( Same Butt Man video as before. I add a image or video to the top to help break up the page. This video remains appropriate to the topic.)
I don't know the full background and the reasons that Bob Larkin doesn't support the Ventura County Republican Central Committee ( VCRCC ) leadership but I do remember it was motivating enough for him to run against Audra Strickland in a primary even though she was a Republican incumbent.
Did you see this letter?
If I didn't know better I would assume Democrats begged him to write this letter.
Do you think Hannah-Beth Jackson's campaign will be asking him to endorse her or to take a leadership role in a group of Republicans supporting her?
How influential is Bob Larkin? Can he help her raise money? Does his name and former title help Hannah-Beth Jackson when he is going after Tony Strickland?
Which candidate will get more elected officials from the other party to cross over and endorse them? Both candidates claim to be able to reach across the aisle to work with people but my earlier question asking if they ever worked together has not been answered yet. Are any of you able to tell us what legislation they ever worked on together being that they both represented Ventura County and they both served together?
Here is his full letter:
Tobacco exacts high toll
Re: your June 8 article, "Tobacco firm funds county GOP":
As a 30-year member and past chairman of the Ventura County Republican Party, I was disappointed to hear that after two decades of Ventura being a Republican county, Democrats now outnumber Republicans in registered voters. That wasn't too surprising though, when statewide registration this year has been 20-to-1 in favor of the Democrats -- 300,000 to 15,000. There has to be a message there if the Republicans are listening.
Just when I thought I couldn't hear worse news, I learned that 88 percent of the funds the Ventura County Republican Party has on hand came from one tobacco company, primarily to support Tony Strickland for the California Senate. Local Republicans should not accept money from the manufacturer of a product that kills upwards of a half million people in the United States every year and hundreds of millions worldwide.
I have six personal reasons why the very idea disgusts me:
-- My dad was a heavy smoker and died of a heart attack at age 53.
The 10 children in our family were born in the 1930s and '40s and grew up in the '40s and '50s. Smoking was considered healthy and glamorous. All 10 of us smoked, as did Johnny Carson, live on "The Tonight Show," and nearly everyone in the movies.
-- My oldest brother has emphysema.
-- My next older sister had throat cancer, followed by lung cancer, and died of a heart attack.
-- A younger brother had emphysema and heart trouble before he died in an accident.
-- My youngest brother died in an apartment fire that was apparently started by a cigarette.
-- Twenty-five years after I quit smoking, I lost a chunk of my tongue to mouth cancer.
The idea that the Ventura County Republican Party and the Stricklands have to beg for money from tobacco companies makes my skin crawl. I would hope they can see what that does to their image, get away from it and get back to raising money the old-fashioned way from local Republicans: by earning it.
The good news for my family is that as far as I know, not one of our children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren smokes. One generation paid a very high price for supporting the tobacco industry, and that was more than enough.
-- Bob Larkin, Westlake Village
Anyone who knows Bob Larkin knows that Bob is not swayed by anyone. He has deep convictions for the Republican Party and is a leader of moderate Republicans. Bob believes in keeping religion out of government. He believes that the right wing of the Party has weakened the Party and strengthened the Democratic Party. Bob distains the Stricklands and believes they use the Republican Party to enrich themselves. Bob may indeed believe that the Republican ideals can best be served by working with Hannah-Beth Jackson rather than by electing another Strickland. I, for one, agree with him.
Funny - Larkin joined the Strickland's and the Gallegly gaggle and supported the ouster of the last moderate VCRCC chairman. That opened the county party to Osborns, Kunicki, Stricklands and the tobacco money. Oops.
Which makes his shift all the more interesting.
What caused it?
This is nothing more than gas from a loser. Larkin hasn't contributed anything positive to the party for years, and he has always put his personal agenda ahead of what's good for the county.
He's an abject failure who blames everyone but himself for his dismal record.
Bob burned alot of bridges when he dared to run against Audra in the last election. That infuriated many of the right wingers.
He is supposed to be a moderate but didn't do anything to prevent extremists from taking over the local Central Committee.
He didn't account for the previous $60K that was run through the CC and directly into Strickland's Senate campaign.
To better answer your question Brian, which candidate has a chance of passing any legislation in Sac? A minority like Strickland or a majority like Jackson? Ventura County has been stagnating for several years now. A Strickland win means more of the same. A Jackson win means action.
