By Brittany Bailey / Special to the OB Rag
Since the OB Rag‘s article on the Dumanis Fundraiser on Del Monte in Ocean Beach created such controversy, I decided to stakeout the event and report on any protests that may arise. Nothing says ‘political espionage’ more than a college student facebooking in a Mini Cooper.
If I were the kind of person who stereotypes (and I am), I might say that at a liberal fundraiser, I might expect to find an offering of free abortions, a justice of the peace presiding over same-sex marriages, and guests using the smattering of hors d’ouvres to make sandwiches for the homeless. I wasn’t sure what to expect at a conservative’s fundraiser– maybe a politician accepting monetary donations in exchange for political patronage? Oh, wait….
Having seen the fundraiser described in the comments of the OB Rag as something terrible that we must fear in the community, I must admit that I let my imagination get the best of me. Images of conservatives in togas made of red, white, and blue, their star-spangled butts shimmying to the likes of the macarena, whilst they dance around a bonfire kindled by public employee pensions and worship their Redevelopment and Chargers Stadium gods. Well, that must have been at Carl DeMaio’s fundraiser. Unfortunately, not here. That would have made for fantastic pictures.
At this OB event, Bonnie seemed to attract white, upper-middle class, older couples. While the only person of note I recognized was Denny Knox, Executive Director of the Ocean Beach Main Street Association, most of the congregation seemed to be of the pixie haircut and powersuit variety. However, that is to be expected. All in all, it was all relatively normal.
The most interesting thing to me, that I did not expect, was the two people on security detail, judging by the fact that they spent the entire time milling in the driveway and had to ask if they could come inside the house (I think the help has to use the basement bathroom?). The security detail was entirely unneeded. The only dangerous element at the scene was an unleashed, unchaperoned chow chow who interrogated my canine companion (not to fear, cooler heads prevailed).
The most atrocious thing on the block was that the house itself was quite ugly (Too bad Bonnie can’t prosecute architectural design disasters!). Though no protesters showed up, and it would have been interesting to see what the people of San Diego had to say to Bonnie, I have to say that I was more dismayed that I was the only person on the street that wasn’t invited (sadface). Hearing the gentle din of conservatives’ laughter (it doesn’t actually sound that much different than mine), I imagined offerings of California pinot noir and pâté with fig spread on watercress crackers. If it had been a dinner party, they would have served cornish hens with quinoa. Hey, Republican party-goers, we may have something in common after all.
I thought about joining the party, introducing myself, and exchanging witty repartee while munching on shrimp stuffed endive spears, but an obstacle: the front entrance to the home was outfitted with a check-in table. As guests approached, they flashed something to the check-in host– driver’s license? NRA membership card?– and promptly layed out their checkbooks. Guests were required to pay at least $150 per person at the door. The check in person took this monetary exchange very seriously. Home ddresses were written on the checks, as well as the signer’s driver’s license number. Word of Advice: DO NOT write a bad check to the effing District Attorney of San Diego’s political campaign. She will prosecute that shit. Word. It’s just my luck that I don’t happen to have $150 in my bank account. Whatever. I’m not that great at witty repartee, and I bet they served frozen mini quiches instead of the good shit anyway.
Being outside in the gray September twilight made me think of a few things. For one, if I were the type to derive poignant nuggets from metaphors contrived from meaningless phenomena (and I am), I would say Hark! Here I am, a poor, lowly native San Diegan, locked outside of a $1.055 million dollar home with only a cream soda from 7-11 to sustain me. Why doesn’t Bonnie want to invite me in? Why doesn’t she care what I have to say? Bonnie’s campaign strategy of hob-nobbing it in private homes with requirements for minimum political donations is a metaphor for the most hated aspect of politics: that our politicians circumvent our concerns, tie themselves to the elite, buoy their patrons through endless cycles of self-serving cocktail parties and formal dinners, and engage in the practice of politics that influences every citizen to the basest detail, all while alienating would-be supporters and disenfranchising huge sects of the populace.
I very well could be a would-be-Dumanis-supporter. But I am not afforded the opportunity to get to know her because she has sequestered herself into the realm of private cocktail parties and Del Mar soirees that tell nothing to the average voter, like me, what her plan for San Diego is, and why we should choose her over the myriad other candidates.
