I attended the protest because I want people in my city government, even more in the state assembly, to act in a way which puts their constituents’ interests first, and not their own. […] The people she is supposed to represent play no role at all in her game plan for power. Tonight’s fundraiser was her attempt to shoulder the cost of what she herself wants in life, as she wants others to pay for her personal egotistical ambitions. In return she will have promised the donors anything and whatever it takes to get their support. It’s all about playing the game, and I hoped to be a small part in derailing that game.
If [Diane] Harkey is under recall in her own district, how can she run for higher office with any credibility whatsoever? If the people who know her best think she is worthless, we want others to know her just as well as we do. We have been subject to all of her blatant opportunism and disregard of the best interests of her constituents. And now, her recent actions seem to show she thinks that she even is above the law.
That was Tony, a Dana Point resident who was a part of last night’s protest of Diane Harkey’s big fundraiser in Newport Beach. He is someone who has seen Diane Harkey in action, and he is not particularly impressed with what he has seen. And guess what? He’s not the only one.
Follow me after the flip for more…
Why should Robert be impressed with Diane Harkey? What has she done to address the affordable housing crunch in Dana Point? Look at this letter that the city received from the State Housing and Community Development Department. So far, the city has done nothing to provide any realistic solution to this very real problem. While the city has been busy adding new luxury developments like St. Regis and The Strand, they have ignored the needs of real people living on real fixed incomes. What’s so impressive about that?
Why would Jim Lacy be impressed with Diane Harkey? He actually served with her on the city council from 2005 to 2006, and he has had a front-row seat to Harkey’s brand of pay-to-play politics, as well as her overall lack of ethical standards. Oh yes, and as someone who helped formulate city policy on the city seal, he had to watch in horror this year to see Diane Harkey violate it in order to produce a campaign mailer masquerading as a “newsletter” to dupe Dana Point voters into feeling good about her. Oh yes, and as a conservative Republican himself, he doesn’t just “dislike” her because she is a Republican. He’s someone interested in good government, and he’s someone who’s not impressed by Harkey’s lack of interest in practicing that.
Why should any of these good citizens of Dana Point be impressed by Diane Harkey? (OK, and yes, I was there with them!) What has she done to serve them and their needs? What has she done that’s in the best interest of the city, and not just in the best interest of herself? What has she done to show that she cares more about the concerns of local residents than her own desire to run for higher office? What has she done to follow through on her duty to work for the residents of Dana Point? They made the choice to hire her, and they can make the choice to fire her.
Maybe these uber-wealthy GOP Machine donors are impressed with Harkey. I guess that’s why this small group of power players decided to go to Newport Beach to give Harkey money for her Assembly Campaign. But still, it seemed like the power players inside were outnumbered by the concerned citizens outside who are ready to begin a grassroots effort to take back their city government. And no matter how much money Harkey can raise from her well-heeled friends, it may not be enough to withstand this effort of, by, and for Dana Point citizens, to take back their city.
Also, check this out:
http://www.dailypilot.com/articles/2007/08/17/politics/dpt-pollandscape16.txt
The Daily Pilot did a write-up just before the event, and they did a pretty good job of summarizing the situation as well. Check it out.
Found out that those who went to the Harkey fundraising event in Newport Beach spent $20.00 apiece for a little bottle of Evian water. Spelling it backward is…NAIVE.
Those who attended the fundraiser numbered about eight, nearly one third of the demonstrators who stood outside the Newport Pacific Club yelling “Recall Harkey.” That should tell you a lot about what is going on.
At this rate, Harkey will have to fund her own campaign and that means she won’t have anyone voting for her on election day. Thank goodness Harkey has a husband with money…but at her rate, he is going broke. Isn’t that why he is called a “Broker?”
Lastly, I was told that the ‘Fat Lady’ already picked out her song as the odds on Harkey winning the election are getting very slim. Seems that Harkey is reading the Bible a whole lot more as she gets older. Then it dawned on me…she’s cramming for her final exam.
So whatever happened to Preparations A through G? Go figure.