Counting on Tony to be there to stop the liberal taxation legislation. .. why would we want HBJ to be able to do more damage to California? Just because your legislation passes doesn't mean it is good for the State.
Tony Strickland is a weak candidate. Even he knows this. Ventura County has suffered under the Stricklands for too long.
Yeah action of spending money...other peoples money. At least Strickland wants to curve all these taxes no matter who it helps, like Planned Parenthood who Jackson aligned with so they can overcharge the state. Jackson, unlike Strickland, feels that the state(us) should pay for everyone. There are so many programs that "help" or enable people its nonsense. The fact Tony can't get any legislation to pass is because of Liberal dominated lawmakers who feel that we need more government in our lives while taxing our way out of debt. Who was the one who successfully challenged and sued Gov. Davis to disclose how he sold the states soul during the energy crisis? That would be Tony Strickland. So please stop with this "action" mantra as it only means to tax us more.
He wants to "curve" taxes? LOL I think you meant "curb."
Tony Strickland isn't interested in saving the taxpayers money. If he really was, he wouldn't have been the biggest spender on taxpayer-funded mail services at the end of his last term. He did this to try to drum up name recognition for his wife's campaign and he did it in the middle of a state budget crisis.
Even one of McClintock's aides said he was out of line.
He helped himself to almost $44,00 from energy companies and voted against capping outrageous electrical bills during the energy crisis.
His legislation? He passed a bill to get those fabulous Reagan license plates made... only they were never made. Way to go Tony! Looking out for those taxpayers, huh?
Oh yeah - like we need another 12 years of tiger saving, pregnant parking spaces and car license bills, and paying Joel Angeles $9000 a month to bully the constituents.
I agree that those are not ground breaking legislation. Funny how the only bills he does get passed are ones that cost money to us and the others that won't get tossed out by the liberals. Look how long this state has been in the Dems hands and look at the debt. No wonder businesses are leaving. I'm tired of paying for Jackson and her lawyer friends to come up with ways to tax me more.
Yes, indeed, Enron did indeed quit doing business in the state. But before doing so, they contributed to Tony's campaign in 1998.
along with the other the Dems...typical response...the reason the state is where it is...enjoy paying 8 bucks a gallon. The only ones left will be trial lawyers and planned parenthood who will still be overcharging the state for their existence. plenty of people to sue and many babies to snuff out. all the while we get to pay for it. Right on! Thanks Jackson
I don't see an answer to any bill or other issue the two worked together on in their years serving Ventura County.
Is it safe to assume they didn't work together?
Stop trying to spin this thing one way or another.
Larkin's letter is what it appears to be: a sincere, powerful and very, very personal response to a curse on the health of young and old alike in this nation and the world.
His anger - like most citizens regardless of politics - is directed at the system that allows these purveyors of pain and death to essentially "buy protection" provided by those in power in order to continue their destruction of lives.
Larkin is simply telling it like it is. The tobacco industry and those who protect it are scum.
What else would like you to make illegal Harold? Bacon? It makes you fat. Computer games? They contribute to lack of exercise in children. Race cars? Somebody could get hurt. Personal choice, personal responsibility, Harold.
I don't recall any of the people here arguing to outlaw tobacco products.
Are there any legal industries you do think Republicans wouldn't take money from?
Strickland's Enron buddies robbed CA electrical rate payers blind. He takes thousands from energy companies and then votes their way. You can look forward to more of that if he's elected. Thanks, Tony.
Where did Tony Strickland stand on having FERC investigate Enron during the crisis?
What's Next?:
Tobacco is the only industry for which we allow tax deductions and credits, price subsidies and export supports, advertising and marketing (to all age groups around the world) while our government limits tobacco companies liability for healthcare costs and losses caused by disability and death (so that we the rest of us underwrite it) for a product that is 100% harmful when used exactly as the manufacturer intends.
One cannot say this about guns (used in hunting, target shooting, law enforcement, etc.) or even for your example of bacon (rich in iron) both of which - when used wisely and in moderation and as the producer intends - can benefit the individual consumer and larger society. A tobacco lobbist can make no such claim about his/her product without a smirk.
