Sex on the City and some other presidential campaign highlights

The name given to Rudi’s latest scandal by the Kossacks. It looks like Giuliani’s affair was partially financed by the NYC tax payers.

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Obama’s ties to Muslims are being used to hammer him and the Washington Post is a bit indignant about it. Conservative magazines Insight and Human Events are actually implying that he is a closet Muslim.

Conservative talk-show hosts have occasionally repeated the rumor, with Michael Savage noting Obama’s “background” in a “Muslim madrassa in Indonesia” in June, and Rush Limbaugh saying in September that he occasionally got “confused” between Obama and Osama bin Laden. Others repeatedly use the senator’s middle name, Hussein.

I’d ask the question I find rather obvious, but I don’t want to be accused of playing the you-know-what card.

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It turns out that the “explosives” attached to the guy’s body in Clinton’s HQ were traffic flares attached with duct tape. The guy was apparently mentally ill.

Initially, the name of another individual suspected of being the suspect was leaked to Fox News, who apparently wasted no time filling their airwaves with details of the wrong guy’s personal life. Hit some of the links in the text. Fox is degenerating to something worse than a tabloid.

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Rudi’s girl troubles notwithstanding, Mitt Romney’s quasi-front runner status appears to be in a little bit of jeopardy, and he’s mad as hell and isn’t going to take it anymore.

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Not so much presidential campaign related, but there is a little bit of good news out of Congress. It looks like we’re going to have some meaningful automobile fuel efficiency standards, but I’m not quite sure whether the SUV exemption will remain in place.

FPPC to investigate John Campbell

Mark Lovelace of the Humboldt Watershed Council sent me a copy of his correspondence to the Fair Political Practices Commission and their responsive letter. The letter to the FPPC is a bit too extensive to post in its entirety, but I’m sure Mark will make it available to anybody who asks. Here are some key portions.

We believe that Mr. Campbell has been using his position as Planning Commissioner, Council Member and Mayor to actively serve his former employer, to whom he remains contractually and financially obligated to this day. We believe that Mr. Campbell has committed the following violations of the Political Reform Act:

• Inadequate or no filing of required statements of economic interests

• Making, participating, or attempting to influence governmental decisions in which
his economic interest will be materially financially affected.

Our specific allegations are outlined herein. We have provided documentation wherever possible, including Mr. Campbell’s SEI forms, his deferred compensation contract, his schedule of payments from Pacific Lumber, and other documents. We believe that these documents demonstrate the following allegations to be true:

1. That Mr. Campbell has a current and ongoing financial interest and contractual obligation to Pacific Lumber Company which he has never disclosed.

2. That Pacific Lumber seeks to have the City of Fortuna pay up to $7.7 million to the company and its partner, FHK Development.

3. That the agreement between Pacific Lumber and FHK seeks to enrich Mr. Campbell’s former employer, to whom he remains obligated, at the City’s expense.

4. That Mr. Campbell has improperly made, participated in and sought to influence decisions regarding Pacific Lumber Company, in whom he has a financial interest.

5. That Mr. Campbell’s financial and contractual relationship with Pacific Lumber poses a serious conflict of interest from which he has never recused himself.

6. That Mr. Campbell’s continuing income from Pacific Lumber does not properly qualify as “deferred compensation,” and thus should have been disclosed on his SEI forms.

7. That Mr. Campbell has hidden his ongoing relationship with Pacific Lumber by omitting disclosure of over half-a-million dollars of income received on 4 separate SEIs.

8. That Mr. Campbell made false and misleading representation to the FPPC by claiming that he received no payment from Pacific Lumber in 2006.

We believe that Mr. Campbell has been using his position as Planning Commissioner, Council Member and Mayor to actively serve his former employer, to whom he remains contractually and financially obligated to this day. He has sought to enrich PL at the City’s expense, actively helping to facilitate a deal which would have the City of Fortuna pay up to $7.7 million to Pacific Lumber and its partner, FHK development.

The letter then moves into an extensive factual and legal argument for investigation, mostly covered in Hank Sims’ article of a couple of months ago.

The FPPC has confirmed that they will be investigating.

Heraldo has some additional details. The North Coast Journal blog has a post on topic as well.

Children’s Winter Faire today

At Beginnings in the Octagon and Skyfish today from 10 to 5. There will be the usual offerings – crafts for sale, craft booths for the kids, lots of good food, song (the kids will sing at 1:30), and company. I’m not sure if the Snow Queen will show up.

Looks like it’ll be crisp but clear today, so the kids won’t all be crammed indoors. You may want to get there early or you’ll have to park down by or on Briceland Road. Please try to carpool to keep the vehicle volume down.