Jerry
Andrew-
Has it ever occurred to you that MAYBE these nice folks from Dana Point are simply USING you and your postings on this blog to advance their own personal agendas. Not unlike Ms. Harkey.
I don’t follow municipal politics in South OC, but it looks to me like folks are feeding you one side of this in order for you to participate in these protests and write posts of this sort.
I advise you to have a healthy skepticism on these issues, check in with people who might have a different perspective, and think critically in the future.
Jerry,
Why do you say there were only 8 people who attended the Diane Harkey fundraiser last night? How do you know how many people attended? Did you attend the Harkey fundraiser?
-Shawn Fago
Stanley,
That is wise advice. Andrew should listen to your advice before the Lacy Clan embarrasses him to the point where his posts are no longer credible.
-Shawn Fago
Don’t you just love when a person who lives outside of Dana Point is offering his advice on what is happening in Dana Point. Not only that, he is also advising the editor of this blog to ‘have a healthy skepticism on these issues and to check in with people who might have a different perspective and think critically in the future’??? Like Mr. outsider, Mosk???
I bet you odds that this Mosk is probably a Mosque, looking to put his two cents into the fold and wish to take over our prescious cities. To be honest with you, Mr. Mosk…this editor had gone to the demonstration, had done his homework, has learned about the ‘Queen’ Harkey and why these good folks from Dana Point are recalling her from office.
Then, you come along and offer nothing else but some lip service by not even understanding what the problems are? My advice to you is: if you want a rainbow…you gotta put up with the rain.
Kapish?
It is truly unfortunate that there are those out there who appear to be quite comfortable with all that is going on in Dana Point. While there certainly are always two sides to everything, to say that Andrew has not done his homework does him a huge disservice. If Republican blogs and publications wish to whitewash the issues, it does not mean that there is nothing too them. Time will tell, and the truth will emerge regardless of what the Harkey enablers may wish for. The dissent does not represent any ‘clan’.
Stanley and Shawn-
Yes, I have thought about it. But you know what? WHY WOULD ALL THESE PEOPLE LIE? Why would Lacy lie about the ethics violations, just to take down a fellow Republican? Why would Democrats lie about Harkey making promises to them that she would never keep, just to help Republican Lacy get “revenge”? Why would they fabricate voicemails? Why would they falsify city ordinances? Sorry, but I don’t think these local residents can all be dismissed as “kooks” and “crazies”. The OC Blog crowd may do that, and they may just fawn over everything Diane Harkey does, but I won’t.
Jerry-
Ha! Way to make my day! 😉
Oh yes, and thanks for helping to shed some light on what’s really happening in Dana Point.
Just as I suspected, Jerry and Antony seem to be DISCOURAGING Andrew (who is also a Dana Point “outsider”) from seeking out individuals with alternate viewpoints and educating himself.
And, Jerry, Andrew is not the “editor” of this blog.
But I guess it’s OK for an “outsider” to have an opinion when it is influenced only by your own.
At least he got a free t-shirt out of it.
Of course Shawn Fago is a young GOP volunteer political operative disliked by many of his contemporaries, with a lot of life experience ahead of him, whose connectuion here is that he dated Harkey’s daughter, and he is clearly kissing some butt with this post.
Fago, I don’t have a clan. And your observations on this blog or any blog about Harkey, or Andrew for that matter, merit absolutely no respect. If your idea of building accomplishment in your life is posting blogs kissing ass of ethically challenged wanna-bees like Harkey, and taking on folks who actually have a resume, then I suspect you’ll be doomed to sore lips and failure for some time.
Jim,
1. How do you know what my resume looks like?
2. Diane Harkey is a “wanna-bee” what exactly?
My problem with Andrew and the OC Liberal is that Andrew lacks objectivity. He has done (by his own admission) absolutely no research beyond what you and your clan have told him. He does not even consider that there are two sides to a story. He has not met Diane Harkey, attended a DP City Council meeting, or asked for a comment by Diane Harkey or any of her supporters. It is completely and totally irresponsible to make the type of accusations he is making in a public forum without doing any research.
