dance Party over San Diego.  Dance Party over your soul.  Watch the video and pick your favorites.  They’re collectible, they’re tradable, and one of them is taking fashion advice from Brian.  I’ve identified 9 people whom I would like to treat to a drink, and if you think that my favorite move is the puppet pockets, you’re close but will receive no cigar.  Brandston – Nobody Dances Anymore.

“You’ve gotta break free. You’ve gotta break out. So everybody knows what you’re all about.”

The correct answer was, in fact, the wriggling fish on a hook.

Leading off with your random news fix, the Union-Tribune today took a shot at investigative journalism. It was so pathetic that Jerry Sanders issued an email press-release/smackdown in response to a random article. If I didn’t know better, I’d smell a softball right down the middle of the plate. But no, just lameness. Journalistic standards are somewhere rolling over in a shallow grave.

So we’re talkin primaries today. Good times all around. Tonight’s song is a very strained tribute to just such a topic. Either way, the song is awesome, and the video is as close to perfect as a music video is capable of. Chemical Brothers feat. k-os – Get Yourself High.

“Insurrection is served on a 12 inch platter”

Update: I might want to include some of the mayor’s response:

With that perspective, let me now address the outstanding leases in Mission Bay Park. In a park with 28 leases, only 6 are in holdover status. These 6 leases render total revenue of $280,000 per year. Let me restate that – these leases render revenue of $280,000 per year. This amount equals approximately one-half of 1 percent of the City’s total lease revenues, and approximately 1 percent of the revenues of the leases from Mission Bay. When you compare that $280,000 to our total lease portfolio revenue of $68.4 million, you can appreciate my frustration for how horribly the paper today distorted the issue especially in light of our strategy to renegotiate the most lucrative leases first.

Sorry UT. If you wanted a story, you shoulda gone with Carol Lam, Blackwater, Trestles, Bajagua, Bilbray the lobbyist, or whatever else is simmering and waiting for you. Having a friend at the Boat and Ski Club doesn’t count as investigation. And damn you for making me side with Jerry Sanders.

“Union-Tribune editor Susan White sets out on a six-week cross-country search for reassurance that the U.S. retains enough strength and idealism to carry it safely into the future.”

And just in case you want some more context:

  Beginning today, Susan White will criss-cross the United States in search of the nation her grandchildren will inherit.

  She’ll also describe what happens when two strong-willed people spend six weeks trapped together in a rented Toyota Corolla. (Her husband, Robert P. Laurence, is the Union-Tribune’s former television critic.)

  Today the Corolla is headed toward Arcosanti, an experimental community 65 miles north of Phoenix.

I would assume that nobody here needs me to explain why this is absurd, so I won’t insult you.  I assume that this will be ridiculous, and look forward to following along.  Seriously though, this is what a legitimate newspaper does? This isn’t even “fair and balanced.” It’s just asinine.

The U-T gives this its justice (oddly):

In recent days, planning group members have learned they are the subject of a lawsuit, a recall drive and a petition demanding that they retake a December vote approving the project.

During a raucous, 2½-hour meeting at the Potrero Community Center on Thursday night, the group agreed to vote again and asked residents to temper their emotions.

“We’re trying to govern here in a sane way,” group chairman Gordon Hammers said. “All this political frenzy is counterproductive.”

Yeah right. Political frenzy…don’t you hate that?  First, the nuts and bolts of what’s happened.

The planning group has decides to retake the inital December vote in which Blackwater was approved 7-0.  This vote is scheduled for July 12, be there or be…well, screwed.

Recall procedings have begun for six of the eight planning board members.  If 130 signatures are gathered in favor of recall (more than 300 have signed the anti-Blackwater petitions), it would go to the county Board of Supervisors to schedule a special election.  Unclear at this time whether they have a choice in the matter…anyone is welcome to educate me on this point.

A lawsuit has been filed against the planning board, the SD Board of Supervisors and the Department of Planning and Land Use alleging that there wasn’t sufficient notice given before the December vote nor sufficient information provided regarding the proposal.

What concerns me is that the ramifications are not being fully embraced here.  The U-T cites concerns about noise and traffic as driving this opposition, and while I’m not much interested in believing the U-T, I would imagine it’s not all THAT far off.  Blackwater West, at this point, is facing two forms of opposition: Noise and traffic is one, moral is the other.  There hasn’t yet been fire (that I know of) about the potential consequences.  As wu ming in particular has been pointing out in comments around Calitics, this is just the opening salvo in an attempt to change wholesale the way security functions in this country.

The military doesn’t have enough volunteers anymore, so it can’t keep up with the demands.  The National Guard is filling in the gaps, which leaves it dangerously hamstrung domestically.  The fire fighters of California are absolutely heroic and would go down swinging if Hell itself erupted in California, but Catalina needed support from as far as Fresno; they’re outmatched if a major fire gains momentum.  The police, well…they’re disgustingly undermanned in San Diego, they’re attacking journalists and peaceful protesters in LA and generally stretched to the breaking point all over the place.  So what does a lazy Republican government do?  Redouble investment in security infrastructure? Lead public servants at the national, state and local level responsibly?  Do anything to make public service both honorable and a reasonable way to support a family? No. Hire mercenaries.

This is the next step towards the wholesale outsourcing of American security and American principles.  That’s what we’re fighting in Potrero.  And I’m glad the locals are ready to battle.

