Clinton hosts fundraiser for Villaraigosa

Wait a minute. Is he serious?

"Antonio is one of those rare leaders combining big vision with bold action. He has correctly identified the major challenges that will shape LA's future, and he is driving toward that future with passion and purpose." So says Bill Clinton.

Nice to see Pres. Clinton is paying back the debt to Tony for all the (city) time spent on Hillary's campaign, except that he's paying back in the political equivalent of counterfeit money. There's quite a bit absent here- truth.

Tony's apparent vision for the future is becoming Governor of the state, but meanwhile he has to keep a high profile and rake in money from anyone. What do they expect back for this? Their expectations are more likely to be met, in contrast to those of the L.A. voters who put Tony into office.

Tony's high profile includes, an affair with a T.V. reporter, a separation and a divorce filing, being mayor-in-absentia, managing the city's finances by victimizing pocketbooks of residents, becoming the voice for illegal aliens over the interests of citizens and legal residents, and refusing to budge from changing Special Order 40, even with Jamiel's Law bringing reality to his door.

But you won't see our mayor wasting time around the office water cooler. That’s because he's rarely in the office, preferring to spend a lot of time out of his office, even out of Los Angeles completely. You also will have a hard time finding him debating or even taking non-screened questions of any depth since he avoids those situations intentionally, using mouthpieces to make any significant announcements, thus barring access to his thoughts. He’s even given instructions to be seated at events so that he can slip out easily. That was part of the litany of duties for his aides that included getting a supply of breath strips. “Transparent” maybe, but not “accessible” government in action.

Schools and gangs? He's hopelessly out of his league, throwing money at the school problem and recycling old ideas on gang intervention without consequences commensurately strengthened. Increasing LAPD ranks to 1,000 is one part ready for his governor campaign brochures, but with serious impact upon the people. The step-up of trash fees to 2010 was compressed at light speed to begin in September, a move from $22 every 2 months (collected by DWP billing) to $72 for the same period (and same service). Even THAT boost did not get the LAPD to that 1,000-officer mark. More fees were needed to get Tony looking good and to get everyone else looking for more ways to meet their bills.

Yeah, Tony "has laid a foundation," among other things, in L.A. but a foundation for disaster, not improvement.

Tony can spin his stories in memoirs that the uninitiated may appreciate, maybe even raising some cash, too, for the Governor's race, but we have already seen the costly truth as demonstrated by his actions.

He needs to go.

I defy anyone to name an accomplishment for Villaraigosa's tenure at city hall.