Andrew is not the only one who does not do his research however. You do not either. You should be embarrassed that you were at the wrong location last night. Or have you figured that out yet? Diane Harkey’s fund raiser was held at the Ritz at Fashion Island, not the Pacific Club. The same location it has always been scheduled to be. Diane raised tens of thousands of dollars last night for a campaign that is going to be wildly successful. Your campaign has stooped to yelling at innocent bystanders at the Pacific Club who had no idea why you were even yelling at them.
You and your clan made fools of yourselves last night, the Liberal OC is making a mockery of itself with this post, your sheeple are making fools of themselves with ignorant comments on this blog and you, like Andrew, need to start doing your homework (learning how to spell wouldn’t hurt either).
As for me, do not pretend like you know who I am. I walked straight up to you and introduced myself with my full name and you were clueless. Anything you say about me is hearsay, similar to what Andrew says about Diane Harkey.
-Shawn Fago
(AKA “young GOP volunteer political operative disliked by many of his contemporariesâ€Â) That was a good one by the way. I will wear the title you have given me as a badge of honor.
I say you two settle this like men.
Pistols at dawn on Doheny Beach.
I bet we could sell tickets.
OK, I was one of the “protesters” last evening, and even I have to admit, the hilarity of the revelation that we were at the wrong location did not even escape me! After we (Tony and I) had a hearty belly laugh at the thought of it all. I realized, I am just an average normal citizen, NOT a politically savvy, individual who would defend a cause, as long as it suited my affiliation, no matter right or wrong. I do know one thing. I feel the way I do about Diane Harkey because of what I have heard with my own ears and seen with my own eyes. If anything else it was one heck of a practice run before we begin our regulary scheduled protests on the streets of Dana Point.
Shawn —
too partisan for you here? perhaps you’d be more comfortable reading the partisan postings on Flash Report or Red County.
Ms. Harkey is invited to comment direct to this and any post concerning her recall and/or election bid.
Let’s her it from the Horse’s Mouth, if you will.
K Wilson-
Good way to think of it! This is something’s that’s just beginning. Maybe they can set up this kind of obstacle for now, but they ultimately can’t stop this moving train. Harkey can run, but she can’t hide forever.
Dan-
Of course, the heat is too much for lil’ Shawn to take! He can dish it out, but he can’t take it. Oh yes, and did he tell everyone here HOW he got wind of all this. He DUPED EVERYONE here into thinking he was some “blogger” looking to interview all of us, but he was really just looking to set up traps for everyone to fall into on tape. What a weasel! They can’t even play fair, so they have to set us all up to make us look “foolish”.
How SICK.
I never lied to anyone. I introduced myself, gave my full name and said that I am a contributor on the Medializzy Blog. Everything is true. Go look on medializzy.com for yourself.
So stop getting “sick”. You didnt have to answer any questions. Do you not support what you said on the record into a microphone?
-Shawn Fago
So Mr. Fago, your ghost writing name is Lizzy Blackney??? LMAOPMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Shawn-
OK, so that blog of yours is real. I’ll recognize that. But still, you did NOT disclose to us your ties to Team Harkey. Oh yes, and you still duped people into thinking they were doing an “interview” when you were really just trying to make all of us sound stupid. And sorry, but THAT IS JUST AS UNETHICAL AS DIANE HARKEY’S ACTIONS AS DANA POINT MAYOR. So no, I won’t cut you any slack for being deceptive last night. At least when I go out and do stories, I make full disclosure of where I stand. It’s too bad that you think this low-blow is helping Harkey.
No, it’s just making her campaign look even sleazier… And yes, it’s still making me SICK!
K Wilson,
No my name is Shawn. Lizzy Blackney is the owner of the blog. I am just a contributor to her blog.
Andrew,
I didnt have to try to make you sound “stupid”, you did that part yourself. Why does it matter who I support, your answers should be just as relevant.
-Shawn Fago
This was posted over on OC Blog in response to Adam P’s bluster. It seems that the Harkey campaign went to extraordinary measures to ensure that the protesters, she knew would likely show up, were diverted from the real location of the event. Harkey should also know that this tactic only works once. She can be certain that they will be at all of her future appearances.