(Missed the quick hit on this earlier, but it’s worth a full post)

In a particularly disheartening step towards making elections in San Diego a complete joke, the county has hired former Diebold sales representative Deborah Seiler as the new registrar of voters.  Diebold has “sold more than 10,000 of the machines to the county at a total cost of $31 million.”  Timed rather pugnaciously with Secretary of State Debra Bowen’s review of all the state’s voting systems, the article informs us that Seiler is “concerned” about potential decertification of voter machines.  Well, she should know right?  She sold them.  Former Registrar Mikel Haas, who’s since been promoted to a position overseeing the Registrar’s office (among others), insists her Diebold experience is a plus, saying “We use that system, so it’s kind of a plus.”

But w- w- w- w- wait it gets worse…

(Now Orange and Blue)

Making matters even worse is that this move just cements the all-corruption-all-the-time team at the San Diego County Registrar of Voters.  Last month, the Assistant Registrar of Voters position was handed over to Michael Vu, who, as the article reminds us, presided over Cuyahoga County, Ohio elections in 2004.  How did that go for him?  A court order forced the polls to stay open 90 minutes late and two election workers were convicted of rigging the vote (as Vu defended their innocence).  And so San Diego, your county has spoken.  Your votes should have as little chance of counting as possible.  Enough to warm the heart isn’t it? Or is that just the glow from the Constitution burning?

Now, there is the remote chance that these two people are not a lethal blend of evil and incompetent, but what are the real odds of that?  They both have records of being squarely on the wrong side of clean elections, and I have a hard time imagining that there’s literally nobody else available for this job who wouldn’t be an overt slap in the face to anyone who feels that voting should, perhaps, NOT be corrupt.  It isn’t as though San Diego has a particularly good record of late anyways.  Last year, protestors objected to irregularities such as voting machines being sent home with poll workers overnight before election day.  At the time Chairman of the Board of Supervisors Bill Horn explained “Nobody said that there was local fraud…Until I get a firm accusation of something illegal taking place, I don’t have a reason to have a public hearing.”

That, of course, was and remains complete crap.  Last year, the Board of Supes hid behind the SoS certification of voting machines as justification for not bothering to investigate potential problems (in addition to Horn’s blustering attempt at explanation).  And so now the integrity of San Diego County elections continues to circle the drain.  Here’s hoping that Debra Bowen carries a big stick when she reviews San Diego…she’s coming into the den of despotism.

Viva Democracy. I’m on a high note this weekend. Here’s my (and KEXP’s) official welcome to the weekend song. Be optimistic and be open in your threadiness. And in case you missed it, shiny new charges for Wilkes and Foggo alleging the trade of government contracts for vacations and jobs. Just another tasty treat from your friends at Calitics, your progressive open source news organization for California politics. And now, Mint Royale feat. Pos – Show Me

“After war, pass peace pipe”

In a message to the media today, Chula Vista City Councilman Steve Castaneda accused new Chula Vista Mayor Cheryl Cox, San Diego District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, and the entire old guard of the San Diego Republican Party (including Mayor Cox’s husband, Board of Supervisors member Greg Cox) of conspiring to run him out of office and/or destroy his life.

I guess maybe Democrats aren’t the only ones who chafe when the fresh blood doesn’t get a fair shot huh?

Castaneda was a candidate in last year’s primary for Chula Vista mayor to unseat incumbent Steve Padilla (who came out while mayor to notable fanfare and scorn).  The primary, and the runoff general election, was eventually won by Cheryl Cox.

Now Castaneda is coming out angry.  He’s been investigated for three different matters since last March and subpoenaed three times to appear before a grand jury.  In his statement, Castaneda said “I’m up for re-election in 2008 and I’m sure that the Coxes and their political allies would like nothing better than for me to run with a cloud over my head or flat-out resign.”

Among other interesting tidbits is the way he ties the old-school power network of San Diego County together, not entirely unlike his mailer last year depicting Cheryl Cox as a spider in the center of a web of consultant fees:

Castaneda said that Dumanis is part of the county’s “old power structure” that also includes Cheryl Cox’s husband, County Supervisor Greg Cox – who has budget authority over the District Attorney’s Office, he said.

Finally, the intrigue goes still deeper as Castaneda tries to retract “privileged” information:

In a subsequent e-mail, he retracted the sentence stating that O’Toole threatened to charge him with a felony if he didn’t resign.

“The mistake was not made by Steve Castaneda, but rather the assistant that prepared the release not knowing that information may be deemed privileged,” the e-mail stated.

Obviously, there’s a lot more than meets the eye going on in San Diego County, and not a lot of it would surprise the folks of Calitics.  But there’s not nearly enough light being shone on all the backroom deals and string-pulling from both parties in this county to keep a lid on messaging and ensure that they get the candidates and the issues they prefer.  I don’t know how much truth there is to this personal vendetta against Councilman Castaneda, but I know that any discussion about the way politics happens in San Diego is good.  I hope this pisses some people off.

As mentioned last night, the island of Catalina is burning, and reports this morning speak of “ash falling like snow.”  It sounds like this was really an impressive showing of firefighting capacity, as this fire was raging out of control yesterday:

At least 160 firefighters, aided by four water-dropping helicopters and three retardant-dropping air tankers, battled flames through most of Thursday. The helicopters flew into the night and were expected to be back in the air at dawn Friday.

Dozens of fire engines arrived through the night from as far away as Fresno, carried by giant military hovercraft from the Marine Corps’ Camp Pendleton.

Also of note in the article is that Catalina has gotten 2 inches of rain since January. TWO.  Gotta love that drought.  Enjoy photographic fiery goodness here