Beyond that, one has only to be a regular reader of this newspaper to see how many retail distributors of tobacco in this town alone are busted each year for selling cigarettes to our underaged children. Tougher laws protecting the young from access are not something that the tobacco lobby wants to see despite the platitudes they put on the signs in front of their point-of-purchase displays at your neighborhood liquor store or supermarket. They certainly would not wantthe penalties for violation to force retailers to remove their products from the shelves.
Think about this: why would the tobacco lobby donate big bucks to a candidate for school board? Aren't you even intellectually curious enough to want to know why? What do they want from him? If not cigarette machines in the gymnasium or cigars and pipes in the faculty lounge, then what? How about less educational curriculum dealing with the dangers of tobacco in the health curriculum and textbooks?
"Where there is smoke, there is fire," is true here.
Is it possible that Indian gaming tribes want to sell tobacco products on their soveriegn property tax exempt? This would make sense for the tobacco industry and gaming tribes to hook up together.
Makes you wonder, is it possible to side step state cigarette taxes by selling on soverieign grounds and at the same time bring in more customers to the Casino's. Seems like a good arrangement for both parties.
Campaign Finance:
TEAM 2006, SPONSORED BY CALIFORNIA SOVEREIGN INDIAN NATIONS
NAME OF CONTRIBUTOR PAYMENT TYPE CITY STATE/ZIP
SYCUAN BAND OF THE KUMEYAAY NATION MONETARY EL CAJON CA/92019
ID NUMBER EMPLOYER OCCUPATION
AMOUNT TRANS. DATE FILED_DATE TRANS #
$800,000.00 10/11/2006 3/6/2007 1212852-INC1
NAME OF CONTRIBUTOR PAYMENT TYPE CITY STATE/ZIP
PECHANGA BAND OF LUISENO INDIANS MONETARY TEMECULA CA/92593
ID NUMBER EMPLOYER OCCUPATION
AMOUNT TRANS. DATE FILED_DATE TRANS #
$800,000.00 10/13/2006 3/6/2007 1212852-INC2
NAME OF CONTRIBUTOR PAYMENT TYPE CITY STATE/ZIP
PECHANGA BAND OF LUISENO INDIANS MONETARY TEMECULA CA/92593
ID NUMBER EMPLOYER OCCUPATION
AMOUNT TRANS. DATE FILED_DATE TRANS #
$2,000,000.00 10/20/2006 3/6/2007 1212852-INC28
NAME OF CONTRIBUTOR PAYMENT TYPE CITY STATE/ZIP
SAN MANUEL BAND OF MISSION INDIANS MONETARY HIGHLAND CA/92346
ID NUMBER EMPLOYER OCCUPATION
AMOUNT TRANS. DATE FILED_DATE TRANS #
$685,715.00 10/13/2006 3/6/2007 1212852-INC3
NAME OF CONTRIBUTOR PAYMENT TYPE CITY STATE/ZIP
AGUA CALIENTE BAND OF CAHUILLA INDIANS MONETARY PALM SPRINGS CA/92262
ID NUMBER EMPLOYER OCCUPATION
AMOUNT TRANS. DATE FILED_DATE TRANS #
$2,000,000.00 10/20/2006 3/6/2007 1212852-INC32
NAME OF CONTRIBUTOR PAYMENT TYPE CITY STATE/ZIP
AGUA CALIENTE BAND OF CAHUILLA INDIANS MONETARY PALM SPRINGS CA/92262
ID NUMBER EMPLOYER OCCUPATION
AMOUNT TRANS. DATE FILED_DATE TRANS #
$850,000.00 10/13/2006 3/6/2007 1212852-INC4
NAME OF CONTRIBUTOR PAYMENT TYPE CITY STATE/ZIP
SYCUAN BAND OF THE KUMEYAAY NATION MONETARY EL CAJON CA/92019
ID NUMBER EMPLOYER OCCUPATION
AMOUNT TRANS. DATE FILED_DATE TRANS #
$2,000,000.00 10/21/2006 3/6/2007 1212852-INC42
NAME OF CONTRIBUTOR PAYMENT TYPE CITY STATE/ZIP
SOBOBA BAND OF LUISENO INDIANS MONETARY SAN JACINTO CA/92581
ID NUMBER EMPLOYER OCCUPATION
AMOUNT TRANS. DATE FILED_DATE TRANS #
$125,000.00 11/1/2006 3/6/2007 1237384-INC102
Campaign Finance:
TEAM 2006, SPONSORED BY CALIFORNIA SOVEREIGN INDIAN NATIONS
Contributions Made
10/23/2006 TONY STRICKLAND STATE CONTROLLER SUPPORT IND $917,000.00
10/23/2006 AUDRA STRICKLAND STATE ASSEMBLY PERSON 37 SUPPORT IND $100,000.00
10/20/2006 TONY STRICKLAND STATE CONTROLLER SUPPORT IND $23,800.00
10/18/2006 AUDRA STRICKLAND STATE ASSEMBLY PERSON 37 SUPPORT IND $14,432.97
10/16/2006 AUDRA STRICKLAND STATE ASSEMBLY PERSON 37 SUPPORT IND $7,520.00
10/23/2006 TONY STRICKLAND STATE CONTROLLER SUPPORT IND $600.00
10/23/2006 AUDRA STRICKLAND STATE ASSEMBLY PERSON 37 SUPPORT IND $75.00
TOTAL to STRICKLANDS Campaigns in 2006 = 1,063,427.90
You don't see a Republican admit they're wrong too often. The Brian Dennert blog rules. God bless America.