It is a clear sign of desperation to send a false release to the media. I believe the Register will think twice before publicizing her events again.
From Orange County Republican Party’s Official Calendar of Events:
Thursday, 8/16/07
6:00 PM
Special Event Cocktail Reception & Dinner with Mayor Diane Harkey
With Special Guest Congressman John Campbell
Where: Pacific Club, Newport Beach
You are cordially invited to an intimate Cocktail Reception & Dinner in honor of Mayor Diane Harkey, Republican Candidate for the 73rd Assembly District. Our special guest will be Congressman John Campbell. Join fellow supporters at the Pacific Club in Newport Beach for an evening of great food and conversation. Tickets are $1000 per person. Please RSVP to Beth Holder at (949) 854-3497 or beth@aim-point.com.
Chris – it was not a press release – it was on the oc rep calendar. I think it is funny.
Well. it’s nice to know the Party is in on the GAME. So much for being the Party that brings integrity to government.
It’s very sad to think there are people out there that find lies and deceit “funny”. I find it appalling.
Flowerzz, come on! You can’t honestly defend the misrepresentation of the invitation to the fundraiser wherever it was posted.
I just want to know wht Diane Harkey is so afraid of her constituents that she has to play hide and seek. If she can’t face up to her own people, how does anyone expect her to represent her district in the assembly where presummably, all she will have to do is follow orders from the party.
So rather than confront and address the charges made by the pro-recall people, she’s hiding behind stooges that try to keep the effort out of sight and out of mind. I don’t agree with most of Chuck DeVore’s positions on matters of politics, but he can stand on his own two feet and go toe to toe with any of us.
Too bad Diane doens’t have the backbone to do the same.
What that over the top? Andrew? I just can’t tell 😉
Boy, this Fago guy takes the prize. He makes wild, angry and aggressive statements, but fails to tell you that he:
(a) is linked directly to the Harkey campaign and her family.
(b) knows perfectly well that the Orange County Republicans were used by the Harkey campaign to spread a malicious lie. His dishonesty is revealed in his claim to know nothing about the very dirty trick he was sent to cover.
(c) is acting as yet another of Harkey’s stooges, thus further revealing that she is a person who hasn’t the courage or the ground to defend herself.
(d) is using his bullying tone to try to discredit a person (Andrew Davey) who is trying to defend the truth.
(e) is revealing the very same things in himself that he accuses the recall people of doing – namely making unsubstantiated charges. How does he know what research Andrew or Lacy have done? And he does not know what the recall people have told Andrew. He talks as if he doesn’t know very much about anything, except what he’s been told by Harkey.
(f) has an amazing comfort level with lies such as the one perpetrated last night, using the very political party he claims to support. The only people he made look bad were his own.
The Republican Party should disown Harkey and all she stands for.
Ya’ll are just pissy because you went to go protest and got duped. Yes, I think it is funny…..but I can understand why you might be upset.
As to Chris’ comment that the “Party” was in on the game….First just cause I think it is funny does not mean the “party” was in on it – lol. Second, the party calendar does not verify event details…they just post what the details are that they are given. Third, Chris YOU misrepresented by stating that it was a press release and implied that it was in the Register.
I do think it is silly to protest her event in NB, when you are trying to recall her from Dana Point. The people that would attend her event would be supporters of hers so it seems like a waste to me, na dhte people driving by live in Newport and were probably thinking….why they helk are they protestin Dana Point in NB?
Flowerszzz-
So the OC GOP never verifies that the events on its calendar are actually happening? In that case, they’d be stupid. Oh yes, and after this, who would trust what’s on the OC GOP calendar?
You may just LYAO, Flowerszzz, but these people who planned this protest did so thinking they had accurate information. But now, we all know that Diane Harkey’s campaign set them up. Is that really funny? No, I find it deeply DISTURBING that Harkey is SO AFRAID of her own constituents, that she must send them to a false location in order to hide from them.