Bonnie, you seem like a nice gal. I respect that you started out as a clerk typist and worked your way up. I myself am a peon hoping to go to law school someday. San Diego needs a strong leader to walk a balance between supporting redevelopment and paying for infrastructure. Are you that leader? Talk to us. Please.
{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
Good job, Brittany.
Thanks, Doug.
Brittany – this was such a fun read! Thanks to you, we could relax in our homes last night and not worry that the Dumanis fundraiser champagne would not spill too far down the street.
Frank, would that be called “trickle down” economics?
Brittany- I am looking forward to many more campaign reports.
Thanks, Annagrace :)
… or more champagne reports. (Oh, BTW, you don’t get extra points by responding to each comment, like Judi does.)
Frank – Should I resent that remark?
Hey Brittany – you write as well as you take pictures. What talent! Enjoyed your article. Don’t feel bad – I wasn’t invited either!
I didn’t know I got points for anything. Are these redeemable for anything, or just for sport?
Brittany- keep writing and we’ll keep reading and responding. I am savoring your unique homage to gonzo campaign journalism via mini-Cooper. ;)
Everybody knows that Judi got blogger of the week once for driving up the numbers of her comments with individual responses.
You DO get points for responding! I’ll bring brownies to the next meeting!
I must have missed the action that Brittany stumbled upon. I was right there at 5:30 P.M. and there was nothing going on. Oh well, maybe next time!
Great article Brit! :)
You missed Carls fund raiser at Phil’s BBQ it was fun…..I am sure you could have had fun with it.
Fantastic job, Brittany! I really like your style. more more more
Even though I can’t call myself a “liberal” (tho even less a “conservative” despite begrudging support of “battleship diplomacy” foreign policy) I cannot for the life of me see any appeal to vote for this Bonnie Dumanis character. IMO her attitude as DA has been “comply with the laws we agree with, circumvent those we personally don’t agree with” (regarding prop 215) and this arrogance is typical of how government is NOT working for the people anymore.
I wonder what these people think they’re getting in exchange for their $150?
I remember checking a box and joining the republican party when Arnold ran in the Gray Davis recall. (Davis WAS a turd, remember his performance during the first firestorm? Remember Arnold’s in the next?) I remember not only being shocked that their confirmation letter did not include a substantial check paying me for my vote, but that the Bush/Cheney 2004 campaign wanted me to PAY for bumper stickers and buttons, that Kerry/Edwards supporters were getting for FREE!
I was saddened to find the only tangible benefit was during the month before every election date, I would come home and get to hear the “Guvinator”‘s messages on my answering machine telling me to vote out the “Girly-Men” in Sacramento and the like.
Priceless to be sure, but that was it? It only took about I guess 2 years until I was equally strongly motivated to update my registration as an independent. This came about when I joined several forums and successfully debated in favor of the war in Iraq, and was embraced by fellow “GOP’ers” with “you da man!” only to see when the issues widened in scope and I spoke out with common sense on abortion, capital punishment and the failed war on drugs/crime/US citizens, I was just rabidly attacked. Particularly by the pro-lifers, who I asked why they despised welfare yet made single women become mothers. They were outraged even when I tried to appeal to their hate side, saying “if they’re too irresponsible to take the pill, what makes you think they are fit to be parents?” Or the death penalty, which I said if 1 in 1000 is innocent, it’s not justice and only creates comtempt for rule of law by those who might follow a societal conscience rather than fear. I was ran out of there after being told I’d never be a “Real Republican” (as was Arnold FWIW).
Since that obviously entails being a dumbass, I guess they were right.
How many people were at the fundraiser? I thought I read a prior post where there were none.
There were probably about 20 people +/-. I was there from 5:20-6:30 and saw people very gradually trickle in.
That was me adding an untimely comment. I cruised the Spoon party way too early & concluded that nothing was going on. Those sneaky Republicans decided to start their Dumanis shindig later then was posted on Bonnie’s website. I must applaud Brittany for her wonderful write-up and her craftiness in disguising herself in a Mini Cooper in Ocean Beach. The OB Rag should send her undercover to more political mischief-making events.
