You do not mention Christina Gagnier. We watched her Zoom Town Hall the other day and found her to be very intelligent, well informed, experienced, and knowledgeable about the issues that concern us. Also, she is articulate. It was a relief to watch someone who speaks in grammatical sentences and does not say "um" or "like" every other word. You may want to check her out.
Thanks for giving voice to everything I'm thinking. But InstaGate is ridiculous. Perry should be fine. If that's all she can find on Perry, he's golden.
Excellent observations of the various CA-40 candidates, with emphasis on the openly negative, completely substance void, campaign of Esther Kiim Varet.
I don't know how many people remember The Jungle Cruise at Disneyland. I just took my daughter and one of my favorite parts is when the skipper talks about a unique phenomenon called "The backside of water."
I didn't know that would be an analogy to politics. I got involved in local and state politics to bring a different, outsider's perspective - as well to (hopefully) make a difference in the lives of my fellow residents of Orange County, as well as California and then the rest of the US. However, seeing the machinery involved has disheartened me because the political system isn't pure. It's extremely flawed - in many ways - and I don't feel too many folks are interested in making substantive change to make the system better.
So, we get people/candidates (and their campaign staffs) who know how to better "work" the system.
I know Ajay on a personal level, dating back 5-6 years to when he was the Executive Director of the Democratic Party of Orange County. I spoke with him after I met Esther, shortly after she announced she was running for Congress and made a few suggestions and told him issues I thought she would have as a candidate. They ignored all of those suggestions and many of them have come to light.
As a voter in the 40th, here are my issues with Esther:
1. She is obviously and painfully ignorant about the issues of the 40th District, the people here and the things we care about
2. Many of her attacks against Young Kim are internalized racism, which is 100% wrong and distasteful
Jeff, you're getting to see "The Backside of Water" as you delve more into the political realm (btw, I'm a fan of Ackley and Hurt, as well). Conversely, as a sportswriter, as I saw "the backside of water," it helped me cover the sports better, because I could asked questions post-game or post-practice. Now, as a youth soccer coach, having that viewpoint helps me teach my players how to have it and when they "Get the Shining," their eyes get bigger.
Hopefully, your writing helps more folks "Get the Shining," so they can see what's real, what's flash and who truly wants to serve the residents of the 40th, versus win the prize of getting elected to Congress.
I was raised in Tustin and as an adult spent a number of years working in the blue-chip art world. I know a lot of people like Esther Kim Varet, and her campaign smells exactly like the grift that's only too common in that industry.
I’m still waiting for Varet to show anything even remotely approaching a reason to think she’s nothing more than another rich person with no public service experience who’s a wannabe congressperson. Don’t know her at all, but someone’s teed her up for this.
Good article! Thank you for the perspective and the detail. I hadn’t seen this in other news, so you are certainly picking up where the other folks haven’t.
For all these reasons, Christina Gagnier is the logical choice. She’s capable of serving on day one. She has experience in the real world and in the world of politics. She has a well-thought-out practical platform.
Thank you for this. Varet is arrogant, uninformed, unprofessional, out of touch, and petty. She is more like them, than us, and is the opposite of what the dems need right now.
No, we haven't reached that point yet, and no, CF47 hasn't damaged everything politically enough yet that this is the best we can do.
I think the first screening question for potential Congressional hopefuls in CD-40 ought to be about who you voted for for Congress last November.
If your answer isn't the Democratic nominee in the District you're running for (because you're new to the District, voted for Young Kim, or just didn't vote/have never voted/not the consistently-voting type), then you're unfit to carry the Democratic banner in CA-40 next year. Maybe sit out the Midterms as a candidate, run for lower office, or just actually live here for a while before running for Congress in an area you're new to or have never voted in.
(It feels like half the Democratic candidates for CA-40 can say they voted for the CA-40 Democratic candidate for Congress last year...)
You do not mention Christina Gagnier. We watched her Zoom Town Hall the other day and found her to be very intelligent, well informed, experienced, and knowledgeable about the issues that concern us. Also, she is articulate. It was a relief to watch someone who speaks in grammatical sentences and does not say "um" or "like" every other word. You may want to check her out.
As usual, you're able to cut through the BS and nail it.