Oh yes, and why protest in Newport, just outside Harkey’s fundraiser? TO SHAME THEM. After all, why must Harkey raise money in Newport for a Dana Point Assembly seat? What, she doesn’t have enough LOCAL support? Why not have a fundraiser at a restaurant in Dana Point? Maybe because she’s afraid of BEING GREETED BY AN ANGRY MOB upon arrival?
Harkey can run, but she can’t hide forever.
By the way, Flowerszzz, it’s time you got “pissy” too by your own politicians’ willingness to dupe their constituents. You are just being used like all their other enablers and cohorts. I guess you’re impressed by big monied, high flying hustle. You show no interest in honesty from your elected officials. You deserve Harkey. We don’t.
Flowerszzz, you said:
As to Chris’ comment that the “Party†was in on the game….First just cause I think it is funny does not mean the “party†was in on it – lol. Second, the party calendar does not verify event details…they just post what the details are that they are given. Third, Chris YOU misrepresented by stating that it was a press release and implied that it was in the Register.
First, If the party only posts what they are given, then someone of standing with the Harkey campaign had to be responsible for giving the party the false information. I find it more likely that the Republican Party staff was aware of the false location information and agreed to its posting on their website. If that isn’t the case, then literally anyone could fax or email a location change to an event and it would be posted as fact.
Second, I did not deliberately misrepresent where the posting was made. I was a bit tired and I thought I read that it was a posting on the Register’s calendar of events. I made an error, not a misrepresentation. I actually appreciated you swift correction of my error.
Antony,
How do I know what research Andrew or Lacy have done, you ask? I asked them. Want to hear the audio? Andrew in his own words admits that he has done no research and admits that Jim Lacey could have a personal vendeta against Diane Harkey.
-Shawn Fago
Most likely she heard about the protestors and changed the venue last minute…contact those that had RSVP’d. Who cares? It is not earth shattering (except to those heart broken about the protest) and it is not against the law to change your FR location.
Chris, the Party calendar is accurate by what they are given to post…no I am sure they do not “verify” events lol. Snd besides no one cares if you do not trust the calendar….you are a Dem. 😉
It’s amazing that you’re not ashamed to respond after your less than honest role in all of this. Andrew would never say he has done NO research, so you might want to reconsider how you asked the question. I know for a fact the quantities of research he has done, despite anything you think you have.
Again to Flowerszzz, the location to Pacific Club was changed well ahead and not at the last minute. It turns out the event was always to be at the Ritz, and the Republican Party was used to spread a lie of political convenience. You still seem quite comfortable with your chosen politicians being dishonest with constituents and causing their own party ill repute. I still can’t believe that I’m taking anything you say seriously.
Antony – she is not my elected. I have no personal stake…I am an outsider looking in….and this is how it looks to an outsider. What Ill repute is she causing? So she changed the venue of her FR…again I say so what? Please point out the law she broke? She pissed off some of her nay sayers…who are causing a stink about it. That is what I see.
Flowbee, (AKA Flowerzzz)
If you think no one cares that Chris does not trust the calendar, don’t think for a moment that anyone cares what you think as an outsider. Your obsession with wanting to know if any laws were broken is a typical strawman remark.
Evening – apparently someone cares or they would not be getting so upset and overly dramatic. Strawman remark…er ok….I am not the one acting like the sky is falling becuase she duped you guys. It was her event….she did not want you there so she changed it..end of story…or lack there of a story.
Flowerszzz,
The event was originally set for the Ritz. Then it was changed to the Pacific Club. You’re suggesting that Harkey changed the event back to the Ritz because of a handfull of protesters?
I have to wonder if the event really was where the Harkey people say it was. The host, Congressman John Campbell was at the Pacific Club on Thursday night and there was indeed an event there. If they changed the location at the last minute it is unlikely, while not impossible, that the Pacific Club would have been able to quickly book another event on short notice.
My theory is that the Harkey people wanted to try to discredit Jim Lacy and the recall proponents, so they now claim that the event was actually held at the original location. There has been no evidence presented to support their assertion, and given Harkey’s record of honesty and integrity, I certainly wouldn’t trust their word.
