How embrassing....why would he put it in and out again even after Jim Battin took him and his consultant to task on the Flashreport?

It seems that Neil's campaign is faultering....first loosing the grassroots support with the CRA endorsement and only having 50K on hand going in to the election?

Now Karl Rove will tell us that Neil can spend his money any way he wants to and that Jeff Miller is a liberal and voted for tax increases 300 times, bad eminent domain votes and a cesar salad holiday.....or something like that.

I have to disagree with this press release.

After the voters in RSM get to know Neil, $50k wont be nearly enough to get him re-elected.

Neil is an even worse magician than he is a candidate... and that's saying something.

Well, well, well. Yet another local "golden boy" seems to be having all kinds of campaign trouble today. I wonder if this reporting scam was poor Neil's idea, or if somebody put him up to it?

(RSM, CA) Today, Neil Blais announced the endorsements of some of the world's most famous magicians: Harry Houdini, Penn & Teller, Lance Burton, David Copperfield, and Chriss Angel.

"The way Neil can make money disappear and then all of a sudden re-appear is simply astonishing," said Burton.

"It's not that great a trick," said David Copperfield. "You always know when it's coming - right before a reporting period deadline."

"Vegas is already full of lousy magicians," said a spokesman for Penn & Teller. "Neil should try Atlantic City."

I would say that Neil is dead... but was he ever really alive?

What is it with the Miller crowd. This is all they can do?

Guy is running for office cuz he needs the job, and he thinks we're going to be fooled into thinking he might actually spend this funny money?

Please.

Ah the Miller whine. Gotta love it. It seems to me that the Miller, Powers and Gilliard train to nowhere is having a hard time. It must be pretty sad to be on the short end of the money game.

Now Gilliard makes a big deal out of Blais's loan, and makes assumptions. I don't know if he intends to spend it or not, and I don't care. But one thing is for sure, it is a legitimate item. If Blais wants to spend that kind of money oin his campaign, why does Gilliard, Powers and Miller care? Seems like sour graqpes to me. If he has it, and wants to spend it, it is his money.

The general money is inconsequential. If you subtract out all of the general money in Millers campaign account, those numbers wash.
And if Blais wins, Gilliard will have another loss in the books.

And if Sidhu beats Walters, that will be a double whammy.

What a laugh that will be.

Miller voting record

300 tax and fee increases
12 eminent domain takings
Ceasar Chavez holiday

Game, set, match

Lest we also not forget that Miller vehemently opposed Tom McClintock's Prop 90 eminent domain reform a couple of years ago and is on public record doing so.

Poor little Neil. He whines and whines about the CRA opposing him, then he is exposed as a political fraud on his own campaign report.

Neil- I hope your big gamble pays off for you. Nobody can accuse you of not being "all in". I do have a question for you...after you loose the assembly race, are you going to run against your buddy Ken Maddox for county supervisor? It is a great gig!

Anon 12:01- Gilliard’s Orange County Victories
Ackerman
Bates
Baugh
Campbell
Duval
Issa
Royce
Spitzer
Silva
T-Rack
Walters
Doris Allen Recall
Seems like an impressive list to me.

Anon 12:01-JohnsonClark Orange County Victories
Tran
Devore

Why is Miller so concerned with Blais's personal money?

If Miller wants to be treated like the leading candidate, which he is not, then why doesn't he tell the voters something he has accomplished instead of complaining about Blais's personal loans. Why doesn't he tell us about his record as an elected official? Is he hiding something? He must be hiding something if he is desperately trying to avert attention from himself.

Oh wait, I know what he is hiding. The 300 votes to RAISE taxes. Maybe if he managed Corona more efficiently he wouldn't need to consistently raise taxes to pay for his missteps.

Hey Jeff, Dave, and Brandon - who cares?

Tell us something you all have accomplished instead of constantly crying about the other guy.

This release is a sad attempt to cover up Miller's short comings. Kind of embarassing actually.

How much of Miller's reported numbers came from money he made at the expense of Corona?

Hey Jeff maybe you can annex land all the way into OC for Corona so you can fatten your pockets a little more - a long with other things. Matter of fact, you should just annex all the way into Rancho and tap into their budget surplus.

I hadn't thought about a new wing for the house. Hmmmmm.....

Millers folks may be a little over the top--but they have a point. Neil putting money in and out is dumb.

But what is with the Neil supporters constantly touting some RSM budget surplus? Who cares! As if it takes some brain power to run that town. Give it up! I would rather vote for the Mayor who has actually worked in tough times than a HOA board member who lets the management company do the heavy lifting.