Thanks for giving voice to everything I'm thinking. But InstaGate is ridiculous. Perry should be fine. If that's all she can find on Perry, he's golden.
Nope It’s amateur hour
Nope It’s amateur hour
"Less appealing than an acid enema." Nailed it.
Excellent observations of the various CA-40 candidates, with emphasis on the openly negative, completely substance void, campaign of Esther Kiim Varet.
I don't know how many people remember The Jungle Cruise at Disneyland. I just took my daughter and one of my favorite parts is when the skipper talks about a unique phenomenon called "The backside of water."
I didn't know that would be an analogy to politics. I got involved in local and state politics to bring a different, outsider's perspective - as well to (hopefully) make a difference in the lives of my fellow residents of Orange County, as well as California and then the rest of the US. However, seeing the machinery involved has disheartened me because the political system isn't pure. It's extremely flawed - in many ways - and I don't feel too many folks are interested in making substantive change to make the system better.
So, we get people/candidates (and their campaign staffs) who know how to better "work" the system.
I know Ajay on a personal level, dating back 5-6 years to when he was the Executive Director of the Democratic Party of Orange County. I spoke with him after I met Esther, shortly after she announced she was running for Congress and made a few suggestions and told him issues I thought she would have as a candidate. They ignored all of those suggestions and many of them have come to light.
As a voter in the 40th, here are my issues with Esther:
1. She is obviously and painfully ignorant about the issues of the 40th District, the people here and the things we care about
2. Many of her attacks against Young Kim are internalized racism, which is 100% wrong and distasteful
Jeff, you're getting to see "The Backside of Water" as you delve more into the political realm (btw, I'm a fan of Ackley and Hurt, as well). Conversely, as a sportswriter, as I saw "the backside of water," it helped me cover the sports better, because I could asked questions post-game or post-practice. Now, as a youth soccer coach, having that viewpoint helps me teach my players how to have it and when they "Get the Shining," their eyes get bigger.
Hopefully, your writing helps more folks "Get the Shining," so they can see what's real, what's flash and who truly wants to serve the residents of the 40th, versus win the prize of getting elected to Congress.
My favorite line in the Jungle Cruise guide script is the one about "You don't see that everyday...but I do...stay in school kids..."
As a voter I could not give a rats ass about Meade’s Instagram. It does not concern me. This screams of grasping at straws.
Violations of federal
Law aside, Perry has been sloppy and shows his immaturity. Which makes him unfit for office
I was raised in Tustin and as an adult spent a number of years working in the blue-chip art world. I know a lot of people like Esther Kim Varet, and her campaign smells exactly like the grift that's only too common in that industry.
I’m still waiting for Varet to show anything even remotely approaching a reason to think she’s nothing more than another rich person with no public service experience who’s a wannabe congressperson. Don’t know her at all, but someone’s teed her up for this.
Good article! Thank you for the perspective and the detail. I hadn’t seen this in other news, so you are certainly picking up where the other folks haven’t.
There's an interesting story about Ajay and his employment with Dem Party of OC
Do tell….
For all these reasons, Christina Gagnier is the logical choice. She’s capable of serving on day one. She has experience in the real world and in the world of politics. She has a well-thought-out practical platform.
damn good article Jeff. 💪💯❤️🔥
Thank you for this. Varet is arrogant, uninformed, unprofessional, out of touch, and petty. She is more like them, than us, and is the opposite of what the dems need right now.
New Redistrict Maos ate out! Post your take "Truth OC."
No, we haven't reached that point yet, and no, CF47 hasn't damaged everything politically enough yet that this is the best we can do.
I think the first screening question for potential Congressional hopefuls in CD-40 ought to be about who you voted for for Congress last November.
If your answer isn't the Democratic nominee in the District you're running for (because you're new to the District, voted for Young Kim, or just didn't vote/have never voted/not the consistently-voting type), then you're unfit to carry the Democratic banner in CA-40 next year. Maybe sit out the Midterms as a candidate, run for lower office, or just actually live here for a while before running for Congress in an area you're new to or have never voted in.
(It feels like half the Democratic candidates for CA-40 can say they voted for the CA-40 Democratic candidate for Congress last year...)
Kate's right. I appreciate this article because yesterday's news about it confused the hell out of me. I'm guessing I'm not alone.