So here are the real important questions:
1. Where was the fundraiser for Harkey actually held? Some proof of the Harkey campaings contention is in order.
2. Who told the OCGOP to change the location of the event, or post the wrong location, on the GOP website? At this point either rhe GOP was scammed by the Harkey campaign into placing deliberately false information on their website, or the event was actually held at the Pacific Club.
Only Scott Baugh or the OCGOP Executive Director, and the Harkey campaign can answer these questions. However we will know, one way or the other, when the campaing filings occur at the end of October.
Andrew has more here.
To the two F’s…Fago and Flowers…just reported that Mayor Harkey’s husband just came back from a pleasure trip…he took his wife to the airport. He reported to the sheriff’s department that a thief stole all of his credit cards but decided not to report it. The thief spends less than his wife does.
Well, Fago, if you are contemplating getting into the Harkey family, I would strongly urge you to hide your money. Lastly, don’t count on the Harkey’s because they are losing more and more with each election.
I understand that there is always a lot of yelling coming from the Harkey home at 76 Ritz Cove, Monarch Beach. Many of the neighbors had to install shutters and storm proof windows to block the noise. Diane’s biggest charge is not only to have a horse in the corral, but to have a ‘mink on her back, a jaguar in the garage, a tiger in bed, and a jackass to pay for all of it.’
Lastly, Mayor Harkey reminds me of my last visit to church and noticing a most incredible site….”Woman who farts in church, sits in own pew.”
Flowerszzz-
OK, so you don’t care about what Diane Harkey is doing to her constituents in Dana Point. That’s OK with me. So if you don’t care, why must you continue criticizing all of us that do care? Ya know, we do have other stories on The Liberal OC. You can choose whichever thread you want to converse in… So if you don’t care about Harkey, talk about something else in another thread.
Problem solved?
Jerry-
Oh, really?! Well, I guess this at least means that there are a lot of strange rumors that get talked about on Ritz Cove. Interesting.
But whether or not this talk about her personal life is true, what really bothers me is how she fails to do her job as a public servant. Why does she ignore the needs of her own constituents to fulfill the desires of outside special interests? Why can’t she be trusted by her own community? AND WHY DOESN’T SHE REMEMBER THAT SHE WORKS FOR DANA POINT RESIDENTS (NOT the other way around)? Just as Dana Point chose to hire her in 2004, they can also choose to fire her today. “Queen Harkey” needs to remember that.
Andrew – there are lots of others posting on this story that do not live in DP. Just because I do not agree with you…you don’t want me to comment? 🙁 LOL….nothing else up here today is as funny nor interesting.
Flowerszzz-
Heck, no! I may not agree with you often, but I still love you. 😉
I just got the feeling that you didn’t care about Harkey, so that’s why I reminded you that we do have other threads available here. But if you DO want to keep talking about Harkey, PLEASE BE MY GUEST… Keep talking! I may not agree with everything that you say, Flowerszzz, but I am beginning to respect your opinion.
Just remember that we love you here at The Liberal OC, and that you’re welcome to comment on whichever thread you want as much as you want… That’s how much we love you. 🙂
Chris – is no one smart enough to call the Pacific Club or the Ritz and check? Or walk in and look at the events for that day? Do ya’ll need me to tell you how to do everything? Jeesh.
It’s a good question, Flowerszzz. Actually someone did check, and was told that indeed the fundraiser was held there. So while this may well be the case, it could just as easily be a ruse, so we won’t know anything for sure until we see the disclosure statement down the line. Either way, it doesn’t really matter. The central issue remains – the deception of constituents – and the misuse of Harkey’s own Republican Party apparatus, which will affect any future credibility it hopes to have with the public.
Antony-
Right, right, right. No matter where this fundraiser was actually held, Diane Harkey deceived us all either way. She refused to tell the media the right location. She had her campaign deceive the OC GOP on the right location. She deceived her own constituents over the right location. Diane Harkey deceived us all on this matter…
So why should voters in AD 73 believe her?
You’re right. They shouldn’t.