Unfortunately, I had to be careful hanging around since Bonnie’s got me on probation for my terrible crime of emailing a DJ that I plead guilty to. I was afraid that the Dirty D.A. might send her thugs over to set me up for some trouble if I was too overtly “observing.” I do not know how many attended but I do know that NOT DUMANIS is planning some more fun antics for future public Dumanis Mayor-related events. Stay tuned for opportunities that will present themselves for ways to express your intense displeasure over the antics of the tyrannical D.A. who “would” be Mayor.
In light of the incident where a rock was thrown through a window of a residence of a labor leader/democrat activist (as reported on in the rag) after a right wing turd made her address public, do you think it’s appropriate to undertake such activities? Shouldn’t we let the democratic process run its course? I don’t like “this Dumanis character” as I’m referring to her now any more than the next reader here, I just think it’s stooping to their level, if not quite hypocrisy.
A side comment, there’s a lot of mini coopers in OB. Not quite the numbers of the Beetle in the 60’s, but it gets good gas mileage and doesn’t take up a lot of space. Unless you meant the disguise was she’d blend in, not that Republicans like Mini Coopers.
A mini S is on my short list of desirable cars, when a friend bought a new beetle convertible a few years ago I tried to talk her into the mini instead.
The beetle has had a LOT of problems. It’s stylish though quite impractical.
Hi John,
I understand where you’re coming from. I’m not one to engage in hate speech. I actually really like Bonnie, and I don’t think it’s appropriate to try to incite the public. I certainly do not condone violence, street “justice” or the like. These concerns have to go through the proper democratic process, otherwise what are we doing here? At the same time, a major criticism of Bonnie’s campaign, and one that I make myself, is that she seems to be sequestering herself among wealthy campaign donors and not spending enough time with, oh what’s-his-face. You know– Joe, the Plumber.
The fact that there was then a ridiculous correspondence between random parties– the daughter of the hosts, the hosts themselves, their dry cleaners and mailman, I really have no idea how many people got involved and don’t care to keep track— over the issue of publicizing the event. At that point, it was just a free for all.
Besides the drama and inane arguments, to me this issue really brought about the issue of politics and privacy. We take political patronage very seriously– politicians must disclose their campaign fund contributors, lobbyists have to register, etc etc. The Spoons were were concerned about their privacy as a family on a relatively quiet street raising a daughter. However, the Spoons were also engaging in a political activity that invited members of the public into their home for the purpose of aiding a campaigning politician. In the spirit of our anti-corruption laws, wouldn’t it be (or should it be) public knowledge when this kind of activity occurs?
And of course, as we all know, the entire thing was further ridiculous in that the OB Rag was reporting on information made public on the campaign website, and divulged less “private” information than the website itself.
If I were kind of an asshole, which I am, I would say that from the differences in disclosure, the OB Rag, while ideologically opposite from the Spoons, was actually making more efforts to protect their privacy than the person benefiting from their generosity and support.
That said, The Spoons may send the OB Rag a “thank you” card anytime now.
I was more concerned about what the other commenter said about “antics” and “mischief-making” than anything, this certainly would not include activities such as what you were engaged in.
Re: “If I were kind of an asshole, which I am”
Your self effacing demeanor as well as choice of vehicular transport indicate we’re on the same page anyway. You’d have loved my 914 when it was new-ish back in the early ’80’s.
OBRag,
I need your help. I don’t even live in OB. I live up by Lake Hodges. In 2005, I blew a whistle of how it became a fraud in US public health policy that it had been scientifically proven moldy buildings don’t harm and involving the US Chamber of Commerce.
Bonnie knows all about it. She also knows that it has aided workers’ comp insurer fraud here in San Diego County. She refused to investigate. Know why?
Because some of her closest allies and biggest supporters in the San Diego courts have been aiding to keep this on the QT by aiding with SIX YEARS worth of malicious prosecution against me by the authors of the fraud in policy for the US Chamber.
Its BAD. It involves Justice Judith McConnell, Chair of the California Commission on Judicial Performance & Presiding Judge of the Fourth District Division One Appellate Court. She is also a sister of Bonnie’s in the Lawyer’s Club and tight with Lynn Schneick. They founded the Lawyers’ Club together.