I agree Brian's blog rules. He works really hard to be balanced, posting releases from both sides. We all know we will get a fair shake here.
God bless Brian, too.
Marie,
I haven't found anything they worked on together. Have you?
How long did they serve together?
Thanks for the kind words.
And, God bless us everyone.
Sorry, Marie, but I couldn't resist.
Mongo,
Both candidates have said they would work with people of either party. Can you name one example where Tony Strickland worked with Hannah-Beth Jackson when they served together?
That's OK, Mongo. I'm a sap sometimes, I admit it. In our rush to argue back and forth I think we forget how much work and aggravation this is for Brian (for not much pay, I might add). So I let him know I appreciate him. It wouldn't hurt for the rest of you to do so as well.
In answer to your question, Brian, I don't know if they worked on anything together. I know they had votes in common, for instance they both voted for SB 1643 which increased the minimum pay of public school teachers from $32,000 to $34,000.
OT;
According to two Republican union officials who were in Sacramento yesterday 6/25/08 to drum up support for themselves, Audra Strickland and her Chief of Staff was seen in her office doing business as usual. This means the month off is another smoke and mirror job by them on the people.
If true, this isn't right. But there are lots of unnamed sources so it appears to be a rumor.
Brian,
In response to your question, I cannot really point to any specific legislation (besides the bill Marie pointed out) or policy proposals that both Strickland and Jackson worked on when they served in the Assembly together.
This should come as no big surprise though. They are diametrically opposed to one another, in terms of their political philosophies.
I know during political campaigns there is always a lot of talk about building bridges and reaching across the aisle. But, when it comes down to it, the realities of political survival often take over.
Not to demean your candidate, Brian, but Barack Obama has made similar claims about working with Republicans on areas of common interest, if he's elected president. If he does get there though, I think he's going to quickly come to the realization that partisan politics is alive and well in Washington and he's not going to have as many opportunities in this area as he may hope to.
Katie,
What is a Republican union official? That sounds odd to me.
Mongo,
The bill Marie mentioned is a bill they both voted for, nor a bill they worked together on.
Are you troubled they couldn't work together? How does Tony Strickland expect to work with the Democrats at the state level if he can't work with Hannah-Beth Jackson to support our local area.
Try harder. I bet there is something they did together.
Barack Obama has already worked with Republicans on many issues in the US senate and in the his state legislature.
Working together is about putting aside partisan politics and looking for what we have in common. It isn't about selling out on principles.
Both McCain and Obama would be an improvement over the Bush Rove style of governing.
A union official that is a registered Republican.
By the way pictures as I understand it are not allowed. Does Audra Strickland have a stand in Chief of Staff, informing the general looky-luus that person is her current C.of S.?
Why not just call and ask? Maybe The Star could ask for the budget for her office and see if she paid for a flight for him recently.
It was kind of funny to me when the paper stated the Strictland people claimed the people were union thugs for HBJ. I knew the big union out of L.A. was going to be sending people up to Sac. to wine and dine the very people crying the blues.
The guys ut of L. A. have been getting closer to the Republicans lately to get better controll of the government.
Republican union? Is Larry Craig back at it again?
Brian,
Why would I be troubled that they can't work together? Since when have Democrats and Republicans worked that well together at the state or federal level? Are we living on the same planet, Brian?