OC Marathon & Other Tidbits

This morning was the annual OC Marathon. Lynn ran in the half marathon and finished in under three hours. I'm so proud of her. I had heard that there were over ten thousand people signed up to run the thing, but it appeared to me that there were a lot more than that. I went to meet up her near the half way point at Yale & Michelson.

After that I went to IHOP to have breakfast and read the morning paper. I subscribe to the OC Register, but I forgot to bring it with me this morning. So against my better judgement I picked up a copy of the LA Times instead to reinforce why I don't subscribe to it anymore. The most interesting thing that stuck out to me was a piece on OC's own Michael Schroeder. Here's the link to the story. Let me preface by saying that I do not know Mr. Schroeder personally. I have had a chance to see him operate the last few years at some of the Central Committee meetings and a few other campaigns. Here's what I think from a dispassionate observer. I agree with Mr Schroeder politically on a lot of things(aside from his misguided love of all things USC). I think he is a very strong advocate for his side of the issue or campaign. I do think he's crossed the line a few times though lately. The Sheriff's race is the first thing to come to my mind. This was a horrible misuse of his power. Again I was not privy to any insider dealings and such on this race, but I and a lot of other activists for the party were not pleased with how the whole campaign played out. Then to advise the Sheriff(alledgedly... again this is just my guess& suspicion) to demote Lt. Hunt to traffic patrol??? That was very Nixonian of him and the Sheriff. You're a good enough political operator Mike that you don't need to seek retribution like that. I can't tell you the reaction of the rank & file activists after the demotion of Lt. Hunt was made public. It raised lots of eyebrows, even by Carona supporters. Another little tidbit in the story was the bot about Mike messengering his business card the next day to Wally Wade after the DAs race was over. That too was very "Godfatherish". Hey Bill, did you find a horse's head in your bed after you decided to take on the Sheriff...LOL? Anyway, it just seems to me that acheiving & keeping power is the only thing in the end that matters to Mike. I may be 100% wrong on this, but those are my perceptions

On balance I thought the piece in the Times was okay. I can see how Mike would not want he and his friends to talk to the Times reporter. They are one of... check that...the most biased newspaper in the history of journalism. I would like to see him sit down with Steve Greenhut or Martin Wisckol of the Register to air things out if pieces like these are going to be written. I would love for him to sit down and rehash all the strategy that went on behind the scenes in the Sheriff's race.