It also involves Justice Richard Huffman, ex-Chair of the California Judicial Council & Justice who works from the bench in San Diego. His son used to work for Bonnie (alot more to this story of what Huffman did to cover for Bonnie over matters in the east county family courts)
I have spent most of my time blogging on a national level. I have a degree in marketing, so it was easy for me to see the spin in medico-legal papers that were mass marketed into policy.
I went to DC and called BS on it in 2005/2006/2007. I caused a Federal GAO audit that changed policy on a federal level. My work is cited for a Federal OSHA health advisory publication, April 2011.
I stayed reletively quiet on a local level of what the SD courts were doing to me, until I was able to knock the fraud out of federal policy with that audit. Didn’t want local politicians to muck up federal policy.
Because of what the local courts have done to me, the fraud still lingers in CA workers comp policy. It costs you and me, because injured workers are on unemployment and social services to survive – instead of workers’ comp picking up the tab for their injuries.
Now, I need to bring it to local public light of what the local courts have done to me for daring to speak the truth of a fraud in policy – with Bonnie Dumanis knowing ALL about it and its impact in the continuation of workers comp insurer fraud statewide and in San Diego county.
I used to have a net worth of about $3M and be a real estate agent in Rancho Santa Fe. It has cost my husband and I all we own for me not to be silenced of the fraud while the local courts practice politics – not law. And continue to abuse their courts to try to shut me up. FAT CHANCE!
You, OBRag, are the best local outlet I know of that could help. May I have your permission to discuss this on your chatboard? If not, the courts are just going to keep on with the harassment and Bonnie is going to keep on ignoring their colluding to defraud the public by being willing participants in a malicious litigation carried out by criminal means on behalf of the affiliates of the US Chamber of Commerce.
Knowing what I now know of what a political animal Dumanis is – not in the interest of the people – the thought of her becoming mayor of San Diego is quite scary to me. It brings to mind shades of Animal Farm. “All animals are created equal, but some are more equal than others.”
This is a huge pdf. Takes a minute to open:
http://freepdfhosting.com/b801845975.pdf
Below is the gist to the local DA:
“October 25, 2010
District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis
San Diego County District Attorney
Hall of Justice
330 W. Broadway
San Diego, CA 92101
Re: Investigation of ten San Diego judges and justices ignoring evidence of criminal
perjury by an author of policy on behalf of the US Chamber of Commerce, while
strategically litigating against the first person to publicly expose a deceit in US health
policy – adversely impacting injured workers in San Diego county.
District Attorney Dumanis,
This is a formal request for investigation of ten San Diego judges and justices for
aiding and abetting interstate insurer fraud on behalf of the affiliates of the US Chamber of Commerce, by their failure to stop strategic litigation carried out by criminal means; and using the courts to retaliate against a whistleblower of the insurer fraud – errors of their courts.
This request for investigation includes Justice Judith McConnell, who is currently running for Presiding Justice of the San Diego Fourth District Division One
Court of Appeal. I have already gone on record with the District Attorney’s office over this matter.
While I was sincerely hoping this was just an error of the courts as the case went from
court to court; an unpublished Appellate Opinion in September followed up by a
modification in October, leaves no doubt that this is not an accident. As Mr. Koerber,
Deputy District Attorney suggested, I did file a complaint with the California
Commission on Judicial Performance. However, I am not anticipating any action taken against these judiciaries from that government entity. Justice McConnell Chairs the Commission.
As the elected official in San Diego county, who oversees proper behavior and laws
being followed by all elected government officials in San Diego county, please
investigate how it has occurred that ten San Diego judges and justices just cannot seem to grasp that it is criminal to use perjury while strategically litigating over a matter of public health….
Thank you, District Attorney Dumanis, for your prompt attention to this gravely
serious matter in our San Diego judicial system that is adversely impacting the citizens of San Diego county and all citizens of the United States.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Sharon Kramer”
Our latest blog on Katy’s Exposure out of Texas:
http://wp.me/plYPz-3c5
I need a local “Sunlight” Insurance Policy to make the courts stop colluding to defrand to the public; while also exposing why Bonnie Dumanis should not be Mayor. Cronyism is a HUGE problem in our local legal and law enforcement systems. Its adversely impacting people’s lives and workers’ rights, state and nationwide.
Will you help me, OBRag?
Thanks,
Sharon