Well, Mr. anon at 2:55, what do you think of your boy fleecing your good town of Corona out of $3 million due to his utility scam? Maybe Corona wouldn't have to go through such hard times if Miller wasn't trying to run it into the ground with his schemes.

I can't believe Neil's campaign is talking about utility scams since they seem to be using the Enron Accounting System for their campaign.

Pretty lame Press Release from Team Miller. Attack Neil Blais for having less cash in the bank. Is there anything illegal about his filing? If not shup up already. This is a repeat of a prior finance report posted by your team on this blog. Focus. We expect candidates seeking our vote to distinguish themselves by their voting record not their bank accounts. What do you see as the problems facing the 71st and how do you plan to solve them??

i.e. The extension of the 241 to offer relief on the major interstate in the District, I-5, connecting OC to SD county along the coast. Neil has been out front on this issue. I do not recall reading anything on this key concern from team Miller. That's what Mission Viejo, Lake Forest and RSM voters want to read about.

Can't we apply Jubal rule of rules. If its legal its legal. Stop whinning about something the other candidate has done before you can. I think that rule goes like that.

Phil, you seem awfully worried. That's just not like you.

As long as Neil keeps following the foolish political advice of one of his fellow HOA ...opps City Council.... members I have nothing to worry about.

If Neil starts listening to a political professional like Tim Clark then I will start to worry Tim Clark is one of the best. It is a shame that Neil is paying Clark a large sum of money for advice and yet Neil still listens his fellow councilmember; a man that I wouldn't let run my kids 3rd grade class President campaign.

What happened to Neil at the CRA was just wrong. Anyone with an ounce of GOP smarts would have had that endorsement for Neil without question. GT just does not seem to understand how to win a GOP Primary.

I wanted to hire Mr Thompson to run my campaign for student body President, but all he wanted to take to me about was building a fires station at my school.

Larry said, "This is a repeat of a prior finance report posted by your team on this blog. Focus"

Larry- it is an issue because Neil did it again and again and again. Sen. Battin called him on it a month and a half ago. Everyone knows that either he 1) isn't going to spend it or 2) can't afford the interest on the loan (we all know he had to borrow against his home to loan his campaign). In either case, he shouldn't pretend as if it is money that is going to be used for voter contact. Right?

If Jeff Miller was playing these games, Karl Rove would be screaming it from his perfectly manicured hillsides. I wonder if Miller would have to borrow against his home and children's future if he decides to put his own money in the race???? Being the Riverside County trash that you claim he is.

Anon at 11:02

If Miller had the money, he would have already put it in his campaign account, even if he never intended to spend it. You know it as well as the next guy. So don't think anyone is going to drink that koolaid. As far as Blais, well speculating on what, when and where he spends his campaign money is just that, speculation. You just can't stand the fact that he just may intend on spending that money and Miller can't do a thing about it. But none of us will know until after the campagin now will we? Besides, if you don't believe he is going to spend it, then why is Gilliard on such crusade to keep bringing it up? It should be a non-issue if he thinks his boy has this in the bag. But he knows that his boy is in serious trouble, can't raise enough money to keep pace, and is going down in flames. And this is the best Gilliard can do.

Larry Gilbert asked to see something from Jeff Miller on completing the 241.

Here are some examples that have appeared on OC Blog and FR: here and here.

Jubal.
Sorry but your above (link references) do not work. Further, posting the same issue, using the same argument is redundant. Is it a slow news day? Why is Team Miller so concerned about Neil's finances? Folks. Compare the campaign bank accounts of Mitt Romney and John McCain of a few months ago. While a major factor, winning the primary is not simply about money.

But Jubal, where was Miller when it was time to make the case in front of the Coastal Commission? He was missing in action. He showed up, ate TCA's free lunch, and left. If he is so committed to Foothill South, then he would have stayed and made his case. But he was lazy, couldn't frace the opposition, and took the cowardly way out by running away.

And this is the type of Assemblyman that OC does not need. Riverside County as well for that matter.

Sorry but your above (link references) do not work.

Here you go, Larry:

http://www.redcounty.com/orange-county/2008/02/sen-ackerman-ad71-candidate-je/

http://www.ocblog.net/ocblog/2007/08/ken-calvert-van.html

Further, posting the same issue, using the same argument is redundant. Is it a slow news day?

Isn't that a criticism that could be leveled at you or me or any other blogger who harps on a particular subject?

I have always made a point of posting campaign press releases, so readers can read and judge for themselves what the campaigns are saying.

As far as I can see, no one from the Blais campaign has refuted the Miller campaign''s charges.

Jubal.

Perhaps you or your readers can respond to the following. Although I personally did not attend the Feb 6th Coastal Commission meeting in Del Mar I did receive email from Mayor Neil Blais requesting local resident support in the form of attending this hearing. This resulted in his getting perhaps two dozen residents to drive down even though they may not have addressed the meeting.

I understand that Councilman Jeff Miller did arrive around 10 am, hung out in the VIP lounge where he had lunch and departed around 2 pm without testifying. We can all agree that this is perhaps one of the biggest issues facing the state, especially those of us who live in the 71st AD. Even Arnold has started playing hard ball with his appointees as it relates to the 241 extension.

If Jeff Miller wants to represent me and my neighbors why didn't he hang around to testify?
I understand that Neil Blais stayed the entire day and waited his turn to testify that was not until 6 pm. Former OCTA Chairperson Councilwoman Carolyn Cavecche spoke after Neil. To me that demonstrates committment. As a candidate for elected office, you don't make a cameo appearance, grab a box lunch in the VIP lounge, and expect that no one will miss you when you had an opportunity to voice your opinion on this key transportation challenge and disappeared before testifying.

I think the following was attributed to Abe Lincoln who once stated: "You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time."

Respectfully, I don't care how much money Jeff may have raised for Republican candidates. Our local concern is closer to home. When Jeff Miller had an opportunity to show leadership on behalf of the 71st AD residents, in effect, he was "missing in action."

Good grief, Larry.

You didn't attend the CCC meeting. Neither did I . Are we "missing in action" in the toll road fight?

According to your logic, we are.

I don't know why Jeff left at 2:00 p.m. Neither do you. Maybe he had a good reason. The union workers who were there all morning and most of the afternoon left around 3:00 p.m. Were they "missing in action"? Was every pro-toll road person who attended but didn't speak and didn't stay as long as Neil "missing in action"?

Jubal,

You missed Larry's point. If Miller is Assembly and leadership material, he would have scheduled his day around the most important issue and event to hit the 71st in OC since El Toro. To try and draw a corollary between someone seeking an office of leadership versus a general citizen is pretty lame. You are a very bright person and well in tune with the political machine so I am really surprised at your logic.

I'm not missing Larry's point. Larry's point is to dismiss Jeff Miller's contributions to the pro-241 effort, and exalt Neil's.

I'm glad they have both tried to do their part, and I haven't diminished Neil's contributions.

Neither you, nor I nor Larry know why Jeff left at 2:00 p.m. And to point to that as somehow obviating anything else Miller had done to that point, and elevate speaking at the CCC hearing as the central litmus test of who should be the Assemblyman is stupid.

Jubal, I didn't say that it was a central litmus test to being in the assembly. But it is one of the criteria that people will use to judge. Leadership takes more forms than a few press releases and a couple of newspaper op-eds. Leadership means standing firm and going the extra mile to do your duty to the people you represent and the issues of importance. Leadership is providing examples instead of talking about them. Leadership Leadership is walking the walk, not just talking the talk.

Miller failed on this one. It may only be one piece, but it is a large piece as far as a lot of folks in the 71st are concerned. When it came time to support an Orange County issue, he left the building.

Matt.
I didn't completely dismiss Jeff on the 241. However, short of a medical emergency, this was a major meeting that should have trumped other unspecified obligations or "opportunities" that you offer in rebuttal
Although attorney's don't ask questions without knowing the answer in advance, and I am not an attorney, let me go out on a limb. As Jeff left before the meeting ended, and did not actively participate, did he turn in a written speaker comment or a position paper indicating his preference? That document would then become part of the official record. Just thinking out loud.

What Neil Blais leadership on the 241?

More like Neil scrambling to seem like he's a leader on the issue because Miller was out in front long before Blais.

Blais jumped to the head of the parade and now claims he led it.

Leadership takes more forms than a few press releases and a couple of newspaper op-eds.

What has Jubal done except blog about it? Maybe you can include him in your criticism.

Matt.

Going back to your 11:47 am comment that "neither one of us" were at the Feb 6th meeting. For starters neither one of us is an elected official or candidate. Speaking for myself, you will find me at church on Wed evening such as tonight as I am leaving now. Therefore I would not have been able to spend that Wednesday down in San Diego County.